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| The original photo I used |
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| The canvas print |
Labels: sponsored Monday, August 29, 2011 | 1 Comments
Posted by HollyLuce 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.
Labels: critical review, reviews, series, supernatural, teen reads, young adult Thursday, August 25, 2011 | 0 Comments
Posted by HollyLabels: teaser, teen reads, trilogy, young adult Wednesday, August 24, 2011 | 0 Comments
Posted by AshleyDarcy 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.
Labels: book to movie, chick lit, compelling Monday, August 22, 2011 | 0 Comments
Posted by AshleyMy 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.
Labels: book to movie, chick lit, reviews Sunday, August 21, 2011 | 0 Comments
Posted by AshleyWhen 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.
Labels: critical review, reviews, series, young adult Saturday, August 20, 2011 | 0 Comments
Posted by Hollyyard. 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!
Labels: compelling, fiction, southern lit Friday, August 19, 2011 | 2 Comments
Posted by Ashley
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.
Labels: brit lit, chick lit, reviews Thursday, August 18, 2011 | 1 Comments
Posted by AshleyJude 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.
Labels: family, fiction, tear jerker Wednesday, August 17, 2011 | 5 Comments
Posted by AshleyNow 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.
Labels: sequel, tear jerker, teen reads, young adult Tuesday, August 16, 2011 | 0 Comments
Posted by AshleyA 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".
Labels: reviews, series, young adult Monday, August 15, 2011 | 0 Comments
Posted by HollyDead 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.
Labels: reviews, series, stephanie plum Friday, August 12, 2011 | 0 Comments
Posted by HollyTess 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?
Labels: teen reads, young adult Thursday, August 11, 2011 | 0 Comments
Posted by AshleyMy 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.
Labels: blog tour, chick lit, debut author, fiction, supernatural Monday, August 8, 2011 | 5 Comments
Posted by AshleyBeing 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?
Labels: series, teen reads, young adult Sunday, August 7, 2011 | 0 Comments
Posted by AshleyFirst 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.
Labels: series, teen reads, young adult Saturday, August 6, 2011 | 0 Comments
Posted by AshleyHanna, 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:
Labels: series, teen reads, young adult Friday, August 5, 2011 | 0 Comments
Posted by AshleyMy 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.
Labels: fiction, reviews, series, teen reads, young adult Thursday, August 4, 2011 | 0 Comments
Posted by AshleyNow 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.
Labels: series, series spotlight, teen reads, young adult Wednesday, August 3, 2011 | 0 Comments
Posted by Ashley
And a shot of Beckham and Mommy with Elmo at Wrigley field. 

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
Labels: family | 0 Comments
Posted by Ashley


















