Friday, September 10, 2010

All About Vee


All About Vee
by C. Leigh Purtill

Description:
Veronica May (“Big Vee”) is a bubbly, gorgeous, confident, eighteen-year-old theater actress from Chester, Arizona. She is also two hundred pounds. She puts off college, her life, and her questions about her mother’s death twelve years earlier to care for her widowed father.
Then Daddy announces that he’s going to remarry and Veronica feels replaced. She decides, then and there, it’s time for Big Vee to shine! She escapes Arizona and follows in the footsteps of her mother, who was an aspiring actress, to Hollywood.
Between shifts with a cute co-worker at the local coffee bar, Vee auditions, falls in love, dumps a toxic friend, learns to deal with love and loss, and finally, finds her place in the spotlight.

Review:
It's pretty cookie cutter plot, predictable and all but still you grow to love Vee and all her confidence. Automatically hating the friend for being such a backstabber - why do people constantly stay in denial until the very end I'll never know. The second she did something wrong I would suspect her, but that's probably because I don't trust anyone. The book was a good easy ready.

3 out of 5 stars.

Friday, August 13, 2010

The Secrets of Boys

The Secrets of Boys
by Hailey Abbot


This is the first of her books that I'm reading, I just went ahead and downloaded a bunch of them online. Cass is a shy girl who is always used to being the sidekick and spending time with her boyfriend of two years. In other words she's just comfortable. The summer comes and her parents sign her up for a French class for the whole summer. In this class she finds Zach, who helps to bring out the real Cassidy, the one not afraid to talk to people and make everyone laugh. She discovers a lot about herself in this book, and it seems as if it goes by so quickly. The title is the Secret of Boys but really it was all about self discovery. Can I say secretly in the end I wanted her to end up with Joe, I was hoping the next book would be that but alas no continuation of the story. Good read though.

3 out of 5 stars

Good Girls

Good Girls
by Laura Ruby

Imagine being at a party and you're being intimate with someone and low and behold you forget to lock the door with the actual lock and someone snaps a picture of you in a compromising position. That is where this book starts, and shows the after affects of something like this happening to someone. Aubrey is a senior in High school, but this happens all the time all around the world to girls much younger than her. It's an epidemic I swear. Really watch what you take a picture of and who you send it to because most likely, like in this book everyone will see it, even your father. The book was really good beside the whole photo embarrassment the main character learns to give herself some self worth and to look beyond the surface.


3 out of 5 stars

Thursday, August 12, 2010

Speed Dating

Speed Dating
by Nancy Warren
It's been a long time since I've read a Romance book from Harlequin, and I forget sometimes how good it feels to always have a happy ending. You know it's coming and it's going to be there and the fun is just getting there. This book is about an actuary accidentally running into a nascar star that just so happens to need a fake girlfriend to ward off his ex wife. The story was simple and it was just a generally good read, just to know that in the end everything will indeed be alright!
3 out of 5 stars

Tuesday, August 3, 2010

The Boys Next Door

The Boys Next Door
by Jennifer Echols

Synopsis:
Lori lives for summertime on the lake. She spends all season wake boarding, swimming, and hanging with her friends -- including the two hotties in the house next door. With the Vader brothers, Lori's always been one of the guys.
But while Lori and the "baby" brother, Adam, are inseparable friends, she can't deny a secret crush on Sean, the older Vader boy. This year Sean's been paying Lori a lot of attention, and not in a brotherly way.
But just as Lori decides to prove to Sean she's girlfriend material, she realizes that her role as girl friend to Adam may be even more important. And by trying so hard for the perfect summer romance, she could be going way overboard....

Review:
Imagine being young and growing up surrounded by nothing but boys, and then you want to be noticed by one but they only thing of you as one of the guys so you put a plan together to bring the sexy out. This is Lori's life. Three brothers, one she kissed when she was young, one she is in love with and the other is her age and like her close friend. I'm sure this is many a girl's fantasy to have this dilemma with boys next door, I know I've always wished there was a boy next door I could like. The book was great it really shows the growth of a great relationship and how it's been there all along and just needed to be discovered by everyone. I absolutely adore all of Jennifer Echol's books and will definitely be rereading this book over and over again. Now I'm reading the continuation of this story - can't wait to see what Lori and Adam are up to now.

5 out of 5 stars

Friday, July 30, 2010

Forget You


Forget you
by Jennifer Echols

I have been waiting for this book for so long, this author never disappoints. I read her first book "Going too Far" probably more than ten times already and I believe this book will be the same until the next one comes out. There is something about the way she develops her characters that makes you want to be them and see them win in the end. Very realistic and relate able. Zoey is a girl who prides on trying to be perfect, but when her mom goes crazy and then Zoey gets in a car crash and remembers nothing that's when things get interesting. She remembers everything but that one night what happened after a football game. She is torn between two boys, she doesn't remember who she went with but she tries everything to find out without letting people know she has amnesia. You see this relationship develop into something that feels like it should have been there all along, I don't know what I can say about this book other than I can't wait to read it again. And again.
5 out of 5 starts i just heart jennifer echols.

Friday, July 23, 2010

The Adoration of Jenna Fox



The Adoration of Jenna Fox
by Mary E. Pearson

So this was a very Sci-Fi type book, which I'm not usually into but I didn't think it was too bad at all. I've had this book on my shelf for a while and finally got around to reading it. It's pretty much about a family that refuse to let go of their daughter and will do anything to keep her with them. In comes the sci-fi portion where this book seems to take place in the future where there are ways to save body parts with Bio Gel. It's a blue substance containing nanobots and neurons that reach the brain and learns and grows with you. Anyway it's not really the whole thing about the book - really the lesson learned is who are you really? It was a good read.

3 out of 5 stars.

Thursday, July 8, 2010

The Short Second Life of Bree Tanner

The Short Second Life of Bree Tanner
An Eclipse Novella
by Stephanie Meyer

So I was really hesitant about getting this book, which turned out in my favor because my friend got it for my birthday, hugs to her!!! I really didn't think I was going to like this book but I really fell in love with the character Bree, and when I saw the movie all I could think about was Bree's back story and how I wish they would have showed a little bit more in the Eclipse movie. Yes I know she's obviously not the main character but it would have been nice to see nonetheless. I really liked this story and I wanted her and Diego to run away together. It would have been so sweet, but all who read the twilight saga: Eclipse knew what her fate was going to be, but still it would have been a cute story. I wouldn't mind finding out whatever happened to Big Fred when he left the "coven", I think we need yet another book please!
4 out of 5 stars (only cause I already knew the ending he he)

Heaven Looks a Lot Like the Mall

Heaven Looks a Lot Like the Mall
By Wendy Mass

I just sort of picked this book out from Amazon not really expecting anything about it, but it was a good read. It's written as poetry so it's a really quick read and not too much interpretation on the poetry end. It's just a story. About a girl who gets hit in the head with a dodge ball and goes into a coma. But while in this coma she goes to the mall where she's spent most of her life anyway and goes to the lost and found. Here she's given a bag full of items that tells different stories about her life. When people ask about your life you don't really tell them about it, you tell them a variety of stories that depicts your life. Does that make sense, well it was better worded in the book, this is why I'm not a writer. It's a really quick and easy read and makes you wonder about all the little things that happened so long ago and how those things shaped you to be the person you are today.

3 out of 5 stars

Wednesday, June 23, 2010

Burned

Burned

This is the continuation of House of Night and even though it really didn't get that far into the future it was a great book. Here we find Zoey in the spirit world trying to piece herself together after her spirit shattered. Then on the other side we have the relationship between Stevie Rae and Rephaim growing. This is one relationship for some reason the two of them together I just want it to happen, yes I know he has a birdface but for some reason I feel like one day he will get his human form back and they can be together. Hopeless romantic here. I don't really want to talk about the ending, but I will say this it was not a total cliffhanger like the last book but it was still good and I can't wait to find out where PC and Kristin take us in the next installment of the House of Night Series.

4 out of 5 stars.

Saturday, May 1, 2010

Waves


Waves
by Sharon Dogar

This book was interesting, told by two different people but three different time periods at the same time. It involves a girl in a coma who is talking to her brother through her mind. It tells her story of what really happened before the accident and what she is feeling now. Asking him for help in solving the mystery of what really happened to her. It's interesting to see him go through this experience with all the people she experienced things with. It was definitely not a normal book I would read but it was good and would recommend it to anyone.


3 out of 5 stars.
I read this last month but am just getting around to updating my blog.

The Unwritten Rule


The Unwritten Rule
by Elizabeth Scott
This was a really quick read but cute none the less. I read it in a day literally, which is odd for me not something I normally do. It's about a girl, her best friend and a guy they both like. Although every girl knows the unwritten rule not to like your best friends boyfriend, but what if you liked them first? You really feel for the main character in this book because you can see how unkindly her own best friend really treats her but she doesn't even realize what's going on. It's an endearing book and another great one by Elizabeth Scott, although I do wish it was a little bit longer, but great none the less.
3 out of 5 stars.

Thursday, April 1, 2010

House of Dance

House of Dance
by Beth Kephart

Rosie's grandfather is dying, her mom is sleeping with her boss who is also married and it's summer vacation and none of her friends are around. She visits her grandfather every day where she learns all these great things about him. She enters the school of dance hoping that she could give her grandfather one last memory to remind him of his wife (her grandmother who passed). It's a quick and easy read, good book. it really shows the different relationship between people and how soemone handles them.

3 out of 5 stars.

Tuesday, March 23, 2010

The Lonely Hearts Club


The Lonely Hearts Club
Elizabeth Eulberg

I actually won this book in a contest. I have to say I couldn't put it down. It was fun and made me feel total girl power. It's about a girl who finds out her love is cheating on her and she decides to swear off boys for the rest of the year. Of course this catches on with other girls around the school and soon the whole female population wants in on the club. Some are not in it for the right reasons and they eventually get kicked out. But during swearing off of men completely sure enough a guy who is nothing but great starts falling for the main character and leader of the club, what's she to do. It's a great easy, fun, fast read and it will put a smile on you're face.
4 out of 5 stars.

won it on the BLT site, a total must for YA fiction, check it out.

The Secret Life of Prince Charming


The Secret Life of Prince Charming
by Deb Caletti

I started to read this book, got maybe halfway through and I just couldn't finish it because I couldn't get into it at all. So I gave up and I never give up, but I did. It's about a girl who's whole life all the women will tell her how unreal love is, total cynics. The cover suggests that it's going to be a good YA romantic comedy type book, but it's not. It's all word too much description, I'm the type of reader where I need a lot of conversation and more interaction. If you disagree please let me know and I'll try and re read the book but for this time around I just couldn't do it.
1 out of 5 stars.

Monday, March 15, 2010

Waiting for You


Waiting For You
by Susane Colasanti


This book is about a girl who is constantly waiting for something to happen, for someone to find her, for someone to just be with. It starts out with her coming back to school after being severely depressed and going through therapy, then she somehow catches the eye of a really cute guy that she's been crushing on. This scenario almost seems a little too unlikely, like she just had a little bit too much luck so it was unbelievable. Meanwhile throughout the whole book is a neighbor boy who used to be close with her, then wasn't, but now is again. It was obvious where the book was going even who the Mystery DJ was in the end. Overall okay read but really predictable and at the same time unbelievable.


2.5/3 out of 5 stars

Love and Peaches

Love and Peaches
by Jodi Lynn Anderson

I finally found the a copy of the last book in the series. It was a sweet book, a littler bitter sweet ending I guess. All three girls by the end of the book find their way in life, the way they were meant to live it. Leeda and Murphy come back to town to work at the Darlington Peach Orchard only to find out the place is falling apart and will probably be the last year. Birdie comes back from Mexico after freaking out about her boyfriend's proposal. All the same great characters are there with their great personalities and even a new character who you just can't help to like. It was a great quick read, sad it's over but glad it ended the way it did.
3 out of 5 stars.

Tuesday, February 23, 2010

Love You, Hate You, MIss You

Love You, Hate You, Miss You
by Elizabeth Scott

OK so this is the last book by her that I'm reading, just cause i can't get my hands on any of her other books yet he he. So this book is about a girl named Amy who is tall, awkward and doesn't know how to deal with life anymore now that she's killed her best friend Julia. At least that's how she sees it, after going through therapy and passing days without her best friend, and let's not forget no alcohol she realizes slowly that things weren't as good as she thought they were. It's a really good book that shows how someone deals with grief and repercussions of their actions, the recurring theme in the book is that we make our own choices which i wholeheartedly agree with. Just because you follow someone you are still choosing to do so. Another great book by Elizabeth Scott.

4 out of 5

Thursday, February 18, 2010

Something Maybe


Something Maybe

by Elizabeth Scott


So I'm a big fan of this author now, her books I just can't seem to put down. This book was great and really bought a new crush into my life. This book is about a girl named Hannah who's parents (not together) pretty much make a living being online (whether naked or just with a bunch of bimbos) and her trying to just be normal. She's completely in love with Josh who she thinks is ultra sensitive, political, considerate etc. But on the other hand there is Finn who is annoying easy to talk to but she's not interested in at all, at least that's what she thinks. throughout the book you just want to jump Finn's bones, the things he does and she doesn't even notice. It's just really great I loved their interaction and wanted more. Major literary crush on Finn over here :-)

4 out of 5 stars.

Monday, February 8, 2010

Stealing Heaven


Stealing Heaven
by Elizabeth Scott

I actually went to the library to pick this book out - which I am going to try to do as much as possible now since it's economical and all. Now on to this book, it's about a girl who has known nothing but stealing her whole life. She's eighteen and is a thief of silver with her mother but as time goes on she starts wishing for that normal life. She even falls for a guy - who happens to be a cop. I absolutely love the interaction between the two of them it literally bought a huge smile to my face every time they would meet in the book. I couldn't put it down and read it in a day. I would have given it five stars but I was a little disappointed with the end because it left me wanting more. What happened with her mother was a little predictable I completely saw it coming but it was still sad when it was actually said out loud and played out in the book. Great read, so happy I finally got to it.
4 out of 5 stars.

The Secret Rites of Social Butterflies


The Secret Rites of Social Butterflies
by Lizabeth Zindel

This was an ok book. It's about a girl who moves to NYC her senior year of high school and tries to fit in. She befriends three girls who are the highest and most popular clique in the all girl school. But then she finds out some of the things she does just doesn't fit in with her morals at all. In the end even though it wasn't her fault it was bound to happen the destruction of the clique. It reminded me too much of the teen movies or even a vague version of Gossip Girl. It was on ok read.
3 out of 5

Thirteen Reasons Why


Thirteen Reasons Why
by Jay Asher

I've totally been slacking in my book reviews but I'm catching up today. Hopefully.
So I read this book and thought it was great, it's about a girl who commits suicide and she leaves behind thirteen reasons why - on audio tape. (If this was done now I would suspect it would be CD's or blog or something along those lines but audio tape - that makes it worth it because it makes the receiver go and search for something to play it in so they can find out why she killed herself.) It's told through two people, the person who recorded the tapes and the person who is listening to the tapes. I really liked this way of writing because it gave you two points of view one within the other simultaneously. I hope to read more books by Jay Asher.
4 out of 5 stars.

Wednesday, January 13, 2010

Diary of a Wimpy Kid: the Last Straw

Diary of a Wimpy Kid: the Last Straw
by Jeff Kinney

I have been seeing these books all around and have been tempted to read them. I mentioned it to a coworker and she told me that her daughter loved those books and would bring me one to check out. This is the one she bought me, now I didn't open the book until I was ready to read it but when I did I was not expecting illustrations. At first glance I really didn't want to like it because it looked like such a kids book but then I started reading it and thought this is such a cute book because really this is how kids think and it was just a great insight and enjoyable to read. Doesn't mean I'm going to go out and read the whole entire series but it was good to check it out and if I happen to come across another one I will definitely read it without hesitation. Need to see if he finally gets a date or something with Holly Hills.

3.5 out of 5 stars

Shiver

Shiver
by Maggie Stiefvater

I started reading this book by recommendation from my friend, of course I checked out the synopsis first and thought ok this could be interesting. Sure at times it did remind me of Twilight and more than once I'm sure I pictured Jacob as one of the main characters (the wolf), but even still it did have it's own personality. The story is about a girl who was bit when she was little and a wolf who turns into a human who saved her. It's really a cute love story and I can't wait for the next book to come out in May "Shiver" I will definitely be getting that book to see how the story continues. The story is told by both the girl that was saved and the wolf that saved her, it goes back and forth throughout the whole book, sometimes that's fun to read but then other times I wanted so much more from one person at a particular time than I did from another. It was good but could have been better, but still enjoyable. Did that make sense?

3 out of 5 stars

Extras


Extras


by Scott Westerfield


The last book in the "trilogy" funny I know it should have been three but we couldn't get enough so he made an "extra" book hehe. Well this book the main character is not Tally which was a shocker at first but then I really got to know the main character and I really started to like her a lot and was hoping for more books on her. It's all about how now society is based on who's popular and no one has to be "pretty" but then resources start getting abused, it's definitely a good book and Tally does appear in the end so that's always a plus.


3 out of 5 stars.