Anna and the French Kiss by Stephanie Perkins

Title: Anna and the French Kiss

Author: Stephanie Perkins

Why I Read It: I've heard so much about this book, and read so many reviews that I just had to read it for myself!

Where I Got It: Secret Santa sent it to me! :D

Rating: 4/5 stars



Overview from the inside cover:

Anna is happy in Atlanta. She has a loyal best friend and a crush on her coworker at the movie theater, who is just starting to return her affection. So she's not too pleased when her father decided to send her to a boarding school in Paris for her senior year. But despite not speaking a word of French, Anna meets some cool new friends, including the handsome Etienne St. Clair, who quickly becomes her best friend. Unfortunately, he's taken--And Anna might be, too. Will a year of romantic near misses end with the French kiss she's been waiting for? 

First, I feel the need to say that I was a little disappointed in the book. I feel like all of the reviews I read made me so excited for this book, that it forced me into having a huge expectation to this being the best book ever read. Except, I had a hard time feeling like it was a good book. 

I went back and forth about how many stars to give it, and why I'd choose what I did over another rating, etc. I must say, the book was extremely slow going for me. It took me until way past the half point of the book to REALLY get into it. So, for that reason alone, I decided to give it 4 out of 5 stars. I was going to go ahead and give the book 3 out of 5 stars because it was slow going, took me a while to get into it, and I felt like there needed to be a lot more background information on Anna to REALLY get to know her. But, as I continued to read, and finally got into it to the point where I couldn't put the book down, I decided it was worth 4 out of 5 stars.

Now, onto the actual story line of the book. 

Anna is your typical teenage boy crazy girl. She has a crush on her friend Toph, who works with her at the movie theater. She finds herself drooling over him, and dreaming of spending the rest of her life with him. Then, suddenly, (and I'm not sure if it ever really said why), her Dad sends her off to School of American in Paris. Anna throws a fit that she has to go on the other side of the world for her SENIOR YEAR of school, leaving her friends and family behind. She's scared of new and bigger places, and most of all, she's scared that she doesn't know even a little bit of French. 

After her first day in the dorms, she meets her neighbor Meredith, who becomes her good friend right away. Meredith introduces Anna to her friends, St. Clair, Josh, Rashmi and a few other people. They all become fast friends, and become the "group". 

As the story progresses, we learn a lot about St. Clair and his girlfriend Ellie. We learn that St. Clair is liked by many, and all women. He's the type of guy girls chase after and drool over. Anna instantly finds herself becoming best friends with him, and slowly realizes that she likes him a little more than she should.

The book goes on and on with St. Clair and Anna site seeing around Paris, getting to know each other more, going to classes, doing homework, and all of the other drama of being in high school. We all know that type of drama! 

There were two things that were said in the book that stuck out to me. One being when Anna said, "Why do I always fall for the wrong guys?" Because don't we all? And the other being, "Because I was right. Home isn't a place, it's a person." 

All in all, it was a good book, with a good story line. I don't think it was as good as my expectations sought out it to be, but I would definitely recommend it to everyone who looks a decent Young Adult novel. 

I'm excited to read Stephanie's new book, Lola and the Boy Next Door! 

Longing by Karen Kingsbury

Title: Longing

Author: Karen Kingsbury

Why I Read It: It's the third book in the Bailey Flangian series. I've read the first two, so of course I needed to read this one.

Where I Got It: Target

Rating: 5/5 stars











Overview from Barnes and Noble:

While Bailey Flanigan wrestles with feelings for Brandon Paul, Cody Coleman's work coaching a small-town football team has brought him and his players national attention. In the midst of the celebration and success, Cody finds himself much closer to a woman who seems to better understand him and his new life. Even so, never does much time go by without Bailey and Cody experiencing deep feelings of longing for each other, longing both for the past and for answers before they can move forward.

Will an unexpected loss be the turning point for Cody? Will Cody and Bailey find a way back together again for the first time in more than a year? And if they do, will their brief time together be enough to help them remember all they've been longing for?

I'm sure that I've mentioned this time and time again about Karen Kingsbury as an author, but I feel like she is the best author to bring her characters to life. She makes you feel like you're best friends with the people she writes about. 

In this book, the third book in the series, Bailey is still in the broadway play in New York. She's working towards her dreams and goals, while still dating Brandon Paul, the famous movie star, and every once in a while, thinking about Cody Coleman and longing for him, wondering the "what if's" that no one ever likes to think about. Bailey struggles with her love for Brandon Paul, and the struggles of knowing what her and Cody had in the past. She continues to ask herself why things happened the way they did between the two of them.

Mean while, Cody is being more and more famous with the Football team he coaches at Lyle High School. The team is going to be featured on ESPN, as well as Sports Illustrated. Cody and Demetri have to fly to New York for both of these amazing accomplishments, while they're there, someone through Espn, has two tickets for them to enjoy dinner, and a Broadway show while in New York. Cody knows in the back of his head that it may or may not be the show Bailey performs in. He constantly thinks about it, and questions whether or not he can stand seeing her. 

The book flips back and forth between Cody and Bailey, and Bailey and Brandon. Brandon wants Bailey to read a script in LA so she may be able to be in a movie with him. While they're in LA, Bailey has to "get used to" all of the Paparazzi that chases Brandon constantly. When they're back in New York, Cody thinks about asking Bailey to marry him. Going as far as making a trip to the jewelry store. 

Cody goes through something intense personal issues with his friend Cheyanne, which leaves him questioning everything hes done in his life, including his faith. 

Again, Karen has the ability to make you feel like you know these characters in real life. She makes them seem so real, and you find yourself routing on each person, wanting to hold their hand during the tough times, and celebrate with them during the good times. Not very many authors can do that, and this is why I love Karen, and her books so much.

All of Karen's books are inspirational/Christian fiction. She has such a strong faith in God and religion, and she shows it in each and every book. I highly recommend this book, as well as the series and all of her other books. I promise you won't be disappointed. 

I enjoyed this book immensely, and cannot wait for the fourth, and final book to be released in a few months! 

New Year Resolutions

I know this post is a little late, considering we're 17 days into the new year! But, better late than never, right?

In 2010 I made a sort of resolution, or goal, to read 100 books, or more. Sadly, I didn't quite make it. I read 41 books. When 2011 started, I decided to make another goal, but not put a number on it and to just see how many books I could read. I did HORRIBLE. I listed only 12 books, but I know I read WAY more books than that! So, alas, here I am, a new year, with new beginnings. I decided to try a book reading goal again this year. I was going back and forth between the numbers of 64 books, and 75 books. I read 41 books in 2010, so to make the goal "realisitc", I'm going to stick with 65 books.

So, in 2012, I plan on reading 65 books.

I've also been slacking on my book review blog. Which makes me kind of sick to my stomach to think about. In all honesty, I feel like the reason I have been slacking is because I don't have a lot of traffic on my blog. I've got 66 "followers" but how many of those people actually FOLLOW me? I've only had a handful of people comment on my reviews, and other things I post. So, it's kind of frustrating. I've got my blog URL posted on social networking sites, including Goodreads and other Bookish sites. I try to participate in Meme's and other activities, but still don't see a lot of traffic. So, if anyone is reading this, my question to you is: How can I get more traffic, more people who are READ what I post, and who comment, on my blog? What has been YOUR blogs so popular?

Another resolution, or goal, I've made is to be more into my blog this year. No matter the amount of traffic, I'm still going to read, read, read and review everything. I will post a review for each book read. Traffic, or not.

So, those are my goals, and resolutions for 2012. What are some of the goals or resolutions you've made this year?

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. 

Bookish Websites

Hello everyone! I know it has been a little while since I've posted last. I've just been busy with work, and dealing with some family issues and most recently, I've been really sick with strep throat and pink eye! NO FUN!

However, I'm trying to get back into doing my blog some more, reading a lot more, etc. I am posting this today because I was just curious if some of you could direct me to some bookish type websites that I've never been to before? I know about Goodreads, GenreBuds, Shelfari, and a few others. I'm just interested in some new ones. So, if any of you know of any, PLEASE  comment on this post and let me know!

I'll be posting some more bookish things soon!

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: 

Learning by Karen Kingsbury

Title: Learning

Author: Karen Kingsbury

Where I Got It: Karen sent it to me to review

Why I Read It: I've read all of her books and this is the second book in this series!

Rating: 4/5 stars





Overview from Barnes and Noble:

Bailey Flanigan is growing closer to her dream to be an actress and dancer in New York while Cody coaches a small high school football team ... on and off the field. But neither feels complete without the chance to share their dreams with one other.

Can distance truly make the heart grow fonder? Or will Cody learn to turn to others to share in his happiness? And when tragedy strikes? Who will be there to provide comfort in the face of loss?

As Cody's past catches up with him, he must learn to reach out for help or risk withdrawing permanently inside himself. Both Bailey and Cody find themselves learning significant life lessons in this poignant love story, featuring members from Karen Kingsbury's popular Baxter family.

This is the second book in the Bailey series. Her first book in the series is called Leaving. You can find that review HERE.

I love all of Karen's books. They're inspirational, motivational, and amazing. She has a talent to make her characters come alive so you feel like you actually KNOW these people. It's like you're apart of their family, and/or a friend of their family.

This particular book/series is about following your dreams no matter what. Bailey and Cody were lovers for many years prior, and life has torn them apart. They are both trying to live with out each other, neither of them knowing if they're able to. They've found comfort in other friends, Cheyenne and Brandon Paul. 

While their lives are taking them down different paths, they've got to figure out if their friendship will hold strong, and if they'll stay together or not.

Let me start off by saying what I did like about the book. 

This book teaches you that when life throws you a curve ball, no matter what happens, you can and will get out of that slump. With friends, family and God, your life will be continuing up hill as long as you let it. It also teaches you that when you lose the love of your life due to a break up, you WILL find love again. The book shows you that you just need to have an open heart, not rush into things, and when that person comes into your life, you'll know why they were there. 

I love this series (and all of Karen's books) because she has a way of making dreams a reality. No matter what your dreams or goals are in life, you can achieve them. In this book, Bailey had always wanted to be a Broadway performer, and she did just that. She never gave up, and she continued to fight until the time was right for her. 

I love books that have lessons in them. I love a book where you can get something out of it. A book that makes you FEEL. All of Karen's books will make you laugh, cry, feel sad, mad, angry, upset. You will find yourself routing for characters in her book. She has a way, especially in this book/series, where she makes every character in her book, special. However, it's not too overwhelming where you don't know what's going on with each character.

Now, as you've noticed, I love every  one of her books. However, for some reason, this book didn't seem AS good as her other ones, or the one before this book. Don't get me wrong, it was an amazing book. It just wasn't as good.

I felt like it didn't have enough "drama" in it. It was all a straight, happy story. Which is a good thing, but I would have enjoyed one or two more surprises. Also, the ending was kind of disappointing. Karen has one or two other books coming out in the series, and I felt like the way the book ended, it could have almost been the end of the series. 

But, with that said, I am excited to read the next book in the series, to see what happens with Bailey, Cody and Brandon Paul! 

Have any of you ever read this book, or any other Karen Kingsbury books? What do you think?

My Rating: