tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-25358840389108942652024-02-07T03:19:34.223-08:00I LOVED THIS BOOKA book addict talking about the books she's loved.Michellehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15527609789172868461noreply@blogger.comBlogger153125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2535884038910894265.post-84969942679890224842015-09-23T09:58:00.002-07:002015-09-23T09:58:58.408-07:00LIKE IT NEVER HAPPENED: EMILY ADRIAN<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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I was into this from page one. I loved the MC's voice. It was strong and funny and clever while being vulnerable and honest. Then I devoured it. This is a pretty dark book, but it is not told in a dark way. Maybe dark is the wrong word, but it deals with some serious issues with a light voice. For me, it so fully captured the world of having a competitive group of friends that really might not be your friends. Which is probably more true to the adolescent experience than a book with a bestie and an amazing group of friends while falling in love with your amazingly sweet totally secure best boyfriend. <br />
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Anyway this book kind of blew me away, so imagine my surprise when I go on goodreads, and it has a really low rating. People don't like this book? How could they not like it? Maybe it didn't speak to them like it spoke to me. Maybe being 36 and NOT a teenager made me appreciate this more. I don't know. But I was really impressed by this book.<br />
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<b>BOOK BLURB:</b><br />
<span id="freeText8279653963290300606"><strong></strong><em>When Rebecca Rivers lands the lead in her school’s production of The Crucible,
she gets to change roles in real life, too. She casts off her old
reputation, grows close with her four rowdy cast-mates, and kisses the
extremely handsome Charlie Lamb onstage. Even Mr. McFadden, the play’s
critical director, can find no fault with Rebecca.<br /><br /> Though “The
Essential Five” vow never to date each other, Rebecca can’t help her
feelings for Charlie, leaving her both conflicted and lovestruck. But
the on and off-stage drama of the cast is eclipsed by a life-altering
accusation that threatens to destroy everything…even if some of it is
just make believe.</em></span><br />
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<span id="freeText8279653963290300606">Light swearing, talk of sexual situations without being too graphic, talk of sexual identity, </span><span id="freeText8279653963290300606"><span id="freeText8279653963290300606">deals with mature relationships between adults and teens, and </span>teenage drinking & smoking in a way that makes it feel like no big deal....especially the smoking could have really done without the smoking.</span>Michellehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15527609789172868461noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2535884038910894265.post-56795366626227700302015-07-27T22:40:00.002-07:002015-07-27T22:40:42.288-07:00THE WRONG SIDE OF RIGHT: JENN MARIE THORNE<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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I thought this was pretty exceptional. When I was a few chapters in, I was really excited about this because it was really a refreshing read. It has been a long time since I read a YA book that was taking a different view on the subject of being a teenager. And I loved the political backdrop, because books about politics have been done for adults, but I've never read one starring teens.<br />
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ALL of our characters, including the smallest ones were well-rounded, well thought-out and REAL. Seriously, I felt like these people really existed. And, I loved being on the campaign trail. I'm not a political girl myself but this was just so entertaining and interesting. It was light hearted, while being extremely serious. It was a story about families while also raising issues about the seriously flawed world of presidential elections. It accomplished so much in one book.<br />
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<b>BOOK BLURB:</b><br />
<i><span id="freeText10277596662861651382">Kate Quinn’s mom died
last year, leaving Kate parentless and reeling. So when the unexpected
shows up in her living room, Kate must confront another reality she
never thought possible—or thought of at all. Kate does have a father.
He’s a powerful politician. And he’s running for U.S. President.
Suddenly, Kate’s moving in with a family she never knew she had, joining
a campaign in support of a man she hardly knows, and falling for a
rebellious boy who may not have the purest motives. This is Kate’s new
life. But who is Kate? When what she truly believes flies in the face of
the campaign’s talking points, she must decide. Does she turn to the
family she barely knows, the boy she knows but doesn’t necessarily
trust, or face a third, even scarier option?<br /><br />Set against a
backdrop of politics, family, and first love, this is a story of
personal responsibility, complicated romance, and trying to discover who
you are even as everyone tells you who you should be.</span></i><br />
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<span id="freeText10277596662861651382">This is a mostly clean read with a few swear words, but nothing too offensive and the romance is G rated. If I taught teens in school I would have every single one of them read this. </span>
Michellehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15527609789172868461noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2535884038910894265.post-46509697756598221832015-07-02T15:15:00.000-07:002015-07-02T15:17:09.519-07:00I'LL MEET YOU THERE: HEATHER DEMETRIOS<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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This is the first 5 star read I've enjoyed in a long time. I pretty much loved everything about this. I've never read a book before that so artfully captures what it is like to grow up in a poor small town. The heroine's experiences are so far from mine, but I felt like I could relate to her so well. There is some male POV as well and the snippets from the mind and heart of our hero were heartfelt and raw and just the perfect amount of his voice to make the book more meaningful and more well rounded. <br />
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I devoured this book. I couldn't read it fast enough. It has been ages since I felt like that about a book. <br />
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<b>BOOK BLURB:</b><br />
<i><span id="freeText12241651335454500481">If seventeen-year-old
Skylar Evans were a typical Creek View girl, her future would involve a
double-wide trailer, a baby on her hip, and the graveyard shift at Taco
Bell. But after graduation, the only thing standing between straightedge
Skylar and art school are three minimum-wage months of summer. Skylar
can taste the freedom—that is, until her mother loses her job and
everything starts coming apart. Torn between her dreams and the people
she loves, Skylar realizes everything she’s ever worked for is on the
line.<br /><br />Nineteen-year-old Josh Mitchell had a different ticket out
of Creek View: the Marines. But after his leg is blown off in
Afghanistan, he returns home, a shell of the cocksure boy he used to be.
What brings Skylar and Josh together is working at the Paradise—a
quirky motel off California’s dusty Highway 99. Despite their
differences, their shared isolation turns into an unexpected friendship
and soon, something deeper.</span></i><br />
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<span id="freeText12241651335454500481">This has some steamy scenes and character driven foul language. </span>Michellehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15527609789172868461noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2535884038910894265.post-29144734165569745912015-03-03T13:05:00.000-08:002015-03-03T13:05:25.939-08:00WHATEVER LIFE THROWS AT YOU: JULIE CROSS<br />
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So I don't remember when a book has surprised me as much as this book did. I was expecting some shallow hot guy meets hot girl then proceed to be sexy all over the place while they enjoy their dysfunctional relationship kind of book. <i>Whatever Life Throws At You</i> was not that kind of book, well it was certainly sexy at times but it was a really big hearted read. Features amazing secondary characters full of flaws and lovableness with two main characters that you really cheer for. Plus if you can make a book with a ton of baseball stuff be interesting to me then you are a winner of a writer.<br />
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Second half didn't blow me away as much as the first, but it is a strong read overall and terribly swoon worthy.<br />
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<b>BOOK BLURB:</b><br />
<span id="freeText5365634030560803507"><em>Seventeen-year-old
Annie Lucas's life is completely upended the moment her dad returns to
the major leagues as the new pitching coach for the Kansas City Royals.
Now she's living in Missouri (too cold), attending an all-girls school (no boys),
and navigating the strange world of professional sports. But Annie has
dreams of her own—most of which involve placing first at every track
meet…and one starring the Royals' super-hot rookie pitcher.<br /><br />But
nineteen-year-old Jason Brody is completely, utterly, and totally
off-limits. Besides, her dad would kill them both several times over.
Not to mention Brody has something of a past, and his fan club is filled
with C-cupped models, not smart-mouthed high school “brats” who can run
the pants off every player on the team. Annie has enough on her plate
without taking their friendship to the next level. The last thing she should be doing is falling in love.<br /><br />But baseball isn't just a game. It's life. And sometimes, it can break your heart…</em></span><br />
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<span id="freeText5365634030560803507">This isn't as racy as a basic New Adult book, but it does contain steamy scenes. Also a good bit of swearing, but not nearly as much swearing as you could get away with in a baseball book. </span>Michellehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15527609789172868461noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2535884038910894265.post-59511223705031468612015-03-02T13:28:00.000-08:002015-03-02T13:28:28.728-08:00ROAD RASH: MARK HUNTLEY PARSONS<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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How does a book that so perfectly describes life on the road as a drummer in a band while at the same time stays innocent, sweet, and earnest? Seems like an impossible balance to maintain, but this book delivers just that. I just thought this was a delightful little book, especially if like me you enjoy a male POV and rock band boys. If you ever wanted to fall in love with the cute drummer in "that" band, here is your chance. <br />
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<b>BOOK BLURB:</b><br />
<i><span id="freeText8852745665113542641">After being dropped from one band, sixteen-year-old drummer Zach gets a chance to go on tour with a much <em>better</em> band. It feels like sweet redemption, but this is one rocky road trip—filled with jealousy, rivalries, and on-stage meltdowns.<br /> <br />
Mark Parsons has written a fast-paced, feel-good novel about a boy
finding his place in the world, in a band, and in the music. Zach is a
character teens will stand up and cheer for as he lands the perfect gig,
and the perfect girl.</span></i><br />
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<span id="freeText8852745665113542641">Read more about it <a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/17910568-road-rash?ac=1">HERE</a>. </span><br />
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Michellehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15527609789172868461noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2535884038910894265.post-70191681900802049652015-02-27T14:23:00.002-08:002015-02-27T14:24:27.913-08:00MY SO-CALLED (LOVE) LIFE: A. L. MICAEL<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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After falling insanely in love with Michael's <i>The Last Word</i>, I was super excited only days later to find that yet another book had been released. I was going to be on vacation and I couldn't wait to take this baby with me.<br />
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I did love it, although it is so similar in story line and also characters as <i>The Last Word</i> that I wished there had been something more to set them apart so they don't glob together in my mind. We had the boy and girl fake relationship that leads to more, and then we had two best girlfriends where one of them is gay...again. I mean seriously it was too much like the first book I loved. Yet, here is the thing. I said I loved the first book so that means I loved this too.<br />
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I just hope that the next book of this author's has some characters that I couldn't mistake for being the same ones in this book. Either way, I'll be excited to read whatever comes next!<br />
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<b>BOOK BLURB:</b><br />
<span id="freeText6740345691439571314"><i>Meet Tigerlily James: romance cynic, North Londoner and die-hard margarita fan.<br /><br />Tigerlily James has been a member of the Young and Bitter Club ever since she was dumped on Valentine’s day. By her fiancé.<br /><br />Surviving
on a diet of cynicism and margarita-fuelled ‘Misery Dinners’ with her
best friends, she’s become a romance free zone…and that’s the way she
likes it. Until an invitation for The Ex’s wedding arrives. Suddenly in
need of a plus one, Tig has little choice but to bin the takeaways,
ditch the greying underwear collection…and start pretending to view the
opposite sex as something other than target practise.<br /><br />Then, she
meets Ollie – ie. the perfect solution. No sex. No strings. Fake
boyfriend. The only catch is that she has to pretend to be his
girlfriend for three whole months.<br /><br />Dating without the heartbreak: the best idea Tig’s ever had, right? Wrong!</i></span><br />
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<span id="freeText6740345691439571314">Right now this particular book is cheaper on Amazon then her other books. Go ahead and get it for some fun <a href="http://www.amazon.com/My-So-Called-Love-Life-Michael-ebook/dp/B00S6T93OQ/ref=asap_bc?ie=UTF8">HERE</a>!</span>Michellehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15527609789172868461noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2535884038910894265.post-60603246062218552542015-02-20T19:26:00.000-08:002015-02-20T19:26:30.414-08:00RIOT: JAMIE SHAW<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<br />I am easily recommending this read, but not to everyone. You might enjoy this if you love those sexy NA books, especially when they are done well. The characters in this book reminded me a lot of Travis and Abby in Beautiful Disaster. I love a good passionate drama story when it is done well and this one really was. I don't know what it was about it, I just really enjoyed it.<br />
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This is a second book in a series, this I did not know when I started but it easily stands alone. If this series interests you, you might want to start with book number one, although I haven't read it and I don't think reading them out of order spoils anything really.<br />
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<b>BOOK BLURB:</b><br />
<i><span id="freeText8594054977319962939">When Dee Dawson meets
sexy mohawked guitarist Joel Gibbon, she knows it won’t be long before
she has him wrapped around her finger. No guy has ever been able to
resist her… but Dee’s met her match in a player like Joel.<br /><br />Dee’s
not the relationship type—not after seeing the pain “love” has caused
her friends and family—yet she’s desperate to make Joel want her more
than anyone else. He quickly becomes an obsession, and when a reckless
attempt to make him jealous ends in disaster, Dee turns into the damsel
in distress she never wanted to be. With her carefree world crashing
down around her, the last thing she needs is Joel’s pity.<br /><br />But
Joel is suddenly determined to prove he cares, and no matter how hard
Dee tries to push him away, he refuses to let her shut him out. Now the
girl who swore she’d never say those three little words must choose
between guarding her heart and losing Joel forever… or falling
head-over-heels for the tattooed rock star of her dreams.</span></i><br />
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<span id="freeText8594054977319962939">You can read more about it <a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/22552582-riot">HERE</a>. </span>Michellehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15527609789172868461noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2535884038910894265.post-65806334421503374612015-02-09T11:55:00.000-08:002015-02-09T11:57:56.649-08:00THE LAST WORD: A. L. MICHAEL<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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Utterly and completely charming. I adored this from the beginning and I just loved every second of reading this. I always love me some British Chick-Lit and this one delivered. My biggest disappointment? That I cannot seem to be able to buy a physical copy of the book. It seems to only be available as an eBook! How am I supposed to add it to my ever growing British Chick-Lit collection? <br />
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<b>BOOK BLURB:</b><br />
<i><span id="freeText3626286800155069723">Tabby Riley’s online
life was a roaring success. Her blog had hundreds of followers, and
legions of young fans ardently awaited her every Tweet. Her real life
was a bit more of a disappointment. Living in a shared flat in North
London, scratching a living writing magazine articles on ‘How To Please
Your Man in Bed’ wasn’t where she thought she’d be at twenty-six –
especially when there was a serious lack of action in her own bedroom.<br /><br />Although
that might all be about to change when she’s offered a position at
online newspaper The Type as a real journalist – and gains a sexy new
editor, Harry Shulman, to work with. Harry’s confident, smooth talking,
and completely aware that he drives Tabby mad. Which is fine, because
Tabby’s dated an editor before, and it’s never happening again. Ever.
But as her reputation at the paper grows, Tabby has to wonder: is it
time to get out from behind the screen and live her life in the real
world?</span></i><br />
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<span id="freeText3626286800155069723">Perfect for fans of </span><span id="freeText3626286800155069723"><span itemprop="author" itemscope="" itemtype="http://schema.org/Person"> <a class="authorName" href="https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/6434584.Mhairi_McFarlane" itemprop="url"><span itemprop="name"></span></a>Mhairi McFarlane, Sarra Manning or Paige Toon. Not many people have heard about this and reviewed it yet, but I hope it catches on so I can enjoy more books by this delightful author!</span></span><br />
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<span id="freeText3626286800155069723"><span itemprop="author" itemscope="" itemtype="http://schema.org/Person">Read more about it <a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/21943789-the-last-word?from_search=true">HERE</a>. </span> </span>Michellehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15527609789172868461noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2535884038910894265.post-78443974883904148142015-01-19T12:25:00.002-08:002015-01-19T12:25:31.976-08:00ALL THE BRIGHT PLACES: JENNIFER NIVEN<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhavcRsEkujeJIPQ7I4cYHKxIoQCRhe7leAKbFJNRD43fFHRQJy_9Mtp0Gj-YmejvxWqzvPVJcg5WiDjsjns7a54-tjwXJ4tus3I_-MpF0EVRZbnb3wBo35Ar6xfVxtKJbJC829lNxi/s1600/18460392.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhavcRsEkujeJIPQ7I4cYHKxIoQCRhe7leAKbFJNRD43fFHRQJy_9Mtp0Gj-YmejvxWqzvPVJcg5WiDjsjns7a54-tjwXJ4tus3I_-MpF0EVRZbnb3wBo35Ar6xfVxtKJbJC829lNxi/s1600/18460392.jpg" height="400" width="262" /></a></div>
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Sometimes a book will completely win me over with the very last line. A line so beautiful that it kind of knocks me off balance. This was one of those books. It wasn't just pretty at the end though, this book is freaking FULL of beautiful lines. In fact sometimes I was thinking: "Come on! People (and teenage boys especially) don't talk like this!" But then isn't the fun of reading a book sometimes to read dialogue and words that are prettier and more meaningful then in real life? </div>
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This book has both female and male perspectives and the voices are distinct and complementary. Niven so fully and perfectly delves into the heart and mind of a mentally unstable, wonderful teenage boy that I dare you not to fall in love with him. While our heroine is so strong, broken, wonderful, and real that I dare you not to cheer for her happiness. </div>
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<b>BOOK BLURB:</b></div>
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<i><span id="freeText7297858197879690042"><strong><em>The Fault in Our Stars</em> meets <em>Eleanor and Park</em> in this exhilarating and heart-wrenching love story about a girl who learns to live from a boy who intends to die.</strong><br /><strong>Soon to be a major motion picture starring Elle Fanning!</strong><br /><strong> </strong><br /><strong>Theodore Finch</strong>
is fascinated by death, and he constantly thinks of ways he might kill
himself. But each time, something good, no matter how small, stops him.<br /><br /><strong>Violet Markey</strong>
lives for the future, counting the days until graduation, when she can
escape her Indiana town and her aching grief in the wake of her sister’s
recent death.<br /><br />When Finch and Violet meet on the ledge of the
bell tower at school, it’s unclear who saves whom. And when they pair up
on a project to discover the “natural wonders” of their state, both
Finch and Violet make more important discoveries: It’s only with Violet
that Finch can be himself—a weird, funny, live-out-loud guy who’s not
such a freak after all. And it’s only with Finch that Violet can forget
to count away the days and start living them. But as Violet’s world
grows, Finch’s begins to shrink.<br /> </span></i><span id="freeText7297858197879690042"> </span></div>
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<span id="freeText7297858197879690042">You can read more about it <a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/18460392-all-the-bright-places?from_search=true">HERE.</a></span></div>
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<i><span id="freeText7297858197879690042"><br /></span></i>Michellehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15527609789172868461noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2535884038910894265.post-15915511447604905612015-01-09T10:42:00.001-08:002015-01-09T10:42:37.998-08:00NO PLACE TO FALL: JAYE ROBIN BROWN<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi9KZAmSepEA7D-K_L-Qbgiu-j_w_QCKzthWBfnU-fThfEJocE-KSVvZayEwyYBTa7P0f2SPAloYpcPdM8odSINMowoilRB_ZVzDBGD6MA92aQz8kNZaMWokYzoxyb6C_UQJv_Sn0nJ/s1600/16144570.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi9KZAmSepEA7D-K_L-Qbgiu-j_w_QCKzthWBfnU-fThfEJocE-KSVvZayEwyYBTa7P0f2SPAloYpcPdM8odSINMowoilRB_ZVzDBGD6MA92aQz8kNZaMWokYzoxyb6C_UQJv_Sn0nJ/s1600/16144570.jpg" height="400" width="263" /></a></div>
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Seems like this book has some mixed reviews, it is either a love it or hate it kind of book. This took me a bit to get the feel of it, but pretty soon I was really enjoying it. It was just one of those books that I wanted to go on reading for a long time because I just really started loving everyone in it. I didn't really know where it was going to go at first and I thought that was refreshing, and it really added to a perfect coming of age feeling.<br />
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<span id="freeText424899881427478086"><i>Amber Vaughn is a good
girl. She sings solos at church, babysits her nephew after school, and
spends every Friday night hanging out at her best friend Devon’s house.
It’s only when Amber goes exploring in the woods near her home, singing
camp songs with the hikers she meets on the Appalachian Trail, that she
feels free—and when the bigger world feels just a little bit more in
reach.<br /><br />When Amber learns about an audition at the North Carolina
School of the Arts, she decides that her dream—to sing on bigger
stages—could also be her ticket to a new life. Devon’s older (and
unavailable) brother, Will, helps Amber prepare for her one chance to
try out for the hypercompetitive arts school. But the more time Will and
Amber spend together, the more complicated their relationship becomes .
. . and Amber starts to wonder if she’s such a good girl, after all.<br /><br />Then,
in an afternoon, the bottom drops out of her family’s world—and Amber
is faced with an impossible choice between her promise as an artist and
the people she loves. Amber always thought she knew what a good girl
would do. But between “right” and “wrong,” there’s a whole world of
possibilities.</i></span><br />
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<span id="freeText424899881427478086"> Read it and see what you think, or go on Goodreads and see that feelings on this book are all over the place <a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/16144570-no-place-to-fall?ac=1">HERE</a>.</span>Michellehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15527609789172868461noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2535884038910894265.post-5720304533329223122014-12-10T21:08:00.007-08:002014-12-10T21:08:47.598-08:00BEST OF 2014 GIVEAWAY HOP<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhfVx_H3N7lMc8qEQKhM09ON4dazsl8De-0MOKj0kZSKEhONNPgvvrQEvju8s-KxoxIc_LZ5jiBBC7pUF4BvvvzG9-_o-LQWnryZVABexyIMx9Ec2MgFPG4o5tYxXioll-r_ZxjZ9sv/s1600/best-of-20141.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhfVx_H3N7lMc8qEQKhM09ON4dazsl8De-0MOKj0kZSKEhONNPgvvrQEvju8s-KxoxIc_LZ5jiBBC7pUF4BvvvzG9-_o-LQWnryZVABexyIMx9Ec2MgFPG4o5tYxXioll-r_ZxjZ9sv/s1600/best-of-20141.jpg" height="267" width="400" /></a></div>
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I didn't read as much this year, and I also found myself revisiting many of my past favorite books when I felt like I needed to visit an old friend. So as I sat down to pick my favorite reads I realized I didn't have as many as I thought. In years past, I have come up with a top ten best of the year, but I think this year I am going to share a top five, with some honorable mentions. Because folks that is all I've got for you this year, but I think we've still got some winners on our hands.</div>
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<b>1. LOVE AND OTHER FOREIGN WORDS: ERIN McCAHAN</b></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh5ajtFon8h-KFHeRxpmDEk40h0HgAt8snuOIP2lnKaf4Su1flBUuna1H7cYuUPYfCMW5Ek2YEdHe19B-he7E3AeJVW4XYp29_wctF4DMTMWi6USYLAPISpTetrb9QHvXCkeIV-rc4M/s1600/18667800.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh5ajtFon8h-KFHeRxpmDEk40h0HgAt8snuOIP2lnKaf4Su1flBUuna1H7cYuUPYfCMW5Ek2YEdHe19B-he7E3AeJVW4XYp29_wctF4DMTMWi6USYLAPISpTetrb9QHvXCkeIV-rc4M/s1600/18667800.jpg" height="400" width="265" /></a></div>
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Erin McCahan wrote one of my all time favorite books in 2010, and I was so excited for her second book. It exceeded my expectations and I absolutely adored it.</div>
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<b>2. ISLA AND THE HAPPILY EVER AFTER: STEPHANIE PERKINS</b> </div>
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Another eagerly awaited release that knocked my socks off. I loved being back in Paris for Isla's love story.</div>
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<b>3. THE SHADOW PRINCE: BREE DESPAIN</b></div>
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Bree is one of my dearest, oldest friends and I can admit that I probably would never have read this book if that wasn't the case, because...well...it wouldn't seem like my thing. And yet, it is so good that it makes it my thing.</div>
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<b>4. THE VOW: JESSICA MARTINEZ</b></div>
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My favorite boy/girl friendship that I have ever read.</div>
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<b>5.TO ALL THE BOYS I'VE LOVED BEFORE</b></div>
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One of my favorite moments this year was meeting Jenny Han and having her sign my books. I have never had a author entertain me so much by read their work out loud. I can't wait for book #2 in this series!</div>
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<b>HONORABLE MENTIONS: </b></div>
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This year I also read and LOVED all of <span itemprop="author" itemscope="" itemtype="http://schema.org/Person"><a class="authorName" href="https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/6434584.Mhairi_McFarlane" itemprop="url"><span itemprop="name"></span></a>Mhairi McFarlane's books. I could not chose which one I liked best or maybe one of them might have made my list. I loved them all equally in their own special way. I also loved the two debut books that I featured in the post before this:<i> Open Road Summer</i> by Emery Lord and <i>Love and Other Unknown</i> Variables by Shannon Lee Alexander.</span></div>
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<span itemprop="author" itemscope="" itemtype="http://schema.org/Person"><span itemprop="author" itemscope="" itemtype="http://schema.org/Person">So my giveaway is simple, you can pick any book from my list and I will include Honorable Mentions as well. </span> </span></div>
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<span itemprop="author" itemscope="" itemtype="http://schema.org/Person"> </span> Michellehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15527609789172868461noreply@blogger.com46tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2535884038910894265.post-55299518355399627742014-12-03T18:39:00.000-08:002014-12-03T18:39:46.463-08:002014 DEBUT AUTHOR GIVEAWAY HOP<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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I think it is so important to support stand out debut authors because the publishing world is not as easy and wonderful as you might dream and hope for. Plus the pressure of writing book two? Yikes, this is why I don't write books and just read them, no thanks for me. :)<br />
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These are my two stand-out debut author books for the year and I really
hope to read more from these authors. I'm going to let the winner of
this giveaway chose which book interests them the most and I will send
it to you. How does that sound? I also hope you check these both out for
yourselves and see what you think!<br />
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Michellehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15527609789172868461noreply@blogger.com15tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2535884038910894265.post-59163382969203325092014-11-30T19:17:00.000-08:002014-11-30T19:17:23.106-08:00IT'S NOT ME IT'S YOU: MHAIRI MCFARLANE<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNyHn84IzVedcjul9FWrfk5la5Hmgd-0phLEkTiwad7LeOUyvsIdOu_SDsygJGfaaZMehp2xoUYMKkxFmxoVqKkQscU2BldrDTc3vM4jGvbtvEXr2n0CKs1uxRdKHmX32CaifSVK-V/s1600/23269575.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNyHn84IzVedcjul9FWrfk5la5Hmgd-0phLEkTiwad7LeOUyvsIdOu_SDsygJGfaaZMehp2xoUYMKkxFmxoVqKkQscU2BldrDTc3vM4jGvbtvEXr2n0CKs1uxRdKHmX32CaifSVK-V/s1600/23269575.jpg" height="400" width="252" /></a></div>
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How delightful are the characters in Mhairi McFarlane's books? I can't even tell you. Three books now and I have been delighted by all of her characters. Her writing style in this book is the same as in her previous two. She writes a TON of little asides that go way over my head. However, her characters shine and make me want to read and read and read and then cry when there is no more to read. </div>
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<b>BOOK BLURB:</b></div>
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<i><span class="elementTwo" id="freeText12429398721381660376">Delia Moss isn’t quite sure where she went wrong.<br /><br />When she proposed and discovered her boyfriend was sleeping with someone else – she thought it was her fault.<br /><br />When she realised life would never be the same again – she thought it was her fault.<br /><br />And when he wanted her back life nothing had changed – Delia started to wonder if perhaps she was not to blame…<br /><br />From
Newcastle to London and back again, with dodgy jobs, eccentric bosses
and annoyingly handsome journalists thrown in, Delia must find out where
her old self went – and if she can ever get her back.</span></i></div>
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<span class="elementTwo" id="freeText12429398721381660376">You can read more about it <a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/23269575-it-s-not-me-it-s-you">HERE</a>. </span><span class="elementTwo" id="freeText12429398721381660376">T</span><span class="elementTwo" id="freeText12429398721381660376">hank you Edelweiss for the review copy. </span><i><span class="elementTwo" id="freeText12429398721381660376"><br /></span></i></div>
Michellehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15527609789172868461noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2535884038910894265.post-90426929455627101632014-11-06T08:20:00.001-08:002014-11-06T08:20:44.503-08:00I'LL GIVE YOU THE SUN: JANDY NELSON<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgGr4FaF0jrcDUXgMDba1ZPiUtoJ3IB_AHbGvd7V_pZKEg9UOmxCbH19vFZLfpv3PqfKAdudHkvdI9spjbGBYUqisCFwcFuPIwyGAYbtNLj16XTaxm42gTkW8sLFjf1XTp1jW8iQoh9/s1600/20820994.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgGr4FaF0jrcDUXgMDba1ZPiUtoJ3IB_AHbGvd7V_pZKEg9UOmxCbH19vFZLfpv3PqfKAdudHkvdI9spjbGBYUqisCFwcFuPIwyGAYbtNLj16XTaxm42gTkW8sLFjf1XTp1jW8iQoh9/s1600/20820994.jpg" height="400" width="263" /></a></div>
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When you love a book like I loved Jandy Nelson's <i>The Sky is Everywhere</i>, you can get a nervous fluttery feeling in your tummy when you finally have your hands on her second book a whole 4 and a half years later after you feel in love with her writing.<br />
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In <i>I'll Give you the Sun</i>, she clearly proves that she is lives in kind of an author land of beautiful writing that is not easily visited by anyone else who writes books. This book is so beautifully written, and that you cannot argue with. It is well thought out and smart. You can see in the first few pages why it took Nelson years to write another book. But did I love it? Maybe.<br />
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I had a few issues with it, the main one being I wish she had made the characters at least one or even two years older. Sometimes it just felt too mature to believe the characters were as young as they were supposed to be. Then, even though it was pretty much done perfectly, I didn't like the past/present time switch. I rarely do like any type of voice change or time change because I just like to keep reading the story I'm reading. In this, each time I had to switch to the brother or sister I was annoyed. Lastly, I thought maybe the writing was too pretty and perfect. I know, hard to imagine having a problem with something being too pretty or perfect, but there were so many beautifully writen lines and descriptions I sometimes couldn't digest them because it was like I said...just TOO much.<br />
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So if I had to pick, I would still go with preferring <i>The Sky is Everywhere</i>. But I can't imagine anyone not feeling something wonderful by reading this. And I wish and hope and pray that I don't have to wait another 5 years for her next book, but if I do I know it will be worth the wait.<br />
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<b>BOOK BLURB:</b><br />
<i><span class="elementTwo" id="freeText1902274317285109333">Jude
and her twin brother, Noah, are incredibly close. At thirteen, isolated
Noah draws constantly and is falling in love with the charismatic boy
next door, while daredevil Jude cliff-dives and wears red-red lipstick
and does the talking for both of them. But three years later, Jude and
Noah are barely speaking. Something has happened to wreck the twins in
different and dramatic ways . . . until Jude meets a cocky, broken,
beautiful boy, as well as someone else—an even more unpredictable new
force in her life. The early years are Noah's story to tell. The later
years are Jude's. What the twins don't realize is that they each have
only half the story, and if they could just find their way back to one
another, they’d have a chance to remake their world.<br /><br /> This radiant novel from the acclaimed, award-winning author of <em>The Sky Is Everywhere</em> will leave you breathless and teary and laughing—often all at once.</span></i><br />
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<span class="elementTwo" id="freeText1902274317285109333">Read more about it <a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/20820994-i-ll-give-you-the-sun">HERE</a>. </span>Michellehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15527609789172868461noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2535884038910894265.post-80932724828270117472014-11-03T12:37:00.000-08:002014-11-03T12:40:07.592-08:00LOVE AND OTHER UNKNOWN VARIABLES: SHANNON LEE ALEXANDER<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhNHUIQeTYkIvT1k_xxXAv885Scblcxsis0u6URzB1Z2G0qB984fbuVNFqpEaz4ysAn8uKC3PMw5-N4mi5A4o8G25Bu0rJy7kze9Zbm3tpk3caGvCro3RgyXAyvVMo5-H6j5PcIy6-5/s1600/20757521.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhNHUIQeTYkIvT1k_xxXAv885Scblcxsis0u6URzB1Z2G0qB984fbuVNFqpEaz4ysAn8uKC3PMw5-N4mi5A4o8G25Bu0rJy7kze9Zbm3tpk3caGvCro3RgyXAyvVMo5-H6j5PcIy6-5/s1600/20757521.jpg" height="400" width="266" /></a></div>
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Read this book if you have ever wondered what it would be like to be loved, adored, worshiped, and have your spirited lifted by a geeky boy. Our hero in this male POV novel is so stinking loveable and likeable and funny and charming that absolutely nothing could have happened in this book and I would have still enjoyed it. One of my favorite heads to be in as a reader ever.<br />
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<b>BOOK BLURB:</b><br />
<i><span class="elementTwo" id="freeText7990532205024013747">Charlie
Hanson has a clear vision of his future. A senior at Brighton School of
Mathematics and Science, he knows he’ll graduate, go to MIT, and
inevitably discover solutions to the universe’s greatest unanswered
questions. He’s that smart. But Charlie’s future blurs the moment he
reaches out to touch the tattoo on a beautiful girl’s neck. <br /><br />The
future has never seemed very kind to Charlotte Finch, so she’s counting
on the present. She’s not impressed by the strange boy at the donut
shop—until she learns he’s a student at Brighton where her sister has
just taken a job as the English teacher. With her encouragement, Charlie
orchestrates the most effective prank campaign in Brighton history.
But, in doing so, he puts his own future in jeopardy. <br /><br />By the
time he learns she's ill—and that the pranks were a way to distract Ms.
Finch from Charlotte’s illness—Charlotte’s gravitational pull is too
great to overcome. Soon he must choose between the familiar formulas
he’s always relied on or the girl he’s falling for (at far more than 32
feet per second squared).</span></i><br />
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<span class="elementTwo" id="freeText7990532205024013747">You can read more about it <a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/20757521-love-and-other-unknown-variables">HERE</a>.</span><br />
<br />Michellehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15527609789172868461noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2535884038910894265.post-21744876144224742832014-10-14T13:57:00.002-07:002014-10-14T13:57:31.279-07:00ONE PLUS ONE: JOJO MOYES<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhdXwsMSxiRTTudAnwHYm4Md7n66p5C5F5ADj-B-uczg9Mhs9J_H8LZL9B5cra_QHpWlpXQAaVlsFt-X6ZR696rnSz4UuNaDOHwoLjGmHWKYgAdbWsTdLtLHMb1dToKp0eVFSV0N_TQ/s1600/18693716.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhdXwsMSxiRTTudAnwHYm4Md7n66p5C5F5ADj-B-uczg9Mhs9J_H8LZL9B5cra_QHpWlpXQAaVlsFt-X6ZR696rnSz4UuNaDOHwoLjGmHWKYgAdbWsTdLtLHMb1dToKp0eVFSV0N_TQ/s1600/18693716.jpg" height="400" width="265" /></a></div>
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This is the kind of book that I just see a lot of people liking. It just has these fun, loveable, flawed characters that are just interesting to read about. It isn't a "dumb" book, but it isn't isn't a hard read either. It is just that kind of novel that sucks you in and entertains you and makes you believe in happy endings despite the crap of life. </div>
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<b>BOOK BLURB:</b></div>
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<i><span id="freeText2123522739264075655">Suppose your life sucks.
A lot. Your husband has done a vanishing act, your teenage stepson is
being bullied and your math whiz daughter has a once-in-a-lifetime
opportunity that you can’t afford to pay for. That’s Jess’s life in a
nutshell—until an unexpected knight-in-shining-armor offers to rescue
them. Only Jess’s knight turns out to be Geeky Ed, the obnoxious tech
millionaire whose vacation home she happens to clean. But Ed has big
problems of his own, and driving the dysfunctional family to the Math
Olympiad feels like his first unselfish act in ages . . . maybe ever.</span></i></div>
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<span id="freeText2123522739264075655">Tiny bit of swearing, a little romance. Overall, not overly adult in nature. </span></div>
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<span id="freeText2123522739264075655">You can read more about it <a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/18693716-one-plus-one?ac=1">HERE</a>.</span></div>
Michellehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15527609789172868461noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2535884038910894265.post-61330638093843705332014-10-06T18:25:00.000-07:002014-10-06T18:25:02.579-07:00JUST LIKE THE MOVIES: KELLY FIORE<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgfDCjpR5DRrqdqKbQE2vWkisZjGpC7BosC4UGuOCjvFR0cbYAtmgDNwmzjJafvQwTpaSemrL-o0wLRmY1SRN03ZUThFOqRQtlS9I5eocSIq0OkwZmVwcJhLM1CPP08goj0k-Lf2ZcE/s1600/18018509.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgfDCjpR5DRrqdqKbQE2vWkisZjGpC7BosC4UGuOCjvFR0cbYAtmgDNwmzjJafvQwTpaSemrL-o0wLRmY1SRN03ZUThFOqRQtlS9I5eocSIq0OkwZmVwcJhLM1CPP08goj0k-Lf2ZcE/s1600/18018509.jpg" height="400" width="268" /></a></div>
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This isn't a life-altering, earth shattering kind of book. But it is sweet, clean, and pretty adorable. It is just fun, and I like just fun books...do you?<br />
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<b>BOOK BLURB:</b><br />
<i><span id="freeText5353579649736241147">Pretty and popular track
star Marijke Monti is confident about almost everything – she’s got
great friends, a great family, and she’s on her way to the State Track
Championship. In fact, the only thing Marijke isn’t confident about is
her relationship with Tommy Lawson. <br /><br />Lily Spencer has spent her
entire high school career preparing for the future – she’s participated
in every extracurricular activity and volunteer committee she could.
But, at home, she watches her mother go on date after date with
dud-dudes, still searching for “the one.” Lily realizes that she’s about
to graduate and still hasn’t even had a boyfriend. <br /><br />While they
live on each other’s periphery at school, Lily and Marijke never seemed
to have much in common; but, after a coincidental meeting at the movie
theater, Lily gets an idea – why can’t life be like a movie? Why can’t
they set up their perfect romantic situations, just in time for their
senior prom, using movie techniques?<br /><br />Once the girls come up with
the perfect plans, they commit themselves to being secret cohorts and,
just like in the movies, drama ensues.</span></i><br />
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<span id="freeText5353579649736241147">Read more about it <a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/18018509-just-like-the-movies?ac=1">HERE</a>. </span>Michellehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15527609789172868461noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2535884038910894265.post-72539761646264902302014-09-19T08:11:00.000-07:002014-09-19T08:11:49.998-07:00ANATOMY OF A MISFIT: ANDREA PORTES<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiaZfQFgqRg-n1yJ6jZl2COP8qQzZqzoHe_WDnORXmPvbCCnUs1U7ETGd_m2WOT54oDs2dLiDNeAt_ooX-20sJ_7yOvE9IDb3r5l6TuiHShqVNxG6bFW6p5Y5eEM9oVu6rCeNpGSMlL/s1600/18340210.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiaZfQFgqRg-n1yJ6jZl2COP8qQzZqzoHe_WDnORXmPvbCCnUs1U7ETGd_m2WOT54oDs2dLiDNeAt_ooX-20sJ_7yOvE9IDb3r5l6TuiHShqVNxG6bFW6p5Y5eEM9oVu6rCeNpGSMlL/s1600/18340210.jpg" height="400" width="262" /></a></div>
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I've been going back and forth debating on if I should put this on my blog. In the end I can't deny that I really enjoyed this and honestly once I got into it I was wishing it was much longer. At first, I was NOT digging it. The style was a little run-on-sentency (yeah, I know that is not a "real" thing), and our main girl was NOT likable. But something that I couldn't put my finger on kept me reading. Pretty soon I was just into the book. I thought it was different and interesting. And suddenly our unlikeable heroine was pretty darn likable to me. </div>
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Now, at a point close to the end I was wondering how this was all going to go down. I'm of course not going to spoil anything but I will say this: The very ending is one of the most satisfying endings I have ever read. </div>
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My one issue with this book is that Portes says at the end that she wrote a book for herself at that age. And, I'm not sure it is really appropriate for a 15 or 16 year old. The content aside (which is pretty harsh), it just had a feel of book about teens written for adults. It might be the nostalgia factor since it took place when Trapper Keepers were in, or it was just that it had a more mature writing feel; one that I am not sure a teenager would get. The things our MC says are kind of above her years in sass and cultural references, and I am sorry but I just couldn't believe she was only 15. However, she is a character that is trying to act older, and sometimes the vulnerability of her age shines through, and that is when I liked her the most. </div>
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There is a ton of swearing with a ton of casual Lord's name in vain swearing. Lots of talk teens drinking, and sleeping around, but nothing in detail.</div>
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BOOK BLURB:</div>
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<i><span id="freeText14423513664876973910">Outside, Anika Dragomir
is all lip gloss and blond hair—the third most popular girl in school.
Inside, she’s a freak: a mix of dark thoughts, diabolical plots, and, if
local chatter is to be believed, vampire DNA (after all, her father is
Romanian). But she keeps it under wraps to maintain her social position.
One step out of line and Becky Vilhauer, first most popular girl in
school, will make her life hell. So when former loner Logan McDonough
shows up one September hotter, smarter, and more mysterious than ever,
Anika knows she can’t get involved. It would be insane to throw away her
social safety for a nerd. So what if that nerd is now a
black-leather-jacket-wearing dreamboat, and his loner status is clearly
the result of his troubled home life? Who cares if the right girl could
help him with all that, maybe even save him from it? Who needs him when
Jared Kline, the bad boy every girl dreams of, is asking her on dates?
Who?<br /><br /><i>Anatomy of a Misfit</i> is <i>Mean Girls</i> meets <i>The Perks of Being a Wallflower</i>,
and Anika’s hilariously deadpan delivery will appeal to readers for its
honesty and depth. The so-sad-it’s-funny high school setting will pull
readers in, but when the story’s dark foreboding gradually takes over,
the devastating penultimate tragedy hits like a punch to the gut.
Readers will ride the highs and lows alongside funny, flawed Anika —
from laughter to tears, and everything in between.</span></i></div>
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<span id="freeText14423513664876973910">You can read more about it <a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/18340210-anatomy-of-a-misfit?ac=1">HERE</a>. </span></div>
<br />Michellehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15527609789172868461noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2535884038910894265.post-79854373275653582582014-08-26T15:57:00.002-07:002014-08-26T15:57:56.754-07:00ISLA AND THE HAPPILY EVER AFTER<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEia7r8s2ly4IKcXBmflqzWRaNMjWni4eW1yyvG3ZKGQRneQEmtihgD9G01UzcfvRuf7o0z0MS8A_QiwBTP82wt83k0cVzLJ2UHg588sVXRWpJXBb68HyvM7aReVIQCluhMqAU9W_lXR/s1600/9627755.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEia7r8s2ly4IKcXBmflqzWRaNMjWni4eW1yyvG3ZKGQRneQEmtihgD9G01UzcfvRuf7o0z0MS8A_QiwBTP82wt83k0cVzLJ2UHg588sVXRWpJXBb68HyvM7aReVIQCluhMqAU9W_lXR/s1600/9627755.jpg" height="400" width="265" /></a></div>
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So we all waited for a long time for this one and I am happy to say that in my opinion it was worth the wait. I loved this from the very first page and I LOVED returning to beautiful Paris for another year of higher education.</div>
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I loved Isla, I loved Josh, I just enjoyed this. It isn't as perfect as <i>Anna and the French Kiss</i>, but it was great in it's own way. It is a more mature book than both Anna and Lola content wise just to give readers a heads up. </div>
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<b>BOOK BLURB:</b></div>
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<span id="freeText8934562383704580096"><i>From the glittering
streets of Manhattan to the moonlit rooftops of Paris, falling in love
is easy for hopeless dreamer Isla and introspective artist Josh. But as
they begin their senior year in France, Isla and Josh are quickly forced
to confront the heartbreaking reality that happily-ever-afters aren’t
always forever.<br /><br />Their romantic journey is skillfully intertwined
with those of beloved couples Anna and Étienne and Lola and Cricket,
whose paths are destined to collide in a sweeping finale certain to
please fans old and ne</i>w.</span></div>
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<span id="freeText8934562383704580096">Read more about it <a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/9627755-isla-and-the-happily-ever-after?ac=1">HERE</a>. </span></div>
Michellehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15527609789172868461noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2535884038910894265.post-52322508743589858272014-07-30T17:34:00.000-07:002014-07-30T17:34:36.734-07:00HERE'S LOOKING AT YOU: MHAIRI MCFARLANE<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhLWA0e65Jq86Bmsn2uSt_u4d8Ptvc4pzWi4SPBZmEpgRr6LfM03rvl6Pjl6HevUUjX8Tj0knMatJadkUIeH2ER8XwBH6R782OKID_7khWrF2I-d1PmleOIIN1tUfUy40Bnmn_2PHNC/s1600/18140586.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhLWA0e65Jq86Bmsn2uSt_u4d8Ptvc4pzWi4SPBZmEpgRr6LfM03rvl6Pjl6HevUUjX8Tj0knMatJadkUIeH2ER8XwBH6R782OKID_7khWrF2I-d1PmleOIIN1tUfUy40Bnmn_2PHNC/s1600/18140586.jpg" height="320" width="208" /></a></div>
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Yesterday I was talking with my friend Suzy about this book and I looked on Goodreads to see what I had written about it and I realized I had forgotten to review it! Do you ever do that? I'm sure I do it more than I realize, I read too much.<br />
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With this particular book, I think I forgot because I planned on sharing how much I enjoyed it on the blog, and I kept putting it off and I forgot. Well enough about my scatter brain self and now on to why I liked this book.<br />
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McFarlane's writing style is pretty specific to her. She likes to make lots of jokes that honestly distract me quite a bit. But I like her stories and honest characters so much I don't mind being a tiny big distracted. If you are a British chick-lit fan (and if you actually read my blog you should try a few if you haven't read any before), then I would read Mhairi's first book <i>You Had Me At Hello</i> and then if you love it then you will probably love this too.<br />
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<b>BOOK BLURB:</b><br />
<i><span id="freeText8293325422544695126">The new novel from the
bestselling author of You Had Me At Hello. What if the last person you
wanted to see was the person you needed? After the runaway success of
You Had Me At Hello, Mhairi McFarlane is back with a new cast of
characters in her second book, Here's Looking At You. In essence it's an
ugly duckling tale. Our heroine Aureliana returns to school after
fifteen years for a reunion. School doesn't hold happy memories for her,
as being a roly poly Italian (known as the Italian Galleon), and always
armed with a Tupperware full of pungent Mediterranean food, she was
bullied incessantly throughout her years there. Now in her 30s,
Aureliana wants to put the past behind her once and for all and face up
to the bullies who made her life hell. But she is much-changed from the
girl she once was - all curves and because I'm worth it hair - and no
one recognises her when she arrives. Losing her bottle, she backs out on
her plan for revenge and slinks off, hoping never to be reminded of her
years at school again. But fate gets in the way, and after the reunion
her path keeps crossing with James - major hunk and Aureliana's major
crush back at school. But alas, as a cronie to the bullies, Aureliana to
this day believes that his beautiful exterior hides an ugly interior.
As they continue to cross paths a love/hate relationship ensues until
eventually something shifts, and they both start to discover what the
person underneath is really like...Full of Mhairi's trademark laugh out
loud humour, Here's Looking At You is a novel about facing your demons
and being happy with who you really are.</span></i><br />
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<span id="freeText8293325422544695126">You can read more about this book <a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/18140586-here-s-looking-at-you">HERE</a>. </span><i><span id="freeText8293325422544695126"><br /></span></i><br />
Michellehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15527609789172868461noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2535884038910894265.post-37812500949543233082014-07-28T15:28:00.000-07:002014-07-28T15:28:16.687-07:00WILDFLOWER: ALECIA WHITAKER<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh4U9ah4Tt4tDvvc24NBPW1bSQ3SHOXcd2FjklofEjO8CG_lSjSjCKn6yU8-SwMkNPWHYcfzgvzbwb88_vtjJ0-SDqxq8-CEZPipjFjfp3ISI0xt6PY_cmgnUiP9oUhiG-YLJbWMfiF/s1600/18699459.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh4U9ah4Tt4tDvvc24NBPW1bSQ3SHOXcd2FjklofEjO8CG_lSjSjCKn6yU8-SwMkNPWHYcfzgvzbwb88_vtjJ0-SDqxq8-CEZPipjFjfp3ISI0xt6PY_cmgnUiP9oUhiG-YLJbWMfiF/s1600/18699459.jpg" height="400" width="270" /></a></div>
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I loved Alecia's first book <i>The Queen of Kentucky</i>. It was adorable and sweet and one of the few younger coming of age stories that I actually liked. I wanted it to be a series because I could have read about the main character for much longer than one book. </div>
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Because of this I was really looking forward to Wildflower, and I am very excited to realize (now that I am done reading it) that it will actually be a series. The only problem I had with this book was I thought the pacing was a bit off, but then when I realized that there was going to be more books with these characters I was ok with it, and I am excited to read them too. </div>
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These are great, clean, sweet books.</div>
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<b>BOOK BLURB:</b></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span id="freeText5908205213999899388"><i>The best songs come from broken hearts.<br /><br />Sixteen-year-old
Bird Barrett has grown up on the road, singing backup in her family's
bluegrass band, and playing everywhere from Nashville, Tennesee to
Nowhere, Oklahoma. One fateful night, Bird fills in for her dad by
singing lead, and a scout in the audience offers her a spotlight all her
own.<br /><br />Soon Bird is caught up in a whirlwind of songwriting
meetings, recording sessions, and music video shoots. Her first single
hits the top twenty, and suddenly fans and paparazzi are around every
corner. She's even caught the eye of her longtime crush, fellow roving
musician Adam Dean. With Bird's star on the rise, though, tradition and
ambition collide. Can Bird break out while staying true to her roots?<br /><br />In a world of glamour and gold records, a young country music star finds her voice</i>.</span></div>
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<span id="freeText5908205213999899388"> </span><span id="freeText5908205213999899388"> </span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span id="freeText5908205213999899388">You can read more about it <a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/18699459-wildflower?from_search=true">HERE</a>. </span></div>
Michellehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15527609789172868461noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2535884038910894265.post-48413831134219195742014-07-14T15:02:00.002-07:002014-07-14T15:03:30.520-07:00THE BEST THING I NEVER HAD: ERIN LAWLESS<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjTCgZ1VxdCdCK8ikN24GdBF21iKRUItm8X3gDbpr4H9euRIiZ_2_u7Dns2AnyxbGOp3aKlsGpLAv1QfUTNOIK8PLjyK_R5ayQwInzE9K_2HbJ0WltwCc5exs6-62I27QrtG9LDqFq7/s1600/18798691.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjTCgZ1VxdCdCK8ikN24GdBF21iKRUItm8X3gDbpr4H9euRIiZ_2_u7Dns2AnyxbGOp3aKlsGpLAv1QfUTNOIK8PLjyK_R5ayQwInzE9K_2HbJ0WltwCc5exs6-62I27QrtG9LDqFq7/s1600/18798691.jpg" height="400" width="262" /></a></div>
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I love British Chick-Lit. Why is it better to me than what we have in the US? I don't know maybe I just have a secret dream of living in London. Anyway, this one is a bit confusing at first. There aren't too many characters in this book, but in my opinion way too many are introduced right away and it took me a while to get them straight. In fact I almost started a cheat sheet so I could remember who was who. Also, the writing style might throw some people off. It just skips from one moment to the next and can take a bit to get into the flow. But I dug it pretty fast and just loved it. </div>
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Definitely a go to book if you loved <span id="freeTextContainer12203890222132750224">Mhairi McFarlane’s <i>You Had Me at Hello. </i>Plus here is some good news. It is only 99 cents on Amazon! How awesome is that?!</span></div>
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<b><span id="freeTextContainer12203890222132750224"><br /></span></b></div>
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<b><span id="freeTextContainer12203890222132750224">BOOK BLURB:</span></b></div>
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<br />
<i><span id="freeText12203890222132750224">Miles and Nicky are
getting married. Unfortunately, their wedding party is a tangle of
ex-housemates, ex-friends and ex-lovers. So this wedding isn’t just a
wedding, it’s a reunion. Can anything be salvaged from the past? And
what really happened between them all, back at university?</span></i></div>
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<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span id="freeText12203890222132750224">Read more about it <a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/18798691-the-best-thing-i-never-had?from_search=true">here</a>. Thanks NetGalley for the read.</span><i><span id="freeText12203890222132750224"> </span></i></div>
Michellehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15527609789172868461noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2535884038910894265.post-7779154124046083862014-07-10T11:06:00.000-07:002014-07-10T11:06:28.171-07:00PIVOT POINT: KASIE WEST<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgu1nr9_BYogGGHE0J7vT364Mddxnzi1f3Snqe5a_duFcNBO8BzU6Vrj7mF4IkN86c0Bl4PmpbQZPAqDhcMhvlxWeadEl88Gjp4-zcz-gVlFyjC_zDLYOLKpM0-T7JXG5hH4_MHuBfg/s1600/11988046.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgu1nr9_BYogGGHE0J7vT364Mddxnzi1f3Snqe5a_duFcNBO8BzU6Vrj7mF4IkN86c0Bl4PmpbQZPAqDhcMhvlxWeadEl88Gjp4-zcz-gVlFyjC_zDLYOLKpM0-T7JXG5hH4_MHuBfg/s1600/11988046.jpg" height="400" width="264" /></a></div>
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<div style="text-align: justify;">
I don't think I would have ever read these if I hadn't loved Kasie West's contemporary book <i>The Distance Between Us</i> and loved it. That would have been a shame because these are really smart and totally great. </div>
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When I finished the last page of the second book I closed my copy and said out loud: "Wow that was clever." Which I didn't think once while I was reading because I was too entertained to notice how clever and well thought out this whole story was. So on top of a great premise, the writing is fun, clever and guess what? It is completely clean for you moms that have little (or not so little) readers in your home. </div>
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Normally I HATE alternate reality stories. In fact I just read one (or attempted to read it) and I couldn't keep the different stories straight and I hated reading a story that kept getting interrupted by the other reality. In <i>Pivot Point</i>, the interruption of the stories in this is a minor offense because both story lines were equally good and different enough to keep me from going crazy trying to keep them straight. </div>
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<b>BOOK BLURB:</b> (For book one <b>only</b> because the blurb for book two contains spoilers for book one!)</div>
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<span id="freeText9111722834180387127"><em>Knowing the outcome doesn’t always make a choice easier . . .</em><br /><i><br />Addison
Coleman’s life is one big “What if?” As a Searcher, whenever Addie is
faced with a choice, she can look into the future and see both outcomes.
It’s the ultimate insurance plan against disaster. Or so she thought.
When Addie’s parents ambush her with the news of their divorce, she has
to pick who she wants to live with—her father, who is leaving the
paranormal compound to live among the “Norms,” or her mother, who is
staying in the life Addie has always known. Addie loves her life just as
it is, so her answer should be easy. One Search six weeks into the
future proves it’s not.<br /><br />In one potential future, Addie is
adjusting to life outside the Compound as the new girl in a Norm high
school where she meets Trevor, a cute, sensitive artist who understands
her. In the other path, Addie is being pursued by the hottest guy in
school—but she never wanted to be a quarterback’s girlfriend. When
Addie’s father is asked to consult on a murder in the Compound, she’s
unwittingly drawn into a dangerous game that threatens everything she
holds dear. With love and loss in both lives, it all comes down to which
reality she’s willing to live through . . . and who she can’t live
without.</i></span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span id="freeText9111722834180387127">Be sure to check out Kasie's other books too. I haven't read <i>On The Fence</i> just yet, but I adored <i>The Distance Between Us. </i></span></div>
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<span id="freeText9111722834180387127">Find out more about Kasie and her books <a href="http://www.kasiewest.com/">HERE</a>. </span></div>
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Michellehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15527609789172868461noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2535884038910894265.post-34921069681612432312014-06-20T13:57:00.002-07:002014-07-10T11:12:05.878-07:00MIDSUMMER'S EVE GIVEAWAY HOP: SIGNED COPY OF TO ALL THE BOYS I'VE LOVED BEFORE<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiiAt0uJW_nmu-ML1JV166JOHOnidozBeuoHFFRaeMRQ4FjBEitjZ6GoTI4KxHVcq_FSwMOTgLk0yo4TaM-etgS92t3KAAddZAcHXR7k9aYkifQzypjeIm_Dn8bHT8oyxzHSy7g6EHs/s1600/Midsummers+Eve+Hop.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiiAt0uJW_nmu-ML1JV166JOHOnidozBeuoHFFRaeMRQ4FjBEitjZ6GoTI4KxHVcq_FSwMOTgLk0yo4TaM-etgS92t3KAAddZAcHXR7k9aYkifQzypjeIm_Dn8bHT8oyxzHSy7g6EHs/s1600/Midsummers+Eve+Hop.jpg" height="223" width="320" /></a></div>
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Jenny Han writes great summer reads. How would you like a copy of her newest book...SIGNED!
<a class="rafl" href="http://www.rafflecopter.com/rafl/display/c938b023/" id="rc-c938b023" rel="nofollow">a Rafflecopter giveaway</a>
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Michellehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15527609789172868461noreply@blogger.com59tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2535884038910894265.post-89839000730599230412014-05-31T11:14:00.000-07:002014-05-31T11:14:38.541-07:00LOVE AND OTHER FOREIGN WORDS: ERIN McCAHAN<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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This is the book I have been looking foward to for years, and I am not exaggerating YEARS. Erin's first book is featured along with my smiling kissy face in my goodreads photo, that is how much I loved her first book. I so want other people to find her work and love it too. I was equal parts excited and nervous to finally get this book in my hands...what if it just wasn't as good as her debut? I am happy to announce it was better.<br />
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So smart, so delightful, so special. I loved it. It featured my favorite kind of character which is a loveable and flawed person that thinks so differently from the rest of the boring world. It took me a bit to get the flow of the way she talks, but soon I couldn't get enough.<br />
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Also, I don't think I will ever think of the specific way I talk (or my language) the same after reading this book. I felt like I leaned a different life language just by reading it. <br />
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<b>BOOK BLURB:</b><br />
<span id="freeText5285197428163005226"><em>Can anyone be truly herself--or truly in love--in a language that's not her own?</em><br /><br />
<i>Sixteen-year-old Josie lives her life in translation. She speaks High
School, College, Friends, Boyfriends, Break-ups, and even the language
of Beautiful Girls. But none of these is her native tongue--the only
people who speak that are her best friend Stu and her sister Kate. So
when Kate gets engaged to an epically insufferable guy, how can Josie
see it as anything but the mistake of a lifetime? Kate is determined to
bend Josie to her will for the wedding; Josie is determined to break
Kate and her fiancé up. As battles are waged over secrets and semantics,
Josie is forced to examine her feelings for the boyfriend who says he
loves her, the sister she loves but doesn't always like, and the best
friend who hasn't said a word--at least not in a language Josie
understands.</i></span><br />
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<span id="freeText5285197428163005226">Just like with her previous book it is a clean and sweet read along with being smart and funny. Please check it out! You can read more about it <a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/18667800-love-and-other-foreign-words?ac=1">HERE</a>. </span><br />
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Michellehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15527609789172868461noreply@blogger.com1