Becca By The Book

By: Laura Jensen Walker
Book 3 in the Getaway Girls Series
307 pages


Summary:  Becca Danielsis not about to grow up. At twenty-five, she loves taking risks without a thought to the consequences. That's exactly how she ended up skydiving and breaking her leg on the way down. Now, in a cast and feeling very grumpy, Becca is offended when her friends tease her on her inability to hold a relationship. 
    One thing leads to the next, and a bet is made. Becca is sure that she can win. What she has to do? Keep a relationship with the next guy who asks her out. 
     However, when that turns out to be Ben, who is definitely not what she expected, Becca is doubting that she really can make it.


Reaction:  This book was good.I think a lot of people would want to be as free-spirited as Becca, and she's a great leading character. Although I'm not sure this would be a book I would read again, the series on a whole is very good.


Rating: 7/10


                                       Keep Reading!
                                            ~Marie

What A Girl Wants

By Kristin Billerbeck
352 pages

Summary: Ashley Stockingdale is a patent lawyer in Silicon Valley. While she has great taste in things like designer bags and shoes, she seems to have hit a new low on the dating scene. Ashley's been single for a while now and struggles to get through to the nerdy engineer types Silicon Valley was made up of. 
              After several very awkward outings with her church's singles group, Ashley is convinced that while some are only 'single for a season', she was 'single for a reason', and maybe there was no hope for her at all. 
             Then she meets and starts dating Kevin, the ex of a girl she works with. Things are going great....then she finds out that Kevin isn't a Christian, and discovers that maybe they weren't so alike after all. And, just maybe, what she'd been looking for had been right in front of her the whole time?


Reaction: I think Kristin Billerbeck is a great author. Her books aren't trashy, and she has a good sense of humor. You can't help but feel sorry for Ashley, and possibly laugh at some of her experiences along the way. It can be a little slow at some parts, but overall a great book.


Rating: 9/10


                                             Love Always!
                                                ~Marie (:

The Clique Summer Collection: Claire

by: Lisi Harrison
144 pages
Summary: Claire's back in Florida, and is reunited with her FBFFs(Florida Best Friends Forever) Sarah, Sari, and Mandy. Her friends haven't changed at all, too bad they think Claire has, and not for the better. Claire sets out to prove her loyalty by entering Kissimmee's Miss Kiss Pageant with her friends. After Claire is made judge, she is determined to help her friends win this thing. But when a very special visitor shows up unexpectedly, Claire has to choose between Keds and couture. Who will Claire choose? 

My Reaction: If you have read my Kristen reaction, you'll know that that is my favorite, and naturally this wasn't as good in my opinion. I mean the visitor showing up unexpected like that was totally rude of this person. And what happens to Claire is unfair, and the way all her friends are treating her isn't how real friends should act. But it does have the element of mystery as to who will win this whole thing. And you'll never guess who wins...


My Rating: 6.5/10




Keep Reading, 


                                                                            ~Chantel!

Finally

by: Wendy Mass (11 birthdays #2)
304 (hardback) pages

Summary: Rory Swenson is finally about to be 12. Which means her over-protective will let her get a phone, drink coffee, shave her legs, and a whole bunch of other things she's been dying to do-she even has a list. Rory decides that she wants to stand out a little more, and get rid of her "baby" image. When she finds out that uber-cute star Jake Harrison is going to be filming a movie at her school, she and her friends decide to try out as extras. 
   
                   As Rory flips and flops through one wish to another, she also tries to make a new image. But when some of her wishes go wrong, Rory's new image doesn't do so well. Maybe being old Rory wasn't so bad after all...


My Reaction: This book was pretty good. I hate to say this, but I liked the first one better. I mean what are the possibilities of a movie being filmed at your school. Also Rory's parents were seriously strict, and Rory's list was a little to greedy. Another thing I wished Mass did was focus on Amanda and Leo more, but I was glad they were in the book.   This book will definitely appeal to 11 year olds and people who feel they deserve more freedom. If you feel like that, Finally is definitely the book for you. 


My Rating: 7/10


                                                Reading As Usual,


                                                                           ~Chantel<3

Esperanza Rising

by: Pam Munoz Ryan
288 pages
Summary: Esperanza has always had a privileged on her father's ranch in Mexico. But then tragedy strikes when her father dies. Now her she and her mother have to escape to California to get away from her uncles who want her father's land. Esperanza finds herself in a new world as she faces harsh living conditions, hard work, and financial problems during the Great Depression. 
                        Just as Esperanza starts to accept her new life, her mother becomes ill. Esperanza finds herself upset with her grandmother, but things only get worse when she finds out what has happened to her. With everything falling apart, Esperanza must find a way to rise above it.


My Reaction: Like a few other books, this isn't the typical sort of book we post on this blog. But teens can relate to the family and prejudice in this book. Also it has a riches to rags kind of feel, as Esperanza adjusts to this new life. There's also a great deal of history and even if you have read a book about the Great Depression, this is different, in a good way. Ryan does a great job dealing with the problems and emotions Esperanza feels. This book is not only good for teens, but for every girl.


My Rating: 8.5/10


                                                        Continue Reading,


                                                                                         ~Chantel:)

The Clique Summer Collection: Kristen

by: Lisi Harrison

122 pages

Summary: While all the other girls in the Pretty Committee are away vacationing, Kristen is stuck at home tutoring nine year old Massie-clone Ripple.  Just when Kristen's about to close the door on hoppe of a good summer, she meets Ripple's older hot older brother, Dune, and everything's looking up. Kristen's finally ready for a new crush, after last year. Now she'll do anything to get Dune to like her back, even if it means wearing saggy guy clothes, bribing Ripple, getting a Witty Committee, and trying to fill a country club pool  with Jell-O. If she thought that was bad, things are about to get worse, because she'll see that she's not the only one who's vying for Dune's attention, and these two have a bad history already.

My Reaction: Even though the plot sounds standard and normal, the book is actually pretty good. Ever since I saw the movie Kristen has been my favorite character, and as I read the books, I got extremely disappointed how you never really got to know Kristen. In this book, you actually get to know her. Also I think most people can relate to her, because she's not like all the other characters (extremely rich, and kind of selfish). Also, Kristen seems to have two personalities, her blend-in with the rich popular girls, and her middle-class home life, which most of us struggle with at one point. You'll love the problems and struggles Kristen has to overcome, and it just might become your favorite Clique Summer book too.




My Rating: 8.5/10


                                                  Eat, Pray, Read,


                                                                             ~Chantel*

The Darlings Are Forever

by: Melissa Kantor
345 pages
Summary: Jane, Victoria, and Natalya had been best friends since kindergarten and had gone to school at One Room Elementary for nine years. Now they're going to high school, three different high schools. Now they try to continue their friendship, and do what Jane's grandmother once told them, do what your afraid to do.
                       Jane is going to the School of Performing Arts, where she decides to try out for the fall play even though she's the only freshman trying out. And is it bad that she finds her director extremely cute?
                      Victoria's going to Morningside High School, where she finds it hard to make friends, and talk to her crush. Things at home aren't much better since her dad might actually be on the Senate, which Victoria does not want. The only thing she finds comforting is cooking, even if her dad isn't there anymore to cook with her.  
                       Natalya's going to Gainsford on scholarship, while there she finds herself torn between good friends, or the "in crowd". But does the "crowd" only want to be her friends because she has something they want?
                       As the three go there separate ways, and have different problems, they struggle to keep their friendship alive, but it's not as easy as it seems. 


My Reaction: I loooooved this book! I'm going to start high school this fall, so this book definitely appealed to me. I could see a little different part of myself in each of these characters, and could connect to their situations. Kantor did a great job of writing, and I found myself marking almost every page. There was a little language, but nothing extremely bad, and I totally overlooked it. After reading it, I tried to read other books, but nothing could compare, so I'm looking for the second one. Amaaaaazing!!!


My Rating: 12/10


                                       Continue Reading, 
          
                                                                ~Chantel!!!

Anna Finch and the Hired Gun

By: Kathleen Y'Barbo
325 pages


Summary: Anna Finch is determined to become a reporter. Her stubborn refusal to all of her father's attempts to marry her off push her father to try something a little different: Hire somebody specifically to watch out for his daughter and keep her out of trouble. So, he looks to Jeb Sanders, a local Pinkerton agent.  
         Through a chance encounter with Jeb, Anna realizes she is falling for this man, not knowing that he is getting paid to keep watch on her. Jeb struggles, trying hard not to let his feelings get in the way of his work. 
          However, when Anna unintentionally comes across legend Doc Holliday, and is given the chance at the story of a lifetime, Jeb steps in. Anna doesn't realize that a secret from Jeb's past keeps him from                                         forgiving Doc Holliday, and their romance is threatened.


Reaction: This book had a different story line than I had expected. It starts right in, and through several interesting situations, you get to like Anna Finch. She thinks she knows what she want in life, but learns that maybe that's not what she needs. 
   The one thing I didn't like so much about this book was that it was a little far-fetched. The odds of Anna actually meeting someone like Doc Holliday, along with some other things, definitely aren't likely. 


Rating:  7/10




                               Enjoy your summer reading!
                                 ~Marie 

The Music of Dolphins

By: Karen Hesse
181 pages
Summary: Mila is a wild child. Literally. Because of a plane crash when she was very young, she has been living in the ocean for quite a while. Adopted by a group of dolphins, Mila adapts to their way of life, learning to communicate, hunt, eat, and protect each other. At night, she finds an island to sleep on before heading back out to her dolphin family in the morning.
          Then one day, Mila is found. On an island, just getting some food, she is found and picked up by a helicopter. Put into a home with doctors to help her 'become human' she doesn't know how to respond. Where is her dolphin family? Is this how her life was intended to be?
          This book follows Mila's learning and thinking process, and that of her doctors as well. Maybe what they thought Mila wanted wasn't what she actually needed?


Reaction: This book was a little different than what we usually post on here. It doesn't really have any romance. Still, it was very good and I have already read it several times. Coming from Mila's point of view, it really makes you think about how we live. I would definitely recommend this book.


Rating:  10/10


                         Thanks for Reading!


                                      Marie <3                      

The Clique Summer Collection: Alicia

by: Lisi Harrison
144 pages 
Summary: It's off to Spain for Alicia this summer, to stay with her cousins-twins Isobel and Celia and Nina. All three of them want to be in il!, a local popstar's music video, and the twins are practically in. Now the two of them are taking Alicia's clothes and that Nina-after stealing her sisters' boots-has to do whatever they want 150 times. But Nina can't stop stealing and after she steals Alicia's earrings, she's had enough, and the two end up breaking a statue. Now they have to work to pay it off. After many misdemeanors at their new job the two decide to work together on something: taking down Isobel and Celia, who Alicia finds out are using her for her Ralph Lauren's. While trying to do that, they find out an interesting secret about il! Who isn't as he seems...

My Reaction: After reading, Dylan, this book was a bit of a let down. There were certain parts of this book that was good, but there were some times that were just downright boring. The whole mean cousin thing is something that I can relate to, even though I thought they were extreeeemly bratty. I also didn't understand why this was the third book in the series, I would've guessed that Alicia would be second, since she is sort of second in command, I just didn't understand that. It wasn't a great book for me, but it might be for you. 


My Rating: 5/10


                                  Continuing Summer Reading,


                                                                           ~Chantel* 

I'd Tell You I Love You, But Then I'd Have to Kill You

by: Ally Carter

284 pages

Summary: Everyone thinks the Gallagher Academy is a reform school for screw-up girls, when it is actually a highly secretive school for the training of spies. Cammie Morgan is a second generation Gallagher girl, her mother is now headmistress, and her best friends Beck and Liz are there too. Now a new semester is starting and with that cute Joe Solomon, Cammie is looking forward to every day. 

                      But then things go wrong, Joe apparently knows a whole bunch about Cammie's missing and presumed dead father, Then she meets Josh who really understand her like no one ever has. But no one outside of the academy can know her, and Cammie finds herself wanting to spill all of her secrets to Josh. 

                       

My Reaction: This book was great, I really liked it. Not only did it have friendship and romance, but it also had romance. A couple of parts in this book were a little boring, but other than that, great. There's good humor in this book. It is a bit of a summer read, light and fun. But it is part of a series, which I can't wait to finish reading. 

My Rating: 8/10

                                         Sit, Relax, Read,

                                                                      ~Chantel*

11 Birthdays

by: Wendy Mass (11 birthdays book #1)
276 pages

Summary: On the day Amanda and Leo were born, a mysterious woman with a birthmark shaped like a duck told their parents that the two newborns would grow up and be best friends and always celebrate their birthdays together. Coincidentally both of their parents booked the same location for their kid's first birthday, there Amanda and Leo took to each other so much that celebrating their birthday together became a tradition. 

                   Now ten years later, Amanda is dreading her eleventh birthday party, it'll be the first she will spend without her ex-friend, Leo. She hasn't spoken to him in a year-exactly. Ever since she heard him say all those bad things about her at their last birthday party. What's worse is that she's hearing rumors about Leo's incredible party and all the things that he's going to have there-a hypnotist, a band, and a real live football player-while Amanda's stuck with a costume party that her mom came up with.

            
        Then the day arrives, and it's not how Amanda wanted it to go. After a horrible day at school, her party is a total bomb. Now that her party's over, she feels relief that her birthday is finally over. Except that isn't it. The next day is her birthday again, and again, and again. But Amanda's main question is she the only one stuck in this terrible loop?

My Reaction: This book is more geared towards tweens, but the characters in this book seem mature enough to be 13ish.  It's a book that tells people to make their own decisions, not what makes them popular. It's a great book about friendship. Some characters in here were very annoying, but I think that's good, because people in real life tend to be annoying. 

My Rating: 8/10

                                       Keep on Reading,

                                                              ~Chantel!

The Clique Summer Collection: Dylan

by: Lisi Harrison
144 pages
Summary: Dylan is ready for the summer of her life, as she and her mother, Merri-Lee Marvil (TV host of The Daily Grind) pack up their bags and head off to Honolulu, Hawaii in time for the Aloha Tennis Open. While her mom spends the trip interviewing the famous teen  tennis player, Svetlana Slootskyia, Dylan works on becoming the "new her": fabulous, thin, and crush-worthy.
            

           Lucky for her, Dylan manages to find a hot tennis-crazy, cutie. There's only two problems. One, Svetlana seems to be after him as well. And two Dylan has to get off the massage table, and actually learn how to play tennis. Then Dylan realizes the the grouchy-moody Svetlana holds the key to Dylan's summer fling. If only Dylan can get Svetlana to teach her how ti play tennis like a pro. Thank goodness she has a few tricks that even Massie would be surprised to see, but will Svetlana keep her promise? And more important, will Dylan get her summer romance? 


My Reaction: One thing I liked about this book was that you actually get to find out about Dylan, you never actually get to know her very well in the regular series. Another thing was that in most summer romances the girl and guy like each other from the start, and eventually get together. In this there's a twist for Dylan to get her summer romance, and she might get him. Also this book is light, short, and absolutely a summer-read. I definitely liked this one better than the first one, even though it wasn't my favorite and it wasn't perfect. There were some attitude issues, that were a little high maintenance for me.


My Rating: 7/10




                                    Find Summer Books and Read,


                                                                                  ~Chantel :)(:

The Sweetest Thing

by: Christina Mandelski

352 pages
Summary:  Sheridan Wells has always had a talent for decorating cakes, but now she faces the problems of love and loss.  Sheridan lives in a small town in Michigan with her father, who is a well known chef and restaurateur who spends all his time worrying about his career and his restaurant. While Sheridan bakes at her Nanny's bakery, and gets called "Cake Girl". She doesn't have any friends, except for two childhood friends  Her mother-a cake decorator, deserted the family when Sheridan was only 7. Now Sheridan thinks about her mom all the time and longs to reunite with her mom. But Sheridan isn't perfect herself, she's spoiled, selfish, and a downright brat. She's rude to her friends and dad. She feels she's this way because of her mother's absence. 

Now Sheridan's dad has his own TV cooking show and Sheridan is asked to celebrate her 16th birthday for the first episode. She gets a crazy idea, she'll track her mother down and get her to help decorate her birthday cake. While juggling all of this, Sheridan goes from no boys to two boys vying for her attention. 


My Reaction: Ok this book was ok. I liked the whole format of the story, but certain details weren't my favorite. Sheridan for instance, like i mentioned in the summary she is extremely spoiled and bratty. Also you'd think that her dad would be more considerate of her, since she's lost her mom. And the romance, good, but obvious. One thing I liked about this book was the baking theme, yum! Another thing that I liked was that from the back of the book, you could tell that there would be problems. Which I think is good, so you can kind of make your own prediction. Good book, not great not bad. 


My Rating: 6.5/10

                                         Read On!, 


                                                      ~Chantel!