Happy Birthday to Me!

received from author for review

This book is both fun and funny.

*****spoilers*****

17 year old Cameron Martin is under a spell.  An aging spell cast by an angry witch.  He ages one year each day.  The spell was cast upon him because of his arrogance and his selfishness.  He's a popular jock in his senior year of high school.  He's the son of a highly successful plastic surgeon.  He's decided not to follow in his fathers' footsteps.  Instead he wants to go to Yale and study architecture.  Cam spends a large portion of the book waiting for that all important acceptance letter from Yale.  When it arrives (come on, you knew it would) he needs to reassess his plans.  Remember, he's aged significantly over the course of the book.  I grew to like Cam immensely.  He started as the popular, selfish jock with the vain, vapid girlfriend (she wants to be an actress in Hollywood) who happens to be the most beautiful girl in school.  As he starts to age, she dumps him.  He is kicked off the basketball team and suffers all sorts of indignities..Imagine being 17 years old on the inside, 85 years old on the outside and having to learn how to use a urinal.  Talk about laugh out loud humor.   Cam slowly begins to realize what is important to him.. It is at this point in the story when he meets a beautiful young woman who doesn't seem to care about his aging.  She sees how he has grown, emotionally, during this ordeal.  It just so happens, she is a witch.  Yup, you guessed it, she happens to be the very person that cast the spell upon Cam.  Can she remove it? 

Comic relief (depending on your sense of humor) comes in the form of Mrs. Gordon.  The old librarian.  She hated Cam when he was the jock.  Not so much as he ages. 

This was a very fun, quick book to read.  Think "Beauty and the Beast".  or " Beastly".

I've just started reading the second installment.  This is a trilogy.

belle malory: Wanderlove

belle malory: Wanderlove: I am excited to announce the release of my first novel, Wanderlove . It is up for sale on amazon.com for $0.99 cents. I like that price. It'...

given by the author for review

Weezie The Elephant With Allergies.  What a wonderful book.  Weezie is, as the title suggests, an elephant with multiple allergies.  He lives in an orphanage.  Everytime prospective parents come to meet him, he sneezes all over them.. I can see small children laughing hysterically at the descriptions of snot puddles on the floor.  

Acceptance comes Weezie's way when he is eventually adopted by someone who doesn't care about his allergies or his sneezing fits.  

A wonderful childrens' story certain to entertain.  Illustrations were wonderful.

received by NetGalley for review

Lavish parties. Passionate meetings in the night. Bone-chilling murders. Midterms. The day-to-day life of Schuyler Van Alen and her Blue Bloods friends (and enemies) is never boring. But there's oh-so-much more to know about these beautiful and powerful teens. Below the streets of Manhattan, within the walls of the Repository, exists a wealth of revealing information about the vampire elite that dates back before the Mayflower. In a series of short stories, journal entries, and never-before-seen letters, New York Times bestselling author Melissa de la Cruz gives her hungry fans the keys to the Repository and an even more in-depth look into the secret world of the Blue Bloods. Won't you come inside?

Review:

This is not a stand alone novel.  It is an all inclusive review of the Blue Blood characters.  I have read the Blue Blood series, I was lost at times between the many families and many incarnations of family members.  This is an essential guide to the series.  Highly Recommend this book if you are a fan of THE BLUE BLOODS.

Blog-A-Licious Authors: Laurie Bellesheim

Blog-A-Licious Authors: Laurie Bellesheim

Beyond Words: Who wants a quick contest?

Beyond Words: Who wants a quick contest?:

'via Blog this'

given by the author for review

This is a wonderful story about compromise. Two sisters who don't play together until they learn the meaning of COMPROMISE. Sisters Jadyn and Genesis (I absolutely love these names) are home together on
a beautiful sunny day. They cannot find a way to play together. This is a true to life situation faced by all parents. This story is a quick and easy way to explain compromise to children. It should be read to
children by a parent or teacher.
Told in a beautiful manner. Wonderful illustrations. This book belongs in every daycare, preschool and kindergarten. I know some adults who may benefit from this story, as well! Very well written. 5 stars!

given by the author for review

I was immediately drawn to this book.  It is an emotionally dark and intense novel about coming of age, lies, betrayal, guilt, and hopefully acceptance.  The characters pull at your heartstrings.  The writing is so rich you feel as if you personally know these people.  Some you will love, some you will pity, and some you will abhor.  The main character is Stephanie Burke.  She is an incredible person.  She has a story that must be told.  Ms Forte Abate does a masterful job telling Stevie's tale.

     It was the summer of 1957.  Stevie and her sister Eleanor are spending the summer in Long Island with their Aunt Smyrna and Uncle Cal.  Smyrna is the sister of the girls mother, Libby.  They spend each summer in Long Island.   This summer is different.  Eleanor is 17 and Stevie 15.  The girls are growing up. No longer are they youngsters content with swimming in the water and running around the beach.  Eleanor, at 17, is on the verge of womanhood.  The unthinkable happens, tragedy strikes, lies and deceit become the norm.  Events occur that scar Stevie for life.  She feels a guilt that is not hers to carry.

     Salvation comes years later in the form of one young man named Ash waterman.  He loves Stevie not in spite of, but because of who she is.  A soul in need of help.  A woman seeking forgiveness and understanding for a crime that was not hers.  Today she would be in therapy to overcome her issues.   These events are occurring in the early 60's.  Therapy wasn't the 'thing to do' back then.   The ending of the book (no spoilers here) is left open enough that a possible sequel can be written.  I would love to see Stevie and Ash work through everything together.  I would love to see Stevie write the names and baptism dates of their children in the family Bible.

     A fantastic book.  No, it did not contain sex, drugs, vampires, werewolves, or demi gods.   (There was some rock and roll in the form of Elvis Presley. ) It was an emotional book about growing.

I give this book 5/5 stars and hope the author writes more.

Announcing our FIRST EVER beyond 5 gold stars review.

I know I have already posted this review, however, as a parent

 I think it deserves repeating.  I am constantly looking for books

 that will be appropriate for my 5th grade son.  Books that will

 hold his interest.  This is not an easy task. Even the books

 written about a certain young boy wizard are still sitting on the

 shelf, largely unread, because he couldn't get through them. 

 "Too long", he says.  "I can't read that long. I'll wait for the movie."  

I am blessed 

with a child who excels in math and science, but getting him

 interested in reading has proven to be quite a task. 

Secret DMS Files was not only a perfect book, it was able

to hold his interest through the end.  Imagine my surprise and 

joy when he stated "I hope there's another story".  Lucas has

taken the book to school to share with his fifth grade class- he 

was that impressed with this story.

The Secret DMS files is a book which should not be missed!  An amazing book written by a pair of amazing writers.  This book is primarily aimed towards 5 graders but everyone who loves a good mystery will love this story.   

I would like to extend a great big THANK YOU to authors Stephanie Robinson and Jessica Haight for giving my 10 year old son a copy of this book to share with his 5th grade class.  I read the book before giving it to him to bring to school (I absolutely LOVE children's books)  He will be writing his own review along with his class when they finish the book.  

Now to explain about a BEYOND 5 STAR REVIEW.  Given to a book that goes beyond the regular 5 star rating.  It excelled in every aspect.  The writing was incredible, the illustrations were perfect- they added to the story without becoming overwhelming.  The book captures the interest of the reader from the beginning and holds it until the very end.     I did not want this book to finish.  I felt a sense of loss when I turned the last page only to discover the book had ended.   Please, Please, Please write more adventures for the DMS club.   

One thing I must mention, visit the website that accompanies the book.  Fairday Morrow is the main character of the story.  If you visit the website, you will discover contests to win books and a weekly riddle to figure out.  Do you have what it takes to be a member of the DMS?

I do not what to delve too much into the book with my review, I don't want to spoil any surprises for readers.  The story was full of fun and suspense.  The friendship between the three DMS members is the kind of friendship that will last a lifetime.  Just do yourself a favor and READ THIS BOOK!!!

The first seven chapters of the book are available at the website.  A link has been provided above (just click on Fairday's name and you will transported into another world.

given by the author for review

description:   

What would you do?  Could you kill a killer?  Does the death of one appease the deaths of a hundred?  What if you had no choice?  Meet Sin, no, not that kind of sin, but Sin, crazy as a loon and proud of it.  He has a problem...Flip and catch...

MY REVIEW

I've never been a fan of books written in the first person.  I like to know what everyone is thinking, not just the main character.  This book could not have been written any other way but in the first person.  I did not like the character of Sin much at the beginning of the story.  Slowly, over the course of many pages, I found myself sympathizing with him.  

Several people have compared Shaun Allan to Alfred Hitchcock.  I agree 100%.  This is a psychological roller coaster ride that would have made Mr. Hitchcock proud.  I can almost hear Rod Serling's voice "Sin Matthews, another traveller through The Twilight Zone."

Shaun Allan is a masterful storyteller.  His words captivated and entranced me throughout the book.  I look for more from this author.

received from NetGalley for review

publication date October 11, 2011

by Delacorte Books for Young Readers.

(from Goodreads)

These days the lives of middle schoolers seems to take place as much online as off. In this male counterpart of her Gossip from the Girls' Room, Rose Cooper takes us inside the blogosphere as preteen boys and girls find their way in a place where shared secrets and posted rumors can change almost everything in just a click. Editor's recommendation.

MY REVIEW

I read this book without any preconceived ideas.  I have not read Ms. Cooper's first book, Rumors from the Girls' Room or any of the Wimpy Kids books that are often compared with Ms. Cooper's books.  I have a young middle school child and can't get him away from the computer or blogs.  This book was fun.  I can't think of any other way to describe the Blogtastic Book.  I've seen the word 'bubbly' used to describe the first book and couldn't agree more.  I found myself laughing out loud at the crazy antics of the characters in this book.  The trials and tribulations of a middle schooler are perfectly explained in this book.  Poor Sofia and her friend Nona have the misfortune of not being in the 'popular' crowd.   I look forward to more books by this author. 

given by author for review

Driving to Bel-Air is a book full of wonderful characters. Real characters, people the reader can understand, sympathize with, feel anger towards and finally, accept. This book would make a great TV movie--hear that LIFETIME?

Dale left behind his dysfunctional family for a better life in , where else but New York City. After the death of his father, he returns to the family he left behind. His father requested the family bring his ashes to Bel Air.. Dale is slowly persuaded to take the journey. What a journey. I don't want to give away spoilers. The journey is a time of growth for everyone. Dad is probably watching from heaven saying 'about time'.

Read this book. It's a quick read and an enjoyable one.

received from the author for review

My Perfect Wedding by Sibel Hodge can be described as 'chick lit'. Remember that before you pick up this book. It is a great book for a beach day or a lazy day at home. The book is an easy, quick read. You can read it in an afternoon. I read it while sitting outside my son's school waiting for him to get out.

On the way to her wedding, Helen Grey ends up in jail. Yes jail.. What a way to start a marriage! This book will have you laughing out loud. Think Lucy and Ethel...I still get a kick out of them.. Timeless humor. Sibel Hodge has mastered this kind of humor. Most of Helen's problems are of her own making. She perpetually has her foot in her mouth.

Unfortunately, I read this book without reading 14 DAYS. The first book in the series. I have since purchased it and will reread Helen's story after reading book one.

Helen and Kalem are great characters. Reading this book has made me wish for a vacation in Cyprus. Ms. Hodge did a great job describing the place, now I would like to see it for myself...someday. 

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