Review | This Gorgeous Game by Donna Freitas

Seventeen-year-old Olivia peters has long dreamed of becoming a writer. So she's absolutely over the moon when her literary idol, the celebrated novelist and much-adored local priest Mark D. Brendan, selects her from hundreds of other applicants as the winner of the Emerging Writers High School Fiction Prize. Now she gets to spend her summer evenings in a college fiction seminar at the nearby university, where dreamy college boys abound and Father Mark acts as her personal mentor.

But when Father Mark's enthusiasm for Olivia's writing develops into something more, Olivia quickly finds her emotions shifting from wonder to confusion to despair. And as her wide-eyed innocence deteriorates, Olivia can't help but ask - exactly what game is Father Mark playing, and how on earth can she get out of it?

Cover: This cover is sort of bleh for me, because of the purple lighting. But I really like the girl and the look on her face; it captures what I expect the protagonist to have felt throughout the book.

Thoughts: As I started off the book, I knew what it was going to be about and where it would eventually lead to just by reading the summary. For the first few chapters, I wanted to scream at Olivia to turn and run. I didn't want her idolizing, admiring, trusting Father Mark because I knew there was something just wrong about him.

It starts off simple enough; we are introduced to Olivia who is an honest, trusting, likeable girl who wants to be a writer. She is, obviously, stoked to find out that she has won a writing contest and will be mentored by the literary idol and priest, Mark Brendan. Not only does she love his work, but priests have always been a huge part of her life and have played the "father "role that her own father didn't fill when walked out on her family.

The story continues simple as well, a few meetings here and there. Learning about the characters, her friends, family, the new guy she meets, and more about who Father Mark is. But then he starts to leave her notes, and just happens to turn up wherever she is, and it makes us suspicious. It seems innocent enough, and I can understand why Olivia didn't see anything wrong with it, but sometimes her cluelessness made me want to smack her. As readers, we know what's going on. But the author's writing weaves us through the story and we can't help but think that maybe it is just our imagination. Maybe it is a coincidence.

After a few weeks of this though, there's no denying it. Olivia can't figure out how to fix it, how to get out of this situation and we are lead through the story as she struggles with herself and the thought of how something like this can be happening to her.

I was happy with the conclusion, because even though Olivia still struggled with the after effects of the situation, we know that she has family and friends that will support her. There is no real happy ending, but only hope that there will be better days, and this left me satisfied. No one comes out of a situation like that and resumes normal life like it never happened. It takes time to transition yourself and I loved that the author included this as part of the ending.

This book is creepy and haunting, but completely captivating. I could not put it down and really wanted to finish it, more to just know that everything was going to turn out okay. The author's ability to write about such a tough topic, and show others what it's like to be in this kind of situation, is great and will leave you chilled and open your eyes about stalking.

Favorite Quote: "The thought saved by dinner passes through my mind. If it's not dinner that saves me lately, it's sleep, and if it's not sleep it's, oh, I don't know, cleaning my room, scrubbing the toilet. Just about anything sounds more appealing than dealing with some God damn demand from him."

This book was provided by 1 ARC Tours.

Review | Aces Up by Lauren Barnholdt

Title: Aces Up by Lauren Barnholdt
Series: N/A
Genre: Young Adult - Contemporary
Publication: August 10, 2010 by Ember
Format: ARC
Source: ARC Tour
Rating: ★★★

Synopsis: Seventeen-year-old high school senior Shannon Card needs money. And lots of it. She's been admitted to Wellesley, but her dad just lost his job, and somehow she has to come up with a year of tuition herself. But Shannon's dream of making big bucks waitressing at the local casino, the Collosio, disappears faster than a gambler's lucky streak. Her boss is a tyrant, her coworker is nuts, and her chances of balancing a tray full of drinks while wearing high-heeled shoes are slim to none. Worse, time is running out, and Shannon hasn't made even half the money she'd hoped.

When Shannon receives a mysterious invitation to join Aces Up, a secret network of highly talented college poker players, at first she thinks No way. She has enough to worry about: keeping her job, winning the coveted math scholarship at school, and tutoring her secret crush, Max. But when Shannon musters up the nerve to kiss Max and he doesn't react at all, the allure of Aces Up and its sexy eighteen-year-old leader, Cole, is suddenly too powerful to ignore.

Soon Shannon's caught up in a web of lies and deceit that makes worrying about tuition money or a high school crush seem like kid stuff. Still, when the money's this good, is the fear of getting caught reason enough to fold?

Cover: I've seen two different covers for this book, and this is the one I had, and I can say I like it. I can tell it is a teenage girl trying to look older, so it portrays Shannon's character well.

Thoughts: I absolutely love playing cards, any kind of card game is my favorite game. From Texas Hold 'em to Go Fish, I am the first to shuffle the cards. So when I first heard of Aces Up, I knew I needed to get a hold of it. A YA novel about a secret Poker society? Sounds like my kind of book.

My expectations were a bit higher than they should have been, I must admit. I recently read and reviewed Two Way Street, another Barnholdt novel, and I wasn't too happy with her writing style or the way the characters sounded, so I shouldn't have expected much of a difference. But I had expected the protagonist to have a different "voice," yet I couldn't differentiate between the two. They were two different characters, but they sounded the same to me.

The plot is an interesting one and I thought it was a unique idea, just not really developed as I had hoped. Shannon has been accepted to the school of her dreams, but her father has lost his job and her scholarship isn't enough to pay off her first semesters tuition.
She manages to land herself a job at a casino, and even though she's underage, she find a way to get herself in and none the wiser. Hoping to make enough money to be able to pay for school, she never expects to meet Cole, he guarantees her lots of money, if she joins in on the secret poker society.

Shannon was a naive character and that bothered me. I didn't expect her to trust Cole so easily, but she did and I didn't want her to fall for him since he was obviously such a shady guy, but their relationship goes to a different level I didn't expect. She was sometimes annoying, but her personality was likable enough, and my interest in her poker playing skills kept my interest. The other characters, such as Max and Shannon's sister, were fun and I enjoyed their individual roles. They provided support for Shannon and they each had a different personality that I enjoyed.

There wasn't too many details about the actual game, no real explanation to how to play and how she was winning so well, so if you don't know how to play, it was sort of hard to really follow what was going on and you just assumed it's as easy as Shannon made it sound. I expected something with more detail on how they actually were winning so much, but it was all very vague and left me a little disappointed.

Overall, this is a quick, fun read. It contains some romance, lots of comedy and drama that keeps the story moving along. Although there is illegal gambling, underage drinking, and some possibly intense make out sessions, this books seems to steers towards younger YA readers. I recommend it if you are a fan of this authors writing, but I might not suggest it if you have not enjoyed her previous books, since this one is very similar.

Review | My Name is Memory by Ann Brashares

Daniel has spent centuries falling in love with the same girl. Life after life, crossing continents and dynasties, he and Sophia (despite her changing name and form) have been drawn together-and he remembers it all. Daniel has "the memory", the ability to recall past lives and recognize souls of those he's previously known. It is a gift and a curse. For all the times that he and Sophia have been drawn together throughout history, they have also been torn painfully, fatally, apart. A love always too short.

Interwoven through Sophia and Daniel's unfolding present day relationship are glimpses of their expansive history together. From 552 Asia Minor to 1918 England and 1972 Virginia, the two souls share a long and sometimes torturous path of seeking each other time and time again. But just when young Sophia (now "Lucy" in the present) finally begins to awaken to the secret of their shared past, to understand the true reason for the strength of their attraction, the mysterious force that has always torn them apart reappears. Ultimately, they must come to understand what stands in the way of their love if they are ever to spend a lifetime together.

Cover: I like it, yes, but not for this book. I don't think it has anything to do with the story. There's no butterflies or anything that I can recall in the book that makes me think..."Oh, that's why the cover has that..."

Thoughts: When I first heard of this book, I thought it sounded fascinating, so I quickly signed up for it when it became offered as a tour book. From the beginning, I was hooked. There is really no way to describe how this book made me feel, but I was deeply touched by the characters and their stories.

Daniel has the memory of all his past lives and is able to remember everything as his soul moves on through different lives, bodies and events. He is also able to recognize older souls so when he first meets his love, Sophia, in a past life, he is instantly able to recognize her in the present as Lucy. Lucy does not have the memory and can't remember her past lives or is even sure if such thing is possible, but she knows that there is a connection between her and Daniel. For some inexplicable reason, she is drawn to Daniel from the first moment she sees him and it will continue to haunt her for years to come.

The story is told from both sides, switching from Daniel's point of view to Lucy's. It goes back and forth between the past to the present and with each glimpse into the past, we are pulled father into the story. With every flashback, we get to learn more about Daniel and Sophia, who he has been following throughout their many lives since the first moment he saw her in his first life, and has come to find as Lucy in the present.

I must admit that I did in fact, have few problems with the book but they didn't bother me enough to not really like it. The beginning of the book is very interesting with lots of interesting details and such, but it seems to drag on a bit and sort of keeps the story slow for the first half. Don't get me wrong, it was a really good beginning and it explains a lot, but the juicy stuff doesn't start until maybe half-way and at times I almost became frustrated with it.

The other problem I had was the ending. You're reading along expecting a this-is-a-great-ending kind of ending and then the book sort of...stops. You blink and think...wait, what? And you flip through those last few blank pages at the back of a book just to see if you're missing something. But no, that's how it ends. Talk about a cliffhanger. I was completely shocked that we were left off that way. But, good news is that there will be a sequel. Yay. And so the story will not only continue, but it will have a proper ending (I hope!)

There is no denying that this is a great novel, containing adventure, mystery, history, and of course, romance. The writing is amazing, each era detailed carefully so that as readers we are able to easily weave our way through the story, seeing, feeling and understanding what is happening. The characters are great and I really loved them all, especially Daniel. The love Daniel has for Lucy is detailed and understandable so you can't help but hope that they will finally find (and remember) each other for this life and the rest to come.

Favorite Quote: "I was sitting up and flushed, and so determined I could barely feel my lungs or any other part of me. Sophia dropped my hand, and she looked as though she was going to cry.
'Please try to believe me,' I said. 'This didn't happen by accident. You have been with me from the first life. You are my first memory every time, the single thread in all of my lives. It's you who makes me a person."

This book was provided by Crazy Book Tours.

hello blog world, i have missed you so.

Hello everyone! It's been so long since I've been here, but I am finally back. I had to take an unexpected hiatus just because I was dealing with so many things, problems, school, looking for work, and just life. We all know how that goes right? But things are looking up and I am currently working on getting some books, returning a lot of them, and just getting back on track with my reading and blogging. Because I have missed it!

I've had a chance to read quite a number of books in these past...months, has it been? Yes, I do believe so. And I owe many reviews to some tours but like I said, I am finally getting back on track. It'll probably take me a couple days, maybe even another week or so, to get everything settled but can I just say...it was nice to open up my dashboard this morning and see that everything was just the same. You are all still here, reading, reviewing, writing and blogging and everything and I am so glad I get to come back to it all.

I have many books to still review like I mentioned but I was thinking about the whole purpose of my blog. When I first started blogging, I had no idea there was an entire...book blogging world out there waiting for me. I really only started writing about the books I read because I wanted to keep track of what I was reading over the years, but now...gosh, it's been almost two years and my blog has come a long way. Some of you might not think so, by looking at it...but I mean, I started with 0 followers. I never expected to exceed 10 or 20, but now I'm at 250+!! I find that amazing.

Anyways, I've always loved reading. That's obvious right? But since I got this blog, I've also become a bookaholic, and there's nothing wrong with that for some, except that I just wanted every book out there and I just started accumulating all these books, piles and piles of books, and I rush to get through them and to get the next one, and it felt...overwhelming and at the same time I actually felt a little bored with reading. I mean, can you believe it?! It just became such a hassle. So although my hiatus was unexpected and unwanted, I was able to slow down and relax and take a break.

Now that I am back, I want to change my reading habits. If I take a week or two or even a month to read a book, I am going to be okay with that. I want to enjoy my reading and if I rush through a book, I want it to be because I just can't put it down, not because I have to mail it out within a time limit. You know what I mean? So it may seem like I'm not back sometimes, but I am. I'm just taking my time and enjoying my books. I think this will also help me improve my reviews and such. We'll see how it goes. And although I would never consider not receiving ARC's, I might hold off on those for a while. And about buying books...well that's just not happening for me now.

So I'll start catching up on my reviews, and I'm making sure to stop by all the blogs I follow to see the changes and everything going on. I am definitely glad to be back.

happy reading :)

and thanks for reading this entire thing, for those of you that did.

Review | The Cougar Club by Susan McBride

Meet three women who aren't about to run and hide just because the world says they should be on the shelf and out of circulation.

Kat
Her life seems perfect until she loses her high-powered advertising job and catches her live-in lover in a compromising position—with his computer!

Carla
This sexy TV news anchor is in danger of being replaced by a twentysomething blond bimbo. Wasn't it just yesterday that she was the up-and-coming star?

Elise
A married dermatologist, Elise thinks her plastic surgeon husband is playing doctor with someone else.

Kat firmly believes that aging gracefully isn't about giving up; it's about living life with your engine on overdrive. So this unofficial "Cougar Club" quickly learns three things about survival of the fittest in today's youth-obsessed society: True friendship never dies, the only way to live is real, and you're never too old to follow your heart.

Cover: I like the hot pink and the purse, but it sort of seems a little plain to me and doesn't really fit the book much...

Thoughts: My first thought was: is this like Cougar Town? And yes, it is, but no. Well, honestly I wouldn't know, I haven't watched Cougar Town but I saw commercials for it and The Cougar Club is about forty something year olds, dealing with mid-life crisis and sleeping with twenty something year old men. Or that's sort of how it starts off.

The book is about three friends, Kit, Elsie and Carla, who all seem to come across some mid-life crisis now that they are hitting 45. Dealing through they're problems, they are able to enjoy one another's company and discover that the lives they lead now are dramatically changing and they must figure out where this may lead them. Told from all three of their point of views, I really enjoyed what each one added to the book.

The conclusion was probably my favorite part. There was no "...and they lived happily ever after" because they're lives weren't over. It was more like, "Okay so we got through all that and we're happy. Now let's keep living." This was such a great book to read, I really loved it. I definitely recommend this to anyone looking for some great chick lit. I can't wait to read something else by this author.

Favorite Quote: "Life doesn't come with and instruction manual. It's unpredictable."

This book was provided by Crazy Book Tours.

Review | Memories of My Melancholy Whores by Gabriel Garcia Marquez

On the eve of his ninetieth birthday a bachelor decides to give himself a wild night of love with a virgin. As is his habit–he has purchased hundreds of women–he asks a madam for her assistance. The fourteen-year-old girl who is procured for him is enchanting, but exhausted as she is from caring for siblings and her job sewing buttons, she can do little but sleep. Yet with this sleeping beauty at his side, it is he who awakens to a romance he has never known.

Tender, knowing, and slyly comic, Memories of My Melancholy Whores is an exquisite addition to the master’s work.

Cover: I don't like the cover, although I guess it's because it seems a little outdated, but then again, the book is a little older.

Thoughts: This is one of those books I picked up at the library because the author has so much praise and everyone always says that his books are really amazing and must reads. And yes, I think they are great and this is the second one of his books that I've read of his and they are really great. But I always find older books like this one a bit hard to really get into and sometimes the writing is just a bit too much to understand.

I must admit though, as soon as I read the first few pages, I really didn't want to put it down. There might be many out there who would have really put it down after the first sentence..."The year I turned ninety, I wanted to give myself the gift of a night of wild love with an adolescent virgin." Yes, I thought, that is just wrong in so many ways. But the story develops in something that is so much more than that.

Our nameless protagonist is a sad character to read about, and his life has not been the greatest, but living to be ninety and still being able to tell about it, well that's got to mean something. He is just such a different character to anything I have ever read and the author's writing is really beautiful, almost poetic, and I was just enchanted by the story.

I really only recommend this book to fans of the author, because I don't think you would enjoy it otherwise.

Favorite Quotes: "My only explanation is that just as real events are forgotten, some that never were can be in our memories as if they had happened"

This book was provided by my local library.

Review | Winter Longing by Tricia Mills

A plane crash in Alaska takes Winter’s first love away forever...

When Winter's boyfriend is killed in a plane crash in the Alaskan wilderness, she's robbed of the future she'd only just allowed herself to believe might be hers. Winter and Spencer had been destined for one another. And after his death, Spencer's presence continues to haunt her.

But when her next-door neighbor becomes an unlikely friend, Winter begins to accept all that she can't change. Can she open herself to a new future... and a possible new love?

Cover: I like the cover, I think it's sweet and then it sort of has me wondering if it's Winter and Spencer or Jesse...and I love the colors.

Thoughts: From reading the summary, you know what's coming. Yet, reading about the hope Winter has of seeing Spencer again makes you sort of hope that she will see him, and you sort of forget what we already know what's going to happen. And when he dies and Winter finds out, I was every bit as heartbroken as she was.

I really liked Winter, and she reminded me of myself sometimes. I could easily put myself in her shoes and the author's way of expressing her emotions really had me feeling the pain with her. Her best friend Lindsay is also a great character and the way she struggled with her problems and the death of Spencer added so much to the book and to her and Winter's friendship. And what can I say about Jesse? I loved him. I thought he was a great, sweet and very patient guy who cared about Winter and who really helped her.

So obviously after reading only the first few pages, I was hooked to the story and I wanted to keep reading and not stop. So I did. I read this book in a few hours and I definitely recommend you to pick it up. It is a heartbreaking, yet hopeful story about young love, pain and moving on. It is really a great book you shouldn't miss out on.

Favorite Quote: "Why couldn't a broken heart heal as fast as a broken bone?"

This book was provided by YA Addict ARC Tours.

Review | Plus by Veronica Chambers

"This is the unbelievable story of how I went to college, gained twenty-five pounds, got dumped by my boyfriend, failed physics and became a worldfamous supermodel."

So begins the Cinderella story of Beatrice Wilson, whose life changes overnight when she’s discovered by a scout for the oldest, most prestigious modeling agency in America—for their plus-sized division.

Now she must find the confidence to vanquish skinny rivals, fend off sleazy photographers, and banish scheming frenemies in her rise to superstardom, all while trying to get her ex-boyfriend back. But Bee learns that to win prince charming, you first have to find a way to love yourself.

Cover: This was not the cover for the copy I read and I don't like this cover because it doesn't seem to portray the "real" Bee.

Thoughts: Bee seemed like a real seventeen year old girl who just got dumped by her boyfriend. She becomes depressed and only worries about how she will win him back. I've been there, as I'm sure many other girls have too. Bee also happens to be very smart, overweight and almost overnight becomes a super model.

I liked the author's writing, the way she develops Bee's story and how Bee seems to "grow" through her experiences. I was rooting for her the entire book and hoping she would realize what a jerk Brian really was so she could focus and more suitable guys. She ends up feeling pressured in the modeling world, becomes stressed out with school and although she has much more money, she doesn't spend it like crazy. Just those little things made her seem a bit more real and I felt connected with her.

The other characters, like her best friend Chela, the cute guy she tutors, Kevin, and her parents are also great characters to read about and so much fun. The diversity of each character was a great addition to the story. Even the other models were all great and I really loved each person individually. They all added a lot to the book and I really liked the relationships they had with Bee and how they all dealt with her modeling differently.

The story had its ups and downs and although the ending was a very cliche sort of "happily ever after" with everything sort of wrapped up, it sort of left a few questions open. I don't know if there is going to be a second book, but it would be nice to know what happens to Bee next. But if there isn't, I was pretty satisfied with how the story concluded. I would recommend this to anyone looking for a fun, lighthearted read about a girl learning to love herself. It's a really sweet novel and I really enjoyed reading it.

Favorite Quote: "That's the only way you're ever gonna get anywhere, be anybody, do anything. Don't worry about everybody else, just do you."

This book was provided by YA Addict ARC Tours.

Review | Change of Heart by Shari Maurer

In a world where the most stressful thing seems to be winning a soccer game or what to wear in the morning, you take some really basic things for granted.

Like the love of your parents.

Or hanging with your friends.

Or the beating of your heart.

When you’re 16 years old, it never occurs to you that you might die. Emmi Miller’s got a fabulous life. She has tons of friends, does great in school and is an all-star soccer player who played in Europe last summer. It even looks like Sam Hunter, a totally cute baseball player, might be interested in her. And then she gets a virus. No biggy, right? Until the virus goes to her heart and weakens it so much that, without a transplant, Emmi will die.

Will Emmi get a heart in time? Is Sam too good to be true? What about her new friend Abe, who has also had a transplant and guides her through these scary times — is he just being supportive or is there more going on between them? And will Emmi realize it before it’s too late?

Thoughts: When I read the description of this book I knew what it was going to be about and I expected some heart-wrenching moments, drama, and possibly a sad ending. And I was right, it contained all that, but I liked that there was so much more to it than that as well.

I think my favorite part of this book were the actual characters. From Emmi to the minor characters like the doctors and nurses, I liked how each one was individually portrayed. I have to admit that Emmi frustrated me because of her attitude sometimes but I completely got where she was coming from. I loved the support her family gave her and the little things that were added to the story about her parents and siblings made it more real. Her friends and boyfriend were, well supportive but they actions sometimes were questionable.

I think that the book was okay and then a little more than half way it gets so much better. so maybe at the beginning you'll have a hard time sticking with it but when then the story takes a few unexpected turns and you can't put it down, and always hoping for the best. I must admit that the ending is a sad one, but it was truly touching and it brought some tears to my eyes.

I recommend this book to everyone who enjoys this kind of book. I must warn readers that if you are used to books by authors like Jodi Picoult or even Lurlene McDaniel, this one might not meet your expectations but it is a great book though and I am sure many out there will enjoy it.

Favorite Quote: "Denial is a terrific coping mechanism sometimes."

This book was provided by Traveling ARC Tours for review.

Review | White Cat by Holly Black

Cassel comes from a family of curse workers -- people who have the power to change your emotions, your memories, your luck, by the slightest touch of their hands. And since curse work is illegal, they're all mobsters, or con artists. Except for Cassel. He hasn't got the magic touch, so he's an outsider, the straight kid in a crooked family. You just have to ignore one small detail -- he killed his best friend, Lila, three years ago.
Ever since, Cassel has carefully built up a façade of normalcy, blending into the crowd. But his façade starts crumbling when he starts sleepwalking, propelled into the night by terrifying dreams about a white cat that wants to tell him something. He's noticing other disturbing things, too, including the strange behavior of his two brothers. They are keeping secrets from him, caught up in a mysterious plot. As Cassel begins to suspect he's part of a huge con game, he also wonders what really happened to Lila. Could she still be alive? To find that out, Cassel will have to out-con the con men.

Thoughts: I'd previously read one book by Holly Black, Tithe, and I did not like it all. I really thought that maybe I had a problem with this author's writing, so I was done with her. But that wasn't fair, so when I saw that this new book was coming out and it had nothing to do with fairies, I decided to give her one more shot.

I wasn't sure what to expect because when I read "curse workers," I instantly thought witches, wizards, magic. To my surprise, "curse workers" are a little different than that. I loved the entire idea of what a curse worker is, and how the author creates a whole new world that revolves around people who are curse workers. I was easily able to get into the story that unfolded and right from the start, I didn't want to stop (listening to it) and really wanted to learn more.

Cassel is a great character, and since he's the only member of his family who isn't a curse worker, he's had to deal with being sort of being singled out by his family. He's a very complex character and I loved him a whole lot. The other characters were great also, and I loved how they are all very unique and very well developed.

I really enjoyed this story and there are many plot twists and even though some of the things that happened were predictable, I loved the ending, it was a complete surprise. This book is full of mystery, suspense and at some points frustrating, but I definitely recommend it. I am really glad I decided to read this because I truly enjoyed it.

Favorite Quote: "The easiest lies to tell are the ones you want to be true."

This book was provided by my local library.

Review | Forget You by Jennifer Echols

There’s a lot Zoey would like to forget. Like how her father has knocked up his twenty-four- year old girlfriend. Like Zoey’s fear that the whole town will find out about her mom’s nervous breakdown. Like darkly handsome bad boy Doug taunting her at school. Feeling like her life is about to become a complete mess, Zoey fights back the only way she knows how, using her famous attention to detail to make sure she’s the perfect daughter, the perfect student, and the perfect girlfriend to ultra-popular football player Brandon. But then Zoey is in a car crash, and the next day there’s one thing she can’t remember at all—the entire night before. Did she go parking with Brandon, like she planned? And if so, why does it seem like Brandon is avoiding her? And why is Doug—of all people— suddenly acting as if something significant happened between the two of them? Zoey dimly remembers Doug pulling her from the wreck, but he keeps referring to what happened that night as if it was more, and it terrifies Zoey to admit how much is a blank to her. Controlled, meticulous Zoey is quickly losing her grip on the all-important details of her life—a life that seems strangely empty of Brandon, and strangely full of Doug.

Thoughts: I know you've probably heard great things about this book, and all I have to say is...yes, I agree. I wasn't really sure what I expected when I first got this but I was surprised that there were so many tough issues to deal with throughout the book. I wasn't expecting to get sucked right into the story but after reading only a few pages I could not put it down.

The book started off a bit slow for me but right after the accident the story picks up and I got right into it. It really surprised because I had expected mostly a fluffy sort of teen romance and not much else. And even though there is some great romance between Zoey and Doug, the story goes on a much deeper level and there are so many issues that Zoey has to deal with from the beginning.

The characters were all well developed and even though Zoey annoyed me sometimes with her thoughts and actions towards her "boyfriend," Brandon, she was dealing with a lot and trying to handle it as best as she could. Doug was a sweetheart, I loved him. All the other characters, like Zoey's best friends and her dad, had so much personality and fit into the story so well that I really liked reading about them, although I disliked some of them very much.

This book is an emotional, touching novel and I highly recommend it to everyone who loves YA. I can't wait to read Going Too Far, which I have also heard great things about.

This book was provided by Star Book Tours for review.

Review | Two Way Street by Lauren Barnholdt

Title: Two Way Street by Lauren Barnholdt
Series: N/A
Genre: Young Adult - Contemporary
Publication: June 26, 2007 by Simon Pulse
Format: Paperback
Source: Purchased
Rating: ★★★

Synopsis: There are two sides to every breakup. This is Jordan and Courtney, totally in love. Sure, they were an unlikely high school couple. But they clicked; it worked. They're even going to the same college, and driving cross-country together for orientation. Then Jordan dumps Courtney -- for a girl he met on the Internet. It's too late to change plans, so the road trip is on. Courtney's heartbroken, but figures she can tough it out for a few days. La la la -- this is Courtney pretending not to care. But in a strange twist, Jordan cares. A lot. Turns out, he's got a secret or two that he's not telling Courtney. And it has everything to do with why they broke up, why they can't get back together, and how, in spite of it all, this couple is destined for each other.

Thoughts: I thought this book sounded really interesting when I first heard of it. I mean how many times have we come across a situation were we meet up with an ex-boyfriend/ex-girlfriend and we pretend not to care? So it sounded like something I could connect with you know? I was really excited to read this.

The story jumps from past and present, from when Jordan and Courtney meet and get together, to after they've broken up and need to go on the dreaded trip. It also switches from both Jordan and Courtney's points of views and I really liked that I was able to get the entire both sides of the story and was also able to learn more about both of them. The only problem I had with this though was that they both sounded similar. I mean, sure Jordan was a guy and used more profanity and talked about "guy things" but the voice sounded similar to Courtney. Just the way their thoughts processed seemed the same and I didn't like that too much.The other characters were very outrageous and pretty funny, reminding me of people I know and I was able to enjoy their part in the story as well.

The story was cute, and although I've read many books with break-ups, this break-up was quite different. There was a bit of mystery in the plot because of everything Jordan is hiding and the way the author lets us find out throughout the book how everything really happened, sort of adds some suspense.

Overall, I think this is a very cute young love story that many YA readers out there might enjoy. I know that there a few others books coming out by this author and I really want to read more by her.

Review | Shadow Hills by Anastasia Hopcus

Title: Shadow Hills by Anastasia Hopcus
Series: Shadow Hills #1
Genre: Young Adult - Paranormal
Publication: August 24, 2010 by Egmont USA
Format: ARC
Source: ARC Tour
Rating: ★★★

Synopsis: His love captivated her... his secrets might kill her.

Since her sister’s mysterious death, Persephone “Phe” Archer has been plagued by a series of disturbing dreams. Determined to find out what happened to her sister, Phe enrolls at Devenish Prep in Shadow Hills, Massachusetts—the subject of her sister’s final diary entry.

After stepping on campus, Phe immediately realizes that there’s something different about this place—an unexplained epidemic that decimated the town in the 1700s, an ancient and creepy cemetery, and gorgeous boy Zach—and somehow she’s connected to it all.

But the more questions she asks and the deeper she digs, the more entangled Phe becomes in the haunting past of Shadow Hills. Finding what links her to this town…might cost her her life.

Thoughts: I must admit, I didn't like this book. At first. It took me quite some time to really get into it and I almost gave up on it. But I keep reading all these wonderful reviews on it and even though I kept thinking that maybe this book was just not for me, I decided to give it another try and finish it.

My mind was changed almost immediately after I picked it up again. The characters, that at first seemed unrealistic and at times annoyed me for instance Phe, who constantly managed to get herself in dangerous situations for what seemed to be no reason and Zach was just not my type of guy, later turned out to be great characters that I was able to connect with. I really enjoyed the relationship they had and how it developed, they were really cute together. The other characters were also fun, enjoyable characters with great and different personalities and I really liked most of them because I could compare them to real people I knew.

The story became a little more fast-paced and I actually wanted to know what happened next and what the mystery of Shadow Hills was, which had not been the case at the beginning. I wanted to keep reading it. I really liked that this was something different. Like I've noticed many readers comment, it's sort of refreshing to read about something other than vampires, werewolves or faeries. Not that we don't love all of those, but this was something I thought was truly unique and that really kept my interest all the way to the end.

I really do recommend this book to everyone. This book is packed with a lot of mystery, a great story line and pretty unique characters.

Review | When Mike Kissed Emma by Christine Marciniak

Emma Landon has a plan: she's going to be in the high school musical and sing the most romantic song possible to her boyfriend. She's not looking for the lead, just a decent part where she and Trevor can dance together on stage. The plan starts to unravel when she gets the starring role, and playing opposite her is not her perfect boyfriend, but the school loner, Biker Mike. When Mike kisses Emma at the school dance, everything changes. Emma must figure out what is more important-the way things look or something deeper.

Thoughts: When I signed up for this, I'd never heard of it but thought it sounded interesting. I got it in the mail, and from the look of the cover, I didn't think I would like this. But I should know better by now than to judge a book by its cover because I was nicely surprised and really enjoyed it.

The story is short and sweet, with all the usual twists and turns of any high school based novel with a predictable, but fun ending. I really enjoyed the characters and although I disliked some of Emma's friends, I was able to connect with the book enough to actually dislike them for what they would do or say.

The plot was sort of fast paced and revolved around the high schools production of The Sound of Music and everything that might happen between the cast and after school. I thought it was cute that the author used lines from the actual play they were performing to use as chapter headings.

I would recommend this to anyone looking for a cute, romantic and quick story about high school lovers and I can't wait to see more on this author.

Favorite Quote: "A nice person would have stood up for me, not let everyone think the worst of me."

This book was provided by Around the World Tours for review.

Review | Mockingbird by Kathryn Erskine

In Caitlin’s world, everything is black or white. Things are good or bad. Anything in between is confusing. That’s the stuff Caitlin’s older brother, Devon, has always explained. But now Devon’s dead and Dad is no help at all. Caitlin wants to get over it, but as an eleven-year-old girl with Asperger’s, she doesn’t know how. When she reads the definition of closure, she realizes that is what she needs. In her search for it, Caitlin discovers that not everything is black and white—the world is full of colors—messy and beautiful.

Thoughts: For Caitlin, life is complicated. She has Asperger's and she has just lost her brother who was the only person who helped her "not act so weird." Struggling with the loss of her brother, her father's crying, the counselor desire to help her make friends and her need to find closure, Caitlin and her story are developed in a simple yet impacting way that will have you wanting to read this book in one sitting.

Erskine created a young girl who I couldn't help but love and try to understand. Since it is through Caitlin's point of view, we are given an insight on what it might be like to have Asperger's and through the misunderstandings and unexpected emotions, I was able to connect with Caitlin throughout the book.

The story is so touching and heartbreaking, it will have you make you want to cry but Caitlin is such a unique and wonderful girl, that her responses and thoughts to many situations will also have you laughing out loud. It is a very sweet and beautiful story, definitely a must read.

I absolutely recommend this book to everyone, it is a great story told by a character that thinks a little different that what we are used to. Also, if you are a fan of To Kill of Mockingbird, I am sure you will enjoy the small connection between both books.

Favorite Quote: “I guess the good news is that everybody has to put up with being special because everybody is alive.”

This book was provided by Around the World Tours for review.

Review | The Lost Duke of Wyndham by Julia Quinn

Jack Audley has been a highwayman.

A soldier. And he has always been a rogue. What he is not, and never wanted to be, is a peer of the realm, responsible for an ancient heritage and the livelihood of hundreds. But when he is recognized as the long-lost son of the House of Wyndham, his carefree life is over. And if his birth proves to be legitimate, then he will find himself with the one title he never wanted: Duke of Wyndham.

Grace Eversleigh has spent the last five years toiling as the companion to the dowager Duchess of Wyndham. It is a thankless job, with very little break from the routine . . . until Jack Audley lands in her life, all rakish smiles and debonair charm. He is not a man who takes no for an answer, and when she is in his arms, she's not a woman who wants to say no. But if he is the true duke, then he is the one man she can never have . . .

Thoughts: I have absolutely always loved Julia Quinn, she is one of my favorite authors. This book sat on my shelf for quite some time and then one day I felt like reading a romance and this was just perfect.

Most of her books are written in a similar way, but all her stories are unique and different from each other so I can't help but love each and every one of them. The set of characters for this one were an enjoyable bunch and I really liked Jack because he is a charmer and even though Grace sometimes frustrated me, she was okay.

I really enjoyed this book and I would recommend to anyone looking for a nice fluffy romance. Those are my favorite kind. And I also recommend the Bridgerton series by Julia Quinn, I absolutely love that family and that series.

This book was purchased by myself at a local bookstore.

Review | In A Heartbeat by Loretta Ellsworth

When a small mistake costs sixteen-year-old Eagan her life during a figure-skating competition, she leaves many things unreconciled, including her troubled relationship with her mother. From her vantage point in the afterlife, Eagan reflects back on her memories, and what she could have done differently, through her still-beating heart.

When fourteen-year-old Amelia learns she will be getting a heart transplant, her fear and guilt battle with her joy at this new chance at life. And afterwards when she starts to feel different — dreaming about figure skating, craving grape candy —her need to learn about her donor leads her to discover and explore Eagan’s life,meeting her grieving loved ones and trying to bring the closure they all need to move on.

Thoughts: I'd heard really good things about this book when I signed up for it, so I was pretty sure I was going to like it. And I did.

From the beginning, I was able to connect with the characters, although at some points it felt like I was only getting to know Eagan and not Amelia. I wish there had been an even amount of both characters so that I could feel equally connected to both.

I'd never read a book about organ donors/transplants, but I have watched several movies about them and I know that's not the same thing, but I like those kinds of heart-wrenching movies and this book was pretty much like that. It was a sweet yet powerful story, and even though I wished it had been a bit longer, the story wraps up nicely.

I really enjoyed this book and I recommend it to everyone. It is a quick, intriguing story that many YA readers will enjoy :)

This book was provided by Around the World Tours for review.

Review | Lisa, Bright and Dark by John Neufeld

Lisa Shilling is 16, smart, attractive--and she is losing her mind. Some days are "light," and everything is normal; during her "dark" days, she hides deep within herself, and nothing can reach her. Her teachers ignore what is happening. Her parents deny it. Lisa's friends are the only ones who are listening--and they walk with her where adults fear to tread.

Thoughts: When I first picked up this book in Jr. High, it instantly became one of my favorites. So when I saw it at a used book store, I had to get it because I remembered loving it.

I enjoyed it again, but after reading it this time around I realized how outdated the story really is. I guess just didn't notice this when I first read it, but now it was something that constantly bothered me.

The characters were not really like teens today, and I am so accustomed to reading YA books that portray teens like they presently are, that reading this sort of threw me off a bit.

Other than that though, I really love the story. I think it would've been a bit more interesting if it was from Lisa's point of view, but I'm not sure how that could've worked. Instead, we see everything that happens to Lisa from an aquaintance who gets a bit more involved as the story unfolds.

Although I want to say I recommend this book to everyone, I'm not too sure if many YA readers will like it because it was written for teens in the late sixties. So, it makes it a bit harder to really connect with the characters and enjoy the story. In my opinion, it is still a great book.

Favorite Quote: "Elizabeth spoke first. 'The trouble with reasonable adult human beings is that they collapse when they meet other reasonable human beings. We don't.'"

This book was purchased by myself at a local bookstore.

Review | Tricks by Ellen Hopkins

Five teenagers from different parts of the country. Three girls. Two guys. Four straight. One gay. Some rich. Some poor. Some from great families. Some with no one at all. All living their lives as best they can, but all searching...for freedom, safety, community, family, love. What they don't expect, though, is all that can happen when those powerful little words "I love you" are said for all the wrong reasons.

Five moving stories remain separate at first, then interweave to tell a larger, powerful story -- a story about making choices, taking leaps of faith, falling down, and growing up. A story about kids figuring out what sex and love are all about, at all costs, while asking themselves, "Can I ever feel okay about myself?"

Thoughts: If you've ever read any of Hopkins books, you know how powerful they can be. This was no exception. Written in the same format as her other books, this looks like a whole lot of book, but since it is written in short poems, I finished it quite quickly.

In the beginning, the stories are all separate, moving at a slow pace but then they start changing, becoming more intense and there are little details that intertwine the stories together slowly.

Hopkins created amazing characters, each with their own problems and all searching for similar things. The way the book was written had me turning page after page even though at some points it was even a bit hard to read.

I really am a big fan of Hopkins books and I am glad I got a chance to enjoy this one as well, I recommend it to everyone.

Favorite Line:
"If love has no more meaning
than that, you can keep it.
I don't want it now or ever
again. Don't want to hear
the words or wear it's scars."

This book was provided by the local library.

Review | Numbers by Rachel Ward

Title: Numbers by Rachel Ward
Series: Numbers #1
Genre: YA - Fantasy
Publication: February 1st 2010 by Chicken House/Scholastic Inc
Format: ARC
Source: Around the World Tours
Rating: ★★★★

Synopsis: 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!

Thoughts: So far I've seen many "Eh it was okay" sort of reviews for this book and I must say I completely disagree! I must the only sane one (or crazy one, haha) out there. I really enjoyed this one, and although there are quite a few other reviewers out there who disagree, I completely respect everyone's opinion. I must say though, that I could not put this book down.

From the start, I was intruiged by Jem, she was an interesting and isolated character that I couldn't help but like her. She reminded me a bit about me, and maybe that is why I was able to like it from the beginning. Not only did I like her, but I liked Spider too, as weird as he was. The other characters in the book were also well written and described in my opinion, and although I didn't like them all, I was able to connect with the story better because of each one.

Now, my favorite part of the book was the actual "power" I guess we could call it, or "curse", that Jem had. I would be terrified to be able to see the date of people's death's and like her I would isolate myself from the world. It starts off a bit slow, but I didn't think it was bad, more of an introduction to the book and then the pace picks up and its twists and turns from then on. The ending, I thought, was fantastic. Just like I like them, with something you weren't expecting.

blogoversary :)

Actually, my blogs day was a few days ago and I missed it! It has been a whole year since I started this blog and I'm happy I've been able to keep it this long. It has been great :)

Review | Pride & Prejudice & Zombies: Dawn of the Dreadfuls by Steve Hockensmith

Title: Pride and Prejudice and Zombies: Dawn of the Dreadfuls by Steve Hockensmith
Series: Pride and Prejudice and Zombies #0.5
Genre: Fiction/Horror
Publication: March 1, 2010 by Quirk Books
Format: Paperback
Source: Publisher
Rating: ★★★

Synopsis: In this terrifying and hilarious prequel, we witness the genesis of the zombie plague in early-nineteenth-century England. We watch Elizabeth Bennet evolve from a naïve young teenager into a savage slayer of the undead. We laugh as she begins her first clumsy training with nunchucks and katana swords and cry when her first blush with romance goes tragically awry. Written by acclaimed novelist (and Edgar Award nominee) Steve Hockensmith, Dawn of the Dreadfuls invites Austen fans to step back into Regency England, Land of the Undead!

Thoughts: When I read the first PP&Z, I was really excited because it had both zombies and Austen and I thought, "What a fantastic combination!" Wrong. I was a bit hesitant to get SS&SM, but that one was a bit better. Barely. So I was definitely unsure about D of D and really was not going to accept a copy. I thought it over quite a bit and then decided to give it a try.

I was surprised to find this one to be better than the last two. Sure, it's still based on Austen's original work, Pride and Prejudice, but Hockensmith created a whole different plot. It was so much better than the last two attempts to recreate Austen's work and although the author kept the same characters, the story was something new and unique.

I have always like Elizabeth Bennet, and watching her learn and struggle in her attempt to slay zombies was quite humorous. Most of the original characters were present or mentioned, but a whole new cast of characters were introduced that made this book stand out more than the other two. The differences in this book from the original P&P made it a lot better and I was able to enjoy it as a standalone.

I would recommend this book to anyone who's been curious about these monster books, and still hasn't given them a chance. I suggest you try this one first and then maybe give the other two a shot, although I do not think they're very good. I'm sure anyone who enjoyed PP&Z and SS&SM will also enjoy this one as well.

Review | Sea Change by Aimee Friedman

Title: Sea Change by Aimee Friedman
Series: N/A
Genre: YA - Fantasy
Publication: June 1, 2009 by Point
Format: Hardcover
Source: Library
Rating: ★★

Synopsis: 16-year-old Miranda Merchant is great at science...and not so great with boys. After major drama with her boyfriend and (now ex) best friend, she's happy to spend the summer on small, mysterious Selkie Island, helping her mother sort out her late grandmother's estate. 

There, Miranda finds new friends and an island with a mysterious, mystical history, presenting her with facts her logical, scientific mind can't make sense of. She also meets Leo, who challenges everything she thought she knew about boys, friendship...and reality.

Is Leo hiding something? Or is he something that she never could have imagined?

Thoughts: To be honest, I was expecting more from this book. I think that from the beginning I knew I wouldn't really enjoy it as much as I had originally hoped, but I decided to give a chance anyways.

I think the problem I had with the whole book were the chracters. To me they seemed sort of bleh, kind of boring, and I really didn't like anyones' "personality." Miranda was okay I guess, although I didn't connect with her. I think maybe the characters could've used a bit more depth and development.

I really liked the idea of merpeople and I expected the story to have more than what it did, and I thought it would have been great as a mystery. It all seemed to fall flat a bit though, and I really wasn't happy with the ending.

I would suggest others to give it a try because I know there are many people out there who loved this book. I thought it was okay, not really great, but not a complete waste of my time. So I would recommend this to YA lovers of all ages.

Review | Half Broke Horses by Jeannette Walls

"Those old cows knew trouble was coming before we did." So begins the story of Lily Casey Smith, in Jeannette Walls's magnificent, true-life novel based on her no-nonsense, resourceful, hard working, and spectacularly compelling grandmother. By age six, Lily was helping her father break horses. At fifteen, she left home to teach in a frontier town -- riding five hundred miles on her pony, all alone, to get to her job. She learned to drive a car ("I loved cars even more than I loved horses. They didn't need to be fed if they weren't working, and they didn't leave big piles of manure all over the place") and fly a plane, and, with her husband, ran a vast ranch in Arizona. She raised two children, one of whom is Jeannette's memorable mother, Rosemary Smith Walls, unforgettably portrayed in The Glass Castle.

Thoughts: To be honest, I wasn't too happy about starting this book. The only reason I even considered picking it up was because of the book club I had just joined, the Slow Readers Book Club, and this was the first book we were to read and review.

Around two days before it was due at the library, I finally decided to crack it open and give it a try. The first few pages were interesting but I'm not too sure if I would've really read on if I hadn't gotten sick that weekend. I was in bed for a couple of days and of course I was taking advantage of the time I had in between naps to read, and that was when this book finally drew me in.

I was suprised at how quickly I got into this book, but from the moment I picked it up, I could no longer put it down. I finished the first half in one sitting and the next day, I finished the rest. Although not told by Lily herself, her grand-daughter, Jeannette Walls was able to tell the story amazingly like if she lived it with wonderful details and each chapter feeling like a short anectode.

I really liked Lily, she was a strong, independent woman who endured a lot and never gave up on her dreams. She was such a great person to read about. I really loved Walls writing and I definitely want to pick up her other novel, The Glass Castle, which is about her mother.

I hadn't read an adult novel in a while before reading this, sticking to YA mostly, so this was a nice refreshing change. I definitely recommend this book to everyone, it is a great novel.

Favorite Line: "'I'm okay,' I said. 'I used to break horses. One thing I know how to do is take a fall.'"

This book was provided by the local library.

Review | Wintergirls by Laurie Halse Anderson

Title: Wintergirls by Laurie Halse Anderson
Series: N/A
Genre: Young Adult - Contemporary
Publication: March 19, 2009 by Viking Books for Young Readers
Format: Hardcover
Source: Library
Rating: ★★★

Synopsis: Lia and Cassie were best friends, wintergirls frozen in matchstick bodies. But now Cassie is dead. Lia's mother is busy saving other peoples lives. Her father is away on business. Her stepmother is clueless. And the voice inside Lia's head keeps telling her remain in control, stay strong, lose more, weigh less. If she keeps on going this way -- thin, thinner, thinnest -- maybe she'll disappear altogether.


Thoughts: I knew it was going to be tough book to read because of the subject, but I really wanted to read it because I'd heard it was great. Not only is it powerful, I thought it was completely sad. I really was heartbroken with every page I turned because of how the disorder affected Lia.

I know that Lia was going through some tough times, but I really wanted to just shake her and make her realize, really see what she was doing to herself. I was really hurting for her, and I loved that Anderson created such a real and raw character that I felt I knew.

I'd only read one other book by Anderson, Speak, and I liked it but it didn't really interest me too much. This one was really different for me. Although both are about tough issues, I really felt like I connected with this one even though I've never been in or known any one to be in this sort of situation.

I would definitely recommend this book to everyone, it is a really tough and great book to read.

Review | Goth Girl Rising by Barry Lyga

After six months in the Maryland Mental Health Unit, Kyra Sellers, a.k.a. Goth Girl, is going home. Unfortunately, she's about to find out that while she was away, she lost track of more than time. Kyra is back in black, feeling good, and ready to make up with the only person who's ever appreciated her for who she really is. But then she sees him. Fanboy. Transcended from everything he was into someone she barely recognizes. And the anger and memories come rushing back.

Thoughts: I was happily surprised to find out that The Astonishing Adventures of Fanboy and Goth Girl had a second book since the first book left me wanting more. It has also been one of my favorite reads of the year, so I was excited to read this one.

This book is through Kyra a.k.a. Goth Girl's POV instead of Fanboy, and six months have passed since the ending of TAAFGG. I have to admit that Kyra can be tough character to like sometimes because of her attitude, but I think she's great. Lyga created this foul-mouthed, badass, emotionally unstable girl who thinks and talks like some girls today and I really liked that I was finally able to know what she was thinking.

Although Kyra is great, what bothered me most about the book was the absence of Fanboy. He was there, but mostly in Kyra's thoughts. His character didn't show up as much in the book as I would've wanted to, and one of the best scenes that really has them together is towards the end. I was a bit sad to see it end and not have heard from him much. I did miss him even though I liked Kyra.

I enjoyed this book, but not as much as the first one. There were a few times that Kyra just frustrated me, and again, I was disappointed that Fanboy wasn't around.I would recommend reading TAAFGG first, but this book can also be read on its own since Lyga adds enough background information so that you aren't completely lost. I would recommend everyone to give this a try, but there is some rough dialogue and some sexual references.

Favorite Line: "Life isn't perfect. Hell, life is shit most of the time. But it's my life. I get to do what I want with it."

This book was provided by the local library.