StephTheBookworm

Review: The Future of Us by Jay Asher and Carolyn Mackler

2012-01-24T07:21:00.003-05:00

Author(s): Jay Asher, Carolyn Mackler

Genre/Audience: Young adult

Publication: Razorbill, 2011

Source: Library

Summary: Emma, a teenager in 1995, has just gotten her very first computer. After her best friend and neighbor, Josh, gives her an AOL CD to download, something strange opens up on her computer: Facebook, a site that she's never heard of and that has yet to be invented. The Facebook page is of her... 15 years in the future. She also finds Facebook pages for Josh, her friends, and everyone she knows now, and sees what their futures will bring, including unexpected pregnancies, unexpected marriages, and other strange occurances. She and Josh soon discover that they can change their future by tweaking things right now. Each time they log back onto Facebook, they find that their futures are changed by every little thing they do and small actions they take. Emma, dissatisfied by what she sees, is constantly doing things to alter the future, while Josh is hesitant and afraid to do so. Meanwhile, Josh is battling heartbreak after Emma, who he's loved for a long time, has turned him down, and Emma wonders if she made the right choice in doing so.

My Thoughts: The Future of Us is a compelling read with a very unique and intriguing story line. We all wonder what our futures will be like, so can you imagine being able to just boot up your computer, and BAM, there you are in 15 years... plus all your friends and families? If given the opportunity to know my own future, I think I'd take it, but it's one of those hard questions that you never really know the answer to until you're presented with the situation.

The book offers quite a moral dilemma. Emma and Josh have the ability to change their futures by changing their present. They change something now, then sign back onto Facebook to see that their entire future has been shaped by one small change. Emma is gung-ho about changing things to try and arrange her life just so, but Josh is against it. Of course, Josh' future appears happy and romantic, where Emma's is always dismal, and she keeps trying to change things so that she will marry someone different, or live someplace else... and it works, but she's still never happy. This future changing thing is a scary idea, and in a way, the two are playing God, so I was really intrigued by this, and liked thinking about it.

The story also had a lot of fluff things too, which I liked. It kept the story fresh and lighthearted, and prevented it from getting too philosophical or deep when I really just wanted a fun read. I loved the friendships Emma and Josh had both with each other, and with Tyson and Kellan, their best friends. I also must say, I loved the dynamics between Josh and Emma, lifelong best friends, who may or may not be falling in love after Josh admits he loves Emma, and she turns him down. I was always rooting for them, and really liked Josh, a lot more than Emma, in fact.

I'd definitely recommend this book! I wasn't blown away by it or anything, but I really did enjoy it and kept turning the pages to see what their futures would bring. I loved the future-changing dilemma, and the tension between Emma and Josh who were trying to figure out if they should be together. Overall, a fun read for fans of contemporary YA with a little twist.

My Rating: 3.5/5

Meet my Reading Buddies Laura and Cindy!

2012-01-23T09:00:00.001-05:00

A couple of weeks ago, I put out a call for reading buddies for 2012! I thought it would be a lot of fun and a great motivation to be in friendly competition with some fellow book lovers and bloggers. We are tracking the number of books we read as well as the number of pages, and sending weekly updates via e-mail. We have bookish prize incentives for the end of the year, too. While this is a cool bonus, I'm mostly looking forward to getting to know my buddies and helping motivate each other. I have two competitive buddies, Zahida from Musings of a YA Reader, who you met a couple of weeks ago, and Cindy from Oodles of Books. I also have a non-competitive buddy, Laura from Book Snob. I've asked all of them a different set of questions so that I, and now you, can get to know them better!

***

Today, meet Laura and Cindy! First up, Laura from Book Snob! I've loved Laura's blog for awhile now, and through our being buddies, we are now getting to know each other better. It's been a lot of fun!

1. Can you tell me about your job?
I am a high school social studies teacher. I currently teach 4 classes of 9th grade World Studies and 1 junior class of Economics/Government and AP Human Geography. I teach in a urban high school of about 2000 students that represent a huge variety of cultures. It is a great job and keeps me extremely busy. The best part of my job is interacting with the students and seeing them learn something new. The worst part is grading papers as it cuts into my family/personal time.

2. What do you like to do when you're not reading?
I am married with two kids and a dog and when I am not spending time with them, I love to write, blog, crochet, go to movies, do dance central on my Xbox and hang out with my family and friends. In the summers, I camp, hike and go backpacking. I love wine and enjoy cooking. I also love music and can usually be found twirling around my kitchen to the songs on my Ipod.

3. What do you think about books being turned into movies?
I don't mind when books are turned into movies. If I read a book and see the movie right away, I always hate the movie because the books are always better but if I read a book and let a year go by and then see the movie, I tend to like the movie more. Overall books are way better than movies because you create the characters in your head, you own it, the story becomes a part of you. A movie is another person's vision of how they saw the book in their head and that is OK too, usually it is never as good as my own version.

4. What was your favorite book you read in 2011?
This is a hard question for me as I don't have just ONE favorite book. I really liked The Hunger Game trilogy. I loved The Immortal Life of Henrietta Lacks and Between Shades of Gray and Crazy by Han Nolan. There are so many great books out there.

5. What three books are you most excited to read this year?
I created a challenge on my blog this year to read Pulitzer Prize winning books and my plan is to read 12 this year. I am really excited about reading some of those novels like March by Geraldine Brooks. I am excited about finishing the Waterfall YA series by Lisa Bergren I started last fall in 2011. I also read a lot of local Minnesota authors who are under the radar so to speak, and so I am looking forward to reading Kara, Lost by Susan Niz.

***

Cindy blogs at Oodles of Books, and is one of my oldest blogging buddies! We started blogging around the same time and have been reading each others blogs since, so I was super excited when we became reading buddies for 2012!

1. What do you do for work/school?

I go to school full-time at my local State University. I am double majoring in Child Development and English Literature. I plan on transferring in the next year or so to start working on my Master's Degree in Library Science. I am also attending a community college part-time and earning a degree as a Library Technician. I will have my degree in less than 5 months and then I can start working at a library! I worked full-time as a preschool teacher (I have a Child Development associate's degree), but when I decided to go back to school full time AND take extra courses for a second associate's degree, I quit my job and now work part-time in retail. It is not such a great job, but it pays the bills and gets me the extra money to support my book buying addiction :)

2. What are three books you always recommend?

Three books only? That's a tough one. It usually depends on who I am recommending them to...but I guess the most common ones are The Hunger Games (YA), God Shaped Hole (Adult Fiction) and Tuck Everlasting (Middle Grade).

3. How did you get into reading?

I have been reading forever. Or at least since I hit that stage where you go from "learning to read" to "reading to learn," so somewhere around 3rd grade. Reading was something that came naturally to me. There is no one who suggested I read, or bought me a good book that started it all or anything like that. One day, I was just in love with reading and that was it. The rest is, well, history. There were a few people I remember who encouraged my reading, like my third grade teacher, my mom, my aunt, etc. Even though I was always quiet and shy, I have always been rebellious and when other kids thought it was weird that I liked to read...so what? I read because I wanted.

4. What do you like to do outside of reading?

There are A LOT of things I like to do beside reading, of course. First off, I have school and work and those take up a lot of time, but I enjoy them. I also hang out with my boyfriend a lot, because you know, I love him and all. I also like to spend time with my momma and baby brother (he's 14, but he'll always be my baby brother :D). But here's a generic list of what I like to do beside reading: blogging, hiking, shopping for books and clothes and shoes, going to shows/concerts, sleeping, going out to dinner with my besties, traveling, scrapbooking, cuddling, browsing the interwebs, writing, watching movies (sad ones, usually), biking, walking the puppies, and crocheting.

5. Are there any books you could read over and over again?

Two words: Harry Potter. There are plenty of other books I can probably read over and over, but I will stick to one...er, sorta.

Back off, Library HATERS!!!

2012-01-22T10:57:00.001-05:00

UGH! You all know how much I love library. And as some of you may have seen on my Facebook and or Twitter yesterday, I was in a very rotten mood due to a very rotten patron at my library! He came up to check out a book (keep in mind that he is a library user!) and says, "what's going on in the stacks?" Our stacks are all currently being shifted at the moment due to our renovations. We aren't adding anything on, but we are adjusting locations and whatnot in order to build larger meeting rooms. This will mean we can have more people attending our programs because sometimes they currently max out due to the smaller room size. We are relocating the books and quiet study area to do this. Our Library Friends are also moving from their very tiny used bookstore to a larger one which is great because they do A LOT for us. We are getting new carpets as well, as ours are getting torn, and bubbling up. All of these renovations are being done to better benefit our patrons.

So anyways, the guy asks what's going on and I tell him the stacks are currently being shifted in preparation for our renovations. He says, "renovations?! WHY?! This library is BRAND NEW!" My response? "well, we've actually been open for about 11 years now and the library needs some work." *SMILE* It's hard to be nice to rotten people sometimes, isn't it?! Gotta do it, though. He grabs his book, begins walking away, and mutters, "what a waste of taxpayer money!"

People, I am raging! I am fuming! Is this man FOR REAL RIGHT NOW? He is USING the library, yet he thinks it is a waste of money?

And let me tell you, there is NO better way to spend "taxpayer money" than on the library. WHY? Because the library benefits EVERY SINGLE PERSON IN THE COMMUNITY! The library welcomes everyone in this county (750,000 people) to use our resources, and we have many of them. So KIND SIR, would you rather have just purchased that $26.00 book you just borrowed from us, or would you like to borrow it from us for free, just like any of the other 750,000 people may do?

I guess maybe he'd like taxpayer money to go to worse things, such as the people who expect government handouts which benefits only a few people and not all.

Why do people hate on libraries?! FOR REAL. Many people wouldn't be able to read if it weren't for libraries because they can't afford to buy the books themselves. I love supporting authors, so if I could, I WOULD buy all my books brand new, but I can't. I buy the very occasional new book, only for books, series, and authors I absolutely love. The rest of the books I buy are used. But the majority of the books I read are from the library: supports the library AND my wallet. WIN-WIN! I thought authors would be against libraries, but they're not! Just yesterday on Twitter, a dear author friend of mine and bestseller told me she is a staunch supporter of libraries! I guess authors just want their books read more than anything else, and don't care about the sales money! SO. Let's reiterate. Without libraries, lots of people wouldn't be able to read... and we all know how important reading is. I wouldn't be ME if I didn't read. And how did I start reading, which shaped my entire life, from my career choice to my blog? I started reading as a child when my mother brought me to the library on a weekly basis. SO THERE.

Review: Angel Face by Barbie Latza Nadeau

2012-01-19T22:08:00.007-05:00

Title: Angel Face: The Real Story of Student Killer Amanda Knox
Author: Barbie Latza Nadeau
Genre/Audience: True crime, nonfiction, adult
Publication: Beast Books, 2010
Source: Library

I was interested in knowing more about the Amanda Knox case. All I knew was that she was an American girl accused of killing a fellow exchange student in Italy. This book gave the absolute bare bones of the case - dates, location, names - but other than that, this book was not all that informative nor was it well written. The author is self-indulgent and talks often about herself, even though she was not involved in this case except for being a journalist and writing about it. Also, she included way too many details about insignificant things, such as naming everyone involved in the case including all lawyers and people in the court room. She kept bringing up names and I would have no idea who she was talking about. While she included all these unnecessary details, she didn't include enough details about the important things like um... what was the evidence against Amanda? What was the potential motive(s)? These are the most important things in a true crime book and I feel like I didn't get that information at all. While I do believe that Amanda was guilty, this book still seemed quite bias, like the author had an ax to grind and included more opinion than fact which is never good in non-fiction.

All in all, this book was okay for giving the very basic information, but kind of left me confused by the end, rather than more informed. I'm going to read another book about the case called The Fatal Gift of Beauty and hope that it's better!

My Rating: 2/5

Today is my birthday.

2012-01-17T11:31:00.001-05:00

I'm 23 today.

In my 22nd year, I did a lot of growing. I moved into my own apartment with Charles, got a dog of my own, and was promoted to library clerk at work. I graduated college with my Bachelor's degree and started grad school. So, a lot has gone on, and I hope 23 brings a lot more GOOD changes.

Here I am on my fourth birthday. Apparently I liked trolls.

Today will be pretty low-key. I'm going to lunch with my mom in a bit, and tonight, Charles is taking me to dinner and a movie ("Joyful Noise"). We both took the day off from work.

Thursday will be cake with my family, since my brother is working tonight. We ordered a cake with a sock monkey face on it, because I love sock monkeys! I'll take pictures. Friday, my family will be going to dinner. As you can see, I really get a birth WEEK.

I used to wake up on my birthday and be so excited about gifts. Now, not so much. Of course, gifts are awesome! But as I get older, I'm just happy to have the day off and revel in the extra love and attention from my family and friends on my special day. Today, I get to do what I want to do all day. For me, that's mostly relaxing and going out with my loved ones. I'll also squeeze in some reading.

Because it's my birthday, and I'll read if I want to.

Review: Lunatics by Dave Barry and Alan Zweibel

2012-01-12T18:50:00.003-05:00

Title: Lunatics

Author(s): Dave Barry, Alan Zweibel

Genre/Audience: Humor fiction, adult

Publication: Penguin, 2012

Source: ARC for review, publisher

Summary: When Philip Horkman, a mild mannered pet store owner, and Jeffrey Peckerman, an aggressive, obnoxious, and abrasive forensic plumber, get into an argument at a youth soccer game when Philip is reffing and calls offside on Jeffrey's daughter, no one could predict what would happen. Their argument escalates and keeps snowballing, eventually finding the two of them together hijacking a cruise ship and liberating oppressed people all over the world. They're also mistakenly thought of as terrorists and desperately wanted by the U.S. government who they continue to elude. Watch as these two lunatics, who hate each other passionately, get into escapades all over the globe involving a rare lemur, bananas, Donald Trump, and super secret government agencies, while fighting like madmen the whole time.

My Thoughts: Ahaha, where to start? This book is hysterical, and to all the naysayers who are complaining that it is too unrealistic, BOO on you. This book is completely absurd, and it's intended to be! Isn't that the beauty of fiction? You get to suspend belief and just sit back and enjoy the ride.

The chapters alternate between the two characters which I really liked because their voices were really unique and equally funny. Their dialogues were great, and I cracked up numerous times over stupid things said by each of the characters. Seriously - there were some GREAT one-liners and I can think of no other word to better suit these characters than to say they are total SCHMUCKS. Philip was really stiff, proper, dorky, and serious which was really funny given their situation(s). Jeffery was an obnoxious, coarse idiot, constantly swearing and being completely inappropriate. So, polar opposites resulting in a pure hatred for each other and constant bickering over stupid things despite being wanted by the U.S. government. They were constantly kidnapped and sent to different countries, where they accidentally freed people in each location, becoming worldwide heroes, and eventual presidential candidates. Everything that happens in this book is purely accidental, and the two of them are totally oblivious.

The humor in this book is NOT for everyone. It is extremely stupid and silly, vulgar, offensive, crude, etc... but mostly just stupid. I, for one, love stupid humor and laughed my ass off the whole time. Some people would just roll their eyes at it, but not me. If you appreciate that kind of humor, then you'll probably love this book. If not, then step away riiiight now. I warned you. I'd recommend reading the first couple of chapters - you'll get a feel for the comedy right away and can determine pretty quickly whether or not you'll like it.

Everything about this book is insane and ridiculous with two of the most absurd and idiotic characters of all time - in short, I freaking loved it.

My Rating: 4/5

Meet Reading Buddy #1, Zahida!

2012-01-10T17:35:00.000-05:00

A couple of weeks ago, I put out a call for reading buddies for 2012! I thought it would be a lot of fun and a great motivation to be in friendly competition with some fellow book lovers and bloggers. We are tracking the number of books we read as well as the number of pages, and sending weekly updates via e-mail. We are having two little contests (for most pages and for most books). The winner of each will get a book of their choice from the "loser" at the end of the year. While this is a cool bonus, I'm mostly looking forward to getting to know my buddies and helping motivate each other. I have two competition buddies, Zahida from Musings of a YA Reader, and Cindy from Oodles of Books. I also have a non-competitive buddy, Laura from Book Snob. I will introduce you to all of them. We all have a goal of around 100 books.

Today, meet Zahida from Musings of a YA Reader! You can see my interview over at her blog as well.

What is your work/school situation?

I’m in my fourth year of university – only four more months until I graduate! – and am doing a double major in neuroscience and psychology in order to get a BSc. I’ll be taking a year off after to figure out what I want to do next, but I’m pretty sure I’ll be coming back to school for either a BEd or a Master’s degree in something. Unless of course I get a fabulous job!

What do you like to do outside of reading?

When I’m not reading, I’m usually watching either movies, hockey games or TV shows like The Vampire Diaries and Pretty Little Liars. I like shopping for jewellery, makeup and books too but that’s a little harder to do if you’re a broke university student. So these days, I’m either looking for good deals or window shopping. Oh, and I love playing board games … except it’s hard finding people to play with. They either don’t have the time or just aren’t competitive enough.

How long have you been book blogging?

I started in late August 2010. So, it’s been almost a year and half.

What's been your most exciting or rewarding blogging moment or experience?

My most exciting blogging moment would probably have to be getting my first comment. When you’re just starting out, those comments are so motivating because they show that at least somebody has read what you have to say.

My most rewarding blogging moment would be the first time I got contacted by a publisher to review a book because it acknowledged the amount of work I’d put into my blog.

How would your friends describe you? How would you describe yourself?

My friends would probably say that I’m opinionated, responsible, an excellent secret keeper and kind of a perfectionist. My family would say I’m clumsy and usually off in my own world. I say I am perfect :P Seriously though, it depends on who I’m with – with my friends I’m definitely one of the louder ones, but put me among strangers and I suddenly become one of the quieter ones because I feel awkward in big groups or with people I don’t know.

What genre of books do you normally read?

I try to read a mixture of paranormal and contemporary. I’m a big fantasy fan as well but I’m pickier within that genre so I don’t read as many fantasy books.

What one book are you most looking forward to in 2012?

Insurgent, of course! I loved Divergent and hope I love Insurgent just as much.

Who is your favourite author? What is your favourite book?

Two of my favourite authors are Elizabeth Scott and Sarah Dessen. As for my favourite book, I don’t have one because there are so many books that I’ll always love – Harry Potter, Anne of Green Gables and Ella Enchanted are just some of the few that come to mind.

If you got to pick one fictional guy to be your boyfriend, who would it be?

Realistically speaking, this would eliminate all these hot guys from paranormal or fantasy novels like Dimitri from Vampire Academy (because there are no such things like dhampirs) or Lord Greco from Cascade/Torrent (time travel won’t be possible any time soon). I’m tempted to say somebody like Ryan from Raw Blue (but he loves surfing and wouldn’t be happy not living near the ocean) or Adam from If I Stay/Where She Went (but I barely know much about music). So, I’d probably want (the older version of) Jason from Wherever You Go or a guy like Jared from I Now Pronounce You Someone Else. Lol, you can see I’ve put a lot of thought into this question.

If you got to pick one fictional girl to be your best friend, who would it be?

I’m going to approach this question like the one above. So someone like Hermione would be out of the equation because witches don’t exist. I’d say maybe Anne from Anne of Green Gables.

Review: Going Underground by Susan Vaught

2012-01-07T22:40:00.000-05:00

Title: Going Underground

Author: Susan Vaught

Genre/Audience: Contemporary, Young adult

Publication: Bloomsbury, 2011

Source: Library

Summary: When Del was 14, he got caught up in a sexting scandal that labeled him a felon. Now, at 17, he's a pariah of society, can't get into college, and digs graves for a living because no one else will give him a job. After living three years in near solitude, save for his parrot, Fred, and only loyal friend, Marvin, Del has met a girl who may be the one. He's afraid to get too close though, because he fears she will leave when she learns of his past, or that he'll find himself in trouble again. Del must learn to not give up on life or himself and to remove himself from isolation in order to find happiness again.

My Thoughts: I hardly ever read novels from the point of view of a male character because I feel like I can't relate as well or that I won't click with the story. Yeah, it's weird. But anyways, the story sounded intriguing enough for me to pick it up anyways, and I'm glad that I did.

I love, love, loved Del. He was so sympathetic, sweet-natured, and mild-mannered. He could have been so much more than what he was, but his fire was squelched when he was arrested, sent to juvie, and labeled a rapist, at just 14 years old. Throughout the novel, we see Del start to grow and rise up from his past. In that way, I think the story is hopeful, albeit sad.

I also liked the writing style. It switches back and forth between Del in the present, and Del at 14. We don't know exactly what happened upfront, but more and more is revealed throughout the flashback scenes. Those were actually my favorite chapters because I was dying to find out what really happened.

This book was also filled with quirky and interesting characters. Aside from Del, I'd have to say my favorite was Fred, his female parrot who farted, counted out of order, and said inappropriate things at all the wrong times. There were some great secondary characters as well, such as his parents who are animal rescuers, which is where Fred came from, and a goth girl from school who won't stop stalking Del at the graveyard, despite all of his protestations.

All in all, a well written contemporary YA novel that I enjoyed reading. It didn't blow me away or anything, but I did think it was pretty good. It was somewhat subtle and quiet, where I think it could have been slightly more dramatic or intense, but I did find it to be timely and modern. I'd definitely recommend it for all fans of contemporary YA, though.

If you're interested in reading other novels on the topic of sexting, I'd also recommend Exposure by Therese Fowler, which is a much more intense and explosive look at a teenage sexting scandal, and one of my favorite reads of 2011. If you're looking for drama and OMG, then check out Exposure. If you're looking for a more toned down novel, then stick with Going Underground. Or, better yet, read both! :)

My Rating: 3.5/5

Review: Caught in the Act by Jeannie McDonough

2012-01-05T18:38:00.000-05:00

Title: Caught in the Act: A Courageous Family's Fight to Save Their Daughter From a Serial Killer

Author: Jeannie McDonough and Paul Lonardo

Genre/Audience: True crime, adult

Publication: Berkley Books, 2011

Source: Library

Caught in the Act is the true story of how the McDonough family stopped a serial killer in mid-attack in their home. Jeannie and Kevin awoke to the noises of their teenage daughter in a struggle in the next room over. When they entered, they saw a masked man holding a knife up to her throat, and were able to take him down until the police arrived. The man turned out to be Adam Leroy Lane, a truck driver who had been killing sleeping women in their homes along the highway. Two murders, and a near fatal attack were confirmed, with others as unsolved possibilities.

The McDonoughs tell the story of their nightmare in its entirety all the way through Lane's trials in the other states where he murdered. He is serving sentences in three states, and needless to say, will be in prison for the rest of his life. They tell of his other victims, the effect of this attack on their family and emotional well-being, their friendships with the families of the other victims, and being caught in the media spotlight. They also delve a bit into Lane's personal life, but not too much, as well as speculations of previous crimes they believe Lane may have committed.

I thought this was a well written and fascinating true crime story detailing the crimes of Adam Leroy Lane, that also offered a sense of hope (for the McDonoughs) and remembrance (for his past victims). I would have liked to see a bit more into Lane's past and psyche, but I did like the details of the trials and all those involved. Recommended reading for all true crime readers.

My Rating: 3.5/5

Wanted: Reading Buddy/Competitor for 2012!

2012-01-03T13:09:00.000-05:00

WANTED: a fellow book lover / blogger who wants to partake in a friendly reading competition for 2012!

I thought if I had a little contest going with someone, it would help motivate my reading and would also be a lot of fun! I'm looking for someone who has a similar reading pace as me (I read 79 books in 2011, and my yearly goal is 100) to compete with! I thought we could hold each other accountable, keep track of where each other is with their reading numbers via e-mails, Twitter, Facebook, etc. You know, we could tell each other when we finish a book and what number we're on, so if someone is behind, they might want to speed up so they don't lose! I figured the "loser" (whoever reads the lower number of books or pages - whatever you'd prefer) can buy the winner a book or two of their choosing at the end of the year!

I just think this would be a lot of fun for motivation and building a friendship with a fellow book lover! Let me know if you're interested by leaving a comment below or e-mailing me at stephaniet117 at yahoo dot com and we can work out the details!

My mom and I are competing for fun but I don't really stand a chance. She reads a lot faster than me!

2011: Wrap-up, Stats, and Favorite Reads!

2011-12-31T12:00:00.002-05:00

Another year gone by, huh? It seems like just yesterday I was writing up my favorite reads of 2010 post. Now here we are again.

2011 was a big year for me. I got a fabs promotion at my lovely library where I hope to grow my career. I lost my beautiful kitty, Baby. I freaking went to BEA where I met CHUCK freaking PALAHNIUK and dined with the incomparable Beth Hoffman! Then, I moved out of my parent's house and into an apartment with my boyfriend. I got a doggy, Dakota, who changed my life. I graduated with my Bachelor's degree. I started grad school. I got a 4.0 in my first semester of grad school (three classes too, I might add). I got my wisdom teeth out finally. I got into a car accident. So, 2011 saw many changes for me, and despite that, I kicked 2010's ASS!

Last year, I read 68 books; this year, I am currently on number 79! Heck yeah! Let me add that in both years my goal was 100, so I still failed, but I'll keep trying! My goal for 2012 is still going to be 100 and I'm determined to read it once and for all. So now, onto the favorite reads of 2011. These are in order of when I read them:

Simply From Scratch (now named A Pinch of Love) by Alicia Bessette - This was the first book I read in 2011, and still one of my favorites. This story of a young, grieving widow, a baking contest, and her precocious young neighbor stole my heart.

Letters From Home by Kristina McMorris - this WWII set novel follows the lives of three young women during the war, all in unique situations. It really surprised me and made me realize I love WWII novels.

The Chimp Who Loved Me by Annie Greer and Tim Vandehey - this animal memoir of an animal chiropractor and vet's wife cracked me up so hard. It's one of the funniest books I've read and I highly recommend it to all animal lovers.

Exposure by Therese Fowler - this timely novel about a high school sexting scandal blew me away. I couldn't stop reading and I recommend it to everyone who will listen.

Things We Didn't Say by Kristina Riggle - Wow, what an amazing and fast paced novel about a young woman and her fiance's family full of drama and a runaway teenage son. Incredible and haunting.

32 Candles by Ernessa T. Carter - this book was the biggest surprise of the year for me. I didn't know what I would think of it, but holy smokes, I adored this story of Davie, an ugly duckling African American girl and her transformation into a beautiful, successful singer.

Stiltsville by Susanna Daniel - this quiet story of a marriage in its entirety grabbed hold of me. I cared so much about the characters and and their life story that I was sad when it ended.

Lost December by Richard Paul Evans - yes, RPE, you have made my "Favorite Reads" list for the second year in a row... but I just couldn't stop reading this modern retelling of the Prodigal son. I was touched by the young and rich, Luke, who loses all his money, friends, and possessions, becomes homeless, and seeks forgiveness from his father, the one person who will always give it.

I read a lot of excellent books this year, but these were just the absolute best of the best. I'm looking forward to another great reading year in 2012!

Christmas - some bad news and little book reviews.

2011-12-27T18:13:00.001-05:00

Hi friends. How were your Christmases?

My Christmas was pretty good until the end. I did not get many bookish things but I did get a BN gift card from my boyfriend and this box that looks like an antique book that opens up all secret like from my parents which I love! I got lots of other awesome non-bookish gifts, but I know you're here for the books! LOL.

On my way home Christmas evening I was in a car accident. I was stopped behind a man who was waiting to turn left when I was slammed from behind by a 16 year old driving an SUV. I was then forced into the car in front of me. My car is a brand new Nissan and now has a lot of damage. The bumper is completely gone and the side of the car is all screwed up. I have been dealing with a lot of frustration over the past two years with the insurance companies and it will only continue. I cannot get a rental or send my car in for repairs until it is investigated and they don't know how long it will be. I am, for the most part, fine, but I've been feeling nauseous and my back is becoming stiff. I have been very emotional and frustrated and have cried more times than I can count in the past two days.

In other news, I also did two book blogger Secret Santas this year - the same two I've done for the past three years. I did the Book Blogger Holiday Swap and the Book Monsters Secret Santa. Unfortunately, I have only received one of my gifts. I'm not sure which swap it was from either, but I am really excited about the gift I received! I got a book from my wishlist called Turn of Mind by Alice LaPlante. Thank you very much to my Secret Santa! I can't wait to read it! If this was you, could you let me know which swap you were from?

I am pretty sad that my second gift never came. I put a lot of thought into the packages I sent out and I have not heard back from the swaps about what to do in this situation. This has not happened to me before. Any ideas? Jenni has posted about the package I sent her and I was really excited about the goodies I sent to her. I sent her three books from her wishlist, two books that I picked out, and a cat bookmark because she is a fellow catlover! I have not seen anything from the second girl who I sent a package to yet, but it was delivered and I hope she likes it!

So that is my Christmas drama and despair haha! I hope you had a better Christmas than me. I have tried to look on the upside about the accident, which is this - my Dakota dog usually rides in the car with me, but Charles (my boyfriend) and I drove separately that night, and I asked him to take Dakota with him. This must have been fate, a real miracle. If he had been with me, I don't know what would have happened, but he could have gone through the windshield and died, so I am grateful that my sweet dog is okay.

Sorry that this post is all over the place. I just want to do some mini reviews of my final Christmas books of the year:

In The Nine Lives of Christmas by Sheila Roberts, we meet Ambrose, an old cat on his ninth and final life. He hopes to make this final life count, and when he is rescued off the street by a firefighter named Zach, he wants to pay him back. Ambrose works tirelessly to get Zach and Merilee, the sweet cat lover from the Pet Palace, together in time for Christmas. I thought this book was really adorable and I loved Ambrose. The narration switches from Ambrose's POV and Zach's, and I particularly enjoyed hearing from Ambrose who had me laughing. If you're a cat lover looking for a sweet little story, this would be good for you. I rate it 3.5/5.

The Paper Bag Christmas by Kevin Alan Milne, follows two young brothers, Molar and Aaron, as they volunteer at a children's hospital during the holiday season. They make friends with some of the children patients and participate in the Christmas pageant. Most importantly, they learn the true meaning of Christmas. I liked the lessons in this story and the nostalgic feeling, as Molar is recalling the whole story as a flashback from his childhood. However, I didn't feel very interested in the story and felt that it was kind of dry. For me, this book was okay. I rate it 2.5/5. I do, however, highly recommend Milne's other novel that I read and loved, The Final Note.

Check out my Guest Post!

2011-12-23T20:48:00.001-05:00

I'm over at The Oliva Reader today talking about the five books that influenced my life. Hint, it has Ramona and Jen Lancaster (who'da thunk?), plus some other fabulous books too.

Check it out!

Top Ten Tuesday (5): Bookish Christmas Wishlist!

2011-12-20T07:28:00.006-05:00

Welcome to Top Ten Tuesday hosted by the Broke and the Bookish! Today is about what books you hope Santa brings this Christmas!

I don't get books for Christmas. Once in a while, I'm lucky and I'll get one or two, but basically I don't. One, my family/friends don't really know what books I already have or not, and two, they all say I have too many books... and to that I say BEAT IT. You can never have too many books. So this list is basically hypothetical, save for the first item. These are the books I would love to get for Christmas, AKA books that are at the tippy top of my wishlist.

1. Barnes and Noble / Amazon Gift Card - Usually, I'll get at least one BN gift card each year which is excellent and almost as good as getting an actual book. I sometimes even log on Christmas night and order new books. Can't wait... oops. My number one choice for book shopping is Amazon, but I've never gotten an Amazon gift card before, so I'm perfectly happy with BN. :)

2. The Best of Me by Nicholas Sparks - I have almost all of his books and this is his latest which needs to be added to my collection and read sooner rather than later. WANT!

3. The Night Strangers by Chris Bohjalian - I love scary.

4. Is Everyone Hanging Out Without Me (and Other Concerns) by Mindy Kaling - She's hilarious on The Office, AND, best of all, I saw her speak at BEA and she was DA BOMB. I need this book stat. I actually MIGHT be getting this one for Christmas, but only because my best friend asked me what I wanted, I told him this, and he loves her too. In fact, he won an autographed copy of this book off of nbc.com. JEALOUSSSS.

5. The Future of Us by Jay Asher and Carolyn Mackler - Because it just sounds SO good and intriguing.

6. Best Kept Secret by Amy Hatvany - It sounds amazing. That's why. I was going to buy it myself, but fundage is low, suckas.

7. Close Your Eyes by Amanda Eyre Ward - She rocks, this book sounds amazing, that is all.

8. When She Woke by Hillary Jordan - sounds creepy and cool.

9. The First Husband by Laura Dave - I've been wanting to read this one since it first came out. My mom said it was really good.

10. Roam: A Novel With Music by Alan Lazar - this book is told from the POV of a dog, and I'm a sucker for anything dog related. This sounds really incredible.

So if YOU get any of these books for Christmas and decide you don't want them... you can go ahead and send them my way. ;)

Review: Lost December by Richard Paul Evans

2011-12-19T12:58:00.004-05:00

Title: Lost December

Author: Richard Paul Evans

Genre/Audience: Christmas fiction, adult

Publication: 2011

Source: Library

Summary: When Luke graduates college with his MBA, his father is ready to hand over the reins to his Fortune 500 company, Crisp's Copy Centers. Luke has other plans though, and breaks his father's heart by refusing the business and running off to Europe with his friends and his million dollar trust fund. After just 40 days, his trust fund is completely gone, spent on extravagant luxuries and gambled away by his "friend" Sean. Now that he's broke, all of his friends, including his girlfriend, leave him. Alone, broke, and living on the streets, a kind man takes him in and saves his life. Shortly after, Luke takes an entry level job at one his father's copy centers, only to learn that the business has been handed over to a corrupt man, Henry Price, who has ruined the giving and generous spirit his father worked so hard to provide for his employees. While working there, and keeping his identity a secret, he meets and falls in love with a struggling single mother. When she is fired by the horrible Henry Price, Luke decides it's finally time to go home again and face his father, hoping for forgiveness and love. This is a stunning modern retelling of the story of the prodigal son.

My Thoughts: Simply amazing. Richard Paul Evans melts my heart every single time. I don't know how he does it, but he truly has a way with words and the power to create stories that will tear at your heartstrings and stick with you for a very long time. I loved this story of redemption, regret, and forgiveness. Most of all, I enjoyed the unfaltering love between parent and child, and the generosity and kindness shown to Luke during his time of need, by a stranger, Carlos, who picks him up off the street and gets him back on his feet.

Luke's character was incredibly strong developed and in depth. I enjoyed watching him grow and make up for his transgressions by adopting his father's giving and generous spirit for his own. This book is simply beautiful. I have just two small complaints though that brought my rating down slightly from a 5. The first would be with the story line with Rachel, the single mother he meets in the copy center. I really liked this twist in the story, however, she goes from hating him one second, to loving him the next. I would have liked to see this develop at a more reasonable rate. Also, when Luke returns from Europe, he is told that his father has disowned him, which is why Luke ends up on the streets. However, [*start spoiler* when he is reunited with his father, he is overjoyed to see Luke and welcomes him back with tears of joy, so clearly, he did not in fact disown him. I am assuming this was a lie Henry made up in order to keep Luke away so he could take over the company, but this is never explained. I would have liked an explanation for this, even if my assumption is correct. *end spoiler*]

Other than these two things, this story is basically pure gold! I cannot recommend it enough! This is my fourth RPE book and it will NOT be my last. He never disappoints and has easily become one of my favorite authors.

My Rating: 4.5/5

Want to read my other RPE reviews?

Promise Me

The Christmas List

The Gift

The Christmas Wedding by James Patterson and Richard DiLallo

2011-12-18T17:11:00.003-05:00

Title: The Christmas Wedding
Author(s): James Patterson and Richard DiLallo

Genre/Audience: Christmas fiction, adult

Publication: 2011

Source: Library

Summary: Gaby is a widow with four grown children who live all over the country. They haven't come together for the holidays since their dad died. But this Christmas, they're reuniting because Gaby is getting married... but to who? No one knows, not even the groom! Three different men have proposed to Gaby, and she's decided she will marry one of them but she won't reveal who until the wedding on Christmas day. Interwoven with Gaby's story are the stories of all four children, each facing an obstacle of their own.

My Thoughts: There are a lot of negative things I could say about The Christmas Wedding: it's very corny, it's BEYOND farfetched, it's silly, and most of all, do any of us honestly think that a one Mr. James Patterson is actually writing all of these books he supposedly pens with other unknown authors, that come out every single month? I think not. Let's just say, I wholeheartedly believe the man slaps his name on these books to boost sales. But that's another discussion for another day.

Despite all of these things in this rather ridiculous story, I... found myself really liking it and flew threw it in less than two days... I guess it helps that there are like... two words per page. But yes, I was actually quite engaged in the story. Like a lot of other readers, I wasn't particularly fond of Gaby, the mother and bride because who honestly tells three men who have proposed, "please wait a few weeks, and on the day of the wedding, I'll tell you who I chose?" Seriously?! That ain't right! And who gets married on Christmas, in a big elaborate wedding? Your non-related guests should be with their families. So, I thought she was pretty annoying and rude, but her four children were all really likeable characters and I loved reading their stories. Lizzie's husband has cancer, Seth is an aspiring author, Claire just dumped her abusive husband, and Emily is a high powered attorney in New York. They were all really different, but they all faced certain challenges they had to overcome. I also like the feeling of family in this story but would have liked to see the siblings interact more together - sometimes it didn't even seem like they were related. But I did like all of them coming together - part of the reason Gaby concocted the ridiculous wedding was to get the family all back together again.

So yeah, this book had a lot of flaws, was pretty outlandish, and the main character was selfish and unlikeable, buuut, it was still fun to read, I've got to admit. I just couldn't turn away, even though the whole time I was kiiiind of thinking, "what in the HELL?" I also think this book didn't really have a whole lot to do with Christmas and could be read any time of the year.

My Rating: 3.5/5

Chick Lit Challenge 2012!

2011-12-17T21:01:00.001-05:00

I don't usually sign up for challenges and whatnot, save for the Goodreads yearly reading goal challenge, but I signed up for this one! It's the only one I am doing and is hosted by the fabulous Samantha over at Chick Lit Plus. Basically, you read at least 12 chick lit books in 2012! I signed up because there are fabulous prizes, and because chick lit is both my favorite, and highly underrated! I am looking forward to finding tons of new chick lit books to read. Head over there and check it out if you are interested in joining me and tons of others. :) And check back here if you'd like: I'll be tracking my books for the challenge on this page.

Review: Christmas on Nutcracker Court by Judy Duarte

2011-12-17T19:07:00.002-05:00

Title: Christmas on Nutcracker Court

Author: Judy Duarte

Publication: 2011

Genre/Audience: Christmas fiction, adult

Source: Library

Summary: Small town Fairbrook, California is home to Carly, a single mother and her two boys, Josh and Mikey. She works hard as a hairdresser to stay afloat, but can barely make her rent payments on time and can hardly make ends meet. She wants to make Christmas special for her boys, but just doesn't have the money. Worse still are the incidents she keeps having with Max Tolliver, a new bachelor and aspiring novelist, who insists her boys keep letting his dog out of his yard, though they vehemently disagree. Fairbrook is also home to the Diamond Lils, a woman's social group that meets weekly for poker games and gossip. They've also decided to do a little matchmaking this Christmas, to find Carly a man, like Grant, the wealthy single businessman who lives across the street. Carly's not looking for romance, just a little hope to give her boys what they need this holiday season, but sometimes love takes you by surprise...

My Thoughts: Overall, this was an enjoyable, cute, and festive story. I especially like the cover. To me, that cover embodies Christmas, and I want to live on a street just like that someday! I liked the storyline with Carly, Max, and her boys the best (including the dog, Hemingway) and enjoyed reading about them a great deal. However, this book had a ton of other side stories going on as well that I didn't enjoy as much. To me, the focus should have been entirely on the Carly story, but it split time between Carly and each of the four Diamond Lils. I was really invested in Carly and her boys, and kept hoping they would have a wonderful Christmas and that Carly would find some way to get out of debt. I liked her hardworking nature and compassion. Buuut, each time I really started getting into it, it would shift to one of the other characters which was kind of frustrating. If you're looking for a heartwarming and hopeful story this holiday season, you may want to pick up Christmas on Nutcracker Court. I would recommend it but with some reservations, being that I wish there were less characters and side stories going on.

My Rating: 3/5

Review: This Beautiful Life by Helen Schulman

2011-12-11T10:05:00.002-05:00

Title: This Beautiful Life

Author: Helen Schulman

Genre/Audience: Contemporary fiction, adult

Publication: 2011

Source: Library

Summary: The Bergamot family, Richard, Lizzie and their two children, 15 year old Jake, and precocious six year old Coco, adopted from China, have just moved to New York City from a quiet life in small-town Ithaca, New York. Richard is a big shot college administrator, meanwhile, Liz stays home with the kids. Life is quiet, with the kids at their elite private school, until one night at a party, everything changes. Jake tells an eighth grader, Daisy, she is too young for him. To try and prove him wrong, she e-mails him a pornographic video of herself the next day, which Jake innocently forwards to a friend. From there, it spirals out of control as the video goes viral. Jake finds himself in serious trouble while the whole family falls apart.

My Thoughts: I was extremely excited to read this book because it sounded a lot like one of my favorite reads of 2011, Exposure, by Therese Fowler. While it was pretty well written, the story was underwhelming for me. It certainly wasn't bad but it was not great and I was anticipating something extraordinary. I felt that it could have been a lot more exciting, and that it moved pretty slowly. However, the writing was excellent, so props for that.

The story is timely and realistic, but it didn't draw me in. I thought it was going to center around the video incident, and how it affected the families of those involved, but it didn't seem to be that way for me. It appears to from the outset, but I think a lot of the problems weren't really linked to the video incident as intended. The Bergamot's fell apart, with Richard and Liz constantly fighting and Jake getting suspended, but I feel like the incident wasn't the cause of the problem. Yes, it was why Jake got into trouble, but I feel like the marriage was crumbling because of the move to the city and the roles Liz and Richard found themselves in. Both were highly educated with PhDs, and Liz gave up her career in order for Richard to flourish in the city. Furthermore, we never see inside Daisy's head which I feel should certainly have been included. It's almost as if the video incident wasn't even necessary to the story - it's just a story of a family crumbling. That's certainly fine, but the premise made it sound otherwise, so I was disappointed. I wanted to see more about how the video really affected everyone on a more emotional level, especially Daisy. I also wanted to see more from Jake and how he felt. A bright spot of the story, though, was Coco, the six year old daughter adopted from China. Her character is probably the best developed, even though she's a small character. She's very outgoing, funny, and a bit of a wild child.

I couldn't help but compare this story to Exposure the whole time I was reading. If you're looking for a story centered around a scandal of this sort, you need to read Exposure ASAP! I wouldn't say, don't read This Beautiful Life, because it wasn't bad, but I wouldn't highly recommend it either. It's just not very memorable or exciting.

My Rating: 3/5

Review: Love Times Three by Joe, Alina, Vicki and Valerie Darger

2011-12-04T20:19:00.001-05:00

Title: Love Times Three: Our True Story of a Polygamous Marriage

Author(s): Joe, Alina, Vicki, and Valerie Darger and Brooke Adams

Genre/Audience: Non-fiction, memoir, adult

Publication: 2011

Source: Library

When I first saw this book at the library, I was like "holy smokes, things are about to get crazy up in this book!" Mehhh, kind of, but not so much.

Love Times Three is the story of the Darger family, Joe and his three wives Alina, Vicki, and Valerie (who are twin sisters) and their approximately two dozen children. They are Independent Fundamentalist Mormons who embrace polygamy, despite society shunning their culture.

I'm a huge fan of memoirs and have been fascinated by polygamy ever since I read Stolen Innocence by Elissa Wall when it first came out several years ago (HIGHLY recommend. Elissa's story is fascinating). Since reading it, I have read several more titles about the FLDS and their corrupt leader, the infamous Warren Jeffs. The Darger's make it clear they do not associate with Jeffs and that while all of them are Mormons, as Independents, they are much different than the FLDS.

I enjoyed reading about how this polygamous marriage worked and how they care for so many children all in one home. This memoir touches on a lot of things such as their childhoods, religion, jealousy, individual relationships with Joe, and relationships with each other, as sister wives. Each of the four adults take turns narrating (sometimes telling the same stories and growing repetitive), and even some of their oldest children narrate small sections at the end.

I did like that the book touches on so many topics. What especially intrigued me about this story is that Joe married two twin sisters - Vicki and Val. Vicki and Alina (cousins) courted then married Joe together, then ten years later, they invited Val to join the marriage. Sound strange? It is... to me, but not to them. I'm quite baffled, but I do like trying to understand other lifestyles. They state that Joe loves them all equally. They also state that all three women love each other's children as much as they love their own biological children. I'm not sure how I feel about these statements and if I believe them, but ah well, it's a nice thought.

I did have some problems with this book though. I felt that the Darger's were extremely guarded in telling their story. I was hoping for a much more revealing and forthcoming memoir. They are probably guarded due to the fact that polygamy is illegal; however, they are already making their polygamy public by publishing this book, so they may as well have just dived right in, you know? Oh well. I also was kind of sickened by how the three wives treat Joe like he's some kind of god. They all seem to worship the man and think he can do no wrong. I don't know if that's really how they feel, or if they just wanted to portray him in such a light in this book, but either scenario is kind of disturbing to me. Yes, there were some instances where they talked about fights they had with him or whatever, but for the most part, their worship-like relationships with him made me pretty uncomfortable.

All in all, this was quite an interesting book, but not as forthcoming as I would have liked it to be. It was worth the read, but in the future, I'll be on the lookout for similar memoirs that are more in depth and revealing. I'm hoping the Darger's will have started a trend, and that more polygamous families will open up and really share their stories, which was the case with the FLDS after Stolen Innocence was released.

My Rating: 3/5

Top Ten Tuesday (4): TBR List for Winter!

2011-11-29T17:34:00.000-05:00

Hello! This week's topic for Top Ten Tuesday, hosted by The Broke and The Bookish, are the top ten books on your TBR this winter! So, since it's basically winter now, I'm going to just assume this means books I plan on reading/want to read in the near future! There are about a bajillion and one books I want to read ASAP, so here's just a small sampling. Here we go:

1. Lost December by Richard Paul Evans - This is RPE's latest novel and I'm pretty stoked. I read two of his books last Christmas (Promise Me and The Gift) and LOVED them, and have been waiting for Christmastime to roll around again to read some more. It's time, baby!

2. The Christmas Box Trilogy by Richard Paul Evans - Yup, more RPE. He's a Christmas writing genius and I love Christmas books. His are perfect for this time of year.

3. The Nine Lives of Christmas by Sheila Roberts - Cats + Christmas = best combination of all time. Okay, I'll move on from the Christmas books now, even though I'll be reading much more of them in the coming weeks...

4. Harry Potter Series by J.K. Rowling - Ideally, I would like to read the entire series this winter. Will I have time with all my other books? I don't know, but we shall see. I only read the first four (shut up), so this will be part re-read, part new read.

5. The Hunger Games Trilogy by Suzanne Collins - Yes, I've heard many a good thing about this series and it's been sitting on my shelf for awhile. Now I must read it before the movie comes out!

6. One For the Money by Janet Evanovich - The Stephanie Plum series is one I've been wanting to read for awhile. Now, I have the perfect excuse to start! The movie is coming out, it's my mom's favorite series, and she wants me to see it with her. I DON'T see movies until I read the books, so now's my chance!

7. The Best of Me by Nicholas Sparks - His newest. Who doesn't swoon over Nicholas Sparks?

8. Love at First Bark by Julie Klam - I am a sucker for animals, and now that I've rescued my own doggie, this book sounds just perfect.

9. Is Everyone Hanging Out Without Me? (And Other Concerns) by Mindy Kaling - Saw her speak at BEA and loved her even more afterwards. She is SO funny and I love memoirs and I love the ha-ha's sooo... I'm excited.

10. Here, Home, Hope by Kaira Rouda - I love me some women's fic and this seems to fit the bill just nicely. It's basically my favorite genre and I've been wanting to read this one since I first heard of it. I really hope to get to it this winter!

So, there's my list. I can think a billion more, but ya know, top ten and all. Hope you have a great week! :)

Review: Dollars to Donuts by Kathleen Kole

2011-11-28T18:32:00.000-05:00

Title: Dollars to Donuts

Author: Kathleen Kole

Genre/Audience: Chick lit, adult

Publication: 2011

Source: For Review, CLP Tours

Summary: April Patterson, a "crafting" newspaper columnist, has recently moved from the city to a small, cozy suburb called Boxwood Hills. She's not alone though - she's got her sister, Jessica, her boyfriend, Kevin, and a whole mess of nosy neighbors who she'll avoid at all costs... until she can't, when she finds herself smack dab in the middle of a neighborhood mystery involving a garbage can, a dead rodent, and HER stained sweatshirt. What's a girl to do? She can deny all knowledge, avoid said neighbors, and attempt not to fall for the charms of Gerritt, the hunky new guy in town who just so happens to be staying with her and Kevin. Maybe small and cozy is NOT what April needed after all...

My Thoughts: Kathleen's novels are a breath of fresh air - fun, light, refreshing, and the perfect escape. A short while back, I had the pleasure of reviewing Kathleen's first novel, Breaking Even, and all in all, I just find Kathleen's stories to be a delight. Sometimes you just need to take a step back from life and read a fun book that will make you laugh, and shake your head at all the crazy antics. Dollars to Donuts is one of those books.

April is a pretty funny character. The very first thing we see her doing is totally screwing up her hair and trying to escape to her sister's salon on a bicycle, her main mode of transportation. She also takes a job as a columnist writing about crafts - which she has no interest in and no knowledge of, so we find her throughout the book working on various crafts in frustration, such as a pillow designed to look like a textbook - haha! So, I was quite entertained by April, but also at times grew frustrated for her and her flirtations with, and eventual interest in, Gerritt. Kevin seemed really nice and she had no reason to be so agitated with him. Aside from that indiscretion, though, I did like her. I also liked her sister, Jessica, who always seemed to be April's voice of reason.

If you're a fan of chick lit with a little pop of mystery, I think you'll really enjoy Dollars to Donuts. Like a lot of chick lit, it's not really thought-provoking or anything like that, but it is a lot of fun! I really look forward to seeing what Kathleen comes up with next!

My Rating: 3.5/5

Here I am with my book - I was so excited when it arrived and I had to show Kathleen!

Review: Sorry by Zoran Drvenkar

2011-11-27T16:37:00.001-05:00

Title: Sorry

Author: Zoran Drvenkar

Genre/Audience: Thriller, suspense, mystery, adult

Publication: 2011 in U.S., 2009 in Germany

Source: Library

Summary: Four 20-something friends, Kris, Tamara, Wolf, and Frauke, living in Germany, have not much to do and not much direction, and on a whim one night, decide to start up an agency. It will be called Sorry, and they will apologize for people for all sorts of things. Sounds strange, but soon, they are getting call after call, and are raking in the money. Their latest client, however, is a killer, and he has called them to apologize to his victim, and to dispose of the body. He taunts them endlessly, and as they try to discover his identity before he comes after them, the question remains: why did he do this? And, are they next?

My Thoughts: This was book was GOOD. And crazy. It was also bizarre, and graphic, and addicting and I'm STILL trying to wrap my head around it. A short "story" here will give you a brief summary of my up and down thoughts: A librarian coworker saw me reading this when I had first started, and asked how it was. I was only about 20 pages in and my response was: "weird. Its narration for a killer is from the point of view 'you.'" A couple days later, halfway into the book, she saw me reading and asked again how I liked it. My response this time was drastically different: "it's really good. It started out strange, but stick with it." This is what I would tell you, too. But first, a warning: this book is extremely graphic and very disturbing and dark, including such things as rape, pedophilia, and gory killings. If you can handle that, and you love thrillers, then this is an excellent book for you. But it is bizarre! It has shifting narration: from each of the four friend's perspectives, "you," AKA the killer, "I," who is unknown until the very end, and from "the man who wasn't there," someone who is watching the friends, but also is not revealed until later on in the book. So many strange and disturbing things happen and while the odd narration can be unsettling, I grew to like it, after hating it at first. I liked the book so much because it never stops and never relents. The action and mystery just keep at it until the very end, and I liked how unique the story was, both in its plot and its take on narration. This book truly is not for everyone; you must not have a weak stomach, and you have to enjoy "bizarre." If both of these things apply to you, and you're up for something really different, and exciting, then I'd recommend you pick this book up ASAP... but you've been warned!

My Rating: 4/5

Christmas Cards For YOU!

2011-11-25T18:00:00.003-05:00

A couple weeks ago I asked on Twitter if anyone was interested in exchanging Christmas cards, but I got no responses. :( I love Christmas though, and I love mailing out cute cards, so I figured I'd ask here. I got the idea to ask my blog readers from Stephany at Stephany Writes who just posted a form today, so I have made my own! I will not give out your address and will discard it after your card is mailed! Please fill out the form if you would like a card! Also, leave a comment that you did so please. You can also send me a card if you like (but totally don't have to). :) Any questions? E-mail me: stephaniet117 at yahoo dot com. Thank you.

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Top Ten Tuesday (3): Authors I'd Love to Have Over for Thanksgiving!

2011-11-22T08:15:00.000-05:00

This week's Top Ten Tuesday, hosted by The Broke and The Bookish, is all about which ten authors you'd love to have over for Thanksgiving dinner! My choices are all authors that I am grateful for and would love to meet/see again. Check it out!

1. Beverly Cleary - if you've been reading my blog for awhile, you probably know that I credit Beverly Cleary (and my mom) for getting me into reading. Ramona is my favorite, and I will always be grateful, so I'd love to have Mrs. Cleary over to say thanks, and to chat about Ramona!

2. Beth Hoffman - I had the honor of going to dinner with Beth while at BEA in May. I would love to spend more time with her! Her novel, Saving CeeCee Honeycutt, is one of my all time favorites and Beth was one of the first authors that reached out to me after I reviewed her book. She showed me how grateful and gracious authors are, and I am so thankful to know Beth.

3. Jen Lancaster - She's one of my favorite authors, as many of you probably know, and she would definitely crack everyone up at Thanksgiving dinner! I'd love to meet her someday. I'm grateful to Jen for making me laugh so hard.

4. Chuck Palahniuk - You probably already know this, but I'm a liiiittle bit obsessed with Chuck. I met him at BEA, and he was so sweet. I'd love to have him over so I could talk to him more and get into his strange and bizarre (but totally sweet) head! I'm grateful to Chuck for screwing with my head and making me say, "huh?!" every time I read his work! Seriously, it's fun and makes me think!

5. Meg Cabot - She's probably on a lot of lists, but I would really love to meet her someday. I am grateful to Meg for writing The Princess Diaries, one of my top five favorite series ever. I cried when I finished the last book because I grew up with the series.

6. Ellen DeGeneres - She's technically an author... see, I just reviewed her book. Who WOULDN'T want to have Ellen over for Thanksgiving?! I'm grateful to Ellen for always making me laugh.

7. Alicia Bessette - So I could beg her to write a sequel to Simply From Scratch (now titled A Pinch of Love), a freaking amazing book that you should all read! Seriously though, I am grateful to Alicia for melting my heart with this book. I can't wait to see what she comes up with next! Plus, I am dying to know why the title was changed. I would love to chat with her!

8. Harlan Coben - Because my mom loves him and I would totally invite a guest for my mom... because I am thankful for my mama above anything else. :)

9. Kathleen Kole - How I adore Kathleen! She has become a great friend of mine on Twitter after I reviewed her novel, Breaking Even, and I would be so happy to meet her someday! I am grateful to have found both a caring friend, and a great writer, in Kathleen.

10. Allie Larkin - Allie and her novel, Stay, are simply amazing! I have met Allie twice now, because she is local, and she is so sweet and cool. I am grateful for Allie because she loves dogs and promotes animal rescue! I would love to see her again someday.

Review: The Christmas Shoppe by Melody Carlson

2011-11-18T08:00:00.005-05:00

Title: The Christmas Shoppe

Author: Melody Carlson

Genre/Audience: Christmas fiction, adult

Publication: 2011

Source: Library

Well, hello, Christmas season, you are early as ever! I don't usually start my Christmas reading quite this early, but this book was due, and I figured, what the hey? I'll read it now... the neighbors have pumpkins out still, and the other neighbors have Christmas decor already. Right now is choose your own holiday time, I guess. So, this is the first of many Christmas reads for me this season. Did I mention I love Christmas books? Well, not this one, so much...

Summary: Parrish Springs is a tiny town getting ready for Christmas. Things are going along as usual until the strange and eccentric Matilda Honeycutt moves to town and opens up a strange thrift store called The Christmas Shoppe. Many of the townsfolk want her and her shop gone, claiming the store and its unusual, used merchandise will hurt their own businesses on Main Street and detract from the ambiance and atmosphere of all the nice shops. Everyone's talking badly about Matilda and her strange ways, but she doesn't seem to mind. Matilda is adamant that the people look in her store to find "what they need," and though she struggles to get them in, those who do go in discover the true magic inside the store...

My Thoughts: I really, really loved the sound of this story. I love magic, especially Christmas magic, and I love small towns, buuut, this book didn't really work for me. I didn't dislike it, but it was just kind of "meh." It didn't feel Christmassy to me at all, aside from the fact that it was Thanksgiving time, and the store was called The Christmas Shoppe. I also didn't care for the characters. Matilda was eccentric and mysterious, which is cool, but we never see things from her point of view. The characters most predominantly featured, Tommy, the newspaper owner, and Susanna, the city manager, were both okay but kind of flat. They also changed their mind nonstop without any logical explanation - one minute they were rooting for Matilda, the next they were badmouthing her like everyone else. They were fickle and uninteresting, and though the book skimmed the surface of their pasts, it didn't delve in enough for me to really care or grow interested.

The shop had magical powers whose details I won't give away, but even that was kind of lame. When something magical happened, it would talk about it only very briefly, and the lives it affected each time were, again, hardly touched on. I think if this book had just focused on one main character and how their life changed, the story would have been infinitely better. The story really did have potential -I LOVE cheesy Christmas books - but it was too all over the place, and had too many characters to develop anyone's story well enough for me to be really invested.

My Rating: 2.5/5

Review: Life, In Spite of Me by Kristen Jane Anderson

2011-11-17T20:42:00.001-05:00

Title: Life, In Spite of Me: Extraordinary Hope After a Fatal Choice

Author: Kristen Jane Anderson, Tricia Goyer

Genre/Audience: Memoir, inspiration, religion, adult

Publication: 2010

Source: Library

I'd seen this book around the blogosphere before, but when I saw that Kristen was coming to a local church to speak, I knew I just had to read it and go see her. When Kristen was 17, she found herself in a dark place, full of despair. In a short period of time, her grandmother and four friends all died, and shortly after, she was raped. Finding herself in a deep depression, one night, Kristen laid down on the train tracks near her house, and waited to die. She felt the pain as 33 train cars ran over her body, but a force was pushing her down. After the train stopped, she didn't know whether she was dead or alive, until she looked over to her right, and saw her legs lying ten feet away from her body.

What happened after is a story of triumph, faith, and hope. Kristen spent months recovering in the hospital and at home, and learning to accept that she no longer had legs. Kristen heard over and over again that God had kept her here for a reason, and she realized that she had been given a second chance at life. She developed a strong faith, and became close with God who made her realize she had a purpose. Today, Kristen is a graduate of Moody Bible Institute, and runs a ministry, called Reaching You Ministries, which helps those dealing with depression and suicidal thoughts. She has had many surgeries and is working towards walking again someday with the use of prosthetic legs.

Kristen's story is so inspiring and hopeful. I'm so glad I got to meet her as she is an incredibly beautiful person both inside and out and hearing her story was amazing. While I am not a religious person, I admire Kristen's faith. I sometimes envy those who have a faith as strong as Kristen does. She came out of her depression and now shines in life and helps so many people by sharing her story. Kristen has inspired me to believe in miracles.

I was deeply touched by this story and am so lucky to have gotten to meet her. I think this story will resonate especially well with those who have a strong faith, but even for me, I felt a sense of hope and inspiration from her story.

My Rating: 4/5

Here is a blurry picture of the lovely Kristen and I, taken by my technologically challenged mom with my 8 megapixel iPhone... don't know how she does it, hahaha! Love you mom. :) It was so great meeting Kristen!

Review: Little Blog on the Prairie by Cathleen Davitt Bell

2011-11-14T22:08:00.000-05:00

Title: Little Blog on the Prairie

Author: Cathleen Davitt Bell

Genre/Audience: Middle grade, YA

Publication: 2010

Source: Library

Summary: Gen is a 13 year old suburban teen who is in for a bit of a shock this summer vacation! Her mother has signed her family up for Camp Frontier, a "vacation" experience in which they will live like real 1890's pioneers including wearing the funny clothes, milking cows, and confiscation of all of their modern things. Gen sneaks in her cell phone though, and constantly texts her friends back home about how miserable it is there and how hard everything is. Despite the arguments with her family, the weird clothes, and nasty food, things start looking up when she meets the cute boy whose family is also "vacationing" there, despite the mean girl who also has a crush on him. Then Gen discovers her friends have turned her text messages into a popular blog which could really stir up some trouble for her on the frontier when a TV crew comes down to meet her. This could mean an end to their experience which Gen was maybe, sort of, just a little, starting to like...

My Thoughts: This book was super cute. While it was a little young for my taste, I think younger readers will love it, and really connect with Gen and what she goes through with her crush, family drama, mean girl fights, and a forced separation from her friends and technology. I loved the morals in the story and the things that Gen learns about what it means to be a part of a family. She learned about responsibility, hard work, and making sacrifices for those that she loves. One disappointment for me was the lack of the "blog" part. I mainly picked this up because of my interest in blogs (because I am, after all, a blogger!). The whole blogging part of the story really didn't come into play until the end of the book. While I think this is fine, and enjoyed reading about Gen's experiences on the frontier nonetheless, perhaps they shouldn't have made the blog seem like a focal point of the story by its title and description. So, just don't expect a lot of blog action if you decide to pick this one up. I think this will appeal to fans of middle grade fiction, history, and Little House on the Prairie! It has a touch of romance which is perfect for younger teens and tweens.

My Rating: 3/5

Review: Practical Jean by Trevor Cole

2011-11-11T13:49:00.003-05:00

Title: Practical Jean

Author: Trevor Cole

Genre/Audience: Literary fiction, satire, adult

Publication: 2011 (in U.S.)

Source: For review, TLC Tours

Summary: Jean Horemarsh is a pleasant and content small-town woman. Married to a nice enough man, no kids, and owner of a ceramics business, Jean sadly just watched her mother die a slow and painful death from cancer. Now, she's decided to give her closest friends a "gift." She's decided to kill them to save them from the pain of growing old and ill like her mother...

My Thoughts: When I first heard about this book, I was SO excited to read it. Isn't the premise so bizarre and one of a kind?! Just my kind of book... no wonder Chuck Palahniuk is my favorite writer! It did not disappoint. It was as dark, strange, twisted, and somehow even funny, as I hoped it would be. You know what else? It also happened to be beautiful. The writing was subtle and gorgeous, descriptive and slow. One of my favorite descriptions was of the sun being fat and buttery (or something along those lines). Despite the fact that Jean is clearly not right in the head, and is violently killing off her friends, you won't dislike her. She isn't doing these things maliciously; she genuinely thinks she is doing them a favor. I also like that Jean is blunt, snippy, and even kind of rude. I wouldn't say she is likable or endearing at all, but I definitely never once hated her - I just knew she was demented a bit and I like quirky characters. I would classify this book as literary fiction, despite its strange topic, and thought it was a little bit slow moving at times, but mostly I appreciated the unique, dark, and strange story. It isn't the kind of book you can race through because of all the lengthy descriptions that you want to absorb. I'd definitely recommend it for fans of dark fiction, Chuck Palahniuk, and Dexter!

My Rating: 3.5/5

Top Ten Tuesday (2): Books Outside of Comfort Zone

2011-11-08T20:07:00.001-05:00

Today is my second week participating in Top Ten Tuesday, hosted by The Broke and the Bookish. This week's topic is books that you've read that were outside of your comfort zone. This list was a little challenging for me since I like to read almost any genre, but I did manage to find some. Links lead to my reviews for the ones I've reviewed. Here we go!

1. Jessica's Guide to Dating on the Dark Side by Beth Fantaskey - Okay, about two and a half years ago, one of my best friends, another Stephanie, raved to me about this book. She insisted I read it, and lent it to me. I was pretty unsure about it because I was not into fantasy or vampires at all, and stuck strictly to contemporary. I had it for a couple of months, then reluctantly started to read it. I COULD NOT put it down! I remember reading it in my film class, even. This became one of my favorite books and opened my eyes to a whole new genre(s). Now, I love reading fantasy, paranormal, and vampire books in addition to my contemporary. It also got me BACK into YA because I had stopped reading it for awhile. So thanks, Steph! I've already preordered the sequel, and cannot wait, though I wish it hadn't taken so long to come out! This was also one of the first books I ever reviewed.

2. Shiver by MaggieStiefvater - Another new topic for me: werewolves! This was my first werewolf book. I decided to read it because of all the rave reviews. I thought it was okay, but wasn't in love. I will still read more werewolf books now, though!

3. Letters From Home by Kristina McMorris - This is a love story set during WWII. I typically do not enjoy historical novels, but I gave this one a try anyways, and it has also become one of my favorites. I have discovered that I LOVE novels set during WWII!

4. Separate Kingdoms by Valerie Laken - I usually don't enjoy short stories, or books about other countries. This was both. I was surprised to find myself really enjoying it though!

5. You Don't Love This Man by Dan DeWeese - This may sound weird, but I don't usually read books from a male POV. This one was not only from a male, but a middle aged one. How could I possibly relate? Well, I liked this book a lot.

6. Heist Society by Ally Carter - I was sent the sequel for review, so decided I'd read the first one first. I don't usually like action/adventure books, but I LOVED it! So much fun!

7. The Potluck Club series by Linda Sheperd - This is a Christian series, and I'm not Christian, but I loved the premise, so I read it anyways. I loved the series, and now am open to reading Christian fiction. If the story line sounds good, I'll read it!

8. Morpheus Road: The Light by D.J. MacHale- This was another male POV book, and it also seemed too young for me but it was so exciting I couldn't put it down! I don't read a lot of middle grade, but I do read it sometimes, and this book was what opened my eyes.

9. Gentlemen Prefer Blondes by Anita Loos - I generally don't enjoy classics, but I have read a lot of them because my Bachelor's degree is in English Literature and I was forced to read them for my classes (oh woe is me). I loved this book though, and thought it was hilarious! It's one of the funniest books I've read and I would never have picked it up if I hadn't had to for a class. Another excellent classic? McTeague by Frank Norris... so bizarre and funny.

10. Eviction Earth by T.C. Pannone - I don't usually read sci-fi but when I was offered this book for review, I took a chance because I love space and the universe. It was a really cool read!

So what have we learned? :) It's good to read outside of your comfort zone! I was reluctant to read all of these books, yet I enjoyed every single one, and some of them are even favorites of mine now!

Review: Seriously... I'm Kidding by Ellen DeGeneres

2011-11-05T16:52:00.000-04:00

Title: Seriously... I'm Kidding

Author: Ellen DeGeneres

Genre/Audience: Humor, memoir, adult

Publication: 2011

Source: Library

I love Ellen. I think she's hilarious, original, and unafraid to be herself. This memoir, her third, proves all of those things. I haven't read her other two memoirs, but I certainly plan on it.

I'll admit, some of the chapters were a little silly and pointless, but in its entirety, this book was funny, lighthearted, and entertaining. I was literally laughing out loud by page two... where Ellen claims her pen name is Danielle Steel. Bahaha. I was cracking up. Meanwhile, my boyfriend, a non-reader (yes, the horror!) had no idea who Danielle Steel was! Aaaanyways... now that I think about it, I was actually laughing when I first picked it up and was reading the back of the book. For real, next time you're in the store and you see this book, just pick it up and read the back.

I've seen some bad reviews of this book, criticizing said pointless chapters and such, but honestly? Just look at the title of the book... Seriously... I'm Kidding. This book isn't meant to be taken seriously, it's for fun, so lighten up, you Negative Nancy's!

Moving on!

I don't get to watch Ellen's show very often, but if I was retired, I would most likely watch it every day. My point is, even if you don't watch her show, this is an excellent book to read if you like Ellen at all, and or just want a funny, positive book to read. It delves a little bit into her personal life, but not much. One day, I'd like to read a more personal memoir by Ellen, but for now, I'm enjoying laughing my butt off at her humorous essays, anecdotes, and ramblings.

My Rating: 4/5

Top Ten Tuesday (1): Strong Book Reactions/Emotions

2011-11-01T16:52:00.000-04:00

Well! This is my first time ever participating in Top Ten Tuesday (hosted by The Broke and the Bookish)... so hello, hello! *waves* I thought this week's topic was really interesting, so today is as good a time as ever to start! This week, the topic is books that you had a strong reaction to/emotional responses. Links lead to my review (of the ones I've reviewed). Here we go:

1. Marley and Me by John Grogan - I am the biggest animal lover of all time, and I remember staying up until the middle of the night to finish this book because it was that good. When I finished, my eyes were stinging because I was so tired, but also because I was bawling my eyes out. My mom came downstairs to use the bathroom and she asked me "what's wrong?!" If there's anything that makes me emotional, it's animals!

2. Bitter is the New Black by Jen Lancaster - This was my first Jen book and it made me laugh SO hard. Thus began my lifelong obsession with Jen, and my constant recommendations of Jen's books to everyone I know.

3. Perfect Fifths by Megan McCafferty and Forever Princess by Meg cabot - I'm putting these ones together because they both made me cry for the same reason: they were the last books of series that I'd read for years and I was devastated when I turned the last page of the last book. I cried so bad when I finished them.

4. A Walk to Remember by Nicholas Sparks - Another one that had me crying like a dang baby! Basically... all of his books do, including The Notebook. *Sob*

5. Haunted by Chuck Palahniuk - First let me say, I really liked it... but this book was repulsive and shocking and when I finished I was left with a feeling of "huh?!" And that's precisely why I love Chuck Palahniuk so much. When I met him at BEA, I... 1. almost died and went to Heaven, I was so excited and 2. was surprised to find that he was such a doll baby... he was the sweetest person ever, even though his books are crazy!

6. Simply From Scratch by Alicia Bessette - This book was ahhhmazing. It made me kinda sad at times, but in the end, it gave me such a happy, warm, content, "ahhh" kind of feeling. I'd be remiss not to mention some of the other books that made me feel this same ooey gooey way: Saving CeeCee Honeycutt by the incredible Beth Hoffman, 32 Candles by Ernessa T. Carter, Up From The Blue by Susan Henderson, If You Lived Here, You'd Be Home Now by Claire LaZebnik, and Promise Me by Richard Paul Evans.

7. My Sister's Keeper by Jodi Picoult - This was my first Jodi Picoult and man, did it make me emotional! I felt like I was on a roller coaster the whole time, and the ending took my breath away. Such a stunning novel. I gave a copy as a gift to my best friend and now she's a Jodi fan for life as well. :)

8. This One is Mine by Maria Sample - Okay, I seriously looooved this book. And the ending was kind of ambiguous but I was just dying to know what happened to the characters... so I promptly got on my computer and e-mailed Maria with my questions and she kindly gave me some answers. :) *sigh of relief*

9. Someday This Pain Will Be Useful to You - This book made me happy/sad. I loved it so much and e-mailed Peter Cameron right away to tell him how much I loved it. It made me crack up laughing, it made me sad and empathetic because the character was lonely, but it also gave me that sense of "not alone-ness," in spite of and because of the character's personality, which is where the happy part for me comes in. Why? Because the character and I were a lot alike, and it's nice to know you're not the only one out there feeling a certain way.

10. The Sound and the Fury by William Faulkner - Had to read this in one of my college courses and hated it. It was so frustrating and confusing. It made NO sense! Ugh! I didn't even finish it. And guess who still got an 'A' in the class? THIS girl.

Review: Here Lies Bridget by Paige Harbison

2011-10-30T11:55:00.000-04:00

Title: Here Lies Bridget

Author: Paige Harbison

Genre/Audience: Young Adult

Publication: 2011

Source: Library

Summary: Bridget Duke is a mean girl. A very, very mean girl. She also happens to be the ruler of her high school - girls want to be her, guys want to date her, etc. Then, a new girl appears at school, and people stop worshipping Bridget like they did before. So one night, Bridget, feeling desperate and anxious of losing her crown, drives too fast and crashes her car. She ends up in limbo, where all the people she's hurt the most appear in front of her to judge her and decide her fate. She's forced to relive certain incidents but this time, seeing things from their perspectives. She will attempt to fix all the horrible things she's done but the question remains: can they forgive her? Is 'sorry' enough to fix the past?

My Thoughts: The concept for this story was interesting, but I feel like I've seen it before... like in Before I Fall, by Lauren Oliver. You know, the mean girl dying and reliving the past to try and fix it and live instead. So yeah, it didn't seem entirely original to me. I thought it was pretty fast paced and I was interested to see how it would all turn out. However, I had some problems with the book. First and foremost was Bridget. She was unrealistically mean. I know that there are really nasty and mean girls (trust me, I went to high school with a few of them), but Bridget was beyond brutal to the point that I couldn't really see someone doing a lot of the things she did. Additionally, when she went back to relive the most horrendous moments, she decided to change in the blink of an eye. Someone as mean and nasty as she was does not just see their meanest moments one more time and realize how bad they are. I really do enjoy stories where someone changes their ways to become a better person, but I like to see a real transformation occur, not 'insta-change,' like Bridget. I do think this book will appeal to many YA readers as it did have a cool concept, but I personally felt it was a bit flawed. I certainly didn't dislike it, but I would have liked to see more of a transformation and a somewhat toned down Bridget. I will read more books by Paige Harbison if she writes more in the future. This was a good debut effort. And by the way, I love and adore her mother, author Beth Harbison, who wrote a favorite of mine, Shoe Addicts Anonymous, and many others.

My Rating: 3/5

Review: The Final Note by Kevin Alan Milne

2011-10-29T18:22:00.000-04:00

Title: The Final Note

Author: Kevin Alan Milne

Genre/Audience: Contemporary, romance, adult

Publication: 2011

Source: Library

Summary: While studying abroad for college, Ethan and Anna fall in love while Ethan plays his guitar on the streets for money. Just a short time later, when they get married, they are very much in love, and hope to be together for the rest of their lives. Ethan promises on their wedding day that he will write Anna her own song for their first anniversary. Flash forward a few years, and Ethan has still not written that song. Instead, he works long, late hours to provide for his family, and the relationship is falling apart. Then, one night, a tragic accident involving Anna tears their family apart. While Ethan wonders if Anna will ever recover, he thinks about his regrets and sorrow for the decisions he's made over the last few years. He hopes that he can finish Anna's song, and that she'll be around to hear it.

My Thoughts: What a breathtakingly beautiful story about love, loss, regret, and ultimately, forgiveness. It broke my heart and brought out so many emotions for me. I am such a sucker for a good love story and this was a great one. The love was so realistic, true, and intense and I really appreciated that. These are the kinds of stories that have always made me believe in real love. While it could be a bit cheesy at times, sometimes, I have to admit, I really love the cheese! Anna was amazing and sweet. She loved when Ethan played the guitar for her, and always left a "True Love Note" in his strings after every time he played. Ethan could be a jerk at times, but after the tragedy, his true character was once again revealed, like at the beginning of the novel. Together, they endured many things such as miscarriages, and setbacks early on in their marriage and I thought this was really true to life. I also thought the first part of the book was really cool, where it showed the two of them in Europe beginning their courtship. If you're a fan of Nicholas Sparks, I strongly suggest you pick up a copy of this book. I've already put his other books on hold at my library and can't wait to read them!

My Rating: 4.5/5

Dewey's Readathon: My Stats and Intro

2011-10-22T09:25:00.006-04:00

Hi everyone! I am starting a couple of hours late, but I am starting now, so here we go! This is my first ever readathon, despite having been a book blogger for over two years. I am also not the fastest reader, so I won't be reading mountains of books like some of you can. :( But, I will do my best. Below are my stat updates and my intro. I can't read the whole time because I have a midterm to take (phooey!).

STATISTICS

Pages Read: 140
Time Read: 2.5 hours
Books:
*The Final Note by Kevin Alan Milne (previously started, finished today).
*Here Lies Bridget by Paige Harbison (started today, currently reading).
Final Update: Epic fail? My goal was to read for a measly 6 hours, but I only read 2.5. I had to take a midterm then go to a Halloween party. Next year, I will try my hardest to have the day completely cleared. But honestly, I don't really think I failed because if I hadn't been doing the readathon, I wouldn't have read 2.5 hours - probably less than one since it was a busy day. I did have fun though, and look forward to participating in the next one!

1)Where are you reading from today?

Rochester, NY.

2)Three random facts about me…

I love animals and people who rescue them. I have a rescue dog, Dakota.
I love the show Dexter like crazy. I want to marry Michael C. Hall.
I love the color combination brown and pink.

3)How many books do you have in your TBR pile for the next 24 hours?

TWO! I know, lame! Slow bookworm over here.

4)Do you have any goals for the read-a-thon (i.e. number of books, number of pages, number of hours, or number of comments on blogs)?

Um, I am a baby when it comes to sleep so I can't partake in the overnight bit (lame), plus I have to take a midterm. My goal is 6 hours.

5)If you’re a veteran read-a-thoner, any advice for people doing this for the first time?

This is my first time. Advice welcome here!

Review: Tassy Morgan's Bluff by Jim Stinson

2011-10-21T16:39:00.005-04:00

Title: Tassy Morgan's Bluff
Author: Jim Stinson
Genre/Audience: Fiction, adult
Publication: 2011
Source: Library

Unfortunately, Tassy Morgan's Bluff fell really flat for me. I loved the sound of it on the back - small town, quirky inhabitants - but it wasn't what I was expecting. I love small town feel in novels and wish I lived in a small town (think Stars Hollow from the Gilmore Girls), but that feeling didn't come through in this book. See, what I like about small towns is the connectedness and the sense of community, everyone knowing everyone, and general friendliness, but that was lacking here. A lot of people didn't know each other, and most of them were quite mean and petty.

But let me back up a little. Tassy Morgan, a recently divorced and rather lonely painter, is the main character and she lives on a bluff overlooking a beach. The bluff is weakening and her home is in serious danger of falling apart - it's already tilting because of the crumbling bluff. She wants to knock it down and rebuild. However, Margaret Nam, her arch nemesis (for mostly unknown reasons), is part of the town board, and disputes Tassy's plans. During Tassy's battle with the town board, she meets her new neighbor, ex-lawyer, Linc, with whom she begins a romantic relationship. So, there isn't really a whole lotta plot here, and that's okay usually, because I LOVE character driven novels... buuuut, I didn't like the characters nor did I think they grew in any way. There was one character, Orson, a gay owner of an art gallery, who I really liked, but he wasn't featured enough. The other characters I either didn't like, or just didn't care for or about at all.

So yes, this book was, for the most part, a disappointment to me and moved quite slowly. I didn't hate it, but I wouldn't necessarily recommend it, and if there were to be a sequel, I would probably give it a pass.

My Rating: 2/5

Review: A Stolen Life by Jaycee Dugard

2011-10-16T16:19:00.005-04:00

Title: A Stolen Life: A Memoir
Author: Jaycee Dugard
Genre/Audience: Memoir, autobiography, adult
Publication: 2011
Source: Library

I'm sure most of you know about Jaycee Lee Dugard, who was kidnapped at age 11, in 1991. She was finally rescued after 18 years, in 2009. While on her way to school, just minutes from her home, Phillip Garrido, and his wife, Nancy, kidnapped her off the street and shoved them into their vehicle. For 18 years, they kept Jaycee hidden in their backyard and brainwashed her into thinking it would be unsafe if she ever tried to leave. They wouldn't even let her speak her real name. They made her dependent on them both physically and emotionally, and even made Jaycee feel empathy for them. Phillip also repeatedly forced Jaycee to have sexual relations with him, and she gave birth to his two daughters while in captivity, the first at age 14.

I believe that this memoir is the first time Jaycee has spoken at great length about her 18 year ordeal. I cannot even begin to fathom what she went through. While reading her story, I couldn't even imagine something like this had really happened, but it did. It sickens me that the man who ruined her entire life is the father of her children. It also sickens me that Phillip made the girls refer to Nancy as their mother, and Jaycee as their sister. The Garrido's are truly disturbed and twisted people and I hope they get what they deserve in jail.

This story is heartbreaking, disturbing, and worst of all, true. I highly recommend it. Everyone should know the truth about what this poor girl endured, and who better to hear it from then Jaycee herself? I am so happy she is working towards taking her life back. This story is a true testimony to what the human spirit can endure when faced with the unthinkable.

My Rating: 5/5

Review: Rock Star's Girl by J.F. Kristin

2011-10-10T20:49:00.004-04:00

Title: Rock Star's Girl

Author: J.F. Kristin
Genre/Audience: Chick-lit, adult
Publication: 2011
Source: For review, CLP Tours

Summary: Emily Watts, 26 year old freelance writer and fashion website owner, just wants to have a fun night out at her friend Jesse's concert. Instead, she meets rockstar, Cory Sampson, and after agreeing to go out on a date with him, makes entertainment headlines. Soon, Emily is famous, just for dating a rockstar, and does not enjoy being thrust into the limelight. When rumors erupt that she's been cheating on Cory with Jesse, she's not ready to face the kickback from Cory's fans, who publicly call her out, call her names, and grow to hate her. Now her career is going down the drain as fast as her love life. Is either man right for her, or is she being used as a career booster for one or both of the guys? Can she save her own career and her reputation before it's too late?

My Thoughts: Insider stories are always fun and interesting to me. This story takes place in the L.A. music scene and I enjoyed the inside glimpse not only of the music scene, but also that of celebrity life and tabloid entertainment writing. Emily lives in a dog eat dog world where people will do anything to get the story or to find fame and things get vicious fast. I liked Emily's character a lot, and how she was an independent, self-made woman who followed her dream. She was shocked by her sudden fame and didn't know how to deal with it, or the pitfalls of her relationship(s). I particularly liked the articles that appeared throughout the book with gossip about Emily and her romance. The love triangle was interesting as well and I honestly didn't know who she would or would not end up with. Jesse was a bit hard to like, but Cory was more likable, though it was hard to know whether or not he was genuine. In Emily's Hollywood world, it's hard to tell the fake from the real. All in all, I thought this was a pretty fun read. While it isn't incredibly thought provoking, it's a good choice for a light, escapist read. It moved a little slowly for me, but I liked the story and would definitely read something from J.F. Kristin again.

My Rating: 3/5

My New Love! Presenting... DAKOTA!

2011-10-04T21:49:00.011-04:00

Hi friends, I haven't been around much lately, but I have a good reason. Really. I promise. See this face?
That's Dakota, my new doggy boy! Dakota is a Bichon Frise/Pekingese mix, 4 years old, 15 pounds, and so affectionate. He loves belly rubs, Denta Stix, stealing hearts, and going and lying in bed before we're even in there. And since you're wondering, yes, he does in fact have a fabulous, world class underbite. My boyfriend and I adopted him from one of our local animal shelters on Friday and I am in loooove. Really. I am just smitten with my little munchkin man. I missed him all day today when I was at work, our first day apart. :(

So, I've been busy helping Dakota get adjusted to his new home. He is really happy here, and I am beyond happy to have him. He has completely stolen my heart. The only problem? He cries desperately when we have to leave him alone. :( It makes me incredibly sad.

Anyways, I'm still reading, OF COURSE, but haven't been able to as much during Dakota's adjustment period. He's really beginning to settle in here, so things will be back to normal around the blog pretty soon, but just cuter. ;) Expect lots of pictures of my little man.

Our little family.

See... Dakota reads with mom! What a good doggy!

Creation of a Cover!

2011-10-03T16:42:00.002-04:00

I was happy to meet author, Laurie Boris, this year at BEA and hear about her new book, The Joke's On Me. The cover is really cool and different so I was intrigued. She told me she and her husband made it and I was so impressed! Want to know how it was created? Read on!

About That Cover by Laurie Boris

I write the books in the family, but my husband, Paul Blumstein, paints the pictures. In his long career, Paul has illustrated enough covers for a whole shelf of books, and for almost twenty-five years, I’ve had the pleasure of watching each design blossom on his drawing table. (And, much to his embarrassment, of pointing them out to random people whenever I spy his work in bookstores.) So when 4RV Publishing’s publisher, Vivian Zabel, agreed to take on The Joke’s on Me, I hoped I’d be allowed to choose him as my cover artist.

I wrote, “I hoped” because back then, there were several things I knew for sure. There was no tooth fairy, it was not possible for me to watch Casablanca without blubbering up a storm, and new authors have no input into their cover artist or design, and sometimes even the title.

Fortunately, the underlying philosophy of my publisher is that they work closely with authors and illustrators to produce a quality product in alignment with the author’s vision. We agreed from the start that my working title needed a makeover, so together we brainstormed to develop something catchier. When I rather timidly offered my husband’s services, 4RV’s art director, Aidana WillowRaven, asked for some samples, and gave him the green light.

It helped that his whimsical, quirky style fit the tone of the book. It helped that before devoting my life to writing, I was a graphic designer, and began my career at Syracuse University Press laying out book covers. So Paul and I were tasked with working together on a cover design. It also helped that he read the book in an earlier draft, so he knew the story.

One day we were batting a couple of ideas around. Because the book has more than its fair share of tomato metaphors (I have this thing for tomatoes), I suggested including tomatoes or tomato sauce in some shape or form in the design. Since Frankie, my protagonist, was a stand-up comic, one concept included splashing a tomato across the cover, the classic symbol of audience disapproval. (My one bit of violence in The Joke’s on Me is a marinara rampage, but I don’t want to give too much away.) We worried that it would look too much like blood. While that might work for a James Patterson novel, it’s not what this story is about, even if we spot-varnished the seeds so it was clearly a squashed tomato and not O negative.

Paul suggested just using a couple of tomatoes–one representing younger sister Frankie, the Hollywood stand-up comic, and one for Jude, the older Goldberg sister, an ex-hippie and serial divorcee.

I liked it. It felt clean and simple, and satisfied my tomato lust.

So he went to the farmer’s market and picked out a few pretty tomatoes. He shot them with his digital camera, then pulled it into Photoshop and began to play. Tomato Frankie got movie star sunglasses; Tomato Jude got a peace sign and some love beads. He paired this with fun, but very readable fonts. I hesitated about the white cover. After I’d done a little recon work (a trip to Barnes & Noble) and scanned through my book collection, it seemed like nearly every novel in my genre had a full-bleed (printing runs off all sides of the page) cover.

“But that’s just the thing,” Paul said. “The white will make it stand out.”

In the end we left that choice up to Aidana and Vivian. They also preferred the white.

Tomato Jude and Tomato Frankie went into the produce bin to await final approval. When everyone signed off, Paul chopped our “love apples” (as tomatoes used to be called) into a delicious tomato and cucumber salad, and we ate them.

In the end, we couldn’t tell which tomato was Jude and which was Frankie, who lent the sweetness and who lent the tang, but that’s the magic of tomato salad. It all becomes one.

Review: Heist Society by Ally Carter

2011-09-27T16:56:00.005-04:00

Title: Heist Society

Author: Ally Carter
Genre/Audience: Young adult, fiction, adventure, mystery
Publication: 2010
Source: Library

Heist Society was a friggin' blast.

I was a bit hesitant going into it, because I'm not typically one for action/adventure, in my movies or books, but wow, was I surprised to find myself really enjoying it!

Katarina Bishop comes from a long line of career criminals. Her family's business is that of thievery and conning... but don't worry, you'll like them! Despite being master manipulators and con artists, Kat and her family are quite likable. Kat recently conned her way into an elite boarding school, with hopes of escaping the "family business," but just a short while into her stay, has been taken out by her friend, Hale, in order to save her father. He's been accused of stealing a priceless art collection from a dangerous man who demands they be returned in two weeks time. The problem is, her dad didn't steal them, and doesn't know where they are. In order to save him, Kat puts together a team of other teen con artists to find the paintings and steal them back. The job seems impossible, but Kat is determined to save her father.

This book was kind of like a fantasy world. No, I don't aspire to be a thief or criminal, but I loved the jet-setting all over the country that Kat did, and the camaraderie she had with her co-conspirators. In other words, the story didn't necessarily seem realistic, but it sure seemed fun! This book was pure entertainment and adventure, an escape from reality, with a nagging question full of suspense: will they recover the paintings in time without getting caught? I also enjoyed the air of mystery surrounding the original thief of the paintings, the enigmatic "Visily Romani."

I'd highly recommend this for all YA readers looking for something a little different - particularly fans of adventure, mystery, and intrigue. I am looking forward to reading the next in the series, Uncommon Criminals.

My Rating: 4/5

Life Update.

2011-09-23T19:20:00.004-04:00

Hi everyone! I know I've been a crappy blogger for basically the whole month of September and I am planning on fixing that right away! Things have been hectic for me this whole month. Recap? Okay:

First weekend of September... went to Cedar Point with boyfriend, brother and future sister in law. Rode lots of rides, listened to crappy music in the car, played Apples to Apples and just overall had fun.
Then, the next weekend, got my wisdom teeth out... got dry socket... had pain for two freaking weeks! The ordeal is finally winding down. I am back to normal eating, and have to flush out the holes in my mouth where the teeth were for two weeks, several times a day. It's to clean the food out so it doesn't get infected while it heals. I have to use a bendy syringe. Woohoo! TMI? Sorry.
Then the next weekend, AKA last Saturday, I moved! I got a nice apartment with my boyfriend, Charles. I really like it, but I miss my momma, dad, and pets. :( I still see them almost every day, though. We are basically unpacked, but I still have lots of things at my parent's place, namely books, that still need to be brought over. Boyfriend is putting together my new bookshelves this weekend. Expect pictures soon!
Lastly, I am now in grad school. I'm getting my MLS online and am liking my classes so far... except for cataloging... hate cataloging.

So that's what I've been up to this past month. Things have been so hectic that my reading and blogging have been cut back drastically, which makes me sad. I do have a couple of reviews coming up in the next week or so, though, so I'm excited about that. Hopefully things will be getting back to normal and I can pick up my normal reading pace again! :) I have some cool books picked out to read in the month of October. I'm a huge fan of Halloween and fall so I have some scary books to read next month! I also can't wait to go on a haunted hayride; they're my favorite.

What have you been up to? What scary books can you recommend? What do you like to do in the fall?

Review: Twenty-Eight and a Half Wishes by Denise Grover Swank

2011-09-15T20:42:00.006-04:00

Well it's certainly been a hot minute since I've posted a review up on this here blog! Things have been crazy and will continue to be as I am moving on Saturday! Mouth is STILL sore from surgery, but hoping I'll be back to eating normal foods in another week or so. And with that, onto the review!

Title: Twenty-Eight and a Half Wishes
Author: Denise Grover Swank
Genre: Mystery, Southern, chick-lit
Publication: 2011
Source: For review, CLP Tours

Rose Gardner is a naive 24 year old Southern girl with psychic-like visions of the future. One day while working, she sees a vision of herself... dead! Only... it's her nasty and abusive momma that ends up dead that night instead of her. Realizing that she isn't going to live forever, and that her vision may still come true in just a few short days, Rose makes a list on the back of a Wal-Mart receipt of 28 things she wants to do before she dies. These include things like playing in the rain, kissing a man, and doing "more" with a man. Before she can make a dent in her list though, Rose becomes the prime suspect in her momma's murder. Rose quickly realizes someone is after her, believing she has something that they want, and they will do anything to get it - including kill again. When her house gets broken into, her sexy new neighbor, Joe, comes to the rescue. Now, Rose must clear her name, stay away from the dangerous killers, complete her list, and figure out her growing emotions for Joe, who has a few secrets of his own!

Such a fun Southern mystery with a lovable and adorable heroine! I loved Rose. Even though she is 24 years old, you'd definitely think otherwise. Her momma sheltered her for her entire life and Rose is severely lacking in life experience. Having never kissed a man or drank alcohol, Rose promptly adds these to her list of things to complete before her impending death at the end of the week and Joe is happy to help. Her list also includes things like dancing, getting a cell phone and cable TV, as well as a dog. Her list demonstrates just how much she has been sheltered and how much she has yet to live. Her naivety, while silly, is actually quite endearing. I also loved her Southern charm, and loved the dialogue throughout the novel. Oh, how I wish I had a Southern accent...

The mystery was fun and surprising, the romance was a roller coaster ride also full of mystery, and the main character was funny and charming. If you like Southern novels and mysteries with humor, this is definitely the book for you! I am really looking forward to the next book in the series, and I already miss Rose, so hurry up and write, Denise. :) Haha!

My only problem was that there were some grammatical errors/typos, which could easily be cleaned up and edited, so I did not let that deter me from my enjoyment of the story!

My Rating: 4/5

They love me, they really love me!

2011-09-12T11:18:00.005-04:00

I was extremely surprised and overjoyed today to see two blogging friends write about me in their BBAW Community posts today. Thank you so much to:

Adam from Roof Beam Reader, who is probably one the most intelligent bloggers I know. He writes exceptionally well thought out reviews, and I always trust his opinion. He is way too cool. 8-)

and

Allie from A Literary Odyssey, who was one of my very first bloggy friends. Allie is tackling quite an interesting challenge to get through 250 of the classics and I really admire her perseverance! I know how tough it can be to read classics so way to go, Allie!

I've been blogging for over two years now, and I often wonder if my earliest bloggy friends remember me. As beginning bloggers, we all tend to flock towards each other, then break off a bit as we find our niche in the blogging world. While I don't read the same types of books as either of these bloggers, I still read their blogs and respect their opinions, and value our friendship. It's nice to know I am still remembered and I appreciate the two of you, as well. Thanks for making my day!

My two year blogiversary was on September 8th, but I was busy getting my teeth yanked out, so there will be a post about that soon once I am fully recovered. As per usual, I will get all sentimental and mushy gushy, so be prepared.

I love you all, friends!!! :)

Still here...

2011-09-11T19:17:00.004-04:00

Hi guys, I'm still here, I'm just in a lot of pain and have not been able to read or spend much time online. I'm looking something like.... this:

I know. I'm thinking of submitting it to America's Next Top Model. It's stunning.

I'm getting pretty frustrated and upset because I thought I would be feeling better by now, but it still hurts, I still can't eat, and I'm getting pretty crabby.

I'll be back just as soon as I'm better!

(Damn wisdom teeth).

I'm leavin' on a jet plane (or in a station wagon).

2011-09-02T16:24:00.005-04:00

Just a quick post to let you all know where I'll be for the next few weeks.

Tomorrow morning, I'm leaving for Cedar Point in Ohio. It's the best amusement park ever, and a must for roller coaster lovers like myself. This will be my 4th or 5th time. I'm going with my boyfriend, my brother, and his fiance. We are going in my boyfriend's station wagon, as my title implies. I like to laugh at his vehicle.

The following weekend I am getting all four wisdom teeth removed. I'm kind of nervous as I am a big, giant baby. I am getting the laughing gas though, so hopefully it will all be just a distant, foggy memory... Wish me luck. We'll see how it goes...

THEN, the weekend after that, I am moving! My boyfriend and I got an apartment and I am pretty excited/nervous to live on my own.

I also started grad school this past Monday. If you don't already know (and you probably do), I'm getting my Master's degree in Library Science. I can't believe I'm a grad student. It feels like I just graduated high school... and now I sound like a grandma. Sorry, guys, I'm quite nostalgic.

As you can see, things will be pretty hectic for this month, so if I'm not around as much, that's why. I'll definitely be around as much as I can, and still posting/commenting whenever possible. Things will be back in full swing next month, though!

Talk to you soon! :)

Review: Two Kisses For Maddy by Matthew Logelin

2011-08-28T21:51:00.001-04:00

Title: Two Kisses For Maddy: A Memoir of Loss and Love
Author: Matthew Logelin
Genre/Audience: Memoir, non-fiction, adult
Publication: 2011
Source: Library

On March 24, 2008, Matt and Liz welcomed their first child, Madeline, into the world. Just 27 hours later, Liz died of a pulmonary embolism in the hosptial without ever holding her baby, who was premature and in an incubator.

Matt fell apart. Liz was his high school sweetheart, and they had been together for over 12 years. He didn't know what to do without Liz. Neither did he have any idea how to raise a baby, let alone a tiny preemie. But, having no other choice, he learned - both how to cope without the love of his life, and how to raise his new "best girl."

This memoir covers the first year of Maddy's life and life without Liz. We see Matt become a fumbling wreck to a competent daddy with the support of his family, friends, blog community he encounters, and the memory of Liz (by the way, I really liked the blog aspect. Matt created a blog to write about his experiences and made a lot of supportive friends through it. It reminds me of all the friends I've made via this here blog!). He thinks of her every day, and tries to infuse as much of her as possible into Maddy's life. For instance, he purchases Maddy fancy outfits at an expensive boutique just because he knows Liz would have.

This book was obviously sad. Matt often burst into tears at random moments just thinking about Liz. He couldn't let go of her personal effects at their house, and struggled just to sell her car. I can't even imagine what he was going through and it was heartbreaking to read about. At the same time, it was also hopeful. As he wrote, Maddy was now his reason for living, and without her, he would have nothing.

I enjoyed watching Matt progress from clueless to father. It was really cute and endearing. It's amazing to see the kinds of things people can endure when they have no other option. I also really liked how he focused a lot on keeping Liz's memory alive for their daughter. Even though she is too little to understand, he talks to her about her mother, and often takes her to all of Liz's favorite places including Mexico! He is far too overprepared on airplane rides though, bringing 11 diapers and 6 extra outfits or so... too funny. One thing I noticed was that this book was actually more about Liz and his grief than Maddy. While she is, of course, a central part of the story, I was expecting a bit more about her. Oh well.

Be warned, there is A LOT of swearing in this book - mostly F bombs. Matt's personality really shines through in this book, and he is quite crass and foul mouthed. I had no problem with this - in fact, I liked Matt a bit more because of his cynical and slightly rude personality - but I know that some people get quite offended by swearing. This made the book a little less sweet and touching than I had anticipated it being, but it certainly did not ruin it for me and I didn't really mind.

If you read this book, yes, you'll be a little sad, but the good thing is, you probably won't be depressed, because Matt manages to make the most out of things, and turn his situation around, and in a way, Liz is still always around them. I'd recommend this one to those interested in memoirs, particularly those about parenting or loss and the grieving process.

My Rating: 3.5/5

Review: Just Friends With Benefits by Meredith Schorr

2011-08-27T20:19:00.009-04:00

Title: Just Friends With Benefits
Author: Meredith Schorr
Genre/Age: Chick-lit, romance, adult

Publication: 2010

Source: For review, CLP Tours

Just Friends With Benefits follows the dating trials and tribulations of 32 year old paralegal, Stephanie. Back in college, she had a huge crush on Craig Hille, but wound up dating his friend, Paul, instead. Now, ten years later, and still friends with Craig, Paul, and the gang, she realizes she still has feelings for Craig. She attempts to start up a relationship with the infamous "one that got away," but realizes it may not be enough when Craig describes what they have as just "friends with benefits." So now the question is, does she continue trying to pursue him, or does she find someone else? Better hope she finds out quick, too, so maybe her mom will get off her back about not being married yet and giving her more grandchildren!

I loved the camaraderie in this book. After college ended, Stephanie stayed in close contact with her group of friends, which included Craig, and even traveled to other states to celebrate holidays and birthdays with her friends. Together, they celebrate, drink, and sing karaoke, amongst other things. I delight in my close friendships, and enjoy reading about others in stories such as this one.

Aaand of course, I also love stories about dating and looking for love. I never tire of these kinds of books. It's so much fun to read about. It makes me both happy and sad that I don't need to date anymore (no, I am not married, but am in a 5 year relationship). I could understand Stephanie's frustrations, but also her moments of elation that you experience at the start of a new relationship... or whatever the heck you wanna call her and Craig!

So overall, I thought this was a super fun story. I would have liked having a better sense of Stephanie, though. For some reason, I didn't feel like I "knew" her as well as I have other characters in the past.

If you're looking for a light, fun, humorous read, this one is definitely for you! I look forward to reading more from Meredith Schorr in the future! This was the perfect read for me after having just read several dark/sad memoirs. It put me in a fun mood!

My Rating: 4/5

Review: Tiger, Tiger by Margaux Fragoso

2011-08-24T10:15:00.004-04:00

Title: Tiger, Tiger
Author: Margaux Fragoso
Genre/Age: Memoir, non-fiction, adult
Publication: 2011
Source: Library

When Margaux is 7 years old, she meets 51 year old Peter one day at the neighborhood swimming pool. They become fast friends, and Margaux's mentally ill mother is delighted that Margaux has found a friend and father figure, as Margaux's own father is verbally abusive. When Peter brings them to his home, they are delighted to find many animals from guinea pigs to alligators, and together, Margaux and Peter create imaginary story worlds in which Margaux is often a tiger. It seems like a child's dream, but soon, Peter's manipulation and mental illness become apparent, as he begins to sexually abuse Margaux in secret, and claims to be in love with her. He hangs photos of her in his room and has numerous photo albums of her. He soon becomes Margaux's whole world too - her best friend, her father, and worst of all, her lover. He remains the biggest figure in her life until she is 22 years old and he commits suicide. For 15 years, he had a hold on Margaux's life, and stole away her childhood for his own twisted wants and "needs."

This memoir is very disturbing, as you may have gathered, but it was beautifully written and hard to put down or stop thinking about. While the book centers on the twisted relationship between Peter and Margaux, it is also the story of Margaux's childhood and horrible family life. Margaux was already on the verge of losing her childhood when she meets Peter, and he is the one who finally whisks it away from her. Prior to meeting Peter, and during their relationship, we see the sad dynamics between her parents. Her mother is in and out of mental hospitals, and her father, an alcoholic, is constantly berating both Margaux and her mom. It seems logical that Margaux would welcome another adult into her life, as she desperately needs a parental figure. Peter seems to sense this need. To Margaux, he really seems to care about her, and she relishes in that, but his true nature is quickly revealed. Margaux, naive and only 7 years old, is easily manipulated by the conniving Peter. Somehow, he keeps her in his life until she is 22 years old. Even as a young woman, she feels a desperate need to be with Peter who has completely brainwashed her and stolen her innocence.

It is just disturbing to think that a grown man could shatter a child's life like this, because he knows he has the power, control, and influence to do so. Are there really people like this in the world? Yes, there are, and Margaux's memoir is the first I've read of its kind, in which she reveals so much about her attacker without ever attacking him. I wonder if, even in death, he still has some sort of twisted hold on her. Sometimes, while reading, I just wished that she would start spewing hatred for him, but she never did, except when they were fighting (and their fights would often get very violent).

I can't really say I recommend this book to anyone because it is highly disturbing and repulsive. At the same time, I do think this is an important issue to talk about in our society and something that happens all too often. There are many forms of child abuse, and this is one of them. I admire Margaux's bravery in sharing her story, but often wondered how she could remember such exact details from when she was only a child. As you can see, this book is very difficult to review and talk about, but sometimes, those are the exact things we need to talk about and recognize before anything can ever get better. If you enjoy memoirs, are not too "faint of heart," and want to take a glimpse into something that is a huge problem in our world, then read this memoir. If you've read other memoirs of child abuse, then this is an important one for you to read.

How do I rate this book? I really don't know. If we're going on writing and readability, I'd give this a 4/5.

Review: Cocktail Hour Under the Tree of Forgetfulness

2011-08-18T22:45:00.004-04:00

Title: Cocktail Hour Under the Tree of Forgetfulness

Author: Alexandra Fuller
Genre/Age: Non-fiction, memoir, adult
Publication: 2011
Source: For review, TLC

Cocktail Hour Under the Tree of Forgetfulness is the second memoir by English born Alexandra Fuller, who grew up in Africa. This second book chronicles the life of her mother, Nicola Fuller of Central Africa. It discusses her childhood in Scotland and Africa, and her adulthood, enduring war in Africa.

I'm really sad to say, this wasn't the book for me. I thought I would enjoy it more since I am a huge fan of memoirs, and have a good friend from Africa (Sudan), but it just didn't click with me.

I have her first memoir, Don't Let's Go to the Dogs Tonight, but have not had the chance to read it yet. I still plan on reading it though, and hope I like it better than this one. I have high hopes for it because her writing is eloquent and witty, which is one part of the story that I did enjoy.

The reason I didn't click with the story that well was because it was extremely historical based, and I am not into history at all. The fact that it was the history of some places I had never even heard of made it quite hard for me to connect and very confusing as well. There was also an over abundance of "characters" if you will, (I hesitate to say characters in non-fiction, but what else can I say?) and that left me feeling confused too, not to mention frustrated.

I did enjoy some of the anecdotes... the ones that were more focused on her mom and the family rather than history, and found some parts to be pretty funny too, such as Alexandra and her sisters being dressed up in crazy costumes for a party. Her mother was really quirky and her antics did make me smile and laugh... I just wish the story would have been more focused on her instead of the places she lived. She was interesting and funny enough that, to me, it didn't really matter where she lived, I just would have liked to hear her story, not the story of the places she occupied. I would have loved to hear more funny things about the crazy (but in a good way) Nicola Fuller of Central Africa (love that name).

Gotta love the cover though, right? It's her mother, and her first best friend, Stephen, the chimpanzee! Fun fact: I have been obsessed with monkeys since I was a little kid. In kindergarten, I learned about Koko the signing gorilla, so my mom bought me a stuffed animal of Koko and I have been smitten ever since... with all monkeys, but Koko has a special place in my heart. :)

Anyways, I believe that fans of both memoirs and history will really enjoy this book. Just because my rating is low does not mean it was bad. It really was a well written book and quite funny (those parts of which I enjoyed a lot), but as a whole, it just wasn't for me. I hope you'll give it a try if it piques your interest!

My Rating: 2/5

Review: Blow Me by Lennie Ross

2011-08-15T18:03:00.004-04:00

Title: Blow Me

Author: Lennie Ross
Genre/Age: Chick lit, adult
Publication: 2011
Source: For review, Chick Lit Plus Tours

Summary: Blow Me follows the lives of three single women friends living in LA. They are all close to forty and unfulfilled in their lives. Skylar, or Skye, just lost her job and accidentally set fire to her apartment. Now she's living out of her car, showering at the gym, eating free snacks at hotel bars, and getting money from guys when she's lucky. Dawn works as a matchmaker at a company for rich older men, has just been set up by her pushy mother with a great guy, and has been talked into freezing embryos by her doctor, since time keeps on ticking and she's not getting any younger. Chloe is an aspiring actress and real estate agent with a French Canadian accent who falls in love with every other guy, and has yet to sell a house, or land any real acting gigs. None of the women are truly satisfied or fulfilled with their lives in any aspect - career, love, children. Together, they will manuever through LA's dating scene and try to find happiness in their lives.

My Thoughts: There's something oh so appealing about reading chick lit in which single women are searching for love. I love reading about the crazy dates and antics experienced by women on their quest for the perfect man. And wow, were these girls and their antics CRAZY! Skye goes on a $5,000 shopping spree with Brent, then sleeps with him, only to find out he's married. Chloe vies for attention from a man who loves his dogs more than her. And Dawn, well... her man just may be the one. I thought it was a lot of fun reading about life in LA, and just how unglamorous it really can be to those who are living on the opposite side of rich.

I was slightly disappointed by the friendship between the three women in this novel, though. It seemed quite superficial and I did not see a true friendship "chemistry." A lot of the story itself is actually superficial as well, and the women were pretty out of control and immature. I felt like I was reading about 20-somethings instead of 40-somethings a lot of the time. Who knows, though? There probably really are women like this, especially living in LA.

I thought this book was fun and light, though I would have enjoyed it better if the friendships were developed into something more real, and the superficiality was down played a bit more too. While the story isn't something memorable, it's pretty entertaining. I will definitely NOT hesitate to read future books by Lennie Ross.

Please note, some parts of the story were a bit raunchy or more mature, though not overly graphic, so I would recommend this to readers 17 and up.

My Rating: 3/5

Review: Stiltsville by Susanna Daniel

2011-08-09T20:10:00.005-04:00

Title: Stiltsville
Author: Susanna Daniel
Genre/Age: Women's fiction, literary, adult
Publication: 2010
Source: For review, TLC

Stiltsville is a stunning portrait of a marriage from its inception all the way to its tragic demise.

Frances meets Dennis on a trip to Miami in the late 60's, while visiting Stiltsville, a community of stilt homes in Biscayne Bay. Their romance takes off, and soon they are married. Frances moves to Miami, and starts a life with the young lawyer. Together, they raise an exceptional daughter, deal with miscarriages, live through riots, hurricanes, and face illness.

The book is broken into sections with each section being a different year in their lives, and covers almost 30 years of their marriage. It does not cover every year, but skips ahead quite often - however, you never feel like you're losing anything, and get a sense of what their lives were like during the years that aren't covered.

A great aspect of this novel is that it is infused with real life events that occurred in Miami from the 1960's through 1990's, with these historical events running parallel to the marriage. We see how Frances and her small family deal with such events as the race riots, Hurricane Andrew, and University of Florida murders. I looked each of these events up while I was reading the novel, and thought it was fascinating that Daniel's combined these real life events with her fiction. It enhanced the reading experience for me.

I loved this book so much and will consider it a new favorite. Since I got to peer into almost 30 years of Frances' life and marriage, I felt like I truly knew her. My heart broke with her and soared with her. I experienced her marriage with her, her ups, her downs, her heartbreak, her joy. I loved having an intimate look into a realistic marriage as well as seeing them raise their daughter from birth to her own marriage.

This story is breathtakingly beautiful. It moves at a slower pace, but is elegantly written, and full of heart. The first 100 pages didn't hook me immediately, but was setting up the story. After that, I couldn't stop reading. Really. I stayed up until 1:00 AM to finish this book, and I am almost always in bed by 10:00 or so (yeah, yeah, I'm an old lady, so what?). I felt a true connection to Frances and feel that she is one of the best developed characters I have ever read.

This book will stay on my bookshelf for years to come, and will be treasured for a lifetime. I know I will re-read it when I get married myself and find comfort in the story, even through the sadness. Highly, highly recommended! I want everyone I know to read this book!

My Rating: 5/5

Review: Repairing Rainbows by Lynda Fishman

2011-08-08T20:15:00.003-04:00

Title: Repairing Rainbows: A True Story of Family, Tragedy and Choices
Author: Lynda Fishman
Genre/Age: Memoir, non-fiction, adult
Publication: 2010
Source: For review, Tribute Books

Repairing Rainbows is a heartbreaking, beautiful, and ultimately, inspirational story of love, loss, life, and family. At 13 years old, Lynda's mother and two younger sisters were killed in a tragic plane accident. Her large and close-knit Jewish family come together in mourning, but her father, now left alone to raise his one remaining daughter, falls into a state of shock and depression.

Though Lynda was devastated and alone, she made her own choices in life, and decided to keep on living, despite the hurt and loss. The early memories of her childhood living with her two very different, but equally lovable sisters, are touching and sweet, showing the power of sisterhood and family. Her mother was devoted and doting, coming into the girls bedrooms every single evening to say good night to her girls. And in an instant, Lynda's life changed, as did the lives of the rest of her family members who were crushed by this great loss.

I liked this story for the hope it offered in light of tragedy. I felt so much pain for the lives lost and for Lynda, a young woman losing her mother at one of the hardest stages in life. We all need hope sometimes, don't we? Lynda's story offers hope that you can turn life around, you can keep on living, and you can determine your own life story with just a little hope. Lynda is an admirable woman full of strength.

I also loved how this story shed light on the importance of family. It showed me that we should never, ever take those that we love for granted.

I recommend this book to those who love memoirs, and also those who have experienced tragedy, or need a little hope in their lives.

My Rating: 3.5/5

Review: In Her Wake by Nancy Rappaport

2011-08-02T18:01:00.006-04:00

Title: In Her Wake: A Child Psychiatrist Explores the Mystery of Her Mother's Suicide

Author: Nancy Rappaport
Genre/Age: Memoir, mental health, non-fiction, adult
Publication: 2009
Source: For review, TLC

Suicide is "a permanent answer to a temporary setback" (page 216). When Nancy was four years old, her mother, (also) Nancy, a wife and mother of six children, committed suicide. In this memoir, Nancy searches to uncover the answers and reason for her mother's suicide. Through extensive interviews with family and friends, as well as in depth reading of her mother's own writings as well as newspaper articles, Nancy tries to unravel the past.

This book came to me at just the right time and for that I am grateful. Last week, my family and I got the horrible news that a childhood friend (my brother's best friend as a kid) had committed suicide. Though I hadn't spoken to him in years, as children we hung out a lot and had so much fun making movies, playing video games, etc. He was always funny and so full of life... so we couldn't understand why he had done this. We were all shaken and terribly saddened by the news, even though it'd been awhile since we'd known him. We feel sad for his family and loved ones and sad for him most of all, because for reasons unknown to us, he must have been so sad, so desperate, that he felt this was his only option.

I don't think that people who take their own lives realize how big of an effect it has on everyone. I've learned that suicide has long arms - probably a lot longer than the victim can imagine. Our friend's death reached out to so many people and shook them up, people that were friends with him many years ago that he probably didn't even know still cared. But they did. I know that for the rest of my life, I will be left wondering why, and even more so for those that were close with him. I will always remember him as the 12 year old boy who made my family and I laugh non-stop, running around in the backyard as "The Galloper," our version of a scary movie. I'll miss the boy I once knew, and I know even more people will miss the man he had become, who I was not fortunate enough to know.

Because of these recent events, I found myself very invested in this book, and wanted desperately to know why Nancy's mother killed herself. Though on the outset, the suicide appeared to be an effect of a long custody battle which she lost, I know it had to have been more. Someone needs to feel so desperate, so alone in this world, to take their own life. Nancy was a very disturbed woman with a lot of emotional problems, despite her outer appearance to the world - that of a successful, beautiful politician and loving mother.

This memoir was both excellently researched and beautifully written. While it had the merits and intelligence of a scientific and well-researched book, it also had the heart of a memoir from a loving and desperately curious daughter. Much of the book was a run through of the family history, and not entirely about her mother and the suicide. The family was very large, boisterous, and dysfunctional - very fascinating to read about. Nancy's father remarried a young, overwhelmed woman and eventually the family had 11 children (including step-siblings and half siblings), with her mother living separately from her children.

I really enjoyed this memoir. Despite the tragic topic, it manages to be beautiful, brave, and bold. Nancy's story shows the lasting effects of suicide and the never-ending questions revolving around such a tragedy. When people leave this earth unexpectedly, the mystery, guilt, and pain never goes away, though Nancy tries to answer the tough questions.

I'd recommend this book to fans of memoirs, and those interested in mental health topics, not just suicide. I am grateful to Nancy for sharing her (and her mother's) story.

If you or someone you know has ever considered suicide, please reach out for help. Realize you are not alone in this world and you never will be. Realize that there are people that love you, need you, and want you. Think about the effects of your actions. Please visit this site for more information and help: http://www.suicidepreventionlifeline.org/

My Rating: 4/5

Review: Lessons From a Dead Girl by Jo Knowles

2011-08-01T15:57:00.002-04:00

Title: Lessons From a Dead Girl

Author: Jo Knowles
Genre/Age: Young Adult
Publication: 2007
Source: Library

Lessons From a Dead Girl has a very interesting - and disturbing - premise. When Laine was a child, the popular and beautiful, Leah, befriended her. Soon, she discovered that Leah was manipulative and disturbed, frequently abusing Laine in her doll closet - what she called "practice" for when they were older. Laine never knew how to stop her, but she knew it was wrong.

When the story opens up, we discover that Leah, now 17, has just died, and Laine has very mixed feelings about it. She feels both relief and guilt. As the story progresses, we learn of how their relationship evolved, and that Leah herself was abused as a child. As the girls enter high school, they drift apart, and Leah relentlessly harasses Laine about their shared past, resulting in Laine's hatred for Leah.

I didn't love this book, but I thought it was still a decent read. Each chapter is a different "lesson" that Laine learned from Leah throughout her life. Each chapter is sort of like a vignette of its own. Because of that, I felt like the story wasn't as strong or as developed as it could have been. It was still a very fascinating and unique topic, just not as good as I had hoped. I feel it could have been expanded upon too, as it was a very short novel.

My Rating: 3/5

Review: The Book of Lies by Mary Horlock

2011-07-31T18:04:00.003-04:00

Title: The Book of Lies

Author: Mary Horlock
Genre/Age: Literary fiction, historical, adult
Publication: 2011
Source: For review, TLC

Summary: The Book of Lies tells two alternating stories that took place on the island of Guernsey. One is that of Cat, an intelligent 15 year old girl in 1985, who killed her best friend Nic, the popular golden girl and new arrival on the island. Once best friends, a betrayal and cruelty from Nicolette sends them far apart from each other. The other story is of Cat's family history, and the German occupation on the island. Her father Emile, now deceased, is obsessed with the story of the occupation in hopes of repairing his brother Charlie's tarnished reputation.

My Thoughts: Oh how excited I was to read this novel. I love murder, suspense, and intrigue in my books, and I've also always been fascinated by the Holocaust. However, I have to admit I was let down, despite the exciting sounding premise.

First things first, I LOVED Cat. She was pretentious, snarky, and a little bit crazy. Her narration was pretty hilarious and I loved the casual style of it and the way she spoke. She used an awful lot of parentheses to express unrelated thoughts, which I do often, and I really appreciated that. For example, after using some "big" or interesting words, she would go "(excellent word)." She was a bit conniving and manipulative, but she did crack me up.

Despite the excellent narration and characterization in this book, for me, it kind of dragged, and it was extremely confusing at times. There were a lot of names and characters mentioned and I had no idea who they were throughout the entire novel. I'm definitely one for detail, and I often flip back to re-read things, so not knowing who certain people were was quite frustrating. I also think the book just never picked up its pace. I thought it was going to be full of suspense and mayhem, but it was mostly a long, drawn out account of Cat and Nic's friendship, and Charlie's history with the German occupation.

The idea of this book was great, as was Cat herself, but the execution wasn't the best and it did not hold my attention.

My Rating: 2.5/5

Review: Stay by Allie Larkin

2011-07-25T17:34:00.005-04:00

Title: Stay
Author: Allie Larkin
Genre/Age: Women's fiction,
contemporary, adult
Publication: 2010
Source: Won

Summary: Savannah "Van" Leone has just watched the love of her life, Peter, marry her best friend Janie. Wallowing in sadness and Kool-Aid vodka cocktails, Van impulsively orders a German Shepard puppy online from Slovakia, who she names Joe. After the purchase, she realizes he cost $6,000, and when he arrives, he's a lot bigger than expected, and only understands commands in Slovakian. Though he's a bit much, Van loves him something fierce. He helps heal her heart, broken from losing the love of her life, and the death of her mother a few years earlier to cancer. While putting the pieces of her life back together, she meets Joe's cute new vet, Alex, who may just be the (rest of the) answer to mending her heart.

My Thoughts: Stay and I have quite a history together. It's kind of a funny story. Well, not really, but I do love that line. One year ago, I won this amazing contest from Allison Winn Scotch that included 28 autographed books from female authors. It was the most exciting thing to ever happen to me. One of the books included was Stay. When it arrived in the mail, I was admiring the cute dog on the cover and reading the inside flaps when I noticed: Allie Larkin lives here in my hometown! I had no idea and I was ecstatic.

Then, a few months later, Allie was doing a reading at one of the local colleges that my best friend attends, so she invited me to come along. The reading was awesome! Afterward, we got to meet Allie, and I got my book autographed again! Yes, it is double autographed (well... triple autographed now... more on that later). She was super nice and the book sounded amazing, yet I still hadn't read it. See, I have this weird thing about books that I am so excited for. I put them on a special shelf in my room and there they sit. I think I get nervous about reading those books that I'm dying to read because I don't want the magic to be over. I know. Weird. Anyways, then I started a book club last month and we decided to read Stay and invite Allie Larkin to attend (more on this in another post) and so, down from its special shelf it came and I read it last week.

What a wonderful and moving story about the love of animals and the special bonds we form with our pets! As a huge animal lover, I was touched by this story, and also laughed in recognition at all the funny dog antics. I loved Joe and wish he was mine. My dog's cute and all, but he does NOT understand Slovakian and let me cry on his fur.

I knew I was going to love this book from the opening scene in which Van is attending the wedding of her two best friends/love of her life. I loved Van's tone. It was dry, sarcastic, and pessimistic. Plus, I kept hearing it in Allie's voice from the reading and she's a good reader!

While this book had its light and fun moments, I liked that it also explored some deeper, more serious issues. Van and Janie have a unique past and the relationship is somewhat hurt by it. Van's mother worked as a housekeeper for Janie's rich family. Van and her mother lived in their carriage house, and Van and Janie became quick friends, while Van's mother and Janie's mother, Diane, became best friends as well. When Van's mother dies, the dynamics are entirely thrown off, and Diane pushes Van away, leaving Van feeling hollow and alone.

When Van meets Peter in college, she loves him instantly. He keeps her as a best friend, but rejects her as a potential love interest when his rich family rejects her because she doesn't live up to their high (read: rich) standards. She keeps loving him though.

Van has suffered a lot of heartbreak and Joe was the perfect catalyst for all of it. For once, Van felt loved and less alone. For those of you who understand and cherish the love of an animal, this is a must read! For those of you who also love exploring the intricacies of friendships and love, this is a must read for you, too.

My Rating: 5/5

*Please note that, as always, my review is honest and is unbiased by my personal connection. I truly loved the book. I will post about our book club meeting with Allie later this week, so stop by!*

Review: Click by Lisa Becker

2011-07-17T21:50:00.003-04:00

Title: Click: An Online Love Story

Author: Lisa Becker
Genre/Age: Chick-lit, romance, adult
Publication: 2011
Source: For review, CLP Tours

Click is a fabulously fun debut novel told entirely in e-mail. Renee, upon reaching her 30th birthday, agrees to try online dating with her best friend, Mark. Her experiences are wild, hilarious, and fun, making me both regret and be grateful that I've never done online dating. She shares all of her experiences via e-mail with her best friends: anal-retentive but super sweet Mark, man-eater Shelley with her wild flings, and uptight Ashley with her on-again off-again relationship , all of whom also share their own love life with Renee.

Seriously, this book was a ton of fun, from Renee's crazy friends and their bickering, to the creepy and (sometimes) nice guys she meets online. There's a crazy, angry guy who goes nuts when she doesn't e-mail him back, to a B-list actor who is totally conceited, to a gay wardrobe stylist, and many, many others. While I had so much fun laughing at these experiences, I was also wondering and hoping that Renee and her friends would find true love... and of course share it, via e-mail!

I really enjoyed this light, fun read... I loved the humor, the crazy dating, the romance, and of course, the close friendships. I'd highly recommend this to those of you who love books in e-mail format, like myself.

My Rating: 4/5

Guest Post: Author Melissa Foster (2)

2011-07-15T16:46:00.003-04:00

I'd like to welcome Melissa Foster back to StephTheBookworm today. I have reviewed both of her novels, Chasing Amanda, and Megan's Way, two really interesting and unique books! Last month, Melissa was here talking about how to make writing a daily habit. Today is a quite different topic: helping others. I think this is really fitting since I reviewed Chasing Amanda today. The main character, Molly, desperately tries to help in a missing persons case. Anyways, without further ado, please welcome Melissa!

How Helping Others Helps You to Succeed, by Melissa Foster

I really enjoy helping women to find a happy balance between work, family, and personal goals, and I enjoy helping aspiring writers. Reaching out in these two areas of my life fills me with happiness and rejuvenates me.

I spend time on The Women’s Nest chatting with women on a daily basis. We share our daily challenges, help each other through difficult times, and applaud the large, and the small, accomplishments of life. I often find myself speaking with aspiring writers about the challenges of creating alternative worlds with fictional characters, and what it means to be a writer. Together we create marketing plans and work through the angst of solitude that many people transitioning their careers experience. Sound boring? Not to me. These conversations invigorate me.

The act of helping others offers more than adding another element of happiness to my life. Some of the most creative and interesting people that I know are people whom I’ve met through these channels. In turn, it has helped me to become more inspired and more successful. I love to make personal connections with my readers. I’d reach out and speak to every one of them if I had the avenues to do so! Discussing the good, the bad, and the ugly about my books helps me to become a better writer and understand what readers want. In addition, reaching out has broadened my vision of the world and expanded my thought process, which carries over to my writing.

I met my publisher through a fellow author, my assistant through The Women’s Nest, and some of my closest friends because they approached me as readers of Megan’s Way and Chasing Amanda. Every day holds an opportunity for you to reach out and network. I encourage you to do so in all aspects of your life. You might be surprised at how much you can learn and how good you will feel when you help others to succeed.

I love to chat with book clubs and readers. If you’d like to chat, drop me an email; thinkhappygirl (at) yahoo (dot) com

Review: Chasing Amanda by Melissa Foster

2011-07-15T16:35:00.004-04:00

Title: Chasing Amanda

Author: Melissa Foster

Genre/Age: Suspense, adult

Publication: 2011

Source: For review

Summary: Nine years ago, Molly witnessed a kidnapping, and the child was later killed. She couldn't deal with the pain and guilt, so she and her family uprooted out to the country. Now, a 7 year old girl, Tracey, has gone missing. Meanwhile, Molly, who has psychic abilities, which she calls The Knowing, continues to have visions and feelings about the missing girl. Molly believes if she can find Tracey, she will alleviate her guilt and pain. She gets heavily involved in the case, and into some danger. The real question is, will she find her before it's too late?

In alternating chapters, we also see from Tracey's viewpoint, who is hidden underground, with her captor, a character we know. Just as desperate as Molly is to find her, we are desperate to find out why she was stolen and why her captor believes it was justifiable.

My Thoughts: I really love reading books about missing people, kidnappings, and disappearances. One of my favorites in this category is The Year of Fog by Michelle Richmond. Although it is a very sad topic, it is fascinating too and I find myself captivated by these kinds of stories. Chasing Amanda was an interesting story about kidnapping, made even more interesting by the fact that we see Tracey, the abducted child, and hear her point of view while she is missing. I've rarely come across missing persons stories like this, and really thought this was a cool concept, rather than having the abduction shrouded in complete mystery... but don't be mistaken! There still is plenty of mystery surrounding it, in that we know who kidnapped her, but are left wondering why they did it. The kidnapper states repeatedly that they saved Tracey, and were doing what they had to do. Since we knew where Tracey was, I wasn't on the edge of my seat with the suspense, but I still really enjoyed it. I also liked the psychic visions that Molly had, giving the book a touch of the supernatural but in a very realistic setting.

The story is quite interesting and I think it could be even better with some excellent editing. On numerous occasions, I would come across a sentence that really should have been two, as there were two different statements separated only by a comma (Example: "Molly put on her jogging clothes, the familiarity of them felt like an old friend..." p. 201). Because I am a stickler for grammar, this detracted slightly from my reading experience, but I don't think it would bother everyone.

All in all, I think this is a good read for those who like suspense and some supernatural too!

My Rating: 3.5/5

Review: Beauty Queens by Libba Bray

2011-07-13T10:56:00.003-04:00

Title: Beauty Queens

Author: Libba Bray
Genre/Age: Humor, satire, young adult
Publication: 2011
Source: Library

Summary: The 50 Miss Teen Dream pageant contestants were expecting a fun-filled, sunny beach trip. Instead, their plane crashes on a seemingly desert island, and only a handful of them survive. Together, they fight snakes, search for food, and practice their pageant moves. They're in for a surprise when the heartthrob pirates show up, and they discover there is more to the island then they initially thought...

My Thoughts: Okay, the first thing that you should know about this book is that it is entirely satirical. It is all a giant play on today's materialistic society and the idea of beauty vs. brains. Can you have both? What does it mean to be beautiful? It also speaks a lot on media influence. The story is full of irony, wit, and pure satire, as stated before. It even has "commercial breaks" for various products sold by The Corporation who is basically running America.

While I truly appreciate the satire, uniqueness, and sense of sarcasm that is shown throughout the book (seriously. I'm one of the most sarcastic people you'd ever meet), I think it went a bit too far. By that I mean that the ENTIRE book was focused solely on being clever and making a point rather than focusing on the storyline at all. Because of this, the story was really hard for me to get into, and I found I had no problems putting it down at all.

There were definitely aspects I enjoyed about this book. It was pretty funny and clever at times, and the characters were developed extremely well. Despite there being a ton of characters, I felt a sense of knowing each of them. The girls really started to learn about and better themselves too. The ending also really picked up pace, and the last 75 pages or so finally captured my attention, which is what prompted a slightly higher rating from me. Despite all this though, I was simply not engaged for the first 300 pages or so. I think satire can be done really well so long as there is still a real and enjoyable story underneath it all. With Beauty Queens, though, it just seemed like every single thing was a big joke and I was quite bored.

My Rating: 2.5/5

Review: 32 Candles by Ernessa T. Carter

2011-07-12T21:14:00.005-04:00

Title: 32 Candles

Author: Ernessa T. Carter
Genre: Women's fiction, contemporary
Publication: 2010
Source: For review, TLC

Summary: Davie Jones is ugly. On top of that, she's poor, and living with her abusive single mother in Mississippi. She's teased relentlessly at school, given the nickname, Monkey Night, and desperately in love with the handsome, popular, and rich, James Farrell who doesn't know she exists. But one thing gives her hope: Sixteen Candles, and her dream that one day, she too will have her very own "Molly Ringwald Ending." She clings to this hope until a cruel joke pushes her to the edge, and she runs away to L.A. without a second thought. There, she reinvents herself into a cool and successful lounge singer at a ritzy nightclub. Everything is different for Davie now - until she runs into James again, years later, and he falls desperately in love with her, not remembering or recognizing her at all. Their relationship is passionate and wonderful, until Davie's past comes back to haunt her, with the threat of destroying the new life she's created for herself, especially the love she and James share.

My Thoughts: Ya know, foolishly and unnecessarily, I wasn't sure about this book. Davie seems quite the opposite of me. She's a poor, black Southern girl with an abusive mother. I'm a middle class, white girl from New York with two of the best parents in the world. But you know what? I absolutely loved this book, and I completely mean it when I say I COULD NOT put it down. I came to realize that Davie really was like me in so many ways. In fact, Davie Jones is every woman, with her insecurities, jealousies, and things she'd sometimes like to forget. I love Davie and I was sad and reluctant to finish this book because I did not want to say goodbye to her.

This story sucked me in from page one. Last night, I started it, standing up in my room while waiting for my boyfriend, and today I finished it. I just thought, "hey, I'll read a few pages real quick," but soon, I sat down, and started flipping the pages compulsively. I read it at 7:00 this morning before going to work, I read it on my lunch break at work, and both times I was so reluctant to put it down. Then, I got home from work and I gulped down the last 200 pages without getting up, except to go for a quick walk with my mom, during which I raced home to finish. Reading a book this quickly and this compulsively is rare for me, but I just couldn't stop reading.

To say I love this book is an understatement. I'm telling you now, this is one of my favorite books I've read in 2011, and will without a doubt remain that way through the rest of the year. Davie was such a unique character, completely lovable, despite her many errors and flaws, which made her all the more real. She was quirky, strong willed, and brave, never letting anyone break her completely, despite their best efforts. She was an ideal female heroine, one that can be looked up to, and will never, ever be forgotten. Davie kind of "comes of age" in this story, but in her own unusual ways, and I'd like to be half as strong as her.

There were so many quirky things about this book too that I just loved. For example, as a side job, Davie starts up a business called Soul BunnyGrams in which she delivers singing telegrams dressed as a bunny. What in the world?! I freakin' loved it.

In addition to loving the story line itself, I also love the way the story is told. It is broken into sections, "then," "now," and "between then and now" covering approximately 20 years of her life, from childhood to adulthood. Each chapter and section reveals more of her story and past, culminating in a shocking and vengeful act that Davie schemes, that inadvertently has the potential to destroy her life and everything she has worked for.

Ernessa T. Carter is a strong and amazing new voice in fiction and I anxiously await her next novel. I am so elated that I decided to step out of my normal reading comfort zone by picking this book up, because it is a real treasure that will stay on my bookshelf (except for when I'm passing it around for all my friends to read) for years to come. I suggest you read it as soon as you can. I would recommend this to just about anyone who appreciates a good story with excellent writing.

My Rating: 5/5

Review: Things We Didn't Say by Kristina Riggle

2011-07-05T18:15:00.004-04:00

Title: Things We Didn't Say

Author: Kristina Riggle
Genre/Age: Contemporary, women's fiction, adult
Publication: July 2011
Source: For review, TLC Tours

Summary: 26 year old Casey comes with a past that her 36 year old fiance, Michael, knows nothing about. She recently moved in with him and his three children, and now they're falling apart at the seams. His teenage daughter, Angel, appears to loathe Casey, and eight year old Jewel watches as the silence and tension in the house deepens every day.

Then, Michael's 14 year old son, Dylan, runs away, and things come to a head. Michael's very mentally ill and former alcoholic ex-wife, Mallory, rushes to the home in hysteria over her missing son, and fights and manipulates Casey while they frantically try to locate Dylan. In the midst of this family crisis, Casey also faces an internal crisis, as her past threatens to be exposed after Angel reads her diary and spills the information to Mallory. All the while, she wonders whether she should stay or go, and whether she should say the things she's been afraid of saying for far too long.

My Thoughts: Sometimes it's hard to find the right words to describe a book you loved. I loved this book and I will do my best to share why.

Things We Didn't Say is an incredible novel full of dark secrets, hidden pasts, and a helluva lot of family drama. Dysfunctional characters are almost always my favorite, and this was chock full of them. I flew through this book in a couple of days, and was sad when I had to turn the last page.

Riggle has true talent for capturing emotions and accurately portraying them through a variety of voices. The chapters alternate narration between all of the major players, and we get to hear from about six different characters. All of their voices are distinctly different and frighteningly realistic, from an 8 year old girl, to a 36 year old man. Riggle's voice is flawless, and all of these characters shine through in their own unique ways. Not a one of these characters had weak or unrealistic writing in their respective chapters.

So, the writing obviously blew me away and drew me in to all of the characters lives. But more importantly, the story line was so compelling and dramatic. These people's lives are like train wrecks and you just can't look away. So flawed, they all are, and painfully real.

Mallory was fascinating in that she was so mentally ill and manipulative in nearly everything she did. She basically gave up her children to alcoholism, and is completely irrational and hysterical nearly all of the time.

I really liked Casey, flaws and all. Her chapters were amongst my favorites. She is full of secrets and shame, both of which she needs to overcome in order to move on with her life and live peacefully in the present. God, how my heart broke for her, so many times. She was the runt of so much blame and guilt, even from Michael at times, despite her best efforts and good heart.

The three children were great. Dylan was quiet, sweet, and introverted, Jewel, bubbly and full of life. Angel was emotional and snotty in her teenage ways, and was the only one of the children who didn't like Casey.

Anyways, I could go on, but all you need to know is that I loved this book and all the drama that came with it. It sucked me right in and I will definitely re-read this again in the future to absorb all of the details and revisit the characters.

My Rating: 5/5

Author Interview: Janet Ruth Young, The Babysitter Murders

2011-07-05T17:35:00.004-04:00

Okay, this is probably one of the most fascinating interviews I've ever had here on my blog. Please welcome Janet Ruth Young, author of the forthcoming The Babysitter Murders (July 26, 2011), which I just reviewed. I am just pleased as punch to have her here today. :)

1. Was any of this story true or based on anything true?

Yes. I had to leave a babysitting job because, like my character Dani Solomon, I had persistent thoughts of harming the children I was responsible for.

2. What interests you in mental illness? Did you do a lot of research on OCD?

I have up-close experience with several mental illnesses---enough to write five or six books, in fact. Which is sort of a curse from the suffering angle, but a blessing because I get to be the person to bring certain kinds of information to the world. I like shedding light on mental illness from a new and different angle, and I like examining the place of mental illness in society and the culture, in seeing how a culture identifies ill people as scary or dangerous and therefore isolates or stigmatizes them.

For The Babysitter Murders, I had my own experience to draw on, but I also located an OCD (obsessive-compulsive disorder) expert, Kimberly Glazier of Yeshiva University, who discussed my ideas with me, reviewed several drafts, and made sure that both Dani’s internal experience and the treatments Dani received were accurate. Kim’s input shaped the story to a significant degree. It was great to work with Kim, too, because more than once we marveled at the fact that although we work in different fields we had the same goal. We’re both frustrated that the illness Dani has, which is actually not uncommon, goes undiagnosed or misdiagnosed and therefore untreated, and we’d like to make sure that more people can recognize it as OCD.
In addition to working with Kim, I consulted two of the leading nonfiction books on OCD, The Imp of the Mind and Getting Control, both by Lee Baer. And I always, always, always, when writing about mental illness, use the book Your Mental Health by Allen Frances and Michael B. First, which is the layperson’s version of the DSM-IV, the manual psychiatrists and psychologists use to diagnose their patients.

3. Do you think Dani was a "bad" person? How would you have reacted if you were the little boy's mom?

Whether Dani is bad or not is one of the key questions the books tries to raise. It really depends on whether you judge thoughts the same way as you judge behavior. If you judge them as equivalent, she’s definitely bad, but if you judge her only by behavior, by the way she treats people around her, she’s pretty wonderful. Several reviewers have pointed out how considerate she is. Despite the ordeal she goes through figuring out how to cope with the crazy thoughts she’s having and people’s reactions to these thoughts, she barely even becomes irritable. She’s always protecting others from hurt. When the police semi-arrest her, she thanks them for driving her home.

In terms of the second part of this question, if I were me now, obviously I would know enough about OCD to suggest to Dani that she and her mom look into the possibility that OCD is causing the thoughts. If I were ignorant of the illness, as Cynthia Draper is, I hope that out of respect for all that Dani has done for me and my family I would not overreact in a way that would damage Dani. For instance, I might give Alex to a neighbor for safekeeping, then call Dani’s mom and ask her to take Dani to the emergency room.

4. What do you think of the people who were after Dani? Good people seeking justice, or monstrous?

Again, one of the key questions of the book. (These are great questions.) I’m playing around with the idea represented in the phrase “protect our kids.” Just about everyone in the book has the goal of protecting kids, but they act out that motivation in different ways. Dani’s mom, Beth Solomon, wants to protect her own child. Others who don’t understand Dani’s illness want to protect kids from Dani, even if that means having to hurt Dani. I tried to make all these characters’ motivations legitimate enough that readers have to keep re-evaluating which side of the question they’re on.

5. How should people have reacted to Dani?

Someone along the way---perhaps not Dani herself or her mother or her best friend or her boyfriend or the woman who hired her as a babysitter---should have realized much earlier what was wrong with Dani. I have to lay some blame at the door of Dani’s first therapist, Dr. Kumar, who, since she’s unfamiliar with Dani’s illness, assumes that Dani’s violent thoughts are the product of unresolved anger.

6. Who would you envision in a movie of The Babysitter Murders?

A natural redhead such as Julianne Moore to play Dani’s mother, Beth. Tom Hanks and Nicolas Cage to play the good cop and the bad cop. And someone really exciting and newsworthy, like Lady Gaga, to play Dr. Mandel. I don’t know the current crop of teen actors well enough to cast the teen roles. Perhaps those roles would be filled by unknowns.

Review: Zombie Blondes by Brian James

2011-07-04T09:02:00.003-04:00

Title: Zombie Blondes

Author: Brian James
Genre/Age: Zombies, Young Adult
Publication: 2008
Source: Library

Summary: Fifteen year old Hannah and her dad are always moving to run away from his problems. When they arrive in Maplecrest, things seem strange. The town is eerily quiet, and most of the houses are deserted and up for sale. When she meets the popular girls at school, nearly identical pale, blonde cheerleaders, she's desperate to fit in. So desperate, that she doesn't heed her friend Lukas' warning: they're zombies, and they'll turn her into one too if she's not careful...

My Thoughts: I love zombies. I'm waiting for the day a zombie apocalypse befalls us, and I. will. be. ready! So, I was excited to read this book. It seemed like a fresh, unique take on the zombie tale. But, *sigh,* was it ever disappointing.

First of all, this was hardly a zombie tale. No zombie action happened until the very end. Leading up to that, the zombies seemed like regular people, if a little strange. It was lacking all the excitement and action of a zombie story, and until the end, the zombies were very unconvincing. They don't act like zombies at all. Robots, maybe, with their (nearly) identical appearances and actions... but zombies? Notsomuch.

Okay, so aside from that major issue, the book wasn't bad. Hannah is the new girl in town, she wants to fit in but struggles, she meets boys, has problems at home, etc. See, this could have been a good story, if it wasn't trying to be a zombie story. I wanted zombies and I barely got them. Either there needed to be a lot more zombie action, or this should have not been a zombie book at all, just Hannah's story and struggles with moving all around and whatnot.

The writing was good. The characters were interesting. The book moved along at a really fast pace; I read it in a day and a half... so I definitely didn't hate it, I was just disappointed because my expectations were much different from what was presented.

My Rating: 2.5/5

Review: The Babysitter Murders by Janet Ruth Young

2011-07-03T15:12:00.003-04:00

Title: The Babysitter Murders

Author: Janet Ruth Young
Genre/Age: Contemporary fiction, Young adult
Publication: July 26, 2011 (anticipated)
Source: For review, Teen Book Scene

Summary: Dani has strange, disturbing thoughts and images in her head that she can't control. When she has visions of killing Alex, the five year old she babysits, her life turns upside down. She fears she will truly hurt him, even though she loves him, and tries to quit her job to protect him. When his mother refuses to let her go, Dani reveals her visions to her. His mom immediately notifies the police, and the information gets leaked to the media. Now, "Dani Death" is threatened and bullied on a daily basis, even having rocks thrown through her window. She decides to run away from home, and now a violent and malicious group of "child protectors" is after her, searching high and low to find her. Dani just wants to know what's wrong with her, but can she escape and find out?

My Thoughts: I loved the premise of this book and eagerly awaited my chance to read it. It sounded deliciously creepy, something I love. I did enjoy the story, but was thrown off quite a bit by the writing style. It was written in third person present tense (I think that's what it would be called), and this was incredibly awkward to me. An example of this writing style would be something like, "Nancy walks down the street and sees her ex-boyfriend. She feels embarrassed and goes the other way." This just does not flow with me at all, so I felt distracted the whole time I was reading. I felt that this really detracted from the story.

As far as the actual story line though, it was quite intriguing, if a bit over the top. The reactions to Dani's visions were crazy, especially the child protector group who basically wanted to kill her. I can see that her visions were in fact disturbing, but she was innocent. She didn't hurt anybody, and didn't intend to. I can't see a community reacting the way hers did in real life, but maybe there are some crazy enough people? I'd like to believe that people would be more understanding of mental illness in a case of innocence, but who knows. If she had acted on her visions, that would have been one thing, but this was something entirely different. The big question of this story is: do bad thoughts make someone a bad person? Or do only bad actions make someone a bad person? This idea is SO thought-provoking to me, and I still don't have an answer.

So, all in all, an interesting and very unique story, with an even better underlying question. I would have enjoyed it better if it had been written in a different style, but it's still worth the read! Very controversial!

My Rating: 3.5/5

Giveaway: Starring In the Movie of My Life by Laurel Osterkamp

2011-07-02T18:33:00.003-04:00

So, I just read this book, Starring In the Movie of My Life, by Laurel Osterkamp.

Aaaand, I loved it so frackin' much that I gave it 5 stars. Really. Check it out.

Aaaand, I'm so excited to say, I have an extra (brand new) copy to give away to one of you (please note, the copy you will be receiving has a different cover than what is pictured here).

Giveaway Details:
Comment below with your e-mail
Followers only (old or new)
US only
Winner selected July 9 2011, via random.org

Good luck! The winner will be in for a real treat with this book!!! :)

Review: The Art of Saying Goodbye by Ellyn Bache

2011-06-30T11:55:00.000-04:00

Title: The Art of Saying Goodbye
Author: Ellyn Bache
Genre/Age: Contemporary, women's fiction, adult
Publication: 2011
Source: For review, TLC Tours

Summary: Paisley is a gorgeous, magnetic, and energetic woman that captures everyone's attention with her charm and inner goodness. She lives in an affluent neighborhood, along with five other women friends who are all very different, including Iona, the woman in her 60's who is quite older than the others, and is a bit mean-spirited, and Julianne, a nurse who has a psychic ability to feel her patient's pain. Also included are Ginger, a business owner, and Andrea, Paisley's best friend and mother of a cancer survivor. Because of their differences, the women aren't as close as you'd think, but Paisley binds them all together in some ways.

Then they are hit with tragedy. Paisley, the strong, lovable, and popular woman, has cancer and it has begun to travel through her body. All the women cope differently with this news, and the story alternates between the women's different viewpoints so that we learn each of their stories, and find out how they are coping as well.

My Thoughts: When I first heard about this book through TLC tours, I knew right away I would need to read it. I loved the sound of it: a group of female friends dealing with their leader having cancer. Right up my alley. I'm having a little bit of a hard time, though, gathering my thoughts about this one. I would say I liked it, but it was much different than I'd expected so I was slightly let down because I went into it thinking I would LOVE it.

What I can say is that this is the kind of story that just begs to be read slowly in order to take it all in. The writing is eloquent and not to be rushed through at all, full of minute details and beautiful language. I appreciate words and language, of course, but I feel that the eloquence sometimes downplayed the actual story at times.

What I do love is that all the women have their own story, their own past and that the novel focuses on all of the women equally. The novel shifts POV from one character to the next throughout. I wanted to know each character, and often found myself flipping back to remember all of the details of their own stories. It was a little bit difficult to keep track of everything at times, like who was married to who, and which kids were theirs, etc. but they all had pretty interesting stories.

The friendship between the women wasn't really what I expected. Andrea was the only one that was actually close with Paisley. Most of the other women were more like acquaintances to her, with some sort of a tie to Paisley from the past. This was kind of disappointing too.

All in all, I did like the story. It was written in a unique manner, with Paisley having flashbacks in her chapters, and the other women alternating narration in the other chapters. The plot could have been more centrally focused rather then jumping around all over the place, and I feel that the author could have focused more on the actual story than her writing style. I did want to keep reading though to see how it would all end and would recommend this to those of you who really appreciate beautiful writing above all else in a story, and enjoy very character driven books.

My Rating: 3.5/5

Review: No One to Hear You Scream by Julie Madeleine + Giveaway!

2011-06-29T12:51:00.003-04:00

Title: No One to Hear You Scream

Author: Julie Madeleine
Genre/Age: Suspense, thriller, adult
Publication: 2011
Source: For review, Pump Up Your Book

Summary: Brett and Pamela Jameson, hoping to get a fresh start for themselves and their 17-year-old daughter, Justine, and her baby, buy a beautiful house out in the country. Unfortunately, the house was previously owned by Rory Madden, a violent drug dealer, who was in jail and is now out. He is determined to get the house back and will stop at nothing. He digs up all the family's secrets and manages to get close to Justine and will use everything he can to split up this family and reclaim his house.

My Thoughts: This book was especially interesting to me because the setting is near where I live, so actually knowing the geographic locations she was referring to was pretty cool. Also Rory Madden is a former terrorist from Belfast and I have a "sister" in Belfast, who started coming here during the summer, starting when she was 11 years old, and I was 10, to escape from the "troubles," so having firsthand knowledge of that situation was also pretty cool. My "sister" is now 23 years old and we are still close. She has come to visit almost every summer and is even going to be a bridesmaid in my brother's wedding next year.

Anyways, this was a very suspenseful story. The first half of the book did not have a lot of action, but was more of a set-up of the characters and situations before getting into the meat of the story. Once the action was set in motion, I was really nervous reading the rest of the book, wondering who was going to end up hurt or getting killed. I tore through probably the last twenty pages, just dying to see what happens.

If you are looking for an edge of your seat thriller, then pick this up!

My Rating: 3.5/5

*GIVEAWAY* I have one brand new copy of this book to give away to one lucky follower! Please leave a comment with your e-mail address below for your chance to win.

U.S. only/13 and up/Followers only/Ends July 8th/Winner picked via random.org

Review: Breaking Even by Kathleen Kole

2011-06-26T20:24:00.003-04:00

Title: Breaking Even

Author: Kathleen Kole
Genre/Age: Romance, chick lit, adult
Publication: 2011
Source: For review, Chick Lit Plus Blog Tours

Summary: Penelope, a smart and sensible accountant, is engaged to her longtime boyfriend, Ben. Things seem to be going well until she meets Scott, a gorgeous single dad, while dropping her nephews off at school. After hitting it off with Scott, she starts questioning her engagement, and starts feeling like they are in a rut, or are an "old married couple," as she says. She begins to get a makeover, and fights with Ben nonstop, all the while daydreaming about Scott. Alongside her are the wives of Ben's two brothers, Kris and Renee, who are also having some issues of their own, and together, they talk, gossip and share secrets about their relationships.

My Thoughts: This was a really fun, fast read. I think that most women can relate to feeling like they are in that rut, and wanting to spice things up in their lives and relationships. Because of this, Penelope and her future sisters in law are very relatable characters with realistic drama.

At the same time, I couldn't help but feeling somewhat upset and frustrated with Penelope. She has a really good guy who loves her, yet she keeps picking fights with him, and daydreaming about someone else. Maybe it just means he's not the one for her? Or maybe they just need to work on their relationship?

I really liked Kris and Renee. The dynamic between the three females was great! They support each other, help each other out (dropping off each other's kids to school, helping with Renee's cake business), and even fight. They seem to be true best friends, not just sisters in law. They both had little story lines of their own which was a great extra to the story.

All in all, this was a fun little romance/chick lit read. If you're in the market for something light, fresh, and true to life, this is the book for you! It could have used a bit more polishing and editing, but overall I think this was a nice debut from Kathleen Kole. I will definitely read her upcoming novel Dollars to Donuts.

This story is also appropriate for readers 14+, in my opinion. Nothing too graphic or inappropriate.

My Rating: 3.5/5

Review: Starring in the Movie of My Life by Laurel Osterkamp

2011-06-24T19:40:00.006-04:00

Title: Starring in the Movie of My Life
Author: Laurel Osterkamp
Genre/Age: Contemporary fiction, adult
Publication: 2011
Source: For Review, Chick Lit Plus Blog Tours

Summary: This story centers around two women. Samantha is a 35 year old with a good heart, but next to no ambition, and a lot of hang ups. She's never had a career, has had a disastrous on-off relationship with her ex, Collin, for many years, and still seems to be hung up on him, despite her growing denial that she's not. She doesn't want to be a mother but is newly pregnant... as a surrogate for her best friend about which she is making her first film.

Melody is a cold manipulative 18 year old high school senior with a careless mother and a lot of hang ups of her own. What Sam and Melody have in common is Nathan, Sam's new 25 year old husband, and Melody's English teacher. Melody has become oddly attached and obsessed with Nate after he saves her from being raped at a dance at the high school, and schemes to get him to leave Sam for him. While Sam loves Nate, there is still that lingering doubt about Collin, who also happens to manage their apartment building.

The story is told in alternating chapters between Melody and Samantha. Both of these women are deeply flawed but striving for love, redemption, and acceptance... it just happens to be from the same man.

My Thoughts: I'm not one for giving out 5 stars all willy-nilly. I am deadly serious about my 5 star rating and have only given out two so far this year. Pretend you can see my serious face. Okay? Well, I am giving my third 5 star rating for this incredible and surprising novel by a new favorite author, Laurel Osterkamp.

This story was so unexpected. I thought it was going to be light and fluffy, which is totally a good thing, but it was dark and serious, an even better thing in the right circumstances. These were the right circumstances.

These characters and their issues were so... I don't even know... wild? Intense? Fascinating? Yes, let's go with fascinating. I was sucked into their stories from the very first page in which Melody is nearly raped then rescued by Nate. For me, Melody was a difficult character, in that she was a total jerk and a master manipulator, and I didn't like her, yet, my heart went out for her... sometimes. Even though I didn't like her, I was captivated by her nonsense, total disregard for other people, and sense of entitlement.

Sam was also frustrating in the sense that she has no idea what she wants, acts on total impulse, and lacks ambition. But I liked her. She was a good person and I felt a lot of sympathy for her. Her chapters are interesting because they flash a lot from past to present so that we end up getting the back story on her and her ex, Collin, while also seeing her present life with Nate.

What's funny is that while I was reading Melody's chapters, I couldn't wait to get back to Sam's story, and when I was reading Sam's chapters, I couldn't wait to get back to Melody's story. That's how great this book was; I was totally captivated by both characters and raced through the pages to get to the next chapter.

Not only was the story line SO. GOOD. The writing was, too. Laurel writes in a slow, subtle, quiet way. It's hard to explain, but it's excellent and realistic, from both viewpoints.

I loved this book and I am now dying to read Laurel's first novel, Following My Toes. I've been really lucky lately, in that my last few reads have been amazing (especially this one, and Exposure by Therese Fowler). Don't let the female protags scare you off if you're not into women's lit or chick lit. In fact, I would say this book is not chick lit. This book has wide appeal, and is a great read for all fans of contemporary fiction and drama. I highly recommend it. Read it now, please and thank you. :)

My Rating: 5/5

Author, Laurel Osterkamp, on Movies and 'Starring in the Movie of My Life'

2011-06-23T17:31:00.008-04:00

Today, I am so pleased to have the very talented Laurel Osterkamp here to talk about movies and her new novel, Starring in the Movie of My Life. Please stop by tomorrow for my review of the book and a giveaway! Welcome, Laurel!

Sometimes when I get a rare afternoon to myself I’ll go see a movie. I like going by myself. Sitting in a darkened theater, taking a vacation from my own life while getting lost in someone else’s; nothing is better. My favorite movies are stories about redemption. I love when a character begins at the point of no return, and somehow emotionally travels to a place better than he or she had ever imagined.

You see, characters in movies have an advantage over us real people because their stories have a clear point. More than once I’ve found myself wishing that the senselessness of reality could be translated into a movie plot. It would give random events a purpose.

What would be even better is if we could hire screenwriters for our own lives. So many times I’ve wished to be clever and glib in moments of conflict, or proud, brave and noble when I feel I’m being tested. But the words fail me.

If I can’t exercise these powers in real life, I at least wanted to have that power as an author, and writing Starring in the Movie of My Life was my stab at it.

I created two characters, Melody and Samantha, who live ordinary lives but are also in desperate need of redemption. Samantha is generous and loving, and Melody is strong and young. So it was a challenge to give each of them a past where they did something bad enough that they needed to be redeemed. Yet, haven’t we all made mistakes we wish we could take back?

The only other tie Melody and Samantha share is their love for the same man, Nathan Linden, and their mutual desire to be saved by him. Parts take place at fictional Shannon High, where Nathan is a teacher and Melody is a student. Both characters are entirely made up, but the halls of the school are the same as Columbia Heights, where I have taught for the last eleven years.

In order to craft something genuine, parts of my own life were inevitably going to sneak in. Without consciously deciding to, I focused on motherhood. I also began to recognize some of my students in Melody: the ones who come from terrible situations and rise above, the ones whose strength inspires me. Issues like love and marriage and the choices we make are central to the story as well. In the years that I wrote Starring in the Movie of My Life I got married, had kids, and settled into my career as a high school teacher. This novel is as much about me as it is about anything, but only in a very indirect way.

Ultimately, the story belongs to Samantha and Melody. It is about two women who want to be saved by the same man, so they must figure out how to save themselves. That’s where the redemption part comes in.

Oh yeah; Starring in the Movie of My Life is also about movies.

Author, Melissa Foster, on Writing

2011-06-21T17:39:00.002-04:00

I am delighted to have the awesome and super sweet Melissa Foster here on StephTheBookworm today. I just reviewed her novel, Megan's Way, so check it out. In a few weeks, I'll be reviewing her new novel, Chasing Amanda, and I can't wait! Today, Melissa is talking about writing! Welcome, Melissa!

Making Writing a Daily Habit, by Melissa Foster

As with anything in which you hope to succeed, whether it’s sports, parenting, or practicing law, writing takes practice, and practice takes time.

Making time for writing is not always easy. I have six children, and I had a heck of a time fitting writing into my daily schedule. Even while the children were in school, it seemed other obligations stole the time away. There came a time when I had to make a decision and make writing a priority—to hone my craft as much as save my sanity.

There are things in life that must get done in a timely fashion, like grocery shopping and preparing meals, but there are other things that can be done at odd hours without causing even a ripple in one’s day, such as laundry and cleaning. Reorganizing my mindset helped me to reprioritize my days, allowing for several hours that could be solely dedicated to writing.

I wrote Megan’s Way, in its entirety, while sitting in my kitchen at a makeshift desk with a new puppy at my feet. There were days when I had several hours to write, and days when I had only half an hour, squeezed between picking up children from school and going over homework. While writing Chasing Amanda, I was able to write for five hours each day while the kids were at school, and I simply reprioritized what time of day household chores and exercise took place.

Our lives might be driven by family and other commitments, but as writers, we owe it to ourselves, and to our readers, to find the time to write, and to recognize the value in accomplishing what we set out to achieve. Just as we eat breakfast, lunch, and dinner, writing time must be scheduled and seen as a necessary part of our days.

I love to chat with book clubs and readers. If you’d like to chat, drop me an email; thinkhappygirl (at) yahoo (dot) com

Review: Megan's Way by Melissa Foster

2011-06-21T17:27:00.005-04:00

Title: Megan's Way

Author: Melissa Foster
Genre/Age: Contemporary fiction, adult
Publication: 2009
Source: For review, WOW Tours

Summary: Megan, a single mother, has just found out that her cancer has returned, and her prognosis is not good. She'll die soon, but she's afraid to leave behind her 14 year old daughter, Olivia, and best friends Peter, Holly, and Holly's husband, Jack. While the bond between these four friends is strong and undeniable, they all have secrets that could potentially tear them apart. However, Megan dies before anyone can reveal their secrets. Though Megan is physically gone now, her spirit is still around, watching her friends and family, reassuring them with whispers and touches. There are some big unanswered questions though: What will become of Olivia? Are the bonds of these friends strong enough to withstand betrayals, secrets, and even death?

My Thoughts: I like emotional books such as this one, and enjoyed the bond between mother and daughter. I also enjoyed the friendship aspect, and the closeness of the group. But, boy, did these friends have some skeletons in their closets! You won't believe the secrets from their pasts, which will all affect one another greatly.

I thought Olivia was a really realistic teenage girl, but she was frustrating nonetheless. It seems she was always mad at Megan for one reason or another, even though she knew she wouldn't be alive much longer. I get that teenage girls are like that, though, but I'd still like to think some kids would have more compassion for their dying parents.

I really liked Megan's friends and their shared histories, the way their lives entwined. My favorite was probably Peter, who had a tough childhood and as a result, had a hard time with commitment as an adult. I liked him because he was realistic and had a good heart. All of her friends were true, and completely devoted, despite the past and the lies that went along with it.

Another cool aspect of this book was that Megan was still around even after death. Her friends and Olivia could feel her presence, and smell her Lavendar and coconut fragrance whenever they needed her the most. They sometimes heard her voice and felt her touch too. I really liked seeing things from Megan's perspective as a spirit. It reminded me a bit of my favorite novel, The Lovely Bones, by Alice Sebold.

There was one thing that was a bit off-putting for me and it was that there was a lot of spirituality in this book. For example, the friends had a yearly ritual in which they listened to a chant, prayed, and tried to release their negativity to reconnect their minds and souls. While I know many people participate in these kinds of things, it's just not for me.

All in all, though, this was an enjoyable book, albeit a bit sad, but still always hopeful. It provides a fresh and interesting perspective on death and the afterlife.

My Rating: 3.5/5

Review: Exposure by Therese Fowler

2011-06-18T21:32:00.006-04:00

Title: Exposure

Author: Therese Fowler

Genre/Age: Contemporary fiction, drama, adult

Publication: 2011

Source: For review, Pump Up Your Book

Summary: Anthony, 18, and Amelia, 17, two high school seniors, are deeply in love. They have big plans for the future that all include each other. However, their world comes crashing down when Harlan Wilkes, Amerlia's overprotective and wealthy father, discovers nude "sexting" photos of Anthony on Amelia's computer, and immediately contacts the authorities. Within days, Anthony has been arrested and accused of being a sexual predator. He has become a pariah to everyone around him, except for Amelia, who remains faithful and loving. Then, things take a turn for the worse when photos of Amelia are discovered as well, and she too is arrested. Life has become a disaster for both teens and their families, and nothing will be the same ever again. Desperate to be together, and afraid to spend life in prison, Amelia and Anthony take drastic measures to escape what their lives have become.

My Thoughts: This book is breathtaking, heart-pounding, and gripping - impossible to put down. It is raw, shocking, scandalous, and unforgettable. I became immediately entranced by this story, and delved into the characters lives as if they were my own.

At the core of this story is the true and intimate love between Amelia and Anthony. Their love is real, palpable, and heartbreaking when they are forbidden, by both law and Amelia's parents, to see, or even contact, each other. Despite how out of control their lives have become, they are desperate for each other and never once relinquished their love. Even though this book is about the scandal that envelopes their lives, the love makes this story real and enchanting. So touching and true is their love that I, as a mere reader and spectator, became all the more invested in their story.

The story fascinated me and the writing was exceptional, almost poetic and lyrical, despite the dark and troubling aspects. Fowler managed to make beautiful a story that seems nothing but controversial and desolate. An interesting aspect of the book is that the perspective shifts between the characters, giving us glimpses and insights into the thoughts of all the main players, including Amelia, Anthony, Harlan Wilkes, and Kim Winter, Anthony's mother, who also becomes deeply entwined in the trouble, despite her lack of involvement or prior knowledge of the photos.

This story is shocking and unforgettable. Truly. This is by far one of my favorite books of 2011 and one of only two 5 star ratings for the year thus far. I will be reading Fowler's two previous books, Souvenir and Reunion just as soon as I can get my hot little hands on some copies. I promise you will love this book! It is explosive!

My Rating: 5/5