What are you reading (11)?

It's Monday! What are you reading this week? is a weekly event now hosted by One Persons Journey Through a World Of Books. It's helpful way to take a look at what you have read and what you want to read!

It's been two weeks since my last what are you reading post and in those two weeks I read...nothing. The week before last, I was struck with a horrible spring cold mixed with allergies that knocked me out of the running for a few days. I managed to only miss one day of work, but on the days I did go, I literally put in my eight hours and then came home and went to bed. The words on books just swam on the page and made my head hurt.

Then this past week, I had a little mini vacation. I worked Monday and Tuesday and then on Wednesday went to Holmes County where the Amish live with my mom and brother. We had a wonderful time! My brother is in seminary studying to be a Catholic priest and we don't see him nearly enough so it was so nice to spend some time together. Here's a really fun picture of him. He's the one on the motorcycle!

Thursday was Hubby and I's four year wedding anniversary. I can't believe it's been four years!! We had both taken the day off work and spent the day sitting outside, watching movies, and just hanging out with each other. There never seems to be enough time for that so it made for a great anniversary and a wonderful day.

I do have two books started and hope to finish them up this week along with a few others. It's supposed to be beautiful all week so it should mean plenty of time to sit outside, enjoy the sunshine and read some good books. Here's what is on the agenda:

1. The Help - Kathryn Stockett: I'm a little over fifty pages into this book and really enjoying it. I can see now why it has been so well received.
2. My Fair Lazy - Jen Lancaster: I love this author and this book is just as funny as her previous memoirs. I'm hoping to finish this one up in the next day or two.
3. The Boy Who Loved Anne Frank - Ellen Feldman: This one has been sitting on my shelf for years now, and it sounds really good. I'm excited because it's different from the books I've been reading lately.
4. Daughters of the Witching Hill - Mary Sharratt: I picked this one up on a whim last time I was at Borders because I loved the description and the summary sounds amazing. It almost reminds me of the tone of The Physick Book of Deliverance Dane.
5. Water for Elephants - Sara Gruen: I've read this one twice already, but always find it to be an enjoyable read in the spring. I'm looking forward to reading it once again.

So that's my week. What do you have planned?

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!!

What are you reading (10)?

It's Monday! What are you reading this week? is a weekly event now hosted by One Persons Journey Through a World Of Books. It's helpful way to take a look at what you have read and what you want to read!

What a stressful week! We did have really beautiful weather most of the week, even though it was absolutely freezing all weekend. Plus we had high wind warnings, which made driving quite a hassle.

I worked late most of the week, and didn't get to enjoy much time outside. I also had three doctors appointments (which meant three ultrasounds, and three blood draws!!). All these shots are certainly helping my fear of needles!

Even with being busy, I still read three books this week, and I'm half way through another.

1. North of Beautiful - Justina Chen Headley: What an amazing read!
2. Boys, Girls and Other Hazardous Materials - Rosalind Wiseman
3. Snap - Carol Snow

I'm working on finishing up the reviews.

This week I'm hoping to read:

1. Ice - Sarah Beth Durst: I'm actually almost finished with this one and really enjoying it.
2. All Unquiet Things - Anna Jarzab: repeat from last week
3. Ghost Girl - Tonya Hurley: repeat from last week
4. Bleeding Violet - Dia Reeves: I love the cover on this one. The purple is so pretty!!
5. Beautiful Creatures - Kami Garcia and Margaret Stohl: This is the second time I've checked this one out at the library and I'm determined to read it this time!
6. Girl in the Arena - Lise Haines: This one has gotten really mixed reviews. I'm going to give it a try but if I'm not feeling it, I'm not going to keep going. Too many other books to read!!

That's my week in books. How bout yours?

Giveaway Winners!!

Using a random number generator, I pulled the winners of the Perfect Chemistry/Rules of Attraction giveaway today.

The winners are:

JAN VON HARZ

and

ZIA

I'll be emailing you both for your mailing addresses. You'll each be receiving a brand new copy of Perfect Chemistry and Rules of Attraction!! ENJOY!!

Review: North of Beautiful

Title: North of Beautiful
Author: Justina Chen Headley
Pages: 373
Rating: 5/5

As he continued to stare, I wanted to point to my cheek and remind him, But you were the one who wanted this, remember? You're the one who asked-and I repeat-Why not fix your face?

It's hard not to notice Terra Cooper.

She's tall, blond, and has an enviable body. But with one turn of her cheek, all people notice is her unmistakably "flawed" face. Terra secretly plans to leave her stifling small town in the Northwest and escape to an East Coast college, but gets pushed off-course by her controlling father. When an unexpected collision puts Terra directly in Jacob's path, the handsome but quirky Goth boy immediately challenges her assumptions about herself and her life, and she is forced in yet another direction. With her carefully laid plans disrupted, will Terra be able to find her true path?

Written in lively, artful prose, award-winning author Justina Chen Headley has woven together a powerful novel about a fractured family, falling in love, travel, and the meaning of true beauty (cover blurb).

This is probably one of the most powerful books I have read in a long time. This book was written so beautifully and had such a strong message, I couldn't put it down.

Terra has lived her whole life trying to escape her father, while hiding her port wine stain and remaining almost invisible. In a defiant gesture against her father, Terra decides to try to newest treatment to remove her birthmark, sending her and her mother on a trip to Seattle. It is on their way home that Terra meets Jacob, an Asian goth boy with demons of his own. It is here that the story gets really good.

Jacob brings out Terra's true beauty and sees her for who she really is, not just the girl with the horrible birthmark. Throughout the story, we get to see Terra open up and come into her own with the guidance of Jacob.

Jacob is amazing. I fell in love with him right away and wanted to fall into the story myself and sweep him away. He's probably one of the most "real" characters I've read in a long time. Same for Terra. Together they were breath taking.

I highly recommend this read. It starts off a bit slow, but don't give up on it. It truly is an unbelievable journey!