Jo Jo Moyes' book "Me Before You"

Book Description:

They had nothing in common until love gave them everything to lose . . .

Louisa Clark is an ordinary girl living an exceedingly ordinary life—steady boyfriend, close family—who has barely been farther afield than their tiny village. She takes a badly needed job working for ex–Master of the Universe Will Traynor, who is wheelchair bound after an accident. Will has always lived a huge life—big deals, extreme sports, worldwide travel—and now he’s pretty sure he cannot live the way he is.

Will is acerbic, moody, bossy—but Lou refuses to treat him with kid gloves, and soon his happiness means more to her than she expected. When she learns that Will has shocking plans of his own, she sets out to show him that life is still worth living.

A Love Story for this generation, Me Before You brings to life two people who couldn’t have less in common—a heartbreakingly romantic novel that asks, What do you do when making the person you love happy also means breaking your own heart?


As I sat reading this book last night, I was thinking to myself.. this is an awesome book. I couldn't put it down! Twenty-six year old Lou loses her job at a cafe after six years. She's kind of at loose ends, doesn't know what to do with herself. She lives with her parents and grandpa in England, and everyone just barely scraping by. She is offered a job as a companion to a man who was hit by a motorcycle and is now a quadriplegic. Lou is a pretty upbeat, cheery, chatty type of person and Will's mother thinks she will help Will to perk him up. After leading a very active lifestyle, the accident has left him with no will to live. Lou starts getting him out and about, outside for picnics and traveling to music venues and such.

Venting after this.







OMG the end of this book ticked me off so bad.. Actually, I have to admit, I couldn't handle the suspense so when I was halfway through the book, I flipped to the back. UGH!!!!!!!!!!!! I quit reading it and refuse to pick it back up

Nora Roberts' new Cousin's O'Dwyer trilogy put a spell on me....

Book Description:

With indifferent parents, Iona Sheehan grew up craving devotion and acceptance. From her maternal grandmother, she learned where to find both: a land of lush forests, dazzling lakes, and centuries-old legends.
Ireland.
County Mayo, to be exact. Where her ancestors’ blood and magic have flowed through generations—and where her destiny awaits.
Iona arrives in Ireland with nothing but her Nan’s directions, an unfailingly optimistic attitude, and an innate talent with horses. Not far from the luxurious castle where she is spending a week, she finds her cousins, Branna and Connor O’Dwyer. And since family is family, they invite her into their home and their lives.
When Iona lands a job at the local stables, she meets the owner, Boyle McGrath. Cowboy, pirate, wild tribal horsemen, he’s three of her biggest fantasy weaknesses all in one big, bold package.
Iona realizes that here she can make a home for herself—and live her life as she wants, even if that means falling head over heels for Boyle. But nothing is as it seems. An ancient evil has wound its way around Iona’s family tree and must be defeated. Family and friends will fight with each other and for each other to keep the promise of hope—and love—alive…

We start this book with Sorcha and her three children. Sorcha is the Dark Witch, helping to take care of her people and her friends with spells and magic. She is a good witch, of course. Her husband is off to war, as he usually is, and she misses him something fierce. But Sorcha is ill and getting weaker by the day.  An old evil haunts her, wanting her power, willing to kill to get it. Sorcha uses everything she has to give her power to her children, to make them run, so they will be safe. She knows she cannot defeat the evil witch, but centuries in the future, her descendants will find each other and find a way to rid the world of him.

I love how, in several of Ms Roberts' last books, the male character has been gruff and a jerk, to a point. The female character just shoos it off and does as she likes to get her man. It's pretty hilarious.

I have heard lately that people think Ms Roberts' trilogies are getting old. That the Inn Innsboro was nothing but a publicity stunt to advertise her Inn in Maryland (which I think sounds fabulous!) Who cares?! It was a great setting for a book!  

I absolutely adored this book. Magic and Horses and Ireland. Nothing can go wrong here! Iona is a quirky, horse girl and Boyle is a grumpy horseman. It fits!! I almost didn't care about characterization and plot and all that. I loved this book and thats that!

House of Hades, another Amazing Rick Riordan book!

Time passes slowly in the year between Rick Riordan's books. Fangirls and boys everywhere flock to them when they are released.. and old as I am.. I feel the same way. I preordered it the week before it was released and was antsy and annoyed when it came a whole day late! But, as always, it was worth the wait.

At the conclusion of The Mark of Athena, Annabeth and Percy tumble into a pit leading straight to the Underworld. The other five demigods have to put aside their grief and follow Percy''s instructions to find the mortal side of the Doors of Death. If they can fight their way through the Gaea''s forces, and Percy and Annabeth can survive the House of Hades, then the Seven will be able to seal the Doors both sides and prevent the giants from raising Gaea. But, Leo wonders, if the Doors are sealed, how will Percy and Annabeth be able to escape? They have no choice. If the demigods don''t succeed, Gaea''s armies will never die. They have no time. In about a month, the Romans will march on Camp Half-Blood. The stakes are higher than ever in this adventure that dives into the depths of Tartarus.

Annabeth and Percy are in Tartarus, looking for the Doors of Death. The Doors have to be closed on both sides at the same time. Jason, Nico, and the rest of the gang are in the real world, fighting for every breath they take to reach the House of Hades and get to the Doors of Death. As in each book, there are alot of mini-quests in the BIG quest. Hazel is led off to meet with Hecate, who while at one time was against the demigods, has supposedly chosen to side with them to stop Gaea.  Leo is flung from his boat to Calypso's island. In Italy, little dwarves cause a huge ruckus. Hazel must learn to use the Mist if they have any hope to defeat Gaea. 

Thats just a piece of it. Just WAIT til Jason and Nico meet up with Cupid. 

Non-stop Action made for an excellent read. I was disappointed in the House of Hades. It was supposed to be this big labyrinth but it ended up being a major dud. Otherwise, I really liked this book and am agonizing over the year wait for another!

Waterfell by Amalie Howard.. new YA title

***Thank you, NetGalley, for allowing me to read this book***

THE GIRL WHO WOULD BE QUEEN 

Nerissa Marin hides among teens in her human form, waiting for the day she can claim her birthright-the undersea kingdom stolen from her the day her father was murdered. Blending in is her best weapon-until her father's betrayer confronts Nerissa and challenges her to a battle to the death on Nerissa's upcoming birthday-the day she comes of age. 

Amid danger and the heartbreak of her missing mother, falling for a human boy is the last thing Nerissa should do. But Lo Seavon breaches her defenses and somehow becomes the only person she can count on to help her desperate search for her mother, a prisoner of Nerissa's mortal enemy. Is Lo the linchpin that might win Nerissa back her crown? Or will this mortal boy become the weakness that destroys her?

Rissa's father is dead and the High Court is being overrun. Rissa lives on land trying to fit in with humans and block out thoughts of home at Waterfell. She knows she can never go home, because if she does, she will die too. She immerses herself in field hockey, to use of her spare time so she doesn't think of home, and as she tries to fit in.

I've really enjoyed this book ! Rissa sounds very much like the ultimate mean girl sometimes, and other times like she's reformed. I still haven't reformed my opinion. She goes to the ultimate of private schools and is protected by Handlers. 

Julie Kagawa's Iron Traitor.. friend or foe?

From the author's website:

IN THE REAL WORLD, WHEN YOU VANISH INTO THIN AIR FOR A WEEK, PEOPLE TEND TO NOTICE.

After his unexpected journey into the lands of the fey, Ethan Chase just wants to get back to normal. Well, as "normal" as you can be when you see faeries every day of your life. Suddenly the former loner with the bad reputation has someone to try for-his girlfriend, Kenzie. Never mind that he's forbidden to see her again.

But when your name is Ethan Chase and your sister is one of the most powerful faeries in the Nevernever, "normal" simply isn't to be. For Ethan's nephew, Keirran, is missing, and may be on the verge of doing something unthinkable in the name of saving his own love. Something that will fracture the human and faery worlds forever, and give rise to the dangerous fey known as the Forgotten. As Ethan's and Keirran's fates entwine and Keirran slips further into darkness, Ethan's next choice may decide the fate of them all.

************Galley received from NetGalley.. Thank you************

I started this one a couple times, but I felt like it was kind of slow getting though. This one picks up a week after "The Lost Prince" ends.  Kenzie is sick and her father is completely flipping out, not allowing her to see Ethan anymore. Of course, Kenzie doesn't take it. She does what she wants. She knows she may not have much time left, so she wants to live it as she sees fit, not as her father thinks she should.

Annwyl shows up at Ethan's door, dying. She is starting to Fade. Kierran has disappeared, trying to find a cure. Annywl comes to Ethan for his help. She's afraid Kierran may do something drastic to help her. Their journey takes them to New Orleans, where Kenzie finds them even after being ordered to stay away.  

Okay no more details. Look for this book  October 23rd, and make sure you read all of the Iron Fey series as well as the Call of the Forgotten!

OH! THIS BOOK HAS A MAJOR CLIFFHANGER! I could just strangle someone right now, knowing I have to wait a YEAR for the next one!

I'm definitely feeling the Christmas Spirit in Snow Crystal, Vermont! Thank you Sarah Morgan!

**** This was a title I received from NetGalley***

Kayle Green hates Christmas. The sights, the sounds, the happiness. Bah Humbug! She works at an advertising company and does publicity for companies. And she is darned good at her job.

Jackson O'Neil comes to Kayle because she is the best and his families ski resort, family run for several generations, needs all the help it can get. Kayla agrees to come up for a week and experience Snow Crystals charms so she can better publicize why it is so wonderful.
What she doesn't expect is Jackson O'Neil himself.

This was a wonderful book, even though to me, again this year there have been several, the romance happens WAYYYY to quickly. Even so, it was a very good book, and full of Christmas spirit!

I will do "Anything But Love" anyday! Thank you, Beth Ciotta!

Well, as always Beth Ciotta did not disappoint me. I love her books and I don't think she can do anything wrong. Although there weren't as much Cupcake Lovers as in the previous two books, which saddened me.. And not enough Daisy either. Haha, she's a hoot! I see a new one is coming in the spring.. Woohoo!!

Rachel disappeared and Luke is on a rant. He hires Jayce to find her.. And what does he find? An heiress, a millionaire.. and gone is the mousy lady that intrigued him with her intelligence.. He finds a total bombshell in her place. It can't be the same girl! Reagan, indeed, is the same girl. Rae went into hiding to escape pressures from her mother and stepfather who want her money on her 25th birthday.

Luke flies in to confront her, they have a passionate evening, then he goes home.

Six weeks later, Rae is in Sugar Creek again hoping to save Sugar tots, the daycare, and also the Cupcake Lovers recipe book that they are trying to get published.

K, thats all I am going to tell you. It was a wonderful book, although lacking in the much loved characters from the first two books, and had a very thrown together ending. Anyways, Read, Love, Wait!! lol

Aimee Carter's new YA Dystopian novel "Pawn" is awesome!

Since The Hunger Games ended, I have been looking for a new book that lived up to how great they were. Searching, and searching.. I found one in The Darkest Minds by Alexandra Bracken. Amaaaazing book. Then I searched some more, and I found some that were okay, and I found some good, and I found some bad.

Recently I received a book on NetGalley called "Pawn" by Aimee Carter". I've never read her before, but I see lots of great reviews for her books. I started the book a couple days ago, finished it last night, and I thoroughly enjoyed it!

Blurb from Amazon.com:

YOU CAN BE A VII IF YOU GIVE EVERYTHING.

For Kitty Doe, it seems like an easy choice. She can either spend her life as a III in misery, looked down upon by the higher ranks and forced to leave the people she loves, or she can become a VII and join the most powerful family in the country.

If she says yes, Kitty will be Masked—surgically transformed into Lila Hart, the Prime Minister's niece, who died under mysterious circumstances. As a member of the Hart family, she will be famous. She will be adored. And for the first time, she will matter.

There's only one catch. She must also stop the rebellion that Lila secretly fostered, the same one that got her killed…and one Kitty believes in. Faced with threats, conspiracies and a life that's not her own, she must decide which path to choose—and learn how to become more than a pawn in a twisted game she's only beginning to understand.

In a society where people are fined for having more than once child, and the child ends up in a group home if the fine cannot be paid, everyone has a numbered rank. We never hear about I's and II's, IIIs seem to be the grunts, IVs and Vs have a slightly better chance, and Vs and VIs are the office people, government staff where food is not sparse and lives are lived longer.  

Kitty has lived in a group home all her life and is completely in love with Benjy, who grew up in the same house.  On her seventeenth birthday she has her testing and only receives a III. Knowing she will end up dead before 40 from working a mine or some other menial horrible job, she chooses to go with Tabs to the clubs and sell herself so she can earn money to run away. Promising Benjy she would be back for him when he turns seventeen and has his own testing, she leaves. 

She is purchased for an obscene amount of money, but her buyer doesnt want her for her body. He wants her eyes. Kitty has an extremely rare eye color, the same eye color as the presidents niece, who was killed in a skiing accident. Not wanting it to become public knowledge, they coerce Kitty into agreeing to their proposition without even knowing what it is. She is knocked unconscious and wakes up days later... as someone else.

They have made her into Lila, from her hair, to her toes, plastic surgery done to most of her body. Shes taller, with bigger feet. Daxton Hart, "the president" as we shall call him, tells Kitty that she is now Lila. She will learn to be Lila and live Lila's life or her own life and that of Benjy will be forfeited. To prove his point, he takes Kitty on a hunting spree where they travel to Elsewhere.. its where the elderly, infirm, and useless are sent.. Daxton hunts humans for sport. His target this time.. Nina, the only mother Kitty had ever known, from the group home. Daxton kills her with no remorse. Kitty agrees to do whatever he wants.

Kitty meets Celia, Lila's mother, and Knox, Lila's fiance. They help her learn who Lila was and how to become her. Everyone is under the tight control of Augusta Hart, Daxton and Celia's mother. 

Everything is not as it seems. Knox and Celia seem to be trying to thwart the Hart family and push for change in the government. No more ranking system, like it used to be. Lila apparently had been helping as well, making speeches to the fact, which annoyed Augusta and Daxton.. which is probably the reason Lila died during the skiing trip. 

Okay, I won't give away more of the book. I think that when this book is released in November, everyone should go read it. It was great, and I can't wait for another!