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Easy Canvas Prints


My little man will be celebrating his first birthday in a couple short months. I have thousands of photos of him and want to find ways to enjoy them, instead of letting them sit on my hard drive. This picture is one of my favorites, so I went to Easy Canvas Prints and had them turn it from photo to canvas. I have it displayed in my living room and I love seeing such a joyful moment everyday on a beautiful canvas.
The original photo I used

The process was really easy. I uploaded my picture and selected my preferences. There are a lot of ways to customize at Easy Canvas Prints so I took advantage of the black and white option. It made my picture look very classy and I was pleased with how it turned out. Everyone I have over has commented on the picture and asked how they could get one of their own. 
The canvas print
Right now anyone who "likes" Easy Canvas Prints on Facebook will receive 50% off of their first order! Thats quite an incentive to get started. Head on over and play around with your favorite photos using their website. You'll be amazed with what you can do.

Easy Canvas Prints

Posted by Holly
Passion

About the book
Luce would die for Daniel.

And she has. Over and over again. Throughout time, Luce and Daniel have found each other, only to be painfully torn apart: Luce dead, Daniel left broken and alone. But perhaps it doesn’t need to be that way. . . .

Luce is certain that something—or someone—in a past life can help her in her present one. So she begins the most important journey of this lifetime . . . going back eternities to witness firsthand her romances with Daniel . . . and finally unlock the key to making their love last.

Cam and the legions of angels and Outcasts are desperate to catch Luce, but none are as frantic as Daniel. He chases Luce through their shared pasts, terrified of what might happen if she rewrites history.

Because their romance for the ages could go up in flames . . . forever.

Sweeping across centuries, PASSION is the third novel in the unforgettably epic FALLEN series.

My take
I'm not a fan of the direction this series is taking. Its become much more fantastical and grandiose, in a way that is quite a departure from the first two books in the series. Passion had a very slow pace, and I really had to motivate myself to even finish the book. The book was a lot of buildup to a screeching halt of a cliffhanger ending. The cliffhanger isn't even interesting enough to keep me wanting more. I feel as though this series should have ended in book 3, but the author is holding on to the cash cow and dragging the series out longer than necessary. A disappointing installment in the Fallen series that has me doubting my desire to continue with the series.

Posted by Holly
He's So Not Worth It

The book blurb: Ally Ryan, come on down to the Jersey Shore and forget your troubles!
Have you recently been humiliated in front of your friends and family at your former best friend's birthday party? Was your almost boyfriend partly responsible for that humiliation by witholding some vital information about where your estranged father is? Did you come home to find said estranged father sitting on your stoop?
If so, then it sounds like you could use a vacation! The Jersey Shore is the place to be. Your mother may be living with her boyfriend of only a few months, but at least the stunt Shannen pulled has put some of your friends back in your court. Even so, you're still angry and what better way to get over Jake than to blow off some steam with local guy Cooper? People will hardly recognize your new attitude, but the old one wasn't getting you anywhere, so who cares!
Jake Graydon, an exciting opportunity is waiting for you in the service industry.
Are your grades so low your parents have grounded you for the summer? Did the girl you really like unceremoniously leave you behind? Would you rather eat dirt than see your friends again? Then a job at the local coffee shop is just the ticket! Surprisingly, Ally's father is the new manager so you get to be reminded of her nearly every day. Maybe it's time you start flirting with your best friend's ex or even taking school a bit more seriously. Especially when you finally see Ally and she's hanging around with some loser and it couldn't be more clear that she is over you.
My thoughts: When I read She's So Dead to Us, I thought it was such a fun romp that I hoped there was a sequel. Bonus: It's a trilogy, and the third part in the series is coming out in spring next year! He's So Not Worth It picks up right on the stoop with Ally and her mom in shock that after all this time, her dad is back. Unsurprisingly, nobody's thrilled to see him two years after he vanished without a word. But what's interesting is how quickly I immediately took to him. He seemed like a legitimately good guy who thought he was doing the best he could for them by disappearing and trying to make the money back to take care of the family again. The pain shared by the Ryan family is palpable, and Ally's sadness turns to anger and acting out as teens are wont to do. Jake's desire to work things out with Ally is hampered by both his grounding because of bad grades and his inability to do anything but internalize his feelings. Another peek into Ally's world left me with another cliffhanger that has me eagerly awaiting the finale This is So Not Happening!

Posted by Ashley
Something Blue


The synopsis:

Darcy Rhone thought she had it all figured out: the more beautiful the girl, the more charmed her life. Never mind substance. Never mind playing by the rules. Never mind karma.

But Darcy's neat, perfect world turns upside down when her best friend, Rachel, the plain-Jane “good girl,” steals her fiancĂ©, while Darcy finds herself completely alone for the first time in her life . . . with a baby on the way.

Darcy tries to recover, fleeing to her childhood friend living in London and resorting to her tried-and-true methods for getting what she wants. But as she attempts to recreate her glamorous life on a new continent, Darcy finds that her rules no longer apply. It is only then that Darcy can begin her journey toward self-awareness, forgiveness, and motherhood.


My thoughts: And so we see things from a different side: Darcy's. We pick up where it left off in Something Borrowed, but from a completely different perspective. It was so interesting to read something from someone who was so completely unlikable in the first novel, and yet, as protagonist, she is charmingly fallible, vulnerable and likable. Picking up her life and moving to London, Darcy intrigued me as the three men in her life - Ethan, and the twins, help Darcy become the person she didn't seem capable of being had she stayed in New York and with Dex.

Posted by Ashley
Something Borrowed

The synopsis: Rachel Miller and Darcy Rhone have been best friends since childhood. They've shared birthdays, the horrors of high school and even boyfriends, but while Darcy is the sort of woman who breezes through life getting what she wants when she wants it, Rachel has always played by the rules and watched her stunning best friend steal the limelight. The one thing Rachel's always had over Darcy is the four-month age-gap which meant she was first to being a teenager, first to drive, first to everything ...but now she's about to be first to thirty. And Darcy still has a charmed life. On the eve of her thirtieth birthday, Rachel is shocked to find herself questioning the status quo. How come Darcy gets a glamorous job at a PR firm and the perfect boyfriend, while Rachel grinds away at her despised job as an attorney and remains painfully single. Is it just luck? Or, looking back at their friendship and their lives together, is it a bit more complicated than that? Then an accidental fling complicated everything, and it's time for Rachel to make a few hard choices. And she's forced to learn that sometimes true love comes at a price. 

My thoughts: This was one of my favorite chick lit novels, and authors when it first came out and I was so excited when I heard it was being turned into a movie. Could.Not.Wait. So, to reacquaint myself with the plot, I went and grabbed another copy of the book from Borders, along with it's sequel. Still an enjoyable, quick read with a protagonist it was easy to root for from the gate. I have all (is it four or five now?) of Ms. Giffin's work, and I will probably always make sure to pick up her latest releases and look forward to them, but Something Borrowed and Something Blue are my favorites by far.

Posted by Ashley
Bumped

About the book
When a virus makes everyone over the age of eighteen infertile, would-be parents pay teen girls to conceive and give birth to their children, making teens the most prized members of society. Girls sport fake baby bumps and the school cafeteria stocks folic-acid-infused food.

Sixteen-year-old identical twins Melody and Harmony were separated at birth and have never met until the day Harmony shows up on Melody’s doorstep. Up to now, the twins have followed completely opposite paths. Melody has scored an enviable conception contract with a couple called the Jaydens. While they are searching for the perfect partner for Melody to bump with, she is fighting her attraction to her best friend, Zen, who is way too short for the job.

Harmony has spent her whole life in Goodside, a religious community, preparing to be a wife and mother. She believes her calling is to convince Melody that pregging for profit is a sin. But Harmony has secrets of her own that she is running from.

When Melody is finally matched with the world-famous, genetically flawless Jondoe, both girls’ lives are changed forever. A case of mistaken identity takes them on a journey neither could have ever imagined, one that makes Melody and Harmony realize they have so much more than just DNA in common.

From New York Times bestselling author Megan McCafferty comes a strikingly original look at friendship, love, and sisterhood—in a future that is eerily believable.

My take
I almost finished this book, and then I decided it was a waste of my time. With the obnoxious teen-speak and contrived plot-lines, this book was more trouble than it was worth. I felt as though the author hadn't done her homework and was just grasping at straws quite a lot of the time. The characters were shallow and lacked true motivation. From the start this book fell flat and was somewhat of a mockery of young adult fiction. Pass on this book.

Posted by Holly
Between, Georgia

The synopsis: Nonny Frett understands the meaning of the phrase "in between a rock and a hard place" better than any woman alive. She's got two mothers, "one deaf-blind and the other four baby steps from flat crazy." She's got two men: a husband who's easing out the back door; and a best friend, who's laying siege to her heart in her front 
yard. And she has two families: the Fretts, who stole her and raised her right; and the Crabtrees, who won't forget how they were done wrong. Now, in Between, Georgia, a feud that began the night Nonny was born is escalating and threatening to expose family secrets. Ironically, it might be just what the town needs...if only Nonny weren't stuck in between.

My thoughts: Borders closing has had an effect on my love of Southern lit! Specifically, making me gobble up every Michael Lee West and Joshilyn Jackson book I can find. I've had this book and passed it on to other readers before and after finally reading it? I could kick myself for not having jumped on it the minute I received it. The book fits the quintessential guidelines of southern woman: pretty, charming and packing a punch. And boy, does it. The characters, while I wouldn't call all particularly likable, instantly worm their way into your heart and there is at least one twist that keeps you glued to the edge of your seat. I hope Ms. Jackson does what she did with gods in Alabama and gives us a follow-up from the perspective of one of the smaller characters in this book too. If you're near a Borders, do yourself a favor and see if you can snap this up!

Posted by Ashley
What Alice Forgot


The synopsis: What would happen if you were visited by your younger self, and got a chance for a do-over?

Alice Love is twenty-nine years old, madly in love with her husband, and pregnant with their first child. So imagine her surprise when, after a fall, she comes to on the floor of a gym (a gym! she HATES the gym!) and discovers that she's actually thirty-nine, has three children, and is in the midst of an acrimonious divorce.

A knock on the head has misplaced ten years of her life, and Alice isn't sure she likes who she's become. It turns out, though, that forgetting might be the most memorable thing that has ever happened to Alice.

My thoughts: A very interesting plot right from the beginning, I was intrigued and quite enjoyed Young Alice and the loathing she felt for Skinny Alice (while not loathing Alice's new thinness). It was intriguing to read along with the protagonist and feel her disdain for who's she become (and honestly, kind of share the disdain). Some of the substories were not so enjoyable for me, but a fun read all in all, with just a few pitfalls (I hated when she found her memories and became Skinny Alice again, it seemed semi contradictory to the original premise of the story), but I really enjoyed the ending and it made it worthwhile. This book did take a while to read, but it's nice to have a book you can put down and pick up at leisure every now and then.

Posted by Ashley
Night Road

The Synopsis: For eighteen years, Jude Farraday has put her children’s needs above her own, and it shows—her twins, Mia and Zach—are bright and happy teenagers. When Lexi Baill moves into their small, close knit community, no one is more welcoming than Jude. Lexi, a former foster child with a dark past, quickly becomes Mia’s best friend. Then Zach falls in love with Lexi and the three become inseparable.

Jude does everything to keep her kids on track for college and out of harm’s way. It has always been easy-- until senior year of high school. Suddenly she is at a loss. Nothing feels safe anymore; every time her kids leave the house, she worries about them.


On a hot summer’s night her worst fears come true. One decision will change the course of their lives. In the blink of an eye, the Farraday family will be torn apart and Lexi will lose everything. In the years that follow, each must face the consequences of that single night and find a way to forget…or the courage to forgive.


My thoughts: Wow. Kristin Hannah is probably one of the most recognized names I see in the bookstore, and I always grab her books, but for some reason or another, something always happens and I return the book, or they didn't send me the right book, etc. In short, she's on my radar, and after reading this book - I want to go find a copy of the other books I've bought of hers (Magic Hour is the only one I specifically remember wanting to read so badly), turn everything off and read.
Each and every one of the four main characters are so vivid and multidimensional that, immediately, it's like you're not reading but watching the events as they unfold. A quick pace, an emotional plotline, a heartbreaking backstory, and three major twists in the plot combine to make a deep impression on the reader.
In Jude, we have an incredibly overprotective mother who smothers her children, but you can't help but understand and feel her worries, especially later in the story.
Lexi - I was instantly drawn to. Such a heartbreaking story in her past, present and future. That she found Mia was no coincidence, it felt like her lifeline.
I almost wish that the story weren't so neatly tied up so that there could be another story about what comes next for this group of people.


Posted by Ashley
Where She Went

The synopsis: It's been three years since the devastating accident . . . three years since Mia walked out of Adam's life forever.

Now living on opposite coasts, Mia is Juilliard's rising star and Adam is LA tabloid fodder, thanks to his new rock star status and celebrity girlfriend. When Adam gets stuck in New York by himself, chance brings the couple together again, for one last night. As they explore the city that has become Mia's home, Adam and Mia revisit the past and open their hearts to the future and each other.

Told from Adam's point of view in the spare, lyrical prose that defined If I Stay, Where She Went explores the devastation of grief, the promise of new hope, and the flame of rekindled romance.

My thoughts: I remember being so incredibly moved by If I Stay, so I was excited for the follow up, which was told not by Mia, but by her boyfriend Adam, and it followed them later. Or rather, it followed Adam, and find out that Mia lived, but in living, cut off all contact with everyone from her past. And - I was disappointed. It just didn't seem like the voice of the girl we got to know in If I Stay, but then I guess that was the point. To show that one couldn't emerge unscathed from an ordeal like Mia's. And Adam's pain was palpable. The writing was great, the story unexpected and different, but sad. I'd recommend the follow up for anyone who loved If I Stay, but with the disclaimer that it's not what's expected.

Posted by Ashley
Summer's Crossing

About the book
A Midsummer's Nightmare? Robin Goodfellow. Puck. Summer Court prankster, King Oberon's right hand, bane of many a faery queen's existence—and secret friend to Prince Ash of the Winter Court. Until one girl's death came between them, and another girl stole both their hearts.

Now Ash has granted one favor too many and someone's come to collect, forcing the prince to a place he cannot go without Puck's help—into the heart of the Summer Court. And Puck faces the ultimate choice—betray Ash and possibly win the girl they both love, or help his former friend turned bitter enemy pull off a deception that no true faery prankster could possibly resist.

An ebook exclusive novella from Julie Kagawa's Iron Fey series.

My take
I think the novella idea is genius! These "between the novels" novellas are just enough to wet my appetite for more of the series. They keep me interested while I wait for the next in the series to come out.

Short but sweet, Summer's Crossing is a page turner. There is enough action and adventure to leave you wishing it was a full length novel! I like the peek into the Puck/Ash dynamic, it adds a new depth to the series that sets the reader up for a deeper plunge in "The Iron Knight".

Posted by Holly
Smokin' Seventeen

About the book
Dead bodies are showing up in shallow graves on the empty construction lot of Vincent Plum Bail Bonds. No one is sure who the killer is, or why the victims have been offed, but what is clear is that Stephanie's name is on the killer's list.

Short on time to find evidence proving the killer's identity, things get even more complicated for Stephanie when family and friends decide it's time for her to decide between long-time off-again-on-again boyfriend, Trenton cop, Joe Morelli, and the bad boy in her life, security expert, Ranger. Stephanie's mom is encouraging Stephanie to dump them both, and choose a former high school football star who has just returned to town. Stephanie's sidekick, Lula, is encouraging Stephanie to have a red-hot boudoir "bake-off". And Grandma Bella, Morelli's old world grandmother, is encouraging Stephanie to move to a new state when she puts "the eye" on Stephanie.

With a cold-blooded killer after her, a handful of hot men and a capture list that includes a dancing bear and a senior citizen vampire, Stephanie's life looks like it's about to go up in smoke.

My take
I really enjoyed the latest in the Plum saga. Evanovich kicks things up a notch and steps outside of her usual pattern, making this book a lot more interesting than the last 5 or 6 in the series. It opens some doors to possible game changers in the books and I am really looking forward to what she brings us in 18. For the first time in a long time, I felt satisfied after reading a recent Plum book.

If you are hanging on by a thread, unsure if you want to get the book or not, I say get it! You will not be disappointed.

Posted by Holly
I'm Not Her

The Synopsis: "For the first time in my life, I don't feel envy..."

Tess is the exact opposite of her beautiful, athletic sister. And that's okay. Kristina is the sporty one, Tess is the smart one, and they each have their place. Until Kristina is diagnosed with cancer. Suddenly, Tess is the center of the popular crowd, everyone eager for updates. There are senior boys flirting with her. But, the smiles of her picture perfect family are cracking and her sister could be dying. Now Tess has to fill a new role: the strong one. Because if she doesn't hold it together, who will?



My thoughts: A potentially powerful premise, this book was written and executed well, but it didn't pack the punch I had hoped for. I don't know why either. The sub storylines were good, but I guess I didn't feel a connection with any of the characters enough to feel moved by any of them. The mother was so unlikeable that I felt a disconnect from there. But it was a solid read, and how adorable is that cover?

Posted by Ashley
Before Ever After

The synopsis: Three years after her husband Max's death, Shelley feels no more adjusted to being a widow than she did that first terrible day. That is, until the doorbell rings. Standing on her front step is a young man who looks so much like Max - same smile, same eyes, same age, same adorable bump in his nose. He could be Max's long-lost relation. He introduces himself as Paolo, an Italian editor of American coffee table books, and shows Shelley some childhood photos. Paolo tells her that the man in the photos, the bearded man who Paolo says is his grandfather, though he never seems to age, is Max. Her Max. And he is alive and well.




As outrageous as Paolo's claims seem - how could her husband be alive? And if he is, why hasn't he looked her up? - Shelley desperately wants to know the truth. She and Paolo jet across the globe to track Max down - if it is really Max - and along the way, Shelley recounts the European package tour where they had met. As she relives Max's stories of bloody Parisian barricades, medieval Austrian kitchens, and buried Roman boathouses, Shelley begins to piece together the story of who her husband was and what these new revelations mean for her "happily ever after." And as she and Paolo get closer to the truth, Shelley discovers that not all stories end where they are supposed to.

My thoughts: I'm a bit at a loss for words to really convey the magnitude of depth and resonance of this story. There's not even a genre niche for this, because it spans so many and bridges so many interests. Historical fiction fans will love it, chick lit, general fiction, and fans of a slight supernatural element.

When I first heard about this book, I requested it because it sounded vaguely reminiscent of The Time Traveler's Wife (which I've had (book and movie), and have meant to read/watch for such a long time now, but haven't). When I received it, I was prepared to have enjoyed it but didn't expect much more than that. So happy I was wrong.
First of all, the cover - simple, but gorgeous. The writing -beautiful. Beyond having an amazing story to tell, Sotto has a skill and way with words that is incredibly moving. The impact of her delivery on several occasions within the novel were intense, but one in particular in Chapter 3 brought tears to my eyes (seriously, 29 pages in! When does that happen? I'm a sap, but even with The Notebook I held it together until the end.) The way she could jump from present day to 5 years ago to A.D. 958 over and over again, with no confusion on the reader's part in following the story, is also nothing to scoff at.

Now onto the story itself -
The prologue is 5 sentences, and within those 5 sentences, my interest was piqued. And very quickly I went from intrigued to hooked. I couldn't get enough of any part of this book. I had to tear myself away from it because I wasn't ready for the tale to end. The characters are flawless, I especially adored the naughty granny as a bit of comic relief, but the protagonists (and I'm calling both Max and Shelley the main characters), I felt an immediate connection with, and I was rooting so hard for Shelley to be able to find Max and glue her heart back together. The depth of her loss was palpable, made even more so by her plan since childhood to flee from love, finding the pain in watching her mother deal with a broken heart all these years too hard to allow herself even the thought of doing so. Max's pain - told through flashbacks of their time together - was equally tangible, in the stories he relayed as the tour guide of an offbeat, quirky tour of Europe that Shelley had happened upon when she first arrived in London. The telling of this story, from beginning to end, was beyond impressive.
Individual readers will love this, but I think it's an amazing choice for book clubs especially.

Posted by Ashley
Pretty Little Liars #8: Wanted

The synopsis:

Being good isn't always a good thing.

For three long years, Hanna, Spencer, Aria, and Emily wondered what happened the night their best friend Alison disappeared. Now that all their questions have finally been answered, they can put this awful chapter of their lives behind them. Or so they think.

Not every story has a happy ending, especially when four pretty little liars have done so many wicked things. Will the girls get everything they've ever wanted? Not if I have anything to say about it.


My thoughts: For sucha picturesque, idyllic town - there are a hell of a lot of villains. I mean, they're coming at the girls from all sides. I have to say though, the absurdity of it all grew on me. Although the bad twin/good twin ending annoys me, considering that her new series focuses on that. It seems a little.....out of ideas, mash these two together. It fell a little flat, but not enough that I gave up. I have book # 9 waiting for me. Am I a glutton for punishment?

Posted by Ashley
Pretty Little Liars #7: Heartless

The synopsis: In picturesque Rosewood, Pennsylvania, neighbors gossip over picket fences, and gleaming SUVs sit in every crushed-granite driveway. But recently, friendly smiles have been replaced with suspicious glares and accusatory whispers - and it's all because Hanna, Aria, Emily, and Spencer just can't keep their mouths shut...

First they claimed they found a dead body in the woods behind Spencer's house, only to have it vanish without a trace. Then when the same woods went up in flames, they swore they saw someone who's supposed to be dead rise from the ashes. And even after all that, the pretty little liars are still playing with fire.

Hanna's trading in her Dior trench for a straitjacket. Aria's trying to contact the dead. Emily's dumping her boyfriend and is skipping town...again. And Spencer thinks someone in her family has gotten away with murder.

The friends insist they're telling the truth about what they saw, but all of Rosewood thinks they're simply out for attention - and nobody likes a girl who cries wolf. So when the big bad killer comes after the girls, will anyone believe them...or will they be the next to disappear?

My thoughts: Okay, okay - now I'm a little less frustrated and slightly more interested, but it took 7 books to get to that point. Still avoiding the Emily stories, and thinking about performing a mutiny on the Aria ship, but the Spencer story line is inspired, and while Hanna's storyline has been done before, it's evocative and I'm into it. Please tell me the 8th book won't let me down.

Posted by Ashley
Pretty Little Liars # 6: Killer

The synopsis: In picture-perfect Rosewood, Pennsylvania, ash-blond highlights gleam in the winter sun and frozen lakes sparkle like Swarovski crystals. But pictures often lie - and so do Rosewood's four prettiest girls.

Hanna, Aria, Spencer and Emily have been lying ever since they became friends with beautiful Alison DiLaurentis. Ali made them do terrible things - things they had to keep secret for years. And even though Ali was killed at the end of seventh grade, their bad-girl ways didn't die with her.

Hanna's on a mission to corrupt Rosewood's youth, starting with a very attractive sophomore. Aria's snooping into her boyfriend's past. Spencer's stealing - from her family. And pure little Emily's abstaining from abstinenence.

The girls should be careful, though. They thought they were safe when Ali's killer was arrested and A's true identity was finally revealed. But now there's a new A in town turning up the heat. And this time Rosewood is going to burn.

My thoughts: I'm more enchanted by the back of the book synopses than I am by the stories. It's like these have all the elements to be sooo good, but instead they're coming across as a knock-off soap opera with the plot being based on the question: How can we be more outlandish than the John Black - Marlena Evans plot lines, possession aside.
Finding Ian's body though, that twist grabbed me. I can't even believe I loved none of these and am still reading through.

My thoughts:

Posted by Ashley
Pretty Little Liars #5: Wicked

The synopsis: In idyllic Rosewood, Pennsylvania, where Burberry earmuffs keep diamond-studded ears warm, four very pretty girls have done some very wicked things. . . . High school juniors Hanna, Spencer, Emily, and Aria have paid dearly for their sins. A stalker named "A" terrorized them for months and revealed their darkest secrets. But now that A's true identity has been revealed, the girls can finally go back to their pretty little lives. Only, once a pretty little liar, always a pretty little liar—and these girls just can't help but be bad. Hanna will do anything to be Rosewood's queen bee. Spencer starts stealing . . . from her parents. Emily can't stop thinking about her new boyfriend. And Aria approves a little too strongly of her mom's taste in men. As the secrets get darker and the scandals juicier, the consequences turn deadly. After all, girls who forget the past are condemned to repeat it. And in Rosewood, someone is always watching. . . .



My thoughts: This is where the series started picking up for me, with Mona having been revealed as A in book 4. It held my attention better than the previous novels, but it still hadn't sucked me in. At this point, the series is still winning over the books for me. Emily's storyline is now just getting a bih,please type reaction from me. We focused this long on her mom's totally harsh reaction and shutout of Emily, and now she's into boys? Pass.

Posted by Ashley
Pretty Little Liars # 4: Unbelievable

The synopsis: Behind Rosewood's grand facades where the air smells like apples and Chanel No. 5 and infinity pools sparkle in landscaped backyards, nothing is as it seems. It was here, back in seventh grade, that five best friends shared everything - Seven jeans, MAC makeup, and their deepest, darkest secrets. For Aria, Spencer, Hanna, and Emily, it was a dream come true...until Alison, the most beautiful of them all, suddenly vanished.

Now someone named A has turned their charmed lives into a living nightmare. Emily has been shipped off to her hyper-conservative cousins in Iowa. Aria is stuck living with her dad and his home-wrecker girlfriend. And Spencer fears she had something to do with Alison's murder. But Hanna's fate is far worse than all of that - she's clinging to life in the hospital, because she knew too much.

With A's threats turning dangerous and Ali's killer still on the loose, the girls must uncover the truth - about A, about Ali, and about what happened to Hanna - before they become A's next victims. But as they unravel Rosewood's mysteries and secrets, will it bring an end to the horror...or is this just the beginning.

My thoughts: Ugh, I'm really, really trying to love this series. But when the books are more outlandish than the television series - that says something, right? For whatever reason, the books just aren't grabbing me like I wish they would. For all the obsession people have with it, I feel like I'm missing something. The storylines involving Hanna and Spencer are gripping me, but I've cut ties with Emily and Aria and her boycraziness are treading thin ice with me right now.

Posted by Ashley
Summer's almost over (or sorry we've been MIA again)


How's everyone's summer been? Mine has been crazy (no lies - I have had time to read about ten books total, and have a backlog of about 50 reviews from April and May still)!

Work has been nuts, three cases scheduled for trial, all settling within days of trial.

To say it's been a rollercoaster is an understatement.


Holly has a gorgeous, growing, smart baby boy who commands Mama's reading skills, and book time. I love watching him pick out books and turn the pages himself. So while Beckham is growing, and getting more adorable by the day - there's literally no time for Holly time or reading. Every month, she's captured a growing Beckham, taking pictures of him with his Sophie to measure his growth. Holly just took his 9 month old picture last week. A week before his 9 month shot, Holly got video of Beckham walking across the room all by himself, and grinning like a cheshire cat all the while.


Here's 7 month old Beckham (my favorite, because I love his little preppiness - just like his Daddy)

And a shot of Beckham and Mommy with Elmo at Wrigley field.




I met my nephew face to face for the first time in May, and omg, I'm so obsessed with him. The best picture I got of Beck pretty much sums it up - such a little imp:




Anyway, just wanted to say hi (and apologize for the inundation of reviews coming). Hopefully, Holly can update with more pictures of Beck, I know I love seeing the little man's happy face. Also? Check out these guns

Posted by Ashley
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