Love the One You're With

Love the One You're With by Emily Griffin

My rating - 3 out of 5 stars

Meh.... This was just a okay book. I definitely have liked other Emily Griffin books more than this one. I was just kind of annoyed with the main character Ellen. She was just so quick to doubt her marriage just because an ex waltzed back into her life. Anyways, not the worst book but I just don't have much to say about it.

Happy Reading!

The Winters in Bloom

The Winters in Bloom by Lisa Tucker

My Rating - 4.5 out of 5 stars

What a page turner! I seriously could not put this down. It was just so mysterious. I just had to know, why are Kyra and David so protective? What are these secrets they have been holding from each other? Who did actually take Micheal? What is going to happen next? The author did such a great job keeping the reader's interest and only sharing a little bit of information at a time. It was amazing how she put this book together in a mysterious but not too confusing way.

We are introduced to Micheal, a five year old boy who is extremely sheltered. His parents are way too over-protective and are always worried something is going to happen to him. Well, today something does. Someone kidnaps Micheal from his front yard. Now his parents, Kyra and David, delve into their pasts, both so sure that someone they know took Micheal. Both Kyra and David have extremely painful pasts that they don't really like to talk about. Now they have no choice but to go back and relive those moments so that they can hopefully find their son.

Happy Reading!

If I Stay Series

If I Stay (If I Stay #1) by Gayle Forman

My Rating - 4 out of 5 stars

Wow! I just can't stop thinking about this book. Even though this is not a true story (as far as I know), I just feel so bad for Mia. I can't even imagine. This is like my worst nightmare. My whole family gone in one moment. Or worse, my kids left parent-less. Ahhhh, so horrible!

Anyways, If I Stay follows Mia on a average winter day. It is set in Oregon so when they had a snow storm (a pretty small one I must stay), the schools close and Mia, her younger brother, and her parents decide to hang out and go see Mia's grandparents. Unfortunately they never make it. They are in a horrible car accident. Mia is caught between life and death and is able to witness everything that is going on around her. Now she has to decide whether she can fight enough to stay or if she is just too tired.....

I can't wait to read the next book in this series Where She Went, and I already put it on hold at the library so hopefully I will get it soon! 

Happy Reading!

7/1 - Just finished Where She Went, the sequel to If I Stay.  It is pretty good but not as good as the first one.  This book was in Adam's voice (Mia's boyfriend) so that was interesting.  Adam is clearly extremely depressed which just made the tone of the book kind of a downer but it was still pretty good.  

City of Lost Souls

 City of Lost Souls (Mortal Instruments #5) by Cassandra Clare

My Rating - 4 out of 5 stars

Finally! The 5th book in the Mortal Instrument's series is out. I read this book in about 2 days, but that is how it is with this series. Super fast and easy reads that are definitely entertaining.

I really liked this book. It had a little bit of a different feel to it than the rest of the series which was a nice change. I liked how you got a glimpse into the other character's lives this time. Of course the main story was with Clary and Jace. Is anyone else getting sick of the fact that there is always something standing between them? When are they ever going to be able to be together? Anyways.... we also get to understand Isabelle a little more. Lovable Simon again has a main part. And we also get to see Alec and Magnus's relationship any Maia and Jordan's relationship. I feel like I understand these character's a little more and really enjoyed reading more about them. Clary and Jace's relationship is as complicated as ever. And of course, there is evil Sebastian.

Definitely a great read but a little bummed that the next and last one won't be out till 2014. But did you know that there is going to be a sequel series called the Dark Artifices Trilogy? Unfortunately the first one won't be out till 2015 so who knows if I will still be interested then. At least the third Infernal Devices book (the prequel series) will be out in March!

Divergent

Divergent (Divergent #1) by Veronica Roth

My Rating - 4.5 out of 5

This book was so good! I am somewhat obsessed with young adult but I was afraid that I have read too many dystopian type books to really enjoy this one. But I was wrong. I read this book in one day! (My kids luckily took a really long nap and than as soon as they went to sleep I picked it back up and couldn't put it down.)

Divergent is set in a run down, hollowed out Chicago. Throughout Chicago their a five factions, each with their own ideas of morals and what is important. Beatrice is in Abnegation who value selflessness. She turned sixteen a few months ago so along with all her fellow sixteen year old's she is about to undergo a test to see what faction best fits her. Even with the test results, everyone can make their own decision of which faction they want to live in. Most teenager's stay in the faction they grew up in but some decide to switch and try something new. Beatrice's results are a little different. They are inconclusive which means she is Divergent. She isn't given much information about this except that it is dangerous and she should not tell anyone. With no help from the test Beatrice decides to go with her gut and switch factions. She chooses Dauntless, who value bravery. The initiation into Dauntless is competitive and ruthless. Throughout the initiation she starts to understand who she really is, she begins to have a crush on one of her instructors and she starts to see that other factions, and possibly hers, might be in danger.

This is the first book in the series and lucky for me the second one, Insurgent, is already out. The third however won't be out till next year. Oh, there is a super short story in Four's perspective that is really good! It is called Free Four and it is free! You can read it here. I would suggest you read this after you have read Divergent though.

Happy Reading!

the truth about forever

the truth about forever by Sarah Dessen

My Rating - 4 out of 5 stars

Sixteen year old Macy is getting ready for a long, uneventful summer. She is starting a job at the library (which she is not looking forward to), her boyfriend is leaving for the summer, she doesn't really have any friends since pretty much her whole identity belongs with her boyfriend, and she is still grieving over her father's death a year and a half ago. Macy thinks that in order to cope and move on, she needs to be in control and perfect. But throughout the summer she discovers that being perfect is not the same thing as being happy.

Macy happens to meet the full of life employees of Wish Catering. She finds herself wanting to be like them and on a whim decides to take them up on a job offer. As she is getting to know each of the employees, including Wes, she starts to get to know herself. Does she really want to be perfect like her boyfriend? Is her relationship with her mom all that it could be? And will she finally confront her feelings about losing her dad?

Such a good book! I loved the message, and I loved Macy and Wes!

Hush Hush

 Hush, Hush by Becca Fitzpatrick

My rating - 3 out of 5 stars

Okay, not the best book ever, but I have to say it feels good to be back in the young adult genre. I took a little break away and even though I read some really good books, I just really love young adult books. They are easy reads and usually pretty entertaining. With that said, this book was only moderately entertaining. I have to say I was kind of bored during the first half. The main character, Nora, kind of annoyed me but Patch was definitely a nice addition!

In Hush, Hush we follow Nora, a typical sixteen year old who a year ago lost her father. Now she is paired up with a new partner in biology. Patch is mysterious, dark, sexy and kind of scary. Does he like her or is he out to get her. While she is trying to figure Patch out, more mysterious events start to unfold around her. Who wants to harm her? Patch? But even though he is scary, he doesn't seem like he wants to harm her.

This is a typical young adult read. Not my favorite but honestly I will probably continue reading the series. I am such a sucker!

Happy Reading!

Every You, Every Me

 Every You, Every Me by David Levithan

My rating - 3 out of 5 stars

I am not sure what I thought about this book. The writing style was interesting and different. I kind of liked how he put the story together and how he made the book around photo's. It was very interesting. But I did not like how he used the strike out text. It got very confusing. I think the idea of the novel was really intriguing but I am not sure it was executed well. The whole book was a big mystery from page one. Who is the narrator (it takes almost the whole book to get a feel for him)? What happened to his friend? Is she dead? And the questions just keep coming. This book is a really fast read, but not the best ever.

Heaven is Here

 Heaven is Here by Stephanie Nielson

My rating - 4 out of 5 stars

I am rating this a four because of what a remarkable story this is. This is the true story about Stephanie and the plane crash that burned 80% of her body. She tells us about her life before the accident, a little about the accident itself, and then about the road of recovery and accepting her new life. She truly is a remarkable woman and mother! I have to say though that I had a really hard time connecting with her. I just felt like I couldn't relate to her in any way. Her life seemed so perfect before the accident. I found myself skimming most of the beginning third of the book. I was more inspired by the actual event and how she kept on going afterwards. I enjoyed how she talked about her faith and how it carried her through. I just wish I could have connected with her a little more.

Happy Reading!

The Fifty Shades Trilogy

 Fifty Shades of Grey; Fifty Shades Darker; Fifty Shades Freed

by  E.L. James

My overall rating - 4 out of 5 stars

I decided to read these books mainly because of curiosity. I just had to see what all the fuss was about. I have never ventured into this genre of books and was a little wary but I decided why not? I love to read and so I might as well give everything a try, right? Anyways, while I was reading the books I kept thinking about what I was going to rate it. I had been reading all the other reviews and it seems people either love it or hate it. As we all know, these books have created a lot of controversy. Honestly, at times I loved it and other times I wasn't so sure. Ultimately I decided on 4 stars because I have to say I did enjoy these books. I read all 3 in a little over a week and was completely enthralled with the relationship between Ana and Christian. Christian is such a mysterious guy and I wanted to see if Ana truly could change him. It was obvious that Christian was going to change Ana, but could she pull off the impossible? To be honest, the relationship reminded me of an much more adult version of Twilight (without the vampires of course). Christian definitely reminded me of Edward. Gorgeous, serious, rich, and believes himself to be a heartless monster. And the fact that Christian claims he just couldn't stay away from Ana (sound familiar?). And Ana reminded me of Bella. Innocent, pretty but not in a obvious way, clumsy and ultimately looking for someone to take care of her. Their relationship was just so interesting to me and I found myself excited to see what was going to happen next. Their relationship is filled with drama and there are definitely some intense moments. I definitely could have done with less of the all the sex, but I was obviously expecting it. I also found myself unsure of Christian. I think I like him, under all of his armor. But I don't particularly agree with how controlling his is. I think this is one of the main arguments against this book. Anyways, if you are comfortable venturing out to this genre, definitely give these a try. The relationship is so much fun to read about, and the books definitely get intense at points. If you read the first book (Fifty Shades of Grey) you will definitely have to keep reading the other two. I have to say the first one is probably the best but Fifty Shades Darker and Fifty Shades Freed are not far behind.

Happy Reading!