Review: The Boy Recession

The Boy Recession

Flynn Meaney

Copyright 2012, Little Brown

Thanks to Little, Brown for the ARC!

I'm not to proud too admit that I begged for this book. Several times. To several different people. The cover alone screamed to me and then with a title like that? Yeah, I knew how it was going to go and I knew I'd love it. And I did.

At Jules High there are the guys, the Spandexers and then the rest of the population. The spandexers hang all over the guys and cheer them on at their football games and what not. Typical high school, right? Kelly's junior year, something changes. All of the guys barring only a few, have left Jules High. The ratio of guys to girls has always been off, but now?! It's down right out disastrous.

With the spandexers starting to point their attention at what's left of the guys at school, desperation sets in and now even the guys no one knew existed are hot commodities. And don't think they don't know it. Eugene is starting businesses, running with the queen bee of the school and teaching guys how to attract the girls they thought they'd only dream of being near.

But it's a little different between Kelly and Hunter. Sure, they know it's going on, but they've never really worried too much about the whole scene. They have been in band together for years, casual acquantainces and what not. And it's not the recession that gets Kelly thinking about the pretty eyes that peek out from Hunter's long hair or the way his fingers so elegantly play instruments. But it might have something to do with the lingering looks, the one on one time they're spending alone in the band room, helping kids learn the joys of performance.

Diva, a spandexer, has her sights set on Hunter too, though. And with her no-nonsense go - get him attitude, paired with her friend dating his friend - she's sinking her claws in fast. Will Kelly be forgotten? Or will they fight their way through sickness and health to make music in each others lives?

All of the begging was so worth it. This book was fast and adorable. It kept me turning the pages late into the night and thinking about it after I'd put it down. A perfect read for any season, throw it in your beach bag this summer and then curl up with it again when the wind starts blowing as hard as it does up in Wisconsin!

PRE ORDER YOUR COPY HERE!!!

Review: Sea Change

Sea Change

Aimee Friedman

Copyright 2009, Scholastic

Miranda Merchant is ready for her usual hot summer in New York City, this summer will be a bit different since she's newly single and best friendless. Which is ok. Because Miranda is a sensible girl and she doesn't need to be distracted by stories or normal things to other girls. So she's a bit shocked when her grandmother (who she's had severely little contact with) passes away and leaves her mother with the home they owened on a mysterious island and she finds out she's going to be spending some time at it.

It's not a home. It's a mansion. And this island? It's surrounded in tales of folklore and filled with snobby founder's families who have been spending their summers there their entire lives. Miranda doesn't really fit in and even her mom is eager to pack the house up and get it sold so they can get back to real life back in the city.

But there's a charming air about the island and Miranda ends up feeling more and more comfortable, she's even made friends, she's even developed a huge crush on local boy Leo. Aside from being a "local" which is, of course a terrible thing in the eyes of her wealthy founding family friends, Leo seems to be hiding something else. Something that she'll find connects to her, her life, her family, in ways her sense-filled brain may not be able to handle.

Leo was so smokin hot, so strong and assured. Miranda's unability to believe kind of bothered me but it's because I've always had such an active imagination and she's pretty much the opposite of me, but when she's with Leo she's different. More likable. Friedman did a great job at describing the island. Admittedly, it's been a while since I read the book, and yet the island is still just as real to me today as it was when I laid on my beach towel reading it.

And what could be a better beach read?! Mermaids, guys. On the beach. Spending summer on an island. So perfect. I really really enjoyed this book and I wasn't sure I would. I know that probably sounds bad, but I just wasn't sure. Sometimes novels about mermaids, vampires, werewolves, etc. are over done - unoriginal - that wasn't the case with Sea Change at ALL. It was unique and refreshing. It's a story that you'll read quickly and encourage to linger with you on your summer days and in your summer day dreams.

Hallowed

Hallowed

Cynthia Hand

Copyright 2012, Harper Teen

Holy freaking Crap.

So here's the thing about this book. It's MURDEROUS. I'm not kidding. It rips out your heart, examines it, puts it back in and then in one swift movement it rips it back out and steps on it. And you know what? You're doing it to yourself. Prepare the Oreo's. You will need them. Don't bother with kleenex, you'll just make your face raw.

You remember Clara, right? The sarcasticly awesome nephilim who tried to serve God's purpose as well as her own? Right, her. Well it turns out by making that slight change she's changed a lot of things for a lot of people.

She's also going to meet one of her moms "friends" from the past and his wings definitely aren't white. There's also the complication we call Christian. Admittedly, we didn't get a whole lot of him in Unearthly but what we see of him here in Hallowed makes some people switch teams...and some people sit on the fence. He knows what to say and what to do, they're meant to be, afterall. He'll be there for her in the worst moments of her life - because someone she loves is going to die.


 Here's the thing. Everytime you get a handle on what's going on and you build yourself up for it - Cynthia decides she knows better and switches it up. You can't expect anything, you can only barely hold on to the edge of your seat and let her take you on the ride. There is like - NOTHING - I feel comfortable saying about this book because I'm so scared I'll give something away and I try my hardest to never ruin things for you guys with spoilers. Please go read it, but buy some chocolate when you do because you're going to need it. Oh and have a support system in place.

Unearthly

Unearthly

Cynthia Hand

Copyright 2011, Harper Teen

One of the most refreshing nephilim stories I've read. No joke. Clara is a nephilim, part angel, she knows it and she knows a bit of what it entails. The important part is that she's having visions that will lead her to fulfill her purpose - the whole reason she's alive. Her vision is uprooting the family from California to Wyoming - what in the h-e-double hockey sticks could she possibly do in Wyoming...aside from saving the boy in her vision from a forest fire and falling hopelessly in love?

Holy crap. Not only is the boy in her vision gorgeous, but he's a bit of the hero type - carrying her off when she passes out in front of him - sweet and UGH taken. Why would he be taken?! That's ok, though, this purpose is a mission from God. Not a dating service. So Clara makes a friend in Wendy, an invisible of sorts, and we can't forget Angela...although I wish we could. I don't trust this chick.

While flirtations with Christian (the boy from her vision) are at an all time high, he did kind of do her wrong at Prom and now he's out of the state.

So on her birthday Clara is totally alone, not even her mom is home, and who's at the door? Oh it's TUCKER. Wendy's hot cowboy sweet as candy and smells as good too rough and tumble ropin and ridin brother. Turns out Wendy didn't forget Clara's birthday even though she's out of state, she's loaning her brother to Clara. Ladies and gentlemen, business is about to pick up.

Suddenly there's more than just her purpose on Clara's mind. She and Tucker have something really special...but is it special enough to ignore God's purpose for her? And what would that even mean?

So full of surprises! I can't review this, really, because most of you have already read it and I think you just want to go UGH I KNOW with me. And those of you who haven't are going to run out and pick it up like, today, and then you're going to come back and say UGH I KNOW. And then you'll probably say something like: Team Tucker Forever!! And you know what? You won't be alone. Tucker is beyond words. I love him. Lots. Christian is super too, but Oh EM GEE. Tucker.

Anastasia Forever

Anastasia Forever

Joy Preble

Copyright 2012, Sourcebooks

Release Date: 8/1/2012

First off, THANK YOU SO MUCH, GINGER! When I heard ARC's were going to be available at a Texas Convention I almost lost my mind...and my credit card...because, By God, if I had to fly to Texas...But Ginger was there for me! (Hubs didn't much like the idea of a spur of the moment trip to Texas for one book lol) And THEN Joy Preble signed it. Life = Made.

As for you guys - 2 Weeks!! You're almost there!!! I'll make this even easier for you. Follow this link and pre order your copy now.

On to the story!!

Anne is the long lost relative of Viktor, the illegitimate son of Tsar Nicholas - the father of Anastasia Romanov. Anne has recently learned this as well as the fact that her grandmother is a Rusalka (Russian mermaid) and that she alone can set Anastasia free from the hut of Baba Yaga, where she has been trapped since the Romanov's were gunned down. She's also obtained smokin hot Russian brotherhood member and senior citizen (hey, he's like 100 years old!), Ethan, as her boyfriend. I envy the CRAP out of this girl. Well, most of the time, the times she's not able to kiss Ethan she's fighting for her life, public safety, her family, learning all about Russian "stories" that turn out to be truth, all kinds of stuff like this make me kind of glad I'm "normal"! Did I mention she's been to Baba Yaga's hut?! And more importantly, returned from it?!

Now, she harnasses some of Baba Yaga's power and there is more work to be done. Viktor is up to something. He was supposed to lose his immortality...so why didn't he die? Stories inside of stories, secrets inside of secrets.

I. Love. These. Books. Joy Preble is a genious mastermind. The way she's able to weave stories from Russian folklore and parts of their beautiful language into a story that holds the essence of men that would have walked the days the stories were still known by all simultaneously with a modern day girl being thrown from her normal Chicago life into the middle of it all is nothing short of breathtaking.

The writing style varies with a depth I'm not sure any other author I've read has been able to duplicate. Between Viktor, Baba Yaga, Ethan, Anne and Tess - there's a party going on in her head that I would love to be privy to! And while I'm mentioning Tess. I want her to be my best friend!! Loyal to a fault, strong, beautiful, protective - she's everything you could hope for in a best friend.

Aside from the fact that I think EVERYONE should read this series and I believe that EVERYONE would love them - there's also the catchy factor that I think educators will enjoy. I was sucked into this series in a very strong way, I devoured the first two and while waiting for book three decided I needed to know more about their world. Since then, I've purchased and read multiple Russian folklore stories and developed an itch to learn the language. Like I said earlier, the writing jumps between Tess and Anne who are very modern and live in a world that readers will recognize and connect with; they will also hear from and be introduced to a world usually buried deep in the pages of dusty history books. Not to mention, you find a student who starts the books. They like the story. They're interested in Anastasia. Now you can get them into history. Joy Preble's books are a gateway drug to knowlege, push it to everyone you know!!

Review: Barefoot In The Sand

Barefoot In The Sand

Roxanne St. Claire

Copyright 2012, Forever, Hachette Book Group

All is lost. Literally, there is nothing left on Barefoot Bay. Lacey Armstrong had a small bakery business being run out of the kitchen of her tiny little house - left to her from her grandparents. Aside from that small home the only other thing she really has is her teenage daughter.

Clay has been through the ringer. He's been loved, left and burned in one of the worst ways a person can be burned - especially when your dad is the one doing it. All of his dreams and what he's worked for his whole life is now up to him, he's the only one who can make it happen and he needs a big gig to get it done.

When Lacey contacts an architect about building a small B&B where her home used to stand, she never expected the Colonel Sanders looking man from the website to turn up MUCH younger, tanned and drop dead beautiful. The two hit it off but just as things start to look up a curve ball enters the scene, in the form of Lacey's ex husband. With her life turned upside down, homeless, living with a daughter who can't wait to see her parents get back together and a younger man that has her mind captivated, Lacey's going to need her best girlfriends for support.

Secrets come out, lines are crossed and the whole town is seemingly against her. Trusting a stranger seems ludicrus but he's been there time and time again - the kid knows his stuff - but will that trust and dependance turn into a love they can't resist or should they let the buildings rise and return to their separate pasts?

So here's the deal. Roxanne has this gift where she takes like ten-thousand interesting things and crams them all into one book. She doesn't over-detail you but she makes dang sure you know the smell, sound and sights around you. Then there are the boys. Whether it's YA (Don't You Wish) or Adult, you will swoon without regard over these guys. She's also AWESOME at family conflicts, best friends and crap, I'm rambling again aren't I?

I LOVED this book! It was a quick read, it made me feel sunshine no matter where I read it, it was...Awesome. And it gets BETTER. One of Lacey's most close-lipped, open-wallet(ed) friend, Jocelyn, is about to steal the show!! As much as I loooooved Clay and Lacey. Gawd. Clay. So hot. So sweet. SWOON. I think Jocelyn is going to be a book you won't be able to put down! Look for it in stores in the fall but GET THIS ONE NOW! Barefoot In The Sand is the PERFECT beach read! You will LOVE IT. LISTEN TO THE WORDS I'M TYPING. hehe :)

Review: Something Wicked

Something Wicked

Jo Beverley

Copyright 1997, Topaz

Lady Elf is sick of being treated like a proper lady. She wants some intrigue, dang it. Along with her best friend, she sets out to a masquerade where she happens to over hear some very wicked things. Like treason.

The Earl of Walgrave is a reformed playboy. The death of his father has left him in charge of many responsibilities and he takes them all very seriously. Especially when he's roped into a plan to kill the King.

Elf has always been attracted to Fort (the Earl) but he hates her family, literally despises them, blames them for the death of his father. Nothing can over come that. But if she could have one night with him...even if it's as someone else...it might be worth it. She could keep her decency, play out a fantasy and then try to move on from the silly infatuation.

Too bad plotting to kill the king and falling for the masked "French" girl you took home tends to bind you to a person. Fort is driven mad with desire for "Lisette" - Elf in disguise - and she's just as crazy for him, more so than she was just as Elf Malloren because now she's seen a side of him he's never shown her. But the mask has to come off sometime and she can't sit back and let the King be killed. Where are her allegiances? With the King, her love or her family?

I really love Jo Beverley. Her historical romance's are phenomonal and bring you into the world fully. While I enjoyed the intrigue, the conflict and even the characters, the details were a little heavy. BUT you could walk into one of those mansions and know your way around and how to act while you're there - that's for sure. A patient of my office gave me a whole bag of books, this being one of them, and I can't thank her enough!! Even though I said the details were a bit overwhelming at times, I still loved the story. I loved the elegance behind every word and the easy transportation Beverley gives us into a time that I wish I could have seen.

Fans of historical romance, if you haven't already, try her out!

Degrees of Wrong Tour is almost FULL!

The Blog Tour

Hey guys! Your support for Anna Scarlett (Anna Banks) and her writing is completely overwhelming!! It's so awesome that you all trust her to write an amazing novel - which she does, holy cow she does! But due to the volume of interest in the blog tour we are going to have to cut it off!! I'm sorry if this causes any inconveniences! Sign up before midnight CST tonight to get in the last spots!!!