Sun-Kissed

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

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

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

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

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

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

Wednesday Wishlist

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

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

Contest!

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

Wednesday Wishlist

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

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

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

Numbers

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Must Monday

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

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

When?
Tomorrow!

Mothers day

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

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

Contest

I have an E-book of Solid by Shelley Workinger to give away. You can have a PDF or a kindle copy.

The short summary of this book is:

Teens who discover they were secretly genetically altered before birth are brought together at a classified site where they develop "super-abilities", while at the same time forging new friendships, finding love and unearthing a conspiracy.

I will leave this contest open until the 13th and announce the winner on the 14th.

To enter simply comment with your email and state kindle or pdf. You must be 13+ or have a parent enter for you.

Reading to children

I have recently become a nanny and as a young adult and adult reviewer I realized I don't know much about picture books! I watch two boys, ages 1 and 4. If you have any recommendations please leave them in the comments! These boys love to read!

Learn Something Every Day

Learn Something Every Day
Young
Penguin
$15.00
May 2011
FTC: I received this from the publisher with the understanding that I would provide an honest review for no compensation.

Total grade: A

Total rating: 12+

Summary:

365 days-365 quirky, brightly illustrated, and entertaining facts.

Learn Something Every Day entertains and informs readers with illustrations representing such fun-filled facts as:

• Charlie Chaplin placed third in a Chaplin look-alike contest
• Emerson Moser, Crayola's senior crayon maker, revealed at retirement that he was color-blind
• Elvis Presley received a C grade in music class
• And much, much more!

My Thoughts:
This was a very quick and engaging book. I love books that contain random little facts and tidbits. The book was written in an easy to read manner. I recommend it to everyone. We all should be learning something new every day!

Wednesday Wishlist

Here is the book I am dying to buy this week!

What?

As the popular darling of the junior class and heiress to the five-star Monrovi Inn empire, Kate has both everything and nothing. She's bored with school and life...until she locks eyes with Caleb at a school dance.

Caleb is new to Kate's exclusive prep school, and it's clear he doesn't fit in. In fact, he and his dad work in maintenance for Kate's father. And while Caleb knows better than to spend time with the boss's daughter, it seems that every time he tries to back away, something pulls him right back in.

When their parents demand that they are to stay away from each other, they learn of a fight between their families that occurred more than fifty years ago. It's a mystery Kate doesn't understand...but a legacy Caleb has endured his entire life.

With the world stacked against them, Caleb and Kate will have to walk by faith to find the path that God has planned for them.

Why?
What a cute romance! I need to indulge in this one!

Happy Birthday Baby Sister

Happy 14th birthday to my baby sister, Erica! I remember holding you the day you were born :). I also remember asking when we could return you :P. Guess we'll keep you now baby girl!

Must Monday

Here is what is soon to be released that I am dying to read!

What?

Sixteen-year-old Aggie Winchester couldn't care less about who's elected prom queen–even if it's her pregnant Goth-girl best friend, Sylvia Ness. Aggie's got bigger things to worry about, like whether or not her ex-boyfriend wants to get back together and whether her mom will survive cancer.

But like it or not, Aggie soon finds herself in the middle of an unfolding prom scandal, largely because her mom, who is the school's principal, is rumored to have burned prom ballots so Sylvia won’t be elected queen. Aggie's own investigation makes her wonder if the election could be dirty on both sides.

Why?
What a fresh storyline! I'm excited to dive into this one!

When?
August 2011

Her and Me and You

Her and Me and You

Lauren Strasnick

Simon and Schuster

$16.99

October 2010

FTC: This is my book that I purchased. I am not being compensated in any way for my review.

Characters 20/20

Plot 20/20

Setting 18/20

Cover 20/20

Ending 18/20

Total grade: 96% A

Sexual content: moderate

Violence: mild

Drugs: n/a

Underage drinking: heavy

Swearing: moderate

Total rating: 14+

Summary:

I met Fred first.

Fred: Hot. Enigmatic. Alex’s first friend in her lonely new town. Maybe her first…everything.

I met Adina the following Monday.

Adina: Fred’s twin sister. Cold. Troubled. Trouble.

I kissed him.

She pressed her mouth to my mouth.

People warn Alex to steer clear of the twins, but Alex is drawn to them. She wants to be part of their crazy world…no matter the consequences.

My Thoughts:

I was super lucky to meet Lauren at the WeHo book fair last September. She was super adorable and the kind of down to earth woman you want to have coffee with. I admit that maybe I am a smidgen biased because I adored her so much but that doesn't take away how super this book was!

For me this was uncharted territory. A almost threesome like fling. It was twisted but in a great way. The way the story was written made it a quick read. The chapters were pretty short so I found myself playing the "one more chapter" game. The characters made me excited to read and the story kept you on your toes. Towards the end I figured out what would happen but I still wouldn't take back reading a page of this delicious novel!