Okay..

Okay, it's official...

I can't take reading about vampires anymore!!  Stick a fork in me I'm done.

Beachcombers by Nancy Thayer

Beachcombers
Author:  Nancy Thayer
Publisher:  Ballantine Books
Publication Date:  June 15th 2010


About Beachcombers


Abbie Fox hasn’t seen her father or two younger sisters in almost two years, during which she’s jetted around the world and experienced life, if not love. But now Lily, the baby of the family, is sending Abbie urgent emails begging her to return home to Nantucket. Their middle sister, Emma, has taken to her bed, emotionally devastated after the loss of her high-powered stockbroker’s job and a shockingly unexpected break-up with her fiancé. Also, Lily is deeply worried that Marina, the beautiful, enigmatic woman renting their guesthouse, has set her sights on the sisters’ widowed father, Jim. The Fox girls closed ranks years ago after the haunting, untimely death of their mother, but seeing their dad move on with his life forces each of them to take stock.

Over the course of the summer, the sisters’ lives grow as turbulent as the unpredictable currents encircling Nantucket. When Abbie encounters an incredibly appealing married man, she breaks her own rules in the name of love, fearing all the while that she’ll regret it. Meanwhile, type-A Emma learns a new definition of success, and strong-minded Lily must reconcile her dreams with reality. Even Marina, who has come to Nantucket to forget heartbreak and betrayal, faces an astonishing turn of events that will find her torn between fate and freedom. At summer’s end, these unforgettable women will face profound choices—and undergo personal transformations that will surprise even themselves.

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Beachcombers is the story of three sisters, Abbie, Emma, lily, and newly divorced woman, Marena. The three sisters grew up on the island of Nantucket, and Marena, after a ugly ending to her marriage decides to recuperate at the island and rents out the guest cottage. Two of the sisters, Abbie and Emma have moved away but Emma comes back after the abrupt ending of her engagement, and Lily, the only one who remains in Nantucket calls Abbie to come home to help with the emotionally weakened Emma, and their father, who finacially isn't doing so well.

I really enjoyed reading about each sister, and Marena.  Every chapter was told in different voice.  My favorite was Emma's story.  I loved how they each learned about themselves and in the process grew up.  Ms. Thayer does a exceptional job in making you feel like you know the characters, and in turn you find yourselves wanting to read more and more.

I really liked Beachcombers.  It is the perfect beach read, especially with Nantucket as the setting.  This is my first Nancy Thayer book and it won't be my last.

Thanks to Ballantine, and Pump Up Your Book for my copy. 






About the Author:

Nancy Thayer is the New York Times bestselling author of Summer House, Moon Shell Beach, The Hot Flash Club, The Hot Flash Club Strikes Again, Hot Flash Holidays, The Hot Flash Club Chills Out, and Between Husbands and Friends. She lives on Nantucket. You can visit Nancy Thayer’s website at www.NancyThayer.com.

Mini Reviews!!

These are all books from my personal collection, or local library.




Lust, Loathing and A Little Lip Gloss
Author: Kyra Davis
Publisher:  MIRA
Publication Date:  June 1st 2009

Lust, Loathing, and A Little Lip Gloss is the third book in the Sophie Katz series.  I really enjoyed this one.  This time around Sophie is caught up with a group of people interested in the paranormal.  Ghost, seances, and of course murder...what more could you ask for.  Plenty of laugh out loud moments! 


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The Juliet Club
Author:  Suzanne Harper
Publisher:  HarperTeen
Publication Date:  June 1st 2008

I've never read Romeo and Juliet, but of course I know the story, and I've seen the movie (Claire Danes, and Leonardo Di Caprio).  The Juliet Club was a great quick read.  Main Character Kate is over love, she wants no part of it, in steps Giacomo, the heartbreaker.  I enjoyed reading the brewing romance between Kate and Giacomo in the streets of Verona, Italy.  Very cute!

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Jumping Off Swings
Author:  Jo Knowles
Publisher:  Candlewick Press
Publication Date:  August 11, 2009

I really wanted to love Jumping Off Swings, but it just wasn't great for me.  I think it's definitely a great subject for a YA book, and would love to find more on the topic, but it seemed like it only skimmed the surface.  Yeah, I could get the ramifications are really bad, but I never felt it.  Saying things are bad, and showing me how bad are totally different.  Good relevant read for teens, but in my opinion not executed very well.

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Just One Wish
Author:  Janette Rallison
Publisher:  Putnam Juvenile
Publication Date:  March 5th 2009

Just One Wish is pure teenage fantasy.  I thought it was a fun read, because it's a daydream turned book reality.  I love books like this!  Annika tries to get TV heart throb to spend time with her younger brother who has cancer, and in the process finds love.  I told ya, pure fantasy, but oh so fun! 

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Looking For Andrew McCarthy
Author:  Jenny Colgan
Publisher:  HarperCollins Publishers Ltd
Publication Date:  June 5th 2002

Looking for Andrew McCarthy is super funny.  Ellie is disappointed with life.  Where is the bright future the brat pack promised?  She convinces her friends to go on a wild goose chase to find Andrew McCarthy to ask him what happen?  So many hilarious things happen on this trip.  I forgot how much I enjoy Jenny Colgan's writing.

 

The Eternal Ones by Kirsten Miller

The Eternal Ones
Author:  Kirsten Miller
Publisher:  Razorbill
Publication Date:  August 10th 2010


From Goodreads: 

Haven Moore can’t control her visions of a past with a boy called Ethan, and a life in New York that ended in fiery tragedy. In our present, she designs beautiful dresses for her classmates with her best friend Beau. Dressmaking keeps her sane, since she lives with her widowed and heartbroken mother in her tyrannical grandmother’s house in Snope City, a tiny town in Tennessee. Then an impossible group of coincidences conspire to force her to flee to New York, to discover who she is, and who she was.




In New York, Haven meets Iain Morrow and is swept into an epic love affair that feels both deeply fated and terribly dangerous. Iain is suspected of murdering a rock star and Haven wonders, could he have murdered her in a past life? She visits the Ouroboros Society and discovers a murky world of reincarnation that stretches across millennia. Haven must discover the secrets hidden in her past lives, and loves¸ before all is lost and the cycle begins again.



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The Eternal Ones is unique, and interesting.  I immediately was intrigued with the book because I find reincarnation a fascinating subject.  The idea of having a soul mate, and looking for them every life cycle puts a smile on my face.  It did seem though, that The Eternal Ones was missing something. 

Reincarnation is so darn out there that The Eternal Ones really couldn't be bad in my eyes.  All the aspects on reincarnation discussed in the book was the best part of it, I thought.  The flashback blackouts that Haven would have were great.  I really enjoyed reading about her previous lives.  I didn't really enjoy the current life Haven had, though. 

When it comes to the characters in The Eternal Ones, not everyone was a hit.  I enjoyed the character of Ethan, not so much Haven.  Haven needed some common sense.  Ethan didn't seem to be missing the common sense, and I liked that he was romantic,  and strong-willed.  He really would go to whatever means necessary to find his "soul mate" in every life cycle. 

The main thing that didn't work for me on The Eternal Ones was the relationship of Haven and Ethan.  I believed it from Ethan, but not from Haven.  I never felt the soul mate thing between them. 

Overall, The Eternal Ones was different, and okay.  I loved the whole reincarnation part, but in the end I wasn't wowed by it.

Browsing CSN Stores

(courtesy of CSN stores)

(courtesy of CSN stores)

As I had mentioned earlier I was emailed about a chance to review a CSN product, and I've been doing quite a bit of browsing. They have so many great things at reasonable prices from dining room tables to outside furniture, and everything inbetween. I'm looking forward to reviewing a item from CSN, though I'm not sure what to get. I would love something comfy for outside reading, but i'm also in need of a new desk.

I'm really looking forward to doing the review.

Disclaimer: CSN requires that I link to their dining rooms direct store to participate. Review will be 100 percent honest.

Bird in Hand by Christina Kline

Bird in Hand .
Author:  Christina Kline
Publisher:  William Morrow
Publication Date:  August 1, 2009
Paperback, 288 pgs.

From Goodreads:


Four people, two marriages, one lifelong friendship: everything is about to change.



It was an accident. It was dark, it was raining, Alison had ...more Four people, two marriages, one lifelong friendship: everything is about to change.


It was an accident. It was dark, it was raining, Alison had only had two drinks. And the other car ran the stop sign. But Alison finds herself trapped under the crushing weight of grief and guilt, feeling increasingly estranged from her husband...


Charlie, who has his own burdens. He's in a job he doesn't love so that Alison can stay at home with the kids (and why isn't she more grateful for that?); he has a house in the suburbs and a long commute to and from the city. And the only thing he can focus on these days is his secret, sudden affair with...


Claire, Alison's best friend. Bold where Alison is reserved, vibrant where Alison is cautious, Claire has just had her first novel published, a thinly veiled retelling of her childhood in North Carolina. But even in the whirlwind of publication, Claire can't stop wondering if she should leave her husband...


Ben, an ambitious architect who is brilliant, kind, and meticulous. And who wants nothing more than a baby, or two — exactly the kind of life that Charlie and Alison seem to have...


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After reading the first couple pages of Bird in Hand I knew I was going to enjoy it. I quickly got lost in the story of Alison, Charlie, Claire and Ben. 

Bird in Hand is the story of marriage, friendship, and what ifs.  I immediately was drawn to Alison, she seemed the weak one out of the four but honestly her tenacity to keep going through all that came at her really showed that she was the strongest.  The foursome were divided into the selfish, and the giving.  You right away after reading the first twenty five pages knew who the selfish were, and their behavior was plain gross and of the me, me, me variety but sadly this is the way of the world.  I couldn't help but be emotionally attached to some of the characters and found myself thinking Charlie and Claire deserve each other.  Good riddance!

Marriage is hard. It is ever constantly changing, and growing as are the people in it. Bird in Hand is the realistic view of what happens when one outgrows the relationship, and seeks something more.  Ms. Kline's writing is so engaging, you feel like you are peering through someone's window watching the raw realness of a marriage that is on it's last breath.

Bird in Hand is the first book i've read by Christina Kline, and it certainly won't be the last.  I read it in a couple of hours.  A really great book, it is definitely worth the read.

 Christina Baker Kline is a novelist, nonfiction writer and editor. In addition to Bird in Hand, her novels include The Way Life Should Be, Desire Lines and Sweet Water. She is Writer-in-Residence at Fordham University.

Website

Twitter: @bakerkline

Facebook

Thanks to TLC and Christina Kline.

Sunday Salon

The weeks are going by fast, and it's almost school shopping time.  Definitely not looking forward to tackling the malls, but I'll think about that another day.  It's still officially off-season in Casa Vasquez, and we are reading, reading, reading!  I wrote a post in the start of summer about how I wanted to get a classic in this summer..um yeah, haven't started that yet.  If for some reason I don't get to it this summer than I will this winter. 

This week I finished these 4 books:

The Eternal Ones by Kirsten Miller

Bird in Hand by Christina Kline

Just One Wish by Janette Rallison

and

The Juliet Club by Suzanne Harper

They were all great books, so it definitely was a good reading week.  I'm starting to feel like I am getting behind on reviews, so I'll be doing some mini reviews.    Keep on the lookout for those. 

Also, because I think you might enjoy it as much as I did,

Steph @ Steph Su Reads wrote a great post this week.  Changing Reading Habits 

I could totally relate to it.

Everyone have a great Sunday and week ahead

The Carrie Diaries by Candace Bushnell

The Carrie Diaries

Author:  Candace Bushnell

Publisher:  Balzer + Bray

Published on April 27, 2010

Hardcover, 400 pgs.

From Goodreads:

Before Carrie Bradshaw hit the big time in the City, she was a regular girl growing up in the suburbs of Connecticut. How did she turn into one of the most-read social observers of our generation?

The Carrie Diaries opens up in Carrie's senior year of high school. She and her best friends -- Walt, Lali, Maggie, and the Mouse -- are inseparable, amid the sea of Jens, Jocks and Jets. And then Sebastian Kydd comes into the picture. Sebastian is a bad boy-older, intriguing, and unpredictable. Carrie falls into the relationship that she was always supposed to have in high school-until a friend's betrayal makes her question everything. With her high school days coming to a close, Carrie will realize it's finally time to go after everything she ever wanted.

Rabid fans of Sex and the City will love seeing Carrie Bradshaw evolve from a regular girl into a sharp, insightful writer. They'll learn about her family background -- how she found her writing voice, and the indelible impression her early friendships and relationships left on her. We'll see what brings Carrie to her beloved New York City, where the next Carrie Diaries book will take place.

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I'm going to start off by putting out there that I am a huge Sex and the City fan.  I could watch the shows for hours, as well as rewatch the movies on a loop. lol!  Keep that in mind while reading my review. 

 I'm not a fan of the book Sex and the City, so I was curious about The Carrie Diaries.  Would I like it?  Would I recognize the fabulous Carrie Bradshaw?  Would I throw it across the room, or squeal with joy while reading?  I'm going to flat out tell you, I really liked The Carrie Diaires.

I recognized "New York" Carrie Bradshaw in this book.  In The Carrie Diaries, Carrie wants nothing more than to become a writer, and wants to go to New York to be in a writing program.  It seems like she's buying time until she feels her true life can start.   In the meantime though she is caught up in a relationship with resident bad boy, Sebastian.  Even in the suburbs of Connecticut Carrie is attracted to the "Big's" of the world. Together with her unique clique of friends we get an entertaining read from Ms. Bushnell.

I do want to add that though this is aimed at young adults, there is mature subjects discussed.  I might go as far as to say that it should probably be aimed more for mature audiences aka adults. 

If you are a fan of Sex and the City, I really think you would enjoy The Carrie Diaries.  As I have mentioned before I really disliked the Sex and the City book, but this book is definitely a good read. I was able to connect with the characters, and enjoy the 70's ride.

Once Upon A Read-A-Thon Wrap-Up

 This is my first update for the readathon, and will probably be my only one.  I'm so very tired, so I'll be heading off to bed soon. How did I do? I read 1 and half books. I finished Arcadia Falls, and read The Eternal Ones.  I didn't get much reading done today, because I spent most of my day running around doing errands.  I'm pretty excited with what I accomplished.  

Once Upon a Read-A-Thon Mini Challenge

This mini challenge is being hosted by Jenn at Book Crazy.

The challenge is to put an image to your favorite book or character in a book, and/or song that best represents book.

So I've chosen my most recent favorite character in a book

Caleb from Leaving Paradise by Simone Elkeles.  When I picture Caleb I think of Hayden Christensen.

As for the song, the one that comes to mind over and over again is 30 Second to Mars-The Kill.  I think if this was made into the movie, The Kill would be playing in the background in the last scene.

Leaving Paradise by Simone Elkeles

Leaving Paradise

Author:  Simone Elkeles

Publisher:  Flux

Published on April 1st 2007

Paperback, 303 pgs.

From Goodreads:

Nothing has been the same since Caleb Becker left a party drunk, got behind the wheel, and hit Maggie Armstrong. Even after months of painful physical therapy, Maggie walks with a limp. Her social life is nil and a scholarship to study abroad—her chance to escape everyone and their pitying stares — has been canceled.

After a year in juvenile jail, Caleb’s free . . . if freedom means endless nagging from a transition coach and the prying eyes of the entire town. Coming home should feel good, but his family and ex-girlfriend seem like strangers.

Caleb and Maggie are outsiders, pigeon-holed as "criminal" and "freak." Then the truth emerges about what really happened the night of the accident and, once again, everything changes. It’s a bleak and tortuous journey for Caleb and Maggie, yet they end up finding comfort and strength from a surprising source: each other.

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Wow, what can I say about Leaving  Paradise that doesn't sound like gushing..I absolutely freaking loved it!  This is actually my second book i've read by Ms. Elkeles, and let me say it is 10x better than Perfect Chemistry, IMO.

The backstory of why  Caleb just got out of jail, and Maggie walks with a limp is sad, and you really believe how in the world are these two people gonna find a common ground, and even more,  become friends?  These two characters are world apart in status, characteristics, yet the pull is strong, and sigh worthy.  Caleb is trying hard to deal with the stigma of being a deliquent and at the same time everything, and everybody seems different, when all he wants is for the things to be somewhat normal.  Maggie wants nothing more than to escape and leave Paradise where people stare, make fun of, and blame her for sending the ever popular Caleb to jail. 

I love gradual change in their relationship, and how they are each to blame for the others predicament, but in a sea of people who are treating them different, they find comfort in each other.  The little twist at the end made it even more perfect. 

I can't recommend Leaving Paradise enough, and I can't wait to read the second bk, Return to Paradise. It is up there in my favorite books this year.  

Claire de Lune by Christine Johnson

Claire de Lune

Author:  Christine Johnson

Publisher:  Simon Pulse

Release Date:  May 18th 2010

From Goodreads: 

Torn between two destinies?

Claire is having the perfect sixteenth birthday. Her pool party is a big success, and gorgeous Matthew keeps chatting and flirting with her as if she's the only girl there. But that night, she discovers something that takes away all sense of normalcy: she's a werewolf.

As Claire is initiated into the pack of female werewolves, she must deal not only with her changing identity, but also with a rogue werewolf who is putting everyone she knows in danger. Claire's new life threatens her blossoming romance with Matthew, whose father is leading the werewolf hunt. Now burdened with a dark secret and pushing the boundaries of forbidden love, Claire is struggling to feel comfortable in either skin. With her lupine loyalty at odds with her human heart, she will make a choice that will change her forever?.

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Claire de Lune is my first read soley about werewolves.  I was interested in reading the book because though I'm not a huge Twilight fan, I did read the books (only got half way through Breaking Dawn), and I was Team Jacob.  I'm so glad I got to read it!

Claire's 16th birthday party is going well, she's attracted the attention of her crush Matthew, and forsees a great summer ahead, even with the news of the werewolve killings around her town.  Matthew's dad is a key player on the task force assigned to capture the werewolf,  so when Claire discovers that she herself is infact a werewolf, she realizes her and Matthew might as well be doomed. 

Claire de Lune is Christine Johnson's debut novel, it wasn't oh my goodness great, but I believe it was good enough to land her a following.  I really liked her take on werewolves.  Some things really stood out for me, like that werewolves are all female.  Yes, no male werewolves in Claire de Lune.  There's no such thing.  Unique, and I liked! 

At times the story slowed down, but it never got over the top boring.  I really enjoyed the growing relationship between Claire and Matthew.  You can tell in the beginning Claire is a timid, and shy person, but throughout the book she emerges into someone brave, and willing to stand up for what she believes.  That's always welcoming in a character your interested in. 

Overall, I enjoyed Claire de Lune, and i'm looking forward to reading more from Christine Johnson.

Received book for review from Star Book Tours

Regal Literary Book Giveaway

I just got this fabulous email from Michael Strong at Regal Literary about a book giveway for the following books..

· Very rare signed copies of John Twelve Hawks’ Fourth Realm Trilogy (The Traveler, The Dark River, and The Golden City)


 http://www.regal-literary.com/summergiveaway/twelvehawks

· Signed copies of The RZA’s The Tao of Wu

 http://www.regal-literary.com/summergiveaway/rza

· Gregory David Roberts’ international bestseller Shantaram

 http://www.regal-literary.com/summergiveaway/shantaram

· Carl Hoffman’s The Lunatic Express

 http://www.regal-literary.com/summergiveaway/lunaticexpress

· Dallas Hudgens’ Season of Gene

 http://www.regal-literary.com/summergiveaway/seasonofgene

 
They all look like fabulous books, infact I've been wanting to read the Fourth Realm Trilogy.  Maybe i'll be lucky!
 
Follow the link and sign up.

Blogger Hop

It's blogger hop time.  Head on over to Crazy For Books and join!

This weeks question is

Tell us about some of your favorite authors and why they are your favorites!

Hmm..hard question to answer, cause I have so many!  Lets see, I love Carlos Ruiz Zafon's writing.  His book Shadow of the Wind is by far one of my favorite books EVER.  His writing is elegant, and  mesmerizing.  I also love Tom Perrotta's books especially Little Children.  His books are always entertaining.  E. Lockhart and Cassandra Claire come to mind in the young adult genre.  If you haven't tried E. Lockhart's Ruby Oliver series, or Cassandra Claire's Mortal Instruments series, you are seriously missing out on some good stuff.   

Have a great Friday, and weekend ahead!

Once Upon A Read-A-Thon

   I'll be joining in on the Once Upon A Read-A-Thon set for July 12th, 13th and 14th.  I have quite a bit of reading I need to catch up on, and I thought this was a good way to go to get motivated.  Luckily, my husband will be off those days so I know he will help in clearing up my time to devote my time reading.   Info for the read-a-thon can be found here. What I plan on reading: Bird in Hand by Kristina KlineThe Eternal Ones by Kirsten MillerBeautiful Creatures by Kami Garcia, Margaret Stohland finish up Arcadia Falls by Carol Goodman if I haven't finish it this weekend.   I'm looking forward to reading without interruptions (husband again, thanks hunny).   

I Can't Wait for These...

These sound so good.  I can't wait till they are released.


Unholy Awakening- Michael Gregorio
Publisher:  St. Martin's Griffin

From Goodreads:  Vampire fever is spreading throughout Prussia's countryside. Investigator Hanno Stiffeniis gets drawn ever more closely into contact with the bewitching Emma Rimmele, who has recently arrived in town and is renting the country house where the body was found. But the villagers see her arrival at the time of the murder as suspicious, and Hanno must do everything he can to find the true culprit before the mob's hysteria reaches its breaking point.Set in a world where people truly believed in vampires, Unholy Awakening pits rational, scientific study against unhindered, violent superstition in this intellectual pageturner reminiscent of David Liss and Iain Pears. .

Release date: September 28th 2010




When the Stars Go Blue by Caridad Ferrer
Publisher:  St. Martin's Griffin

From Goodreads:  WHEN THE STARS GO BLUE- Based on the famed Carmen story, it's a love triangle taking place over a summer against the backdrop of competitive drum & bugle corps.


Release date:  November 23rd 2010

Bruiser by Neal Schusterman

Bruiser

Author:  Neal Schusterman

Publisher:  HarperTeen

Release Date:  June 29th 2010

From Goodreads: 

Tennyson:

Don't get me started on the Bruiser. He was voted "Most Likely to Get the Death Penalty" by the entire school. He's the kid no one knows, no one talks to, and everyone hears disturbing rumors about. So why is my sister, BrontË, dating him? One of these days she's going to take in the wrong stray dog, and it's not going to end well.

BrontË:

My brother has no right to talk about Brewster that way—no right to threaten him. There's a reason why Brewster can't have friends—why he can't care about too many people. Because when he cares about you, things start to happen. Impossible things that can't be explained. I know, because they're happening to me.

Award-winning author Neal Shusterman has crafted a chilling and unforgettable novel about the power of unconditional friendship, the complex gear workings of a family, and the sacrifices we endure for the people we love.

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Bruiser is a very unique story, with a just as unique main character, but for some reason the execution fell short for me. 

First, I'll start off with the positives.  Brewster (aka Bruiser) is a such a warm-hearted, giving guy.  His unwavering love for the people in his life cause him so much pain, yet he endures.  I really began to think of Brewster as a big ol' teddy bear.  I was commited to the story soley because of him.  Author Neal Schusterman really created a great, wholesome feeling character.  I would compare him to Edward Scissorhands.  You know something is different, and frightening about someone one, yet you can sense good from them.  The story of Brewster is so unique, and I wanted to know more.  How did this come to be?  How in the heck does it happen? Why?  I love that the subject engaged me enough to have tons of questions swarming in my head.

The drawbacks, well, with all the questions swarming, at the end the questions remained.  Very little was given of the why, and how.  Infact, I would go as far to say that I think we were never meant to know the why or how?  Problem is I must know!  Secondly, as much as I loved Brewster, I could only tolerate Tennyson, and Bronte at times.  Because Brewster was such a great character, the others faded and failed to ignite any feelings for me.  A huge part of the book was about what was going on in Tennyson and Brontes house and I didn't care, really.  I wanted to peek in the window of Brewster's house with his younger brother, and drunken uncle. 

I'm really split on Bruiser.  I think if I was asked for recommendations Brusier would not come up, but if someone asked me specifically about it, I would say give it a try soley because of Brewster.

Recieved this book for review from Around the World Tours

Pretty Little liars by Sara Shepard (Guest Review)

Pretty Little Liars

Author:  Sara Shepard

Publisher:  HarperTeen

Date Released:  October 1st 2006

From Goodreads: 

Everyone has something to hide—especially high school juniors Spencer, Aria, Emily, and Hanna.

Spencer covets her sister's boyfriend. Aria's fantasizing about her English teacher. Emily's crushing on the new girl at school. Hanna uses some ugly tricks to stay beautiful.

But they've all kept an even bigger secret since their friend Alison vanished.

How do I know? Because I know everything about the bad girls they were, the naughty girls they are, and all the dirty secrets they've kept. And guess what? I'm telling.

-------------------------

Review by Jaci

Lately I have been watching the Pretty Little Liars tv show on ABC Family and let me tell you this I have been absolutly in love with the show since the first episode. So I was pretty excited to read the first book of the series.

Pretty Little Liars is about the five best of friends Hanna, Aria, Spencer, Emily, and Alison. Alison, who was the most popular girl in school mysteriously disappears in the summer between 7th and 8th grade, because of this the girls fall apart. The girls friendship was held together by one common secret. Each have there own juicy secret. Each of them think no one knows about these secrets untill they start getting notes, emails, and texts from someone named “A.” They are afraid that Alison is back, but after they find her body they are still getting the messages.

Let me say this now the storylines that I like the most have to be Aria’s and Spencer’s because they have the best secrets that kept me wanting more. I have to admit some of the chapters where a little boring for me just because nothing really happened that really caught my attention. But all in all it as a great book.

I totally recommend this book to any Pretty Little Liars (tv show) fans bacause this book is 10x better than the show. I also recommend this to anyone looking for a great page-turner.

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Review was written by Jaci, my daughter.  This is her first review..pretty good, huh?  Jaci is in Junior High, a A average student, and a member of the Cheerleading Squad.  She enjoys reading, listening to music, and sketching clothes.  She hopes to become a UT Alumni, and be a fashion designer. 

Blogger Hop

Blogger Hop is hosted by Crazy for Books.  Head on over there and join the hop.

Tell us your NAME and WHY YOU STARTED BLOGGING

My name is Melissa, and I've been blogging for about 14 mths (give or take a month).  I actually started a book blog years ago when I had aol using AOL journal, but if I remember correctly I think I only posted like twice..lol!  Then after that I started another one about 2 and half  years ago, and that didn't work out either, though I did alittle better I probably posted about 4 times.  Third times a charm, Coffee Books and Laundry was going to be my last attempt at really, really trying to do a book blog.  I did it, I did it. *cue Dora music*   I wanted to do a book blog to keep tabs of the books i've read, I had no idea of the blog community out there.  I think that's why i've kept up with it, I love belonging to a community of book lovers.  I feel like I've found my people. It's been fun, and at times time consuming, but totally worth it. 

I love discovering new book blogs, and I look forward to following ya'll.  (I sound like a stalker) LOL!

Have a great weekend!

**I accidentally linked three times on the linky.  My computer was making trouble.  Didn't mean to come off pushy ;)**

Friend is Not A Verb by Daniel Ehrenhaft

Friend is Not A Verb

Author:  Daniel Ehrenhaft

Publisher:  HarperTeen

Publish Date:  May 1st 2010

From Goodreads:

From the author of the Edgar Award–winning The Wessex Papers comes a hilariously offbeat novel about Henry “Hen” Birnbaum, a teenage boy who dreams of becoming a rock star despite a minor setback, namely: his girlfriend just dumped him and kicked him out of their band. Now his social life consists of night after night of VH1 marathons with his best friend and next-door neighbor, the neurotic Emma Wood.

Then there’s the matter of Sarah, his sister, who mysteriously disappeared for a whole year and just as mysteriously returned. As the story unfolds, the reasons for her disappearance seem more unbelievable than Henry ever could have imagined. Maybe rock god status isn’t too farfetched for Henry. After all, crazier things have happened.

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Friend is Not A Verb caught me by surprise, it was way better than I had anticipated. 

 

Henry is a fantastic character.  He's urban, funny, and just all around great.  His teenage angst is causing rock star fantasies, which I found amusing.  I enjoyed the way the author had Henry imagining background snippets of his life via a imaginary Behind the Music episode. Sarah, Henry's sister really is a enigma throughout the whole book.  You do begin to see some things clearly toward the ending of the book, but I still didn't quite get her.  Emma, the best friend is witty, and fun.  Henry and Emma had a great relationship, and I loved reading their interactions. 

 

I didn't quite enjoy the whole disappearance of Sarah part of the book.  It seemed silly, but I still loved this book, because I could spend hours reading about Henry, and his mundane life.  If Friend is Not A Verb was made into a movie it would definitely be a indie.  It has that independent film vibe. 

 

Friend is Not A Verb is a book I recommend.  It's a great, fast read with some great characters.

 

 

Book received from Around the World Tours