Love, Holly by Emma Stone

 

Love, Holly by Emily Stone
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

First and foremost, while this book does have a few scenes set around Christmas time, I don't really consider this a Christmas book. Unless you want it to be. Then it definitely is.

All three of the main characters face a good deal throughout the book. I wouldn't call this book "fluffy" by any means. There is a lot of grief and mourning and growth that takes place in these pages. It might be painful to read, or comforting, depending on your own life experiences.

Holly is such an intricate character. She has her flaws and her strengths and getting to watch her grow throughout the book was heartbreaking (because often times growth proceeds hardship).

Emma was probably my favorite character. I suppose older people in books are probably pretty fun to write. They can go through life at that point not caring how blunt or grouchy they are because they've lived long enough and have earned that right. Emma is just the right amount of grouchy old woman, wise friend, and flawed individual. Once you get to know Emma, I think you'll love her too.

And finally, Jack. He was living life a bit flat until Holly showed up and kind of imploded everything he knew. The thing I love most about Jack is that he is eventually willing to admit his mistakes and try to change his view once someone suggested it might be a wise idea.

The pacing was a bit off in a few places for me but overall this was a quick read and one that I think I'll think about beyond today.

Synopsis: Sometimes it takes a stranger to bring you back to yourself.

Ever since a car accident tore her family apart, Holly has been part of a lonely-hearts holiday letter–writing club. Each December, she writes to a stranger who is also spending Christmas alone, and receives a letter from another lonely person in return.

Usually, the letters go unanswered. That’s the point—the letters are anonymous, and the senders write whatever is in their heart. But this year, the letter Holly receives is different; not only is the letter full of a grief she knows all too well, but its writer, Emma, mentions a place that Holly has visited. When she realizes that she might actually be able to find the letter’s author, Holly becomes determined to reunite Emma with the estranged grandson, Jack, with whom Emma is desperate to reconnect.

When Holly finally tracks him down, she remembers that she’s met Jack once before . . . and the connection was electric. The spark between the two of them is still there—until a misunderstanding risks their burgeoning romance and his strained relationship with Emma, too. But Holly is determined; if she can fix Emma’s family, she might also be able to fix her own. Though as it turns out, Holly might have less time to put things right than she thought.

Thank you to NetGalley and Random House Publishing Group - Ballantine for the review copy.

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The Real Fake Fiance by Sarah Jane Woodley

 

The Real Fake Fiancé by Sara Jane Woodley
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

If you love a good friends to lovers story than this will totally be your jam.

Dee and Noah have been best friends for as long as they can remember and Noah, well, he's been in love with his best friend for almost as long.

When Dee's big city boss comes to Mirror Valley to assess her position and her app-baby, RightMatch, she is determined to see it succeed. At any cost. Even if that cost is dragging her best friend along for a wild ride of fake dating and engagement. But will their friendship be able to stay the same after this is all over. And does Dee still want it to?

I do love a good fake dating story and the Volleyball Boys were one of my favorite parts. Glad that Noah and Dee could get their happily ever after!

I don't have an entire playlist for this book but here's a few songs that I think fit the bill:
- I've Been Thinking about You by Mariah Carey
- Home by Edward Sharpe
- Can't Fight This Feeling by REO Speedwagon

Thank you so much to the Author for the free eARC in exchange for this review which is completely my own thoughts.

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Faking It With My Best Friend by Kate O'Keeffe

 

Faking It With My Best Friend: A Friends to Lovers Sweet Small-Town Romantic Comedy by Kate O'Keeffe


Gabe and Ryn are freaking adorable. I absolutely love them together.

Gabe does not understand why Ryn is always falling for the bad boy that will, without a doubt, eventually take her heart and smash it. He doesn't get why she doesn't realize she deserves so much better than anything they can offer.

Ryn has always had Gabe's back and always will.

In a small town, with meddling ladies, it's hard to get out from under the scrutinizing gaze where everyone thinks they should be together. At least once a day they field questions and statements about how they should be together.

But they're just friends. Friends forever. Just Gabe and Ryn. Ryn and Gabe. Both totally awesome, attractive, people who definitely do not have feelings for each other. .... Right?

This is a classic friends to lovers story with a bit of jealousy and longing and ... friendship!

Thanks so much to the author for the eARC!

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Me & Mr. Just Right by Kaylee Baldwin

 

Me and Mr. Just Right: A Sweet Romantic Comedy by Kaylee Baldwin
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

I am completely infatuated with the Forrester siblings. So much so I really don't know who I love the most. They were the icing on the cake. The cherry on top. The creme de la creme.

You have Jules, the grumpy lawyer. Bennett the adorable and a little heartbroken eternal optimist. Haydn, the outdoor photographer and "glue that holds them all together". And then you have Rosie: the youngest Forrester who is always scheming in one way or another.

Thanks to Rosie's scheming Lia finds herself in a bit of a Goldilocks scenario. She planned to get away from the spotlight and decompress--what better way than spending a week on an uninhabited island? Except the Forrester brother's also planned a trip to their family cabin that same week. On that same island. Soon she is well on her way to finding her her mr. juuust right.

The way the brothers seamlessly insert Lia into their lives made my heart melt. The way they helped her find herself again was heartwarming all while being their silly selves. I was laughing the whole way through.

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Strawberry Fields for Never by Kate Watson

 

Strawberry Fields for Never: An Enemies to Lovers Sweet Romantic Comedy by Kate Watson


Imagine being on the brink of broke when suddenly you snag a multi-millionaire marketing client for your self-started business. The only catch: you have to sign the contract today and you have to spend significant time on-sight so you can really get to the heart of what makes the company tick.

Oh, and you have to convince the owner's grandson that the place is worth sticking around for.

Wow. Jane and Tripp, what a ride!

While Strawberry Fields for Never is marketed as an "Enemies to Lovers sweet romantic comedy", I personally would call it a friends to lovers where they made a bad (first) second impression. There was some snarky banter but it always felt more to me like flirty friends banter than enemies.

I really appreciate a relationship where both people can support the other. Tripp and Jane were a bit like night and day but they complimented each other in all the right ways. Jane needed that love and support. She had to grow up way too early in life and has taken on the "mother" role even when maybe she shouldn't. Tripp who has never quite felt good enough was able to find that in Jane. Together they were both able to work through their traumas and hone their strengths. And when they messed up they had their friends to get them back on the right path.

Speaking of friends: The friend groups in this book were one of my favorite things, I wish I'd been able to have more of them! I can't wait to read about Millie and Duke.

Also ... there were baby llamas. So ...

This is a sweet and swoony romantic comedy (i.e. no spice/closed door)

Thanks for the chance to read an eARC Kate Watson! It was a pleasure.

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Hello Stranger by Katherine Center

 

Hello Stranger by Katherine Center
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

"Are you asking me to be your anybody?"

Sadie Montgomery has spent a good deal of her life determined not to need anyone. Not again. Not after losing her mom at a young age, and losing her father to his grief. But things are finally looking up for her when she places in the top 10 of a prestigious art contest--she knows this is her big break. She is about to finally prove her haters wrong. Until she's headed home one day and wakes up in the hospital. Soon her whole life is thrown upside down and she has to rely on other's help more than ever before.

Oh. My. Goodness. Katherine Center does it again. I absolutely adore this book. This book is a lot more serious than some of the others I've read, but still light enough to definitely stay in the rom com category. Sadie is going through A LOT and I think having it any more lighthearted than it is would have detracted from her struggles. It was a perfect balance of reality and escapism.

I was completely invested in Sadie's story and I loved how it played out. My only complaint, and it's minor, is that I wanted this to be longer. Mostly to get to know Joe and Dr. Addison a little bit more. I feel like we barely scraped the surface of these guys and yet I still loved them. I think it would have been fun to have Joe and Dr. Addison's POV once they were introduced into the story. I think it would have given that extra layer. But that's easy for me to say. I just sat on the couch and read this work of art. I didn't have to figure out all the fun details.

All that to say, this is a book that was totally worth staying up until 2am to finish.

As with the other Center books I've read it is a closed door romance so keep that in mind going in. Not a lot of steam but a lot of sweet and swoony.

Thank you so much Net Galley and Katherine Center for the eARC. I can't wait to get my hands on a physical copy!

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Forget Me Twice by Carina Taylor

Forget Me Twice by Carina Taylor
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Dedication: To Power Nappers around the world. You truly are amazing. Please teach me your ways.

Ah, the classic divorced couple story where one person completely forgets they're divorced and the other one has to fake that they're in a loving marriage until ...

Oh wait. Not something I've actually read before but it was certainly an entertaining premise!

Meyer and her ex, Archie, were in love and then after that they were maybe not as much in love but they were still married. And then Archie left her. And their cat. And their cute little house. And then they were nothing. A year later and Meyer is still trying to move on when she gets a phone call out of the blue letting her know that her husband is in the hospital.

Only problem, she doesn't have a husband anymore. After rushing to the hospital she discovers that Archie is back. Not only is he back but he's lost two years of memories. In other words, he no longer remembers the year of fights and the year he spent in a completely different state moving on.

Review: This book was certainly a fast-paced and enjoyable read. I actually love stories about couples who were in love and then life happens and maybe they aren't anymore but the rest of the book is about trying to get that love back. It's just not done very often and if it's done well, it is so enjoyable to read. Meyer and Archie have some great, friendly banter and I can definitely see why they fell for each other in the first place.

While I absolutely enjoyed Forget Me Twice, I do wish there had been more focus on the character's growth. I was told a lot about how they grew but it did fall a little short since I don't think we, as readers, get to witness that growth within the story. I also wanted a little more angst or pining. I think that Meyer finds out Archie's secret a little too soon. I think there was a lot of missed opportunities with that timing but it was still a great read overall.

Thank you Net Galley for the e-arc! It was a pleasure reading.

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Forever...

by Judy Blume

Dedication: "For Randy as promised ... with love"

First paragraph: "Sybil Davison has a genius I.Q. and has been laid by at least six different guys. She told me herself, the last time she was visiting her cousin, Erica, who is my good friend. Erica says this is because of Sybil's fat problem and her need to feel loved---the getting laid part, that is. The genius I.Q. is just luck or genes or something. I"m not sure that either explanation is 100 percent right but generally Erica is very good at analyzing people."

Review: Plot of the book is pretty simple: Katherine, Kath for short, loves Michael. Michael loves Kath. There is the looming future, i.e. graduation, that could rip them apart or maybe bring them together.

... ... ... I have never seen so many ellipses in one book. (I would have said, "I've never seen so many ellipses in my life but, thanks to my favorite people on Twitter, that's not exactly true.) The ellipses were overwhelming and the dialogue was so dry.

When I say the dialogue was dry I mean, I was two chapters in and cringing every time someone spoke. I would have stopped reading then and there but it had taken me a whole minute and a half to get through chapter one so I figured I'd finish the book pretty quickly--luckily, I was right.

So supposedly Michael and Kath are super in love. What they have is something special. But, I didn't buy it. At all. Their conversations were not special. To me, it felt like guy wanted sex. Girl didn't. Eventually girl did so guy got what he wanted. Somewhere in the mix "I love you"'s were thrown in to make it sound more meaningful. It felt like Blume just wrote "and then they fell in love through a series of meaningful conversations that I'm too lazy, or incapable of typing out." Maybe that was Blume's point the whole time? That an 18 year old can't actually be in love? I don't think that was her point but if it was, she definitely came close to proving it.

Other than that, the only reason I finished the book was because it was short and easy. If I'd gone to bed with a chapter unfinished I probably wouldn't have picked it up again.

In a way it's just an interesting sex ed book. I guess if you want your kid to figure out how the birds and the bees work and where to go to get sex ed information so you don't have to have "The Talk" then you should have them read this.

Eh.

Pride and Prejudice

by Jane Austen

First Paragraph: "It is a truth universally acknowledged, that a single man in possession of a good fortune, must be in want of a wife."

Review: I'd give you a synopsis of the story but I think every person alive - or at least most - has to know what this book is about. It is, after all, one of the greatest love stories ever written. How Austen managed to do this in 1813 and still make her characters relate-able almost 200 years later is remarkable.

Other than that, I don't think there is much to be said about this book other than, "Why did it take me 26 years to read it?" I get that I had to learn how to read first so the first few years of life are excused. But I remember reading Sense and Sensibility in High School and loving  it. I should have known this book would be no different.

Now, the only thing left to do is go rent the BBC movie again from the library.

The Truth About Forever

by Sarah Dessen

Dedication: "For Jay, as ever, and for my cousins who, like me, know by heart the view of the river and the bay, the complex rules of Beckon, and all the ways you Can't Get to Heaven.

To name you all would be a book in itself: you know who you are."

First paragraph: "Jason was going to Brain Camp. It had another name, a real name, but that's what everyone called it."

Review:
    A long, hot summer. That's what sixteen-year old Macy Queen has to look forward to. Her boyfriend, Jason, is going away to Brain Camp. She's stuck with a dull-as-dishwasher job at the library. And all of her free time promises to be spent studying for the SATs or grieving silently with her mother over her father's death. 
     
      But everything changes when Macy is corralled into helping out at one of her mother's open house events, and she meets the chaotic Wish Catering crew...

Maybe this says something about my "intellect", but I never get tired of the boy/girl/forbidden-love story. Probably because it can be told a million different ways. As long as it's entertaining to read, even if I know exactly how it will all end, I love it. In fact, I might go as far as to say that I prefer it.

Anyway, this book kept me turning the page. A total "chick-flick" in terms of the heavy emotional baggage mixed with the tempting, always present, eye-candy. I thought it was a great story. It hit on issues real people have and those issues were handled in real world ways. The characters, just like so many of Dessen's other characters, were believable. I don't doubt that they exist. That they are out there acting just the way Dessen described in this book.

I enjoyed this book a tad bit more than the last Dessen novel I read, Just Listen; although, I couldn't tell you exactly why. Maybe I just enjoyed the supporting characters a little bit more or maybe Macy was easier for me to relate to since she felt the need to get the perfect grades, have the perfect job and deal with her emotions privately where no one else was affected. Whatever the reasoning, despite the basic storyline being one I've read a hundred times before, I enjoyed it thoroughly and Dessen was able to throw in a little bit of her own flair to make the story hers.

Plus, as a side note, I just really liked Wes. Like Macy put it, he really has the whole, "Tall, Dark, and Tormented thing going for him".

Click here for Sarah Dessen's website for The Truth About Forever.

Just Listen

by Sarah Dessen

The best way out is always through. - Robert Frost


First paragraph: "I taped the commercial back in April, before anything had happened, and promptly forgot about it. A weeks ago, it had started running, and suddenly, I was everywhere.

Review:

Annabel Greene is the girl who has everything. At least, that's what she portrays in her modeling shoots. But Annabel's life is far from perfect. Her friendship with Sophie ended bitterly, and her older sister's eating disorder is weighing down the entire family. Isolated and ostracized at school and at home, Annabel retreats into silent acceptance. Then she meets Owen---intense, music-obsessed, and determined to always tell the truth. And with his guidance, Annabel learns to just listen to herself and gains the courage to speak honestly. But will she be able to tell everyone what really happened the night she and Sophie stopped being friends?

Had I read this book two years ago I probably would have given it five stars. I think I'm starting to be more picky with my books. It was well written, interesting, the story kept you turning the page, but it lacked what my "five-star books" have.

You have to be pretty oblivious not to figure out what happened to Annabel the night her and Sophie stopped being friends. And maybe that was the point -- that particular event wasn't the plot device that was meant to keep you reading. But there weren't a whole lot of other unexpected things that happened either. You sort of knew where things were going and how they'd end. But the great thing about this book is that it was still pretty entertaining to read regardless.

In Adult Fiction there are usually a lot of F-bombs. I don't really like seeing them in YA Fiction but this book had a few. I guess it was to help build the the impression you were supposed to have of one of the characters but I don't buy it. I think there are ways to make someone a rough and tough teenager with out using that word. But that's just my opinion.

I really did enjoy the way Dessen handled the more serious topics that were broached in the story. She was able to show that everyone handles certain situations differently and just because one person did it one way doesn't mean they did it wrong. They did what they thought was best for their family and most importantly themselves at that point in their lives.

Anyway, I enjoyed this book. I think it'd probably rate at about three stars nowadays but that isn't a bad thing. It just means there are other books I've enjoyed more.

Click here for Sarah Dessen's Just Listen website.

Aurelia

by Anne Osterlund

Dedication: "For Mom and Dad--without whom nothing would ever have been written. And for Shandi--who will write her own one day."

First paragraph: "Death disturbed the night. The sound of squeaking wheels grew louder, as did the clicking of horse hooves scraping across cobblestones. A rickety old wagon, its simple board bed held together with rusty screws, pulled up against the back of the palace."

Review: Aurelia, the Crown Princess of Tyralt, has never been one for rules. She's grown up defying her father and doing her own thing. She's aware of the hardships her kingdom faces because she makes herself a part of them. What she doesn't realize is that somewhere, someone is trying to have her killed and the only hope for finding this assassin is her childhood friend.

My only complaint about this book is that I cannot, for the life of me, figure out how to properly say her name. The story is intriguing and I couldn't put it down. I was absolutely submersed in the world Osterlund created. Aurelia has a personality that I'm sure I would clash with but it makes a great character. Someone who isn't afraid to tell you exactly how it is without fear of hurting your feelings because she knows it's the truth.

Some of the characters, especially toward the end, you couldn't help but love and hate all at once. How can someone be so stupid? Yet, the people you respect most respect them so you can't help but share those feelings to some extent. Maybe, just maybe, it's wrong and the real truth will come out. And then there are the people you just love to hate. The ones you want to be evil. I found myself mentally hoping they were the "bad guys" just because it would further justify my distaste.

Anyway, I guess I wasn't a huge fan of the ending but I still liked it. To better clarify what I mean, things can't always end "happily ever after". I think it was a realistic ending and that made it even better despite the fact that it wasn't what I would have preferred. I have a feeling, it was probably even harder to write that ending than to read. If I was a writer I'd only want the very best for the characters I wrote into existence.

Moral of the story, I'm definitely giving this five stars. It's probably been my favorite read this summer ... although, that may be in part because it had a solid ending. It was a stand alone book even though there is a sequel (which I found out about just a few seconds ago).

Click here for Anne Osterlund's website and more information about the Aurelia series.

Firelight

by Sophie Jordan

Dedication: "For my very own Catherine"

First paragraph: "Gazing out at the quiet lake, I know the risk is worth it."

Review: Jacinda is unique even among her own kind - the Draki, a descendant of the dragons. Her life is planned out for her as though she's a possession for the pride she grew up in. Her ability to breathe fire makes her a rare commodity and there are certain Draki that aren't willing to risk losing her talent.

When her mother realizes the extent of the pride's plans for Jacinda, she packs up what little she can fit into a car and flees into the mortal world, hoping Jacinda will leave her Draki to die and accept the fate of becoming entirely human. Something her mother doesn't count on is Will, a hunter of the Draki. A boy Jacinda is instantly drawn to. A boy, that despite all logics, keeps her Draki alive despite the arid conditions of her new home.

I'll come out and say it, there were a few similarities in dialogue between this and Twilight. "Bad Boy" tells the protagonist to stay away from him but can't stay away from her, etc. etc. However, I think that's where the similarities end.

The struggle Jacinda has with remembering herself while trying to hide who she is from those that would destroy her is constantly present. The decisions she makes are not always logical or rational but they're completely emotion based and anyone who's been a teenager knows that logic and rationale rarely play into thought processes.

On a separate note, I love the idea of this story. Draki hiding in human skin. Longing for a chance to set their inner-self free and fly above the rest of us.

I enjoy these magical stories and it was really well done. It wasn't too cheesy to the point of me rolling my eyes and thinking, "that could never happen". And yes, I do know that could never happen but Jordan did a great job of writing this story in a way that kept you from really questioning the logicalness of it all. The only time I felt removed from the story was when she was shifting. Unfortunately, my mind just isn't creative enough to imagine a human turning dragon and vice versa.

If you enjoy dragons, fantasy, a bit of romance, and/or a tiny bit of high school drama this is probably the next book you'll want to read.

Unfortunately, like many books, this is not a stand alone novel. The next novel in this series, Vanish, is set to be released September 6, 2011.

Click here for more information about Firelight and the next book in the series, Vanish.

The Dead-Tossed Waves

by Carrie Ryan

Dedication: "To Roberta Hatch the light on the horizon that means home. To Douglas Keith Kidd for loving her, and all of us, so much. And to love at first sigh (and Chiquita bananas)"

First paragraph: "The story goes that even after the Return they tried to keep the roller coasters going. They said it reminded them of the before time. When they didn't have to worry about people rising from the dead, when they didn't have to build fences and walls and barriers to protect themselves from the masses of Mudo constantly seeking human flesh. When the living weren't forever hunted."

Review: A short while ago I read and reviewed The Forest of Hands and Teeth. You may recall me mentioning how much I loathe zombies and yet, for some strange reason, I really enjoyed that book. This book, The Dead-Tossed Waves, is the companion book to that one. The main character from the previous book is the mom to the main character of this one. There are a few slight references to the book and it sort of made me sad/excited when I caught on to them.

While the previous book focused on Mary finding out answers and dreaming of finding the ocean, this book focuses on Gabrielle's life. All she's ever known has been a lighthouse and her mother's love. She's felt safe and secure and has never had any desire to look beyond the barrier. She leaves the bravery and heroics to others, to her friends. Until one night when her whole world comes crashing down around her and she's forced to discover who she really is and all she is capable of becoming.

This book was great. The zombies, aka Mudo, aka Unconsecrated, were freaky as always but I think I'm building up a tolerance to them. I was able to read it late at night without getting freaked out. Gabrielle, or Gabry for short, is not a strong, fearless character. She's really weak and pitiful at times, but she always real. She's whiny and selfish and can't figure out what she wants but Ryan figures out a way to make this a good thing. She makes Gabry very relate-able. If there were "Mudo" lurking around nowadays, I'd definitely be a Gabry. Especially the girl at the beginning of the story who didn't care about what was past the barrier as long as I got to go to bed warm and fed and safe each night.

Without giving too much away, there was one detail, one thing I couldn't wrap my mind around. I couldn't see her doing. I still can't quite understand why it was in the book. I think Ryan could have carried on the story and left it out but I guess she felt that that moment was critical for Gabry. Although, I don't feel like she wrote enough about Gabry's emotions to justify the act.

Other than that the story was well done. There is a lot of stuff that happens that is really unexpected. I was constantly taken by surprise with the twists that Ryan threw in. Also, unfortunately, I discovered that Ryan really likes to leave her stories hanging. She gives you closure, but not really. I can't really explain it except to say, I really hope things work out for my favorite characters. The fact that I care enough to write that sentence says enough to me. It's an emotionally engaging story and it is well worth the read. ... Assuming you can get passed the fact that there are ZOMBIES. Mwahahaha.

Alright. I'm done. But seriously. Read it. It's a chick-flick with lots of action.

Click here for Carrie Ryan's Website on The Dead-Tossed Waves.

If you click that link, watch the book trailer. I love book trailers. They're always so ... cheesy/dramatic and the acting is so awful but they're definitely good for a laugh.

The Secret Life of a Teenage Siren

by Wendy Toliver

Dedication: "For Lynn Gray: my mom, my inspiration, my hero"

First paragraph: "I want to kiss Zach Parker. Just once. Is that too much to ask?"

Review: Roxy Zimmerman is just a normal teenage band geek trying to survive high school until her 16th birthday rolls around and transforms her into a beautiful siren. She is told that the sky is the limit with her new powers and that there are only two rules. One, don't tell anyone about being a siren. And two, never fall in love.

This book was exactly what I expected it to be. Totally cheesy, a bit far-fetched, and yet, it was still entertaining. My only problem was that there were way too many typos in the book. I'm not an editor by any means, but I think this book had more typos than any other book I've ever read.

Other than that this book was cute. There were even some things that were a bit unexpected. I don't think it gives off the best message. It focuses so much on getting what you want because you're beautiful. It also talked about having inner beauty, etc. but the focus was definitely on the idea that beauty=success.

I did like the greek references to Thelxiepia, the Siren. As stated before, I love Greek mythology so reading about it in modern form is always fun. Besides it brings back great memories of 6th grade recess. Also, did I mention she's a band geek. Yeah, I related to this story way too much. Minus the whole, being a siren thing, that is.

The passage of time in the book isn't very clearly stated. What I thought was a day turned out to be weeks, etc. So that threw me out of my immersion a bit but not enough to make me stop reading.

Not much else to say. Average story with less than average editing but still an enjoyable read if you've got it lying around.

Click here for Wendy Oliver's website of The Secret Life of a Teenage Siren.

Love Sucks

by Melissa Francis

Dedication: "To my sons, Ian and Rader; It makes me proud to know you would fight evil vampires to protect me. And for the record, I'd do the same for you, if you'd just clean your rooms.".

First paragraph: "My mother's baby shower.

Okay, this is horrifying news on many levels. First of all, I'm eighteen. (Okay, I've only been eighteen for a week, but that means I'm no longer seventeen and therefore technically I'm an adult.) I know how she got pregnant. There is no way I want to think about that, yet it seems to be all I can think about. And let me just say---ew. Seriously, ew."

Review: This is the sequel to the book Bite Me. It picks up right about where Bite Me left off. AJ is still battling mystical evil, trying to keep her family safe, and attempting to live a normal teenage life. She's still trying to get over her ex-boyfriend now step-brother, Ryan, while planning her senior prom and dealing with her two best friends that want nothing to do with each other. As her world starts to crumble and her family's past sneaks up on her, AJ is forced to make decisions and betray those closest to her in order to save someone she loves.

I love these kinds of books. Entertaining and easy. I managed to read this book in between multiple distractions and finished it in less than a day. AJ is a developing character. I think I liked her a bit more in this book than I did in the last. She's not as self-centered and she really is looking out for those around her.

The book has a few surprises and twists that you might not have seen coming and it answers many, if not all, of the questions you may have had at the end of the first book. I think the infuriating character in this one is Ryan. What is he up to? What is he thinking? Where does he run off to and why? But since this story is from AJ's perspective, most of these things are never really answered. Too bad.

Also, this book has a vampire version of Spike from Buffy the Vampire Slayer. He looks different but every time he would open his mouth I heard Spike's voice. And to make it even better, Ryan nicknames him Buffy.

So, overall not many complaints about this book. It was exactly what I expected it to be. Not a deep read but entertaining and equal in comparison to the first book.

If you like Vampire stories or fantasy books and you don't have a lot of time to spare, this might be a fun one to pick up.

Click here for the official site for Bite Me and Love Sucks.

Driftwood Summer: A Novel

by Patti Callahan Henry

Dedication: "To my dearest friends, who just happen to be my sisters: Barbi Callahan Burris and Jeannie Callahan Cunnion"

First Paragraph: "Bookstore owner Riley Sheffield believed that even the most ordinary life was like a good novel, a tale to be told. Her own life was full of twists and turns, secrets and surprises, with narrative threads that intertwined with the fabric of other people's lives. Her story revolved around a two-hundred-year-old cottage on the beach--Driftwood Cottage Bookstore."

Review: I went on a reading hiatus in case you hadn't noticed. I don't know that my reading hiatus is over yet but I did manage to sneak in a book while on vacation. So here it goes.

Riley Sheffield has spent her life in a small tourist town located on the coast. Her past is riddled with missed opportunities, regret, and loss. She's resigned to her fate and now she is on the verge of losing her home and her life love - her family owned bookstore. In an attempt to save the bookstore her mother has organized a week long calendar of events to celebrate the two-hundredth birthday of the bookstore building. This event forces her sister, Maisy, to return home and begin to mend their distant relationship after thirteen years of absence. It's a book about healing, friendship, sisterhood, love, life, and dreams.

I'm obviously out of the reviewing groove so I'll do my best to express my thoughts on this book. I enjoyed it. It was entertaining. It was not, however, my favorite book. It was a good summer read. Something to do to pass the time. The story wasn't gripping but there was enough mystery to keep me interested.

At the beginning there was some very cheesy dialogue and as I read the reunion of long separated friends I was reminded of another horribly written reunion. Mostly for my own personal use, the reunion in this book went like this:

"She nodded, unable to find the words she'd stored up to say to him. 'Hey', she said.
'That's it?' He reached forwared and pulled her into a hug.
'Hey? that's all I get after thirteen years?'"

I think my biggest complaint about this book was the reason for Maisy's separation from her family for 13 years. I guess, in real life, people have left for dumber reasons. Possibly. But it seemed so unrealistic to me that I had a hard time immersing myself into the rest of the story since so much of the story is centered around this "betrayal".

Now that I've told you the things I hated, I suppose I should share some of the things I enjoyed. The idea of the life Riley lived, while not ideal, was realistic. She had struggles but she realized that her life was still wonderful despite those things. There was a great moral/message behind the overall story and if nothing else, it was uplifting to be reminded that there are more important things to life than how much money you're making.

So in the end: would I suggest this book to you? Probably not. However, if you found this book on a bookshelf at a family reunion and were considering reading it, I wouldn't say it would be a complete waste of time. I would probably give it around three stars.

Click here for Patti Callahan Henry's official website.

Princess of the Midnight Ball

by Jessica Day George

Dedication: "For Jenn, finally"

First paragraph: "Because he had once been human, the King Under Stone sometimes found himself plagued by human emotions. He was experiencing one now, as he faced the mortal woman before him, but it took a moment for him to give it a name. After a pause he labeled it 'triumph.'"

Review: This was a beautiful take on the famous and classic story of The Twelve Dancing Princesses.

After the war and losing his mother, father and younger sister, Galen makes his way to his aunt and uncle's home. Shortly after arriving Galen finds work in the family business as a gardener at the royal palace and he starts to hear strange rumors of worn out dancing slippers. More questions are formed as he watches Princess Rose struggle each day with some mysterious unseen burden. Eventually after witnessing prince after prince come and go with no success at solving the worn-out dancing shoes mystery, Galen decides to take it upon himself to rescue Rose and her eleven sisters from whatever forces drag them from their beds night after night.

I really liked this twist to the original story. There were several things I enjoyed about the book. It was complex and slightly twisted. It was entertaining and while I knew what would happen with the story, there were still twists along the way that caught me off guard and pulled me further into the fantasy world that the author had created.

Also, Galen is also a very complex character. He's a soldier through and through and yet he has a side to him that is completely unexpected and yet quite pleasant. His upbringing and slightly unusual skills for knitting are, in the end, vital to the success of his "mission".

I would suggest this book for anyone that is looking for a slightly complex entertaining read. I especially recommend it for those people who enjoy reading new takes on old fairy-tales. Definitely glad I decided to get this from the library and it only took a few days to read.

Click here for Jessica Day George's website for Princess of the Midnight Ball

Prom Dates from Hell

by Rosemary Clement-Moore

Dedication: "To my dad, Robert Wallace Clement, who never forgot how to tell a story"

First paragraph: "As an interactive horror experience, with beasts from Hell, mayhem, gore, and dismemberment, it was an impressive event. As a high school prom, however, the evening was marginally less successful."

Review: Maggie Quinn never wanted to attend her high school prom. In fact, she was doing everything in her power to just avoid having to hear about it when things in her little town started to become a little paranormal. Now, to save everyone she knows and loves she has to put on a brave face (and a pretty dress) and dance her way through a night from Hell.

I really enjoyed this book. I don't remember where I heard about it from but it took me awhile to look into getting it from the library. But, the stars aligned and the library had it on the shelves so I picked it up and was pretty hooked from page 10ish.

It's a fun story with some great characters and an underlying moral to the story. It's set in a high school and the author really touched on all the classic stereotypical groups you find in the high school doors. And she was spot on with them. I had people from my own high school pictured for several of the characters that appeared. I especially enjoyed the idea of taking this one night that so many people either love or dread and turning it into something so other-worldly.

Maggie, the main character, is a lot like the average high-schooler. I think it makes her easy to relate to. There were things that she did that I would never have been able to muster and other things that I could have done with ease that she really struggled with and as a result, overall, she seemed like a real person who could have easily been my friend.

I guess the one thing I didn't quite understand was in regards to the sudden onslaught of men in Maggie's life. I just find it odd that one minute she is all, I'm ok looking and there aren't any guys, and then the next minute they are coming from every direction. It could happen, it's just not very likely.

And with that, I bid you ado and say .. read this if you're in the mood for some laughs and a good mysterious ghost hunting.

Click here for Rosemary Clement-Moore's website.

Along for the Ride

by Sarah Dessen

Dedication: "For my mother, Cynthia Dessen, for helping me to learn almost everything I know about being a girl and my daughter, Sasha Clementine, who is teaching me the rest."

First paragraph: "The E-mails always began the same way. Hi Auden!! It was the extra exclamation point that got me. My mother would call it extraneous, overblown, exuberant. To me, it was simply annoying, just like everything else about my stepmother, Heidi."

Review: After receiving a gift from her brother, Auden decides to step a little out of her comfort zone and spend the summer with her father and step-mother in the small beach town, Colby. After fate intervenes she embarks on a quest to take back her childhood and the summer shapes up to be nothing like she expects and everything that she needs.

I really liked this book. I thought it was the perfect blend of teenage angst, girly fluff, and sappy love. The plot is pretty predictable and you know who the love interest is going to be from the first time she runs into him but this book was written to be suspenseful so I wouldn't really say that knowing what is going to happen is a bad thing.

Also, I thought it was really well written. The story just flows and each character was well developed. So much so that I actually related more with one of the supporting characters. I think it takes skill to allow the readers to really connect with anyone besides the protagonist.

The only thing I didn't really like about this book was the ending. The story was going along and then it was over. There wasn't really much of a wrap up. I guess some people might like that sort of ending. I, however, am not one of those people.

I have more to say about the book in my head but it's just not coming out right in the words I type so ... maybe you should read it yourself and let me know what you think.

Click here for Sarah Dessen's Along for the Ride website.