Happy Howl-oween!

Hope you all have a happy Halloween. You know I will, pigging out on junk (Who wants to fit in their wedding dress ;)) and getting spooked! See you all tomorrow!

Short Second Life of Bree Tanner

Short Second Life of Bree Tanner
Stephenie Meyer
Little Brown
$9.99
June 2010
FTC: This is a library book. I am not being compensated in any manner for my review.

Characters 20/20
Plot 20/20
Setting 20/20
Cover 15/20
Ending 15/20
Total grade: 90% A

Sexual content: mild
Violence: extreme
Drugs: n/a
Underage drinking: n/a
Swearing: mild
Total rating: 16+

Summary:
Fans of The Twilight Saga will be enthralled by this riveting story of Bree Tanner, a character first introduced in Eclipse, and the darker side of the newborn vampire world she inhabits. In another irresistible combination of danger, mystery, and romance, Stephenie Meyer tells the devastating story of Bree and the newborn army as they prepare to close in on Bella Swan and the Cullens, following their encounter to its unforgettable conclusion.

My Thoughts:
I adored this book. It was nice to get some Twilight, minus the Bella whining we usually are drowned in. I felt this book was written much better. I think that with the original four Stephenie was trying to fill to many pages but this was a great length for her.

I read this on my way to California for the WeHo Bookfair (oh how long ago). It was an easy car book as it dint require to much thinking and kept me captive. It's nice when you can lose an hour of a long drive in a book.

The only things I didn't like were the cover and ending. The cover was really dull and lifeless. I wish it had more life to it. The ending was expected but I still didn't like it. I just wish she could have took the story in a different direction.

I recommend this book to Twilight fans.

Uh-oh I made a boo-boo :)

So guys I have been AWOL for the past couple weeks and I am so sorry! I'm back. So much happened that I just needed to get a grip on things. Two major things happened within the past two weeks.

1. I bought my wedding dress!!! If you want to see I am going to be emailing a picture this weekend so email me at princessashley9@gmail.com and I will show you!

2. I started my last year of high school. This school is unique. At first I was scared because they are all so different than me. We have ex gang members, drug addicts and teen moms. I am one of few who has not been arrested. This school only has 100 students. They have grown on me and I am starting to love them. They are all doing their best! First week of school we had a lockdown because the bank on the school grounds was robbed! 'twas scary!


Anyways, I"M BACK! Did you miss me? :)

WeHo Fun! Part 4 of 4

Today's final post is dedicated to Allison Burnett. Ever since I read Undiscovered Gyrl I have been dying to meet him. It was a super amazing and exciting book. Katie Kampenfelt kept me wanting to read. I just knew I had to have him there.

Our interview went extremely well. He was fun to talk to. We discussed banned books, the cliff hanger of Undiscovered Gyrl and more. If you haven't read that book you should. I am reading it again and forgot just how much I loved it!!!!

So thank you Allison for coming to the WeHo Book fair to talk to me!!!!

Must Monday

Teenage Waistland

by Lynn Biederman, Lisa Pazer

What?

“You all believe that losing one-hundred-plus pounds will solve everything, but it won’t. Something far heavier is weighing on you, and until you deal with that, nothing in your lives will be right.”
–Betsy Glass, PhD, at first weekly group counseling session for ten severely obese teens admitted into exclusive weight-loss surgery trial

Patient #1: Female, age 16, 5'4", 288 lbs.

• Thrust into size-zero suburban hell by remarried liposuctioned mom. Hates new school and skinny boy-toy stepsister.
• Body size exceeded only by her big mouth.

Patient #2: Male, age 16, 6'2", 335 lbs.

• All-star football player, but if he gets “girl surgery,” as his dad calls it, he’ll probably get benched.
• Has moobies—male boobies. Forget about losing his V-card—he’s never even been kissed.

Patient #3: Female, age 15, 5'6", 278 lbs.

• Morbidly obese and morbid, living alone with severely depressed mother who won’t leave her bed.
• Best and only friend is another patient, whose dark secret threatens everything Patient #3 believes about life.

Why?
The synopsis has me fascinated!

When?
November 9th 2010

WeHo Fun! Part 3 of 4

Today's post is in thanks to the beautiful Alexa Young! I loved meeting her. We had talked a bit before and I instantly felt a connection. I know it can't be imagined since at the book fair and couple people asked if she was my mom :).

Her books are adorable and fun to read. We talked about her writing and general questions but it felt more like friends sitting down to talk. I was very angry to hear that books three and four wont be out in English. I tried learning French and it did not go far so that leaves me screwed... I think her books just didnt get enough publicity and in the right ways or they could have thrived!

Anyways end of rant :). Thanks so much for talking to me Alexa! I really appreciated it!

Secret Life of It Girls

Secret Life of It Girls
Dakota Lane
Simon and Schuster
June 2007
FTC: This is a library book. I am not being compensated in any manner for my review

Characters 10/20
Plot 10/20
Setting 10/20
Cover 10/20
Ending 10/20
Total grade: 50% F

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

Summary:

It girl n 1. The girl that you want to be. She gets the guys AND the girls because she has something beyond money, clothes, and attitude. She's got something you either have or you don't have -- and YOU DON'T HAVE IT. (See SUPERSTAR, GODDESS, DIVA.) 2. The girl you hate and fear. She has the power to make you into a slut or outcast, or make you crawl like a loser wannabe/stalker/groupie. There's at least one of her in every school, and she's never going away, so you better figure out your place in her world, before she figures it out for you. (See BACKSTABBER, WITCH, DEMON.) 3. The girl that completely believes she's better than you -- or maybe just acts like she does. She's got all the power, but would be defenseless if left by her herd. (See PATHETIC, INSECURE, MANIPULATIVE.)

Here, in words and pictures, are the thoughts,

the secrets, the lives of It girls.

The stories are fiction, but the feelings are real.

You might think you know these girls. But look closer. You'll be surprised by what you find.

My Thoughts:
This book was just weird. It bounced in so many directions I was constantly "like what the hell?" I don't like how it seemed to try to come together but I just could not connect it! It should focus on one person or not connect all the different stories. Also the book is shaped more like a picture book so it looks weird. That's the whole reason I picked it up while shifting in the Teen Section at my library. I almost wish I wouldn't have.

Wednesday Wishlist

Snow Queen

by Emma Harrison

What?

Chamberlain Ski Resort and Spa

Welcome to the 10th Annual Snow Queen competition!

I can't believe I got roped into this.

Snow Princesses must attend all pageant rehearsals, with appropriate outfits.

Well, no matter what it takes, I'm going to wipe that smirk off Layla Chamberlain's face.

Our rehearsal space can be booked to practice your talent.

Um, does "looking dumb in a dress" count as a talent?

See Grayson Chamberlain, the assistant director, with any questions.

If you insist! First question: How can someone so sweet (and hot!) be a Chamberlain?

Good luck! One of you will soon be our new Snow Queen!

Oh joy.

Unless Grayson comes with the tiara . . .

Why?
Sounds like a great Winter read and it's getting close to Winter

WeHo Fun! Part 2 of 4

Today I am writing in thanks to Jay Asher. I remember when I put him on my "wish list"
of authors to interview I didn't expect a yes. Come on, HE'S A NEW YORK TIMES BEST SELLER! But he took time out of his busy life to come chat with me!

As I was sitting there talking to him I could feel my heart flipping out and I was sweating (although that may be because of the 110 degree weather ;>). He was so fun to chat with and super sweet. It was cool that he was my first interview because it went perfectly and put me at ease.

So THANK YOU MUCH, Jay!

Loose Girl

Loose Girl

Kerry Cohen Hoffman

Hyperion

$18.76 (Barnes and Noble)

Reprint 2009

This is a library book. I am not being compensated in any way for my review

Total grade: C. The style kind of got to me

Total rating: 16+ (Obviously a ton of sex)

Summary:

Some girls turn to alcohol. Some to drugs. Kerry Cohen turned to sex. This is her memoir.

My Thoughts:

This book had interested me ever since I read Easy a few years back. My only real problems with this book was the style. It seemed to run on a bit too much for my taste. I was also a little too upset by the way this girl allowed her body to be treated. I didnt really find it as a powerful DONT SCREW TONS OF GUYS story, it was more like, I had sex with him, and him, and him, and oh dont forget him. If there would have been more of a point I think I could have accepted this book more.

WeHo Fun! Part 1 of 4

In this first post I want to thank the whole reason I was able to be an interviewer as the West Hollywood Book Fair! Her name is Leigh Purtill (or C. Leigh Purtill on her books). Months ago I got an email from her asking me if I was up for interviewing on a stage at the book fair. The people person in me went "HELL YES" and the deep down Ashley went "OH MY GOD. That means people will be watching me. Uh...". Of course there was no way I was turning down this opportunity though, so off I was.

When we got to L.A. I was so nervous. It was almost to the point that I needed some anxiety medicine but I was trying to beat my fear unmedicated! As soon as I met Leigh I knew it would all be okay! She was so sweet and it really calmed my nerves.

I feel so lucky to have got the chance to meet her. Her personality really shone through and I am now ecstatic to read her books! So I just wanted to take a minute and say, THANK YOU Leigh!