Road to Somewhere Blog Tour - Book Spotlight and Giveaway!!!

TOUR SCHEDULE: 

http://www.itchingforbooks.com/2014/02/blog-tour-sign-uproad-to-somewhere-by.html

Release date: March 11th 2014

Publisher: Bloomsbury Spark

Purchase: Amazon

https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/18460372-road-to-somewhere

BOOK DESCRIPTION:

New! From Bloomsbury Spark, a sunny heartwarming story of discovery and sisterhood. 

A road trip. A singing competition. And super-hot cowboys. 

What could be better? 

For Charlie, a post-high school road trip isn't just a vacation, it's life changing. While her parents think she's helping a friend move, a chance at fame is the real reason to grab her best friends and drive to L.A. But when her super annoying, uber-responsible, younger sister, Lucy, has to tag along, it isn't quite the summer of fun she imagined. 

Add in a detour to her grandparents' ranch in Texas, and between mucking the stalls, down-home cookin’, and drool worthy ranch hands, this could just turn into the best, and most complicated, summer of their lives.

ABOUT THE AUTHORS

Kelley Lynn was born and raised a Midwestern girl. She’s not afraid to sweat and fills her free time with softball, soccer and volleyball. (Though you probably don’t want her on your volleyball team.) She occasionally makes guest appearances as a female vocalist for area bands. Music plays a large role in her writing process as well as the characters and plot lines within her stories.

getbetweenthebookends.blogspot.com | twitter.com/KelleyLynn1 | facebook.com/AuthorKelleyLynn

Jenny S. Morris is a YA author who loves all things geek, may have a Kdrama addiction, and prefers the rainy NW to any place she's ever lived. Road to Somewhere is her debut novel.

jennysimaginaryworld.blogspot.com | twitter.com/jennysmorris | facebook.com/JennyS.Morrs

GIVEAWAY

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All The Things We Didn't Say

Expected Publication:  April 10th, 2014

The Museum of Intangible Things

By: Wendy Wunder

Razorbill

ISBN-13:  9781595145147

Loyalty.  Envy.  Obligation.  Dreams.  Disappointment.  Fear.  Negligence.  Coping.  Elation.  Lust.  Nature.  Freedom.  Heartbreak.  Insousiance.  Audacity.  Gluttony.  Belief.  God.  Karma.  Knowing what you want (there is probably a French word for it).  Saying Yes.  Destiny.  Truth.  Devotion.  Forgiveness.  Life.  Happiness (ever after).

Hannah and Zoe haven't had much in their lives, but they've always had each other.  So when Zoey tells Hannah she needs to get out of their down-and-out New Jersey town, they pile into Hannah's beat up old Le Mans and head west, putting everything - their deadbeat parents, their disappointing love lives, their inevitable enrollment at community college - behind them.

As they chase storms and make new friends, Zoe tells Hannah she wants more for her.  She wants her to live bigger, dream grander, aim higher.  And so Zoe begins teaching Hannah all about life's intangible things, concepts sadly missing from her existence - things like audacity, insousiance, karma, and even happiness.

Review

     Hannah has a thing about stability and sticking to the status quo.  She just wants to take care of everyone in her life and make sure things stay on track, the way they are supposed to be for everyone.  Hannah keeps her alcoholic Dad on the wagon and goes to his AA meetings, does everything at home for her Mother who has pretty much given up on life, keeps her hotdog cart business running to make money for community college, and keeps her best friend Zoe in check.  Zoe is the best thing in Hannah's life and it's up to her to keep Zoe from losing herself in a disease she refuses to acknowledge - bipolar disorder.  But then everything comes crashing down around Hannah.  She and Zoe are caught listening in on classes at the local private school, so their days of extra lessons are over.  Hannah's Dad falls off the wagon, goes on a bender and steals all of her college money from her savings.  Zoe doesn't get into the artsy University she wants to go to and heads into a downward spirl of grand delusions, hallucinations and manic days.  When Zoe throws herself into a bizzare road trip, she drags Hannah along for the ride.  Learning important life lessons while trying to keep  Zoe off the ledge she's teetering on, Hannah is becoming someone who's not afraid of life.  But can she save Zoe from herself before it's too late?

     I have a confession to make.  I was reading this book expecting a fun, crazy road trip book centered around two best friends from a dead end town.  I got that, but I also got a disturbingly realistic, and yet touching look at mental illness and the way it affects everyone in its path.  As I started reading this, my family had just committed my mother to the hospital for bipolar disorder, when she ran out her medication (with no possible way to get more) of 15 years and went into a severely psychotic manic state.  So I was reading this book, having just experienced a scarier version of what is portrayed in this book.  In this book Zoe thinks she's on top of the world, that she can do whatever she wants and there won't be consequences, because she's almost superhuman.  She doesn't need to eat, sleep or slow down because the aliens have been preparing her to come be with them.  

      Hannah is Zoe's anchor.  They have a system to bring Zoe back from the brink, that has been in place since they were children.  But it isn't working anymore, and when Zoe goes off the rails, Hannah feels like she has no choice but to follow her.  She still thinks that she can save Zoe from herself, the malfunction of her own body chemistry.  Hannah has spent her life trying to fix everyone and everything around her.  She allows herself to be the "other" woman for the boy she likes because she can't speak up, allows her parents to treat her like dirt and steal from her, and lets Zoe have all the adventures for her.  This is a story about two best friends, who are all each other has in the world, but it still isn't enough.  Hannah and Zoe love one another, but nothing Hannah does can shut out the voices, because Zoe has given up.  She is locked in her own mind and her despair with her shitty life, and can't make herself come out of it - she doesn't want to.  I won't tell you how it ends, suffice it to say that it's very bittersweet and not the traditional happily ever after.  I had problems with the ending, because it didn't flow with the rest of the book and felt somewhat contrived.  It had a bit of the "look, these are the dangers of mental illness."  There is some humor in this book and I love the sarcastic repartee between the girls throughout the book.  But Zoe's actions, funny to her but soon enough not to Hannah, become more uneasy to watch as the book moves on - less and less humor to be found.  All in all, and great portrait of best friends, the sacrifices we make for love (not necessarily the romantic kind) and the harsh realities of mental illness.  But all of it is done with that quirky, slightly ethereal Wendy Wunder edge.  I highly recommend it.

VERDICT:  4/5  Stars

**I received this book as part of Around the World ARC Tours, run by the lovely Princess Bookie.  No favors or money were exchanged for this review.  This book's expected publication date is April 10th, 2014.*

I'll Have You For Me

Expected Publication:  February 18th, 2014

Maybe One Day

By: Melissa Kantor

Harper Teen

ISBN-13:  9780062279200

Zoe and her best friend, Olivia, have always had big plans for the future, none of which included Olivia getting sick.  Still, Zoe is determined to put on a brave face and be positive for her friend.

Even when she isn't sure what to say.

Even when Olivia misses months of school.

Even when Zoe starts falling for Calvin, Olivia's crush

The one thing that keeps Zoe moving forward is knowing that Olivia will beat this, and everything will go back to the way it was before.  It has to.  Because the alternative is too terrifying for her to even imagine.

Review

     Zoe and Olivia have been best friends their entire lives.  They planned to be famous dancers, someday, together.  When that dream went up in smoke and they get kicked out of ballet school, the girls are just focused on being normal high school students together.  All Zoe wants is to find a purpose again and completely forget she ever knew how to dance, because it breaks her heart to think about it.  Neither girl is even contemplating the worst when it happens.  Olivia has been diagnosed with cancer, a form that has a really low survival rate.  Now the girls will go through months of treatment and terror, trying to keep hope alive that Olivia won't lose her fight.  But when Zoe starts keeping secrets, it might not be cancer that ruins their friendship.  Can Olivia and Zoe make it through this, or will they be forced to say one last goodbye?

     This book is narrated from Zoe's point of view, and at the beginning her thoughts mostly revolve around figuring out where she stands now that she can't be a dancer anymore.  She loves Olivia, but feels like she was more affected by the loss than Liv was - especially since Liv is still teaching a ballet class for underprivileged little kids.  Also, Zoe kind of hates the guy her friend is crushing on, Calvin, because he seems to think he's so awesome.  But then Zoe's thoughts jump to something else.  She starts thinking of what the world might be like without Olivia in it, after Liv is diagnosed with cancer.  I loved that this book looks at a deep friendship between the girls, who are really more like sisters, rather than focusing on a romance like most books about terminal illness do.  I almost didn't want to read this book, because I thought it was going to be yet another book involving a friend cheating with another friend's boyfriend, behind their back.  SO SICK OF CHEATERS IN YA BOOKS.  I was pleasantly surprised when this wasn't one of those books!

     It was truly difficult to watch the way Olivia's illness affected her family, especially the way it ate away at her Mom.  It seemed like a pretty realistic portrayal of the devastation of an ordinary family.  For awhile it seems like Zoe is in self-destruct mode, on the verge of doing something truly reckless because of how upset and alone she feels.  But thankfully, Calvin stops her from doing something she might regret.  We do get to see her build a friendship with Calvin, bit by bit and unwillingly at first.  She mostly is around him because he's best friends with Liv's older brother.  Therefore he's at the hospital almost as much as Zoe is.  But soon enough, she starts to realize just how much she misjudged Calvin as a popular player.  The interactions between Zoe and the kids in Liv's ballet class were realistic as well.  I liked that she wasn't miraculously the best teacher ever and it took her quite some time to connect with the kids at all.  Zoe botches things pretty badly at first, barely managing to smooth them over in the end.  But my favorite thing all in all, was the sense of humor Liv and Zoe maintained with each other, throughout the book.  My favorite quip was when the doctor was explaining the cancer to Zoe (per Liv's request) and tells her it is most common in men ages 65+.  The girls joke around about how Liv has old man cancer, and it's so embarrassing!  It made me laugh out loud! :D  Overall, this one is a beautiful look at lifelong friendship and the triumph of love over illness, even if that doesn't mean it defeats death.  I highly recommend this one.

VERDICT:  4/5  Stars

*I received this book as part of Around the World ARC Tours, run by the lovely Princess Bookie.  No favors or money were exchanged for this review.  This book's expected publication date is February 18th, 2014.*

Merch Girl Tour - Review, Excerpt and Giveaway!!!

Title: Merch Girl

Author: Rebecca Lewis

Date of Publication: May 1, 2013

Genre: Contemporary YA romance; Music

Blurb:

Seventeen-year-old Lacey Kind doesn’t have the guts to talk to cute boys, isn’t a size two, and would rather stay home and listen to music than go to a party. But in the summer before her first year of college, she ends up thousands of miles away from home, in the back of a tour bus, underneath the half-naked body of the hottest teen rock star in the country.

When Lacey and her best friend Trina sneak into a Boston nightclub to see their favorite band, they not only get to watch their rock gods perform for the first time, but score a chance to meet the band too. Lacey’s heart races as she comes face-to-face with her idol, nineteen-year-old lead singer, Logan Shire.

The girls charm their way into being hired to sell merchandise on Lansdowne’s first summer tour. As “merch girls” Lacey and Trina quickly find themselves transported from their ordinary, suburban life to an exhilarating few months on the road. But they soon realize that life on the road isn’t always a smooth ride...

Goodreads link: http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/17703969-merch-girl

Purchase links: Amazon | B&N | Smashwords | Kobo | iBooks

About Rebecca Lewis

Rebecca Lewis is the author of the Young Adult novel, Merch Girl, and a lover of all things music! She's been writing stories since middle school and penned her first fanfic about a semi-popular boyband in 1997. Her passion for music and writing brought her to Boston University, where she graduated with a Bachelor of Science from the College of Communication. During her college career, she interned for various record labels in Boston and New York City, sold merch for local bands, worked at record stores, and did a whole lot of grassroots marketing. She currently resides in Florida with her husband and puppy.

Blog: http://rebeccajlewis.wordpress.com/

Twitter: http://twitter.com/Rebecca_Writes

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/pages/Rebecca-Lewis-Author/408824785861600

Goodreads: http://www.goodreads.com/RebeccaLewis

Pinterest: http://pinterest.com/rebeccalauthor

Excerpt

I rubbed my hand soothingly against my throbbing forehead. I’d never experienced a hangover before, but I guessed this was what it felt like. I opened my eyes slowly and saw the low ceiling above me  and the curtain hanging by my side. Strange, I had no recollection of getting into a bunk. I cautiously pulled the curtain back and poked my head out to find an empty hallway. I maneuvered my way out of the bunk and realized I was only wearing Logan’s t-shirt and my underwear. His soft cotton tee felt nice against my skin, and still smelled like him. I breathed in the scent, which brought a rush of memories from last night back into my mind. Good memories, really, really good memories. 

Review

     I absolutely love reading anything to do with music, rock stars or the entertainment industry.  I'm actually a bit of a freak about it sometimes, to be quite honest!  So I was pretty excited to read another book about regular girls touring with their favorite rock band (it didn't hurt that this is the first one I've seen from the merch girl angle of things).  Do we ever really think of the people behind the merch tables when we're at venues, big or small?  If you're honest with yourself, the answer is not really - bordering on never.  Lacey and Trina are BFFs who just graduated high school and are ready to spend their last summer together before college.  Lacey is quiet, shy and unsure of herself.  Trina is boisterous, brimming with confidence and never shy about leading the charge on anything.  When they get the unforseen opportunity to meet up and coming band Lansdowne (their favorite, over which they're complete fangirls) things spiral from there.  The girls end up becoming friends with the guys and getting hired to be merch girls on their first tour.  With sparks flying between Griffin and Trina & Lacey and Logan, the summer is heating up.  But can secrets on the part of the girls and the guys, plus scheming from mean girl Jenna stop things before they even start?

     Maybe it's just because I've never really been a crazy, balls to the wall fan of any particular band in my life.  I kind of missed the window for boy band crazy, fangirl shenanigans by being too young during the NKOTB, Backstreet Boys, and N'Sync era.  And I'm not really into the newer boy bands, like One Direction.  I was kind of in-between.  Yes, I had posters on my wall.  But I didn't go to concerts, cry, scream and overall lose my mind over my favorite bands.  That said, Lacey and Trina are better characterized better than your average, screaming fangirls from the crowd.  We get to see into their brains and learn that they really do like the guys for who they are.  Also, though the relationships are a little too I love him just-because, instalove for my taste I appreciated the tumult of both relationships.  Neither of them was perfect and we are constantly reminded that all of them are just immature teens/twenty-somethings, who are still finding their way.  I don't want to give any real spoilers, so all I will say is that there were a couple of twists involving Trina & Gabe's relationship and Lacey's interactions with fangirl Devin that were unexpected.  Overall, a cute fluffy and slightly angsty rock 'n roll romance, definitely more suited for actual teenagers (or more naieve/less jaded adults).  I could barely suspend my disbelief sometimes.  A fun romp, but I am definitely NOT the target audience.  

VERDICT:  3/5 Stars

*I received an ARC from the author and tour host for the purpose of this blog tour. No money or favors were exchanged for this review. This book was published May 1st, 2013.*

DON'T FORGET TO ENTER THE GIVEAWAY BELOW, FOR A CHANCE TO WIN AN EBOOK OF MERCH GIRL!!!!!!!!

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Still Kind of Cold

 

Published:  July 15th, 2013



Frigid (Frigid #1)
By: Jennifer L. Armentrout (writing as J. Lynn)
Spencer Hill Contemporary
ISBN-13:  9781939392749


For twenty-one-year-old Sydney, being in love with Kyler isn't anything new. They'd been best friends ever since he pushed her down on the playground and she made him eat a mud pie. Somewhere over the years, she fell for him and fell hard. The big problem with that? Kyler puts the 'man' in man-whore. He's never stayed with a girl longer than a few nights, and with it being their last year in college, Syd doesn't want to risk their friendship by declaring her love.

Kyler has always put Syd on a pedestal that was too high for him to reach. To him, she's perfect and she's everything. But the feelings he has for her, he's always hidden away or focused on any other female. After all, Kyler will always be the poor boy from the wrong side of tracks, and Syd will always be the one girl he can never have.

But when they're stranded together at a posh ski resort due to a massive Nor'easter, there's nothing stopping their red-hot feelings for each other from coming to the surface. Can their friendship survive the attraction? Better yet, can they survive at all? Because as the snow falls, someone is stalking them, and this ski trip may be a life-changer in more ways than one.

Review

 

     Sydney and Kyler have been best friends since their playground days and that relationship is still going strong.  Now they're both in their last year of college, and both of them are secretly in love with each other.  Sydney is too scared of rejection to admit her feelings and Kyler thinks she deserves better so he's sleeping with a ton of different girls, trying to bury his feelings.  Going away for the weekend at a ski resort where Kyler's parents have a house, he and Sydney get stranded when a blizzard strikes.  The rest of their friends are unable to make it and with nothing else to distract them from the growing tension and the feelings they can no longer hide, things finally explode.  Just when it looks like Sydney and Kyler might actually be able to start a real relationship, a violent stalker appears on the scene putting their lives in danger.  Will they both get out of the resort alive and if they do, can they manage to make things work romantically or will they lose their friendship for good?

     I am kind of tired of the good girl/virgin/naïve heroine trope in New Adult books.  And the guys she falls for is always some tatted up, womanizing bad boy.  Been there, done that and so sick a tired of it that I'm almost completely out the door with the entire genre as it currently stands.  That said, this book did kind of take a fresh turn by making the two leads childhood best friends, who both want something more with each other.  It was extremely nice to have a romance between two people who have seen each other at their best and worst, know almost everything about each other and they still are attracted to each other after that.  Usually it's a couple people who've known each other for a month, f***** like rabbits, and now "love" each other.  Yeah, sure you do kids.

     Unfortunately, refreshing best friend aspect aside, this book was an extremely mediocre read for me.  Insecure girl, man-whore guy and some really contrived suspense to add an element of danger and make the reader "fear" for the characters' lives.  Sydney and Kyler were both somewhat two-dimensional and I think the thing that bothered me the most was Sydney's supposed naivety and inexperience when it came to sex.  She worries a lot about being frigid, which is what her ex-boyfriend called her when breaking up with her.  They only did it ONE TIME and she's basing her entire sexual self around that experience!  It got on my nerves, because yeah the first time is usually uncomfortable and a little painful.  And unless the guy is some sort of sex god, you're probably not going to get off.  That's kind of common sense, but Sydney's self-confidence issues get in the way of her realizing this and she takes it on as her fault.  This makes her even more reluctant to admit her feelings to Kyler, because of how much of a sexual person he is.  Then when they get together, Kyler is questioning her at every turn, whether or not she actually wants to be with him (which I get, cause she basically propositions him like a male hooker).  They both treat each other stupidly, even after sleeping together.  And the suspense plot is very easily figured out, with really no purpose other to lend some action to a pretty sparse plot. 

     My favorite part was the end, when Kyler and Sydney spend Christmas together and resolve their feelings, finally getting together.  Overall, I really liked the "best friends in love" aspect, but it wasn't enough to really sustain this one for me.  The characters are likeable enough, but really flat and kind of annoyingly dumb when it comes to their own and each others' feelings.  I only recommend this if you really are in the mood for some brainless fluff, with a little but better writing than average.  Cute romance, but no spine or real substance.

 

VERDICT:  2.5/5  Stars

 

*I received this book as part of Around the World ARC Tours, run by the lovely Princess Bookie.  No favors or money were exchanged for this review.  This book was published July 15th, 2013.*

Far Beyond the Blue...

Expected Publication:  May 7th, 2013
Nantucket Blue
By: Leila Howland
Disney Hyperion
ISBN-13:  9781423160519

For Cricket Thompson, a summer like this one will change everything. A summer spent on Nantucket with her best friend, Jules Clayton, and the indomitable Clayton family. A summer when she’ll make the almost unattainable Jay Logan hers. A summer to surpass all dreams.

Some of this turns out to be true. Some of it doesn’t.

When Jules and her family suffer a devastating tragedy that forces the girls apart, Jules becomes a stranger whom Cricket wonders whether she ever really knew. And instead of lying on the beach working on her caramel-colored tan, Cricket is making beds and cleaning bathrooms to support herself in paradise for the summer.

But it’s the things Cricket hadn’t counted on--most of all, falling hard for someone who should be completely off-limits--that turn her dreams into an exhilarating, bittersweet reality.

A beautiful future is within her grasp, and Cricket must find the grace to embrace it. If she does, her life could be the perfect shade of Nantucket blue.

Review

 

     Cricket Thompson is looking forward to going on vacation with her best friend Jules Clayton this summer to Nantucket, meeting boys, going to parties and just having a good time.  Not to mention, she loves Jules' whole family.  So when tragedy strikes Jules' family and she shuts Cricket out of her life, Cricket has to find her own way to Nantucket for the summer.  Working harder than she ever has in her life, Cricket is also surprised by a romance she wasn't expecting with a guy that she knows it would be best to steer clear of.  Can Cricket have the summer of a lifetime, win Jules' friendship back and hang on to what may be true love?  I never really am sure what to expect from a book published by Disney Hyperion press.  This book was a very good surprise in a generally mixed basket of eggs.  As a main character Cricket is very naïve, as pointed out by other readers.  Her tendency to act like an obsessed stalker over her crush, Jay Logan, reminds me more of an 8 year old One Direction fan, rather than an 18 year old (soon to be) high school senior!  It got on my nerves, but thankfully that was FAR from being the focus of the book past the beginning part, which mainly just serves to establish how shallow her romantic feelings were - before she meets the boy that changes it all that is.  I am not going to name names as I make it a rule to avoid spoilers and give reviews vague on plot (usually, sometimes I break my rule a little bit :) but I will say it was someone I didn't peg as the love interest.  But it totally worked and was a very sweet, first love type of romance that had me smiling throughout the book. 

     Cricket and Jules' friendship was deep and ran true, which is why I was proud of Cricket every time she told herself to forgive Jules - because she understood that Jules was dealing with the death of someone extremely important by pushing her away and placing her anger on Cricket, where it had no business being.  The friendships Cricket builds while working as a maid at the inn with Gavin and Liz were wonderful.  All of the personality and sometimes surprising depth to them (mostly Liz) was wonderful.  Also, a guest at the inn by the name of George, who is writing a memoir on local politician Boaty Carmichael, hires Cricket on as his assistant and I love how she balances him out, but respects his quirks.  George treats her like an equal and an adult, which is something Cricket had been missing in her life.  The relationship between Jules and her Mom is great, with just the right balance of friend and parent being achieved.  Cricket's Mom is a strong woman and it's a fun side plot when Cricket uses her Mom's old copy of Emily Dickinson's collected works and finds her diary from her teenage years written in the margins (to hide it from her extremely nosy Aunt)! :)  Her Mom was boy crazy and kind of an insane, but in a fun way.  Cricket tries her best to uncover the identity of her Mom's summer romance, but the truth surprises her once again.  The beach setting gives something important to this book, but it doesn't monopolize it.  Even with some beautiful description and some beach scenes that move along the plot with important action, the characters are still the main focus.  Just the way I like it!  Overall this book had some extremely strong characters, an intriguing and realistic plot and a beautiful first romance that had me smiling and feeling like crying.  Leila Howland's debut is a treat to read and I'm looking forward to reading more from her in the future! 

 

VERDICT:  4.5/5  Stars

 

*I received this book as part of Around the World ARC Tours, run by the lovely Princess Bookie. No favors or money were exchanged for this review. This books expected publication date is May 7th, 2013.*

 

 

****Hey guys, just as a sidenote, Princess Bookie was kind enough to let me keep the ARC for this one as I was last on tour.  I will be hosting a give away with a prize pack including the book and a couple other things too that I think fit the spirit of the story.  It's been awhile since my last giveaway and I feel bad about that!  I have yet to decide for sure, but I think there will be a secondary prize as well.  So within the next couple days there will be a post, so keep your eyes peeled if you're interested! :)

How To Survive Fairyland

Expected Publication:  April 23rd, 2013

How Zoe Made Her Dreams (Mostly) Come True

By: Sarah Strohmeyer

Balzar + Bray/Harper Teen

ISBN-13: 9780062187451

When cousins Zoe and Jess land summer internships at the Fairyland Kingdom theme park, they are sure they've hit the jackpot. With perks like hot Abercrombie-like Prince Charmings and a chance to win the coveted $25,000 Dream & Do grant, what more could a girl want?

Once Zoe arrives, however, she's assigned to serve "The Queen"-Fairyland's boss from hell. From spoon-feeding her evil lapdog caviar, to fetching midnight sleeping tonics, Zoe fears she might not have what it takes to survive the summer, much less win the money.

Soon backstabbing interns, a runaway Cinderella, and cutthroat competition make Zoe's job more like a nightmare than a fairy tale. What will happen when Zoe is forced to choose between serving The Queen and saving the prince of her dreams?

Review

     Zoe is excited to be a summer intern at Fairyland Kingdom theme park with her cousin Jess, competing for scholarship that could mean the difference between either of them going to college or not.  Zoe is confused when the assignments are passed out and she isn't listed yet.  But after being sent to the Queen, things become hellishly clear - Zoe has been chosen to be her personal assistant for the summer!  Between getting her breakfast order exactly right, taking care of her spoiled dog and trying to figure out what cast member is breaking the rules not-so-covertly, Zoe has her work cut out for her.  Oh yeah, and there are plenty of Prince Charmings to confuse things romantically for everyone...along with a Puss in Boots, who may be a Prince in disguise.  Can Zoe figure out who to trust and what the right thing to do is when a very important decision is hers to make?  Or will she be going home without a scholarship and a broken heart dragging behind her?  The idea behind this book, all of the inner workings and dealings of an amusement park staff, is one of my very favorites.  I was hoping this would become a favorite like Dream Factory by Brad Barkley and Heather Hepler.  I really liked it, but in a very different way from the aforementioned book.  This book had a very fluffy heart, but with a solid structure that made me admire Strohmeyer's writing skills.  She managed to keep me laughing at Zoe's antics, but sympathizing with the still aching and recent loss of her Mom.  I also found myself rooting for her to get the scholarship, but feeling bad for her cousin Jess who was equally likeable and needed it just as badly.  All the crazy stuff the Queen says and does drives the plot in some way or another and is absolutely funny.  There was a decent mystery over who was sneaking into the forbidden zone of the park, one that kept the reader guessing for quite awhile.  The addition of a tween sensation a la Justin Bieber was a great comedic plot device as well.  The last twist I didn't see coming, but I should have which is the mark of a truly good writer.  This book has heart, humor, well drawn characters and a good plot.  I think that while it was definitely still a fluff read for about 98%, the other 2% is the reason I liked this as much as I did.  Highly recommended to anyone obsessed with theme parks or just in need of a good laugh, with some likeable characters.

VERDICT:  4/5  Stars

**I received an Advanced Reading E-book Copy from the publisher, via Edelweiss. No money or favors were exchanged for this review. This book's expected publication date is April 23rd, 2013.*

Dawn Goes Down Today

Expected Publication:  May 14th, 2013

Golden 

By: Jessi Kirby

Simon & Schuster Books for Young Readers

ISBN-13:  9781442452169

Seventeen-year-old Parker Frost may be a distant relative of Robert Frost, but she has never taken the road less traveled. Valedictorian and quintessential good girl, she’s about to graduate high school without ever having kissed her crush or broken the rules. So when fate drops a mystery in her lap—one that might be the key to uncovering the truth behind a town tragedy, she decides to take a chance.

Review

     Parker Frost has spent her entire life being the good girl, and playing it safe.  Now she's almost ready to graduate from high school and she's never broken any rules, given in to her feelings for the bad boy or truly enjoyed herself just being a teenager.  But when she is thrown into the middle a mystery, holding the piece of the puzzle that might solve it over a decade after the fact, Parker must decide whether or not to do the 'right' thing, or follow her heart for once.  Things aren't always what they seem though, and the town tragedy may be more tragic than anyone ever suspected.  Can Parker set things right, or will she only make things worse? And can she learn from the mistakes of two doomed, teen lovers or will she repeat them?  I felt sorry for Parker and yet wanted to smack some sense/adventure into her at the same time.  It was admirable how much she loved her Mom and wanted to make things easier for her by being good.  But to let her Mom map out her entire future and control every last aspect of her life, at the age of eighteen?  That was a little much.  I couldn't imagine going that far for someone I loved, if it would make me miserable for probably the rest of my life.  The relationship between Parker and her best friend Kat was amusing, touching and wonderfully written.  There were sparks between Parker and Trevor were more sweet than hot for me.  But after the all-consuming nature of Alison and Willem's relationship from Just One Day, it was a welcome change.  The mystery of what happened to local teens Shane Cruz and Julianna Farnetti was interesting, but it was also pretty predictable.  I did like the ending that allowed for some happiness though and it was good that Parker got a dose of reality and learned that life isn't like a Nicholas Sparks book/movie, while still maintaining her romantic outlook.  Overall it was an interesting book.  Seeing Julianna teach Parker to live by these words by Mary Oliver,  "Tell me, what is it you plan to do with your one wild and precious life?" was definitely a different approach to the usual dead girl guide trope.  It reminded me somewhat of the coming of age novels that have made Susane Colasanti, Sarah Dessen and Jennifer E. Smith famous.  Jessi Kirby is well on her way to being in their league.  Also, the cover is gorgeous and the tag line is in keeping with the story for once.  Good on you S&S, good on you. :)

VERDICT:  4/5  Stars

*I received this book as part of Around the World ARC Tours, run by the lovely Princess Bookie. No favors or money were exchanged for this review. It will be available for purchase on May 14th, 2013.*

You Can't Keep Me Down

Expected Publication: May 22nd, 2012
Unbreak My Heart
By: Melissa C. Walker
Bloomsbury USA
ISBN-13: 9781599905280

Sophomore year broke Clementine Williams’ heart. She fell for her best friend’s boyfriend and long story short: he’s excused, but Clem is vilified and she heads into summer with zero social life. Enter her parents’ plan to spend the summer on their sailboat. Normally the idea of being stuck on a tiny boat with her parents and little sister would make Clem break out in hives, but floating away sounds pretty good right now. Then she meets James at one of their first stops along the river. He and his dad are sailing for the summer and he’s just the distraction Clem needs. Can he break down Clem’s walls and heal her broken heart? Told in alternating chapters that chronicle the year that broke Clem’s heart and the summer that healed it, Unbreak My Heart is a wonderful dual love story that fans of Sarah Dessen, Deb Caletti, and Susane Colasanti will flock to.

Review

   Clem should be getting ready to have a pretty good summer, but instead she's miserable.  She knows that when she gets back from her family's sailing trip she'll still be in social exile, without any friends.  Clem fell in love with her best friend Amanda's boyfriend and even though nothing ever happened, Amanda blamed her.  Now Clem is best friend-less and Ethan, the boyfriend, has been taken back like nothing happened.  At first she spends her days locked in her tiny room, being snarky and withdrawn.  Even her little sister Olive can't draw her out.  But then Clem meets James, an intriguing fellow sailor at one of their stops.  Can he convince her that what happened isn't the end of the world?  Will James be enough to heal Clem's heart - and can she heal his pain too?  I honestly liked Clem a lot.  She didn't give bullshit excuses and whine.  She took responsibility for her actions and the problems that they caused.  I honestly felt like Amanda had a right to be mad, but she was unnecessarily harsh toward Clem and not harsh enough toward Ethan (who seemed like a douche to me, I mean if you like someone else BREAK UP WITH YOUR GIRLFRIEND BEFORE PURSUING HER!!!).  Clem's little sister Olive was so cute and hilarious.  I loved how she asked Clem to 'braid' her and all of the ways she attempted to cheer her up, including trying to discuss Huckleberry Finn.  Clem's parents were awesome in that humiliating, adult way.  You could tell they only wanted the best for her.  James was enigmatic and a great character, but I didn't connect much to him personally.  By the end of the book I felt like giving Clem a gigantic hug and I loved her family just as much.  It was a book worth reading and had all the greatness of a Sarah Dessen or Deb Calletti book.  My only real complaint would be the focus of 'cheating' when no actual cheating happened at all!  Seriously, they didn't even do anything.  GET OVER IT.

VERDICT:  3.85/5  Stars

*I received an Advanced Reading E-book Copy from the publisher, via NetGalley. No money or favors were exchanged for this review. This book's expected publication date is May 22nd, 2012.*

If You're In My Future, That's Okay By Me...

Published: November 21st, 2011
The Future of Us
By: Jay Asher and Carolyn Mackler
Razorbill
ISBN-13: 9781595144911


It's 1996, and Josh and Emma have been neighbors their whole lives. They've been best friends almost as long - at least, up until last November, when Josh did something that changed everything. Things have been weird between them ever since, but when Josh's family gets a free AOL CD in the mail,his mom makes him bring it over so that Emma can install it on her new computer. When they sign on, they're automatically logged onto their Facebook pages. But Facebook hasn't been invented yet. And they're looking at themselves fifteen years in the future.

By refreshing their pages, they learn that making different decisions now will affect the outcome of their lives later. And as they grapple with the ups and downs of what their futures hold, they're forced to confront what they're doing right - and wrong - in the present.

Review

   Emma's life is okay, but her Father just moved away with her Stepmom and half sister to another state.  Now she's stuck with her Mother and her third husband, a guy Emma thinks is a complete dork.  She's also no longer really talking to her former best friend Josh, because of something that happened between them last November.  So when Josh's Mom has him bring over the AOL cd they got in the mail for Emma to use on the computer her Dad bought her (guilt gift), things are awkward.  Imagine their shock when they are connected to Facebook, a thing that shows them their future!  Of course, things get even worse when Emma doesn't like the looks of her future and realizes that by changing her actions now, her future changes.  In the course of a week, Facebook changes both Josh and Emmas' future and present realities.  While coming to terms with the uncertainty of the future, Emma also comes to terms with the fact that everything changes and sometimes you just have to leap in without assurance.  Will Emma admit her feelings for Josh are romantic, or will she continue to deny it and destroy what connection they have left to each other.  I liked the alternate viewpoints in this book, because with a male and female author it turned out more realistically than one author writing two people's minds usually does.  Emma was a average teenage girl, but she had so many layers.  Her parents' divorce and her Mom's subsequent dysfunctional relationships have changed her more than she realizes.  Emma goes out with guys she knows won't last, because she's too afraid of getting her heart broken.  Josh loves Emma, but he's just about given up on her due to her lack of initiative.  I also liked their best friends Kellan and Tyson, who have such an on-off relationship that you never know where they stand.  Part of the plot is Emma trying to stop Kellan from getting pregnant as a teenager, because she learns on Facebook that Kella has a fourteen year old daughter, which means Tyson is most likely the Father.  I thought that sub-plot was realistic and finished well.  I liked that Josh and Emma were confused teens.  One or the other wasn't the victim, they were both to blame for their fights and misunderstandings.  The ending wasn't exactly unpredictable, but the book was so enjoyable I didn't mind at all.  Not perfect, but close.

VERDICT:  4.25/5  Stars

*No money or favors were exchanged for this review. This book is now available in stores and online.*

Sometimes I Do Dumb Crap...Then I Justify It

Published: July 12th, 2011

Sometimes It Happens

By: Lauren Barnholdt

Simon and Schuster Children's Publishing

ISBN-13: 9781442413146

On the last day of her junior year, Hannah's boyfriend Sebastian dumped her. Facing a summer of loneliness, Hannah turns to her best friend Ava for comfort. Ava does what BFFs do: she stays by Hannah's side...until it's time for Ava to head up to Maine for the summer. Also left behind is Ava's boyfriend, Noah, who's such a great guy he gets Hannah a job at the diner he waits tables at. Slowly, Hannah comes out of her funk thanks to Noah's good conversation and their fun times at the diner. But things get complicated when their friendship turns into attraction—and one night, into a passionate kiss. The novel opens on the first day of senior year; the day Hannah is going to see Ava, Sebastian, and Noah all in one place. Over the course of the day secrets and betrayals are revealed, and alliances are broken and reformed. In the end, everyone is paired up once again, but not the way you might think...

Review

   Hannah and Ava have been best friends for a long time.  So when Ava leaves to be a summer camp counselor during the summer before their senior year, after Hannah is cheated on by her boyfriend Sebastian, Hannah is lost without a clue how to live normally.  Then Ava's boyfriend Noah forces her out of her pajamas and self-pity, and into a job at the diner he and their friend Lacey work at, Cooley's.  Slowly as the summer goes on, Hannah finds herself getting over Sebastian.  This would be great, except for her and Noah's growing feelings for one another. Then on the last day before school starts they do the unthinkable - they sleep together, before he breaks up with Ava.  Can Hannah get the guy, salvage all her broken friendships and survive the first day of senior year?  This book alternates between the start of the summer all the way through the end of it and the first day of school, beginning to end.  I do give Lauren Barnholdt credit for making me read all the way to the end.  Which I regretted, because it was an enormous waste of time.  Ava was a complete and total bitch, Hannah was wimp who couldn't even really defend her decision to cheat, Noah and Sebastian were total d-bags who don't deserve air or space and Lacey was an overwrought hypochondriac who made me roll my eyes a lot.  I did not care for this book AT ALL.  I liked Hannah at the beginning, but that didn't last folks.  The synopsis also gives the false impression that the ending won't be quite so predictable.  It was totally predictable which did nothing to save it's honor in my eyes.  Cheating is NEVER justified people, and it's not romantic.  NOT EVER.  You want a book with self respect?  Read Anna and the French Kiss, not this complete and utter trash.  Recommended only as an overly pricey chew-toy for pet owners.

VERDICT: 1.5/5  Stars and a good, swift drop-kick from my window (not really, but I wanted to...and that's being KIND!)

*No money or favors were exchanged for this review. This book is now available in stores and online.*