Feature and Follow Friday

I participate in this from time to time. Usually I work Fridays and am unable to participate but since I remembered to do it tonight instead of tomorrow I can this time! So for everyone stopping by, welcome!


RULES
To join the fun and make new book blogger friends, just follow these simple rules:

• (Required) Follow the Follow My Book Blog Friday Hosts {Parajunkee & Alison Can Read}
• (Required) Follow our Featured Bloggers
• Put your Blog name & URL in the Linky thing. You can also grab the code if you would like to insert it into your posts.
• Grab the button up there and place it in a post, this post is for people to find a place to say “hi” in your comments and that they are now following you.
• If you are using WordPress or another CMS that doesn’t have GFC (Google Friends Connect) state in your posts how you would like to be followed
• Follow Follow Follow as many as you can, as many as you want, or just follow a few. The whole point is to make new friends and find new blogs. Also, don’t just follow, comment and say hi. Another blogger might not know you are a new follower if you don’t say “HI”
• If someone comments and says they are following you, be a dear and follow back. Spread the Love…and the followers
• If you’re new to the follow Friday hop, comment and let me know, so I can stop by and check out your blog!

This weeks question: 
 What is the first thing you would do if you woke up to find yourself in your favorite book?

My answer:  My favorite book is Tiger Eyes by Judy Blume. I would prefer I never wake-up in that book because it is so sad at points. I would probably cry if that ever happens. Yes, there are good parts and lots of adventures but I don't like the thought of my dad being murdered.

And When She Was Good (Laura Lippman)

And When She Was Good
Laura Lippman
HarperCollins
8/14/2012
From: Library

Grade: A+
Audience: Adult





Synopsis (Barnes and Noble):

When Hector Lewis told his daughter that she had a nothing face, it was just another bit of tossed-off cruelty from a man who specialized in harsh words. But now, Heloise considers it a blessing to know how to avoid attention. At home, she's merely a mom and a lobbyist with a good cause and a mediocre track record.

But in discreet hotel rooms, she's the woman of your dreams—if you can afford her hourly fee.

For more than a decade, Heloise has believed she is safe. Only now her secret life is under siege. One county over, another so-called suburban madam has been found dead in her car, a suicide. Or is it?

And then she learns that her son's father might be released from prison, which is problematic because he doesn't know he has a son. He also doesn't realize that he's serving a life sentence because Heloise betrayed him.

Heloise has to remake her life—again. Disappearing will be the easy part. The trick will be living long enough to start a new life.

My thoughts: 
I read a review for this book in a magazine and it sounded enjoyable. Sadly, most books that I find in magazines end up being overrated. Due to that I decided to check this book out from the library instead of buying it. I should have just bought it.  It was one of the best books I have read in a long time.

You will find yourself drawn to Heloise from the first chapter. There is an undeniable spark in her, something I look for in all characters. She is feisty and vulnerable at the same time. That makes her incredibly unpredictable and fun to get to know. She is the kind of woman who stands her ground and then goes home without giving it a second thought. Her personality is what made this book so spectacular.

The story itself was wonderfully written. I loved how we progressed through time with flashes back after each chapter that were relevant to what we had just read. I am not always a huge fan of flashbacks but this was done in a creative and insightful way.

Laura gives us just enough insight to want to keep reading but is careful to never give anything away. While reading this book I got back in touch with expecting the unexpected. There was a hint of mystery on each page, even when things should be looking up. It kept me flipping pages because I could tell something was coming and I had to know what it was.

I recommend this book to my adult (and older teen) readers. Please keep in mind that prostitution plays a key role in the story.

Wednesday Wishlist

Wednesday Wishlist is a feature I started doing years back when I started reviewing. I spotlight 1 book that has been out for awhile that I really want to read and review.

The DUFF: Designated Ugly Fat Friend

Kody Keplinger
Little Brown
6/7/2011








Synopsis (Barnes and Noble):
Seventeen-year-old Bianca Piper is cynical and loyal, and she doesn't think she's the prettiest of her friends by a long shot. She's also way too smart to fall for the charms of man-slut and slimy school hottie Wesley Rush. In fact, Bianca hates him. And when he nicknames her "the Duff," she throws her Coke in his face.

But things aren't so great at home right now, and Bianca is desperate for a distraction. She ends up kissing Wesley. Worse, she likes it. Eager for escape, Bianca throws herself into a closeted enemies-with-benefits relationship with him.

Until it all goes horribly awry. It turns out Wesley isn't such a bad listener, and his life is pretty screwed up, too. Suddenly Bianca realizes with absolute horror that she's falling for the guy she thought she hated more than anyone. And eventually, through this realization, Bianca begins to see how harmful her unhealthy way of dealing with her problems has been, and finds a way to confront them head on.

Why I want to read The DUFF:
Friends-with-benefits is a fairly common topic but enemies-with-benefits is new to me. This book sounds like it has a great mix of drama, romance, and humor.

So have any of you read or reviewed this? Feel free to comment a link of your review. I would love to see what you thought!

Must Monday

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

The Art of Wishing
Lindsay Ribar
Dial
3/21/2013

Synopsis:

He can grant her wishes, but only she can save his life.

Margo McKenna has a plan of attack for everything, from landing the lead in her high school musical to dealing with her increasingly absent parents. But when she finds herself in possession of a genie's ring and the opportunity to make three wishes, she doesn't know what to do. Especially since Oliver—not blue-skinned, not bottle-dwelling, but a genie nonetheless—can see more than what she's willing to show him. With one peek into her mind, he can see the wishes that even Margo herself doesn't know she wants.

But Oliver comes with more than just mind-reading abilities, a flair for magic, and the prettiest eyes Margo's ever seen. Someone from his past is hunting him—someone bent on killing him, along with all the other genies in the world, for the sake of honor. And as Margo soon discovers, it will take more than three wishes to save him.

A whole lot more.

Why I want to review it: 
 This girl sounds too much like me. I always have a plan and do not like when I don't have one. That part would make this book so easy to connect with. The other thing that draws me to it is the genie aspect. I have never read a book about a genie.

Reviewing through time...

Someone left a comment on my 500 Follower contest (if you have not entered now is the time) asking how I have been reviewing for 5 years and not got burnt out. The truth is I have. Twice I have taken lengthy breaks (so maybe that means I have really only been writing reviews for a total of 4 years).

Both of my breaks were much needed. I was in college. I was getting married. I started a career in medicine. Those had to be my priorities at that time. I knew I was going to lose some followers (a lot of followers) but that is not why I started reviewing, so honestly who cares?!

Another reason I needed a break was because I was starting to feel like this was a job and only a job. I was not enjoying reviewing. I felt like it was something I HAD to do everyday. So my husband and I talked and he told me I should quit reviewing. I didn't want to do that but I knew I needed a few months to fall in love with reading again... and I did.

I try to remember this is something I do for fun. That would be my biggest piece of advice on how to not get burnt out. There are nights when I say to my husband, "I have to go write a review". He reminds me that I do not HAVE to go write a review, I am CHOOSING to. So maybe because you take a few weeks off to breathe and enjoy reading and lose a couple followers? And maybe you don't get an ARC because your following count isn't high enough? OH WELL! That shouldn't be why you are reviewing to begin with. We should be reviewing because we love books and want to share our love of reading with others. If you are lucky enough to get an ARC from time to time fabulous! Just remember that's not why you started, don't let it get to your head.

My other piece of advice is to keep reviewing what you want to read. I was getting such a large amount of review copies at one point that I stopped reviewing books I had purchased. I wasn't even finding time to read them. That's not fair to yourself. Do what you enjoy! As you can see, I review a variety of ARC's, books I bought and library books. It keeps it fun!

Sorry that this post is very rambly. I just wanted to share how I felt, as inspired by a fabulous followers comment. Thank you for inspiring me to share Jennifer.

500 Follower Contest!

Wow, I cannot believe I have 500 followers. I have been at this for 5 years (last September). I started reviewing for a website and eventually decided to go off on my own. I have taken time off for college and to get married and such but I am back now!

In honor of my 500 followers I am giving away a $10 Amazon.com gift card. If I get to 515 followers I will add another gift card. If I get to 530+ I will add another.

You must be 13 or older to enter (or have your parents do it). You also must have a US mailing address as I will be mailing you the gift card and a couple bookmarks or something. I may choose to add extra prizes based on how many people are entering. Good luck!

a Rafflecopter giveaway

This Is Not a Drill

This Is Not a Drill
Beck McDowell
Penguin
10/25/2012
From: Library

Grade: C
Audience: Teens





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.

My thoughts: 
I really wanted to like this book. Though it is a sad topic I still wanted a great book. For some reason I just couldn't. The first thing that could have influences my dislike is how close to the Sandy Hook shooting it is. It was not the same thing, obviously, but it was a a man with a mental illness terrifying a bunch of 1st graders with a gun. I kept flashing back to that with every page.

The other thing about it that I was not too fond of is the way it kept going back to the past. I would just be getting into the story and then *boom* rewind. I would have preferred it having separate chapters for the flashbacks.

If I could ignore those two things it was an okay book. The characters were likable despite their struggles. They had a great chemistry (when they were not being traumatized) and worked well as a team. The little kids were portrayed accurately. You could really feel their innocence.

I recommend this book to people who don't mind going back and forth between time periods.

Wednesday Wishlist

Wednesday Wishlist is a feature I started years ago. I spotlight 1 book that is already out that I want to read and review.

Winter Longing
Tricia Mills
Penguin
8/12/2010









Synopsis:

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

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

Why I want to review it: 
This sounds like an incredibly emotional story. I can feel Winter's pain just reading they synopsis so I can only imagine the emotions I would feel for her throughout the book.