2 am at the cats pajamas

A sparkling, enchanting and staggeringly original debut novel about one day in the lives of three unforgettable characters

Madeleine Altimari is a smart-mouthed, precocious nine-year-old and an aspiring jazz singer. As she mourns the recent death of her mother, she doesn’t realize that on Christmas Eve she is about to have the most extraordinary day—and night—of her life. After bravely facing down mean-spirited classmates and rejection at school, Madeleine doggedly searches for Philadelphia's legendary jazz club The Cat's Pajamas, where she’s determined to make her on-stage debut. On the same day, her fifth grade teacher Sarina Greene, who’s just moved back to Philly after a divorce, is nervously looking forward to a dinner party that will reunite her with an old high school crush, afraid to hope that sparks might fly again. And across town at The Cat's Pajamas, club owner Lorca discovers that his beloved haunt may have to close forever, unless someone can find a way to quickly raise the $30,000 that would save it.

As these three lost souls search for love, music and hope on the snow-covered streets of Philadelphia, together they will discover life’s endless possibilities over the course of one magical night. A vivacious, charming and moving debut, 2 Am At The Cat's Pajamas will capture your heart and have you laughing out loud.
I was not a huge fan of this book. I wanted to like it but there was to many times were I struggled to follow along and be able to fully understNd what is going on. Overall I was disappointed with this whole book.
I received this book for review.

The Tsar of Love and Techno: Stories

From the New York Times bestselling author of A Constellation of Vital Phenomena—dazzling, poignant, and lyrical interwoven stories about family, sacrifice, the legacy of war, and the redemptive power of art.
This stunning, exquisitely written collection introduces a cast of remarkable characters whose lives intersect in ways both life-affirming and heartbreaking. A 1930s Soviet censor painstakingly corrects offending photographs, deep underneath Leningrad, bewitched by the image of a disgraced prima ballerina. A chorus of women recount their stories and those of their grandmothers, former gulag prisoners who settled their Siberian mining town. Two pairs of brothers share a fierce, protective love. Young men across the former USSR face violence at home and in the military. And great sacrifices are made in the name of an oil landscape unremarkable except for the almost incomprehensibly peaceful past it depicts. In stunning prose, with rich character portraits and a sense of history reverberating into the present, The Tsar of Love and Techno is a captivating work from one of our greatest new talents.

I don't think I have ever read a book set in soviet Russia. I think it was time! I love the short stories and how they all mingle together to make a bigger picture, it happens in other books I have read and completely loved those so much. I liked this and would recommend it to those who are looking for a unique book to read.
I received this book for review through blogging for books.  

All the Light We Cannot See

WINNER OF THE PULITZER PRIZE
From the highly acclaimed, multiple award-winning Anthony Doerr, the beautiful, stunningly ambitious instant New York Times bestseller about a blind French girl and a German boy whose paths collide in occupied France as both try to survive the devastation of World War II.

Marie-Laure lives with her father in Paris near the Museum of Natural History, where he works as the master of its thousands of locks. When she is six, Marie-Laure goes blind and her father builds a perfect miniature of their neighborhood so she can memorize it by touch and navigate her way home. When she is twelve, the Nazis occupy Paris and father and daughter flee to the walled citadel of Saint-Malo, where Marie-Laure’s reclusive great-uncle lives in a tall house by the sea. With them they carry what might be the museum’s most valuable and dangerous jewel.

In a mining town in Germany, the orphan Werner grows up with his younger sister, enchanted by a crude radio they find. Werner becomes an expert at building and fixing these crucial new instruments, a talent that wins him a place at a brutal academy for Hitler Youth, then a special assignment to track the resistance. More and more aware of the human cost of his intelligence, Werner travels through the heart of the war and, finally, into S

aint-Malo, where his story and Marie-Laure’s converge.
Doerr’s “stunning sense of physical detail and gorgeous metaphors” (San Francisco Chronicle) are dazzling. Deftly interweaving the lives of Marie-Laure and Werner, he illuminates the ways, against all odds, people try to be good to one another. Ten years in the writing, a National Book Award finalist, All the Light We Cannot See is a magnificent, deeply moving novel from a writer “whose sentences never fail to thrill” (Los Angeles Times).

Wow's. I love this book so much! First off its historical fiction and its an award winner. I had to read it, after the recommendation of several people I have read it, and loved it. Its hard to follow along at certain points because the time the parts happen at different times and went forward and back in time. Overall, its great. 

Mr. Penumbra's 24-Hour Bookstore

A Winner of the Alex Award, a finalist for the Los Angeles Times Book Prize for First Fiction, named a Best Book of the Year by NPR, Los Angeles Times, and San Francisco Chronicle

The Great Recession has shuffled Clay Jannon away from life as a San Francisco web-design drone and into the aisles of Mr. Penumbra's 24-Hour Bookstore. But after a few days on the job, Clay discovers that the store is more curious than either its name or its gnomic owner might suggest. The customers are few, and they never seem to buy anything--instead, they "check out" large, obscure volumes from strange corners of the store. Suspicious, Clay engineers an analysis of the clientele's behavior, seeking help from his variously talented friends. But when they bring their findings to Mr. Penumbra, they discover the bookstore's secrets extend far beyond its walls. Rendered with irresistible brio and dazzling intelligence, Robin Sloan's Mr. Penumbra's 24-Hour Bookstore is exactly what it sounds like: an establishment you have to enter and will never want to leave.
THIS BOOK. First off the cover, it's simple but amazing in one distinctive way, it glows in the dark. Yes all those little yellow books glow in the dark. Go ahead hold it up to a light bulb for 30 seconds and go to a dark space. ( told you) Overall this book is good. Not amazing, but well worth the read. Who doesn't want to read a book about a bookstore? Anyways, not much to say that wont spoil this so just go read it and find out. 

Odette's Secret

For Jews in Nazi-occupied Paris, nowhere is safe. So when Odette Meyer’s father is sent to a Nazi work camp, Odette’s mother takes desperate measures to protect her, sending Odette deep into the French countryside. There, Odette pretends to be a peasant girl, even posing as a Christian–and attending Catholic masses–with other children. But inside, she is burning with secrets, and when the war ends Odette must figure out whether she can resume life in Paris as a Jew, or if she’s lost the connection to her former life forever. Inspired by the life of the real Odette Meyer, this moving free-verse novel is a story of triumph over adversity.

Its hard to find books written in free verse, especially in the historical fiction genre. This one is great. Set in world war two and based on a true story, it's a hard to put down kind of read, but I feel like it was toned down a bit as far as the graphic parts of the war. But it is for middle school or younger. Overall I really liked it and was worth the read. It's short and written in verse so its a fast read. 

The Time Garden: A Magical Journey and Coloring Book

A dazzlingly beautiful coloring book for all ages, The Time Garden will sweep you away into a whimsical cuckoo clock–inspired world, created in intricate pen and ink by the internationally best-selling Korean artist Daria Song. 

Journey through the doors of a mysterious cuckoo clock into its inky innerworkings to discover a magical land of clock gears, rooftops, starry skies, and giant flying owls—all ready for you to customize with whatever colors you can dream up.

Cuckoo . . . cuckoo . . . cuckoo . . . When the clock strikes midnight, you’ll wonder, was it all a dream?

The Time Garden features extra-thick craft paper, ideal for non bleed-through coloring, and the jacketed cover with flaps is removable and colorable. Special gold-foil stamping on the cover and spine and a To/From page make it perfect for gifting to adults and kids alike.

Then, explore the magical world outside the clock through the eyes of a fairy in the sequel, The Time Chamber: A Magical Story and Coloring Book!

An amazing color book! Complex but not to complex pictures fill the pages of this book and get your imagination spinning. 
I recieved this book for review from blogging for books. 

The Strange Case of Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde

In September of 1884, Robert Louis Stevenson, then in his mid-thirties, moved with his family to Bournemouth, a resort on the southern coast of England, where in the brief span of 23 months he revised A Child's Garden of Verses and wrote the novels Kidnapped and The Strange Case of Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde.

An intriguing combination of fantasy thriller and moral allegory, Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde depicts the gripping struggle of two opposing personalities - one essentially good, the other evil - for the soul of one man. Its tingling suspense and intelligent and sensitive portrayal of man's dual nature reveals Stevenson as a writer of great skill and originality, whose power to terrify and move us remains, over a century later, undiminished. 

I don't really know why, but I really like this. It is a strange but thrilling story. I feel like if I didn't know the story before reading it that it would make it better, but I did. So that's life. Overall I really enjoyed it and am so glad to have crossed this off of my classic tbr list. 

The Message 100

What moves you?

Beauty?
“God looked over everything he had made; it was so good, so very good!” (Genesis 1)

Worry?
“It’s wonderful what happens when Christ displaces worry at the center of your life.” (Philippians 4)

Injustice?
“God was moved to compassion when he heard their groaning.” (Judges 2)

Suffering?
“Deeply moved, Jesus touched their eyes. They had their sight back that very instant.” (Matthew 20)

The Bible tells a story about moving―people moving from place to place, from good times to hard times to good times again. But more than anything, it’s a story of a God who is moved by love, and who moves―and who moves us―to make the world a better place.

Here in The Message 100 is the whole Bible―every single, moving word of it―laid out in 100 readings and arranged to reflect the unfolding story. Move through it at your own pace, and discover how God may be moving right there on the page, right here in your life.

I was very leery about getting this for review, at first I wasn't really sure what it was. (Was it a Bible or a devotional?) The answer is both! It has a short introduction to each of the 100 reading's then the reading. Its not in Biblical order, from what I can figure out it's in chronological order. ( Which the Bible isn't) I really love the way its written, basically in a poetry type of writing, made to be read like a novel instead of like a textbook.  Overall I am very impressed and would look into it for your personal Bible time but not as an all the time Bible to take to church since it is not in chronological order.
I received this for review through Tyndale House Publishers.  

So, What's your Point?

"We've all got a story. It's either our own, or someone else's." But, what if there really was only one Story and you were created for it? Wouldn't you want to know it? And more importantly, if you had the opportunity to join it, wouldn't you want to sign up? Fran Sciacca's new book, So, What's Your Point? tackles the tough questions of: "Who do I say that I am?" "What's my point?" and "What's my place?" Or put another way, the questions of Identity, Purpose, and Mission. If you're tired of the storylines of our day, and want to understand how your passions, gifts, longings, and your very being find their fulfillment in the One Story, So, What's Your Point? will take you there. Just make sure your seats and tray tables are in the upright and locked position! 
So, I really wanted to get into this and just love it, but I cant. I did read the whole thing mind you but didn't enjoy it very much towards the end and here is why. History. I love History but there is a little to much back history or word history to explain all the tiny parts of the story he was telling. Also after awhile I felt like it was starting to drag, a lot. Its only 254 pages if you don't read the extras in the back. But it started dragging after around 160 or so. Not saying it was horrible, but it was not by any means my favorite. 
I received this for review through Tyndale House Publishers 

The Martian

Six days ago, astronaut Mark Watney became one of the first people to walk on Mars. Now, he's sure he'll be the first person to die there. After a dust storm nearly kills him & forces his crew to evacuate while thinking him dead, Mark finds himself stranded & completely alone with no way to even signal Earth that he’s alive—& even if he could get word out, his supplies would be gone long before a rescue could arrive. Chances are, though, he won't have time to starve to death. The damaged machinery, unforgiving environment or plain-old "human error" are much more likely to kill him first. But Mark isn't ready to give up yet. Drawing on his ingenuity, his engineering skills—& a relentless, dogged refusal to quit—he steadfastly confronts one seemingly insurmountable obstacle after the next. Will his resourcefulness be enough to overcome the impossible odds against him?
I was very leery of this book. I have picked up similar books like this and they were  much to sci fi for me, but this one is different. The sciencey stuff is all explained in a way my non science major brain can understand (mostly) and not feel like an idiot. I  loved how this was written and Mark makes this book so much better by being very sarcastic the whole time. It was a well thought out plot and had enough good and bad things happen to Mark that it didn't feel unrealistic. Like not everything was bad or everything good happened either, it had a good mix of both. Overall, a great story told with a lot of humor and had a good ending and was overall a great read, just not everyone's piece of cake. 
I recieved this book for review through Blogging for Books.

The Sea Keeper's Daughters

Wingate's third Carolina book follows the highly reviewed, The Prayer Box and The Story Keeper as well as related three novellas.

From modern-day Roanoke Island to the sweeping backdrop of North Carolina’s Blue Ridge Mountains and Roosevelt’s WPA folklore writers, past and present intertwine to create an unexpected destiny. . .

Restaurant owner Whitney Monroe is desperate to save her business from a hostile takeover. The inheritance of a decaying Gilded Age hotel on North Carolina’s Outer Banks may provide just the ray of hope she needs. But things at The Excelsior are more complicated than they seem. Whitney’s estranged stepfather is entrenched on the third floor, and the downstairs tenants are determined to save the historic building. Searching through years of stored family heirlooms may be Whitney’s only hope of quick cash, but will the discovery of an old necklace and a depression-era love story change everything.
I thought this book was going to be very different then it was. I thought the love story was going to be a wayyyy different one then the one that followed. I liked the story, after awhile I got into it. But after awhile I was almost annoyed, plus there were two typos in the first hundred pages or so. So that annoyed the crap out of me as well, there might have been more I didn't catch. I really had a love hate with Whitney and the way she did things, which was everything but the right way most of the time. And the ending was good but left a lot of holes. So in the end, I like it but found more problems then I ever want to.
I received this book for review from Tyndale House Publishers. 

Not By Sight

Gripping Sophomore Novel from a Rising Historical Romance Talent

With Britain caught up in WWI, Jack Benningham, heir to the Earl of Stonebrooke, has declared himself a conscientious objector. Instead, he secretly works for the Crown by tracking down German spies on British soil, his wild reputation and society status serving as a foolproof cover.

Blinded by patriotism and concern for her brother on the front lines, wealthy suffragette Grace Mabry will do whatever it takes to assist her country's cause. When she sneaks into a posh London masquerade ball to hand out white feathers of cowardice, she never imagines the chain of events she'll set off when she hands a feather to Jack. 

And neither of them could anticipate the extent of the danger and betrayal that follows them--or the faith they'll need to maintain hope.

This book is some of the best historical fiction I have read thus this year. I loved the story and the twists and turns in the story, even though a few things were very obvious about what was going to happen, it still had some twists and turns that you don't see coming. The plot was good, the characters showed growth and a new depth as the story progresses and each showed a very different personality and voice. Each character had a different part to play, so even though there are quite a few people in the story, its not really crowded and each side character has there time to share there story too. Over all I really liked this book and felt like it was well executed and well thought out. 
I received this book from Bethany House Publishers in exchange for an honest review. 

Brave Enough

Find the courage to be who you are — not who you wish you were.
Here’s a not-so-hidden secret: We are all a little scared.
 Scared of the unknown; of making that call or saying that we’re sorry; of being too much or not enough. But is that fear holding you back? How would you be different if you could finally let go?
 The courage to change doesn’t have to mean cliff-diving out of your comfort zone. This courage is about being brave enough — for yourself, for God, and for your calling — right where you are. A brave-enough life is one lived fully and confidently, free from the weight of worry and the burden of trying too hard.
 In Brave Enough, popular author Nicole Unice challenges you to get real about the places where you feel too scared to change, too tired to endure, or too worried to move on. Through personal stories and biblical application, Nicole will lead you on a journey beyond worry and into the life God has planned for you — one that’s beautiful, full, and free.

Do you want to learn to be free from your insecurities and be able to be free? Then this is the book for you! Taken from lessons taught in the Bible from Jesus and modern day real life stories, Nicole teaches us how we as women let our doubts and daily problems get in our way from living free from the daily grind and being brave. I loved this, it gave more then advice but a lot of things straight from the Bible to remind us that we as ordinary human woman, can live as brave women. 
I recieved this book form Tyndale for review.  

The Memory Keeper's Daughter

On a winter night in 1964, Dr. David Henry is forced by a blizzard to deliver his own twins. His son, born first, is perfectly healthy. Yet when his daughter is born, he sees immediately that she has Down's Syndrome. Rationalizing it as a need to protect Norah, his wife, he makes a split-second decision that will alter all of their lives forever. He asks his nurse to take the baby away to an institution and never to reveal the secret. But Caroline, the nurse, cannot leave the infant. Instead, she disappears into another city to raise the child herself. So begins this story that unfolds over a quarter of a century - in which these two families, ignorant of each other, are yet bound by the fateful decision made that long-ago winter night. Norah Henry, who knows only that her daughter died at birth, remains inconsolable; her grief weighs heavily on their marriage. And Paul, their son, raises himself as best he can, in a house grown cold with mourning. Meanwhile, Phoebe, the lost daughter, grows from a sunny child to a vibrant young woman whose mother loves her as fiercely as if she were her own.

I was heavily intrigued by this book, I remember seeing a small part of the movie version of this a long time ago. But what really got me is the down syndrome angle of this book. I have two brothers with down syndrome and so I wanted to see what turns this book took and how different life for someone with down syndrome differs from the present to the 1960's. As for the actual story line, I wasn't super impressed with it. It seemed like hard to believe story at first, that someone would actually do that. And I later found out this is based in part on a true story. Also I started to hate David as I got farther along in the book. I became more and more angry that some grown man could tell his own wife about what he had done. Over all it was a decent book, just kind of boring and at points repetitive and that made it sometimes hard to get through. I only gave it a 3 stars.

Armada

Zack Lightman has spent his life dreaming. Dreaming that the real world could be a little more like the countless science-fiction books, movies, and videogames he’s spent his life consuming. Dreaming that one day, some fantastic, world-altering event will shatter the monotony of his humdrum existence and whisk him off on some grand space-faring adventure.

But hey, there’s nothing wrong with a little escapism, right? After all, Zack tells himself, he knows the difference between fantasy and reality. He knows that here in the real world, aimless teenage gamers with anger issues don’t get chosen to save the universe.

And then he sees the flying saucer.

Even stranger, the alien ship he’s staring at is straight out of the videogame he plays every night, a hugely popular online flight simulator called Armada—in which gamers just happen to be protecting the earth from alien invaders. 

No, Zack hasn’t lost his mind. As impossible as it seems, what he’s seeing is all too real. And his skills—as well as those of millions of gamers across the world—are going to be needed to save the earth from what’s about to befall it.

It’s Zack’s chance, at last, to play the hero. But even through the terror and exhilaration, he can’t help thinking back to all those science-fiction stories he grew up with, and wondering: Doesn’t something about this scenario seem a little…familiar?

At once gleefully embracing and brilliantly subverting science-fiction conventions as only Ernest Cline could, Armada is a rollicking, surprising thriller, a classic coming of age adventure, and an alien invasion tale like nothing you’ve ever read before—one whose every page is infused with the pop-culture savvy that has helped make Ready Player One a phenomenon.

First off. Cover love all the way. I love this cover for several reasons, first off its a simple cover that still gives you a feel for the book and what its about. Secondly, its shiny, but only in certain parts. But on to the book. This book is so different from what I normally read. I like historical fiction, dystopian, and contemporary reads. So this is pretty far out of my comfort zone.   But since there was such high rave reviews on Ernest Cline's other novel (ready player one) I knew I wanted to give this one a shot, plus getting it for free for review never hurt anything either. Over all I loved the story, the plot, the people and how the story progressed. My only complaint is that this book takes place in 2018 and yet it sometimes feels like the 1990's at certain parts. So I had a hard time following along with that. But in the end I loved it and defiantly want to read ready player one. 
I received this book for review through Blogging for Books. 

My Life Next Door

"One thing my mother never knew, and would disapprove of most of all, was that I watched the Garretts. All the time."

The Garretts are everything the Reeds are not. Loud, messy, affectionate. And every day from her rooftop perch, Samantha Reed wishes she was one of them . . . until one summer evening, Jase Garrett climbs up next to her and changes everything.

As the two fall fiercely for each other, stumbling through the awkwardness and awesomeness of first love, Jase's family embraces Samantha - even as she keeps him a secret from her own. Then something unthinkable happens, and the bottom drops out of Samantha's world. She's suddenly faced with an impossible decision. Which perfect family will save her? Or is it time she saved herself?

A transporting debut about family, friendship, first romance, and how to be true to one person you love without betraying another. 

I am so glad I am finally getting to read a Huntley Fitzpatrick novel. I have been following her on Goodreads for quite awhile and have heard nothing but great things from people about any of her books. I found this one at a garage sale a couple of weeks ago and had to read it. So I did. And I loved it. I love that there is a large family in this book, I come from a family of 6 kids and I feel like it is hard for me to connect to the characters that have say 1 or 2 or 0 siblings. But the Garrets aren't quite my family but close enough. I give this 5 stars all the way!

Perfect You

Kate Brown's life has gone downhill fast.

Her father has quit his job to sell vitamins at the mall, and Kate is forced to work with him. Her best friend has become popular, and now she acts like Kate's invisible.

And then there's Will. Gorgeous, unattainable Will, whom Kate acts like she can't stand even though she can't stop thinking about him. When Will starts acting interested, Kate hates herself for wanting him when she's sure she's just his latest conquest.

Kate figures that the only way things will ever stop hurting so much is if she keeps to herself and stops caring about anyone or anything. What she doesn't realize is that while life may not always be perfect, good things can happen -- but only if she lets them...

I have had this sitting on my shelf for a while now. And decided I was going to force myself to read it. A do or die type thing.  SO  I did read it. and enjoyed it instead of dreading every time I saw it. I really liked the story the only thing that bothered me was how obvious some things were and she had such a hard time excepting that they were happening. The only other bad part was the ending, it kind of just puttered off. Then had a an epilogue and was done. So other then those things I liked it and really liked it and enjoyed it tons. 

Stealing Jake

When Livy O’Brien spies a young boy jostling a man walking along the boardwalk, she recognizes the act for what it is. After all, she used to be known as Light-fingered Livy. But that was before she put her past behind her and moved to the growing town of Chestnut, Illinois, where she’s helping to run an orphanage. Now she’ll do almost anything to protect the street kids like herself. 

Sheriff’s deputy Jake Russell had no idea what he was in for when he ran into Livy—literally—while chasing down a pickpocket. With a rash of robberies and a growing number of street kids in town—as well as a loan on the family farm that needs to be paid off—Jake doesn’t have time to pursue a girl. Still, he can't seem to get Livy out of his mind. He wants to get to know her better . . . but Livy isn’t willing to trust any man, especially not a lawman. 

I wasn't sure what I was going to think of this one. It sounded good but was she going to pull it off right? She did, by blending the different stories together and showing the real side of each character and making them individual.  Some books told by different points of view are really hard to understand and see the contrast of them, like when I read Allegiant, I had the worst time trying to follow the story and be able to tell the voices apart. I also liked that she was able to mix the different voices, instead of switching views every other chapter and retelling things just from the other person's point of view. I thought the ending was easy to tell and the mystery part was figured out for me be page 50 or so. So that wasn't very surprising either. But for more of an easy reading chick lit, this one hit the spot. 

I received this book for review through Tyndale's blogger review program. 

The Little Paris Bookshop

“There are books that are suitable for a million people, others for only a hundred. There are even remedies—I mean books—that were written for one person only…A book is both medic and medicine at once. It makes a diagnosis as well as offering therapy. Putting the right novels to the appropriate ailments: that’s how I sell books.”

Monsieur Perdu calls himself a literary apothecary. From his floating bookstore in a barge on the Seine, he prescribes novels for the hardships of life. Using his intuitive feel for the exact book a reader needs, Perdu mends broken hearts and souls. The only person he can't seem to heal through literature is himself; he's still haunted by heartbreak after his great love disappeared. She left him with only a letter, which he has never opened.

After Perdu is finally tempted to read the letter, he hauls anchor and departs on a mission to the south of France, hoping to make peace with his loss and discover the end of the story. Joined by a bestselling but blocked author and a lovelorn Italian chef, Perdu travels along the country’s rivers, dispensing his wisdom and his books, showing that the literary world can take the human soul on a journey to heal itself.

Internationally bestselling and filled with warmth and adventure, The Little Paris Bookshop is a love letter to books, meant for anyone who believes in the power of stories to shape people's lives.

I Loved this book. At first I was thinking I am really not going to be able to get into it at all, but shortly latter, I was already into it. The only reason it took me as long as it did to finish it was simply because life got in the way. I overall feel like this is a book that would be more suited to someone older, but I still enjoyed it even though I am younger. 
I received this book for review from blogging for books. 

The School For Dangerous Girls

Girl, Interrupted . . . as written by V. C. Andrews.

Angela's parents think she's on the road to ruin because she's dating a "bad boy." After her behavior gets too much for them, they ship her off to Hidden Oak. Isolated and isolating, Hidden Oak promises to rehabilitate "dangerous girls." But as Angela gets drawn in further and further, she discovers that recovery is only on the agenda for the "better" girls. The other girls -- designated as "the purple thread" -- will instead be manipulated to become more and more dangerous . . . and more and more reliant on Hidden Oak's care.

This really intrigued me when I read the back. But when I got so far I was getting far less impressed. It wasn't very believable and hard to imagine that really happening at certain points. Like did anyone at the school ever leave and tell the outside world?  Like the ending was bad to me, like what the heck???    Overall it was good, just not amazing or super believable

24 Girls in 7 Days

There are few things sadder than Jack Grammar's love life.

So when his friends take it upon themselves to get him a date to the prom by placing an intensely humiliating ad in the school paper, they think they are doing him a favor. Jack doesn't agree. But then the most amazing thing happens: responses to the ad are overwhelming. So overwhelming, in fact, that Jack must narrow the list down. A lot. Not an easy task. Turns out, the girls at City High are quite competitive. From drive-by flashings to breaking and entering to cell phone stalkers, these potential prom dates will stop at nothing to snag the suddenly popular Jack. How will he ever choose just one?

So i was hoping for amazing, but it wasn't. Still it was good. The beginning was funny, and made you want to laugh out loud. The second half, not so much. The ending was okay but kind of just thrown together, it made it seem like Jack had no feelings what so ever and had no problem being rude and there was way to much floating around to girl to girl. Overall it was okay, but not amazing.

Vibes

Nothing is beyond Kristi Carmichael’s disdain—her hippie high school, her friend Jacob, her workaholic mom. Yet for all her attitude and her mind-reading abilities, Kristi has a vulnerable side. She can hear the thoughts of her fellow students, calling her fat and gross. She’s hot for Gusty Peterson, one of the most popular guys in school, but of course, she’s sure he thinks she is disgusting. And she’s still mad at her father, who walked out on them two years ago. Soon, a school project brings her together with Gusty, her father comes home and drops a bombshell, and a friend comes out of the closet, and suddenly she is left doubting that she can read people at all.

Bitingly funny but ultimately poignant and positive, this YA novel is completely on the mark. 

Wow. I loved this. I enjoyed reading a book that doesn't star a perfect or semiperfect teenage girl that is on a one track quest to find the guy of her dreams. Which I still love those, this is just a welcomed change. Kristi is anything but normal and doesn't feel the need to change ( you go girl!). I really loved her relationships in the book and how much she changed and grew throughout the story. I really loved this and highly recommend it!

Emmy and Oliver

Emmy’s best friend, Oliver, reappears after being kidnapped by his father ten years ago. Emmy hopes to pick up their relationship right where it left off. Are they destined to be together? Or has fate irreparably driven them apart?

Emmy just wants to be in charge of her own life.

She wants to stay out late, surf her favorite beach—go anywhere without her parents’ relentless worrying. But Emmy’s parents can’t seem to let her grow up—not since the day Oliver disappeared.

Oliver needs a moment to figure out his heart.

He’d thought, all these years, that his dad was the good guy. He never knew that it was his father who kidnapped him and kept him on the run. Discovering it, and finding himself returned to his old hometown, all at once, has his heart racing and his thoughts swirling.

Emmy and Oliver were going to be best friends forever, or maybe even more, before their futures were ripped apart. In Emmy’s soul, despite the space and time between them, their connection has never been severed. But is their story still written in the stars? Or are their hearts like the pieces of two different puzzles—impossible to fit together?

Readers who love Sarah Dessen will tear through these pages with hearts in throats as Emmy and Oliver struggle to face the messy, confusing consequences of Oliver’s father’s crime. Full of romance, coming-of-age emotion, and heartache, these two equally compelling characters create an unforgettable story. 

What to say, what to say. First off I won this book from Epic Reads (thanks!). I loved this so much! I love Sarah Dessen and any books like them. This book was amazing and I loved it so much! It was realistic, sad, ans sappy all at the same time. I would highly recommend it as a great summer read!

Arranged

Anne Blythe has a great life: a good job, good friends, and a potential book deal for her first novel. When it comes to finding someone to share it with, however, she just can't seem to get it right.

After yet another relationship ends, Anne comes across a business card for what she thinks is a dating service, and she pockets it just in case. When her best friend, Sarah, announces she's engaged, Anne can't help feeling envious. On an impulse, she decides to give the service a try because maybe she could use a little assistance in finding the right man. But Anne soon discovers the company isn't a dating service; it's an exclusive, and pricey, arranged marriage service. She initially rejects the idea, but the more she thinks about it -- and the company's success rate -- the more it appeals to her. After all, arranged marriages are the norm for millions of women around the world, so why wouldn't it work for her?

A few months later, Anne is travelling to a Mexican resort, where in one short weekend she will meet and marry Jack. And against all odds, it seems to be working out -- until Anne learns that Jack, and the company that arranged their marriage, are not what they seem at all. 

I am not normally into books that have main characters that are a lot older than I am. But this one was different to me. I just really liked the storyline, and not one I have ever seen as a modern storyline. I was more than intrigued, I was pumped. I ended up only having this book for a couple of weeks before I broke down and read it.  So glad I did! I loved it so much, the story was well thought out and well paced. I seriously can't help but say, please read it! Its so good!

The Heir

Princess Eadlyn has grown up hearing endless stories about how her mother and father met. Twenty years ago, America Singer entered the Selection and won the heart of Prince Maxon—and they lived happily ever after. Eadlyn has always found their fairy-tale story romantic, but she has no interest in trying to repeat it. If it were up to her, she'd put off marriage for as long as possible.

But a princess's life is never entirely her own, and Eadlyn can't escape her very own Selection—no matter how fervently she protests.

Eadlyn doesn't expect her story to end in romance. But as the competition begins, one entry may just capture Eadlyn's heart, showing her all the possibilities that lie in front of her . . . and proving that finding her own happily ever after isn't as impossible as she's always thought.

While some people were angry hearing there were going to be more books in the selection series, I wasn't. I loved this continuation of the story and that its a jump in the future to the next selection. I love Maxon and America as parents and how the raise and treat their kids. I can't wait to read the next one. Kiera Cass you need to get your next book out pronto. Or let me read it early? PLEASE?????!!!!! 

The Fold

STEP INTO THE FOLD.
IT’S PERFECTLY SAFE. 
The folks in Mike Erikson's small New England town would say he's just your average, everyday guy. And that's exactly how Mike likes it. Sure, the life he's chosen isn’t much of a challenge to someone with his unique gifts, but he’s content with his quiet and peaceful existence.  

That is, until an old friend presents him with an irresistible mystery, one that Mike is uniquely qualified to solve: far out in the California desert, a team of DARPA scientists has invented a device they affectionately call the Albuquerque Door. Using a cryptic computer equation and magnetic fields to “fold” dimensions, it shrinks distances so that a traveler can travel hundreds of feet with a single step. 

The invention promises to make mankind’s dreams of teleportation a reality. And, the scientists insist, traveling through the Door is completely safe. 

Yet evidence is mounting that this miraculous machine isn’t quite what it seems—and that its creators are harboring a dangerous secret.  

As his investigations draw him deeper into the puzzle, Mike begins to fear there’s only one answer that makes sense. And if he’s right, it may only be a matter of time before the project destroys…everything.  

A cunningly inventive mystery featuring a hero worthy of Sherlock Holmes and a terrifying final twist you’ll never see coming, The Fold is that rarest of things: a genuinely page-turning science-fiction thriller. Step inside its pages and learn why author Peter Clines has already won legions of loyal fans.

A great modern novel of time travel. I love the different type of time travel in this book that made this so much more believable to me. To many times the question of how it happened is left completely blank but in this book the author explains it. OVerall really well written and a great read. 
I received this book for review through Blogging for Books. 

Extras

Fame

It's a few years after rebel Tally Youngblood took down the uglies/pretties/specials regime. Without those strict roles and rules, the world is in a complete cultural renaissance. "Tech-heads" flaunt their latest gadgets, "kickers" spread gossip and trends, and "surge monkeys" are hooked on extreme plastic surgery. And it's all monitored on a bazillion different cameras. The world is like a gigantic game of "American Idol." Whoever is getting the most buzz gets the most votes. Popularity rules.

As if being fifteen doesn't suck enough, Aya Fuse's rank of 451,369 is so low, she's a total nobody. An extra. But Aya doesn't care; she just wants to lie low with her drone, Moggle. And maybe kick a good story for herself.

Then Aya meets a clique of girls who pull crazy tricks, yet are deeply secretive of it. Aya wants desperately to kick their story, to show everyone how intensely cool the Sly Girls are. But doing so would propel her out of extra-land and into the world of fame, celebrity...and extreme danger. A world she's not prepared for. 

This is basically, an extra book. You don't have to read it but it is good. Just not what i was hoping for. I enjoyed it overall and it was an okay ending to the series. 

Crush

Football glory. A giant diamond. A wandering eye.

Jude and Lucy are happily engaged . . . but that doesn't mean life's a bed of roses.

Once again, Jude and Lucy are torn apart by football training and a summer job that creates new tensions. This time Jude's the one with trust issues. Will Lucy's life-changing news bring them back together or end their relationship for good? Can love triumph forever? 

LOVE LOVE LOVE THIS! An amazing end to a great series! LOVED every part of it and loved the ending and how everything in this series seemed so real because of how it is written, and how the story is realistic. Highly recommend! 

Clash

Their Romeo-and-Juliet-level passion is the only thing Jude and Lucy agree on. That, and fighting all the time...

Also not helping? Lucy's raging jealousy of the cheerleader who's wormed her way into Jude's life.

While trying to hang on to her quintessential bad boy and also training to be the top ballet dancer in her class, Lucy knows something's going to give... soon.

How can she live without the boy she loves? How can she live with herself if she gives up on her dreams? If Lucy doesn't make the right choice, she could lose everything.

AMAZING SECOND BOOK TO THE SERIES. CRIES HAPPY TEARS IN THE CORNER. 

Specials

"Special Circumstances": The words have sent chills down Tally's spine since her days as a repellent, rebellious ugly. Back then Specials were a sinister rumor -- frighteningly beautiful, dangerously strong, breathtakingly fast. Ordinary pretties might live their whole lives without meeting a Special. But Tally's never been ordinary.

And now she's been turned into one of them: a superamped fighting machine, engineered to keep the uglies down and the pretties stupid.

The strength, the speed, and the clarity and focus of her thinking feel better than anything Tally can remember. Most of the time. One tiny corner of her heart still remembers something more.

Still, it's easy to tune that out -- until Tally's offered a chance to stamp out the rebels of the New Smoke permanently. It all comes down to one last choice: listen to that tiny, faint heartbeat, or carry out the mission she's programmed to complete. Either way, Tally's world will never be the same.

Another great book in the series. I definitely know now why there is a fourth book. It definitely needs it!
Excited to see where this all ends.