I LOVED THIS BOOK

WHAT A BFF WANTS TO KNOW ABOUT THE DARK DIVINE & GIVEAWAY OF THE SAVAGE GRACE BY BREE DESPAIN

2012-03-05T19:55:00.009-08:00

Okay so, picture this, it is 1997 and your love of the stage and drama geeks has kept you involved in your HS drama department despite your strong dislike for your teacher. There is one girl you like especially, in fact you have a crush on the very same boy and she lets you ask him to the big dance even though you both totally swoon when dream boy wears a certain sweater. This makes you realize that she is a pretty nice girl on top of being cool. You even still stay friends after the shock of finding out that she started dating one of your mutual friends while you took some summer college classes after gradation. But she ends up marring the guy so it all ends up okay.

Fifteen whole years later you are still BFFs and when your friend fulfills a lifelong dream of getting her book published you couldn’t be more thrilled. Unless, oh no, what if you DON’T like her book?! What would happen to this friendship, especially when you have never been the kind of girl who can’t be anything but honest to a fault?

No, these are not the new lyrics to a Taylor Swift song, this is my life! And man, was I nervous when my dearest of friends gave me a copy of her first book The Dark Divine. Well, I loved it (whew), and have fortunately loved the whole series. So no worries—my friendship is still intact.

I have adored the Dark Divine series, and think each book has gotten better than the last. In a book world where I rarely find a series that I even care about reading more than the first one, Bree’s books are a great achievement. They even got my husband Brent to read again, partly because he is a character in book three.

My full review is coming up next week, but for now, here are the questions that I really wanted to ask Bree about the series. Finally,

THE INTERVIEW:

First off, you know I was totally shocked when I found out you and our friend Brick were suddenly an item when I came home from college. I have forgiven you both though since you have ended up being one of the coolest couples I know. Does meeting your husband in HS have any affect on the fact that you are drawn to write YA books?

Interesting question. While hubby and I never actually went on a date during high school, I did start to develop feelings for him then--and we started dating shortly after graduation. I wouldn't write YA if I didn't believe that teenagers are capable of real love. I know they are from first-hand experience.

My characters are almost always close to the age of 17 because I feel like that was the time in my life when I really started to figure out who I wanted to be as a person--when I first started to come into myself. What I love about writing YA is re-exploring all those firsts in life. First love, first kisses, first time behind the wheel, maybe the first time getting to travel without your parents, the first time you really start to think about who you want to be and what kind of impact you want to have on the world. The "firsts" are always so intense and often life-changing--why would I want to write about anything else?

Grace goes through some serious struggles and growing pains throughout all the books. As your friend I have watched you go through some growing pains as well as you felt the pressure to write two more TDD books. Have your struggles manifested in what we see Grace face?

I definitely draw on my own struggles when writing. Because of that, I feel like all of my books have a little piece of my soul in them. In THE LOST SAINT, Grace struggles quite a bit with living up to expectations, and she's extremely frustrated that her powers aren't developing fast enough in order for her to accomplish what she needs to do. That directly parallels my struggles to write a sequel that would live up to the expectations of my readers--and me fretting over feeling like "the words" weren't coming fast enough for me to make my tight deadlines. In THE SAVAGE GRACE, my main character struggles with balancing the safety and well being of her family with her obligations to her paranormal "destiny." (See here: Bree struggles with balancing family life with writing deadlines and expectations.) I don't know that I've truly conquered any of my personal struggles, but it does feel cathartic to be able to help Grace take on metaphors of those problems on paper.

Grace is always talking about how hot Daniel is, but what about Grace? Is she “hot,” or just an average girl? (BTW, I seriously wonder this, I always pictured her as kind of simple but then everyone ends up wanting her. Is it her looks or her strength that is so attractive to all the hot werewolf boys?)

Grace, like most teenage girls I know, doesn't really have a concept of how beautiful she is, so she's not going to go on and on about how hot she thinks she is. I do give her a few moments where she looks in the mirror and acknowledges that she looks good, but mostly, as the author, I tried to show her attractiveness by the way other people react to her. Daniel, Pete, and Talbot act like Grace is "hot" because to them she is. But I don't see her as being the epitome of what most people call beauty. You know that overdone, teased out, plasticy, fake, super-model version of beauty? That's not Grace. I think she's naturally beautiful in a simple, real, sort of way--she's the fresh-faced, girl-next-door that the brooding boy wishes he could have. Grace has a pretty face, but I also think the way she carries herself, and the way she treats others, helps bring out her inner beauty.

Well, I love Grace, and I know she will never have a normal life, but if she did, what would be her favorite TV show? Has she read The Hunger Games? Does she keep up a werewolf blog? Or is she too busy for those kinds of things?

Grace likes the old school Linda Carter WONDER WOMAN. I think there was even a line in TDD about that show that got cut out. Her parents are pretty conservative and they don't allow much "newer" TV in their home, so Grace grew up watching mostly old classic TV shows with her dad. She is a pretty big fan of Star Wars because she used to watch it all the time with Jude and Daniel. Grace loves to read so I think she'd totally pick up Hunger Games because she loves stories about tough girls. Don't see her blogging much because she tries to keep all this werewolf stuff secret--plus her mom (when she's feeling well) patrols her internet usage.

In a world where you have unlimited time and energy and no bouts of writer’s block, who is getting the spinoff series, and why?

Just for fun, I worked up a short synopsis of a book from Baby James's point of view. Except he wasn't a baby any more. It was about James as a16 year old who is sick and tired of all the paranormal craziness his family has to deal with all the time, and he just longs to be normal. All he wants in life is to earn enough money to buy his own car so he can drive as far away from Rose Crest and the Divines as he can get. So when a job comes along that will get him enough money to facilitate his great escape, he jumps at it--only to find himself thrown into the middle of turf-war between rival werewolf packs. In order to stop the packs from destroying his town and family in the wake of their battle, James must save the life of a kidnapped werewolf-mafia-princess whom he can't stand--at least not at first . . .

I sent the synopsis to a critique partner and my agent, meaning it to just be a funny joke--but they both wrote back saying that they liked the idea and thought it would make a fun book. Not sure if I'll ever actually write it. But the idea is still floating around in my brain.

I also think it might be fun to explore Talbot's character some more. He's definitely got a complex back-story and a whole lot of baggage to be opened up.

Of these three, what motivates you most? Gluten-free cupcakes, gluten-free brownies, or gluten-free dinners prepared by your imaginary in-house chef?

Man, if I could have my own in-house chef, that would motivate me to do just about anything! Can we throw in a house keeper, a personal trainer, and a nanny while we're imagining? I'd be so motivated (or bored) I'd write 3 books a year from now on!

I've had a few good gluten free cupcakes--but I am still on the search for a decent gluten free brownie. Especially one that is dairy and egg free, also. Have I ever told you how much I miss brownies?

Thank you so much Bree for taking the time to answer all of my awesome questions, and yes, I do think you have mentioned how much you miss brownies. Did I mention that I am super freaking proud of you?

Me and Bree in HS, where we got the lamest parts in a children's theater play simple because our teacher hated us the most.

Bree trying not to be too embarrassed that I am...like her BIGGEST fan at the TLS launch last December. Notice that my hair style has not changed in 15 years, at least my love for over sized plaid shirts has diminished.

I guess you can tell I loved The Savage Grace and will be sharing a full review on release day, March 17th!

Okay, now here is your chance to get a signed copy of The Savage Grace for yourself. And since I am doing this giveaway before I see Bree at the launch, I can get it personalized for you too if you so desire.

To enter:

1.Become a follower of my blog, and leave a comment on this post that you are now a follower. (If you are already a follower, all you need to do is leave a comment.)

2. To get more entries you need to talk about this giveaway on a blog, Facebook, or Twitter with a link to this contest, and then leave a comment on this post that you did it. You get an individual entry by promoting my blog and contest using all three social media devices.

I am closing this contest Friday, March 9th. Winner will be announced on Saturday the 10th here on the blog.

If I make it to 100 followers I will give away an additional copy of The Savage Grace next week as well!

AWKWARD: MARNI BATES

2012-03-02T12:15:00.004-08:00

I was out of town this week and I took a big pile of paperbacks with me. I got a lot of reading done and there was only one standout in the mix. Awkward is adorable. It is kind of silly, but not in a bad way. Mackenzie is so likeable and very awkwardly hilarious. I don't know, I just kind of loved it and devoured it in almost one sitting.

BOOK BLURB:
Mackenzie Wellesley has spent her life avoiding the spotlight. At Smith High, she's the awkward junior people only notice when they need help with homework. Until she sends a burly football player flying with her massive backpack and makes a disastrous - not to mention unwelcome - attempt at CPR. Before the day is out, the whole fiasco explodes on YouTube. And then the strangest thing happens. Suddenly, Mackenzie is an Internet sensation, with four million hits and counting. Sucked into a whirlwind of rock stars, paparazzi, and free designer clothes, she even catches the eye of the most popular guy at school. And that's when life gets really interesting..

There is going to be a follow up book following a character in this book, and I am looking forward to it.

Read more about it HERE.

THE QUEEN OF KENTUCKY: ALECIA WHITAKER

2012-02-23T09:18:00.005-08:00

So many books attempt what this adorable book succeeds at doing for the reader. It plops you right in the head of a loveable character and reminds you what it was really like to be 14. I loved this. Ricky Jo is adorable and strong, but still young and stupid. I found myself wanting to stand up and cheer for her when things were going well and hide under a rock with her when she was humiliated. I would love this book to become a series, because it would be a treat to see Ricky Jo or Erica as she wants to be called, grow up.

BOOK BLURB:
Fourteen-year-old Kentucky girl Ricki Jo Winstead, who would prefer to be called Ericka, thank you very much, is eager to shed her farmer's daughter roots and become part of the popular crowd at her small town high school. She trades her Bible for Seventeen magazine, buys new "sophisticated" clothes and somehow manages to secure a tenuous spot at the cool kids table. She's on top of the world, even though her best friend and the boy next door Luke says he misses "plain old Ricki Jo."

Caught between being a country girl and wannabe country club girl, Ricki Jo begins to forget who she truly is: someone who doesn't care what people think and who wouldn't let a good-looking guy walk all over her. It takes a serious incident out on Luke's farm for Ricki Jo to realize that being a true friend is more important than being popular.

I recommended this to my librarian and she told me yesterday that she was loving it.

Read more about it on goodreadsHERE.

GRAFFITI MOON: CATH CROWLEY

2012-02-17T15:20:00.001-08:00

Cath Crowley is an amazingly talented writer. She turns ordinary words into something magical. And she has done it again with her newest book, Graffiti Moon. I was so excited for this book I was going crazy. When I sat down to read it, I could barley take my eyes away from the pages. Just like her book A Little Wanting Song (which was my #2 book of the year last year), she has introduced me to characters that I could spend hours reading about them doing nothing.

BOOK BLURB:
Senior year is over, and Lucy has the perfect way to celebrate: tonight, she's going to find Shadow, the mysterious graffiti artist whose work appears all over the city. He's out there somewhere—spraying color, spraying birds and blue sky on the night—and Lucy knows a guy who paints like Shadow is someone she could fall for. Really fall for. Instead, Lucy's stuck at a party with Ed, the guy she's managed to avoid since the most awkward date of her life. But when Ed tells her he knows where to find Shadow, they're suddenly on an all-night search around the city. And what Lucy can't see is the one thing that's right before her eyes.

I sincerely hope you check this one out along with Wanting Song, which I don't doubt will have it's own post on here sometime in the future because as much as I loved Graffiti Moon, it still has hold of a special place in my heart. Also, I hope that I can finally learn how to spell graffiti properly now that I have typed it so many times on this post. (Is it two t's and one i, or two i's and one t, or two t's and two i's or just one t and one i?)

Find out more about Cath Crowley and her books on goodreads HERE.

Also if reading this book sparks an interest in graffiti art, I give both my thumbs up for the movie Exit Through the Gift Shop. Watching it will make you cooler for sure, and who doesn't want to be a little bit cooler?

I NOW PRONOUNCE YOU SOMEONE ELSE: ERIN McCAHAN

2012-02-13T15:58:00.002-08:00

This is one of my all time favorites, and I am of the mind that not enough people have read this book. Why is it so great? I will tell you. First off McCahan's writing is sassy, smart, and sweet. Our main character Bronwen has some freaking values which makes her stand out in a crowd of silly heroines. She is still flawed though and has a lot to learn about love and life and she makes the journey a joy.

BOOK BLURB:

Eighteen-year-old Bronwen Oliver has a secret: She's really Phoebe, the lost daughter of the loving Lilywhite family. That's the only way to explain her image-obsessed mother; a kind but distant stepfather; and a brother with a small personality complex. Bronwen knows she must have been switched at birth, and she can't wait to get away from her "family" for good.

Then she meets Jared Sondervan. He's sweet, funny, everything she wants — and he has the family Bronwen has always wanted too. She falls head over heels in love, and when he proposes marriage, she joyfully accepts. But is Jared truly what she needs? And if he's not, she has to ask: What would Phoebe Lilywhite do?

I recommend this read all the time, and I keep having to buy more copies because I am always giving them away. I can't help but want to share the love of Bronwen and Jared...AND this book with everyone I can. This is also a very clean read BTW.

AUSTENLAND WINNER

2012-02-11T09:21:00.000-08:00

Congrats to the winner of Austenland:

rpratt

Email me at sunnydee53 at hotmail dot com with your address and I will send it your way!

SIGNED MIDNIGHT IN AUSTENLAND GIVEAWAY

2012-02-05T21:50:00.002-08:00

Time for the next giveaway. A signed copy of Shannon Hale's new book Midnight in Austenland. If you loved Austenland, you will be equally happy with this follow up book with a little mystery twist. Full of Hale's signature sass this book was a very fun read.

BOOK BLURB:
When Charlotte Kinder treats herself to a two-week vacation at Austenland, she happily leaves behind her ex-husband and his delightful new wife, her ever-grateful children, and all the rest of her real life in America. She dons a bonnet and stays at a country manor house that provides an immersive Austen experience, complete with gentleman actors who cater to the guests' Austen fantasies.

Everyone at Pembrook Park is playing a role, but increasingly, Charlotte isn't sure where roles end and reality begins. And as the parlor games turn a little bit menacing, she finds she needs more than a good corset to keep herself safe. Is the brooding Mr. Mallery as sinister as he seems? What is Miss Gardenside's mysterious ailment? Was that an actual dead body in the secret attic room? And-perhaps of the most lasting importance-could the stirrings in Charlotte's heart be a sign of real-life love?

The follow-up to reader favorite Austenland provides the same perfectly plotted pleasures, with a feisty new heroine, plenty of fresh and frightening twists, and the possibility of a romance that might just go beyond the proper bounds of Austen's world. How could it not turn out right in the end?

To enter:

1.Become a follower of my blog, and leave a comment on this post that you are now a follower. (if you are already a follower, all you need to do is leave a comment.)

2. To get more entries you need to talk about this giveaway on a blog, facebook, or twitter with a link to this contest, and then leave a comment on this post that you did it. You get an individual entry by promoting my blog and contest using all three social media devices.

I am closing this contest Friday, Februrary 10th. Winner will be announced on Saturday the 11th here on the blog.

I love supporting my fellow Utah authors so thanks for spreading the word about Midnight in Austenland. Oh and of course thanks for following my little new little blog, who as of tomorrow will be one month old. Ah, they grow up so fast.

CATCHING JORDAN: MIRANDA KENNEALLY

2012-02-02T09:25:00.001-08:00

I hate football, I mean hate it. I hate the very sound of it. I hate when family comes over and puts it on MY television. I hate that it is supposed to be the center of every high school experience. However, Friday Night Lights is one of my favorite shows of all time, so I guess not everything football is the worst thing ever, even to me, the football hater.

Catching Jordan transcends my hate of football and actually introduces me to some endearing (surprise) football players. Including one adorable girl super star Jordan. This isn't a perfect book and Jordan makes a few big decisions that seem out of character, but this book has one HUGE thing going for it. It has the what I call the "giddy factor", and it has it big time. Wanna feel giddy? This is for you.

BOOK BLURB:
What girl doesn't want to be surrounded by gorgeous jocks day in and day out? Jordan Woods isn't just surrounded by hot guys, though-she leads them as the captain and quarterback of her high school football team. They all see her as one of the guys, and that's just fine. As long as she gets her athletic scholarship to a powerhouse university. But now there's a new guy in town who threatens her starting position... suddenly she's hoping he'll see her as more than just a teammate.

Can't wait for the companion book Stealing Parker coming out this October.

Read more about this on goodreads HERE. Oh and if you haven't ever watched Friday Night Lights...you need to! Oh Coach Taylor be still my heart! Tim Riggins take me away!

EVERNEATH WINNER ANNOUNCED

2012-02-02T07:52:00.000-08:00

First of all a special thanks to all of you who followed, facebooked, and twittered about this contest. I had no expectations for how many followers I would get from this contest and I am pleasantly surprised. Welcome to my blog and I hope you will find yourself enjoying some of my recommendations in the future.

A huge special thanks to my author friends who spread the word about the giveaway. Bree Despain and Brodi Ashton. Also my dear friend Emily at Super Reader Girl Reviews was very diligent in spreading the word. Chances are, most of you found your way here because of these three girls.

The winner is:

brandisbookmusings

Congrats and email me at sunnydee53 at hotmail dot com so I can get your mailing address.

I will be giving away another signed new release next week. I'll give you a hint of what it is and if you leave a comment on this post with your guess I will give you one more entry to win it!

HINT: This new release pays homage to the most famous classic female author that has ever lived.

Any guesses? It isn't that hard to figure out. I'm not all that sneaky.

EVERNEATH SIGNED BY BRODI ASHTON GIVEAWAY!

2012-01-26T09:52:00.000-08:00

Ok world, welcome to my very first book giveaway. And guess what, it is a good one: A signed copy of the highly anticipated Everneath by Brodi Ashton.

This giveaway is a blatant ploy to increase the followers on my new little blog, so this is how you enter this giveaway:

1.Become a follower of my blog, and leave a comment on this post that you are now a follower. (if you are already a follower, all 13 of you, all you need to do is leave a comment.)

2. To get another entry you need to talk about this giveaway on a blog or facebook with a link to this contest, and then leave a comment on this post that you did it. You can get two entries by doing both facebook and a blog mention. I am not going to check these, it is on the honor system...so be good. :)

See, not that hard...you can do it! And man there were A LOT of people at Brodi's launch so I worked HARD to get this book signed! Contest is going to close Wednesday night on Feb 1st and winner will be announced on Thursday. Winners will be picked Hunger Games style with pieces of paper and a bowl. I think you should have a pretty good chance to win since I am just starting out with my blog. Thanks for your interest and I have many more awesome giveaways planned so get excited!

EVERNEATH: BRODI ASHTON

2012-01-26T09:17:00.001-08:00

I don't usually read trilogy books until all of the books are out, mostly because I read so much that I can't remember what happened and I have to re-read the previous books. (I just don't have time for that!) I make very few exceptions and one of them is when I know the author. I don't know Brodi all that well, but she is BFFs with one of my BFFs Bree Despain, (awesome friend and author of The Dark Divine series, last book out in March). Brodi is hilarious and has a very giggle worthy blog I check now and then. So I knew I wasn't going to wait until all these books were out to enjoy the world of Everneath.

Ok now on to why I loved the book. Brodi focuses more on emotions and the pull of love and relationships than actual full on action. Her mythology is unique and actually makes sense. (Does she know something about the underworld that I don't?) Our heroine is strong and awesome, but real and vulnerable. It has been a freaking LONG time since I read a trilogy book where I actually was interested in reading the next books. I loved it and I predict this series to be the next big thing. Oh and the cover is beautiful don't you think?

BOOK BLURB:
Last spring, Nikki Beckett vanished, sucked into an underworld known as the Everneath, where immortals Feed on the emotions of despairing humans. Now she's returned- to her old life, her family, her friends- before being banished back to the underworld... this time forever.

She has six months before the Everneath comes to claim her, six months for good-byes she can't find the words for, six months to find redemption, if it exists.

Nikki longs to spend these months reconnecting with her boyfriend, Jack, the one person she loves more than anything. But there's a problem: Cole, the smoldering immortal who first enticed her to the Everneath, has followed Nikki to the mortal world. And he'll do whatever it takes to bring her back- this time as his queen.

As Nikki's time grows short and her relationships begin slipping from her grasp, she's forced to make the hardest decision of her life: find a way to cheat fate and remain on the Surface with Jack or return to the Everneath and become Cole's..

I was at the book launch this week and Brodi is such a great public speaker. If you have a chance to ever see her speak I highly recommend. Her road to publication is an inspiration to anyone who has the guts to truly pursue their dream.

My dream was to become a wedding photographer, and I am one. To see more pictures from the book launch, you can head to my photo blog HERE.

THE PROBABILITY OF MIRACLES: WENDY WUNDER

2012-01-22T21:04:00.001-08:00

When you read as many books as I do, it is always a special surprise when you discover a book that is nothing like you have ever read before. The Probability of Miracles is an amazing treat. It is the kind of book that so easily could turn out to be emotionally manipulative or silly but it ends up being the kind of book that speaks to you and makes you no longer question the extraordinary.

Our heroine, Cam is hilarious and so likeable. Also you almost forget this book is written in third person because you feel so close to Cam and her world. I don't usually make notes of favorite quotes, but this one I loved:

"Cam hadn't gotten the gene that allowed you to flirt. She was convinced it was genetic. You either had the capacity for coyness, or you simply could not pretend to be stupid. Which was what guys really wanted." I have always felt that way about flirting, so Cam was definitely my kind of gal.

BOOK BLURB:
Dry, sarcastic, sixteen-year-old Cam Cooper has spent the last seven years in and out hospitals. The last thing she wants to do in the short life she has left is move 1,500 miles away to Promise, Maine - a place known for the miraculous events that occur there. But it's undeniable that strange things happen in Promise: everlasting sunsets; purple dandelions; flamingos in the frigid Atlantic; an elusive boy named Asher; and finally, a mysterious envelope containing a list of things for Cam to do before she dies. As Cam checks each item off the list, she finally learns to believe - in love, in herself, and even in miracles.

A debut novel from an immensely talented new writer, The Probability of Miracles crackles with wit, romance and humor and will leave readers laughing and crying with each turn of the page.

I am noticing that I read a lot of sad books with death often a big part of the story. It is funny but I don't cry very often when reading these sad books. It is like I am immune. So when a book, like this one, makes me cry for like 10 minutes after I finish the last line you know I am hooked. Thank you Wendy Wunder for creating a world that was based in reality but quietly tip-toed in the fantasy. It was a tremendous treat to visit a town where anything could happen.

I also do want to mention that I am glad that I still read this even though I seriously hated the cover. It honestly offends me. I am so glad I gave this book a chance because it was awesome despite the freaky pink feather theme.

Read more about this book HERE.

THE STATISTICAL PROBABILITY OF LOVE AT FIRST SIGHT: JENNIFER E. SMITH

2012-01-18T14:26:00.001-08:00

This was probably one of the more anticipated YA gems for 2012, and I have been super excited to finally get my hands on it. And it truly was adorable. There are two stories going on here, one is the romance on the plane and the other is the back story of Hadley and her dad. And I felt like the two stories were off balance. You know those silly teen shows that you find yourself having to suffer through scenes of the parent's love lives or their drama and your like: "Come on! Get with the giddy romance stuff already!"? That was this book, however it was super sweet, clean and still a recommend from me.

BOOK BLURB:
Who would have guessed that four minutes could change everything?

Today should be one of the worst days of seventeen-year-old Hadley Sullivan's life. She's stuck at JFK, late to her father's second wedding, which is taking place in London and involves a soon to be step-mother that Hadley's never even met. Then she meets the perfect boy in the airport's cramped waiting area. His name is Oliver, he's British, and he's in seat 18B. Hadley's in 18A.

Twists of fate and quirks of timing play out in this thoughtful novel about family connections, second chances and first loves. Set over a 24-hour-period, Hadley and Oliver's story will make you believe that true love finds you when you're least expecting it.

Read more about it HERE.

THE SKY IS EVERYWHERE: JANDY NELSON

2012-01-15T20:41:00.001-08:00

This is the beautiful paperback cover for The Sky Is Everywhere, and it is much improved because the original hardback cover looked like a cover for a spiritual self help book and NOT a good one. I generally don't dig poems in books, but there are some poems in this one and and they are lovely and add a whole original dimension to this story.

BOOK BLURB:
Lennie plays second clarinet in the school orchestra and has always happily been second fiddle to her charismatic older sister, Bailey. Then Bailey dies suddenly, and Lennie is left at sea without her anchor. Overcome by emotion, Lennie soon finds herself torn between two boys: Bailey's boyfriend, Toby, and Joe, the charming and musically gifted new boy in town. While Toby can't see her without seeing Bailey and Joe sees her only for herself, each offers Lennie something she desperately needs. But ultimately, it's up to Lennie to find her own way toward what she really needs-without Bailey.

This book broke my heart and picked it right back up again. It is steamy and sweet and honest and lovely. And the prose is perfection...man it is such a beautifully written book.

Read more about it and see if you might love it to HERE.

VIRTUOSITY: JESSICA MARTINEZ

2012-01-09T10:29:00.001-08:00

I was totally absorbed with this wonderful story of Carmen, a talented violinist who like so many musicians finds her whole life is music. Enter the boy and he is oh so adorable and we want to trust him, but can we? The violin is just as important to him and as they both prepare for the biggest competition of their lives you wonder if their relationship was doomed from the start.

BOOK BLURB:
Now is not the time for Carmen to fall in love. And Jeremy is hands-down the wrong guy for her to fall for. He is infuriating, arrogant, and the only person who can stand in the way of Carmen getting the one thing she wants most: to win the prestigious Guarneri competition. Carmen's whole life is violin, and until she met Jeremy, her whole focus was winning. But what if Jeremy isn't just hot...what if Jeremy is better?

Carmen knows that kissing Jeremy can't end well, but she just can't stay away. Nobody else understands her--and riles her up--like he does. Still, she can't trust him with her biggest secret: She is so desperate to win she takes anti-anxiety drugs to perform, and what started as an easy fix has become a hungry addiction. Carmen is sick of not feeling anything on stage and even more sick of always doing what she’s told, doing what's expected.

Sometimes, being on top just means you have a long way to fall....

This is a total page turner, what is going to happen? What is going to happen! This is also a clean sweet read from a BYU grad.

Read more about it on goodreads HERE.

HOW TO SAVE A LIFE: SARA ZARR

2012-01-07T14:53:00.002-08:00

Sara Zarr doesn't mess around. I have loved all her books and this, her most recent book, is by far my very favorite. Zarr's writing is so clean and perfect I always feel like every word is important. I always find her characters to be completely different from me, but I relate to them always.

Book Blurb:
Jill MacSweeny just wishes everything could go back to normal. But ever since her dad died, she's been isolating herself from her boyfriend, her best friends--everyone who wants to support her. And when her mom decides to adopt a baby, it feels like she's somehow trying to replace a lost family member with a new one.
Mandy Kalinowski understands what it's like to grow up unwanted--to be raised by a mother who never intended to have a child. So when Mandy becomes pregnant, one thing she's sure of is that she wants a better life for her baby. It's harder to be sure of herself. Will she ever find someone to care for her, too?
As their worlds change around them, Jill and Mandy must learn to both let go and hold on, and that nothing is as easy--or as difficult--as it seems.
Critically acclaimed author and National Book Award finalist Sara Zarr delivers a heart-wrenching story, told from dual perspectives, about the many roads that can lead us home.

Sara Zarr, you seriously should be president, that is how good you are at understanding humanity, you could make us all see the good in others and make the world a happy place. For now though, I will settle for your amazing stories.

Read more about it at goodreads HERE.

THE SURVIVAL KIT: DONNA FREITAS

2012-01-07T14:29:00.001-08:00

Of all the books I have recently enjoyed, this is the most recently published. By page 3 I was already crying, but I promise this is not a depressing book even though we are going through the grieving process with our heroine.

Book Blurb:
When Rose’s mom dies, she leaves behind a brown paper bag labeled Rose’s Survival Kit. Inside the bag, Rose finds an iPod, with a to-be-determined playlist; a picture of peonies, for growing; a crystal heart, for loving; a paper star, for making a wish; and a paper kite, for letting go.

As Rose ponders the meaning of each item, she finds herself returning again and again to an unexpected source of comfort. Will is her family’s gardener, the school hockey star, and the only person who really understands what she’s going through. Can loss lead to love?

This is a clean read, yet it is not sickly sweet or lame. It has plenty of swoon worthy moments that keep you turning the pages fast. A great read.

Read more about it on goodreads HERE.