The Girl in the Steel Corset (Steampunk Chronicles #1)by Kady Cross

The Girl in the Steel Corset

Author:  Kady Cross

Publisher:  Harlequin Teen 

Publication Date:  May 24th 2011

From Goodreads:

In 1897 England, sixteen-year-old Finley Jayne has no one except the "thing" inside her.

When a young lord tries to take advantage of Finley, she fights back.  And wins.  But no normal Victorian girl has a darker side that makes her capable of knocking out a full grown man with one punch....

Only Griffin King sees the magical darkness inside her that says she's special, says she's one of them.  The orphaned duke taker her in from the gaslit streets against the wishes of his band of misfits.  Emily, who has her own special abilities and an unrequited love for Sam, who is part robot; and Jasper, an American cowboy with a shadowy secret.

Griffin's investigating a criminal called The Machinist, the mastermind behind several recent crimes by automatons.  Finley thinks she can help and finally be part of something, finally fit in.

But The Machinist wants to tear Griff's little company of strays apart, and it isn't long before trust is tested on all sides.  At least Finley knows who side she's on, even if it seems no one believes her.

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The Girl in the Steel Corset is my first steampunk novel, I picked a winner.  What I figured out after finishing this effin kick ass book is that I like the Victorian Era and kick ass female characters.

Yeah, I'm sure you got by now that I love The Girl in the Steel Corset.  I'm going to be pretty clear and state right off the bat that the main reason I love this book is because of the strong female characters.  O'and there is also a villian called The Machinist, rogue machines called automatons and a bad boy i'm crushing on called Jack Dandy.

Griffin is a duke and he has a posse, this posse consist of Sam, Jasper, Emily and then later Finley joins them.  All these characters are special, they all have some unique gift (i.e. power).  For instance Griffin can jump to another realm and speak to his dead parents, Sam is part machine and is really freakishly strong, Emily is super smart, and Jasper is fast like you blink and you can miss him fast.  Finley also has something unique about her, she is two different people.  One side of her is a normal girl, but when need be another part of her comes out and that side can kick some serious ass.  They come together to try to stop the Machinist, who is turning the automatons into killers.  The plot is action packed and intense.  The intensity climbs higher and higher at a good pace. Never once did I feel that things were going slow.  The action tapered off to allow the readers to really get to know the characters, and for me that is the only reason for the action to simmer down.  I really dislike books that are over descriptive and I really worried that the steampunk aspect of The Girl in the Steel Corset would make it that, but Ms. Cross really gave the bare minimum of description so we can picture these machines and inventions that are part of steampunk.

The Girl in the Steel Corset also has its' share of romance, as well.  Now I hate love triangles and there is one in this novel but I will say that with great characters it's all good.  The triangle involves Griffin, Finley and Jack Dandy.  Jack Dandy is  my fictional boyfriend. Seriously! He doesn't play a HUGE part in The Girl in the Steel Corset, but I'm hoping he will with the sequel.  Jack Dandy is a crime lord (yeah, I like bad boys) with a heart of gold. <--I actually don't know if that's true, but it fits my image of him.   He's not all that bad, guys.  He's awesome, infact.

I really did enjoy The Girl in the Steel Corset.  The writing was great, the characters awesome. Not only did I find my fictional boyfriend but I also wanted to go out there and kick some ass.  I am so looking forward to reading the next book in the series, The Girl in the Clockwork Collar.

Goodreads Rating: 4 Stars
(4.5 but of course Goodreads doesn't allow halves.)

Mini Review: Between the Lines (Between the Lines, Bk 1) by Tammara Webber

Between the Lines (Between the Lines, Bk 1)
Author:  Tammara Webber
Publisher: Self-Published
Publication Date: May 19th 2011

From Goodreads:

When Hollywood It Boy, Reid Alexander, arrives on location to shoot his next movie, his goals are the same as always-film another blockbuster hit and enjoy his celebrity status to the fullest while doing so.  His costar is a virtual unknown with whom he had blazing hot chemistry during her auditions.  The universe is lining up nicely to grant whatever he wants, as usual, until he confronted with unexpected obstacles on location like a bitter ex-girlfriend and a rival for the first girl to spark his genuine interest in years.


Emma Pierce just got her big break after more than a decade of filming commercials for grape juice, department stores and tampons, and more recently, bit parts in made-for-TV movies.  Nailing the lead role in a wide-release film sent her agent, father and stepmother into raptures, and should have done the same for her.  The Problem?  Emma is experiencing a building desire to be normal, and starring in a silly, modernized adaptation of one of her favorite novels-opposite the very hot Reid Alexander-isn't going to advance the aspiration.


Graham Douglas doesn't fear playing the part of a nerdy dimwit; when it comes to choosing film roles, if it pays, he'll do it.  Besides, his friend Brooke Cameron snatched up the role of the bitchy hot girl and could use his help as a buffer, because her ex is the star.  Graham has no problem keeping a handle on the situation, until he finds himself attracted to Reid's costar, Emma, the girl Reid is pursuing full-throttle with his standard arsenal of charm, good looks and arrogance.


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I usually don't read self-published books but I heard so many great things about Between the Lines.  I was surprised in a good way with how much I enjoyed it.

Between the Lines is told from two different perspectives, Emma's and Reid's.  Emma is in her first lead role opposite famous heartthrob Reid in a Pride and Prejudice adaption called School Pride. Emma is a great character, she's yet to be jaded by stardom like Reid. There is a innocence in her that makes you root for her the whole way through.  Reid on the hand is a fella you love to hate.  His womanizing ways and disregard for females makes me think of him as an ass, but then for some reason you kind of want to excuse him...just a little.  I could understand Emma wanting to see the best in him.  Graham, an indie actor, also part of the cast, has it all.  He is definitely a freaking character you crush on.  He's sensitive, respectful, nice and good looking.  What's not to like?  I thought the characters were impressively solid.  As for the story, it was very entertaining and fun.  Maybe a little too long, but all together I enjoyed every minute of Between the Lines.


Goodreads rating:  4 stars (the for reals rating: 3.5 stars)

Top Ten Tuesday: Top Ten Books I'd Play Hooky With

A weekly meme hosted by the Broke and the Bookish.

This week's Top Ten:

Top Ten Books I'd Play Hooky With


1.  A Game of Thrones by George R.R. Martin
A book that seems like I'd have to devote some major time with, plus it seems epic.

2.  11/23/63 by Stephen King
A chunkster about time travel...o'yeah!

3.  Eon by alison Goodman
Dragons!

4.  Beauty Queens by Libba Bray

5.  The Neverending Story by Michael Ende

6.  The Knife of Letting Go by Patrick Ness

7.  World War Z: An Oral History of the Zombie War by Max Brooks


8.  As many John Green books I can that I haven't read


9.  Ready Player One by Ernest Cline


10.  1Q84 by Haruki Murakami

The One That I Want by Jennifer Echols

The One That I Want

Author:  Jennifer Echols

Publisher:  Simon Pulse

Publication Date: February 7th 2011

From Goodreads:

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?

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Don't you hate when you aren't feeling a book?  I do.  So the thing is The One That I Want was a miss for me.  This is the second Jennifer Echols book that I have read and didn't really care for.  Though I will say I like this one better than Going to Far.

There were some enjoyable aspects of The One That I Want like the characters.  Max was probably my favorite character.  I like his bluntness, he speaks his mind.  A couple of times he calls Gemma on her shit, and I was loving that.  Gemma is not a character I liked in the beginning, but she does grow as the story progresses.  Gotta love character growth.  Addison is a character you love to hate.  Seriously, she's awful to Gemma.

I had a couple of problems with The One That I Want. For one, I didn't feel  chemistry between Gemma and Max.  I just wasn't buying it.  Everything seemed rushed and unbelievable.  I also couldn't believe Gemma would be friends with someone who treated her like Addison did.  Something about the whole book seemed overdone to the point that it felt contrived.

The One That I Want didn't work for me, but some might find it cute.  

Goodreads Rating:  3 Stars
I round that up on Goodreads because I really gave it a 2.5

Boy Proof by Cecil Castellucci

Boy Proof

Author:  Cecil Castellucci

Publisher:  Candlewick Press

Publication Date:  February 17th 2005

From Goodreads:

What happens when an antisocial cinephile meets up with the worldly new guy at school - a quick-witted artist who's savvy enough to see through her sci-fi disguise?

Meet Egg.  Her real name is Victoria Jurgen, but she's renamed herself after the kick-ass heroine of her favorite sci-fi movie, Terminal Earth.  Like her namesake, Egg dresses all in white, colors her eyebrows, and shaves her head.  She always knows the right answer, she's always in control, and she's far too busy- taking photos for the school paper, meeting with the Science Fiction and Fantasy Club, and hanging out at the creature shop with her dad, the special effects makeup wizard- to be bothered with friends, much less members of the opposite sex.  As far as Egg is concerned, she's boy proof, and she likes it that way.  But then Egg meets a boy named Max, a boy who's smart and funny and creative and cool....and happens to like Egg.  Could this be the end of the world-at least as Egg knows it?

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Boy Proof is effin great! Seriously 208 pages of awesomeness.

Victoria Jurgen is a great character.  She starts off very judgmental of others, and really not sure of herself.  She takes on the persona  and name of her favorite character Egg from her favorite sci-fi movie, Terminal Earth even donning a cloak.  She keeps people at a distance never wanting to give anyone a chance to get close to her.  With the help of the new guy Max she realizes that it's okay to be herself.  I love how much Egg grows throughout the story.  She starts peeling off these layers, slowly revealing herself to her peers, and the readers.  What can I say, I love Egg!

Ms. Castellucci's writing is wonderful.  Straight to the point with great pacing.  I felt the story constantly moving.  The progression of Victoria's changes is done in such a way that I was excited to see who Victoria really was behind the whole Egg persona.  Boy Proof is so much more than just a girl meets boy story, it's about one finding themselves and being happy with who they are.  It's about possibilities and being open to them.  It's about taking a chance on people.

I really can't say enough great things about Boy Proof.
Love!

Goodreads Rating: 5/5

Pandemonium (Delirium #2) by Lauren Oliver

Contains spoilers from Bk 1, Delirium

Pandemonium

Author: Lauren Oliver

Publisher:  HarperCollins

Publication Date:  February 28th 2012

From Goodreads:

I'm pushing aside of the memory of my nightmare,

pushing aside thoughts of Alex,

pushing aside thoughts of Hana and my old school,

push,

xpush,

push,

like Raven taught me to do.

The old life is dead.

But the old Lena is dead too.

I buried her.

I left her beyond a fence,

behind a wall of smoke and flame.

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I was really excited to read Pandemonium especially with the way Delirium ended. Gahh! I hate cliff hangers.  

Pandemonium begins right where Delirium ended with Lena hauling ass into the wilds and crawling her way further and further away from Alex and her old life.   Pandemonium is written differently then Delirium in that each chapter is alternates between Then and Now.  I didn't think it hindered the flow of the story at all.  I think that it made for a faster read, and without it it the pace would have been a lot slower.  The pace is one of the best things about Pandemonium.  There is action, o'yeah. Plenty of action, it's one of the things that Delirium needed.  

There is also new characters introduced that I love.  They bring a different element and the opportunity for more story building.  Not only do we get more characters but also get to know 'the Wilds' more.  We only catch glimpses of how things work in 'the Wilds' in Delirium but in Pandemonium we fully understand the hardships of the people living there.  I enjoyed reading how they survived.

With that all being said, I didn't enjoy Pandemonium as much as Delirium.  I just didn't like where Ms. Oliver took the story. Somethings aren't necessary for a solid good story and she went in the direction that I don't enjoy so much in YA. I really don't want to say because it might be considered a spoiler and I don't want to piss someone off, but I was really disappointed with it.  

There are many aspects in a book that make it great, the combination of both awesome characters and great storytelling. For me the characters were there, I just was let down by the storytelling. To clarify it's really with the last half of the story.  AND we get another cliffhanger. Whatever!

Despite being let down with Pandemonium, it did have it's awesome moments so I will be continuing with the series. That damn cliffhanger got me again.

Goodreads Rating:  3 Stars

Less Than Zero by Bret Easton Ellis

 

Less Than Zero

Author:  Bret Easton Ellis

Publisher:  Vintage Books

Publication Date:  June 9th 2012

First Published in 1985

From Goodreads:

Set in Los Angeles in the early 1980's, this coolly mesmerizing novel is a raw, powerful portrait of a lost generation who have experienced sex, drugs, and disaffection at too early an age, in a world shaped by casual nihilism, passivity, and too much money a place devoid of feeling or hope.

Clay comes home for Christmas vacation from his Eastern college and re-enters a landscape of limitless privilege and absolute moral entropy, where everyone drives Porches, dines at Spago, and snorts mountains of cocaine.  He tries to renew feelings for his girlfriend, Blair, and for his best friend from high school, Julian, who is careering into hustling and heroin.  Clay's holiday turns into a dizzying spiral of desperation that takes him through the relentless parties in glitzy mansions, seedy bars and underground rock clubs and also into the seamy world of L.A. after dark.

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I really love the movie Less Than Zero but had heard that the movie is so different than the book, so I had to read it.  Had to.

Less Than Zero is a depressing movie but boy does the book take it to a whole other level.  Seriously, it is a dark gritty look into the bored lives of the young and rich.  After finishing it I felt dirty.

It was a disturbing read. The setting is early 80's L.A. when cocaine was at it's height especially in the rich and bored over privileged youth.  The cast of characters in Less Than Zero are so disassociated from their feelings and their rampant drug use makes anything go.  No joke, there is rape of a underage girl, watching of a snuff film and so many other moments that were really shocking.  What made it so shocking is that these characters never really blinked an eye about it.  They seem shells of people with no concern about anything but themselves and whatever brings them pleasure.  

Clay, the protagonist seems tired of what he sees and knows there is something not quite right about him and the people  he associates with but can't muster the  care he knows he should have.  Through his eyes we see a world that is ugly.  Clay just seems tired of it all and completely numb to life.  A guy who can't make it through dinner with his family without heading to the bathroom to snort coke.

I did like Less Than Zero because of it's rawness and realness (even though I wish it wasn't).  But the truth is this shit was happening and is probably still is, just change out cocaine with prescription pills. As I mentioned it was a little shocking to read, I'm from a small town in Texas, so this was not at all like how I grew up.  

There is a lot of swearing, sexual situations and ugly parts in Less Than Zero. Just to warn you if that stuff bothers you. 

Goodreads Rating:  4 Stars

Top Ten Tuesdays: Top Ten Books on My Spring To-Be-Read list

Top Ten Tuesday is a weekly meme hosted by the Broke and Bookish.

This week's top ten is:

Top Ten Books On My Spring To-Be-Read List

1.  Insurgent (Divergent #2) by Veronica Roth
Excited about this one.  I love that romance does not play huge part in this series.  Lots of action!

2.  Breaking Beautiful by Jennifer Shaw

3.  The Lucky One by Nicholas Sparks
Got to read this one before I watch the movie.

4.  The Invention of Hugo Cabret by Brian Selznick
Will be reading this to my daughter. 30 minutes a night before bed. :)

5.  Partials by Dan Wells
Heard so many great things.  Can't wait to read it, definitely this Spring.

6.  A Game of Thrones (A Song of Ice and Fire #1) by George R.R. Martin
Really want to give Fantasy a try, why not start with what's popular right now.

7.  I Love the 80's by Megan Crane
I've been wanting to read this since I first heard about it.  I'm just going to buy myself a copy online already.  A gift to myself :)

8.  BZRK by Michael Grant

9.  Trail of the Spellmans by Lisa Lutz
Hilarious series!

10.  Harry Potter and Philosopher's Stone (Harry Potter, #1) by J.K. Rowling
Never read it, think it's about time that I do.

It's Monday, What Are You Reading? 3/19/12

Meme hosted by Sheila at Book Journey.

Books read last week:

The Girl in the Steel Corset by Kady Cross

 

Pandemonium by Lauren Oliver

 

Less than Zero by Bret Easton Ellis

 

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I'm currently reading:

Croak by Gina Dimarco

 

Just started this one, so I don't have an opinion of it at all. 

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Up Next:

Whatever You Love by Louise Doughty

 

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I took complete advantage of the kids being off from school for Spring Break and really did nothing but read.  This morning i'm back to my regular routine. It was fun while it lasted.  

Article 5 by Kristen Simmons

Article 5 

Author:  Kristen Simmons

Publisher:  Tor Teen

Publication Date:  January 31st 2012

From Goodreads:

New York, Los Angeles, and Washington, D.C. have been abandoned.

The Bill of Rights has been revoked, and replaced with the Moral Statutes.

There are no more police-instead, there are soldiers.  There are no more fines for bad behavior-instead, there are arrests, trials, and maybe worse.   People who get arrested usually don't come back.

Seventeen year old Ember Miller is old enough to remember that things weren't always the this way.  Living with her rebellious single mother, it's hard for her to forget that people weren't always arrested for reading the wrong books or staying out after dark.  It's hard to forget that life in the United States used to be different.

Ember has perfected the art of keeping a low profile.  She knows how to get the things she needs, like food stamps and hand-me-down clothes, and how pass the random home inspections by the military.  Her life is as close to peaceful as circumstances allow.

That is, until her mother is arrested for noncompliance with Article 5 of the Moral Statutes.  And one of the arresting officers is none other than Chase Jennings- the only boy Ember has ever loved.

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Another series, blah.  BUT I must say that Article 5 is actually a pretty decent book.

I thought the world that Ms. Simmons created in Article 5 was quite good with the exception of how the punishments took place.  I was/am a little confused with all the going to trial, but wait no trials, but wait there is trials.  I don't freaking know.  Did they do away with trials for breaking the laws? Anyways, I was slightly confused with what exactly would happen when you broke a law in Article 5.  Other than that, I thought the dystopian future Ms. Simmons brought to Article 5 was a little scary with the curfews and how so gung-ho people were with following the rules, and even turning people over for breaking the laws.  Okay, so the curfews aren't really scary, but it sure does suck.  I just thought that she definitely painted a not so nice picture of what Ember and others are going through living in such a world, and it ain't pretty.

The characters are not my favorites. Ember was a little too whiny and made some pretty stupid decisions, and I hate characters especially female ones that act foolish and even a little pathetic.  I found her constant mistreatment of Chase pretty fucked up.  I mean how can you keep on saying to yourself how he betrayed you when you are actually running to safety with him.  Yes, he is helping Ember and yet she blames a lot on him.  I would have left her ass a long time ago if i was Chase.  Because of all this I didn't really believe the romance.  How could he want her, I wouldn't.  The plus side is that in the last couple of pages a new Ember starts to emerge, she seems stronger and more like someone I can like.  I'm thinking in the second book she will be stronger, at least I hope so.

There were some flaws in Article 5 for me but some good things, too. For me the last couple of pages promised a better more kick ass Ember in the next book, and that would be a vast improvement already.  I will continue on with this at least for the next book, just to see if Ember grows.  To say I will ride out this series till the end,  I don't know,  I have to find out how the second book turns out. 

Goodreads Rating: 3/5 

(actually gave it a 2.5 but since goodreads doesn't allow that I bumped it up instead of down because this is Ms. Simmons debut and her dystopian world did frighten me. Moral laws, really? Now that's scary)

Breaking Up is Hard to Do

 

 I picked up Spell Bound by Rachel Hawkins today and found myself not caring about what happens to Sophie and the other characters.  Why? Well, because it’s been so long since I have saw them last and honestly we have grown apart.  I lose interest in the storyline and characters and I can’t muster enough care to find out what happens.  Sometimes I find that I loved these characters and finished a book, anticipating the next already so I continue on loving them.  But then a year passes and many books in between have been read and I have made new friends and those old ones get lost.  They lost their luster, they lost me.

I can always reread, but then I’m not one that rereads books.  I don’t like going where I’ve already been.  I want to continue moving on with their lives not look back.  I have several books in the Blue Bloods series but I stopped at book three waiting for the next, then I gathered the rest but by that time I forgot what happened in the first three.  I overlook the next book in the series because I don’t remember what’s happen, and a reread is out of the question. So there they sit, unread. 

It seems that most YA books are series, and that is worrisome to me because how many hours am I going to give and relationships with characters am I going to build just to leave them because I have to wait months to find out what is going on with them.  I have many first books in a series waiting to be read and I’m just not quite sure if I want to give them a go.  I’m not saying I will never read a series, but I think I will be extra critical of them and make damn sure I want to continue reading them before I commit myself to them. 

So I bid farewell to these series:

Hex Hall Series

Dear Sophie and friends and enemies,

Sorry I will not find out how your world ends but I’m sure it ends well.  Some I remember a bit, some I remember not at all. Sorry Cal, I don’t remember you at all.  I hope to hear how you all turned out from our mutual friends that are staying with you all.

Blue Bloods Series

Dear characters,

I don’t even remember anyone's name, but I know that at one time we were all wonderful friends.  You kept me up with your stories and I appreciate that.  I will never forget ya’ll. I’m actually quite sad that I am saying goodbye, but I would be lying to think that we can continue.  We’ve lost touch.

I am not done saying bye to lost friends, but I will do it in my own time. I feel better now.  Breaking up is hard to do.  

Mini Review: Unbearable Lightness: A Story of Loss and Gain by Portia de Rossi

Unbearable Lightness

Author:  Portia de Rossi

Publisher:  Atria Books

Publication Date:  November 1st 2010

Unbearable Lightness is Portia De Rossi's memoir about her struggle with an eating disorder. I'm actually fascinated with the thinking of someone suffering from an eating disorder.  Other than being Ellen's girlfriend I really don't know who Portia is.  I never watched Ally McBeal or Arrested Development, but Arrested Development sounds like something I would have loved.  Anyway, Portia opens up about her struggle with her love/hate relationship with her body and food, as well as what it was like to be a lesbian and feel afraid of coming out.  I thought the writing was very smooth and open.  She does not hold back, her honesty is a true testament to how far she has come.  From being one who hid everything real about herself to letting it all out in a book, talk about turning over a new leaf.  Really great book.

Goodreads Rating: 4 Stars

Shooting Stars by Allison Rushby

Shooting Stars

Author:  Allison Rushby

Publisher:  Walker Childrens

Publication Date:  February 28th 2012

From Goodreads:

Meet Josephine Foster, or Zo Jo as she's called in the biz.  The best pint-sized photographer of them all, Jo doesn't mind doing what it takes to get that perfect shot, until she's sent on an undercover assignment to shoot Ned Hartnett- teen superstar and the only celebrity who's ever been kind to her- at an exclusive rehabilitation retreat in Boston.  The money will be enough to pay for Jo's dream: real photography classes, and maybe even quitting her paparazzi gig for good.  Everyone wants to know what Ned's in for.  But Jo certainly doesn't know what she's in for:  falling in love with Ned was never supposed to be part of her assignment.

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I really am not a fan of Shooting Stars, but I am a fan of Ms. Rushby.  There were some cute and great moments though.

I really enjoyed that I was positive it was going a certain way, to completely turn out another, and I didn't even see it coming.  I also enjoyed  getting to know Josephine better while she was at rehab.  That she was at a rehab to get pictures of Ned but ended up emotionally opening up and seizing the opportunity to look into herself was really great and insightful.  I felt when she opened up at rehab those were the moments I really liked and got to know Josephine.

What I didn't enjoy about Shooting Stars was that I didn't really like Josephine, only in the moments I mentioned above did I really like/care about her, and sadly there were not many of those moments.   And as for Ned everything was really surface stuff.  I don't know I just didn't feel like the characters were real.  There was also a lot of talk about the business of being a celebrity photographer..a pap. What kind of equipment Josephine had, what lengths she would go to get the job done. Stuff like that that was kind of boring to be honest.  

I was expecting and hoping for more when I started this.  Shooting Stars was actually one of my most anticipated book releases this year. Bummer!  I've seen many positive reviews out there, though, so I would definitely give it a try but you might want to check your local library first.

Goodreads rating: 2 stars

The Fault in Our Stars by John Green

Not going to review it, but just recommend that you

READ IT!

Seriously, the characters are awesome especially Augustus.  John Green is a master of words.  The dialogue, OMG the dialogue is brilliant. A little unrealistic for teens but who freaking cares..it's awesome.

I will be vlogging a discussion video about A Fault in Our Stars. I'll post it on here when I actually do it.  I would love to discuss this with ya'll.

Happy Reading!

I've Got Your Number- Sophie Kinsella

I've Got Your Number

Author:  Sophie Kinsella

Publisher:  The Dial Press

Publication Date:  February 14th 2012

From Goodreads:

I've lost it.  The only thing in the world I wasn't supposed to lose.  My engagement ring.  It's been Magnus's family for three generations.  And now, the very same day his parents are coming, I've lost it.  The very same day.  do not hyperventilate Poppy.  Stay positive!!

Poppy Wyatt has never felt luckier.  She is about to marry the ideal man, Magnus Tavish,  but in one afternoon her 'happy ever after' begins to fall apart.  Not only has she lost her engagement ring but in the panic that followed, she has now lost her phone.  As she paces shakily round the hotel foyer she spots an abandoned phone in a bin.  Finders keepers!  Now she can leave a number for the hotel to contact her when they find her ring.  Perfect!

Well, perfect except the phone's owner, businessman Sam Roxton doesn't agree.  He wants his phone back and doesn't appreciate Poppy reading all his messages and wading into his personal life.

What ensues is a hilarious and unpredictable turn of events as Poppy and Sam increasingly upend each other's lives through emails and text messages.  As Poppy juggles wedding preparations, mysterious phone calls and hiding her left hand from Magnus and his parents..she soon realizes that she is in for the biggest surprise of her life.

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I'm a huge fan of Sophie Kinsella.  I get excited when I hear of a new book, so naturally I needed to read I've Got Your Number.  

I really enjoy the fun Ms. Kinsella brings to her books.  Though at times I wanted to scream at Poppy "What the hell are you doing", I loved her innocent endearing qualities.   You can't help but want to befriend her if only to keep her out of trouble.  As for Sam, I really don't feel like I got to know him that well, but then again I can say the same thing for Jack in The Shopaholic Series.  I think the guys are background characters for Ms. Kinsella.  The stand out character is always the female MC.  Her characters are usually quirky and well meaning, but quite meddlesome and Bridget Jonesque.  Poppy is no exception.  Sometimes I really wanted Poppy to get a backbone, and so did Sam.  I love that he calls her in her self doubt, and tries to help her stop being a floor mat.

The flow of I've Got Your Number is good. I wish the romance between Sam and Poppy was a little more detailed.  Again, I really don't feel like I got to know Sam that well, and that could be why their romance felt like it was messing something.  

I enjoyed I've Got Your Number but it was not great.  

My Goodreads rating: 3 stars