22 February 2009

Review-Tantalize by Cynthia L. Smith

tantalize Pictures, Images and Photos
Quincie was orphaned at 13 and moved in with her Uncle Davidson. Now 17, she manages her family's restaurant, Sanguini's, and is in love with her hybrid werewolf best friend, Kieren. Quincie and her uncle are remodeling Sanguini's with a vampire theme. All is going well until the unexpected murder of Vaggio, a long time family friend and head chef at Sanguini's. Now Quincie has to deal with the death of her friend, losing the restaurant's head chef, trying to find his replacement and helping him/her act like a vampire, creating a new menu, the possibility of Kieren leaving for good, not to mention school and about 20 other things all before the restaurant's opening, less than a month away.
The police suspect a werewolf killed Vaggio, but Kieren suspects a vampire. So who is right, the police or Kieren? He was the one to discover the body and werewolves can lose control. But Kieren isn’t capable of that… is he? He thinks it could be Ruby, Davidson’s girlfriend, a vampire wannabe. Maybe she isn’t just a wannabe. Will Quincie be able to find out the truth and save her family’s legacy? Or will she believe the wrong person and lose everything and everyone she loves?





I give this book PhotobucketPhotobucketPhotobucketPhotobucket This is one of those books where everything in it has it's unique elements. I would definitely recommend this book, but for some reason I don't know, a lot of people didn't like it. Some reviewers on Amazon.com said things like, "The first half is okay but it loses your interest in the second", "The characters are 2D" and "Predictable plot, not worth your money... read in the bookstore". I didn't think the plot was predictable. Then again I never try to figure out what happens in books. When I read all I think about is what I'm reading then not what's going to happen. Anyways I loved it and I would recommend it. Obviously I can't tell you you'd love it or hate it, but I think you should give it a shot.

20 February 2009

I won an award

Apparently my blog is fabulous, who knew? :)


See I even have that nifty little pic to prove it.


I received the Your Blog Is Fabulous Award from Rory at Bookworm Extraordinaire! ( http://bookwormextraordinaire.blogspot.com/ )

I love her blog and you guys should check it out.
So, now it's time to make someone else's blog as fabulous as ours!

Rules are: Write 5 things you’re addicted to and then nominate 5 other blogs to pass this award on to!

5 Things I'm Addicted to:

1) Books- Obviously. Would I have a website dedicated to reviewing books unless I loved books? Umm… don’t think so.

2) Music-If it isn’t country , rap or bluegrass chances are I’ll like it.

3) My phone- You would be too if you lived where I did. I mean my closest friend is like 45 minutes away!

4) Internet-Once again you would be too if you lived where I did. I wouldn’t be able to buy books if it wasn’t for the internet. The closest book store is 30 minutes away.

5) Chocolate, fat, carbs, sugar you know anything that makes you gain weight. I love it! If I didn’t eat that stuff I wouldn’t have an excuse to exercise!

5 Blogs I Nominate For This Award:

The Chick Manifesto http://thechickmanifesto.blogspot.com/

Ashley’s Bookshelf http://ashley-thecompulsivereader.blogspot.com/

Lauren’s Crammed Bookshelf http://laurenscrammedbookshelf.blogspot.com/

Presenting Lenore http://presentinglenore.blogspot.com/

The Book Gobbler http://thebookgobbler.blogspot.com/





19 February 2009

Review-Undone by Brooke Taylor *****

When an 8th grade science experiment goes wrong and soaks Serena Moore's shirt with blue dye she goes to bathroom to clean up and runs into none other than the "dark angel" of the 8th grade, Kori Kitlzer. Kori tells Serena that they are more alike than Serena think and thus begins their friendship. Serena tries to be more like Kori, fearless, outspoken, and ambitious. Soon Serena doesn't know when where she begins and Kori ends, but after Kori is in a terrible accident Serena has to find a way to complete her best friend's life left undone.

In Social Psychology Dr. Ramsey gives an assignment to temp fate. The students are told to write five things that they would never dream could happen to them. Kori's are :
"1. Sing with Bleeder Valve.
2. Get a tattoo.
3. Work things out with Shay.
4. Confront D.
5. Tell Serena"

After Kori's accident Serena decides to finish Kori's list for her. Soon Serena finds out that her best friend kept many secrets. Who's Shay? What happened between him and Kori? Who's D? And what she need to confront him or her about? What did she have to tell Serena? Will Serena ever find out? Or will her best friend remain a mystery?


This book is amazing. They way the author writes, whether its the characters or something happening, it, I don't know, seems more real than other books I've read. Maybe its just me, but when I was reading Undone, it was like I wasn't just reading about Kori and Serena. It was like I was living their lives with them. Feeling their emotions with them. That's the best way I can explain it. I definitely recommend this book to anyone. One of the very few I gave 5 stars to.

18 February 2009

Review - Flipped by Wendelin van Draanen ****

Flipped Pictures, Images and PhotosThe first time she saw him, she flipped. The first time he saw her, he ran. That was the second grade, but not much has changed by the seventh. She says: “My Bryce. Still walking around with my first kiss.” He says: “It’s been six years of strategic avoidance and social discomfort.” But in the eighth grade everything gets turned upside down. And just as he’s thinking there’s more to her than meets the eye, she’s thinking that he’s not quite all he seemed.

I first read this book in middle school and hated it. It wasn't because I thought it was badly written or anything it was just that I didn't enjoy reading it. See at my elementary and middle schools we had to read so many books a month, semester, year, the deadlines and we different for every teacher. Most of the time we didn't get to choose the book we read and we could only read so many pages or chapter a day. Once again it depended on the teacher. We were tested everyday or week and what we were supposed to read and they'd have trick questions to see if we read ahead. Reading like that wasn't enjoyable for me and it ruined so many great books, Flipped being one of them. When I started home schooling my dad said, "I don't care what you read or when you finish it or how much you read a day. Just read. I want you to see that reading is fun not something you should be graded on." As long as a read something everyday, whether it be comic books, magazines, newspapers whatever, I'd get an A for the day. Dad's plan worked. I realized that reading was fun and then started reading so much I finished books in a day. I read so much I didn't do my other work so then I was only allowed to read after I finished my other work lol.
I don't know why but one day this book just came to me and I was like "Huh, maybe I should re-read it". So I bought a copy and read it again and loved it. Anyways I believe I'm supposed to be reviewing...

I LOVE this book. It really shows you how although something might be obvious to you, it might not be obvious to someone else. And that anything and everything could be misunderstood. And that the phrase " 'Assume' make and an ass out of you and me" is very true.
It all started when Juli tries to help Bryce and his dad move boxes and they just see her as an annoyance. Then there's the sycamore tree, the chickens, and don't even get my started on the eggs. This definitely isn't the kind of book that had potential and the author ruined it, its a book that had potential and the author exceeded it. If I decided to write everything I love about this book on this post I'd just be writing the book. If I keep going I'll start repeating myself and you already know I think it's great so why don't you pick up and copy and see for yourself.
Thanks to help from Bookworm Extraordinaire I'm going to use pics for my rating system. She uses hearts the Story Siren uses stars, I haven't figured out what I'm going to do but I'll think of something nifty. Until then
Flipped gets 4 **** stars.

See you next time.


Comments? Suggestions? Complaints? Requests? Then tell me otherwise I can't do much about it.

Peace
Love
and Books,
Amelia