Review - Rocky Road Trip by Catherine Clark

Rocky Road Trip by Catherine Clark
Publisher: HarperTeen
Published: June 10, 2008
Pages: 336 pages
Format: Paperback
Source: Bought
Rating: 1/5
Author Site: Catherine Clark

It was a zoo the day I left.

All I remember is pulling out of the driveway. I thought I was going to crumble into a hundred pieces.

I looked at Grant. He looked at me.

I sadly really really disliked this book. The one star actually is for the cute cover. I hate that I didn't like it because the synopsis made it sound soooo good and the cover is really cute but hence this is why one does not supposed to judge a book by it's cover.

One of my biggest pet peeves is the book has NO chapters but instead is divided up into long diary entries...long boring whiny diary entries that I grew sick of before I got into the book 50 pages but still I trudged on and listened to Courtney moan and groan about going away to college, hating her roomate, and sulking because Grant her boyfriend was having a wonderful time at his college without her. Heck I bet he sang Hallelujah on the day she left!

Review- Island Girls and Boys by Rachel Hawthorne

Island Girls and Boys by Rachel Hawthorne

Released: June 1, 2005
Publisher: HarperTeen
Age Group: Young Adult
Format: paperback
Source: Bought
Rating: 4/5
Author Site: Rachel Hawthorne

Date: July 4
Rental type: 2-person sailboat
Rented by: Jen Taylor and Dylan Nelson
Rental time: 8:15 p.m.
Destination: Out to sea!
Life jackets: 2
Time back: ??? Don't wait up!

Fresh out of High School these 3 BFF's plan to spend there summer on a remote island before they say there goodbyes and head off to different colleges at the end of the summer.. Jennifer got them all summer jobs at the Coastal Campground Resorts to help pay there share of the uittilies and grocery costs while staying in her grandparents house.

I started reading this book and couldn't put it down! I got so caught up in the characters and there little tantrums. I can't say that I like one more than the other because they all have a quality that I can relate to in my younger and now self. Jennifer is a take charge kind of gal and like me I have to have things a certain way. I defiantly don't like changes of any sorts. Amy is more tender hearted and brings in all types of strays(cat,dogs,oh and um mm guys) and always in the middle of Jen's and Chell's squabbles. I feel for Amy because I know what it's like to have to keep the peace. I do it all the time with my youngsters...and Miss Chelsea; what a total drama queen, but she gets it honestly. She's the baby in her family and yes I'm the baby in mine. I had my moments and I still do lol. Anyhow Chelsea has a boyfriend (Noah one of the unexpected things) and she ends up spending all her time with him during their summer of independence. Jen doesn't approve of Noah staying with them and not partaking in his share of the costs. I have to agree I would be hot too but soon Jen finds something to take her mind off the matter at hand altogether when none other than a sexy blue eyed boy named Dylan comes into her life. Dylan's just a passerby also looking to have a good time before he goes off into the army. Unexpected things start to happen between Jen and Dylan. One he will be leaving soon and two they starting to fall in love with each other. What will the out come be???? Will Dylan stay with Jen until he has to go or will he just pack up and leave her heart broken??? Well whatever the outcome it's one summer they all will never forget.....

Jennifer, Amy, and Chelsea learns a valuable lesson during their time spent living together. They all learn that living together is not as easy as they expected it to be. It's not easy living on your own and they found that out real quick..Can there friendship withstand all the unexpected changes that's coming on the horizon???

Review - 13 Little Blue Envelopes by Maureen Johnson

13 Little Blue Envelopes by Maureen Johnson
Released: September 26, 2006
Publisher: HarperTeen
Age Group: Adult
Pages: 368 pages
Format: Paperback
Source: Bought
Rating: 5/5
Author Site: Maureen Johnson

When Ginny receives thirteen little blue envelopes and instructions to buy a plane ticket to London, she knows something exciting is going to happen. What Ginny doesn't know is that she will have the adventure of her life and it will change her in more ways than one.

This book was so fabulous I don't even know how to begin my review! I can't imagine being given a set of envelopes and sent out to foreign lands like Ginny's aunt did her. I'm not sure I could do it which is why I think I enjoyed this book so much is because I got to galavant along with Ginny and not have to endure the fright factor. With that said I still found myself comparing my younger self to her and coming to the conclusion we were not so different actually. Neither of us had really done much traveling away from home, both sorta shy, and both seeking adventure.

I feel like Ginny really needed to go on this adventure even against her family's wishes because she needed to find herself and come out of her shell. Her aunt realized how Ginny was so much like her and would probably have never taken a step like this without a push and she would have missed out on so many things...maybe even the love of her life!

Keith ohh I loved him and was so happy when he and Ginny were together but totally hated what he done at Mari's even if he did have good intentions! His friends kinda had me rolling my eyes though. They were far to childish.

I have book two waiting and cant wait to see what happens next!

Review - Wondrous Strange by Lesley Livingston

Wondrous Strange by Lesley Livingston
Released: September 22, 2009
Publisher: HarperTeen
Age Group: Young Adult
Pages: 352 pages
Format: Paperback
Source: Bought
Rating: 5/5
Author Site: Lesley Livingston

When Kelley moves to New York to pursue her dreams of theatrical success, she expects that her only encounters with mythical beings will be confined to the stage, in the Avalon Grande Theatre's production of A Midsummer Night's Dream. All of that changes when she meets Sonny Flannery, who introduces Kelley to a world she never knew existed. A member of Auberon's Janus Guard, he patrols the portal (in Central Park) between the human and faerie worlds on the few dangerous nights when it opens and members of the Unseelie Court can pass into the mortal realm. He is strangely drawn to Kelley, and as he gets to know her, he begins to suspect that there is more to her history than either of them know. Through encounters with sirens, hellhounds, and kelpies, Kelley and Sonny are drawn irrevocably into a battle among the Fey.

Wondrous Strange was simply an Awesome story of a modern day magical version of Romeo and Juliet. Sonny and Kelley have become two of my all time favorite characters and they took me on a rollercoaster ride; well scratch that they took me on a carousel ride that was fun and magical and heartbreaking and frightning all at the same time.

I am very anxious to continue this series and find out more about the relationship and history of Kelley's father and her mother. I really loathe her father at this point but have mixed feelings on her mother. Does either of them care about her at all or is she just a pawn in a power struggle? One thing is for certain...I learned a valuable lesson thru Sonny's mistake; always make doggone sure when making a deal with a magical creature that you have all your facts verified and laid out on the table leaving no loopholes for later chaos!

If you have not read this series yet...What Are You Waiting For? Go! Read! It!

Review - Love You, Hate You, Miss You by Elizabeth Scott

Love You, Hate You, Miss You by Elizabeth Scott
Released: May 26, 2009
Publisher: Harper Teen
Age Group: Adult
Pages: 288 pages
Format: Hardback
Source: Bought
Author Site: Elizabeth Scott

Tall, awkward Amy feels unloved by her parents, who are too smitten with each other to pay her any attention. Along with her beautiful, fearless, and free-spirited friend Julia, Amy turns to drinking and casual sex to feel loved.
After a devastating car crash leaves Julia dead and Amy only slightly injured, Amy goes into rehab. There, a therapist gives her a journal, which Amy uses to write letters to Julia, each dated with the number of days after Julia’s death.

I don't know where to begin. This was a fabulous book! You can feel the pain and guilt Amy is going thru from the first couple of pages and all thru the book. Thank goodness I never lost a friend when I was in highschool and had to feel like it was my fault but I could still relate to how she was feeling on other levels like an outcast and everybody talking about you and pointing fingers and then the ones who weren't doing that just totally acted like you weren't there which hurts just as much.

Amy slowly begins to find herself again with the help of a former friend, Caro, and two other classmates Mel and Patrick and oh yea Patrick has a secret crush on her but he has some healing issues of his own to work thru.

I just fell in love with Patrick and my heart broke for Amy. I rooted for the both of them to find peace and happiness even if not with each other.

Review - Thrill Ride by Rachel Hawthorne

Thrill Ride by Rachel Hawthorne
Released: April 25, 2006
Publisher: HarperTeen
Age Group: Young Adult
Pages: 320 pages
Format: Paperback
Source: Bought
Author Site: Rachel Hawthorne

Thrill Ride!
One-day admission: $15
Summer job:
Pros:
Living on my own (plus roommates)
Rides are free (but avoid the roller coasters—too scary!)
Super-hot coworker . . .
Cons:
Periodic homesickness
Dressing like Gretel for job in fairyland gift shop
Super-hot coworker . . . and boyfriend back home. Too thrilling!

I cant tell you how much I enjoyed this book! I gobbled it up in one sitting and was hoping for more! A totally cute romantic story for any young reader and I recommend it even if your not a young adult! It was just so upbeat and fun but there were times that I really wanted to smack Megan just because I felt she was a little tooooo goody goody if you know what I mean? She would kind of prejudge folks like for example before she ever met her roomate she already had decided she was a slob and maybe a party gal with several boyfriends just because she had not put her things away all neatly and boys were phoning left n right. I'm like Helllooo so what if she didnt immediately put her things away the time she got there that doesnt make her a slob and then when Parker kept trying to get to know her she just kept being so rude in my opinion just because she had a boyfriend and she assumed he was one of her roomates boyfriends doesnt mean they couldnt be friends!

Even though I loved ranting about Megan like I said the book was awesome. Megan just rubbed me the wrong way....guess ya could tell? :)