Review: The Choice

Title: The Choice
Author: Nicholas Sparks
Pages: 272
Rating: 4/5

Travis Parker has everything a man could want: a good job, loyal friends, even a waterfront home in small-town North Carolina. In full pursuit of the good life -- boating, swimming, and regular barbecues with his good-natured buddies -- he holds the vague conviction that a serious relationship with a woman would only cramp his style. That is, until Gabby Holland moves in next door. Despite his attempts to be neighborly, the appealing redhead seems to have a chip on her shoulder about him...and the presence of her longtime boyfriend doesn't help. Despite himself, Travis can't stop trying to ingratiate himself with his new neighbor, and his persistent efforts lead them both to the doorstep of a journey that neither could have foreseen. Spanning the eventful years of young love, marriage and family, The Choice ultimately confronts us with the most heartwrenching question of all: how far would you go to keep the hope of love alive (nicholassparks.com)?

I'm obviously on a Nicholas Sparks kick this weekend. I started this one this morning and finished it around mid afternoon, in between making lunch and cleaning the whole house.

I really enjoyed The Choice. The main characters Travis and Gabby are easy people to like and I found myself rooting for them to fall in love and make the right decisions. One of the best parts of this book is the direction that Sparks takes with it. While you are thinking one thing is happening, it so happens that something completely different is going on. It was a real jaw dropper and at that point I couldn't turn the pages fast enough.

One of the greatest things about Sparks books are the deep, intimate and romantic connections between the main characters. Sparks manages to write books that have such a strong love story in the central, that the reader can't help but feel the same emotions as the characters involved. I guess in a way, you could say his books are a bit "cheesy" but its the kind of "cheesy" that I often find impossible to put down.

Being married, I really could understand the struggles that Travis and Gabby faced. It really helped make the story even more real, and again I found myself closing the book with tears in my eyes. I think Nicholas Sparks's wife is probably one of the luckiest woman on the planet, especially if he is anything like his characters.

I have a few more Sparks books from his back list that I've yet to read. Since they seem to be holding my interest right now I might just give them a try.

Review: Ice

Title: Ice
Author: Sarah Beth Durst
Pages: 308
Rating: 4/5

When Cassie was a little girl, her grandmother told her a fairy tale about her mother, who made a deal with the Polar Bear King and was swept away to the ends of the earth. Now that Cassie is older, she knows the story was a nice way of saying her mother had died. Cassie lives with her father at an Arctic research station, is determined to become a scientist, and has no time for make-believe.

Then, on her eighteenth birthday, Cassie comes face-to-face with a polar bear who speaks to her. He tells her that her mother is alive, imprisoned at the ends of the earth. And he can bring her back -- if Cassie will agree to be his bride.

That is the beginning of Cassie's own real-life fairy tale, one that sends her on an unbelievable journey across the brutal Arctic, through the Canadian boreal forest, and on the back of the North Wind to the land east of the sun and west of the moon. Before it is over, the world she knows will be swept away, and everything she holds dear will be taken from her -- until she discovers the true meaning of love and family in the magical realm of Ice (sarahbethdurst.com).

I was extremely hesitant about reading this novel for two reasons: one, I absolutely, positively, one hundred and ten percent HATED the cover, anbd two, I don't read a lot of fantasy like this (I read paranormal, but talking trees and unknown creatures...not really my thing). However, despite my initial thoughts, I really enjoyed this book.

Cassie was an extremely strong female lead. She overcame emotional and physicial struggles throughout the whole story, and showed the true strength of love. Cassie sacrificed so much to save her husband and then again when she lost Bear.

Reading this novel opened up several new genres for me. I'll definitely be more apt to choose something outside of the box and give it a chance next time because of how much I found myself liking this book. Also, I should probably learn to not judge a book by its cover so much, but that seems to be a trap I always fall in. I just don't like ugly covers!!

So whether you are a fan of fantasy or not, I really think you should give Ice a try. It's a fast paced adventure that will keeping you turning the pages into the night.

Review: Boys, Girls, and Other Hazardous Materials

Title: Boys, Girls and Other Hazardous Materials
Author: Rosalind Wiseman
Pages: 288
Rating: 4/5

Charlie Healey thinks Harmony Falls is the beginning of a whole new life. Middle School was brutal. Mean girls were all around her. But High School’s going to be Charlie’s big chance to start over and stay out of drama, except that on her first day who does she run into? None other than Will, her ex-best friend, who had moved away. Now he’s back, looking a lot cuter and hanging out with a questionable crew. But Charlie doesn’t understand just how questionable until an innocent delivery guy falls victim to a near-deadly hazing prank.

All Charlie wanted to do was have a drama-free freshman year, but now she must decide whether to turn in her very best friend, who just told her he loves her, or live with the guilt of knowing what he did.

Rosalind Wiseman’s first novel for young adults is a fresh, funny, and juicy read about friendship, betrayal, and how far some will go to be accepted (rosalindwiseman.com).

I loved this book!! I thought it was funny, and heartwarming, and really sweet all at the same time. The main character, Charlie, is adorable and I love her personality.

Hoping to run away from the nasty girls at her former school, Charlie is accepted to Harmony Falls, the neighboring school district. Charlie quickly becomes friends with Syndey who is beautiful, down to earth, and real. However, things become turned upside down when Charlies best friend, Will returns. Will finds himself messed up with the popular crowd, and gives into peer pressure just to be "cool."

I guess one of my favorite parts of this book were the fact that it was "real." It wasn't that long ago that I walked the halls of my high school, and dealt with the peer pressure, bullies, and the so called mean girls. I understood what Charlie was seeing and what she was feeling. High School can be hard, and Wiseman definitely doesn't sugar coat it.

This book has received a lot of mixed reviews, but I think you should give it a try and see for yourself!

Review: Snap

Title: Snap
Author: Carol Snow
Pages: 224
Rating: 2.5/5

Madison Sabatini thought she knew who she was: an almost-sophomore with a bright future. The newest photographer on her school paper. A shopaholic with great hair and a fabulous wardrobe. Then, in a flash, everything changed.

Now she's stuck in Sandyland, a gloomy beach town in the middle of nowhere, living with her parents in a crappy hotel "suite." Instead of spending the summer with her friends at home, she's hanging out with pink-haired Delilah, an artist who works in a shop called Psychic Photo, and a skater boy named Duncan who's totally not her type. Except, maybe he is . . .

Determined to make the best of things, Madison throws herself into her one passion: photography. But when strange figures start appearing in her pictures—people who weren't there when she snapped the shots, people who are later reported dead—she begins to question everything about who she is . . . and who she wishes she could be (harperteen.com).

It's been over two weeks since I finished this book, and my mind is a bit fuzzy on the details. One thing I know for sure though...this book was boring! I loved the premise and thought it would be spooky and creepy and have some big plot twist. Not so much...instead I found it to be rather hokey and slow and childish.

I know this is a young adult book, but to me it seemed more like a book written for middle schoolers. The writing style and character developement seemed very elementary for me. I certainly wasn't grabbed by the book like I was by the description.

Also, I found the main character Madison to be spoiled, whiney and annoying as all get out. She acted so privileged and thought it was the end of the world when she found out she couldn't have the best clothes, the most money and the super vacations. I thought it was shallow and gave people a skewed perception of what life is really like.

If you absolutely want to read this one, I'd find it at the library...I certainly wouldn't spend the money on buying it!!

2010 Goals

Well it's that time of year again. Time to start fresh, and make some new reading goals. I reviewed my reading goals from that I made last year and I've accomplished two of the five (or six...now I can't remember). I did read books off of my TBR pile, and I did review every book I read this year. So some of my goals will stay the same this year, and some will be tweaked to better suit my needs :)

1. STOP BUYING BOOKS. This one is really important. I have a TON of books that I already own, and I need to read them and enjoy them before I buy more. Also, I need to utilize my local library more (something I've been really super good about this past month!). Since we're still working on having a baby, we need to start saving, not spending...lol.

2. BLOG MORE OFTEN. Sadly, my average number of blogs per month is only about six. I started out really good last year and had one month with 17 posts, but as life got busy, I got distracted. We all know how that goes.

3. READ MORE BOOKS. In 2008, I read 24 books. In 2009, I almost doubled that and read 45 books. This year I'd like to read 100. If I watch less TV (something I really need to do anyway), and utilize my hour lunch, I'm pretty sure I could easily accomplish this goal.

4. TRY NEW GENRES. I tend to stick to the basics that I know I'll like, but sometimes I feel like I'm really missing out on some awesome reads because they just don't seem like my type (you'd think I'd learn...I said the same thing about my husband six years ago and that worked out quite well...hehehe).

5. FINISH SOME SERIES. This was a goal last year also. I think I may have finished one or two, and started about six or seven. Definitely something I need to work on.

6. COMMENT MORE! I would really like to see more traffic on my own blog, but in order to do that I need to let people know it's out there. So I need to stop lurking and start commenting. This will probably be the hardest thing for me to do. I'm a pretty shy person, so even saying hi over a blog comment can give me sweaty palms!!

and finally...

7. MAKE MY BLOG MORE INTERACTIVE. I'd love to do some type of discussion, maybe host a contest, or create my own challenge. I'd really love to do an author interview.

So on that note, I'm off to read. The house is clean, the hubby is fed, and we don't have to be anywhere for a few hours. Enjoy your New Year's and good luck with all of YOUR goals!!