A Need So Beautiful Review

Average Reviews:

(More customer reviews)Are you looking to buy A Need So Beautiful? Here is the right place to find the great deals. we can offer discounts of up to 90% on A Need So Beautiful. Check out the link below:

>> Click Here to See Compare Prices and Get the Best Offers

A Need So Beautiful ReviewCharlotte Cassidy has the Need: a call to help others, one that grows unbearably painful if she tries to ignore it. She has no control over it and the pull comes at any given time: at school, when she's making out with her boyfriend, when her best friend needs her the most... As if that weren't enough, she soon learns that the more she helps those that need her, the more her loved ones forget her.
I really appreciated the journey of emotions that Charlotte went through in the course of the book. Suzanne Young perfectly displayed the inner conflict that Charlotte endured: the pull in this and that direction, the different degrees of obligation that Charlotte felt -- both to strangers and her own loved ones -- and, of course, the requisite desire to just be normal. Unlike many of the abilities featured in other YA supernatural novels, Charlotte doesn't get any cool perks. Sure, she knows that she helped someone, but she loses part of herself in the process. It was a very personal struggle and one that was very heartbreaking.
Most of the minor characters fell flat to me. Harlin came across as the perfect boyfriend and all that good stuff, but I felt that there wasn't much substance to him. Charlotte's best friend, Sarah, was a bit more interesting with her family dynamic but, even with her, there was a distinct feeling that we barely skimmed over the surface of her character. Similarly, though Charlotte's relationships with her family were the most interesting and touching, there wasn't enough. Yes, this is only the first book of the series, and I'm sure we'll see more these characters in the second, but there was a certain missing piece to have them "come alive" for me. As for Monroe, their interactions were the ones I enjoyed the most as I actually saw progress -- and setbacks -- in their friendship.
The conclusion of the book completely turned everything upside down -- in a very good way. An already interesting premise has the potential to get even better in the sequel, A Want So Wicked. I'm definitely looking forward to seeing where the story continues!A Need So Beautiful Overview

Want to learn more information about A Need So Beautiful?

>> Click Here to See All Customer Reviews & Ratings Now

Read More...

A Certain Slant of Light Review

Average Reviews:

(More customer reviews)Are you looking to buy A Certain Slant of Light? Here is the right place to find the great deals. we can offer discounts of up to 90% on A Certain Slant of Light. Check out the link below:

>> Click Here to See Compare Prices and Get the Best Offers

A Certain Slant of Light ReviewI bought this book for my two older daughters to read due to the reviews and the subject matter being similar to other books they have enjoyed. However, I read the book before they did just to see what it was about, and I am so very glad I did! At the end I was just crying, but in such a good way.
I don't consider myself religious, more of an agnostic. Even though the book spoke about heaven, etc., it wasn't in such a way that made it overbearing. It actually questioned certain beliefs more than anything, so I did not think there were any sort of religious overtones in the book that tried to explain life, death, and what comes after in an arrogant, this-is-the-way-it-is-so-do-NOT-ask-questions-or-doubt-it-in-any-way tone.
What it was is an extremely touching, moving book with such a great conclusion. I most definitely did not think there should have been more, it was, as another reviewer called it, beautiful. It is an atypical love story which shows the power of forgiveness, all in a story that teens and adults can relate to.
Really, this is a wonderful book, you just have to read it. I know my children will love it, although since they are not adults, as the characters in the book are, they may not be able to relate to some aspects of the story, like how strong a mother's love is and why you would punish yourself for things you thought you had done wrong.
I hate to think there are people that think this book is only for older teenagers. If your kids are allowed out in the real world at all without earplugs and blinders, the sex, language, and drug references in this book are *not* going to surprise them. Sorry for having to say that, but it isn't cynicism, just unfortunately, reality.A Certain Slant of Light Overview

Want to learn more information about A Certain Slant of Light?

>> Click Here to See All Customer Reviews & Ratings Now

Read More...

Freeze Tag (Point) Review

Average Reviews:

(More customer reviews)Are you looking to buy Freeze Tag (Point)? Here is the right place to find the great deals. we can offer discounts of up to 90% on Freeze Tag (Point). Check out the link below:

>> Click Here to See Compare Prices and Get the Best Offers

Freeze Tag (Point) Review
At the heart of this book is an odd girl, Lannie, who has the ability to literally get people to freeze during Freeze Tag - or any time she wants. Lannie is not a nice girl but I hope you'll feel as I did, oddly intrigued and drawn to this child (as the book opens) and then the teen she becomes.Lannie loves West but West's heart is drawn to another person, Meghan. That sets up the main plot and tension in this one. I'd argue that this is really only a way to focus on the REAL subject, unwanted or neglected children.
It doesn't take a huge leap of imagination to see the symbolism here between the teen with the lack of empathy, the hunger for love, the evil that seems to rest in her soul...and the detached family that seems to pay little attention to her. But the connection isn't heavy-handed and the author of this book balances that point with some fine characterizations, ones that teens and adults should find compelling.
There are also other aspects of teen life that are clearly delineated. First loves. Being accepted or being an outsider. Happy families and those that simply don't care about their children - or never think of them much.
This book moves along quickly,making it fine for reluctant readers as well as any teen. From the perspective of this adult, I couldn't help thinking about how often we fail our children, intentionally or not. After finishing this one, I went off to find my son and give him an extra hug.
IMPORTANT: In reading other reviews, people seemed to have problems with the ending. I did not. I do understand why it left readers wanting a sequel. I'd make the case that the author wanted the reader to imagine the ending. Some may see this as a cop-out but I saw it as a sign of hope in a book with plenty of darkness.Freeze Tag (Point) Overview

Want to learn more information about Freeze Tag (Point)?

>> Click Here to See All Customer Reviews & Ratings Now

Read More...

Vixen (The Flappers) Review

Average Reviews:

(More customer reviews)Are you looking to buy Vixen (The Flappers)? Here is the right place to find the great deals. we can offer discounts of up to 90% on Vixen (The Flappers). Check out the link below:

>> Click Here to See Compare Prices and Get the Best Offers

Vixen (The Flappers) ReviewWow! What an amazing debut by Jillian Larkin. Vixen is now my favorite YA debut book for 2010. It's that special. This is definitely one of those must read books, it's just too wonderful to miss out on. This is the first book that I've read that is set in the 1920's, so I wasn't sure I was going to like it because it was outside of what I like to read. But surprisingly, I loved it! Vixen is the first book in The Flappers series. The second book, Ingenue will be published in 2011 and Diva, the third book, will be published in 2012. I will definitely be continuing the series.
Vixen is a book that you don't want to put down from beginning to end. It is so entertaining and captivating. When I was reading the book, I was immersed in the aura of the 1920's because of the detailed descriptions of the time period, including the flapper lifestyle, clothing, hairstyles, jazz music, prohibition, alcohol, speakeasies, gangsters, etc. The story is told in alternating points of view of three teenage girls, Gloria, Clara, and Lorraine. Gloria is a socialite in Chicago. She is engaged to Sebastian, who comes from a powerful family. Clara is Gloria's cousin who is visiting Gloria to help her with the wedding. Lorraine is Gloria's best friend. Larkin goes in depth with each character's storyline, that you really get to know each of the girls well. Each girl has their own lead role in the book, which I thought was great. I loved each character. The plot was solid throughout the book, no boring spots or weak plot points. It was cleverly done.
While the girls try to find themselves and fit in, so much drama unfolds as the stories of these three girls seamlessly weave in and out of each others lives. I loved the drama! And when the cute bachelors enter the lives of these girls, everything gets way more complicated. This made things very interesting. There is rebellion, jealousy, betrayal, romance, deception, lies, secrets, danger, and mystery. And the ending leaves on such a great cliffhanger that you can't help but want to know what happens next.
There really wasn't anything I didn't like about the book, except that the word "love" was introduced a little too soon for me personally. I like to see a relationship last a little longer before it blossoms into love. But other than that, the book was awesome!
Vixen is truly a bookish delight! I'd recommend it not only for older teens but for adults as well. For those of you who enjoy reading about the 1920's but want a young spin on things, this book is perfect for you. But even if this isn't something you'd normally read, just give it a try like me, it will amaze you. If you like reading debut authors, then make sure Vixen is next on your list.
*Although this is considered a YA book, the level of maturity is higher than in other YA books I've read, in terms of the girl's relationships with the guys. If you aren't into the angsty books, then this book is probably more your style. There are a few sexual references but not many, as well as underage drinking. So just wanted to point that out.Vixen (The Flappers) Overview

Want to learn more information about Vixen (The Flappers)?

>> Click Here to See All Customer Reviews & Ratings Now

Read More...

The Chronology of Water: A Memoir Review

Average Reviews:

(More customer reviews)Are you looking to buy The Chronology of Water: A Memoir? Here is the right place to find the great deals. we can offer discounts of up to 90% on The Chronology of Water: A Memoir. Check out the link below:

>> Click Here to See Compare Prices and Get the Best Offers

The Chronology of Water: A Memoir ReviewBeyond its clear, dazzling lyrical passages, beyond its fierce energy and unending optimism, there is so much to say about this confessional, bravely written memoir, and you can be sure that The Chronology of Water is an important book. Its themes -- womanhood, motherhood, stillbirth, women's reproductive rights, bisexuality, love and fatherhood, promiscuity and sexual violence, drug and alcohol abuse, sorrow and grief, hope, and survival -- are cultural and political talking points, significant because these issues ought to be discussed and must be heard. That Lidia Yuknavitch is brave enough to begin these discussions with her readers is well worth applauding, and I think it would be a shame and an oversight to think anything less of the importance, and relevance, of this book.The Chronology of Water: A Memoir Overview

Want to learn more information about The Chronology of Water: A Memoir?

>> Click Here to See All Customer Reviews & Ratings Now

Read More...

A Promise Kept Review

Average Reviews:

(More customer reviews)Are you looking to buy A Promise Kept? Here is the right place to find the great deals. we can offer discounts of up to 90% on A Promise Kept. Check out the link below:

>> Click Here to See Compare Prices and Get the Best Offers

A Promise Kept ReviewFor a young single it's easy to fantasize about the joys of having a lifelong love - often at the neglect of counting the true cost of actually having one. This small but powerful book shows that cost, and how one man remained faithful to his wife despite it.
Robertson, a distinguished man high in Christian academic circles, is shocked when his vivacious wife Muriel is diagnosed with Alzheimer's. Gradually, she begins to succumb to its ravages and is forced to abandon her popular radio show and speaking engagements. As the disease takes its toll on Muriel, Robertson devotes more and more time to watching over her. He leaves his work and other pursuits to care for her because without his presence, she becomes fearful and agitated. Only with him near is she happy and content. Eventually she becomes totally dependent upon him, unable to perform rudimentary tasks or even converse.
But the heart of the story is that he remains with her gratefully, and with a loving attitude. He is not an angry or resentful caretaker. Of course, he is not thrilled to watch his lovely, intelligent wife slide into helpless dementia. But he sees his caretaking as a holy task, one entrusted to him by God. Indeed, she "took care" of him for decades, so he finds it a priviledge to return the favor. However, he is careful to state that his is not the "ideal" way to care for a severely ailing loved one. But I would say that his attitude and actions are examples for anyone, regardless of whatever caretaking path is chosen.
Elisabeth Elliot once wrote that marriage is the abandonment of self. Robertson lovingly exemplifies that principle in the midst of a heart-breaking situation - all for the glory of God. Highly recommended.A Promise Kept Overview

Want to learn more information about A Promise Kept?

>> Click Here to See All Customer Reviews & Ratings Now

Read More...

Rooftops of Tehran: A Novel Review

Average Reviews:

(More customer reviews)Are you looking to buy Rooftops of Tehran: A Novel? Here is the right place to find the great deals. we can offer discounts of up to 90% on Rooftops of Tehran: A Novel. Check out the link below:

>> Click Here to See Compare Prices and Get the Best Offers

Rooftops of Tehran: A Novel ReviewThis was a lovely lovely book. I will say right off that I think that the pinkish cover featuring a red rose (though thematically appropriate) might turn off some men, and I do think that it's the kind of novel that would appeal equally to men and women.
The story follows two teenage boys through a year of their lives in Iran in the 70's. The characterization of adolescence is perfect -- first loves, first independent stands, hellos, goodbyes.
The language is beautiful, and the suspense comes in because parts of the story are told in flashbacks as the reader is brought closer and closer to the crisis event. What happened and why?
When that crisis is revealed, the end of the novel continues in a suspenseful vein, as the reader yearns to find out what is going to happen.
The comparisons to The Kite Runner are inevitable -- although they are set in different countries, they both deal with events that precipitate a coming of age, set in the backdrop of a totalitarian regime. The Kite Runner is a wonderful book, but I think that Rooftops of Tehran has more heart, more range (since in addition to being touched, I laughed aloud a time or two), and is overall a better story.
A wonderful literary page-turner -- my favorite kind of read.
4.5 stars
Rooftops of Tehran: A Novel Overview

Want to learn more information about Rooftops of Tehran: A Novel?

>> Click Here to See All Customer Reviews & Ratings Now

Read More...

I Heart You, You Haunt Me Review

Average Reviews:

(More customer reviews)Are you looking to buy I Heart You, You Haunt Me? Here is the right place to find the great deals. we can offer discounts of up to 90% on I Heart You, You Haunt Me. Check out the link below:

>> Click Here to See Compare Prices and Get the Best Offers

I Heart You, You Haunt Me ReviewHe's here, in this room, right now. Jackson. Ava knows he's dead, and that it's impossible, but that doesn't stop her from being able to smell his unique, sandalwood aftershave. Or seeing his image in her mirror, hearing his words in her head,and finding him in her dreams. Her boyfriend is a ghost, and it's Ava's fault he's dead to begin with.
So now what?
Ride the waves of Ava's emotions, sometimes rippling, sometimes crashing, in this haunting book. Written in verse for maximum impact, the book grips readers and keeps them turning page after page, waiting for a release that never comes. I know, because I'm still waiting to be released from the clutch of feelings invoked by Ava's tale.
That's why I'm nominating this one for the Gold Star Award for Excellence in the TeensReadToo Hall of Fame. This award is reserved for books that we'll read again and again. A definite for me in this case.
Reviewed by: Julie M. PrinceI Heart You, You Haunt Me Overview

Want to learn more information about I Heart You, You Haunt Me?

>> Click Here to See All Customer Reviews & Ratings Now

Read More...

Sleepers Review

Average Reviews:

(More customer reviews)Are you looking to buy Sleepers? Here is the right place to find the great deals. we can offer discounts of up to 90% on Sleepers. Check out the link below:

>> Click Here to See Compare Prices and Get the Best Offers

Sleepers ReviewI suspect that the first 2/3 of this book are true. The vignettes of life on the streets of Hell's Kitchen in the 60s ring true. The section on life in a boy's "reform school" is UNDERSTATED, if anything. In most such places, as brutal as the guards may be, the young thugs you are locked in with are even worse.
However, the last 1/3 of the book - the trial - is at least partly fantasy. As a prosecutor, I can tell you that the trial could not have progressed as described. The key to Michael's strategy was getting ex-guard Ferguson to testify about what a great guy the dead victim was, so that the truth would come out on cross-examination. However, testimony about a dead victim's character is NOT allowed at trial (except in certain cases where the defense is self-defense - but here, it was not). In real life, as soon as the judge heard ex-guard Ferguson begin to testify about the dead victim's character, he would have cut in and stopped the testimony.
I think that Carcaterra really was sent to some juvenile facility and was abused as badly as he describes. I think he wanted to write a book - a very shocking book - that would have an effect on the public's perception of such places and help to bring about change. But a simple autobiography describing the horrors wouldn't be readable, just sickening. A novel, no matter how readable, wouldn't be taken seriously. So he wrote a partially-fake autobiography with a gut-wrenching ending that most definitely has had an effect on public perception of juvenile detention centers. And I bet having his revenge, even if it was just fantasy-revenge, must have felt good. I hope so.Sleepers Overview

Want to learn more information about Sleepers?

>> Click Here to See All Customer Reviews & Ratings Now

Read More...

The Secret Lives of Dresses Review

Average Reviews:

(More customer reviews)Are you looking to buy The Secret Lives of Dresses? Here is the right place to find the great deals. we can offer discounts of up to 90% on The Secret Lives of Dresses. Check out the link below:

>> Click Here to See Compare Prices and Get the Best Offers

The Secret Lives of Dresses ReviewErin McKean's book, The Secret Lives of Dreses, is a book about love and embracing who you are. Her female characters transcend stereotypes, going beyond the typical catty females represented in the book, to include some interesting, believable women who have a bond of love and support not often seen in the literary world. Just as the women are more than what they appear, so too are the dresses in the story - a journey to finding one's self and embracing it.
Disclaimer: A complimentary copy of this book was provided by the publisher.
The Secret Lives of Dresses Overview

Want to learn more information about The Secret Lives of Dresses?

>> Click Here to See All Customer Reviews & Ratings Now

Read More...

The Secret Language of Girls Review

Average Reviews:

(More customer reviews)Are you looking to buy The Secret Language of Girls? Here is the right place to find the great deals. we can offer discounts of up to 90% on The Secret Language of Girls. Check out the link below:

>> Click Here to See Compare Prices and Get the Best Offers

The Secret Language of Girls ReviewThe Bond of 2 Friends
This book is about 2 girls, Kate and Marilyn, who have been best friends since pre-school and get split up in 6th grade by Flannery. Flannery, a 7th grader, is new to school and the girl's neighborhood. Marilyn and Flannery become friends and leave Kate out. This story is a journey of two friends that get separated and try to learn the true meaning of friendship. We think the true hero of this book was Petey, Marilyn's little brother. Most of us liked Kate or Paisley the best but we liked that Flannery knew what she wanted and was strong and we liked that Marilyn tried to be friends with everyone. We think a better title to this book might be "The Bond Between Two Friends" or "The 6th Grade War". We think this book is at a 6th grade reading level. We think that if you read at a 3rd - 5th grade level you will need your Mom or Dad to help you read it plus it is pretty long. The chapter, Kiss, was kinda gross. Some 8 to 9 year olds might think this chapter about kissing is gross and your Mom might think it is inappropriate for you. You could actually skip this chapter and not miss much of the book. The rest of the book was pretty good. If you are old enough then you might like this chapter but 3rd graders DID NOT. We read this in our Book Club and some girls really liked it, others were not allowed to read it at all - their Moms didn't think it was appropriate and others just covered their ears for some parts they thought were gross. Overall those of us that read the book thought it was good, interesting and emotional. (...)
The Secret Language of Girls Overview

Want to learn more information about The Secret Language of Girls?

>> Click Here to See All Customer Reviews & Ratings Now

Read More...

Life on the Color Line: The True Story of a White Boy Who Discovered He Was Black Review

Average Reviews:

(More customer reviews)Are you looking to buy Life on the Color Line: The True Story of a White Boy Who Discovered He Was Black? Here is the right place to find the great deals. we can offer discounts of up to 90% on Life on the Color Line: The True Story of a White Boy Who Discovered He Was Black. Check out the link below:

>> Click Here to See Compare Prices and Get the Best Offers

Life on the Color Line: The True Story of a White Boy Who Discovered He Was Black ReviewThis is an intriguing memoir that allows the reader to see what life was like for the author whose early life was defined by issues of race and color. The author had spent his early years in Virginia, where his white mother and his dark-skinned "Italian" father operated a roadside tavern. Growing up in the South, where issues of race and color were so important, the author had always thought that he was white, as he had been raised as such. When his parents' business, as well as their marriage, collapsed, his mother left them, forcing his father to return home to his roots in Muncie, Indiana. Abandoned by their mother, it was there that the author and his younger brother, Mike, were to discover which side of the then great color divide he and his brother were on. The lesson would be a difficult one.
In Muncie, Indiana, they were to discover that their father, rather than being Italian, was bi-racial, born of the union of a Black woman and a White father. In those times, however, you were considered to be either White or Black. So in Indiana, he was Black, even though, ironically, in the South he had passed for White. Now, his children, Greg and Mike, were to learn that, notwithstanding their appearance, they were considered to be Black, and forced to live in a segregated world on the wrong side of the race and color divide. They quickly learned what it was to be considered second class citizens. This was the nineteen fifties, during the heyday of the Klu Klux Klan, and well before the Civil Rights Movement had taken hold, so feelings ran very high on issues of race and color.
Looking as if they were White but considered to be Black, the boys found themselves in a limbo of sorts, rejected by both Whites and Blacks. They had to learn how to maneuver in this crazy patchwork quilt of absurd and confusing racial notions that would marginalize their existence and make them the target for every miscreant on either side of the race and color divide. This was to have great impact on the brothers, as they each found their own personal coping mechanism for the deprivation, poverty, hostility and prejudice that circumscribed their life in Indiana. Unfortunately, they ultimately each took divergent paths. The author would seek legitimate work and higher education as a way to forge ahead in life, while Mike would seek solace in the lure of easy money, easy women, and life in the fast lane, a choice that would end in personal tragedy for him.
The book clearly delineates the fact that, in the nineteen fifties, there were two Americas that existed side by side. One America was born of privilege and opportunity reserved for Whites. The other America was one of repression and lack of opportunity reserved for Blacks. Clearly, those who were defined as Black but wished to pass for White did not do so because of racial hatred. They did so as a way of bypassing a hated system that could so circumscribe someone's potential and ability to seek a better way of life. Who is White? Who is Black? These are questions that should generally be unnecessary. The response should be, "Who cares?".
The author focuses on his early life, the part that evidently caused him so much pain, while skimming on the latter part of his life. It would have been interesting to have spent some additional time on the latter part, to see how those early experiences affected or shaped the man he was to become and is today. Still, this is an intriguing memoir that is written by someone who has lived in these two Americas and endured. It is a testament to the resiliency of the human spirit.Life on the Color Line: The True Story of a White Boy Who Discovered He Was Black Overview

Want to learn more information about Life on the Color Line: The True Story of a White Boy Who Discovered He Was Black?

>> Click Here to See All Customer Reviews & Ratings Now

Read More...

The Book of Luke Review

Average Reviews:

(More customer reviews)Are you looking to buy The Book of Luke? Here is the right place to find the great deals. we can offer discounts of up to 90% on The Book of Luke. Check out the link below:

>> Click Here to See Compare Prices and Get the Best Offers

The Book of Luke ReviewReaders of Jenny O'Connell's first book for teens, Plan B, will have high expectations for THE BOOK OF LUKE--and they won't be disappointed!
When nice girl Emily Abbot's family moves from Chicago back to Boston in the middle of her senior year, Emily and her two best friends come up with a plan that is not so nice. It's a project for their class time capsule, but it won't be the typical scrapbook or mix CD. They'll write a handbook for guys about girls. And who better to test out their theories on than arrogant Luke Preston? Emily, the three friends decide, will be the perfect person to try it out and report back. After all, Luke would never suspect the nice little Emily he knew way back when...But Emily's not what she used to be.
Before she knows it, however, the experiment has gone horribly wrong. Wrong in that Emily finds herself falling head over heels for her experiment!
THE BOOK OF LUKE is a funny, original story guaranteed to have readers fascinated from first page to last! This fresh, honest novel is full of amazing characters and excellent writing. Jenny O'Connell is a smart, talented author; I'm really looking forward to seeing what she writes next! This is contemporary fiction at its best; readers will not be disappointed.
Reviewed by: Jocelyn PearceThe Book of Luke Overview

Want to learn more information about The Book of Luke?

>> Click Here to See All Customer Reviews & Ratings Now

Read More...

Evercrossed (Kissed By An Angel) Review

Average Reviews:

(More customer reviews)Are you looking to buy Evercrossed (Kissed By An Angel)? Here is the right place to find the great deals. we can offer discounts of up to 90% on Evercrossed (Kissed By An Angel). Check out the link below:

>> Click Here to See Compare Prices and Get the Best Offers

Evercrossed (Kissed By An Angel) ReviewHere's the rapid-fire summary of books one through three (book three was published years ago, btw): angel-worshipping Ivy meets and falls in love with Tristan, who dies in suspicious car accident. He comes back to her as an angel because he has a mission to protect her, as it turns out from her super creepy step-brother Gregory who's in lust with her and tries to murder her when he realizes he can't have her. Tristan manages to save her (it's complicated), and completing his mission, says goodbye to Ivy, who moves on with her life with friend and new love Will.
When Evercrossed began, Ivy and Will and their friends Beth, Dhanya and Kelsey are in Cape Cod for summer vacation, working at the bed and breakfast owned by Kelsey and Beth's aunt. Ivy, her best friend (who's a little psychic) Beth and Will are all feeling a little uneasy and sad, since it's the one year anniversary of Tristan's death, but the other two are a little clueless and decide it'd be fun to break out a Ouija board on their first night there. Ivy and Beth reluctantly decide to go along with it, thinking the two couldn't possibly manage to do any damage, but almost as soon as they get started, things go wrong. Beth throws out some protection chants and eventually things calm down enough for everyone to get yelled at about letting bad stuff through portals.
One night when Beth and Ivy were trying to pick up a drunken Dhanya and Kelsey from a party, a car ran them off of the road - and Ivy was killed. She had a clear memory of her death, of being lifted up toward Tristan and then he tells her he'll always be with her. When Ivy wakes up, she's in the hospital and everyone's marveling over the fact that she came out of the accident almost completely unscathed. When she tries to tell Beth and Will that it was Tristan that saved her, they get angry and accuse her of not being able to move on. As she's moping, she hears another patient - named Guy, because they don't know who he is - who was brought in around the same time she was. He's young, handsome and has absolutely no memory before the moment he was pulled from the beach not far from where her accident happened.
Bells, they are a-ringing.
Ivy, of course, sees what she wants to believe - that Guy may have Tristan's soul. Beth is furious with her because she thinks Ivy just doesn't want to let Tristan go and will think of any excuse to keep him with her and Will is hurt and angry, especially when she starts blowing him off. The more time Ivy spends with Guy, the worse Beth gets, insisting that there's something evil stalking Ivy and that she thinks that portal the four of them opened when they got to Cape Cod may have let Gregory's spirit back through and she's in terrible danger because she is only seeing what she wants to.
Ivy's a difficult character to like. She's self-absorbed, thoughtless and a little bit of an airhead, to be perfectly blunt. She hurts everyone around her because she can't even keep from thinking about Guy when she's talking to them. Even when she warns herself to stop and be careful, she forgets five minutes later. I'm searching for a redeeming quality and I guess what I come up with is that she loves Tristan beyond measure. She'll do some crazy things for him. The rest of the gang is generally fine - Guy is what you'd expect in an amnesiac homeless hero (written with a smile, I assure you). He's a tad creepy at first, then nicely romantic and drops all the right hints about who he might be but leaves them open enough that by the end, there's room for doubt. Beth is a nice concerned best friend in the beginning who morphs into a nagging mother later; Will's the typical too-nice guy that Ivy walks all over and Dhanya and Kelsey are hilariously ditzy.
Take out the "my boyfriend may have come back from the dead," element and this could work as just a good summer love-triangle story. I liked Ivy's friends, I liked Ivy's love interests and I liked the setting. As a reader, what I don't like is being manipulated to the last three pages only to be left on a cliffhanger wondering if there's going to be another book and if so, am I going to have to wait several years for it. If I could go back in time and DNF this I would, but the story before the end was decent enough that I'm not going to wreak my vengeance on the grade.
Evercrossed (Kissed By An Angel) Overview

Want to learn more information about Evercrossed (Kissed By An Angel)?

>> Click Here to See All Customer Reviews & Ratings Now

Read More...

Two-way Street Review

Average Reviews:

(More customer reviews)Are you looking to buy Two-way Street? Here is the right place to find the great deals. we can offer discounts of up to 90% on Two-way Street. Check out the link below:

>> Click Here to See Compare Prices and Get the Best Offers

Two-way Street ReviewWell-known for her first novel, Reality Chick, Lauren Barnholdt has a new offering worth checking out. TWO-WAY STREET is the perfect book if you are interested in learning about both sides in a couple's breakup.
Courtney and Jordan are about to begin a three day trip from their homes in Florida to their college orientation in Boston. Usually this would be cause for excitement, but this trip is bound to be uncomfortable. The reason is because, two weeks ago, Jordan broke up with Courtney, supposedly because he met a girl on MySpace. Since the plans for the trip have already been made, Courtney's parents are insisting that she stick with those plans and travel with her ex all the way to Boston.
The characters and details of this novel are well-developed. Courtney is ultra-organized, schedule-oriented, and germaphobic. Jordan is a relaxed, take-things-as-they-come, rap lover. The story reveals their quirky best friends who are always just a cell phone call away waiting to offer whatever support their own busy lives allow. The private lives of Jordan and Courtney's parents offer their own unique brand of suspense to the plot. In addition, an underlying thread of the plot involves continued references to the use of MySpace, which is sure to be an attention-grabber for teen readers.
Barnholdt created the book with alternating chapters. In Jordan's chapters he tells his version of the story before, during, and after the trip, and Courtney does the same in her chapters. This unique style allows readers to sort of "read between the lines" of the breakup. The characters are dealing with secrets they feel must not be revealed. The resulting tension and hard feelings created by the secrets will have readers rooting first for Jordan and then for Courtney.
Reviewed by: Sally Kruger, aka "Readingjunky"Two-way Street Overview

Want to learn more information about Two-way Street?

>> Click Here to See All Customer Reviews & Ratings Now

Read More...

Fins Are Forever Review

Average Reviews:

(More customer reviews)Are you looking to buy Fins Are Forever? Here is the right place to find the great deals. we can offer discounts of up to 90% on Fins Are Forever. Check out the link below:

>> Click Here to See Compare Prices and Get the Best Offers

Fins Are Forever ReviewOH WOW, I love this series!!! This book was Crabbtastic!! In Fins are Forever the story continues right where Forgive My Fins left off with Lily being madly in love with Quince but deciding that she is interested in giving up her crown in Thalassinia as future queen to stay as a human on land forever with her boyfriend Quince and seek out college and a new life.
Forgive my Fins was great and so I had high expectation for Fins are Forever to be equally good!! However, I think that Fins are Forever was better than my expectations! I devoured the book as fast as possible and might even go back through and read it again! You know the author is great when the second book in the series doesn't have the case of "boring middle book" syndrome but is just as exciting as book one!
The new twists of Lily's bratty younger cousin Doe showing up was great! She is one of those characters you hate but find a bit amusing and appealing! The trouble she brings to the book adds a bit of additional humor to the story that is great!
Again, the plot in this series is unlike anything I've ever read and is so engrossing that it is hard to imagine waiting for the additional books in the series to be released! The ending was a bit predictable but still not disappointing in the least.
The romance is of course the most important part of this story and I loved it in Fins are Forever. I wish there were more kissing scenes between Lily and Quince but what Childs gives us is great! There was a mild make-out session between 2 other characters but it was all done very clean and I would say this book is appropriate for any age group!
One of my favorite things about Tera Lynn Childs writing is that her stories are fun, easy going, delightful but so engaging that you are thinking about the story for a long time after reading it and it is hard not to compare every other mermaid book out there to this outstanding series!
This was a great summer read that you should run out and buy even if you are not a young adult! I am almost 30 and this book has made my favorites list! Not sure how I will survive waiting for book 3.
Fins Are Forever Overview

Want to learn more information about Fins Are Forever?

>> Click Here to See All Customer Reviews & Ratings Now

Read More...

Two Kisses for Maddy: A Memoir of Loss & Love Review

Average Reviews:

(More customer reviews)Are you looking to buy Two Kisses for Maddy: A Memoir of Loss & Love? Here is the right place to find the great deals. we can offer discounts of up to 90% on Two Kisses for Maddy: A Memoir of Loss & Love. Check out the link below:

>> Click Here to See Compare Prices and Get the Best Offers

Two Kisses for Maddy: A Memoir of Loss & Love ReviewI've been reading Matt's blog since a couple of months after Madeline's birth and Liz's death. He and I have chatted via email briefly, as I'm also the dad of a 32-week preemie girl, born a couple of years before Maddy. Thankfully, I have no experience with what it's like to be a widowed, single father.
Everything that's funny, heartbreaking, emotionally raw and wonderful about Matt's blog is also here in this book. Part I of the book goes into a fair amount of detail concerning his & Liz's courtship and marriage, their careers, and their decision to start a family. I read with trepidation as Maddy was born, and reveled in Matt's joy for the 27 hours before his world came crashing down the next day. The book goes into greater detail (though not gory) about the circumstances around Liz's death, and that was a very hard chapter to read. I can't imagine what it would be like for Liz's family and friends to read it, and it's almost unfathomable to me how Matt could write it.
Parts II and III deal with the remainder of the first year, up to Maddy's first birthday and the first anniversary of Liz's death, with a short epilogue written a couple of years later.
Matt's rather "salty" language as found in his blog is echoed here in the book as well, and I was very pleased to see that. If his editors/publishers had forced him to tone down the profanity, the book wouldn't have been in his "voice."
A must read for any parent, and for anyone who's ever been in love.Two Kisses for Maddy: A Memoir of Loss & Love Overview

Want to learn more information about Two Kisses for Maddy: A Memoir of Loss & Love?

>> Click Here to See All Customer Reviews & Ratings Now

Read More...

Only Love Is Real: A Story of Soulmates Reunited Review

Average Reviews:

(More customer reviews)Are you looking to buy Only Love Is Real: A Story of Soulmates Reunited? Here is the right place to find the great deals. we can offer discounts of up to 90% on Only Love Is Real: A Story of Soulmates Reunited. Check out the link below:

>> Click Here to See Compare Prices and Get the Best Offers

Only Love Is Real: A Story of Soulmates Reunited ReviewOnly Love is Real by Brian Weiss, is the third book by this incredible author. If I could, I would rate this book with 10 stars. Although one does not have to read his previous two books to read this book, he does make references throughout, but his explanations guide the reader and one is never confused or lost. Many Lives, Many Masters and Through Time Into Healing are his previous two and both are as riveting as this book. As with his other books, I could not put this book down either. The messages imparted in this book are numerous for the deep connection of twin souls. Weiss states, "Destiny dictates the meeting of soulmates. We *will* meet them. But what we decide to do after that meeting falls in the province of choice or free will. A wrong choice or a missed chance can lead to incredible loneliness and suffering. A right choice, an opportunity realized, can bring us to profound bliss and happiness."
Weiss shares the story of two of his patients relating similar past lives, and he eventually connects the two and "intervenes" to introduce them. I am sure we have all had the experience of meeting someone and just "knowing" that we know them on a much deeper level, but we can't explain it. Those that come into our lives are either ready to meet their "other half" or as Weiss put it, they are "not awakened" yet.
Weiss speaks throughout the book on the meaning and value of love and indeed, "only love is real." He urges us to forget and forgive our past mistakes, to learn from them and move on - to live fully in the present and not to worry about the future. This book is one incredible, beautiful lesson in love. Weiss urges the reader to listen to one's heart, as the ego has other agendas, as do other people. "There is someone special for everyone." How does one recognize a soulmate? - Weiss states it most profoundly, "When both recognize each other, no volcano could erupt with more passion. The energy released is tremendous. Passion in a relationship cannot be artificially created . . . . . but the chemistry has to be there from the start." Oh how so very true!!! "The person may not recognize the chemistry. The attraction is definitely there but the source of chemistry is not understood. It is delusional to believe that this passion, this soul recognition and attraction will be easily found again with another person. You do not run into a soulmate every day . . .The more awakened a couple is, the more likelihood of a decision based on love. When both partners are awakened, ecstasy is within their grasp."
Weiss shares the past lives of both Elizabeth and Pedro and the reader is able to see them in different lifetimes, as different sexes, yet they are always together, learning soul lessons and coming back again and again to be together. As with his previous books, messages come from Elizabeth under hypnosis, from "higher conscious masters", imparting loving and profound messages to Weiss: "Love dissolves fear. You cannot be afraid when you are feeling love. When allowed to flow freely, love overcomes all obstacles." Both of their past lives are most fascinating and the lessons learned are indeed enlightening. I have used one of Weiss' past regression tapes and they are incredible and one can "see" as he states in the book.
Weiss also share with the reader, his own experiences with his soulmate and wife, Carol, and the "obstacles" that they had to over come. "Destiny is persistent" as Weiss states and as seen in this book and as can be related in our lives, it doesn't give up - we only have to listen.
This book is fascinating, thought-provoking and my highlighter was in overtime in reading!!! So many, many endearing and important thoughts on love and just being. I have read all of Weiss' books and it is so hard to believe that they can get any better, but it is true!!! Reading his books, one can experience a deep sense of healing and a profound infusion of love. This is not only a book about love, but also a book about hope. This is a "must have" have book and also one that you want to share with those in your life - "Listen to your heart, to your own intuitive wisdom when deciding about a gift of destiny, such as a soulmate. Destiny will deposit its gift directly at your feet, but what you subsequently decide to do with the gift is up to you. Your heart knows what you need. Other people have other agendas."
A most excellent book - I have read it three times already!Only Love Is Real: A Story of Soulmates Reunited Overview

Want to learn more information about Only Love Is Real: A Story of Soulmates Reunited?

>> Click Here to See All Customer Reviews & Ratings Now

Read More...

Julia's Chocolates Review

Average Reviews:

(More customer reviews)Are you looking to buy Julia's Chocolates? Here is the right place to find the great deals. we can offer discounts of up to 90% on Julia's Chocolates. Check out the link below:

>> Click Here to See Compare Prices and Get the Best Offers

Julia's Chocolates ReviewUsually chosing books on reviews, I was a bit apprehensive that I chose this book from the cover and inside blurb. Twenty pages in I was relieved to know I made a wise choice as Cathy Lamb's book is rich in character, plot and resolution.
Julia, abused her entire childhood, sickly chooses a cruel finance who continues the pattern with great zeal. The day of the wedding, in a moment of clarity, Julia realizes she is making a huge mistake. She escapes in her beat-up car from New England to Golden, Oregon to the comfort of her Aunt Lydia's farm, leaving her wedding dress dangling from a tree in North Dakota. At Aunt Lily's, Julia befriends 4 women who attend "Aunt Lydia's Psychic Nights" where each lady exposes her own set of disturbances. The friendships open Julia's injured mind to understanding no one deserves constant berating, constant hitting, constant chaos. But as she heals, her crazed fiance plots vicious revenge, and Julia knows a reckoning is coming.
I found this beautifully written because in the face of disturbing subject matter there was still uproarious humor, gentle moments, quirky, loveable characters and redemption. Written with a homespun prose, the book keeps you on a fragile edge, but doesn't leave you dangling for too long. A perfect balance makes this a must read for all that hide from truth or are in search of it.
Great first effort; I look forward to more books from this gifted author.Julia's Chocolates Overview

Want to learn more information about Julia's Chocolates?

>> Click Here to See All Customer Reviews & Ratings Now

Read More...

Forget You Review

Average Reviews:

(More customer reviews)Are you looking to buy Forget You? Here is the right place to find the great deals. we can offer discounts of up to 90% on Forget You. Check out the link below:

>> Click Here to See Compare Prices and Get the Best Offers

Forget You ReviewI've been struggling with this review for a while, and it's all thanks to my mixed feelings about this book. I really enjoyed parts of it, like the character of Doug and the girl torn between two boys, though I had some problems with Zoey. I just couldn't seem to like her, and I thought the way she treated both Brandon and Doug made next to no sense. She wasn't in any way written badly, in fact that's Echols' extremely strong point: she's a fantastic writer. I just felt that, in this case, Forget You was lacking something.
As I've previously mentioned many times, Echols is a great talent in YA. Going Too Far and The Boys Next Door are both brilliant examples of fiction for teens, and her boys always stand out from the crowd. Forget You's Doug is no exception; I loved him. Echols also isn't afraid to write a steamy scene or two, and when I say steamy, I mean steamy. Page 211 (in the ARC) is like the hottest scene in YA, and just has to be mentioned. I'm not saying I went back and read it a few times or anything... *cough*. Though I know for a fact I'm not the only one!
The one thing that really irked me about Zoey was why she even bothered with Brandon at all. To put it nicely, he was a complete idiot. I get that she couldn't remember the whole night, but surely she could have figured out who was the good guy and who wasn't worth a second thought?! Zoey is my least favourite of Echols' female protagonists, though I did like her more towards the end of the book.
Echols gets teenagers, and she writes them as if her own teenage years are a not-so-distant memory. She gets the drama of relationships and big decisions, and for that reason alone I will read everything she ever writes. Although I don't think Forget You is up there with her best books, Echols has more than proved that she's here for the long haul, and I look forward to whatever she comes up with next.Forget You Overview

Want to learn more information about Forget You?

>> Click Here to See All Customer Reviews & Ratings Now

Read More...