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Sunday, February 22, 2009

Living Dead Girl by Elizabeth Scott


Once upon a time, I was a little girl who disappeared.

Once upon a time, my name was not Alice.

Once upon a time, I didn't know how lucky I was.

When Alice was ten, Ray took her away from her family, her friends — her life. She learned to give up all power, to endure all pain. She waited for the nightmare to be over.

Now Alice is fifteen and Ray still has her, but he speaks more and more of her death. He does not know it is what she longs for. She does not know he has something more terrifying than death in mind for her.

This is Alice's story. It is one you have never heard, and one you will never, ever forget.

This is one of those tragic stories that stays with you forever. Beautifully written, but a terrifying look at how broken Alice becomes. A book that makes me want to lock my daughter up forever and protect her so nothing this tragic could ever happen to her. Although this book is shorter in pages, the story told will never leave you!!! 4/5

Friday, February 20, 2009

It Had to be You: Gossip Girl Prequel by Cecily von Ziegesar


Welcome to New York City's Upper East Side, where my friends and I live in luxe Fifth Avenue apartments and attend Manhattan's most exclusive private schools. We're smart, we've inherited classic good looks, we wear fantastic clothes, and we know how to party. We can't help it-we were born this way.

Our story begins with three inseparable, completely gorgeous fifteen-year-olds, Serena van der Woodsen, Blair Waldorf, and Nate Archibald. Blair's loved Nate and his glittering green eyes since she was in Bonpoint onesies. Too bad Nate wishes Blair's beautiful
best friend, Serena, was the one with the crush. And Serena has a secret she's keeping from them both. Hmmm, something tells me these best friends may not be as close as we thought. . . .

How do I know all this? Because I know everything-and lucky for you, I can't keep a secret. So sit back while I untangle this messy little tale and tell you how it all began.

Admit it, you're already falling for me.

You know you love me.
gossip girl

Ok, I have to be honest, I would have been fine not reading this book, OR, having it actually have been the first book in the series. I just felt that I knew what was going to happen, so what was the point - almost. I think I would have enjoyed it more if I had read it as the very first book instead of looking back. I was also dissapointed with the fact that we never find out who GG actually is. I knew we didn't find that out before actually reading the book, but it's still a bit of a dissapointment. It did give some background info on some of the characters that I was glad to read about, but once again, as an afterthought it just didn't have as much of an effect as I think it would have been to know all the background before actually reading the series!!!! To anyone who wants to read the series and hasn't started yet, I would suggest reading this as the first book, and not the last!!! ;) 3/5

Monday, February 16, 2009

Honeymoon by James Patterson and Howard Roughan


How does it feel to be desired by every man and envied by every woman? Wonderful. This is the life Nora Sinclair has dreamed about, the life she's worked hard for, the life she will never give up. Meet Nora Sinclair.

When FBI agent John O'Hara first sees her, she seems perfect. She has the looks. The career. The clothes. The wit. The sophistication. The tantalizing sex appeal. The whole extraordinary package - and men fall in line to court her. She doesn't just attract men, she enthralls them. If you dare.

So why is the FBI so interested in Nora Sinclair? Mysterious things keep happening to people around her, especially the men. And there is something dangerous about Nora when Agent O'Hara looks closer - something that lures him at the same time that it fills him with fear. Is there something dark hidden among the unexplained gaps in her past? And as he spends more and more time getting to know her, is he pursuing justice? Or his own fatal obsession?

I have to say I'm a little dissapointed with this Patterson book. It was good, but not Patterson good in my opinion. :( It did count towards one of my challenges for the year, which is to read some of his older stuff that I have on my TBR and just haven't read yet, so it was good for that, but all in all, this book was somewhat of a let down for me. I have his newest on it's way to me though, and I'm sure that one will completely redeem my faith in him!!! :) Sorry JP, you know I love yah, but this one just didn't do it for me!!! None the less, it was an ok read, a quick read and helped with my challenge, so I'm ok with it!!! ;) 3/5


Sunday, February 15, 2009

Asking for Murder by Roberta Isleib


A shrink by day and an advice columnist by night, Dr. Rebecca Butterman is always ready to help people sort through their issues. But when trouble hits close to home, and she offers her problem-solving skills to crime solvers, no one wants her two cetns...

UNWANTED ADVICE

When Rebecca's friend and fellow therapist Annabelle Hart is found badly beaten and left for dead, Rebecca is determined to search for answers. But this time, no one wants her help. Not Detective Meigs, who thinks the crime was either a botched robbery or the result of a relationship gone sour. And not Annabelle's sister, who makes it clear that Rebecca isn't welcome in family matters.

The only place where her opinion matters is the therapist's couch. She's agreed to see Annabelle's patients, but it won't be easy. Anabelle's area of expertise is sandplay therapy, which Rebecca knows little about--yet with a would-be killer on the loose, she can only hope the clues are buried within easy reach...

I really enjoyed this 3rd installment of the Advice Column mysteries!! Dr. Butterman is once again found involved in a crime without knowing how she got there, but this time her close friend is involved and this is not sitting well with her. Although her friend's sister appears to be stonewalling her, Rebecca finds a way to help out and the story unfurls from there. I enjoyed the development between characters and look forward to getting to know them all and see what direction Rebecca's life takes now. Am hoping to see another installment in this series, and soon!! 4/5

Friday, February 13, 2009

Nick & Nora's Infinite Playlist by Rachel Cohn + David Levithan


Nick's just seen the girl who dumped him walk in...with a new guy. What else can he do but ask the strange girl next to him to be his new girlfriend for the next five minutes?

Norah would do anything to avoid conversation with the not not-friend girl who dumped Nick...and to get over the Evil Ex whom Norah never really totally dumped. What else can she do but answer Nick's question by making out with him?

With one electric, unexpected kiss, the five-minute couple of Nick and Norah set off on an uncharted adventure called the "first date" that will turn into an infinite night of falling in and out (and in and out, and maybe in and maybe out) of love. Theirs is a first date of music, laughter, heartache, confusion, passion, taxi driver wisdom, and a jacket named Salvatore. And of course a killer soundtrack.

As Nick and Norah wander through the middle-of-the-night mystic maze of Manhattan, they share the kind of night you want to never end, where every minute counts and every moment flickers between love and disaster.

This is a mixed review from me, part of me really loved this book and part of me........eh, not so much. It was a really quick read with lots of great little conversations. But parts of it were just not *there* for me. There was a lot of profanity throughout, which in an adult novel never bothers me, I'm no prude, but when reading YA I like to just enjoy the ebb and flow of the story without all the *F-Bombs* to clutter up the reading. Maybe that's why it was off for me. Regardless, I enjoyed it enough to want to see the movie and hope it doesn't ruin the book?! As some movies do!!! Just an ok read for me!!! 3/5

Thursday, February 12, 2009

Playing Dead by Allison Brennan

Playing Dead by Allison Brennan
Playing Dead by Allison Brennan



DEAD MAN RUNNING

Sentenced to death for crimes he didn’t commit, ex-cop Tom O’Brien is now a hunted fugitive. After fifteen years in prison, he’s determined to prove his innocence–but first he must convince his daughter, whose testimony helped put him behind bars, that he has damning evidence of a plot to frame him.

Claire is no longer the naïve teenager who arrived home to find her mother and her mother’s lover shot dead and her father holding the murder weapon. She’s a successful fraud investigator who assumes everyone lies. Though Claire is convinced of her father’s guilt, curiosity propels her to look into the disappearance of a law student who claimed to have proof of Tom’s innocence. But seeking answers only leads to more questions, reinforcing Claire’s belief that there’s no one left to trust.

Obsessed with the O’Brien case, FBI agent Mitch Bianchi befriends Claire under false pretenses, certain that Tom is not only innocent but in grave danger–and not just from the cops. As the three race toward the truth, a murderous conspiracy tightens its noose–and Claire becomes the target of an ice-cold psychopath who will kill to protect his secrets.

Wow, a great conclusion to the Prison Break Trilogy!!! The suspense throughout was great and the story line was intriguing. This book had me wondering, was it really the perfect frame, or was this guy guilty?!? Fast paced and full of twists and turns this book had me turning pages late into the night!!!! Great book, can't wait for the next trilogy to start!!! :) 4.5/5

Monday, February 9, 2009

I Heart You, You Haunt Me by Lisa Schroeder


Girl meets boy.
Girl loses boy.
Girl gets boy back...
...sort of.
Ava can't see him or touch him, unless she's dreaming. She can't hear hisvoice, except for the faint whispers in her mind. Most would think she'scrazy, but she knows he's here.
Jackson. The boy Ava thought she'd spend the rest of her life with. He's back from the dead, as proof that love truly knows no bounds.


This was the first verse novel I have read, so I wasn't sure how I was going to like it. I LOVED it!!!! Although it was a super short read, it was packed full of emotion and true feelings. I was truly invested in Ava and Jackson and their story filled with love and sadness. Great book!!!! 4.5/5

Sunday, February 8, 2009

Dearly Depotted by Kate Collins


Abby has her hands full at her cousin Jillian's wedding as florist, bridesmaid, and grandma-sitter-all while wearing a hideous dress. Then the groom's 90-year-old grandmother goes missing from the reception. On her search, Abby finds the corpse of guest Jack Snyder. Now she must find out who killed Jack in the pulpit.
Another great addition to the series. Love Abby, you never know what she'll be up to next or where the next body will turn up. Love the heat simmering between her and Marco. Great show of friendship between her and her co-workers. A really quick and enjoyable read........I definitely look forward to reading more books in this series!! :) 4.5/5

Friday, February 6, 2009

Serendipity by Louise Shaffer


A child of theatrical royalty, Carrie Manning is having a hard time getting her own act together. Thirty-seven, aimless, and having just buried a famous mother she never understood, she is desperate to uncover her family’s mysterious past in the hopes that it will help her understand herself.

Carrie’s search reveals the fascinating life stories of her estranged grandmother Lu, a glamorous Broadway star whose dreams came with a price; her great grandmother Mifalda, who gave up everything to come to America as a sixteen-year-old Italian bride; and her father, Bobby, the charismatic Broadway genious who wrote some of Lu’s greatest musicals and died tragically young. At the heart of Carrie’s discoveries lies the reason for her mother’s complicated life, and a dark secret that has been buried for thirty years.

Although this book started off a bit slow for me (it was me, not the book, trust me) once I was able to really sit down and get into the storyline, it had me hook, line and sinker. The web that was weaved between the four generations of women in this story is incredible and so interesting to read about. The changeovers between women and time line flowed seamlessly and the story was captivating. I simply loved this book, and am grateful I had a chance to peek into the lives of Mifalda, Lu, Rose and Carrie. This book is jam packed with feeling and emotion, a wonderful book!!!! 5/5

Wednesday, February 4, 2009

Fit to Die by J.B. Stanley


Welcome back to Quincy's Gap, Virginia, where James Henry and his dieting group contend with dangerous secrets, dark intrigue, and delicious praline sundaes. Six months after starting their low-carb diet, the Flab Five are feeling motivationally- challenged. A new ice cream shop has come to town, but so has the Witness to Fitness weight loss center, run by the fanatical Veronica Levitt. Maybe Veronica's "take-no-prisoners" approach is just what the group needs.

Between dieting, caring for his cranky father, and struggling with his growing affection for Lucy, James has his plate full. But when he and his fellow dieters poke around in an arson case that turns into a murder investigation, the Flab Five discover that they may have bitten off more than they can chew.

A cozy "village" mystery, Fit to Die is the second book in the warm and wonderful Supper Club Mystery series

This is a really great series. The characters are so likable and for me, so easy to relate to. I get a good chuckle out of their reasoning for having something to eat they *shouldn't* I liked the introduction of new characters in this book, and they flowed so easily into the story line. I enjoyed the development of the characters who were present in the last book, especially James' dad, although a small part of the overall story, I really enjoyed the parts in the book that included him. Can't wait to hear more about the happenings in Quincy's Gap!! :) 4.5/5

Sunday, February 1, 2009

January Reads

A Deadly Game of Magic by Joan Lowery Nixon


Seeking shelter from a fierce Texas storm, four teens are trapped inside a strange house as unwitting players in a magician's evil games. The phone goes dead. A plaster head suddenly appears. A disembodied hand taps the mantel. Then the magic turns even more sinister, leading inevitably toward murder.

This book was full of magic and mystery. A really quick and enjoyable YA read!! 3.5/5