Review: Love and Other Perishable Items

I really wanted to love this book. It really fell flat for me and I struggled to get through parts of it. I did like that the book is told through alternating points of view-Amelia and Chris. Overall, I felt at like both characters were so sad and unhappy. It got a little tedious to read over and over about the unhappiness of both main characters.

I think Amelia did learn a lot from her friendship with Chris. Chris is very book smart and has a great understanding of literature. He and Amelia have some great conversations about books. In my opinion, Amelia has a somewhat naive view of the world. I'm all for fairness and equality but some of her thoughts on feminism seemed over the top. Again, just my opinion. I hope that if we saw these characters 4 or 5 years down the road that we would see them both more mature and happy with their families and personal lives. I'm not sure that I would want to see them together in a romantic relationship but I would like to see them as good friends that are able to to talk, share, and laugh together.

This book takes place in Australia, so some of the language may seem different to you. This is not a reason to stay away from this book but it is different. If you want a happy, everything tied up in a pretty bow kind of book then this is not the one for you. I think this book is less about falling in love and more about finding yourself.

Review: Meant to Be

First....a book that takes place in London? Count me in! On Julia's trip to London with her fellow students, she gets the opportunity to see the biggest and best sites the city has to offer. And thanks to Jason, the one person she did not want to be partnered with, she gets to see some places off the beaten path as well.

Julia is the type of character that I love but can also annoy me at the same time. Until the trip, she is completely by the book. She has good grades and always follows the rules. When she gets to London she is paired with Jason, and Julia's world is turned upside down. Throughout this trip, she is constantly arguing with herself about what she should or shouldn't do. She is very stubborn and set in her ways and because of that I think she misses a lot of opportunities along the way.

There were some unexpected twists in this story for me and Julia learns an important lesson from her mom from all the way across the pond. This along with clever writing, some klutzy moments, a few almost kisses, and one sweet kiss in the rain are just some of the reasons why I liked this book so much.

Review: The Encyclopedia of Me

Thanks to NetGalley and Arthur A. Levine publishing, I was able to read THE ENCYCLOPEDIA OF ME by Karen Rivers.  Isadora "Tink" decides to write a book...actually an Encyclopedia of her life.  Her book gives us insight into her life in a funny and honest way.  Tink writes about her friends, her family, and her first maybe-boyfriend.   The book is full of humor but also has some serious issues in it as well.  Tink's older brother Seb is autistic and their family has some struggles with him that is really heart-wrenching.

The book was a little lengthy but it was a pretty quick read.  Overall, a funny, enjoyable book that will sure to make you laugh out loud.

Did you know you can write your own review of this book and many more over at YABC??

Review: Over You

OVER YOU wasn't what I thought it would be. I was hoping it would be a funny, light-hearted story about a girl helping other girls get over being dumped. The last part of that sentence was true, but I didn't find the funny or the light-heartedness I was looking for.

The story jumped around to different characters a lot...even in the middle of chapters which I found very confusing. In fact, I sometimes had to go back and reread pages because I wasn't sure who I was supposed to be following. Because of that, I never really felt like I got to know any of the characters all that well. 

There were some good one-liners and if you can read between the lines I think you will see some good friendships there too. I wish I could have gotten to know the characters better and that they would have shown more depth. I didn't really hear the right voice with every character. At times I felt like Max was trying too hard to be grown-up and she didn't sound like a teen.

Overall, I liked the premise of the story. It just wasn't what I thought it would be.

Review: From What I Remember

I was a huge fan of KARMA BITES so I was more than excited to read FROM WHAT I REMEMBER. What a roller coaster this book is, it reads so quick and light that I felt like I was watching a movie. Just when I thought what else could possibly happen, something does!

There is a lot going on in the book. The different points of view make it something special. While I loved Kylie, Will, and even Max...I really loved the bits thrown in from Jake, Kylie's brother. I think the portrayal of his character was right on.

This crazy trip to Mexico turns into quite the life experience for these High School Seniors. It is amazing what stress, anxiety, and even sadness can do to a person and how sometimes even young people need to UNLOAD. And boy, do they. 

This book highlights the most loyal of friendships and the excitement of an unexpected romance. There are struggles, successes, confessions, and more. All in all, a great summer read!

Review: A World Away

<-----Look at this cover! Beautiful!

I was so surprised at the depth of this book. This wasn't just a story about an Amish girl who gets the chance to wear jeans and listen to cd's, it is a story about choices and figuring out a place in the world. Eliza gets the opportunity to work as a nanny for the summer, leaving her simple Amish community behind. When she gets to her new home, she learns all about the modern conveniences of microwaves, bagged salad, and video games. With each new discovery, she continues to be impressed of this modern world and all of its tricks and tools. Eliza really begins to question where she belongs--back home in her safe, simple world or in the new city where everything seems possible.

After a couple of shocking discoveries, Eliza learns more about her family (especially her mother) and discovers that the grass isn't always greener on the other side...or maybe it is?


See the rest of my review over at YABC

Review: My Life Next Door

This book had so much going on that I'm not sure how to sum it up in one short review but I'll try.

First, I want to tackle the relationship between Samantha and her mom. WOW. Samantha's mom, Grace, is running for reelection in the State Senate race. She gets involved with Clay who is apparently some sort of political genius and all of a sudden Samantha doesn't even recognize who her mom has become. They have an interesting relationship in that Grace is so overly involved in everything in Sam's life, like organizing her clothes in her dresser drawers and making sure her schedule is always filled with proper activities. However, when Grace really needs her mom the most, she isn't there. Clay and the campaign seem to take up all of her time. I'd like to say that their relationship healed itself by the end of the book but I'm not sure that it did.

Next, the next door neighbors the Garretts. This is a family I want to know. They are big (in numbers), loud, a little disorganized but love each other so much. Samantha is fascinated by this family that she has never met until one night when Jase changes everything. Jase introduces Sam into his family and his life. Jase's family is everything Sam's is not. Their relationship starts off as friendship and quickly involves into more. They have a sweet romance that isn't over the top.

Now, add in Sam's best friend, Nan, and her brother Tim. Sam and Nan have been friends for years and when they were younger Tim used to hang out with them as well. Tim has a lot of problems and does work to overcome them, and the book shows how difficult it is for him. In the end, Tim turns out to be a better friend to Sam than Nan was. 

This is a lot, right? There's more....In one night, everyone's life changes and it's up to Samantha to make a choice and whichever way she chooses, she is certain she will lose someone she loves. 

I really enjoyed this book. For as intense that it was at times, it flowed really nicely. There was never any downtime. The secondary characters, like Tim and the Garrett kids were some of my favorites and rounded out this story. Definitely pick this book up!

Review: Princess for Hire: A Farewell to Charms

I was really looking forward to finding out how Desi's story would end in this final book of the Princess for Hire series. I am a huge fan of princess stories and this series is a fun and different take on the "ordinary girl becomes a princess" story line.

The longer Desi works for Facade, the more she finds things that she doesn't like about her employer. She, along with her handsome prince sub Reed, decide to take on Facade. Of course, things don't always go as planned and soon Desi gets herself into quite a jam.

If you have read the first two books in the series, this is one not to miss. If you are looking for a new middle grade series for your daughter, then this would be a great one to start. This is one that I will definitely keep for my little girl one day. As of now, there are no plans to continue this series but I would love to see what happens with Desi, Reed, and Facade down the road.

Review: Temptation (A Temptation Novel)

Thanks to NetGalley for giving me the opportunity to read TEMPTATION by Karen Ann Hopkins published by Harlequin TEEN.  The premise of this book seemed so appealing--Amish boy meets and falls in love with English (non-Amish) girl and they are not supposed to be together.  I really wanted to love this book but I just didn't.

I thought the idea of this story was a great one, I was really anxious to see how it would play out and if Rose and Noah would get their happy ever after.  I liked the alternating points of view between Rose and Noah, I think that added a depth to the story and we got to see how both characters felt throughout the book.  I also really liked Sam, Rose's older brother.  He played the part of the parent figure in Rose's life after their mother died and her father being absent most of the time because of his position at the hospital.  I also thought the author did a great job of showing the differences between the two cultures.

I had a hard time believing the "instant love" between Rose and Noah.  I get the whole attraction thing but I felt like they met and then were suddenly so in love that they couldn't think of anything or anyone but each other....and for being teenagers, that is pretty intense.  The length of this book also got me-I felt at times the story was so drawn out and then I reach the end of the book to find out the story doesn't end...there is another book.

I don't want to add any major spoilers but in order for Rose and Noah to be together one of them has to leave their "world" and fully join the others life.  I can't imagine a circumstance  where  a parent would allow their teenager to leave their life completely behind and join another's family for the sake of teenage love.  It just doesn't seem believable to me.

If you are a fan of romance, you may like this one.

Review: Something Like Normal

It is not often a book moves me to tears, like sobbing into your Taco Bell tears, and really I cried into my breakfast and lunch today because I could not stop reading this book.  I knew from reading the book description it would get to me but I had no idea how much.

Travis is one of my favorite characters I have ever read.  Why?  Because he is real.  Being inside his head was insightful and at times very painful.  The roller coaster of his life in Afghanistan, I can imagine, is portrayed to a tee.  When Travis returns from his tour, after losing his best friend in an attack, he has no idea where he fits in to his "normal" life.  His family life is messed up, to say the least, and he can't get the nightmares of Charlie's death out of his head.

Harper has quite the history with Travis that goes all the way back to middle school.  She is one kick butt girl that would be a heck of a friend to anyone...but don't cross her! She is a special person and is there for Travis in a way that no one else is.  She doesn't pry or push him but really challenges him in ways he doesn't even understand.

I can't imagine being in Travis' shoes.  He tries to put on a brave face but he is suffering with issues that not many of us will ever understand.  I challenge you after you read this to not look at the next serviceman you see in a different way or hear a news story about another fallen soldier and not tear up. This book made me realize once again what a valuable resource veterans our to our country.

This book is too important to not read.  I can't simply just recommend this book.  I give it my highest of recommendations.  I think everyone should read it.  In fact, I would a buy a copy for everyone if I could.  And I won't believe you if you tell me that when you read the last two pages you weren't be a sloppy, sobbing mess.  I'm thinking about it now and here come the tears again.

Review: Capture the Flag

Thank you to YABC for sending this book for me to review!

I am a huge history buff. I love reading and learning about the history of our country, so any book that is set in Washington D.C. I am drawn to. This book is fantastic for many reasons but the main one is that I think it has an appeal to both boys and girls. There are characters and stories that will appeal to all readers.

I included a 5 rating on illustrations even though there are just a handful of them because they are well drawn and funny. Capture the Flag is a fun mystery with great historical information in it as well. The book ends with an indication that Anna, Jose, and Henry will be back to solve more mysteries and help protect our nation's historical artifacts. I can't wait to find out what happens next!

Overall, Capture the Flag is exciting and flows so well. This is perfect for a summer read and as a teacher and a parent, I highly recommend it.

Review: Flirting in Italian

Romance and Mystery

I was hoping that this would be a fun, light-hearted summer read. While I enjoyed it, I got caught up in the language. There is a lot of Italian phrases (obviously) and I found some of them hard to decipher. I also was hoping this would be a stand-alone novel and it turns out it is not. That would explain why when I was about 30 pages from the end I was wondering how the author would wrap everything up in such a short amount of time.

I liked the premise of this book. I enjoy books that involve romance, travel, and friendship. This book had all of those. I felt at times the story was weighed down by over description. When I read, I want to create a picture in my head, I don't want to read specific details for every single person, place, and thing along the way.

Overall, I think this book would be great for young teens. It has just the right amount of romance, fun, and mystery.


3 Stars

2012 Book List: Part 3

Part 3 of my ongoing list of what books I've read this year.  You can find Part 1 here and Part 2 here.

38. In Honor by Jessi Kirby (Thanks YABC)
39. Spell Bound by Rachel Hawkins
40. Timepiece by Myra McEntire (Thanks Netgalley)
41. The Selection by Kiera Cass (Thanks YABC)
42. In the Garden by Elizabeth Spurr (Thanks YABC)
43. Animals and Their Families by Barbara Nascimbeni (Thanks YABC)
44. Princess for Hire: The Royal Treatment by Lindsey Leavitt (Thanks YABC)
45. Temptation (A Tempation Novel) by Karen Ann Hopkins (Thanks NetGalley and Harlequin Teen)
46. Pocket Cats 3: Feline Charm by Kitty Wells (Thanks YABC)
47. Picture My Day by Severine Cordier (Thanks YABC)
48. Daisy's Perfect Word by Sandra V Feder (Thanks YABC)
49. Whatever After #1: Fairest of All  by Sarah Mlynowski (Thanks YABC)
50. The List by Siobhan Vivian
51. Margaret and the Moth Tree by Brit Trogen and Kari Trogen (Thanks YABC)
52. The Encyclopedia of Me by Karen Rivers (Thanks NetGalley and Arthur A. Levine Books)
53. A World Away by Nancy Grossman (Thanks YABC)
54. Over You by Emma McLaughlin and Nicola Kraus (Thanks Edelweiss and HarperTEEN)
55. Huff and Puff by Trish Rabe (a NOOK Book)

I got kind of lazy and didn't link all my reviews.  I'm sorry.

Review: Timepiece

Excuse me while I go all fangirl for TIMEPIECE and Myra McEntire. *flails* *cheers* *does a high kick* *end scene*

Second books always make me nervous.  I'm always initially very excited to read them but if they don't hook me, I won't read the third.  And I'm going to be honest, many second books make me lose interest and I often won't finish out a series.  Well, last year when I finished HOURGLASS I couldn't wait until TIMEPIECE was released.  I was so jealous of everyone who managed to score an ARC.  When I got my chance to read,  I devoured TIMEPIECE.  I simply could not get enough.  And I won't be quitting this series anytime soon.

TIMEPIECE is told from Kaleb's *swoon* POV.  I absolutely dug this.   I think McEntire nailed his voice.  Not only that but we got to see Kaleb's different sides.  His tough guy side and the vulnerable side that we didn't see in HOURGLASS.   And I must say that vulnerable side made me swoon and tear up at all at the same time.

Besides hearing more from Kaleb, I was hoping Myra would give us more about Em's best friend, Lily.  Once again, she delivered.  Lily is an amazing character and I want her to be my best friend.  She's beyond loyal and she's one tough cookie.

I don't want to give away too much more...I really want you to read it.  After you do, we can laugh, snort, and cry all together.

I cannot rave about this book enough...in a year of fantastic releases, this is sure to be tops on anyone's list.  It will not disappoint at all.  I can't wait to see what Myra has in store for us next.

Review: Margaret and the Moth Tree

What a wonderful surprise this book was.  Thank you to YABC for sending it my way.

Here is a snippet from my 5 star review over at YABC.

"And you're my Margaret." -Pip

I'm going to admit that the initial reason I wanted to read MARGARET AND THE MOTH TREE was because my own daughter is named Margaret. I started this book just a few hours ago and could not put it down. It was so well-written. There is a classic feel to the writing that makes the story sink right into your soul. I actually underlined several lines in this book because it was just so right.

To read the rest of my review, click here

Review: The List

                                                             From Amazon:
An intense look at the rules of high school attraction -- and the price that's paid for them.

It happens every year. A list is posted, and one girl from each grade is chosen as the prettiest, and another is chosen as the ugliest. Nobody knows who makes the list. It almost doesn't matter. The damage is done the minute it goes up.

This is the story of eight girls, freshman to senior, "pretty" and "ugly." And it's also the story of how we see ourselves, and how other people see us, and the tangled connection of the two.


This book made my heart hurt. THE LIST, very simply, shows the good, bad, and ugly of what being labeled can do to a person.  The story follows the eight girls that were selected to be on The List, and you may be thinking 8 POV's, too much for me.  I assure you that it isn't.  Each girl's perspective is so intricately woven into the story that the transitions are seamless.

So why did this make my heart hurt? These poor girls on this list, that's why.  The moment this list goes public their lives change.  One girl now believes she is on top of the world and it throws another girl back into her tailspin of fighting an eating disorder.  Another girl believes that even if it is short-lived, she finally has friends.  There is an inner struggle with all the girls as they try to figure out their place in the complex world of high school.  Friendships and relationships are tested all over the place and some things the girls thought were real turn out to be just a result of the list and go away as quickly as they came.

I couldn't stop reading this book last night because I was so worried for these girls I had to know what happened to them.  This book is a highly emotional book about how being labeled can affect a person.  High School is a tricky place to navigate through anyway, and while something like The List may be the extreme, people being labeled happens all over the place.  The List makes you realize that no matter what you are labeled: "pretty" or "ugly" or "smart" or "athletic" there are feelings, and consequences that everyone deals with on a daily basis.  If you don't read this book and think about your own high school and your own high school experiences, I'll be surprised.

Review: Hourglass

In honor of TIMEPIECE being released in just a couple of weeks, I thought I would post my review to HOURGLASS.  If you loved Hourglass, you will LOVE Timepiece A.LOT.

I loved Hourglass! This book captivated me from the very first page. Before reading Hourglass, reading about time travel never seemed very interesting to me. Myra McEntire makes this story jump off the page and you instantly fall in love with her characters and the world she has created. Emerson, Michael, and Kaleb are quite the trio. I still can't decide; Michael, Kaleb, Michael, Kaleb...Kaleb...Michael. It's a tough decision, read it and you'll see why! 

I can't wait to see what happens in the sequel. I'm hoping there are more scenes with Emerson's best friend, Lily. She is a great friend to Emerson and has her own special story as well. I'm also hoping for a lot more Kaleb and Michael. :)


If you've always thought (much like me) that a book on time travel couldn't be that much fun to read, PLEASE pick this one up. I don't think you'll be disappointed.

Princess for Hire: The Royal Treatment (Review)

Once again, thanks  to YABC I was fortunate enough to get a copy of Lindsey Leavitt's second book in her Princess for Hire series THE ROYAL TREATMENT.  I'll be picking up the first book in the series so I will be ready for the release of the third book in June.

See my review over at Kids Books Central.

YABC and Sweet Valley Twins

When I was younger, I read all the time.  In fact, when I went shopping with my mom, I was almost always guaranteed a trip to the book store which almost always meant me coming home with 1 or 2 new books of my favorite series Sweet Valley Twins.  I devoured those books like they were food.  I wanted Jessica and Elizabeth to be my friends.  I remember once when I was home sick from school I wrote my own version of the SVT story starring myself.  My girls got to pick out a new pet and they were very excited about it.  I changed the names to include myself and my best friend at the time, and I'm sure it went something like this.

Claire:  Guess what, Amanda?  Mom and Dad said we could get a new pet.  Maybe we should go to the pet store and look around and decide what we want.


Amanda:  I can't do that today.  I have a special club meeting after school.  Besides, I want a dog.


Claire:  A dog? Why would you want a dog?  I'm sure it will jump on our beds and eat our homework.  What if it runs away?  I think we should get a hamster.


Amanda:  No way.  Who has a pet hamster?


And so on...you get the idea.  I know you are shocked that this piece of literature never made its way onto bookshelves, aren't you?    And now you know why I'm a reader and not a writer.


Anyway, enough about my non-existent writing career.  My point is that when I was younger there wasn't a place (other than my book reports I had to turn in and how much fun were those???) that I could really share my love for books and reading.  Now, with the wonders of the internet I have YABC.  My good friend MG Buehrlen is the fantastic leader and asked me to be a part of the Team Reviewers!  Now, when I read an awesome YA or Children's book I have a place to write about it and tell YOU how much I loved it.  One great thing about YABC is that everyone can join and write reviews.  BONUS--when you write those reviews you get a chance to WIN BOOKS!  Isn't the internet magical?

I know when I click on someone's review at YABC  I will find an honest and fair review.  Even if the book wasn't for that particular reader they still find a way to share their thoughts in a constructive way.

I guess what I'm trying to say is that if you love YA and Kids books and you want a place to share your love and gushiness over those book head on over and sign up and start writing reviews.  There are some pretty rad peeps over there besides me and MG.  Make friends with Jill and Jen too because they are beyond awesome.

This community is awesome and I'm so fortunate that I get to be a part of it.

Just for you here is one more awesome SVH cover for you enjoyment.

Now, who will start buying me Sweet Valley books? I feel like I must read them all again.

Book Review: The Selection

I was so excited to receive a copy of THE SELECTION to read and review for YABC.  Click here for a link to my review.

Review: In Honor

As I was looking through a list of upcoming YA releases, I stumbled upon In Honor by Jessi Kirby.  I was nothing short of thrilled when I was able to receive a copy to review from the magic that is YABC.  Thank you!!!!

Right away this book pulls you in. The first scene is Honor sitting at the funeral of her brother, Finn, who had been killed while serving in Iraq.  I could hear the stillness in the air, except for the gun shots of the salute and the playing of Taps.  If you've ever been to a military funeral, you know how powerful that moment is.  

Finn has been Honor's source of everything since her parents died many years before.  When he enlisted in the Marines instead of heading off to college, Honor was distraught.  And when the soldier arrived at the door to her Aunt's house to tell her what happened to her brother, she wasn't sure how she would go on.

After the funeral, Honor opens a handwritten letter from her brother, that arrived three days after he was killed.   Something in the letter makes honor decide that she has to fulfill her brother's wishes, so instead of heading off to her college orientation, she heads to California.  *cue Rusty*

To read my official YABC review, click here.

Have You Read This?

Anna and the French Kiss has been out for a while but I don't want you to forget about it.  Have you read it?  If not, I really encourage you to.  I loved this so much--beginning to end, I could not put it down. Check out my review at YABC.

Picture Book: Virginia Wolf

Thanks to YABC I was able to read and review Virginia Wolf.  It is one of my favorite picture books of the year.  The illustrations are simply to die for.  Read my review here. 

Spell Bound

I finally got a chance to finish Spell Bound by Rachel Hawkins.  It's been willing me to read it since I bought it.  Fine, Spell Bound...you win. ;) If you like paranormal but not too paranormally (is that a word?) then the HEX HALL series is for you.  I posted a review at YABC if you are interested.  This series is a lot of fun--and it's just downright funny.

I'm sure that Rachel Hawkins will continue to delight us with her writing for many, many years to come!  I can't wait to see what is next.

2012 Book List: Part 2

Here is the next installment of the books I've read from 2012.

21. Little Bea by Daniel Roode
22. SuperHero ABC by Bob McLeod
23. The Princess Diaries: Princess in Pink by Meg Cabot
24. Camilla, the Cupcake Fairy by Tim Bugbird
25.  If You Give a Dog a Donut by Laura Numeroff
26. You Think It's Easy Being the Tooth Fairy? by Sheri Bell-Rehwoldt
27. Pete the Cat: I Love My White Shoes by Eric Litwin
28. Shoe-La-La! by Karen Beaumont
29. Catching Jordan by Miranda Kenneally
30. The Pirate Girl's Treasure by Peyton Leung (Thanks YABC)
31. The Big Green Book of the Big Blue Sea by Helaine Becker (Thanks YABC)
32. Oscar by Jordan Troutt (Thanks YABC)
33. All by Myself! by Geraldine Collet (Thanks YABC)
34. Animal Masquerade by Marianne Dubuc (Thanks YABC)
35. Take a Bow by Elizabeth Eulberg
36. His Fair Assassin: Grave Mercy (Book One) by Robin LaFevers
37. Ballpark Mysteries 4: The Astro Outlaw by David A. Kelly (Thanks YABC)

Lots of picture books in this group.  Currently I have a big TBR pile and several things I'm reading now.  I realized after trying to organize my bookshelves, I have many books that I haven't read yet. *slaps wrist*  I also have a "I Want That Book" pile in my head.  There are some amazing books coming out soon! Stay tuned for the next list

2012 Book List: Part 1

I thought, mostly for my own benefit, that I would keep a list of books that I've read throughout the year.  Most of them are Children's and YA but I occasionally branch out.  These aren't all 2012 releases,  and if a book is highlighted, you can find a link to my YABC review.

1. The King's Speech: How One Man Saved the British Monarchy by Mark Logue and Peter Conradi
2. Prada and Prejudice by Mandy Hubbard
3. Goddess Boot Camp by Tera Lynn Childs
4. The Statistical Probability of Love at First Sight by Jennifer E. Smith
5. The Snow Globe Family by Jane O'Connor
6. The Magic Tree House #9: Dolphins at Daybreak by Mary Pope Osborne
7. Jane by April Lindner
8. The Magic Tree House #1: Dinosaurs Before Dark by Mary Pope Osborne
9. The Magic Tree House #2: The Knight at Dawn by Mary Pope Osborne
10. The Princess Diaries: Princess in the Spotlight by Meg Cabot
11. The Princess Diaries: Princess in Love by Meg Cabot
12. The Princess Diaries: Princess in Waiting by Meg Cabot
13. Lovetorn by Kavita Daswani (Thanks, YABC)
14. Little Wings #1: Willa Bean's Cloud Dreams by Cecelia Galante (Thanks, YABC)
15. Little Wings #2: Be Brave, Willa Bean by Cecelia Galante (Thanks, YABC)
16. Virginia Wolf by Kyo Maclear (Thanks, YABC)
17. A Boy Called Dickens by Deborah Hopkinson (Thanks, YABC)
18. Rosie and the Wedding Day Rescue by Lynelle Woolley (Thanks, YABC)
19. We Love Our School!: A Read-Together Rebus Story by Judy Sierra (Thanks, YABC)
20. The Magic Tree House #43: Leprechaun in Late Winter by Mary Pope Osborne

Here are the first 20 on my list...stay tuned for the next installment of my list!

Review: His Fair Assassin: Grave Mercy (Book 1)

Oh my. GRAVE MERCY. What. a. book.  I heard a lot of hype about this book, so I wasn't too sure I wanted to read it....last time I followed the hype it did not go well for me.  After reading some reviews, I decided I would have to check it out.  I've been on a contemporary kick lately, so I wasn't sure how I would feel reading something in the historical fiction genre.


I started reading on Saturday and only got about 50 pages into it before I had to go to bed.  Those first 50 pages invaded my dreams.  Who doesn't want to have dreams about nun assassins?  It is lengthy but don't let that deter you.  If you are a fan of historical fiction don't miss this one.  If you like books with a strong female lead, don't miss this one.  If you like nun assassins, don't miss this one.


I can't wait for the second book...it'll be a while....but I can't wait!

You can find my 5 star review over at YABC including a summary and all of the publishing info.  I know there are some amazing books coming out this year but I have a feeling that this will make a lot of people's "best of" lists.

Go forth and read!

The Statistical Probability of Love at First Sight

The Statistical Probability of Love at First Sight was released in January.  I can't tell you how much I loved this book.  I bought it on a whim and I think it will easily make my top of 2012 list.  My full review is available at YABC.  This book is so much more than I thought it would be.  Please, please read this book!  I think you will love it.

This is one of those books that I think everyone should read and then tell your friends so they can read it too.

Take a Bow

Do you have those authors that you are always looking forward to their next book?  Well, Elizabeth Eulberg is quickly becoming one of those authors for me.  I loved PROM AND PREJUDICE, and I was excited to see what her latest book TAKE A BOW would be like.  I certainly was not disappointed.  I can't wait to read more from Elizabeth Eulberg!

Check out my YABC review here!

2012 Goals Update

I posted some goals awhile back that I wanted to keep up this year.  Thought I would give you a little update on how I've been doing....


1. Read more- I want my students to read every night, so I need to as well. I've read A LOT!
2. Check out more books from the library. I have a sickness and I can't stay out of book stores...I keep buying!
3. Find some non-fiction books I like I FINALLY read The King's Speech. 
4. Go on vacation Going to Gulf Shores with my little family this summer.
5. Find a great face cleanser I got a recommendation for Bare Minerals face cleanser but I haven't tried it yet....
6. Do more DIY projects (thanks to pinterest, I have quite the list) I've done  a lot at school, just need to get cracking on the home front.
7. Don't leave my clean laundry folded up in baskets...put it away! FAIL.
8. Wear more dresses Since we skipped winter here in MO skirts and dresses have been my friend.
9. Fix my hair at least 4 days a week (lame I know, but I suffer from the just put it in a ponytail syndrome)  DONE!
10. Enjoy it! :) Always something I'm working on.


So I guess I've done alright so far.  Thanks for keeping up with me.  I'm looking forward to posting some fun crafty projects and more links to my YABC book reviews.  I've read some awesomesauce stuff.

By the way...here is a link to a blog that my sis-in-law and I have for all of our crafty things.  She's way craftier than I am but I try.

http://www.penguinsonthebottom.blogspot.com

My Best of 2011

2011 was quite the year for me...here are a few highlights.

After teaching music for 7 years, I started a new job...

I read some great books...

 

Had an awesome trip to Chicago with my best gals...

 

Was a total fangirl at the movies....

Woke up at 3:00 am to watch this....

And added the sweetest baby girl to our family...

So all in all, it's been a pretty spectacular year.  I hope you enjoyed my look back at 2011. Here's to 2012!