Musing Monday

MUSING MONDAYS… is a weekly event where MizB at Should be Reading will ask a book/reading-related question, and you answer with your own thoughts on the topic.

This week’s musing asks…

What’s one book you always recommend to just about anyone?

Going Too Far
by Jennifer Echols. 

I fell in love with this book.  i would recommend this to anyone.  It a love story about a girl who is trying to be too tough for her own good.  All she needs to do is let go and let someone in.  It's hard but it's so wroth it in the end.

This book no matter when or how many times I read it still gives me butterflies.  It's my go to book and I would recommend it to anyone and everyone.

Description:
All Meg has ever wanted is to get away. Away from high school. Away from her backwater town. Away from her parents who seem determined to keep her imprisoned in their dead-end lives. But one crazy evening involving a dare and forbidden railroad tracks, she goes way too far...and almost doesn't make it back.


John made a choice to stay. To enforce the rules. To serve and protect. He has nothing but contempt for what he sees as childish rebellion, and he wants to teach Meg a lesson she won't soon forget. But Meg pushes him to the limit by questioning everything he learned at the police academy. And when he pushes back, demanding to know why she won't be tied down, they will drive each other to the edge -- and over....

Friday Finds

This is where you share the book titles you discovered or heard about during the past week. These can be books you were told about, books you discovered while browsing blogs/bookstores online, or books that you actually purchased. This is a weekly event I discovered from Should Be Reading.

Spin by Catherine McKenzie
The Demon Lover by Juliet Dark and Carol Goodman
False Memory by Dan Krokos

Review: Pride & Popularity

Pride & Popularity
By Jenni James
Release Date: July 13, 2011
Series: The Jane Austen Diaries

Chloe Elizabeth Hart despises the conceited antics of the popular crowd, or more importantly, one very annoying self-possessed guy, Taylor Anderson, who seems determined to make her the president of his fan club! As if! Every girl in the whole city of Farmington, New Mexico, is in love with him, but he seems to be only interested in Chloe.

This modern high school adaptation of “Pride and Prejudice” is a battle of wits as Chloe desperately tries to remain the only girl who can avoid the inevitable—falling for Taylor.

Review:
So I had the fortunate experience of winning this through Good Reads.  Of course I had my kindle so I didn't have time to read any of the books that I've won lately but alas my lovely five year old literally broke my kindle so off the shelf my books have started to come one by one, which is a great thing.  I've missed holding books.  Anyway on to the review...

Pride & Popularity was a really great fast read with a very familiar theme.  This is a modern version of Jane Austen's amazing book Pride and Prejudice.  Which let me just say I personally love this plot and theme and will always read a book about it just to see how they changed it up.  So we meet Chloe (Elizabeth) Hart who absolutely cannot stand the very popular Taylor (Darcy) Anderson, but he can't help but flirt with her and make her wonder about him.  She had just moved from a different town where she tried to let her guard down with a boy but he turned out to just humiliate her so she vowed not to let that happen again.  That's when she meets Taylor, but that was 3 years ago.  Now they are seniors and she still can't stand him and he can't stop flirting/bothering her.  He wears her down throughout the whole book, she just can't stop wondering why he is doing the things he is doing.  Her two best friends are constantly trying to tell her that hey maybe he really does like you.  Impossible is all Chloe can think. 

It was great to have a lot of conversation in a book.  I think conversation is very important, yes I want to know what you're thinking and how you're feeling.  But there is nothing like a heated conversation between two people where you can just feel the sparks coming off of them.  That is what Chloe and Taylor have and everyone can see it.  I think I would definitely read the book again just to relive their conversations.  There was this one part in the book where Taylor's best friends sister is reading off a list of what he wants his perfect girl to be.  Which everyone hopes it's them because everyone wants Taylor.  The description Emma gives is exactly how I saw Chloe and my heart just rang out like yes he is so in love with her, but she just can't see that.  I loved it.  This book was great, can't wait to read the next book in the Jane Austen Series.

Booking Through Thursday: Character or Plot

A weekly meme about (mostly) books and reading. Hosted at Booking Through Thursday.

Today's question is:

What’s more important to you? Real, three-dimensional, fleshed-out fascinating characters? Or an amazing, page-turning plot? (Yes, I know, they are both important. But if you had to pick one as being more important than the other?

Answer:
You know this is really hard because they really do go together and they both need to be good to make a successful book.  I've heard some people say oh the plot was great but the characters weren't relatable.  I think in my opinion even though the plot is predictable or so basic and not as fabulous as let's say The Hunger Games that it makes it all worth it if you have some amazing characters that you can connect with.  I think the characters are more important because if you don't like them then y ou are not going to continue to read about them.  Plus even if the plot is not good at least maybe the character will make you laugh or cry or really just feel anything.  So I go with Character!

Review: The One That I Want

The One That I Want
By Jennifer Echols
Release Date: December 6, 2011

Description:
Gemma can’t believe her luck when the star football player starts flirting with her. Max is totally swoon-worthy, and even gets her quirky sense of humor. So when he asks out her so-called best friend Addison, Gemma’s heartbroken.


Then Addison pressures Gemma to join the date with one of Max’s friends. But the more time they all spend together, the harder Gemma falls for Max. She can’t help thinking that Max likes her back—it’s just too bad he’s already dating Addison. How can Gemma get the guy she wants without going after her best friend’s boyfriend?

Review:
Jennifer Echols has to be one of my favorite authors, I can't boast enough about on her on here.  Any chance I get I will mention her first book and make sure everyone knows about it.  This book did not disappoint either.  Her writing style and the story she tells keeps you captivated because you have to know what's going to happen next in the characters lives.  Let's get into the book a little.

Gemma seems like the kind of girl who doesn't believe in herself enough and her best friend Addison, which really I don't know why they are even friends doesn't encourage her only puts her down every chance she gets.  This irritates me because I hate it when people get run over like that over and over again.  They are both at Majorette camp when Gemma notices a boy (but it seems Addison happened to be looking at the same guy at the same time).  But he seemed to be noticing only one of them.  Addison pulls Gemma with her to go talk to the two guys (his friend is there with him now) and they end up grabbing something to eat.  Sure enough one thing leads to another and Gemma is told that Max (the one she likes) is going out with Addison but they all have to go out together on a double date since Addison's mom is so strict.  This is how the book begins.

Throughout the book you go out with the four of them and you just know that the balance is all wrong.  Gemma doesn't like Carter and Max doesn't like Addison.  They all try to make each other jealous and it's really quite ridiculous how much they each want the other's guy but won't voice the opinion.  In the end everything works out as it should be and discussions are had between all friends, conversations that should have happened a long time ago.  All in all the book was a great read and I already can't wait for the next one.  I know some people were complaining about this being an ebook version only - don't fret I believe the print out comes out next year on 2/7/12.  I will probably buy it because I have to have all her books in my collection.

Have you read this yet?  What did you think?

Waiting on Wednesday

"Waiting On" Wednesday is a weekly event, hosted by Breaking the Spine that spotlights upcoming releases that we're eagerly anticipating.

This week I'm "Waiting on":

The Selection
by Kiera Cass
Release Date: April 24, 2012
Series: The Selection

Description:
For thirty-five girls, the Selection is the chance of a lifetime. The opportunity to escape the life laid out for them since birth. To be swept up in a world of glittering gowns and priceless jewels. To live in the palace and compete for the heart of the gorgeous Prince Maxon.

But for America Singer, being Selected is a nightmare. It means turning her back on her secret love with Aspen, who is a caste below her. Leaving her home to enter a fierce competition for a crown she doesn't want. Living in a palace that is constantly threatened by violent rebel attacks.
Then America meets Prince Maxon. Gradually, she starts to question all the plans she's made for herself- and realizes that the life she's always dreamed of may not compare to a future she never imagined.

Quote of the Day

I usually get the Goodreads quote of the day emailed to me because sometimes you get one that is just perfect for that day.  Today is that day. 

Whenever you think or you believe or you know, you're a lot of other people: but the moment you feel, you're nobody-but-yourself.

- E.E. Cummings

The celebrated poet was born on this day in 1901.