The Unofficial Guide Walt Disney World 2013

The Unofficial Guide Walt Disney World 2013
Bob Sehlinger

Wiley, John & Sons, Incorporated
8/28/2012








About this book:
Unofficial Guides

• Hotels, attractions, and restaurants in all price categories
• Evaluations based on reader surveys and critiques—compiled by unbiased inspectors
• Detailed, two-color maps

My thoughts: 
For Christmas this year my parents told my husband and I that they are taking us to Disney World. I have been 3 other times but not in years. My husband has never been. So to get him all hyped up I got us a few tourist guide books. This was the first one we read.

The author did a fantastic job highlighting the must-sees and reminding me about the overrated. There were even a few things I didn't know about. I was pleased that he did not spoil the magic, just emphasized it. I was instantly hyped up and so was my husband.

The chapters has an easy flow and were fun to read. It was not repetitive in the least. I now know I better start making dinner reservations.

February can not come fast enough....

Happy birthday to me...

Today is my birthday! Instead of posting a review I am taking a day to just enjoy life and celebrate me! Okay, actually I have to work and we celebrated my birthday yesterday, but that is when I would have done today's post. Enjoy some pictures of me. Sorry, my computer won't let me put them the right way, so tilt your head :)

Wednesday Wishlist

Wednesday Wishlist is a feature I started years ago when I started reviewing. I spotlight one book that has been out for awhile that I really want to read and review.




Plus
Veronica Chambers
Penguin
8/5/2010








Synopsis:

The perfect romantic makeover story about an every-girl whose dream comes true . . .

Beatrice Wilson is our lovable Cinderella, who just got dumped by her very first boyfriend and put on twenty-five pounds. But then she's discovered as a plus model. In the eyes of pop culture, Bee is Jessica Alba and then some! Now she must vanquish skinny rivals, fend off sleazy photogs, and banish jealous frenemies in her rise to superstardom. All the while, she's torn between her first love and the surprisingly sincere up-and-coming rapper she tutors in calculus. But what's better than finding your prince charming? Finally learning to love yourself!

Why I want to review it:
There are so many books about girls with problems because of their weight. How refreshing is it to see a book where a beautiful girl is rewarded for being who she is?

Two Truths and a Lie by Sara Shepard

Two Truths and a Lie
Sara Shepard
HarperCollins
2/7/2012

From: a friend
Grade: B
Rating: Teen





Synopsis: 

My killer is out there.

And my sister might be next.

Two months before I died, my best friend's brother went missing. I have no idea where Thayer is or why he left, but I know it's my fault. I did a lot of horrible things while I was alive, things that made people hate me—maybe even enough to kill me.

Desperate to solve my murder, my long-lost twin, Emma, is pretending to be me and looking into the many mysteries I left behind. She's uncovered my closest friends' darkest secrets, but she's never had the chance to dig into Thayer's past—until now.

Thayer's back, and Emma has to move fast to figure out if he's after revenge . . . or if he's already gotten it.

My thoughts:
This was by far the best book I have read in this series. Emma has kind of annoyed me from the very first book. I just cannot comprehend how someone so smart can be so stupid. I just want to scream at her for some of the choice she makes. Does she want to get herself murdered? Maybe this is the very reason I can't watch scary movies. I get a little too involved. This was the first book where I thought that she was actually a somewhat decent character.

The plot thickens in this book. Just when you think you have it all figured out something happens to make your vision unclear. This was the whole reason I enjoyed this book. It did not feel as predictable as the first two. I can appreciate that in a mystery.

After reading this book I would recommend this series over Pretty Little Liars. I can only hope she doesn't drag it on forever like she does with PLL.

Must Monday

Must Monday is a feature I started years ago where I spotlight one book that is not out yet but I am dying to read and review.

Going Vintage
Lindsey Leavitt
Bloomsbury
3/26/2013

Synopsis:
When Mallory discovers that her boyfriend, Jeremy, is cheating on her with an online girlfriend, she swears off boys. She also swears off modern technology. Inspired by a list of goals her grandmother made in 1962, Mallory decides to "go vintage" and return to a simpler time (when boyfriends couldn’t cheat on you online). She sets out to complete grandma’s list: run for pep club secretary, host a dinner party, sew a homecoming dress, find a steady, do something dangerous. But the list is trickier than it looks. And obviously finding a steady is out . . . no matter how good Oliver (Jeremy’s cousin) smells. But with the help of her sister, she’ll get it done. Somehow.

Why I want to read it: 
What a cute and unique idea. Sometimes I wish I had lived in a simpler time. This would be a nice escape from reality.

Burned by Sara Shepard

Burned
Sara Shepard
HarperCollins
12/4/2012

From: Purchase
Grade: B
Rating: Teens






Synopsis: 

It's spring break, and the pretty little liars are trading in Rosewood for a cruise vacation. They want nothing more than to sail into the tropical sunset and leave their troubles behind for one blissful week. But where Emily, Aria, Spencer, and Hanna go, A goes, too. From scuba diving to tanning on the upper deck, A is there, soaking up all their new secrets.

Emily is smooching a stowaway. Aria's treasure-hunting partner is a little too interested in her booty. Spencer's going overboard trying to land a new boy. And a blast—or rather, a crash—from Hanna's past could mean rough waters ahead for everyone.

The liars better tighten their life jackets. A perfect storm is brewing, and if they aren't careful, A will bury them at sea. . . .

My thoughts: 
I really was expecting this to be the end. The first book was one of the first books I ever reviewed. I loved it and was very excited to be sent the next three to review as well. I was told that this was going to be a four book series and I talked it up big time. Then it became an eight book series. Then a twelve. As I was reading every page of this book I was waiting for everything to fall into place. It did not. Little did I know until I finished reading it that there are more books to come. Oh joy.

I gave it a "B" because it is part of a series that I enjoy. I am a sucker and continue to buy every Pretty Little Liars book even though I find them to becoming a bit sold-out. Every problem that a "troubled" teenager could possibly face happens in this series. I just want to scream, "what the hell," over and over again.

The best thing about this series is that it has inspired so many reluctant readers to read. Many friends of mine have started reading because of this series. Sara should be very pleased with herself because of that. Even if it isn't a work of literary art she has inspired life long readers. That is something we all should be able to applaud.

There is no way to really review this particular book without giving away bits and pieces from past books. Therefor my general statement on this series is read it if you want something light and easy to devour but not if you want a "great" series.

I was lost...

Wow, somehow I managed to disappear for a few months. I had every intention of blogging but I could not motivate myself to do it. Reviewing was becoming a job for me, I was not enjoying it as much. There were a few reasons.

 First off, I was forcing myself to read books I had no interest in reading. I started this blog to review YA books but somehow I was becoming flooded with adult books to review. I should have stayed true to what I love and not forced myself to change.  Some adult books are awesome. Now that I am back I will be reviewing some adult books BUT my primary focus will be shifting back to young adult (and the ever fun New Adult trend).

The second reason I stopped reviewing was because I was tired of playing games. There are all these "who has the most followers" and "who gets the best ARC" games going on. That is not what I started reviewing. I was actually interviewed by a company years ago to review for them and that is why I started. I decided that it was fun and I wanted to go out on my own. Back then there was a very small, tight group of reviewers. We all were having a blast. Not very many of the people I started reviewing with almost 5 years ago do it anymore. Most of them got tired of battling with the people who started for free books.  All this drama started when they all came along. Now the community is much bigger and I don't see as much of the "free-book-aholics" as there use to be. Thank goodness.

The third reason I stopped reviewing was time. I work in the medical world. Weeks where I work 3 days I get 40 hours. For awhile I was working 5 days. I had no energy left to dedicate to the 30 or so hours I spent doing blog/book stuff when I was working 65ish hours a week. So that has made me decide that in coming back I will post when I have time and not kick myself the weeks that I only put 2 posts out there.

So anyways, I am now done rambling on. Glad to be back.

Must Monday

Must Monday is a feature I started years ago when I started reviewing. I feature one book that is not out yet and I am dying to read.

This Is Not a Drill

Beck McDowell

10/25/12

Synopsis:

Two teens try to save a class of first-graders from a gun-wielding soldier suffering from PTSD

When high school seniors Emery and Jake are taken hostage in the classroom where they tutor, they must work together to calm both the terrified children and the gunman threatening them—a task made even more difficult by their recent break-up. Brian Stutts, a soldier suffering from post-traumatic stress disorder after serving in Iraq, uses deadly force when he's denied access to his son because of a custody battle. The children's fate is in the hands of the two teens, each recovering from great loss, who now must reestablish trust in a relationship damaged by betrayal. Told through Emery and Jake's alternating viewpoints, this gripping novel features characters teens will identify with and explores the often-hidden damages of war.

Why I want to read it:

Not only is it a unique idea, it sounds intense! I feel like I would just need to sit down and read this one straight through.