Lola and the Boy Next Door by Stephanie Perkins

Hardcover, 338 pages

Expected publication: September 29th 2011 by Dutton

Rating: 4.5 Stars

 

Blurb:

Budding designer Lola Nolan doesn’t believe in fashion . . . she believes in costume. The more expressive the outfit -- more sparkly, more fun, more wild -- the better. But even though Lola’s style is outrageous, she’s a devoted daughter and friend with some big plans for the future. And everything is pretty perfect (right down to her hot rocker boyfriend) until the dreaded Bell twins, Calliope and Cricket, return to the neighborhood.

When Cricket -- a gifted inventor -- steps out from his twin sister’s shadow and back into Lola’s life, she must finally reconcile a lifetime of feelings for the boy next door.

 

I became a huge fan of Stephanie Perkins after reading Anna and the French Kiss. I was totally in love with the characters and the story. So, when I heard she was writing Lola and the Boy Next Door, there was no doubt in my mind that I was going to read that book. A special “Thank You” to my friend Arlene, who was so kind to share her copy with me.
Perkins, once again, has delivered another fantastic story.
Blurb:
Budding designer Lola Nolan doesn’t believe in fashion . . . she believes in costume. The more expressive the outfit -- more sparkly, more fun, more wild -- the better. But even though Lola’s style is outrageous, she’s a devoted daughter and friend with some big plans for the future. And everything is pretty perfect (right down to her hot rocker boyfriend) until the dreaded Bell twins, Calliope and Cricket, return to the neighborhood.

When Cricket -- a gifted inventor -- steps out from his twin sister’s shadow and back into Lola’s life, she must finally reconcile a lifetime of feelings for the boy next door.
I had so much fun reading this story. There for a while I was having mixed feelings about her “rocker boyfriend.” It seemed like she really had to work to make their relationship work. So when the Bell twins moved in next door, I found myself cheering on the obvious choice, Cricket.

I’m just going to give a rundown of parts that I truly loved about the book…
~Lola: She is such a fun character and the way she expresses herself by design and her own fashion, really made her stunning and captivating. Her creative mind really infuses a special likeability about her.
~Andy: Who couldn’t love Andy!! He was so awesome!
~Cricket’s entrance: I would have just died!!! But loved every second of page 34!! “Cricket Bell grins. “Hi, Lola.” ~SWOON!!! (You will too, when you read this page!)
~Etienne and Anna: They were in this book more than I thought they would be. I was pleasantly surprised. It gave me the wanting feeling of reading Anna and the French Kiss again!
~Window moments: Ah, these were moments I craved throughout the book.
~Heavens to Betsy: Just love the name!
~The Sunday Family Picnic: Way to go Nathan and Andy!!
~Abby: The cute little niece. She opened a window of opportunity for Lola…
~The ending: EPIC!!

Okay, so I can go on and on. The ending of this book had me all goo-goo eyed and sighing. I was totally and utterly in love with Cricket. (He is a man of many talents and will surprise you by his devotion. Who couldn’t love a guy like that!) But what I really got out of this story besides a lasting impression, fantastic storyline and excellent characters, is “being yourself”

Graffiti Moon by Cath Crowley

Paperback, 264 pages

Published August 1st 2010 by Pan Macmillan Australia

Rating: 5 Stars

 

I absolutely Loved this book! It has all the right elements of a 5 star to me. The writing was unique but so fun. I haven’t laughed so hard reading a book in quite some time. Seriously, this is a MUST READ in my opinion. I’m not one to write or highlight my favorite parts, but I so would make the exception in this case because there are SO many funny parts! I think 90% of the book would be a glorified graffiti disaster when I was done with it. This was so original and smart. Unlike anything I have read before. Those Aussie authors sure know how to do it right!
Blurb:
It’s the end of Year 12. Lucy’s looking for Shadow, the graffiti artist everyone talks about.
His work is all over the city, but he is nowhere.
Ed, the last guy she wants to see at the moment, says he knows where to find him. He takes Lucy on an all-night search to places where Shadow’s thoughts about heartbreak and escape echo around the city walls. But the one thing Lucy can’t see is the one thing that’s right before her eyes.

Quotes:
~”I’m so close to meeting him, and I want it so bad. Mum says when wanting collides with getting, that’s the moment of truth. I want to collide. I want to run right into Shadow and let the force spill our thoughts so we can pick each other up and pass each other back like piles of shiny stones.”
~“Jazz looks at her chest. I pat her shoulder. Guys care about personality too.” “Girls like me started that rumor.”
~”Don’t get too excited, but I think that might be the guy of your toilet-wall dreams knocking at the door.” (The girls are in the bathroom which is referred to as “the cubicle of truth)
~”Wait, I know, it’s because you’re scared of him, you cockroach-eating-coward motherfucker.” (This scene had me rolling on the floor laughing!)
~"It's eighty-six degrees, and the city's going crazy. Would you help two guys push a pink van?"
~”The guy was a sheddy, one of the kids who spent a lot of time leaning against the back sheds skipping classes.”
~”That’s the way it is. Most people don’t know what they want till it’s right in front of their face.”

The characters in this book are nothing but AMAZING! The friendship between Lucy and Jazz, so fun and cute. The meetings in the bathrooms and the crazy conversations just had me rolling! I loved the fact that Lucy had this image of Shadow in her mind but finally came to realize that the person she was searching for was right there in front of her the whole time. She’s fun and feisty and can pack a mean punch…literally. Ed and Leo, just a perfect combination. Ed was so intriguing and the way he expresses his feelings and unwritten words through his graffiti art was beautiful by description. I couldn’t get enough of the descriptions and the memories associated with each piece. You truly could visualize the work of art he had created. Ed and Leo were like yin and yang. They complimented each other and were best of friends. It was such a cute friendship and a respectful one as well.

The secondary characters were so well written as well. It wouldn't have been the same without good'ol Malcomlm. Even though he's a bad guy, he sure did make me laugh. Oh my, is all I can say about that. Daisy and Dylan, well, they will crack you up. Those boys do some dumb stuff but really they have good hearts.

The girls wanted to celebrate by a late night out. It became that and so much more. They encountered an adventure like no other, I assure you. Have you been peirced with a compass? Didn't think so..
At first when I started this book I wasn’t so sure about it. But it didn’t take but a few pages in to figure out that I was going to love it. Overall this was a big hit in my eyes. I definitely would recommend this book!

A special Thank You to Netgalley and Knopf Books for Young Readers for allowing the opportunity to read this gem of a book

Lucky Girl by Cate Lord

What a sweet book! It reminded me of an Americanized version of Bridget Jones, although it does take place in England. This book follows this well endowed young lady (practically ancient - almost 30!!) who has been jilted by her fiance and has traveled to England for a vacation. She meets a gorgeous specimen of a man and several embarrassing antics later, she finds herself enamored with him.
I lIke that the main character is not the perfect model, but she is adored and found sexy by many people. I like that the women in the book take control of their own destiny, but there seems to be a bit too much "hey, I need a man to be complete." Not the greatest message for young women.
With a predictable ending, the plot is one that I've seen many times before, but the different characters give it a unique twist. 3 stars!

Julie and Romeo and Julie and Romeo Get Lucky by Jeanne Ray

A modern twist on an old love story. If you haven't read these books, they are "typical" but they have such interesting characters.
Julie and ROmeo are two middle aged single people who both own flower shops in a town. They begin a star crossed relationship (forgive me) which causes a huge problem for their families. I love the backdrop of the flower shops. When I grow up I want to be a florist. In the sequel to Julie and Romeo, Julie and Romeo Get Lucky, there are all kinds of continuing problems with these two families. This story is less predictable than the first and it has some great plot twists and the characters are unique and rounded.
If you want a good redemptive love story - kinda fluffy - these are two stories to pick up. Good beach reads.
Caveats: A little sex here and there

Reality Jane

This was such an interesting tale. I learned so much about reality t.v. and its dark side. Jane was a character with character. There were many twists and turns for her in here, not brought on by other characters necessarily; sometimes, she did it to herself.
I liked the storyline - although I found it a bit over the top with the "men" in her life. It paints a realistic (I guess - I wouldn't know from first hand experience) view of hollywood, t.v. producing, etc. I haven't ever read a book before that had a main character as a producer of a t.v. series. It really is fascinating, although I really have no idea, still, what a producer does.
I'd give it 3.5 stars!
Caveats: it's a little racy at t times and not pg 13. It's R.

A Beautiful DARK by Jocelyn Davies

Author: Jocelyn Davies

Expected publication: September 27th 2011 by HarperCollins Publishers

Rating: 5 Stars

 

Review to come..

Intrinsical by Lani Woodland

Author: Lani Woodland

Pages:  Hardcover, 304 pages

Published:  August 20th 2010 by Pendrell Publishing

Rating: 4.5 Stars

URL:  http://www.intrinsicalthebook.com

Series:  The Yara Silva Trilogy #1

Sixteen-year-old Yara Silva has always known that ghosts walk alongside the living. Her grandma, like the other females in her family, is a Waker, someone who can see and communicate with ghosts. Yara grew up watching her grandmother taunted and scorned for this unusual ability and doesn't want that to be her future. She has been dreading the day when she too would see ghosts, and is relieved that the usually dominant Waker gene seems to have skipped her, letting her live a normal teenage life. However, all that changes for Yara on her first day at her elite boarding school when she discovers the gene was only lying dormant. She witnesses a dark mist attack Brent, a handsome fellow student, and rushes to his rescue. Her act of heroism draws the mist's attention, and the dark spirit begins stalking her. Yara finds herself entrenched in a sixty-year-old curse that haunts the school, threatening not only her life, but the lives of her closest friends as well. Yara soon realizes that the past she was trying to put behind her isn't going to go quietly.

4.5 Stars! An Intriguing, haunting story with an intense pull leaving you gasping for more. Intrinsical was a tempting read by the cover alone. It’s mystical dark beauty had me curious and I was not disappointed! It fits perfectly with the story and just makes sense.
The writing is smooth and effortless which makes the story fly through your fingers. The plot was fresh and brilliant. Lots of twists and intricate details bring forth a visual reality only a crafted and skilled imagination could create. It was very easy to picture the scenes and feel the mood and connection with where the characters are.
There are many swoon worthy moments, but you will come to be very intoxicated by one particular individual. Need I say more?
Yara is a Waker, which is a name for people who can see ghosts. The ability gets stronger with age as Yara is figuring out. A Waker, though, does more than just look at spirits; they have the ability to communicate with them as well. There is a curse, a soul stealing ghost, a wicked funny best friend, a hot love interest and so much more.
Your most heroic characters as well as the most villainous have secrets. That alone doesn’t make them bad people, only believable people and that’s what Lani does to her characters. They feel believable.
I am looking forward to the next book in this series. I will most definitely be reading it. Thank you, Alexa for sharing your copy with me.

Coming in September 2011..

Hardcover, 416 pages

Expected publication: September 27th 2011 by Pendrell Publishing

more details...

ISBN

0982729723 (ISBN13: 9780982729724)

series

The Yara Silva Trilogy #2

Torrent (River of Time #3) by Lisa T. Bergren

Author: Lisa T. Bergren
Rating: 5 whopping Gold Stars

The River of Time series is a Timeless Masterpiece that will capture your heart…

Torrent:

1.      a stream of water flowing with great rapidity and violence.

2.      a rushing, violent, or abundant and unceasing stream of anything: a torrent of lava.

The title Torrent is so perfectly suited for the third and final installment of the River of Time series.  Since falling deeply for Waterfall and Cascade, I couldn’t even fathom the idea of not completing this series. It had me completely and utterly captivated and therefore, a lifetime fan of Lisa T. Bergren.

When looking for a book to read, one that will totally have you thinking about it at all hours of the night even days and weeks after, you know you have read something that is masterly crafted and brilliant.

The Betarrini sister’s are back with an element of surprise. Not only do they have their mother, but they have successfully saved their father.  The Betarrini family has set off once again back in time, to be with the men they have come to love. Without fail, Mrs. Bergren has set the pace for action, suspense, lust and romance. There is never an easy path for the She-wolves of Sienna. Their skill and determination has come with a price and they are deeply wanted by Lord Cosmo Paratore. The stakes are higher and the action intense. You will fall in love with some new characters and deeply fall for Lord Rodolfo Greco. (Sorry ladies, he’s taken by my friend Nic) The Betarrini family will work together to overcome obstacles like never before, face tough decisions and rely on their faith to help and see them through.

This story isn’t just all action and romance. There is a deeper story within. It’s about trusting God and having faith in him, believing that everything will turn out for the best in the end.  When it’s all said and done, the most important of all is Family and living life to it’s fullest.

The dialogue was smooth, the conflict was fatal, the suspense was a nail-biter and had me gripping the sides of my chair. This is a MUST-READ!  TORRENT will take your breath away.

Life Eternal (A Dead Beautiful Novel) by Yvonne Woon

Hardcover, 416 pages

Expected publication: February 24th 2012 by Disney-Hyperion (first published February 2012)

more details...

ISBN13

9781423119579

primary language

English

original title

Life Eternal

series

Rating: 4.5 Stars

Dead Beautiful #2
How far would you go for love? To save a soul? To be with your soul mate for eternity? Life Eternal is the 2nd book in the Dead Beautiful series. I will admit at the beginning I wasn’t totally convinced and partly due to lingering thoughts of another book recently read. Once I was able to open up completely to the story, I found myself fascinated. What took me so long! I love when a story has mystery and unexpected twists. There were moments in the book where I realized I had blurry wet eyes. It really has the properties to sweep you up and pull you in and that’s exactly what Life Eternal has done to me.

Favorite Quote:
“Who is he?” Noah said. “What’s so great about him?” I felt his eyes on me, pleading me to tell him something. But what could I say? I didn’t know where love came from or why it attached itself to some people and not others. Despite everything had happened with Dante, I couldn’t bring myself to leave him behind. “Do you believe in soul mates?” I whispered. “You mean a human who has the soul of an Undead?” “No. The idea of a soul mate. That there’s only one person that’s really right for you in this world.” I could hear Noah breathing as he thought. “No.” “Why?” “Because it gives us no choice. It means that some cosmic force has already chosen the person I’m supposed to love. But that’s not how it works. I don’t want to be with someone who completes my soul; I want someone who will open it. I want to be able to choose.”
Blurb:
Renée Winters has changed. When she looks in the mirror, a beautiful girl with an older, sadder face stares back. Her condition has doctors mystified, but Renée can never reveal the truth: she died last May, and was brought back to life by the kiss of her Undead soul mate, Dante Berlin.
Now, her separation from Dante becomes almost unbearable. His second life is close to an end, and each passing day means one less that she will spend with the boy who shares her soul.
Just when Renée has almost given up hope, she learns of the Nine Sisters—brilliant scholars who, according to legend, found a way to cheat death. She can’t shake the feeling that they are somehow connected to her dreams, strange visions that hint at a discovery so powerful, and so dangerous, that some will stop at nothing to protect it.
Renée thought she knew the truth about life and death. But there is a secret woven through history that holds the only hope for Dante and Renée. Unless they find answers soon, their time together is doomed to be cut short.

My heart went out to Renee. She’s lost so much and too many people she loves. When her grandfather sends her to Montreal, Canada to attend Lycee St. Clement, Gottfried’s sister school, I just really felt her loneliness and the longing to be with Dante. Now she’s having these weird visions or dreams and she can’t quite make out the reason for them or why she is having them. I became suspicious of all the characters in this book because I never knew who had an agenda or what their motives were.
Renee is like a virus among the students there. They think she is a freak and say she is immortal, but she does develop new friendships eventually, and they prove to be helpful, useful and a little more. Of course there has to be the snotty little bitch that everyone just despises and hates in the story as well. Clementine holds nothing back and makes life difficult for Renee.

There is so much information in this book. Even if you haven’t read the 1st book, Dead Beautiful; the author does a fabulous job of filling in bits and pieces of the story so you don’t feel lost and out of sorts. There were a few spots that I got caught up on with a slight confusion but it quickly became clear and I just kept reading on. Beware of the ending! It’s fabulous but leaves you gasping. Now I’m in for the long haul! I will definitely be reading the next book.
Overall, I really liked this story. It was haunting, slightly dark and convincing. A definite recommendation as far as I’m concerned.

Song Choice:
Lady Antebellum- Just A Kiss

A special “Thank You” to Netgalley and Disney-Hyperion for the opportunity to read this advanced copy.