Must Monday

Here is what I am waiting for this week!

Summary: (Barnes and Noble)
What if you find your soul mate. . . and he’s your best friend’s boyfriend?
Best friends Lani and Erin couldn’t be more different. Lani’s reserved and thoughtful; Erin’s bubbly and outgoing. Lani likes to do her own thing; Erin prefers an entourage. There’s no possible way they could be interested in the same guy. So when Erin starts dating Jason, Lani can’t believe she feels such a deep connection with him—and it may be mutual. The more Lani fights it, the more certain she feels that it’s her fate to be with Jason. But what do you do when the love of your life is the one person you can’t have?

Why?
I love the author and cant wait to see what she does with this one! I have also been in a situation where my friends boy wanted me and I wanted him...

Buy it this May!!!

Skinny-Dipping

Skinny-Dipping (The Au Pairs book 2)

Melissa de la Cruz

Simon Pulse

$8.99

May 2006

FTC: This is my book. I did not receive it from the publisher or author.

Characters 20/20

Plot 15/20

Setting 20/20

Cover 20/20

Ending 20/20

Total grade: 95% A

Sexual content: 12/20

Violence: 0/20

Drugs: 8/20

Underage drinking: 10/20

Swearing: 10/20

Total rating: 14+

Summary: (Amazon)

Eliza, Mara, and Jacqui return for a second season of high fashion, fabulous parties, unlimited alcohol, sex, and celebrities in New York's exclusive Hamptons. Last summer, as au pairs for the wealthy Perry family, the girls partied their way through the season. Now Mara and Jacqui have returned to care for the Perry children while Eliza has chosen to work at the ultra-hip nightclub, The Seventh Circle. Sound perfect? Not quite. Eliza has broken up with the hunky gardener from last year and has hooked up with Ryan Perry, Mara's ex-boyfriend. After all, Mara did break up with him. The catch is that, unbeknownst to Eliza, Mara wants him back. Jacqui, the beautiful Brazilian, has recently sworn off men-until she meets Eliza's replacement, the stunning Philippe. Oh, yeah, it may be worth mentioning that Mrs. Perry also has her eye on him. The story is ultimately about the fleeting nature of popularity and how easy it is to get caught up in the game.

My Thoughts:

I loved the first Au Pair book when I read it about a year ago! After that I was bombarded with books so I had put off reading more of the series. I wish I hadn’t! The plot was common in many ways but it was still a light, enjoyable read.

The characters were each there own person which is always nice. Friends in books shouldn’t be too similar. I found some real connections with the characters in this book.

I recommend this book to girls looking for a fun beach read.

Quotes:

Here is a random quote I found by opening to a random page:

“Turn the lights down around them, will you? They’re totally killing the mood.”

Inexcusable

Inexcusable

Chris Lynch

Athenaeum

$16.95 USD

2005

FTC: This is a library book. I did not receive it from the publisher or author.

Characters 10/20

Plot 10/20

Setting 15/20

Cover 20/20

Ending 15/20

Total grade: 70% C

Total rating: 14+

Summary: Amazon

Keir is a senior who fancies himself a lovable rogue. So do his widowed father, his older sisters, and his classmates. He likes being liked; he just doesn't do well with involvement. Keir would never do anything to hurt anyone intentionally–or would he? When he tackles and cripples a member of an opposing football team, it's determined to be an accident–one that earns him the good-humored nickname, Killer. When he and his buddies destroy a town statue, they consider it a high-spirited, funny prank. When he gets drunk, the alcohol abuse is dismissed as silly, harmless drinks, and drugs at parties are strictly recreational. And when he date rapes the girl he thinks he loves, at first he convinces himself that the way it looks is not the way it is. Keir's first-person narrative chillingly exposes the rationalization process that the troubled teen goes through to persuade himself and those around him of his innocence.

My Thoughts:

This book has been on my Amazon list for quite a while. When I saw it at my local library I was super excited. To be honest I am glad I got it there because I would have felt like it was not worth my money. The old cover sucks but there is a new much better one. The plot had so many holes and took forever to get going. The writing style was not for me but I do know one friend who loved it. The characters seemed dull to me. They were lifeless and needed to be more developed. I felt that I learned a bit from this book but I would recommend everyone try a library copy before buying.

Quotes:

Here is a random quote I found by opening to a random page.

“He was giggling again by the time we had finished speaking…”

Little Black Lies

Little Black Lies

Tish Cohen

Egmont

$16.99

October 2009

FTC: I received this book from the author with the understanding that I would provide an honest review for no compensation.

Characters 15/20

Plot 15/20

Setting 15/20

Cover 20/20

Ending 20/20

Total grade: 85% B

Total rating: 13+

Summary: (Amazon)

Sara Black enters Boston's elite Anton High as a junior, something practically unheard of and made possible because her OCD-suffering dad is the new janitor. Sara stands out immediately as a top student, eliciting the envy and attention of the school's upper echelon, in particular queen bee Carling Burnack. When Carling assumes that Sara has moved into town from London, England, instead of nearby lower-class Lundon, Sara doesn't correct her. It's just the beginning of the lies she tells as she struggles in her new role as Carling's number one frenemy. As one might expect, Sara's lies catch up with her, and they cause trouble for her father. As her world comes tumbling down, the teen sees the situation for what it is and works on repairing her relationship with her father.

My Thoughts:

This book was not what I expected at all but it was still good. I would not say it was fantastic and I am jumping up and down but it was worth my time. The plot was really predictable with no twists and turns. I felt that it was common and pretty dull because of that. The characters were okay but nothing to write home about. I love, love, love the cover though!

I would recommend this book to fans of crazy chick-lit.

Quotes:

Here is a random quote I found by opening to a random page:

“What would we have done without you all these years, Sara?”

After

*No pictures since I am still being hated by Barnes and Noble*

After
Amy Efaw
Viking
$17.99
August 2009
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 15/20
Cover 20/20
Ending 18/20
Total grade: 93% A

Sexual content: 12/20
Violence: 8/20
Drugs: 4/20
Underage drinking: 5/20
Swearing: 5/20
Total rating: 14+

Summary: (Amazon)
Fifteen-year-old Devon Davenport lies on the sofa mindlessly watching morning TV. She is in physical pain, and her only recourse is to mentally disconnect. Suddenly her life turns upside down and she is left wondering what happened. Why is she being charged with attempted murder? Through a series of conversations with her court-appointed attorney, Devon begins to uncover deep-seated resentments and awaken to the fact that she had been pregnant, has given birth to a baby, and thrown the infant into a Dumpster.

My Thoughts:
I took some notes again while reading this one so hopefully I can give you all a good review (: !! First off I want to say I love this cover. At first glance it looks so simple, like there isn’t much going on, but then once you really look at it you can see a whole story.

As I started this book I was impressed. The start was unusual and intriguing. I felt like I had to know more, right then and there. From the start the point of view was a bit weird though. It felt like we were in Devon’s head but someone else was narrating. I don’t know how to explain it other then that really. I have to say I liked it though.

The plot itself was heart wrenching! I was almost in tears at many points. I was constantly thinking “who could do that” and “why would she”. The explanations for her actions were so deep. You had to really dig in to the character, you had to be her. I love that in a book.

Parts of this book were super hard to read. I love babies and I hope to be a mom when I’m older. This girl is a year younger than me or so. I couldn’t believe someone so much like me could do something so horrendous. As you get deeper into the plot the reasons become clearer. You won’t condone what she did but you can understand at least. I think another reason this book was so hard on me were the words. Each word set the tone perfectly. There was a constant voice pulling at your heart. The incorporation of poetry in one chapter also did that.

As Devon starts having flashbacks we can start figuring out who she really is. I love that we are learning with her. Nether one of us knows before the other. She was seeing things in a different light, discovering who she is as a person.

I would recommend this to teenage girls, probably only the older ones. I also recommend this to those involved in shaping teens lives. This may include parents and educators.

Quotes:
Here are some quotes I found while reading the book.

“There are so many freaking weirdos around.” –Devon’s mom

“What kind of mother wouldn’t know her own daughters pregnant?” –Devon’s mom screaming at the cops.

“They’d laughed at her. Yeah, they’d be the kind to have lice and stds.” –Devon thinks upon her arrival at the detention center.

Wednesday Wishlist

Here is what I hope to buy this week!

Summary: (Barnes and Noble)

Imagine there was never a Laguna Beach, a Newport Harbor, the shimmering Hills. Imagine that your hometown—your school—is the first place XTV descends to set up cameras.

Now imagine they've trained them on you.

When Jesse O'Rourke gets picked for a "documentary" being filmed at her school in the Hamptons she's tempted to turn down the offer. But there's a tuition check attached to being on the show, and Jesse needs the cash so she can be the first in her family to attend college. All she has to do is trade her best friend for the glam clique she's studiously avoided, her privacy for a 24/7 mike, and her sense of right and wrong for "what sells on camera." . . . At least there's one bright spot in the train wreck that is her suddenly public senior year: Jesse's crush has also made the cast.

As the producers manipulate the lives of their "characters" to heighten the drama, and Us Weekly covers become a regular occurrence for Jesse, she must struggle to remember one thing: the difference between real and the real real.

Why? I love reality TV, okay? I admit it ;) The hills and Laguna are awesome so... :)

Review Rewind

Here are some books I reviewed that didnt get much notice the first time around :) Take a look at some older books that are still great!

1. The Au Pairs http://booksaremylove.blogspot.com/2008/11/au-pairs.html

2. Here's the Story http://booksaremylove.blogspot.com/2008/11/heres-story.html

3. The Elite http://booksaremylove.blogspot.com/2008/12/elite.html

4. Frenimies http://booksaremylove.blogspot.com/2009/02/frenemies.html

5. Sophomore Switch http://booksaremylove.blogspot.com/2009/03/sophomore-switch.html

6. Bounty Hunters http://booksaremylove.blogspot.com/2009/06/bonty-hunters.html

Must Monday

*Barnes and Noble is acting up so no pictures. Sorry guys!*

Anastasia's Secret

Susanne Dunlap

Summary: Amazon

For Anastasia Romanov, life as the privileged daughter of Russia's last tsar is about to be torn apart by the bloodshed of revolution. Ousted from the imperial palace when the Bolsheviks seize control of the government, Anastasia and her family are exiled to Siberia. But even while the rebels debate the family's future with agonizing slowness and the threat to their lives grows more menacing, romance quietly blooms between Anastasia and Sasha, a sympathetic young guard she has known since childhood. But will the strength of their love be enough to save Anastasia from a violent death?

Inspired by the mysteries that have long surrounded the last days of the Romanov family, Susanne Dunlap's new novel is a haunting vision of the life?and love story?of Russia's last princess.

Why?

It sounds unique and like a fun read.

BUY IT TOMORROW!!!!