BEFORE I FALL by Lauren Oliver (ARC review)

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BEFORE I FALL
Source: B&N First Look
* I received this book free of charge in exchange for an honest review*
  • Reading level: Young Adult
  • Hardcover: 480 pages
  • Publisher: HarperCollins (March 2, 2010)
  • Language: English
  • ISBN-10: 006172680X
  • ISBN-13: 978-0061726804
SYNOPSIS:
What if you had only one day to live? What would you do? Who would you kiss? And how far would you go to save your own life?
Samantha Kingston has it all: the world’s most crush-worthy boyfriend, three amazing best friends, and first pick of everything at Thomas Jefferson High—from the best table in the cafeteria to the choicest parking spot. Friday, February 12, should be just another day in her charmed life.
Instead, it turns out to be her last.
Then she gets a second chance. Seven chances, in fact. Reliving her last day during one miraculous week, she will untangle the mystery surrounding her death—and discover the true value of everything she is in danger of losing. 
MY THOUGHTS:
OMG! First off, before you read this AMAZING book, you better have a box of kleenex handy!
At first, I couldn’t stand the characters of this book.  Sam was a stuck up bitch, and so were her friends. You know what I am talking about if you think back to high school and remember those perfect little barbie doll type girls walking around with their noses in the air waiting for rain to drown them.  Then as you progress slowly through the book and the story, you start to actually care about Sam and realize why they act this way.  You find your feelings changing for each character involved in the story.  
I didn’t think I would be able to finish this book during the first couple of chapters, then before you realize it, you are sucked into it and you completely forget to fix dinner, give the kids a bath and even sleep!
I devoured this book in less than a day and wanted so much more! I cried.  I laughed. I even swooned at the small love scenes.  I even tried to hold back my tears, but lost in the end.  I was deeply moved by the plot and the writing was wonderful!  A new to me author that I can’t wait to see what else she has out there now and in the future!  Catch me before I fall in love with more of her writing!

MY RATING:


Outstanding Book That Will Stay On My Bookshelf
For Rereading!

CATCH OF A LIFETIME by Judi Fennell

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CATCH OF A LIFETIME
Source: Publisher (Thank you Danielle)
* I received this book free of charge in exchange for an honest review*
  • Mass Market Paperback: 384 pages
  • Publisher: Sourcebooks Casablanca; 1 edition (January 5, 2010)
  • Language: English
  • ISBN-10: 1402224281
  • ISBN-13: 978-1402224287
SYNOPSIS:
Mermaid Angel Tritone escapes a shark by jumping into single dad Logan Hardington’s fishing boat. All his young son Michael wants for his birthday is a mermaid, and if his dad will only play his cards right, now he’ll have one…
Angel wants to give Michael his most beloved birthday gift (a real live mermaid) while also getting to know his father and getting him to help her in her mission to stop humans from destroying the oceans. Logan has never met a woman who cared as much about the same things he does, and she’s never met a man who understood her deepest commitment to humanity and nature. When an enemy of conservation shows up and tries to kill Angel, Logan has to choose between continuing the life he’s known, or following the woman he loves to the bottom of the ocean…
MY THOUGHTS:
In the authors third book of the series, she has once again captured my interest in the sea!  Although I still hae a certain soft spot for Reel from the first book,  I enjoyed this book just as much.  This time we get to read the adventure of Angel Tritone.  If you are tired of all the vampire, werewolf, and other paranormal books that are out there, then this is a new spin of paranormal that features mermaids and mermen.  
The author did a wonderful job of intertwining the human world and the paranormal world.  She has witty writing that keeps you entertained, and the perfect romance writing to keep the water boiling!  Another favorite book by a great author that will remain on my bookshelves for re reading time and again.
MY RATING:

Outstanding Book That Will Stay On My Bookshelf
For Rereading!

SILENT DESPERATION by Jeffrey M. Bryan

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SILENT DESPERATION
Author: Jeffrey M. Bryan
Source: Author submission
*I received this book free of charge in exchange for an honest review*
  • Paperback: 184 pages
  • Publisher: CreateSpace; 1st edition (November 11, 2009)
  • Language: English
  • ISBN-10: 1449581471
  • ISBN-13: 978-1449581473
SYNOPSIS:
Written through the emotional rollercoaster of decades, each story and poem captures the human condition in convincing detail, from the greatest love to unalloyed hurt. Yet throughout, the writing is entertaining, offering characters and situations that expand the imagination and pass along the conceptual epiphanies that inspired them. Like a silent cry from the depths of personal experience, the stories and poetry in Silent Desperation capture the greatest life has to offer.
MY THOUGHTS:
I loved this book!  Each story has its own meaning, yet they intertwine with one thing in focus.  The poetry was amazing. The writing was touching and you could feel your self going through all the emotions the author is wanting you to feel.  The title is perfect as each story has a desperation to them.  A wonderful book that would be great to reread time and again.
MY RATING:

Outstanding Book That Will Stay On My Bookshelf
For Rereading!

HOODOO MONEY by Sharon Cupp Pennington

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HOODOO MONEY
Author: Sharon Cupp Pennington
Source: Author Submission
*I received this book free of charge in exchange for an honest review*
  • Paperback: 296 pages
  • Publisher: Draumr Publishing (May 15, 2008)
  • Language: English
  • ISBN-10: 1933157240
  • ISBN-13: 978-1933157245
SYNOPSIS:

Things are not always as they seem in The Big Easy…

After her almost-wedding to a bigamist, successful children’s author Braeden McKay has given up on love. She’s content to live vicariously through her imaginary heroine, Platypus Pearl, and a gaggle of adventurous, web-footed cohorts–until a working vacation in New Orleans shakes up her quiet, structured world. Had she known that souvenir nickel stolen from the grave of a hoodoo gypsy would catapult her into a nightmare of betrayal and murder, she would have insisted her friend put it back.
Cursed nickel or unfortunate happenstance? Sanderson Montgomery isn’t one to discount the supernatural beliefs of others. This is The Big Easy, after all, Mecca to the spiritual and the superstitious. As a veteran detective, neither does he ignore cold, hard fact. And the fact is, someone or something is bent on harming Braeden McKay, and it’s up to him to protect her while keeping his heart out of the mix.
Can love, the very thing Braeden wants no part of, be the one force greater than any adversary–even a hoodoo curse?
MY THOUGHTS:
First of all, look at that cover! Talk about making a book look suspenseful and paranormal! WOW!  Hoodoo Money had me turning the pages with enthusiasm and excitement.  The characters are great, the plot exciting and the romance wonderful!  This book has it all.  The author does a wonderful job of describing all the right things and using just enough detail that it is not over done.  It showcases Southern charm and spine tingling suspense!  A book that may end on page 292, but stays with you for a long time to talk about!
MY RATING:

Outstanding Book That Will Stay On My Bookshelf
For Rereading!

BOYS,GIRLS & OTHER HAZARDOUS MATERIAL by Rosalind Wiseman

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BOYS,GIRLS & OTHER HAZARDOUS MATERIAL
Author: Rosalind Wiseman
Source: Contest win
  • Reading level: Young Adult
  • Hardcover: 288 pages
  • Publisher: Putnam Juvenile (January 12, 2010)
  • Language: English
  • ISBN-10: 0399247963
  • ISBN-13: 978-0399247965
SYNOPSIS:

Looking for a new beginning after a terrible mean girl past, Charlie Healey realizes there’s no escaping high school drama.

Charlie Healey thinks Harmony Falls is the beginning of a whole new life. Middle school was brutal. But high school is Charlie’s big chance to start over and stay out of drama, except that on her first day she runs into Will, her ex–best friend, who had moved away. Now a varsity athlete and hotter than Charlie remembered, Will hangs with the crowd running the school. But Charlie doesn’t understand their power until an innocent delivery guy falls victim to a near-deadly hazing prank.
Torn between doing what’s right and her secret feelings for Will, Charlie must decide whether to turn in her very best friend 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. 
MY THOUGHTS:
This was a new to me author, but I had heard wonderful things about this book. When I received it in the mail, from a contest win, I was excited to start reading it.  The characters seem true to life with situations that are real to teenagers in high school. 
The author does not shy away from the harder issues that many teens experience throughout their high school years.  She touches on hazing, racism and drinking,  As I read this book, I relived some of my high school moments that I would have rather not remembered.  The bullies, the popular group that snubs everyone, and the teachers we all loved to hate.  In the reminder of it all though, I could see how the author wanted to portray it all for future young readers.  She gets her points accross and that is a good thing when writing or reading a book. 
This would be great to read as an adult, but even better for your teens to read to learn valuable lessons without the lectures.  
MY RATING:

Outstanding Book That Will Stay On My Bookshelf
For Rereading!