The Best of Me by Nicholas Sparks

Title: The Best of Me


Author: Nicholas Sparks


Why I Read It: Because Nicholas Sparks is one of my favorite authors, and I heard a lot about this book as it was being published.


Where I Got It: Barnes and Noble in downtown Chicago!


Rating: 3/5 stars




Overview from Barnes and Noble:

"Everyone wanted to believe that endless love was possible. She'd believed in it once, too, back when she was eighteen."

In the spring of 1984, high school students Amanda Collier and Dawson Cole fell deeply, irrevocably in love. Though they were from opposite sides of the tracks, their love for one another seemed to defy the realities of life in the small town of Oriental, North Carolina. But as the summer of their senior year came to a close, unforeseen events would tear the young couple apart, setting them on radically divergent paths.

Now, twenty-five years later, Amanda and Dawson are summoned back to Oriental for the funeral of Tuck Hostetler, the mentor who once gave shelter to their high school romance. Neither has lived the life they imagined . . . and neither can forget the passionate first love that forever changed their lives. As Amanda and Dawson carry out the instructions Tuck left behind for them, they realize that everything they thought they knew — about Tuck, about themselves, and about the dreams they held dear — was not as it seemed. Forced to confront painful memories, the two former lovers will discover undeniable truths about the choices they have made. And in the course of a single, searing weekend, they will ask of the living, and the dead: Can love truly rewrite the past?

This book is about two teenagers who fall in love, and life breaks them apart as they get older. Sadly, they had to go their different ways, go down different paths that their life was leading them to. Amanda's life led her to a marriage and children, while Dawson's life led him to time in prison for an accident, time he shouldn't have necessarily had to do, a lonely life, and dealing with his no-brain family. After years have gone by, Tuck, both Dawson's and Amanda's good friend and mentor passes away. They return to their home town for the funeral, and their paths meet up again. While they're in town, they learn all sorts of things about Tuck that they didn't know, about themselves, and their families, that they never knew before. Tuck wrote letters to each of them, and a letter for them to read together, teaching them what they probably already knew all along. As the book progresses, we learn about their mistakes, their misfortunes, and how they live from here on out. 


First of all, I've got to say that I debated back and forth about whether or not I wanted to give this book a 2 out of 5 stars, or 3 out of 5 stars. I kept asking myself that while reading it, and as the book started to send, I thought I finally decided on 2 out of 5 stars. However, the VERY ending is what changed my mind, and why I gave it 3 out of 5 stars. 

I won't tell you how it ended, because obviously that would give too much away. I will tell you, however, that I was completely shocked. As in, jaw hit the ground, couldn't believe, didn't see it coming, shocked. Purely based on that, I recommend you read this book. 

The Best of Me isn't a "typical" Nicholas Sparks book, though. You know how he writes romance novels about falling in love, finding love, etc. This book was about romance, and love, but it also had mystery, violence, and it just wasn't anything like his books usually are. As I started reading it, it was very hard for me to get into. I bought the book on October 22nd, tried to start reading it at night, but never really got into it until a few days ago. When I finally did get into it, it was hard for me to put it down. I think the reason it was hard to get into, was because it's not a typical Nicholas Sparks story, so I was caught off guard. 

Here are the reasons I enjoyed the book so much: As I mentioned, the surprise, shocking ending. That's probably the number one reason, also because it had a lot of different characters in it. Important characters. Nicholas Sparks told each of their stories well, however, in the same token, there were a few characters (I think two) that just kind of died out. Towards the end of the book, you were reading about her, a page break came, and that was it. It never told what happened to her. Although, from the way it's written, it is kind of assumed that you know what happened. I also enjoyed this book because it seemed realistic. You fall in love at a young age, you have a mentor who grows old, and you eventually have to go to their funeral. Then you've got the family drama and problems, just like every family. All in all, it wasn't a bad read.

Now, for the reason I was debating back and forth between 2 and 3 stars out of 5, mostly comes down to this: The entire book, especially the last 5 chapters or so, felt rushed. I've noticed that a lot of authors seem to "rush" their books at the end. It's like they're tired of writing the book, so they just rush it. The end of the book was still good, as I've mentioned a dozen times, but there was a lot of small paragraphs with page breaks, all spread out at the end. That's why I said it felt like it was rushed. I kind of felt like bits and pieces of the entire book was rushed, only because it lack some detail in spots I feel like it needed it. 

All in all, it was a good book, and a great read. I would recommend anyone who enjoys these type of books, or enjoys Nicholas Sparks, should read this book. It's a good book, and the ending will leave you with your jaw left open and you'll be saying, "Wow." Long after the story is finished. 

Smokin' Seventeen by Janet Evanovich

Title: Smokin' Seventeen

Author: Janet Evanovich

Why I Read It: I've read this entire series.

Where I Got It: Target in Chicago

Rating: 3/5 stars



Overview from Barnes and Noble:

Where there’s smoke there’s fire, and no one knows this better than New Jersey bounty hunter Stephanie Plum. 
 
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, Stephanie faces further complications when her family and friends decide that it’s time for her to choose between her longtime 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’s 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.

If you've ever read any of Janet's books, you'd know that they are hilarious. Janet has a way of making you literally laugh out loud through out her books. This book was no exception! 

I am just glad that I don't live the life of Stephanie. She has crazy people after her on a day to day basis. People are  trying to kill her, leaving dead bodies in the bonds office empty parking lot with her name on it. Her, as well as her on again, off again boyfriend and Trenton cop Morelli, are trying to figure out who the killer is and why they're doing the killing and leaving the bodies for Stephanie.

While this on going investigation continues, Stephanie has to capture her FTA's for the week. In case you're not aware of the bounty hunter lingo, FTA means Failure To Appear in court. She has to capture these people and take them down to the police station to book them until their next court date. 

This book is a fast paced mystery where there is never a dull moment in Stephanie's life, to say the least. 

For this particular book, I didn't like it quite as much as I did all of her other books. It was still a laugh out loud book, but I felt like it wasn't quite as funny as usual. I also felt like the bizarre things that happen to Stephanie in all of the other books in the series, weren't as good in this book. I found myself disappointed and bored in the book most of the time.

I do, however, suggest you read it if you've read all of the other books in the series. Maybe you will like it a little better than I did.

My Rating: 

One True Theory of Love by Laura Fitzgerald

Title: One True Theory of Love

Author: Laura Fitzgerald 

Where I Got This Book: From the Dollar Tree

Why I Read It: I was looking for a few new books, and this one caught my eye. I read the back of it, and instantly wanted to read it.

Rating: 5/5 Stars


Overview from the back of the book:

"Meg Clark believes in the "hokey pokey" theory of life, which demands that you put your whole self in; she even teaches it to her kindergarten students. But after  the love of her life betrays her, and her father takes a flying leap off the pedestal she set him on, Meg has a hard time putting this theory into practice. What's the point of opening yourself up if your heart comes back a little more broken each time?

Not only one man receives Meg's full devotion: her nine-year-old son, Henry. She's happy with her single-mom life. She and Henry are taking on the world in their own lively way, and it's enough. Still, sometimes love finds you, whether you're ready or not.

Love comes to Meg in the form of Ahmed Bourhani, an exotically handsome Iranian-American who befriends her and Henry over a game of chess in a coffee shop. Meg knows that second chances require a leap of faith, and the result more often a complicated mixed bag than a neatly packaged happily-ever-after. Sometimes in order to heal you have to hurt, but most of all you have to live your life and put your whole self in...."

This book was AMAZING! I don't know if any of you have Dollar Stores in your area, but it's probably one of the best places to buy books. I only spent $1.06 on this book and it was the best $1.06 I've ever spent. 

I love books that I can FEEL something from. I think that I could feel something so strongly because I have been going through a heartbreak for a while now. I'm a lot better than I was almost two years ago, but there are still those days where the pain comes back a little more, and you think that you'll never be able to love again, or be whole again. This book teaches you that you can't let yourself go, that life isn't always guaranteed, and that you have to "Put your whole self in." It's the only way to go about life, heartache, betrayal, and everything else that goes into living life. 

Laura did a fantastic job at bringing her characters to life. She gets deep into the personalities, the life, and relationship between her and her son Henry. While reading this book, you will feel like you KNOW these two, as well as the other characters through out the book. 

This book taught me that even though you're hurting now, and you think that you can't ever love again, you WILL find love again. This book teaches you that there is such thing as second chances at love. And, as the back of the book says, "Sometimes in order to heal, you have to hurt, but most of all you have to live your life and put your whole self in..."

I'm not a big fan of rereading books, but after doing this review (I read this a couple months ago), I am about 100% positive that I want to, and probably will, reread this book again. It's an amazing book. 

This book is for those people who have loved and lost, who have been hurt, who think they can never love again. It's for those people to teach them that it WILL be okay, the pain lessens, and you will be able to love again.

I really can't think of anything about this book that I DIDN'T like. It was just all around a fantastic book.

I highly recommend this book to you. Go out and buy this book, ask a friend for it, just make sure you read it. 

Visit Laura Fitzgerald online: http://laurafitzgerald.com/

My Rating:

Sing You Home by Jodi Picoult

Title: Sing You Home


Author: Jodi Picoult


Where I Got It: Bought it from Target


Why I Read It: Jodi is a favorite author, and I've read all of her books!


Rating: 5/5 stars




Overview from Barnes and Noble:

"Every life has a soundtrack. All you have to do is listen.

Music has set the tone for most of Zoe Baxter’s life. There’s the melody that reminds her of the summer she spent rubbing baby oil on her stomach in pursuit of the perfect tan. A dance beat that makes her think of using a fake ID to slip into a nightclub. A dirge that marked the years she spent trying to get pregnant.

For better or for worse, music is the language of memory. It is also the language of love.

In the aftermath of a series of personal tragedies, Zoe throws herself into her career as a music therapist. When an unexpected friendship slowly blossoms into love, she makes plans for a new life, but to her shock and inevitable rage, some people—even those she loves and trusts most—don’t want that to happen.

Sing You Home is about identity, love, marriage, and parenthood. It’s about people wanting to do the right thing for the greater good, even as they work to fulfill their own personal desires and dreams. And it’s about what happens when the outside world brutally calls into question the very thing closest to our hearts: family."

While attempting to write the review for this book, I was trying to decide whether or not I should elaborate more on what the book is exactly about. I don't want to give away too much information, or spoil anything though. But after careful consideration, I decided to go into a little bit more detail.

This book is about loving someone you didn't think you'd ever be able to fall in love with. You know how the saying goes, "You can't help who you love." Zoe, one of the main characters in the book, falls in love with a woman at the school she does music therapy for. Zoe has never before been interested in other girls, and was married to her husband for a significant amount of years. Sadly, Zoe wasn't able to get pregnant, and the long hauls, trials and tragedies that most couples go through while trying to get pregnant, tore her and her husband apart. As Zoe falls in love with this woman, Zoe's family, including her ex-husband, ridicules her left and right for who she fell in love with. 

As I said, I don't want to give too much away. A lot more happens in this book that makes you take a look at your life and ask yourself, "What would I have done in a position like that?" And in the end, you really don't know until it's happened to you.

I know what it's like to be judged for the person you love by your family. I dated an African-American for 7 years and no one, except my Dad, Sister and Brother accepted it. My Mom tried for years to break us up, and did everything in her power to make her out to be incredibly racist. So, this book touched my heart in certain aspects, only because I know what it's like to be judged for loving someone "different". 

As you've probably guessed, a lot more happens in this book. But it's about finding new love, unexpected love, loving yourself, loss, happiness, and proving to others that all love, is good love.

I highly recommend this book to EVERYONE!! Especially if you think you in some way could relate. Jodi Picoult is an AMAZING author, and she does extensive research in all of her books, making her books very real.

On a side note, Ellen DeGeneres has bought the movie rights to this book. She plans on making the movie almost identical to the book. You can find more information about this by clicking here.

Let me know if you any of you have already read this book, and if not, when you do read it, let me know what you think of it!!! 

Find Jodi Picoult Online: www.jodipicoult.com

My Rating:

Best Friends Forever by Jennifer Weiner

Title: Best Friends Forever 

Author:  Jennifer Weiner

Where I Got It: Someone bought it for me!

Why I Read It: I've heard a lot about Jennifer as an author, and wanted to try out some of her books!

Rating: 4/5


Blurb from the back of the book:

Addie Downs and Valerie Adler will be best friends forever. That's what Addie believes after Valerie moves across the street when they're both nine years old. But in the wake of betrayal during their teenage years, Val is swept into the popular crowd, while mousy, sullen Addie becomes her school's scapegoat.

Flash-forward fifteen years. Valerie Adler has found a measure of fame and fortune working as the weather girl at the local TV station. Addie Downs lives alone in her parents' house in their small hometown of Pleasant Ridge, Illinois, caring for a troubled brother and trying to meet Prince Charming on the Internet. She's just returned from Bad Date #6 when she opens her door to find her long-gone best friend standing there, a terrified look on her face and blood on the sleeve of her coat. "Something horrible has happened." Val tells Addie, "and you're the only one who can help."

Best Friends Forever is a grand, hilarious, edge-of-your-seat adventure; a story about betrayal and loyalty, family history and small-town secrets. It's about living through tragedy, finding love where you least expect it, and the ties that keep best friends together.

This book was actually very well written, and as the blurb says, it was hilarious! It had it's parts that were kind of boring, of course, what book doesn't? But for the most part, it was very entertaining! 

I felt like I could relate to Addie quite a bit when it came to having friends in High School, being picked on, etc. I wasn't UNPOPULAR, but I wasn't popular either. High School was a lot less hard for me than Elementary was, but in that aspect, I could definitely relate to Addie. 

Addie and Val had a falling out in high school when Val told Addie a secret, and Addie felt as if she needed to tell someone to help Val out. Addie did no wrong, but Val couldn't see it at the time. In the way Val handled it (I don't want to say too much), she wasn't a very good friend. I feel as if I could relate to Addie in the way of losing a good friend over something incredibly preventable, and being so hurt over it. 

The book starts off when Addie was a little girl, living with her parents and brother in a neighborhood in Pleasant Ridge, Illinois. Pleasant Ridge is ( in real life ) a suburb of Chicago. One day Addie was looking out her window before lunch or dinner time (I can't remember which) and saw a moving truck pull up into the house across the street. She saw a little girl get out of the car following the moving truck, and realized they were the same age. Addie got excited, hoping to have a new friend. 

Later, Val introduced herself to Addie, and Addie invited her to eat lunch with them. The rest is pretty much history. They were across-the-street neighbors, who hung out every single day. They grew up together, never leaving each others side until the event happened in high school. 

My only complaint about the book is that I felt like the event that happened to cause them to drift apart, wasn't well detailed. I felt like there was lots of missing pieces. Also, the event that happened before Val showed up at Addie's door 15 years later, involved another character in the book, and I felt like he kept getting lost in the story. Pages and pages would go by before Jennifer would mention him again. 

Over all, this was a fantastic book, and I would recommend it to anyone! I am also going to be checking into her other books very soon!!

Don't forget to leave feedback!!! 

My Rating:

Recovering Charles by Jason F. Wright

Title: Recovering Charles

Author: Jason F. Wright

Where I got it: Library

Why I read it: I read a review on someone elses blog about The Wednesday Letters that he also wrote, and I fell in love with him as an author, so I decided to read all of his other books as well.

Rating: A

First let me say that Jason F. Wright is an AMAZING author! He is a new found favorite of mine, and as with all of my new found favorite authors, I will read all of the books hes written. 

Jason F. Wright is the author of the book, The Wednesday Letters, which was the first book I read by him, and I did a review, which you can read HERE.

This book is about a "normal" family, with a "normal", "happy" life in the beginning, but as it sometimes happens in everyone’s life/families, things change quickly. Luke, the son to Charles, has to deal with his mother going into a deep, dark depression after her mother passes away, and the story unfolds into the childhood that Luke endured. As the story progresses, it changes to when Luke is older, and when Charles (Luke's Dad) becomes an alcoholic, and they lose their tight knit friendship quickly. Luke becomes a very successful photographer living in New York where he is surrounded by the love of close friends. One day he gets a phone call from a stranger, which basically changes his life. The stranger asks Luke to come find his estranged father in post-Katrina New Orleans. When Luke receives this phone call, it's a testament to finding out what kind of man he truly is; and who the man is that his father has become.

This story/book/novel is about finding forgiveness not only with yourself, but with others who have hurt you, or you've lost touch with, etc. It's about finding true love, and one's true self. This book should be read by every single person and/or family who has had rough times, for those of us who have regretted things never said, or things that were said, and for those who need to know their has a second verse. (Some of the words used here were taken from the inside flap of the book. I tried to put it in my own words as much as I could.)

As it was it, this book takes place in post-Katrina New Orleans. I didn’t personally experience this terribly tragedy, and Praise God that none of my family members or friends didn’t either. But by reading this book, it makes your heart break hearing some of the things that happened. I’m not entirely sure if Jason F. Wright actually experienced any of this himself, If he was a relief worker, or if he had family/friends down there, but the things that he explains in such great detail is astounding, yet scary and heart breaking. You find yourself crying for these people, and wishing you could do something for them, even though you’re reading just a story, and this event happened some time ago.

You will also find yourself routing for Luke. He has some issues of his own, about needing to forgive his father for the things that happened, needing to find him, alive or dead, and he is stuck trying to find true love. Luke is such a loveable character, even with his flaws, that you find yourself rooting for him from the very beginning.

Something that I absolutely loved about this book, it wasn’t predicting at all. Jason kept you guessing, changing your mind, and would throw in the littlest detail to make you say, “Or maybe not!” when you think you’ve figured out how the book was going to end. I won’t say what happens in the, end obviously, but I will say that it’s not predictable in the least. Another thing that I absolutely loved about this book was that it continuously talked about the love of music. Luke’s father was a huge music lover, and a saxophone player. The story frequently reminds us of the healing power that a good song can give us.

This may be considered a spoiler so please READ WITH CAUTION!!!!!! Charles wrote his own music in this story, and at the end of the book, there is a song that was written. It's got the lyrics, and the actual page of notes, if anyone knows how to play an instrument, and would like to follow and play. Also, you can go to www.recoveringcharles.com and hear the song being played. It's absolutely amazing, and beautiful.

This is probably one of the best books I've read this year. It was the book to get me out of my reading slump (finally) and one I would recommend to anyone. I enjoyed this book so immensely, that I want to go out and buy a copy to pass on to someone else, then when they return it, pass it on to yet another person, and/or, the first person I pass it on to, pass it on, etc.

It made me laugh, it made me cry, and it made me want to call up all of my family and friends just to tell them that I love them. We never know how long we've got left in this world, and this book teaches us just that, and that we should NEVER EVER go to bed angry. Resolve all issues/problems/concerns when they arise.

Please, go out and read this book ASAP. I promise, you will not be disappointed.

My Rating:

Mockingjay by Suzanne Collins

Title: Mockingjay 

Author: Suzanne Collins

Where I got it: Library

Why I read it: It's the third book in The Hunger Games series, and I kept hearing about how good it was so I wanted to find out for myself.

Rating: A


Katniss Everdeen, girl on fire, has survived, even though her home has been destroyed. Gale has escaped. Katniss's family is safe. Peeta has been captured by the Capitol. District 13 really does exist. There are rebels. There are new leaders. A revolution is unfolding. 

It is by design that Katniss was rescued from the arena in the cruel and haunting Quarter Quell, and it is by design that she has long been part of the revolution without knowing it. District 13 has come out of the shadows and is plotting to overthrow the Capitol. Everyone, it seems, has had a hand in the carefully laid plans -- except Katniss. 

The success of the rebellion hinges on Katniss's willingness to be a pawn, to accept responsibility for countless lives, and to change the course of the future of Panem. To do this, she must put aside her feelings of anger and distrust. She must become the rebels' Mockingjay -- no matter what the personal cost. (Summary from Goodreads)




First let me say that I thought this book was WAY better than the first two!!!! I absolutely LOVED this book!! It was entertaining, enjoyable, and I found myself wanting to keep reading to find out what happens next. I found myself with my jaw dropping numerous times through out the book, and those are the type of books that I like to read.


I think that if the first two books were even remotely as good as the third (and final!) book, then I would have enjoyed it a lot more. Just from this book alone, I'd recommend the series to someone so they could see how well this book is. 


The reason I'm giving this book an A is because it was suspenseful, interesting, and jaw dropping. Plus, towards the end of the book, it had me in tears!!! 


The only thing that I didn't like about it was the ending. I felt like the ending could have been detailed a little bit more, and that the Epilogue could have been written better. But, that doesn't make the rest of the book bad!


I do recommend this series, solely based on this third book. It was amazing!!!


My rating:

Safe Haven by Nicholas Sparks

Title: Safe Haven

Author: Nicholas Sparks

Why I read this book: Because Nicholas Sparks is one of my favorite authors, and it's his newest book so of course I read it!

Where I got the book: I won it in a book blog contest!

Rating: A

Inside flap description: When a mysterious young woman named Katie appears in the small North Carolina town of Southport, her sudden arrival raises questions about her past. Beautiful yet self-effacing, Katie seems determined to avoid forming personal ties until a series of events draws her into two reluctant relationships: one with Alex, a widowed store owner with a kind heart and two young children; and another with her plainspoken single neighbor, Jo. Despite her reservations, Katie slowly begins to let down her guard, putting down roots in the close-knit community and becoming increasingly attached to Alex and his family. Be even as Katie begins to fall in love, she struggles with the dark secret that still haunts and terrifies her... a past that set her on a fearful, shattering journey across the country, to the sheltered oasis of Southport. With Jo's empathetic and stubborn support, Katie eventually realizes that she must choose between a life of transient safety and one of riskier rewards... and that in the darkest hour, love is the only true safe haven.

This was actually a really great book. At first I didn't think I liked it, and it took me a minute to get into, but I would definitely recommend it to everyone. I feel like Nicholas Sparks wrote this book a lot differently than he did his other books. While yes, this is still a romantic love story, it's not quite as "gushy" as his others have been. But, that doesn't take away from his story, or the way he wrote this particular book. The way the book is written is kind of like in parts. In the beginning you're told about her moving to Southport and not being very outgoing, then you've got the part where she briefly speaks about her past, then another happier part, and so on. We don't find out about what exactly the kind of past she had until well into the book, closer to the end. I'm not sure if i like this or not. It felt like it was backwards to me. The 'good' was first, then the 'bad' was second. Usually books have what happened bad happen in the beginning of the book, then the middle to end of the book is how they over come the struggle(s). But Sparks did it the total opposite, which made for an interesting book.

Apparently this book has already been sold to become a movie. I kept this in my mind as I was reading it and I basically kept picturing it has a mysterious, love story with a side of horror mixed in. That's pretty much how the book goes down.

It's heartwarming, and has a few funny parts, it'll make you smile, and you'll actually find yourself scared during parts of it too, wondering if the characters will escape the madness that they're going through. I do believe, however, that this is the first book that Sparks has written that hasn't made me cry. But! Don't get that confused with it being a bad book, because it's not at all. He still did a fantastic job writing it, even without the heartbreaking, sobbing and crying stuff that his other books have. But then again, maybe it's just me and I wasn't in the "crying mood". You be the judge if it's a tear jerker!

I highly recommend this book. I don't really have anything bad to say about it. It's a quick, sort of light, heartwarming, family loving, learning about your past and moving on book. I think you should go read it today!!

 

Wicked Appetite by Janet Evanovich

Title: Wicked Appetite 


Author: Janet Evanovich


Where I Got It: Public Library


Why I Read It: She's one of my favorite authors, and it's a new book so of course I wanted to read it!


Rating: A!!! 




I can describe this book in two words: Freaking Hilarious!!!!!! 


I don't think I stopped laughing through out the entire book -- and this book is 313 pages long!! Through a few chapters my stomach was literally hurting from laughing so hard and so much. I should have abs of steel by now!!!


Wicked Appetite is about this guy named Diesel, his cousin Gerwulf Grimore (Wulf for short), and Lizzy Tucker. Diesel is a mysterious, tall, dark and handsome "Unmentionable" who appears in Lizzy's life out of nowhere, Wulf is also a mysterious, not-so-handsome "Unmentionable" and Lizzy is a pastry chef at the bakery Dazzles, where she too finds out she's an "Unmentionable." Each of these characters possess crazy talents that a normal person wouldn't. Wulf can disappear, leaving fire and smoke in his wake, Diesel can unlock doors and read minds, and Lizzy makes outstanding cupcakes. Diesel and Wulf come into Lizzy's life because they're both looking for something-- the stones that possess the seven deadly sins-- pride, greed, lust, envy wrath, sloth and gluttony. It's believed that Lizzy can use her powers to find these stones, and Wulf wants her apart of his team, but Diesel beats him to the punch and Diesel comes into Lizzy's life to protect her. And so, they all set out in an adventure trying to find these stones, while a crazy monkey, and ninja cat appear in Lizzy's life. 


This book is full of crazy mishaps, funny and down right hilarious situations and circumstances that could only happy to the unluckiest person, and it's full of drama. It doesn't have too much drama that makes a book seem too unreal, it's just enough to keep you wanting to turn the page to see what happens next! 


I don't want to give too much away.. but some of the funny these that will make you laugh is when someone in the book starts talking gibberish. I mean, you can just picture this person in your head and having them talk crazy to you and you bust out laughing instantly. Then there's the crazy monkey who will flip you off if you don't do something he likes. Hopefully I haven't given too much away.


I highly, highly, HIGHLY recommend this book to EVERYONE!!! You will NOT be disappointed! And, for those of you who have read some of Janet's Stephanie Plum novels, Diesel is a character from one of these (along with the monkey) and Janet is/has started a separate series with just Diesel! 


This book, undoubtedly deserves an A! 

The Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins

Title: The Hunger Games

Author: Suzanne Collins

Where I Got The Book: Library

Why I Read It: Mostly because everyone else is/was going on and on about how good this book/series is. I wanted to find out for myself.

Rating: B


Well guys... I finally did it. I finally read The Hunger Games. My first impression, as I was first starting to book was that it was horribly written, boring, and lacking interest. I know, I'm sure all of you are screaming at your computers right now asking me if I'm crazy. But, as I kept reading, kept pushing my way through the book, I found myself getting more and more into the story, couldn't put the book down, and found myself wanting to reach the end quick to see what happens.

I'm sure 80% of you know what the Hunger Games is about, but just in case, I will tell you.

The Hunger Games takes place in a country with 12 districts. Each district is poor in their own way, but most of them don't ever have any food, and no money to get food. They have to go out each day, risk their lives, and hunt for game, find roots, berries, nuts, etc. just to live. Well, in this country, they have this thing called The Hunger Games. From each district, 1 through 12, two people are drawn from a big ball of names to fight to the death against each other to win the games and the winner of the district wins food for their entire area. Hence the name The Hunger Games. The two people from each district are put into an arena where they have limited supplies of food, water, clothing, etc. and they have to kill each other to find a winner. The two main characters, Peeta and Katniss are from District 12, and they're fighting to be the first two winners ever in the games. This book reminds me of a reality tv show, much like Suvivor. I feel like my decription of the book isn't doing it justice. But I don't want to give too much away at the same time. So, I'm going to post the description from Good reads below:

"Could you survive on your own, in the wild, with every one out to make sure you don't live to see the morning? 

In the ruins of a place once known as North America lies the nation of Panem, a shining Capitol surrounded by twelve outlying districts. The Capitol is harsh and cruel and keeps the districts in line by forcing them all to send one boy and one girl between the ages of twelve and eighteen to participate in the annual Hunger Games, a fight to the death on live TV. 

Sixteen-year-old Katniss Everdeen, who lives alone with her mother and younger sister, regards it as a death sentence when she steps forward to take her sister's place in the Games. But Katniss has been close to dead before—and survival, for her, is second nature. Without really meaning to, she becomes a contender. But if she is to win, she will have to start making choices that will weigh survival against humanity and life against love."

That does help a little bit in describing the story. As I said, I felt like this book was boring, lacking interest, and wasn't as good as everyone said when I first started reading it. But as the book went on, and it got closer to the actual Hunger Games, the book was amazing. It was hard to put down, it was compelling, and you found yourself routing for the characters. The only reason I'm giving it a B and not an A is because I felt like it took too long for the book to really get started and get interesting. While some books you read, you can kind of predict the ending, this book had you second guessing yourself mutliple times because you thought you had the ending figured out, but then the author would throw you off and you'd wonder if you're right or not. When I first started the book, I wasn't sure if I was going to read the rest of the series, but the ending leaves you wanting more, and wanting to find out what happens next between Peeta and Katniss. So, I will be reading and reviewing book 2 ASAP!

This is definitely a must read and a book that I think deserves all of the popularity, praise and attention that it has been receiving. While there's a debate going on if this series is the next Twilight, I'm not sure if I agree there. But do see some comparisons. Now, if you haven't already, go read this book!!

The Wednesday Letters by Jason F. Wright

Title: The Wednesday Letters

Author: Jason F. Wright

Why I Read This Book: I read a review on this book on another blog, and I wanted to check it out!

Where I Got It: You'll never guess... the Public Library!

Rating: A

This book is about two older couples who own their own Bed and Breakfast, and the husband, Jack, has a brain tumor that he and his wife, Laurel, have to get through. They've got three children, Mathew, Malcolm and Samantha.

Jack and Laurel have been married for 39 years, and have what appears to be, the perfect marriage. They had the dream of opening up their own B&B someday, and luckily they were able to. One night while Jack and Laurel were in bed, Laurel was complaining of heartburn, but all of a sudden she was clutching her chest, and gasping for air. She was asking Jack for help, but he was incredibly weakened by his brain tumor that he could not help her. Sadly, she passed away. During their 39 years of marriage, Jack wrote a letter to Laurel every Wednesday. After Laurel took her last breath that night, Jack wrote his final Wednesday letter to Laurel, then tucked it away, laid down in bed next to his wife, putting his arms around her, and took his final breath as well. Their three children come together in the grieving process before the funeral and happen to stumble upon the boxes and boxes of Wednesday letters that their father and written to their Mother. As they were reading through the letters, they each found out something about their past that they hadn't known before, most of the secrets being a trying realization.

This book is about redemption, forgiveness, longing, remembering, grieving, and understanding that life is the hardest thing you'll ever life through, but with family, God, and friends, you can live through anything.

I personally thought this was a fantastic book. It was cute, funny, sad, heart warming and heart breaking. I found myself bawling like a little baby in some parts, laughing in others, and there are a lot of jaw dropping events as well. I highly HIGHLY recommend that you ALL add this book to your TBR pile/lists. To tell you how much I enjoyed this book, it's 280 pages long, and I finished it ONE day! Less than 12 hours. And the best part of the book... at least in the copy I had from the library, was an envelope that said "Epilogue" on it, and it was a letter. I won't tell you who wrote it, or what it said, but that was AWESOME! It was the perfect ending to a perfect story!

Please, if you've read this book, or when you do, let me know how you liked and/or disliked it!

Trouble Maker By Janet and Alex Evanovich

Title: Trouble Maker: Book One, A Barnaby and Hooker Graphic Novel

Author: Janet and Alex Evanovich

Why I Read This Book: Janet Evanovich is one of my favorite authors of all time, and I read the first two books in this series, so I had to read this one too!

Where I Got It: Public Library, of course!

Rating: B/C

First, let me explain that a Graphic Novel is a Comic book, in case some of you weren't sure. Also, I had mentioned above that I read the first two books in this series, but the title says Book One. The first two books in the series are actual books, not graphic novels. This is the first in the series that's a graphic novel. Basically, it's a new series with the same story line/characters!

This was actually a cute, light read. It's about two people named Alex Barnaby, and Sam Hooker who are constantly caught up in different fighting crime situations that consists of lots of danger, mayhem, stress, chaos, panic and disorder. Alex is an automacanic, and Sam is a racecar driver -- so you can imagine how these two met. Well, in this book, Alex and Sam's friends, Rosa and Felicia are caught up in some sort of Black Magic Voodoo Cult, and Rosa has gone missing. So, Alex and Sam set out to find Rosa, while running into a bunch of trouble along the way. Things like an exploding voodoo doll, gift-wrapped body parts, etc.

So, on to the rating of this book. It was a great little book. I was a little ify when I first heard about this book, because I didn't think I'd enjoy it much, being a graphic novel. But it was actually quite good. And the graphics are amazing. It shows exactly what the characters are thinking, just by the expressions on their faces. However, I know some of you are thinking, "What exactly is a B/C rating?" Well, I just recently changed to the letter grade rating system because I feel in most cases, it works better. But, I did have one issue with the book that led me to wanting to give it a C: It ended so quickly and abruptly that it made me kinda annoyed! I understand it's a graphic novel, so it's not meant to be a huge book, but I felt like the way it ended was a little too, what's the word? Too... I can't think of a good word, but it left me feeling super anxious for the next graphic novel. I know that was Janet's intention all along, but still! So, I have to wait until November 2010 for the next book! So, I was thinking that if I did still do the star rating, it would get a 4.5 stars, not quite 4, not quite 5... so, that's where the B/C rating comes in. Not quite a B, but not quite a C!

I do suggest that you all add this to your TBR list as a quick read. You'll probably finish it within 20 minutes, but it's just something cute, fun and something to giggle at!

Enjoy!

[[ I didn't add the graphic for my rating at the bottom of this post, because of the 'weird' B/C combo!]]