Break My Heart a Thousand Times and Sweet Treats & Secret Crushes

Hello fellow readers-

This month I am working on two books. Break My Heart 1,000 Times by Daniel Waters and "Sweet Treats and Secret Crushes" by Greenwald. More to come as I finish up reading.

My September Update

Ahhh! Back to school...is here. I truly miss the sound of middle school feet and energetic voices. With that said, I have been diving into a few reads at once that are geared towards Middle School gals.

 I try not to double dip, but sometimes it happens.

The fun fiction I am working on is pictured within this post, and perhaps you will be able to finish off these books before me!

 Prada and Prejudice is about a not so cool chick that goes back in time with a pair of Prada shoes she picks up on a trip to Rome. Coffeehouse Angel is an easy read about a young girl struggling to help her grandma save their family owned coffeeshop. With the help of a guardian angel, Katrina hopes to save the day and keep her friendships in tact. Keep your eyes open for updates as I finish off these books.

Both great reads for older middle school gals!

The Pregnancy Project by Gaby Rodriguez with Jenny Glatzer

I came across this book in both my search for books that are Lifetime Movies, and a box of donations at work. I have not had the chance to watch the televised version of this story, but the book drew me in simply with its title and idea.
Gaby Rodriguez is a high school teen in the state of Washington who can easily become a statistic. Her family has a history and lineage of teen moms. Her own mother had her first child at the young age of fifteen. All her life, Gaby has been told that she too would become a young parent despite her scholarly reputation and the high goals she has already set for herself. She decides to test out the waters by putting herself in the shoes of what it feels like to truly be a teen mom. Will the rumors around campus spread quickly and become unbearable? What friends and family members will truly stick by her? Even though she is a honor student, will a pregnancy tarnish her reputation and her future? What exactly causes a teen father to bail on his girlfriend when she is pregnant other than the normal fear and anxiety patterns?As a senior project, she creates a fake "belly" and pretends that she is pregnant. She learns firsthand the severity of all this pressure. This book is the story of her journey.

I thought this book was a great eye opener to any woman, especially teens who can relate to this issue; either by becoming a teen mom themselves, have friends that are; or are pressured by the realities of sex. Gaby takes us on a journey of what it is like emotionally, spiritually, and has researched a bit of the physical side of pregnancy as well. Although some of the book comes across as "preachy" it is a powerful story that is sure to leave an impact on teen readers.

Where I Belong by Gwendolyn Heasley

Corrinne is a true to life New Yorker who enjoys spending time shopping at Barney's and attending social events with her best friend Waverly. Any GossipGirl fan will surely enjoy the beginning of the book and Corrinne's obsession with New York. All that changes when her father is hit hard by the recession and she needs to become a recessionista quickly by moving to the town of Broken Spoke with her grandparents.
At first, I thought this read would be a run of the mill Prada to Nada story, but I was mistaken. Corrinne manages to create a new life in Broken Spoke, Texas while still remaining the spunky girl from New York that we met at the beginning of the book. With the help of friends like Kitsy and Bubby, Corrinne finds new ways of coping and "going with the flow." Her new love interest Rider keeps things interesting and helps Corinne forget about moping around at home watching GossipGirl reruns and gets her out into the Texas social world of rodeos and football games. She manages to keep it together even when her New York life ( and her NY bestie Waverly) comes to town to challenge her true self.
A great summer read that helps you make the best of things even when the chips are down.

Liars and Fools by Robin Stevenson

The cover art for this book drew me in and at first I thought it was a beach read; I was surpisingly mistaken. This book entails love, loss, and growing up.
Fiona loses her mother suddenly after a fatal accident during a sailing trip. The details of her loss are not all there, and the young teen struggles to put the pieces together. Her mom was always one to sail alone and didn't believe in having a GPS on the beloved sailboat, " Eliza J." Much to her dismay, Fiona's father decides to sell the boat and also begins dating a new woman who happens to be a psychic. Fiona doesn't believe in this and sets out to prove she is a phony by testing her clairvoyant powers through a school science experiment. This book is touching, yet funny and will teach you a few things about sailing. Even if you do not believe in the power of the psychics, you will enjoy the touching story of how a young girl begins to heal after a tragic loss while also letting go of her personal past. 

My July update of books

Hello fellow readers!

I have been trying to catch up on my reading, but working extra hours this summer seems to take over a lot of my time. Recently I did a search for books that are Lifetime Movies, and have also been peeking around teenreads.com... You may want to do the same. Enjoy!

Something Borrowed by Emily Giffin

Now that I have read this book, I am dying to watch the movie. It has been released on DVD for some time now, but I haven't had the chance to get my paws on it. Anyhow, here's the review.

Rachel has always played second fiddle to Darcy, her childhood friend who always gets everything that she wants. Rachel introduces her to Dex, her hot college friend from Duke who is smart and handsome. A true college hottie! Darcy and Dex eventually get engaged and Rachel is the maid of honor. One night twists everything around when Rachel and Dex "hook-up" and discover that they have always had feelings for one another. Will Rachel continue the affair, or was it just a one time thing?Is Rachel tired of playing the good girl, or will she take a chance and risk the chance of losing a best friend.  Without giving too much away... this is story of betrayal, love, friendship, and best friend rivalry at its finest! It is a must read!
** Please note, to my fellow teens... this is a book intended for adults, but may be a great read for older high school gals and definitely college teens.

If I Stay by Gayle Forman

Mia, a talented cellist has her life turned upside down when she is involved in a near fatal accident. Readers get to be a part of her view as she tries to survive a horrific coma. Her boyfriend Adam, visits her daily and Mia gives the audience a sense of her feelings and thoughts as she tries to decide whether to stay or go. This book will have you on edge and in near tears.

Click Here by Denise Vega

Erin Swift is a sweet computer geek who has a lot on her mind. She attends a new school where she has to adjust to life and learn some valuable things about friendship. She uses a personal blog to "vent" out her new problems and thoughts, while also working on an intranet website for school. Soon, the two websites accidentally get mixed and she has a whole other set of problems to solve and overcome. A great read for anyone who has had struggles with friendship, fitting in, and tech stuff!

L.A Candy

Jane Roberts has a truly sweet life: a great job, life in Hollywood, access to the hottest clubs, great friends and a spot on a new reality show LA Candy. The reader soon learns though that reality TV is not all it "appears" to be and Jane learns that her own reality is subject to editing when she gets caught up in a love triangle.
This book written by reality starlet, Lauren Conrad is a hit! As a fan of Conrad, I think she did a great job of giving us a fictional portrayal of what happens "behind the scenes." It's no wonder why Wikipedia quotes that some of the book is based on Conrad's real life. Fans of The Hills will love the little secrets she shares from the perspective of a reality TV star. I'm still working on the third book in the series, and I must say I'm hooked!

Betrayal by Danielle Steele

Popular author Danielle Steele brings to life an intruiging tale on betrayal, loss, and starting over again with her new bestseller, Betrayal.Tallie, a Hollywood director, finds out through her accountant that someone has been stealing large amounts of money from her personal account. Is it her best friend and assistant Brigitte? Is it her boyfriend and producing partner Hunter Lloyd? Or is it the accountant himself? As the story unfolds, Tallie comes to grips with reality, a family death, and a lesson on who to trust.

Although, this might be a bit much for a younger teen... older teens will enjoy the suspense and surprises told. I have never read Steele before and I really enjoyed this book!

In the Cards by Mariah Fredericks

Fredericks is my new favorite author! I must admit the theme of fortune-telling really drew me in, but there is so much more to this story than that!

Anna inherits a deck of Tarot cards and a cat named Mouli from a neighbor who has recently passed away. Although she is unfamiliar with how to use the cards, she decided to create a spread with her two best friends Eve and Sydney to determine her fate. With the high hopes of landing the boy of her dreams, winning against the uber-cool crowd, and still maintaining who she is... Anna learns a few lessons on love, friendship,and fate.