Nevermore

Nevermore
Author: Kelly Creagh
pages: 543
Publication date:August 31 2010


Summary:
Cheerleader Isobel Lanley is horrified when she is paired with Varen Nethers for an English project, which is due—so unfair—on the day of the rival game. Cold and aloof, sardonic and sharp-tongued, Varen makes it clear he’d rather not have anything to do with her either. But when Isobel discovers strange writing in his journal, she can’t help but give this enigmatic boy with the piercing eyes another look.

Soon, Isobel finds herself making excuses to be with Varen. Steadily pulled away from her friends and her possessive boyfriend, Isobel ventures deeper and deeper into the dream world Varen has created through the pages of his notebook, a realm where the terrifying stories of Edgar Allan Poe come to life.

As her world begins to unravel around her, Isobel discovers that dreams, like words, hold more power than she ever imagined, and that the most frightening realities are those of the mind. Now she must find a way to reach Varen before he is consumed by the shadows of his own nightmares.

His life depends on it



Review:
Love this book so much, I have been stuck in a book rut lately, but after reading this book I’m back on track, I couldn’t stop myself from reading this. There wasn’t anything I didn’t like about this book!
This story is so unique and different; I love the characters and the mystery of the book.

Isobel and Varen are paired up for an English project; at first it’s awkward and not at all fun but then after a few times with meeting up with Varen, Isobel starts feeling protective and she might just have a crush on Varen, soon after her jerk of a boyfriend threatens Varen and vandalizes the place where he works Isobel calls it off for good, she drops all her friends and even quits the cheerleading squad for awhile.

As Varen and her get closer strange things keep happening, her whole life gets thrown upside down. She’s no longer popular Isobel, she’s a freak, and then Gwen befriends her.

I really loved Gwen, she was my favorite character, she made me laugh so many times and I wish I had her personality. Varen is secretive, mysterious, dark, and handsome. I wish I could actually meet him in real life, he seems to keep all his emotions inside, he doesn’t show any on his face that’s for sure, and he seems like a sweet guy, underneath all that angst.

I was so mad at the end, I read that big thick book, entranced in every page and then I get to the last few pages and my jaw drops, I had no idea there wasn’t going to be a happy ending, thankfully there’s going to be a second book, and thankfully I read it close to when the second one comes out!

Kelly created a magical book, with some paranormal aspects, lots and lots of suspense and thrill, romance and drama, not to mention wanting to punch her ex-boyfriend in the face and then feeling bad for him near the end, *sigh* I am in love with this book.

5/5 stars

Don't Breathe A Word

Don't Breathe a Word
Author: Holly Cupala
pages: 304
publication date: January 3 2012

Summary:
From asthma, which has nearly claimed her life. From her parents, who will do anything to keep that from happening. From dangerous Asher, who is smothering her from the inside out.

Joy can take her cruel words until the night they go too far.

Now, Joy will leave everything behind to find the one who has offered his help, a homeless boy called Creed. She will become someone else. She will learn to survive. She will breathe…if only she can get to Creed before it’s too late.

Set against the gritty backdrop of Seattle’s streets and a cast of characters with secrets of their own, Holly Cupala’s powerful new novel explores the hurt of bullying, the meaning of family, and how far a girl will go to discover her own strength.




Review:

 I had no idea this book was going to be so good; honestly I didn’t think it was going to be that tough of a subject.

I have read another one of Holly’s books and I liked it, but this one was amazing. I read it from start to finish in a couple of hours, and although it was such a tough subject and a tough book to read I couldn’t peel my eyes away from the words. I was in a trance wanting to know what would happen…. What the outcome could be.

I have read many books about runaway teens and homelessness but nothing has compared to this. This was so raw and real, it’s almost like the author actually experienced it herself.

It’s tough putting a book like this into words. Everything felt so real from the characters down to every last detail. I loved the characters changes, knowing their feelings and emotions, feeling their despair each day that they have to look for food and shelter.

I think that everyone who reads this book really has a different perspective on teen runaways and homelessness.  I know I sure do, it makes you say there half of it instead of looking at it in your own point of view.

I felt like the ending came together a little bit too well and too quick, but I was happy with the outcome and what happened to them in that little period.

If you’re looking for an emotional read then please pick up a copy of Don’t Breathe a Word. This book shows how the darkness turned into light and there incredible journey getting there. Holly did such an amazing job approaching the subject and I am excited to see what she comes out with next.

Eve

Eve
Author: Anna Carey
pages: 336
publication date: October 4 2011





Summary:
The year is 2032, sixteen years after a deadly virus—and the vaccine intended to protect against it—wiped out most of the earth’s population. The night before eighteen-year-old Eve’s graduation from her all-girls school she discovers what really happens to new graduates, and the horrifying fate that awaits her.

Fleeing the only home she’s ever known, Eve sets off on a long, treacherous journey, searching for a place she can survive. Along the way she encounters Caleb, a rough, rebellious boy living in the wild. Separated from men her whole life, Eve has been taught to fear them, but Caleb slowly wins her trust...and her heart. He promises to protect her, but when soldiers begin hunting them, Eve must choose between true love and her life




Review:

Eve is yet another outstanding dystopian novel that I have read and loved!

I can’t help but love most dystopian novels I read. And it seems 2011 is the year that they became the most popular. Every time I go to sit down and read them I get this giddy feeling and I get all excited.

Eve is a spectacular book, I love the main character, she is so strong and a great female lead. She is one of my fictional inspirations. She went to the end of the world to save herself and others and she fought for what she believed in. There are so many characteristics of Eve I would love to have in myself. Strong and upbeat and willing to sacrifice herself for the ones she loves.

There was so much action and unexpected twists in this book I wish I could savor every moment.

I always look forward to see author’s intake on the future, and in dystopian novels they have the creativeness to create that future for us each and every time. It’s like look at the world different each and every time you dive into one.

Anna’s writing was so clean and fresh. She did a fantastic job in bringing the characters and dystopian world together. The world they live in is so scary and exciting; the plot really surprised me, especially near the end. I definitely did not see that coming. I’m almost disappointed in the ending because I wanted to know what would happen, but now we wait.

If you’re looking for a thrilling new romantic dystopian pick up Eve as soon as possible! I was hooked from the first few words down the very last word. Eve is one of many favorites of 2011!

5/5 stars

Awake at Dawn

Awake at Dawn
Author: C.C. Hunter
pages: 383
publication date: October 11 2011





Summary:
Now that she’s settled in at Shadow Falls Camp, Kylie Galen’s determined to discover the extent of her supernatural abilities. But with a ghost insisting someone Kylie loves is about die, a rogue vampire on a murdering rampage, and her sixth sense telling her someone is watching her, Kylie’s quest for answers is quickly put on hold.

To make matters worse, just when she’s about to give her heart to Derek, a half-fairy, he starts pulling away. When Lucas, a werewolf with whom Kylie shares a secret past, returns, Kylie’s feels more conflicted than ever. Her weekend with her mom should have been the just the break Kylie needs, but it turns out to be her breaking point. Someone from the dark side of the supernatural world has plans for Kylie--and it'll take all her resources to get back to Shadow Falls alive...




Review:

I am in love with the first book in this series “Born at Midnight” I just could not get enough of it. I had to have the second one. So when I got an ARC of the second one it took everything in me not to run out the middle of the street skipping and singing at the top of my lungs. That’s how much I loved the first one.

I immediately dug into the second one eager to start off where the first one started, but I had never been so disappointed in my life. I don’t know why I didn’t enjoy it as much. Maybe I was too excited for it, or maybe the first one was just too good ;)

In the first one we had that delicious love triangle where you were rooting for your favorite boy, but I felt like the boys were lacking in this book. I didn’t feel like there were enough of them. It was all focused on Kylie, and it lacked passion and that love triangle that we had in the first one.

And there wasn’t as much mystery in the second one. The second one pretty much solved all the mysteries of the first one and I thought that some of the mysteries should have stayed mysteries till the last book.

Awake at Dawn was a bit slow at time, then we would get to a faster paced part and then it got slow again. I am not just hating on this book, I did like it, just 50% less than the first book.

C.C. Hunter is a brilliant author, and even though this was a little disappointing, I am still highly anticipating the next book in the series. Can’t wait to see what unexpected twists will come next.

3/5 stars

And the winner is.........

The Winner of the Alternate Ending contest is.......

Charla!!!

I sent an email out, if she doesn't respond in 48 hours I will pick a new winner.


Thanks everyone for posting.

Alyssa
@thebookblogexperience

I will announce the winners...........

I am going out of town for the rest of this weekend wont be back till Sunday, I will post the winner of the alternate ending contest craze post on Sunday evening.


-Alyssa

Want to go private

Want to go Private
Author: Sarah Darer Littman
Pages:330
publication date: August 1 2011





Summary:
Abby and Luke chat online. They've never met. But they are going to. Soon.

Abby is starting high school—it should be exciting, so why doesn't she care? Everyone tells her to "make an effort," but why can't she just be herself? Abby quickly feels like she's losing a grip on her once-happy life. The only thing she cares about anymore is talking to Luke, a guy she met online, who understands. It feels dangerous and yet good to chat with Luke—he is her secret, and she's his. Then Luke asks her to meet him, and she does. But Luke isn't who he says he is. When Abby goes missing, everyone is left to put together the pieces. If they don't, they'll never see Abby again.




Review:

All I can say is WOW. Want to go Private is such an intense and heavy read; I couldn’t stop reading the tragic story that Sarah has created.

Want to go Private is about a girl who meets a boy online, on a website where her and her best friend like to go on and hang out with each other, Then one day she meets a boy and they start talking in private chats.

In the few months that she’s talking with Luke, her home life gets more frustrating; her best friend is making friends with another girl. She feels like she’s losing everyone she loves. That’s where Luke comes in. He sweet talks her and makes her feel special and beautiful. Soon they grow past the just chatting stage.

Luke wants to meet Abby, she agrees and they drive off together. Abby is then reported missing and it’s up to her family and friends to help get her.

This book was very uncomfortable to read; at times I just was like really?? But this is the most realistic book I have read in a long time. I think this book should be handed out to every teenager. This shows you the dangers of internet predators, what it’s really like. And how even though they sweet talk you and make you feel special, they are just trapping you. 

I know this kind of stuff happens all over the world every day but I honestly don’t know how kids can be so stupid, I got frustrated with Abby because she trusted this guy. After everything he made her do. I just think she was a huge fool. I guess I was just raised to never EVER talk to strangers online, but I don’t understand anyone could fall for his crap.

I guess I understand why she did it…. But it’s still sickening. Anyways, I think Sarah hit it on the dot. This book was real and can really show teens what kinds of people are out there, and I hope it helps kids to understand the danger in this.

4/5 stars

Wonderstruck

Wonderstruck
Author: Brian Selznick
Pages: 639
publication date: September 13 2011






Summary:
Set fifty years apart, two independent stories—Ben's told in words and Rose's in pictures—weave back and forth with mesmerizing symmetry. How they unfold and ultimately intertwine will surprise you, challenge you, and leave you breathless with wonder.

Ever since his mom died, Ben feels lost.
At home with her father, Rose feels alone.

He is searching for someone, but he is not sure who.
She is searching for something, but she is not sure what.

When Ben finds a mysterious clue hidden in his mom's room,
When a tempting opportunity presents itself to Rose

Both children risk everything to find what's missing.

With over 460 pages of original drawings and playing with the form he invented in his trailblazing debut novel, The Invention of Hugo Cabret, Brian Selznick once again sails into uncharted territory and takes readers on an awe-inspiring journey. Rich, complex, affecting and beautiful, Wonderstruck is a stunning achievement from a uniquely gifted artist and visionary.


Review:

I can’t believe that Brian Selznick came out with another book! I was so excited to find out that another title of his was coming out soon. I was thankful to be able to get an ARC of it and I’m just as love with this one as I was The Inventions of Hugo Cabret.

Wonderstruck was so uniquely written and put together. There are the pictures and then words. Ben’s story is told in words and Rose’s in pictures. When I heard that that it was about two different people set 50 years apart I didn’t think I was going to enjoy it as much.

I think I loved it more than if it were all one story. I thought it was so amazing that he wrote about two different characters in two different times and it went together so smoothly. It all ran together smoothly and beautifully.

I have to give Brian major props; he put so much dedication and time into creating Wonderstruck. It took him 4 years to get this all together.

Even though this book had more than 600 pages, I completed it in a couple of hours. I was trapped inside the book and I loved every second of it. Even though these books are in the younger reader’s category, I think that kids and adults of all ages will enjoy this book. I’m now reading this to my younger brother and he loves it.

4/5 stars

Life,After

Life,After
Author:Sarah Darer Littman
Pages: 278
publication date: July 1 2011






Summary:
After a terrorist attack kills Dani’s aunt and unborn cousin, life in Argentina—private school, a boyfriend, a loving family—crumbles quickly. In order to escape a country that is sinking under their feet, Dani and her family move to the United States. It’s supposed to be a fresh start, but when you’re living in a cramped apartment and going to high school where all the classes are in another language—and not everyone is friendly—life in America is not all it’s cracked up to be. Dani misses her old friends, her life, Before.

But then Dani meets a boy named Jon, who isn’t like all the other students. Through him, she becomes friends with Jessica, one of the popular girls, who is harboring a secret of her own. And then there’s Brian, the boy who makes Dani’s pulse race. In her new life, the one After, Dani learns how to heal and forgive. She finds the courage to say goodbye and allows herself to love and be loved again.




Review:

This book was such and emotional read and I felt like it should get a lot more hype than it has, I really didn’t think I was going to like this, the synopsis sounded good but not a 5 star book, by the end I was crying and laughing at the same time and loving every minute of it. Life, After deserves more than 5 stars.

On page 92 Dani was in the airport bathroom and she’s only ever lived in a culture where all they spoke was Spanish so when she was in the bathroom she heard some English speaking girls come in and talk to each other and she said how fast she thought they talked, and I thought that was funny because whenever I’m somewhere and there are people speaking in Spanish I think they talk to fast to.

The first 100 pages were kind of slow, but without it the book wouldn’t be what it was. I expected her family to move to the US near the beginning but the first 100 pages were of her and her family in Argentina, explaining how bad it was over there and why they moved.

I didn’t like the father figure at all, well until the end. But for almost the whole book her dad was lazy, ill tempered and didn’t deserve the family that he had. The whole family was pulling together trying to make the hard times better but there dad was being a huge jerk about it. He could have helped or did something but instead he stayed in his depressed state sleeping or watching TV all day.

My favorite characters in the book were Jess and Jon. Jess acted like the spoiled rich brat that ruled the school in the beginning but Dani stuck up for Jess’s brother and from then on there they became friends. I think when it comes to bullies or snuck up snobs it’s really hard for people not to judge them or hate them. Reading this book actually gave me another outlook on bullies and people in different cultures.

At first it was hard to tell that anything was wrong with Jon, he was just incredibly smart and no social at all. Made me feel bad for him because I thought that he just didn’t have any friends but he actually had a disease.

The only thing I didn’t like was all the Spanish words in the book, I realize that it was part of the culture of the book, and that the girl spoke Spanish but I hardly know any Spanish and it was kind of annoying because I wanted to know what each word was.

Sarah created a book between the difference between cultures and people. After reading this I don’t think there’s going to be one dry eye. I don’t really know how to express my love for this book, just know that it’s well worth it to read!

5/5 stars

Blood Red Road

Blood Red Road
Author: Moira Young
pages: 458
publication date: June 7 2011





Summary:
Saba has spent her whole life in Silverlake, a dried-up wasteland ravaged by constant sandstorms. The Wrecker civilization has long been destroyed, leaving only landfills for Saba and her family to scavenge from. That's fine by her, as long as her beloved twin brother Lugh is around. But when a monster sandstorm arrives, along with four cloaked horsemen, Saba's world is shattered. Lugh is captured, and Saba embarks on an epic quest to get him back.
Suddenly thrown into the lawless, ugly reality of the world outside of desolate Silverlake, Saba is lost without Lugh to guide her. So perhaps the most surprising thing of all is what Saba learns about herself: she's a fierce fighter, an unbeatable survivor, and a cunning opponent. And she has the power to take down a corrupt society from the inside. Teamed up with a handsome daredevil named Jack and a gang of girl revolutionaries called the Free Hawks, Saba stages a showdown that will change the course of her own civilization.

Blood Red Road has a searing pace, a poetically minimal writing style, violent action, and an epic love story. Moira Young is one of the most promising and startling new voices in teen fiction.




Review:

I had no idea what to expect when reading, I heard so many people raving about how much they loved it and so I was eager to start reading it.

While I was 100 pages in I thought “if this books doesn’t get better soon I’m rating it 2 stars.” Soon after that the book started picking up. It took me awhile to get used to the writing, the writing was different, there were no quotation marks but I soon got used to it and enjoyed reading the story of Saba’s adventure.

This whole book was one whole adventure, Saba finding her brother and getting in trouble along the way, boy were there a lot of bumps in the road, nothing seemed to work the way they were supposed to.  This whole book is about Saba’s quest to find her twin brother Lugh. Along the way finding true love, a whole bunch of friends, forgiveness and finding out the truth.

What I loved about Blood Red Road were all the relationships Saba had with everyone, her stubbornness and love to get to her brother, then the love that she has for Jack, the cute boy who makes her heartstone get hot whenever he is near, the relationship between and Saba and her little sister Emma, who she hates, and then finding the Free hawks. Their friendship meant a lot, and without them all working together none of them could have won the battle.

What an incredible cast of characters! Everyone is so different and each one is important to the story, each one unique and interesting. I really liked getting the feel of each character and even though it was only told through Saba’s eyes I could feel and know what each one was thinking and felt for each character. The love was just spread throughout the book.

I feel that if Saba didn’t have a bad temper or hatred for her sister the book wouldn’t be as good as it was. She did soften up some throughout the book but her stubbornness shone through.

I also wanted to mention Nero, he was incredible. The most intelligent bird in the world, it was almost as if the bird was a human stuck in a bird’s body, he understood everything she said and the closeness the bird and Saba had is just amazing.

Moira created a beautiful story, that painted a picture in our minds while reading the story, I have read so many dystopian novel and I almost always love all of the, Blood Red Road was no exception. The beginning started out slow but it soon picked up pace and I was speeding through waiting to see what would happen next.

4/5 stars

Contest Craze mini challenge: Alternate Ending

I get to host a mini challenge from Princess Bookies's contest craze :D




My mini challenge is...........

You have to pick one of your favorite books and write an alternate ending to it, must be at least two paragraphs long (can be longer) and post it to your blog, then leave a comment with the link. (Be as creative as you can!)


To Enter:
1-do this challenge up above
2- put a link to your post in the comments below

Extra Entry:
+1 follow my blog
+2 suscribe through email


Contest ends- October 11th



Prize: a $10 Amazon gift card

Dark Souls

Dark Souls
Author: Paula Morris
Pages: 288
publication date: August 1 2011






Summary:
Welcome to York, England.
Mist lingers in the streets.
Narrow buildings cast long shadows.
This is the most haunted city in the world. . . .

Miranda Tennant arrives in York with a terrible, tragic secret. She is eager to lose herself amid the quaint cobblestones, hoping she won't run into the countless ghosts who supposedly roam the city. . . .

Then she meets Nick, an intense, dark-eyed boy who knows all of York's hidden places and histories. Miranda wonders if Nick is falling for her, but she is distracted by another boy -- one even more handsome and mysterious than Nick. He lives in the house across from Miranda and seems desperate to send her some sort of message. Could this boy be one of York's haunted souls?

Soon, Miranda realizes that something dangerous -- and deadly -- is being planned. And she may have to face the darkest part of herself in order to unravel the mystery -- and find redemption.




Review:

Dark souls is a captivating ghost story with a whole lot of mystery. I didn’t enjoy it as much as I thought I would. I read the plot awhile ago and though this sounds really good, and then I got an ARC of it to review, I didn’t get to right away but when I found myself disappointed.

I don’t know why I didn’t like the story, there was a slight bit of romance until the guy went crazy, and there were lots of action and above all a big mystery to be solved. What I loved about this book was that I was able to solve the mystery before she did, I didn’t see all the signs but I did figure it out.

This book held my attention, and by the end I was biting my fingernails waiting to see what would happen next but I was unsatisfied. I felt like there should have been more to the ending, I would have liked to see what happened to Nick, I wonder if there was a happy ending between them.

I am not a big fan of Ghost stories, for once I don’t believe in ghost, if I did I would drive myself nuts, especially because my house is inside of a cemetery and there is dead people surrounding my house. This paranormal ghost story was different though. It was such a unique plot. I feel like when I read paranormal stories about vampires and werewolves and demons, it just seems like all the stories are similar but this was one was different than all the other ghost stories.

Paula did a good job creating a unique and creative ghost story and the cover is just absolutely beautiful. Is this a standalone book?

3/5 stars

Top 5 books of 2012

#1

#2 in the Divergent series

One choice can transform you—or it can destroy you. But every choice has consequences, and as unrest surges in the factions all around her, Tris Prior must continue trying to save those she loves—and herself—while grappling with haunting questions of grief and forgiveness, identity and loyalty, politics and love.

Tris's initiation day should have been marked by celebration and victory with her chosen faction; instead, the day ended with unspeakable horrors. War now looms as conflict between the factions and their ideologies grows. And in times of war, sides must be chosen, secrets will emerge, and choices will become even more irrevocable—and even more powerful. Transformed by her own decisions but also by haunting grief and guilt, radical new discoveries, and shifting relationships, Tris must fully embrace her Divergence, even if she does not know what she may lose by doing so.

#2

#2 in the Delirium trilogy

Lauren Oliver captivated readers with Delirium, the first book in a thrilling dystopian trilogy in which Lena Haloway dared to fall in love with Alex and escape the cure, the government-mandated procedure that renders a person immune to the disease of love. Lena and Alex staked their lives on leaving their oppressive society, but only Lena broke free.

Pandemonium continues Lena’s gripping story. After escaping from Portland, Maine, Lena makes it to the Wilds and becomes part of an Invalid community, where she transforms herself into a warrior for the resistance. A future without Alex is unimaginable, but Lena pushes forward and fights, both for him and for a world in which love is no longer considered a disease. Swept up in a volatile mix of revolutionaries and counterinsurgents, Lena struggles to survive—and wonders if she may be falling in love again.

Full of danger, forbidden romance, and exquisite writing, Lauren Oliver’s sequel to Delirium races forward at a breathtaking pace and is sure to appeal to fans who crave the high-stakes action of The Hunger Games and the bittersweet love story of Romeo & Juliet.


#3

#5 in the Gone series







#4

An intense look at the rules of high school attraction -- and the price that's paid for them.
It happens every year. A list is posted, and one girl from each grade is chosen as the prettiest, and another is chosen as the ugliest. Nobody knows who makes the list. It almost doesn't matter. The damage is done the minute it goes up.
This is the story of eight girls, freshman to senior, "pretty" and "ugly." And it's also the story of how we see ourselves, and how other people see us, and the tangled connection of the two.



#5

#2 in the Nevermore series
While Varen remains a prisoner in the dream-world, Isobel is haunted by his memory. He appears to her in her dreams and soon, even in her waking life. But is she just imagining it? Isobel knows she must find a way back to Varen. She makes plans to go to Baltimore. There, she confronts the figure known throughout the world as the Poe Toaster—the same dark man who once appeared to Isobel in her dreams, calling himself “Reynolds.”
Isobel succeeds in interrupting the Toaster’s ritual and, in doing so, discovers a way to return to the dream-world. Soon, she finds herself swept up in a realm which not only holds remnants of Poe’s presence, but has also now taken on the characteristics of Varen’s innermost self. It is a dark world comprised of fear, terror, and anger.
When Isobel once more encounters Varen, she finds him changed. With his mind poisoned by the dream world, he becomes a malevolent force, bent on destroying all—even himself. Now Isobel must face a new adversary, one who also happens to be her greatest love.

Glow

Glow
Author: Amy Kathleen Ryan
pages: 307
publication date: September 27 2011





Summary:
What if you were bound for a new world, about to pledge your life to someone you'd been promised to since birth, and one unexpected violent attack made survival—not love—the issue?

Out in the murky nebula lurks an unseen enemy: the New Horizon. On its way to populate a distant planet in the wake of Earth's collapse, the ship's crew has been unable to conceive a generation to continue its mission. They need young girls desperately, or their zealous leader's efforts will fail. Onboard their sister ship, the Empyrean, the unsuspecting families don't know an attack is being mounted that could claim the most important among them...

Fifteen-year-old Waverly is part of the first generation to be successfully conceived in deep space; she was born on the Empyrean, and the large farming vessel is all she knows. Her concerns are those of any teenager—until Kieran Alden proposes to her. The handsome captain-to-be has everything Waverly could ever want in a husband, and with the pressure to start having children, everyone is sure he's the best choice. Except for Waverly, who wants more from life than marriage—and is secretly intrigued by the shy, darkly brilliant Seth.

But when the Empyrean faces sudden attack by their assumed allies, they quickly find out that the enemies aren't all from the outside



Review:

It always makes me nervous when authors compare themselves to The Hunger Games series. The Hunger Games is an amazing series and when they compare themselves to it, they put high expectations on themselves and then readers compare it to The Hunger Games.

I went into this book with high expectations, I have wanted to read this book for a long time and when I finally got my hands on a copy I was thrilled. I started it and had to keep putting it down and picking it up. It didn’t capture my attention for long. And it was a good book but for some reason I just couldn’t read the whole thing in one sitting.

I loved the whole dystopian ship in space thing. It kind of reminded me a lot like Across the Universe. I loved the love triangle and the twists that came while reading it. There were times when I felt like grabbing a hold of Kieran and Seth’s neck. It took all the will power I had not to throw the book across the room.

I loved Waverly’s character, she was sweet and brave and she put herself through a whole lot of pain just to save her mom and all the girls that got captured. I really felt the character’s sadness and pain in the book. The characters were very easy to relate to and I did cringe at some parts I felt like I was one of them.

The hardship that the girls and boys had to endure was just unbearable. It was so surreal and I can hardly imagining that happening much less having to live it. I read a lot of dystopian novels and after each book I sit back and think to myself will this really happen in the future? Will we have to go through this? We’d probably be dead before any of this would happen, but it’s still something to think about.

I give Glow 4 well deserved stars. I can’t wait to read the second one and I will have to check out her other books.

4/5 stars

In My Mailbox #15

I just realized that Awake at Dawn comes out in October of this year not April! silly me

Waiting on Wednesday #16

waiting on wednesday is a weekly event
hosted by breaking the spine





This week's book I can't wait for is..........

Audition
Author: Stasia Ward Kehoe
publication date: October 13 2011







Summary:
When high school junior Sara wins a coveted scholarship to study ballet, she must sacrifice everything for her new life as a professional dancer-in-training. Living in a strange city with a host family, she's deeply lonely-until she falls into the arms of Remington, a choreographer in his early twenties. At first, she loves being Rem's muse, but as she discovers a surprising passion for writing, she begins to question whether she's chosen the right path. Is Rem using her, or is it the other way around? And is dancing still her dream, or does she need something more? This debut novel in verse is as intense and romantic as it is eloquent.





leave a comment with your WOW in the comments below!

Pregnant Pause

Pregnant Pause
Author: Han Nolan
Pages: 340
publication date: Spetember 19 2011





Summary:
Nobody gets away with telling Eleanor Crowe what to do. But as a pregnant sixteen-year-old, her options are limited: move to Kenya with her missionary parents or marry the baby’s father and work at his family’s summer camp for overweight kids.

Despite her initial reluctance to help out, Elly is surprised that she actually enjoys working with the campers. But a tragedy on the very day her baby is born starts a series of events that overwhelms Elly with unexpected emotions and difficult choices. Somehow, she must turn her usual obstinance in a direction that can ensure a future for herself—and for the new life she has created.



Review:

I stayed up all night just to finish this book, I literally was so engrossed in this book I couldn’t stop reading. I wanted to find out what happened to her and the baby, and who she would end up with.

This book had me frustrated, laughing and crying all in one. Pregnant pause is about a 16 year old who gets pregnant. Her parents are missionaries and obviously disapprove of the situation. They want her to give the baby to her sister who has been trying to get pregnant for some time. Her parents go back to Kenya to help the AID’s children and she’s stuck with living with her boyfriend (well now husband) in some cabin at the fat camp that his parents own.

Eleanor has no choice but to listen to her mother and father in law who she hates. There rude and mean to her and she can’t stand them. But at this camp she gets to teach dance class and attempt to help the kids with craft time while making some new friends and being snubbed by her in-laws and husband.

I did not like how her parents made her marry Lam just because she’s pregnant with his kid. She’s only 16 and already has a husband and a not so stable relationship. I honestly wanted to rip Lam apart limb by limb. He didn’t deserve to be treated with respect and he definitely would not make a good father. He couldn’t even make a good husband and I realize he’s young and doesn’t want to be tied down but to act like that and be a jerk, ugh! I became so frustrated with him.

Pregnant pause isn’t one of those books where everybody lived happily ever after. In fact it was quite the opposite. I thought the ending was perfect and I do hope she comes out with a second one just to show how everything is working out with her and her baby.

It’s so hard not to give any spoilers. I just want to write so much stuff about the book but I would be giving the book away and then it just won’t be as enjoyable. Pregnant Pause had me in suspense. This book was higher than my expectations. Good job Han Nolan!

4/5 stars

In My Mailbox #14

Ten thing we did (and probably shouldn't have) review

Everblue Blog Tour

Everblue
Author: Brenda Pandos
Pages: 305
publication date: July 30 2011





Summary:
Best friends share everything with each other. Or do they? Seventeen-year-old Ashlyn Frances Lanski is tired of her boring, single life. Spending time with her best friend Tatiana, dreaming about kissing Tatiana's twin brother Fin, and swimming competitively are her only sanctuary. The girls plan to leave their drab lakeside town far behind for college. But when Tatchi fails to return home after a family emergency, and no one knows where the family has gone, Ash chooses to do something drastic to find them.

Ashlyn is about to discover what she'd thought to be true her whole life, wasn't, and the truth, too fantastical to imagine. Secrets lurk beneath the deep blue waters of Lake Tahoe, secrets that will change Ashlyn's life forever.




Review:

This is my first book of Brenda’s that I have read and I can honestly say I am going to be reading all of her books from now on. Everblue was amazing! I can’t believe I liked this book so much.

I knew this was going to be a mermaid tale and while I don’t read much books with mermaids, I am starting to become a fan. Everblue was perfect; it was better than I expected it to be.

All the characters made this book, even though some of the characters made me angry. What makes a book is the emotion in the book and how they relate to the readers. I feel like even though mermaids aren’t real that readers can relate to the characters and the book. This book will make you angry, happy and cringing with cheesiness.  

Everblue Is told in two perspectives, Fin and Ash. Both have liked each other for a long time but Fin couldn’t do anything about it because he was hiding a huge secret from Ash. He was a merman, he couldn’t kiss Ash like he wants to because kissing another person means that you’re bound to that person, both love each other unconditionally and they go a little bit mad if there separated. 

Fin also has a twin sister named Tatiana. Tatiana and Ash are best friends and for years she and Fin had to hide what they really are from Ash. I really liked the relationship between Tatiana and Ash and Ash and Fin. Fin and Ash are perfect for each other!

The whole book was filled with drama and suspense, I had no idea what was going to happen next and I just wanted to keep reading on and on. And while this book didn’t exactly leave us with a cliffhanger, It ended with an opening for the next one; I’m excited to see what the outcome with be between the whole family.

When the book ended I felt sad but also hopeful that a year will go up quickly, I hope I can be included in the book tour for the second book!

5/5 stars

How to make a blog button

This is not my tutorial but I thought it was so good and I thought I should share it with you just in case you were thinking about making a blog button.
The blog who posted it is The Little Hen House


Tutorial:
By now you guys know that this isn’t a blog about blogging, but every time I learn something new about blogging (usually invloving HTML code) I like to share it. If you are visiting for the first time, I also have a tutorial about how to add custom social media icons to your blog as well as how to add custom feedburner/RSS icons.
I recently helped A Day in the Life of a Surfer Wife make a button with a grab box for her blog, which turned out to be a learning experience for both of us. I even found a way to fix the wonky button I had made for The Little Hen House a few months ago. It took a lot of trial and error to get both of the blog buttons right, and there was a lot of conflicting information out on the internet.
I was so frustrated with the tutorials I found online that I decided to make my own. Here are the most basic instructions I can provide on how to make a blog button with a grab box for your blog. I’m sure there are different ways to do it, but this is what worked for me. Let’s get started!

How to Make a Blog Button with a Grab Box

Step 1: Decorate and size the image you want to use for your button.

I use Photobucket to do this. It’s free. Open an account and upload the image you want to use.

Helpful tip: Keep in mind that the blog button is going to be a perfect square. I find it helpful to crop my image as close to a square as possible before I start working with it. This helps me stay within the boundaries and get a better visual of the end result.

Once your image has been cropped, you can add effects, letters, fonts, borders, icons- whatever design pleases you. Photobucket has a lot of different options and I highly recommend playing around with a few looks until you find something you are happy with. Try to make a button that is representative of your blog and will catch a reader’s eye. Using a graphic or photo from your blog, as well as the same color scheme, is a great way to keep everything consistent.

Helpful tip: Make sure you have the name of your blog somewhere on the image and it should be easy to read. The image is eventually going to be pretty small, so you want to make sure your blog name stands out. If the lettering doesn’t stand out on its own, you can try to add a text box with a colored or white background to make it easier to read. You can see examples of this in the photos at the top of this post.

After you get the image to look the way you want you want to save a copy of the image. Then you need to re-size it. The standard is 125 x 125. Some people use 150 x 150. My button is 125 x 125 if that helps you get a visual. Save a copy of the re-sized image as well. So, you should have three images: the original, a decorated one in the same size, and a decorated one in the small size. Having copies of the original and large sized images will help you make changes in the future so you won’t have to start from scratch.

Now that your image has been decorated and re-sized it is officially ready to be put to use.

For Blogger users ONLY: Once the image is saved, Photobucket will provide you with the direct link to your image. You will need this later. Write it down, save it on a Word document, or keep the internet window open.

For WordPress users ONLY: Save your Photobucket blog button image onto your computer. Go to your dashboard. Under “Media” on the left hand column click on “Add New”. Upload the blog button. Once the image has been uploaded, WordPress will provide you with the “File URL”. You will need this later. Write it down or save it to a Word document.

Step 2: Adding a widget.

I use WordPress, so I’m going to use WordPress language, but I know that all you Blogger users will be able to adjust as needed. Go to your dashboard, then look under “appearance” in the column on the left hand side of the screen and click on “widgets”. There you will find a list of WordPress widgets. Find the “text” widget for arbitrary text/HTML. Click on the “text” widget and drag it over to your sidebar on the right where all your other widgets go.

Step 3: Writing the code.

This is the part that always gets me. One little mistake and I have to go back and write it all over again. It can be maddening.

Helpful tip: I find working with the code on a Word document really helps me fix mistakes and it gives me a nice, clean space to work with.

I’m going to give you two different codes: one for WordPress and one for Blogger. You will need to take these codes and fill in the appropriate information for your image and blog.

WordPress Blog Button with Grab Box HTML Code

[div align="center"][a href="http://www.YOURBLOG.com" target="_blank"][img src="http://YOURIMAGEURL"][/a][/div]

[div align="center"][form][textarea rows="3" cols="19" readonly="readonly"][a href="http://YOURBLOGL.com" target="_blank"][img src="http://YOURIMAGEURL"][/textarea][/form][/div]

YOUR BLOG= The URL for your blog.

YOUR IMAGE URL= The image URL from WordPress that I had you write down earlier.

YOU MUST REPLACE ALL THE BRACKETS IN THE CODE WITH < > ie: [ = < and  ] = >

Input the appropriate information into the HTML code. Put the code in your text widget. The spacing needs to be the same. Click “save” and then “close”. Go to the homepage of your blog and you should see it there in all its glory. If it doesn’t look right, start over with the code. Double check the image URL. Double check everything.

Blogger Blog Button with Grab Box HTML Code

[center][img src="PHOTOBUCKETIMAGELINK"/][br/][br/][textarea style="width: 129px; height: 129px; overflow: scroll;"]&lt;a href=”http://BLOGURL/” style=”border: none;”]&lt;img alt=”BLOG TITLE” src=”http://PHOTOBUCKETIMAGELINK” style=”width: 129px; height: 129px;”/]&lt;/a][/textarea][/center]

YOU MUST REPLACE ALL THE BRACKETS IN THE CODE WITH <> ie: [ = < and ] = >

Helpful Tip: in the code where it says “BLOG TITLE” enter the name of your blog with spaces. If I were doing it, it would look like this: “The Little Hen House”. Also, the / after BLOGURL needs to be there.

Once the appropriate information has been inputted into the HTML code put the entire code into the text widget. Save it and go to your blog homepage. If the blog button and grab box doesn’t look right then you will need to start over. Double check your Photobucket direct link.

Helpful tip: This works for both codes- anywhere you see the word “center” you can replace it with “left” or “right” to adjust the alignment. For example, I replaced “center” with “left” and now my button is aligned to the left of my sidebar.

THE END

Ditched: A Love Story

Ditched: A Love Story
Author: Robin Mellom
Pages: 288
publication date: January 10 2012





Summary:
High school senior Justina Griffith was never the girl who dreamed of going to prom. Designer dresses and strappy heels? Not her thing. So she never expected her best friend, Ian Clark, to ask her.

Ian, who always passed her the baseball bat handle first.

Ian, who knew exactly when she needed red licorice.

Ian, who promised her the most amazing night at prom.

And then ditched her.

Now, as the sun rises over her small town, and with only the help of some opinionated ladies at the 7-Eleven, Justina must piece together — stain by stain on her thrift-store dress — exactly how she ended up dateless. A three-legged Chihuahua was involved. Along with a demolition derby-ready Cadillac. And there was that incident at the tattoo parlor. Plus the flying leap from Brian Sontag's moving car...

But to get the whole story, Justina will have to face the boy who ditched her. And discover if losing out at prom can ultimately lead to true love.

Filled with humor, charm, and romance, Ditched: A Love Story by debut novelist Robin Mellom will have readers dreaming of love on their own prom nights.



Review:

Ditched is such a fast paced lovable book. The crazy characters really brought the story to life and it was so easy to picture Justina in the 7- Eleven telling her story of her crazy night at prom.

I loved reading Ditched, it was so easy to get into the story and really get the characters, I don’t think I have ever had a love hate relationship for a character before.

The whole time Justina was telling her story of how Ian ditched her at prom I just went back and forth between loving him and hating him. One minute I thought he was so sweet and loving and the next minute I just wanted to bash his head in. My emotions were everywhere.

I don’t think anyone has EVER had as bad as a night as Justina. It’s hard to think that her crazy story happened all in one night. I will never complain about having a bad day again that’s for sure. If I were her I would have been so embarrassed with her dress and matching accessories and then when all the questionable stains got on it. She is one tough girl.

Even though this story is very unrealistic, I loved every second of it. I can’t believe the turn of events that happened. It was like a drama rollercoaster, each and every character in the book played a huge part and brought the book together nicely although I would have liked to read more about her best friend. I completely forgot about her by the end of the book.

Ditched is a fun loving and  crazy prom story that you won’t forget!

3.5/5 stars

In My Mailbox #13

Love Story

Love Story
Author: Jennifer Echols
Pages: 243
publication date: July 19 2011





Summary:
She's writing about him. he's writing about her. And everybody is reading between the lines..

For Erin Blackwell, majoring in creative writing at the New York City college of her dreams is more than a chance to fulfill her ambitions--it's her ticket away from the tragic memories that shadow her family's racehorse farm in Kentucky. But when she refuses to major in business and take over the farm herself someday, her grandmother gives Erin's college tuition and promised inheritance to their maddeningly handsome stable boy, Hunter Allen. Now Erin has to win an internship and work late nights at a coffee shop to make her own dreams a reality. She should despise Hunter . . . so why does he sneak into her thoughts as the hero of her latest writing assignment?

Then, on the day she's sharing that assignment with her class, Hunter walks in. He's joining her class. And after he reads about himself in her story, her private fantasies about him must be painfully clear. She only hopes to persuade him not to reveal her secret to everyone else. But Hunter devises his own creative revenge, writing sexy stories that drive the whole class wild with curiosity and fill Erin's heart with longing. Now she's not just imagining what might have been. She's writing a whole new ending for her romance with Hunter . . . except this story could come true.



Review:

I’m in love with Jennifer’s writing! I have read every single one of her books and loved them all; I was so excited to dig into her new book “Love Story”.

I was a bit disappointed with Love story though. There were parts where I just wanted to skip and go to a more exciting part of the book, of course I didn’t but some parts were just a bit slow.

I didn’t love this book but I didn’t hate it either, for some reason Love Story just didn’t capture me, I kept putting the book down and doing something and then coming back and doing it again. I just couldn’t get into it.

I loved reading the stories that Erin and Hunter wrote in class, I honestly would have liked to read more of their stories, it seemed like I learned more about their characters in the stories that they wrote than reading about them.  I always hate the awkward characters that embarrass themselves in front of their crushes. But it’s what makes the story I guess, without all the tension it just wouldn’t have made the book.

All the characters really connected and I felt a connection between them, my favorite character was Manohar. He was sarcastic and witty and I love that in characters, he definitely made the story.

I’ve been reading lots of reviews for this book and a lot of people think that Love Story is not one of Jennifer’s best books, and I have to agree but I still did really like it. Jennifer will continue to be one of my favorite authors and I really can’t wait till the next one comes out!

3/5 stars

Wizard of Time

Wizard of Time
Author: Sue Owen
Publication date: May 10 2011






Summary:
moreJosh, Digger and Meri were rudely ported out of their time and far into the future by the Wizard. King Arthur’s sword, Excalibur, is missing from its timeline. Without the sword in its proper place in history, everything from that point forward could change. Josh and his new found friends must find a way to return the sword to Arthur that won’t upset the timeline. However, the Bard’s have other plans. They want to rule time. They would do anything to stop the return of the sword. Is it murder to eliminate a timeline so that person was never born?
Follow Josh and his friends back in time to Camelot. Meet the Lady in the Lake, the King’s nephew and Merlin. Rejoice as things go right and cry when a dear friend is erased from time. Did they do something wrong? Can it be fixed or was the Sword’s Journey the catalyst to the world’s demise?




Review:

Time Traveling books are pretty rare and unique. I haven’t read many time traveling books, but each time I love them more and more.

The Sword’s Journey was a surprise to me. This isn’t usually a book I would normally read, but this book was good. I loved every word of it.

The Sword’s Journey was about 3 teens from different periods who are all brought through a portal and in the way distant future. Their mission is to take King Arthur’s sword and go into the past and return it to him.

This whole book was fun and thrilling, I loved the characters. The three main characters were perfect in the book. I thought it was cool that the author gave each teen an animal that watches over them and helps them out. It was cool learning about the different powers they had and how they figured it all out during the way.

There were a few parts that were confusing, and some intense scenes that made me wanting more and more of it. This book was over to soon. I really can’t wait for the next installment. I really want to know what was in those books and why they were each of their names. Hopefully that will be in the next book!

4/5 stars

Starcrossed

Starcrossed
Author: Josephine Angelini
Pages: 514
Publication Date: May 31 2011






Summary:
How do you defy destiny?

Helen Hamilton has spent her entire sixteen years trying to hide how different she is—no easy task on an island as small and sheltered as Nantucket. And it's getting harder. Nightmares of a desperate desert journey have Helen waking parched, only to find her sheets damaged by dirt and dust. At school she's haunted by hallucinations of three women weeping tears of blood . . . and when Helen first crosses paths with Lucas Delos, she has no way of knowing they're destined to play the leading roles in a tragedy the Fates insist on repeating throughout history.

As Helen unlocks the secrets of her ancestry, she realizes that some myths are more than just legend. But even demigod powers might not be enough to defy the forces that are both drawing her and Lucas together—and trying to tear them apart.



Review:

I have read some good reviews and some bad reviews and I went into this book thinking that it wasn’t going to be that good, I can’t possibly think of words to describe how amazing this book was.

I’m a sucker for forbidden romance, or any romance for that matter. This book was so different yet so amazing! I found myself becoming trapped in the world of demigods and mortals, trapped inside the story and as I read the book I wanted to figure out more and more of what was going to happen.

And then an unbelievable twist comes along and I just want to throw the book across the room and never look at it again….but that would be book abuse and I wouldn’t dare do it no matter how frustrated I get. Then I read on and learned the truth and the deceit ugh it made me want to punch something or somebody.

I was expecting something horrible to happen because when the book first came out I read everyone’s reviews and status’s  and I knew that at some time or another some twist was going to come and I wasn’t going to like it. Well that twist came and went and I am highly anticipating the next novel. I need to invent some kind of time machine.

The only thing I didn’t like was the whole Greek Mythology thing. I know nothing about Greek Mythology and while learning some of it in this book I found myself wanting to skip over some of the parts, I didn’t but I don’t remember anything about it.  There was a lot of history involved in Starcrossed and I did become confused at parts. I can’t imagine being Helen, having to learn all that at once.

And while I did love the story and characters there was one character that I didn’t feel connected to, and it was Helen. I think that the author should have picked a different name for the main girl, I don’t know but whenever I try to picture Helen, I always pictured her as kind of an older lady. And I’m not saying this to be rude to anyone but every time Helen’s name came up I just couldn’t picture her as this beautiful goddess of a girl, it was always an older lady. Mostly I think because of one my relatives name is Helen and I kind of picture her but I just couldn’t picture Helen for the life of me.

This isn’t really that great of a review mainly because it’s hard to put this book into words, I loved it, it was amazing, there were some frustrating parts but  I got over that and I am going to the bookstore the second the next book in the series comes out!

4.5/5 stars

In My Mailbox #12

Flyaway

Flyaway
Author: Helen Landalf
publication date: December 19 2011
pages: 182





Summary:
Fifteen-year-old Stevie Calhoun is used to taking care of herself. But one night, her mom, who works as an exotic dancer in a downtown Seattle nightclub, never comes home.

That’s the night Stevie’s life turns upside down.

It’s the night that kicks off an extraordinary summer: the summer Stevie has to stay with her annoyingly perfect Aunt Mindy; the summer she learns to care for injured and abandoned birds; the summer she gets to know Alan, the meanest guy in high school.

But most of all, it’s the summer she finds out the truth about Mom.

FLYAWAY is the story of a teen girl’s struggle to hold on to what she’s always believed, even as her world spins out of control.




Review:

Flyaway was nothing like I expected it to be, honestly I didn’t think I was going to like it, but I ended of loving it.

This book was difficult to read at times just because the sorry excuse for her mother was acting like her daughter was nothing, Stevie loves her mother unconditionally until she doesn’t come home for 3 days, after 3 days her rich condescending aunt Mindy comes and takes her to her house. Stevie hates it there, she wants to go back home and wait for her mom to come home.

Aunt Mindy doesn’t believe she is coming back and takes Stevie in and gives her a better life. Stevie always heard nasty things about Mindy from her mom; she acts all perfect, with her perfect life and perfect house.

Stevie hates Drake, he knows what he and her mom are up to, so she’s goes to house and peers through the window and sure enough there is her mother with Drake doing drugs. She knows her mother has problems; she just wants to be with her and help her.

Stevie’s character grew throughout the book; she was strong as she dealt with her crappy life. I loved Aunt Mindy, she loved and cared for Stevie, even if all Stevie did was disrespect her, she was so forgiving.

I definitely cried in this book, it was so sad yet there was a happy outcome, Stevie might have had a bad life but there were people who cared about her and wanted to be there for her.

Helen’s writing was definitely emotional, and the subject of this book made me realize that there are kids and teenagers who have to deal with parents who are addicted to drugs or alcohol and they have no idea what to do.

Makes me want to go out there and help every one of them. I definitely recommend this book to everyone. When this comes out in December be sure to buy a copy!

4/5 stars

Then I Met My Sister

Then I Met My Sister
Author: Christine Hurley Deriso
pages: 269
publication date: April 8 2011






Summary:
Shannon has been the backdrop of my life since the moment I was born.

Summer Stetson lives inside a shrine to her dead sister. Eclipsed by Shannon's greatness, Summer feels like she's a constant disappointment to her controlling, Type A momzilla and her all-too-quiet dad. Her best friend Gibson believes Summer's C average has more to do with rebelliousness than smarts, but she knows she can never measure up—academically or otherwise.

On her birthday, Summer receives a secret gift from her aunt: Shannon's diary. Suddenly, the one-dimensional vision of her sister becomes all too solid. Is this love-struck, mom-bashing badass the same Shannon everyone raves about? Determined to understand her troubled sister, Summer dives headfirst down a dark rabbit hole and unearths painful family secrets. Each revelation brings Summer closer to the mysterious and liberating truth about her family—and herself.




Review:

I ordered this book from the library just for its cover, I marked it on my to-read pile a long time ago but never really read the synopsis of it until closer to when it came out, this cover is one of the most beautiful covers I have seen in a long time.

Summer was born after her 17 year old sister died, ever since she was little she felt like nothing, everyone would say how great and beautiful Shannon was but they never really paid attention to Summer.

On summer’s birthday, her aunt hands her a book, Shannon’s diary to be exact. She didn’t want to read it, didn’t want to read about how perfect and nice Shannon’s life was.  Until she actually starts reading it, and finds out the truth about who Shannon really was.

I loved this story, for one there was Gibs, Gibs is such a sweet guy, and definitely cute, he helped Summer through a lot and Gibs saw the real Summer, not the shadow of her sister. I hate when characters don’t see the obvious crush that the other has on them, she was so oblivious and in her own self-pitying world that she didn’t see what was right in front of her.

The only thing I didn’t like about this book was summer’s attitude towards the whole situation. Throughout the whole book all she would do is pity herself, “oh I’ll never be like Shannon” “oh poor me”.  I don’t like characters that pity themselves and make it all about them.

Gibs was there for her the whole time, whatever she asked he did, whatever crazy idea she had he would go along with. Until Gibs wanted to talk about something else besides Summer’s dead sister, that’s all Summer talked about, she was obsessed!

I’m glad that everything turned out all right in the end, everything came together nice and her mom changed, Summer changed, the whole family did a complete turnaround. I did enjoy reading this book and I hope to read more of Christine’s books in the future.

4/5 stars