CLICK HERE FOR FREE BLOG LAYOUTS, LINK BUTTONS AND MORE! »

Friday, December 26, 2008

Tangle in Tijuana (Miss Adventures) by Lilla and Nora Zuckerman

Go South of the Border in this hilarious first installment of a sassy, sexy new interactive series, Miss Adventure. Making good on a drunken promise to your wild best friend, Lani, you hop into her beat-up 1970s Mustang and head off for a day of margaritas, men, and mayhem in Tijuana. But there are dozens of shots to call -- and drink! -- along the way.

Will you give in to your baser impulses and blow all of your money on over-the-counter Viagra?

Will you flash the crowd to win a dance contest?

Will you get your hands on a mythic tequila recipe that is sure to make you a millionaire?

Will you land yourself in Mexican jail for buying a shopping bag full of M-80 fireworks?

Will you party with a group of slightly shady but smoking-hot rich guys on their yacht?

And most important, will you find Lani's car where you left it?

It doesn't really matter whether you meet the Latin lover of your dreams or the long arm of the law in Tangle in Tijuana -- with thirty-eight possible endings, you can always go back across the border and start all over again!

OMG, I loved this book!!!! I used to love choose your own adventure books when I was younger, and this adult version was freakin fantastic!!!!! A great book for me to read during the past few days with the holidays, it's a whole bunch of little stories into one book. I laughed out loud over and over, it was such a hoot!!!! I highly recommend this book to anyone who wants something quick, light and hilarious!!!! 5/5

Mates, Dates, and Sizzling Summers by Cathy Hopkins

" I reckon that's the last we've seen of Ollie Axford," I said.

"I wouldn't be so sure TJ," said Nesta. "I bet he calls and asks you out."

"Nah, he looks like a player. You know the type. Too much of a twinkle in his eye to be trusted."

"A bit like Luke then?" said Lucy.

Boys are like buses for TJ. No sign of one for ages and then two come along at the same time! First there's charmer Ollie Axford. And just when TJ has decided that he could be the one, old flame Luke De Biasi tells her that he wants to rekindle their romance.

TJ is torn between the boys, and unhappy that it makes her look like a two-timer. But it all seems unimportant when someone close to her is taken seriously ill. More than ever, TJ needs a clear head and the support of her friends as she faces the most important summer of her life.

The last in this seris, I'm really going to miss reading about these girls. This has been a great YA series, and the growth of the characters throughout has been terrific. I'm so happy I found book 2 at a library sale, which made me get my hands on book 1 first and start this series. It's been a fun series to read, and there are have been lots of lessons embedded into the stories. Kudos to Ms. Hopkins for writing such a great YA series!!! :) 4.5/5

Saturday, December 20, 2008

The Haunting of Josie by Kay Hooper

Before writing such New York Times bestselling thrillers as Blood Dreams and Sleeping with Fear, Kay Hooper made her mark with novels uniquely blending romance and suspense. In this new edition of The Haunting of Josie, Hooper brings together the themes that have remained at the heart of all her work—passion, danger, and a touch of the paranormal—in this classic story of a woman haunted by the past and tempted by a man too irresistible to trust.…
Josie Douglas came to the isolated country cottage with her research, a good alibi, and a gun. She hoped that she’d have enough time to unravel the facts behind the tragedy that years before shattered her life. Instead she found herself in a house haunted by its own dark history. A series of strange coincidences, a ghostly visitor, and a mysterious brass key provide Josie with tantalizing clues to a mystery that keeps her guessing at every turn. As does Marc Westbrook—a landlord who embodies the meaning of the term drop-dead gorgeous. Soon she’ll have to trust him with the secret that drove her into seclusion—a secret that has already cost one man she loved his life.

This book was okay. Nothing great about it, but a decent read. It meshes a bit of paranormal with some romance and suspense. I know this is a reprint of some of her earlier work, and it is definitely obvious to me as her more recent stuff is much better in my opinion. Nothing I would rush to get to, but an alright read if you need a filler or something quick!! 3/5

Friday, December 19, 2008

Perfect by Natasha Friend

Isabelle Lee has a problem, and it's not just Ape Face, her sister, or group therapy for an eating disorder, or even that her father died and her mother is depressed and in denial. It's that Ashley, the most popular girl in school, is inviting Isabelle to join her at lunch and at sleepovers at her house, and this is presenting Isabelle with a dilemma. Pretty Ashley has moved Isabelle up the social ladder, but is it worth keeping the secret they share?
Caught in the orbit of popularity and appearances, Isabelle must navigate a world with mixed messages, false hopes, and potentially harmful turns, while coping with her own flailing family and emotions. The author brings a depth of characterization, humor, and a real adolescent's voice to this multileveled story about the desire to be perfect in an imperfect world.

Wow, this book really opened my eyes to the world of eating disorders. Ms. Friend has brought a delicate but rampant issue to light in this book, and has done a wonderful job in my opinion, of getting across some of the feelings these girls may have. I was completely enthralled by the story portrayed in this book, as it really does effect everyone involved in the persons life even if they don't realize it. A wonderful portrayal, and an informative book all teens, and adults as well, should read. 5/5

Wednesday, December 17, 2008

Witch Hunt by Shirley Damsgaard

Small-town librarian Ophelia Jensen is finally starting to embrace her lot as one of the "chosen"—a psychic and folk magick practitioner, a.k.a. a witch. Expert loving guidance from her magickally adept grandmother Abby helps—and adopting Tink, an exceptionally talented teenage medium, has given Ophelia's life new purpose . . . until a brutal murder clouds the sunshine of their days.Ophelia's co-worker and best friend, Darci, is distraught when her cousin is implicated in the small Iowa town of Summerset's most recent murder—the violent death of a biker. Unfortunately for Darci's cousin, it's her fingerprints all over the murder weapon. She claims she's innocent, but it'll take Ophelia and Abby more than a good incantation or two to get to the bottom of this crime—what with ghosts, crooked cops, secret identities, and a small army of outlaw bikers thrown into this devil's brew.

This is such a great series, and one I truly enjoy. Love the characters, love the development from book to book, the story is always interesting and intriguing. Damsgaard knows how to write an enticing but witchy cozy mystery. I do believe I will be picking up the next book in this series to read much sooner than later!!!! 5/5

Friday, December 5, 2008

Mates, Dates, and Diamond Destiny by Cathy Hopkins

"That William Lewis really thinks a lot of himself," I said. "He's such a smartarse."

"Hhmm,"said Lucy, grinning. "That's what he said about you too."

"He did? What a cheek! God, he annoys me. I really hate him."

Lucy, TJ, and Izzie exchanged knowing looks. "Yeah sure," said TJ. "You hate him."

Nesta's life is thrown into upheaval when she gets involved in charity work thinking that it might be a cool way to meet people (mainly boys). But as her eyes are opened to the plight of the world, she begins to want genuinely

to get involved and help others.

On top of this, Nesta meets William, a boy who questions her motives. At times, she's convinced he hates her and the feeling is mutual. But Izzie, Lucy, and TJ think it is something more like love....

I know I say the same thing every time I review a book from this series, I truly love these girls and enjoy watching them progress on their journey!!! I am sad that the series only has a few left to read!!!! The character development from book to book is terrific and the lessons that are taught throughout are great as well. This book makes the reader aware of what you can do to come to the need of charities of all types and how important it is to give even a little bit. Love this series, and I truly recommend it to all readers, YA and more seasoned as well for a nice easy read!! :) 4.5/5


Wednesday, December 3, 2008

Perfect on Paper: The (Mis)adventures of Waverly Bryson by Maria Murnane

Anything can look perfect...on paper

When her fiance calls off their wedding at the last minute, Waverly Bryson wonders if her life will ever turn out the way she thought it would...or should. Her high-powered job in sports PR? Not so perfect. Her relationship with her dad? Far from it. Her perfect marriage? Enough said.

Perfect...on Paper is a humorous tale of Waverly's efforts to cobble the pieces of a broken yesterday into a brand new tomorrow. What does the future have in store for her? Will she finally find what she's looking for?

Wow, I have to say this is the best book in this genre that I have read in a long time!!!! The honey notes included within are definitely laugh out loud funny, enough so that I picked up the phone a couple times to read them to my best friend. I truly enjoyed every moment I spent reading this book, it was light, fluffy and so enjoyable!! :) Waverly is such a fun character and reading about what she was going to get into next was a riot. A great book, Ms. Murnane is definitely a new author to keep your eyes on, I can't wait to see what she comes up with next!!! :) 5/5

November Reads