Book Review: Where She Went by Gayle Forman

It's been three years since the devastating accident . . . three years since Mia walked out of Adam's life forever.

Now living on opposite coasts, Mia is Juilliard's rising star and Adam is LA tabloid fodder, thanks to his new rock star status and celebrity girlfriend. 

When Adam gets stuck in New York by himself, chance brings the couple together again, for one last night. 

As they explore the city that has become Mia's home, Adam and Mia revisit the past and open their hearts to the future-and each other.

Told from Adam's point of view in the spare, lyrical prose that defined If I Stay, Where She Went explores the devastation of grief, the promise of new hope, and the flame of rekindled romance.

Goodreads - Amazon - B&N - Audible

My thoughts:
I can tell this is going to be a review of few words, because this is definitely one of those books when I say- just go read it. But I'll try...

As I said in my review of If I Stay, I listened to Where She Went on audiobook. It only seemed right since I had listened to If I Stay. I knew that it was set a few years after the whole accident thing. And I knew that he had become famous and she had went off to Juilliard. But I wasn't sure exactly where they were going to pick back up.

It was really great hearing about what happened shortly after the accident. And learning why they're not together. And really seeing how things played out. Because when it starts out, you're left in the dark. We thought everything would be all good after she healed, I mean not perfect, but you know? Pretty good.

So it's 3 years later and nobody knows what happened. We don't know why they are broken up. Why they haven't talked in 3 years. And Adam's in New York and he goes to her concert. I really didn't expect that, but I love the way he talks about how her music makes him feel. It really speaks volumes.

One thing I really loved was the lyrics that were in the beginnings of each chapter. And he would say what album and what track. I think it really gave a lot of insight into how he was feeling.

Overall, I loved the first book and really thought the sequel was done really well. I would recommend this to my friends. They're good, quick read. I gave it 4 stars on Goodreads. 

Have you read If I Stay?

How about Where She Went?

Leave me a comment and tell 

me what you thought about them.

Magic Mike Really Isn't Magical

IMDB - Rotten Tomatoes

Amazon - Official Movie Site

Cast:
-Matthew McConaughey
-Channing Tatum
-Olivia Munn
-Alex Pettyfer
-James Martin Kelly
-Cody Horn
-Reid Carolin
-Kevin Nash
-Matt Bomer
-Joe Manganiello
-Adam Rodriguez

Release Date: June 29, 2012
DVD Release Date: October 23, 2012

Plot Summary:
Set in the world of male strippers, Magic Mike is directed by Steven Soderbergh and stars Channing Tatum in a story inspired by his real life.

The film follows Mike (Tatum) as he takes a young dancer called The Kid (Pettyfer) under his wing and schools him in the fine arts of partying, picking up women, and making easy money.

My Thoughts: 
The movie literally had no point. If you wanna see some half naked men, cuz let's face it, they're not showing it all, then I guess you could watch this. The people who made this movie didn't really think past the male dancers turning on women, you can tell they tried to have a plot and stuff. But other than when Channing Tatum was dancing, because let's face it, he was the best and the hottest  my face was something like this: -__-

I will admit that there was some good music in some of their performances, but other than that the music was horrendous  And it looked like the other actors didn't really put effort into learning to 'strip' or dance 'pretty' for their roles. But Channing Tatum was really working it, too bad it was only like 10% of the movie, and the rest was crap. And from the previews, I expected their to be more of a love story behind the whole stripper part, but that was just lies. I was quite surprised to see Gabriel Iglesias in the movie. I went to one of his comedy shows and he is really funny, and he actually did really well playing a serious role. Nika already reviewed this movie, I should've listened to her, but c'mon, I just had to see Tatum shake it! You can view her review here.

Bottom Line:
-Channing Tatum is hot.
-He can dance his ass off.
-The rest sucks.
-And it's just plain weird to see Matthew McConaughey in a movie like this.

Screenshots :)

Have you seen Magic Mike?

What did you think of it?

If not, do you wanna see it?

Have a great day!

Waiting on Wednesday: The Almost Truth

Waiting On Wednesday #15!  "Waiting On" Wednesday is a weekly event, hosted by Breaking the Spine, that spotlights upcoming releases that we're eagerly anticipating.
This week my pick is:

The Almost Truth by Eileen Cook

Expected Publication: Dec. 4, 2012

Synopsis:

From the author of Unraveling Isobel and The Education of Hailey Kendrick, a smart, romantic novel about a teenage con artist who might be in over her head. 

Sadie can’t wait to get away from her backwards small town, her delusional mom, her jailbird dad, and the tiny trailer where she was raised…even though leaving those things behind also means leaving Brendan. Sadie wants a better life, and she has been working steadily toward it, one con at a time.

     But when Sadie’s mother wipes out Sadie’s savings, her escape plan is suddenly gone. She needs to come up with a lot of cash—and fast—or she’ll be stuck in this town forever.

     With Brendan’s help, she devises a plan—the ultimate con—to get the money. But the more lies Sadie spins, the more she starts falling for her own hoax…and perhaps for the wrong boy. Sadie wanted to change her life, but she wasn't prepared to have it flipped upside down by her own deception. With her future at stake and her heart on the line, suddenly it seems like she has a lot more than just money to lose....

[Goodreads - Amazon - B&N]

This one sounds fun!

And a little bit scandalous!

Can't wait to read it!

What are you waiting on?

Most Anticipated Books of 2013!

Top Ten Tuesday is an original feature/weekly

 meme held over at The Broke and the Bookish

This weeks topic is: Top ten most 

anticipated books for 2013!

Publication Date: Jan. 8, 2013

The city of Ludlow is gripped by the hottest July on record. The asphalt is melting, the birds are dying, petty crime is on the rise, and someone in Hannah Wagnor’s peaceful suburban community is killing girls.

For Hannah, the summer is a complicated one. Her best friend Lillian died six months ago, and Hannah just wants her life to go back to normal. But how can things be normal when Lillian’s ghost is haunting her bedroom, pushing her to investigate the mysterious string of murders? Hannah’s just trying to understand why her friend self-destructed, and where she fits now that Lillian isn’t there to save her a place among the social elite. And she must stop thinking about Finny Boone, the big, enigmatic delinquent whose main hobbies seem to include petty larceny and surprising acts of kindness.

With the entire city in a panic, Hannah soon finds herself drawn into a world of ghost girls and horrifying secrets. She realizes that only by confronting the Valentine Killer will she be able move on with her life—and it’s up to her to put together the pieces before he strikes again.

Paper Valentine is a hauntingly poetic tale of love and death by the New York Times bestselling author of The Replacement and The Space Between.

[Goodreads - B&N - Amazon]

Publication Date: Jan. 15, 2013

The final book in the  New York Times bestselling trilogy, perfect for fans of Battlestar Galactica and Prometheus!

FUELED BY LIES.

RULED BY CHAOS.

ALMOST HOME.

Amy and Elder have finally left the oppressive walls of the spaceship Godspeed behind. They're ready to start life afresh--to build a home--on Centauri-Earth, the planet that Amy has traveled 25 trillion miles across the universe to experience.

But this new Earth isn't the paradise Amy had been hoping for. There are giant pterodactyl-like birds, purple flowers with mind-numbing toxins, and mysterious, unexplained ruins that hold more secrets than their stone walls first let on. The biggest secret of all? Godspeed's former passengers aren't alone on this planet. And if they're going to stay, they'll have to fight.

Amy and Elder must race to discover who--or what--else is out there if they are to have any hope of saving their struggling colony and building a future together. They will have to look inward to the very core of what makes them human on this, their most harrowing journey yet. Because if the colony collapses? Then everything they have sacrificed--friends, family, life on Earth--will have been for nothing.

[Goodreads - B&N - Amazon]

Publication Date: Mar. 5, 2013

The only thing worse than forgetting her past... is remembering it.

When Freedom Airlines flight 121 went down over the Pacific Ocean, no one ever expected to find survivors. Which is why the sixteen-year-old girl discovered floating among the wreckage—alive—is making headlines across the globe.

Even more strange is that her body is miraculously unharmed and she has no memories of boarding the plane. She has no memories of her life before the crash. She has no memories period. No one knows how she survived. No one knows why she wasn’t on the passenger manifest. And no one can explain why her DNA and fingerprints can’t be found in a single database in the world.

Crippled by a world she doesn’t know, plagued by abilities she doesn’t understand, and haunted by a looming threat she can’t remember, Seraphina struggles to piece together her forgotten past and discover who she really is. But with every clue only comes more questions. And she’s running out of time to answer them.

Her only hope is a strangely alluring boy who claims to know her from before the crash. Who claims they were in love. But can she really trust him? And will he be able to protect her from the people who have been making her forget?

From popular young adult author, Jessica Brody comes a mesmerizing and suspenseful new series, set in a world where science knows no boundaries, memories are manipulated, and true love can never be forgotten.

[Goodreads - B&N - Amazon]

Publication Date: April 16, 2013

Beautiful Disaster told in Travis point of view.

How much is too much to love?

Travis Maddox learned two things from his mother before she died: Love hard. Fight harder.

In Walking Disaster, the life of Travis is full of fast women, underground gambling, and violence. Just when he thought he was invincible, Abby Abernathy brings him to his knees.

Every story has two sides. In Jamie McGuire's New York Times bestseller Beautiful Disaster Abby had her say. Now it's time to see the story through Travis's eyes.

[Goodreads - B&N - Amazon]

Publication Date: April 16, 2013

There are no men in Claysoot. There are boys—but every one of them vanishes at midnight on his eighteenth birthday. The ground shakes, the wind howls, a blinding light descends...and he’s gone.

They call it the Heist.

Gray Weathersby’s eighteenth birthday is mere months away, and he’s prepared to meet his fate–until he finds a strange note from his mother and starts to question everything he’s been raised to accept: the Council leaders and their obvious secrets. The Heist itself. And what lies beyond the Wall that surrounds Claysoot–a structure that no one can cross and survive.

Climbing the Wall is suicide, but what comes after the Heist could be worse. Should he sit back and wait to be taken–or risk everything on the hope of the other side?

[Goodreads - B&N - Amazon]

Publication Date: May 7, 2013

A riveting new story from Cat Patrick, author of Forgotten and Revived.

17-year-olds Lizzie, Ella, and Betsey Best grew up as identical triplets... until they discovered a shocking family secret. They're actually closer than sisters, they're clones. Hiding from a government agency that would expose them, the Best family appears to consist of a single mother with one daughter named Elizabeth. Lizzie, Ella, and Betsey take turns going to school, attending social engagements, and a group mindset has always been a de facto part of life...

Then Lizzie meets Sean Kelly, a guy who seems to see into her very soul. As their relationship develops, Lizzie realizes that she's not a carbon copy of her sisters; she's an individual with unique dreams and desires, and digging deeper into her background, Lizzie begins to dismantle the delicate balance of an unusual family that only science could have created. 

[Goodreads - B&N - Amazon]

The rest of the books on my list don't have covers or a synopsis yet. 

Entwined With You by Sylvia Day

Publication Date: May 7, 2013

[Goodreads - B&N - Amazon]

Smoke by Ellen Hopkins

Sequel to Burned

Publication Date: Sept. 10, 2013

[Goodreads - Amazon]

Book #3 in the Finding Anna Series by Sherri Hayes

Publication Date: 2013

[Goodreads]

Untitled Book #3 in Divergent Series by Veronica Roth

Publication Date: Sept. 26, 2013

[Goodreads]

What books are you most

excited for next year? 

Anything on my list?

Movie Review: Twilight Breaking Dawn Part 2

After the birth of Renesmee, the Cullens gather other vampire clans in order to protect the child from a false allegation that puts the family in front of the Volturi.

IMDB - Rotten Tomatoes - Official Movie Site

Ahhhh. This really is a bittersweet ending! Thinking back to when Twilight first came out, these movies have come a long, long way. So let's go back in time for a minute: I had never heard of the books until the first movie was being made and everyone started talking about it. So I jumped on the wagon and got all of them. In my opinion, the first one was amazing! I couldn't get enough of Bella and Edward. And then came New Moon, it was good, but their story got old. I suppose because nothing major was happening. And then when I started Eclipse I was really hoping that Stephenie Meyer had picked it up and would really put something into it, but sadly, she didn't. So when I decided I had to read Breaking Dawn to finish off the series, I knew it would be crap. Unfortunately I never finished it. I read probably about 1/4 the way through. 

When the movies came out I said I would watch all of them and hope that they were better than the books and I did. I never expected to love the movies this much! I didn't like Kristen Stewart at first, but eventually I realized that she's the perfect Bella. And Edward... Ahhhhh! I love him! But I am truly a Jacob fan. I am 100% Team Jacob. 

So I am very sorry that I never read Breaking Dawn because this movie was simply amazing! I had no idea that the finale would be crazy like that. I knew that there would be a battle with the Volturi because of Renesmee, but wow. Holy crap. I got chills at the end and the atmosphere in the theater was amazing. We went on the 16th as a birthday present to me! But I wish I would've went to some of the showings on the 15th when they were showing all of the movies. I don't think I could have sat there that long, but I would've like to watch part 1 followed by part 2. 

Bella is super hot as a vampire. Jacob seems to be getting cuter. And Renesmee, ah, adorable! And Edward is still Edward, still cute and weird. It was nice meeting all of the other vampires in this one. They really pulled together as a family. Bottom line is this movie was epic! You must go see it! If you haven't seen the previous Twilight movies, I'd recommend watching those too, I especially love the first one. 

Do you love Twilight?

Maybe even hate it?

Have you seen this one?

Leave me a comment :)

Book Review: Under Mr. Nolan's Bed by Selena Kitt (18+)

Goodreads - Amazon

B&N - Excessica

Leah and Erica have been best friends and have gone to the same Catholic school since just about forever. Leah spends so much time with the Nolan's--just Erica and her handsome father, now, since Erica's mother died--that she's practically part of the family.

When the girls find something naughty under Mr. Nolan's bed, their strict, repressive upbringing makes it all the more exciting as they begin their sexual experimentation. Leah's exploration presses deeper, and eventually she finds herself torn between her best friend and her best friend's father--but even she couldn't have predicted the shocking and bittersweet outcome of their affair.

My Thoughts:
Before starting this book I did not read the synopsis. I didn't have to. All I needed to know was that Selena Kitt wrote it, and at this point I will read and love pretty much anything that she writes. So, just by the title of this book, I assumed that it was a teacher/student thing. You know?... With the whole 'Mr.' part, but it was totally something different. When I looked up this book on Goodreads, I saw that there was an original version and a revised version. I believe I read the original version. I couldn't find anywhere to purchase the original version. All the sites now have the revised one. And on Excessica it even has a new title called Plaid Skirt Confessions.

What a wild, wild ride this one was! I couldn't get enough of this author, so right after finishing Heidi and the Kaiser I had to read something else by her. I first heard about this book when my sister told me she had heard really great things about it and wanted to read it. Man, those rumors are so true. Every part of the whole Catholic school girl fantasy is played out in this one. And adding in the best friend's dad. AMAZING!

There's not really a whole lot to say about this book without spoiling it and giving something away. So I'll just point out a few things:
-The sex scenes are HOT!
-The descriptions are very in depth.
-Underneath all the sex, the characters do have good personalities.
-There was a little shocker at the end that I really didn't see coming.

This book does have a little bit of a certain taboo subject, but honestly, nobody but Selena Kitt could write and make it sound so amazing and so hot!

From Selena Kitt:
*Note to readers of Plaid Skirt Confessions: This story appeared in another, now rather infamous book of mine (Under Mr. Nolan's Bed). This tale is a slightly less naughty, but no less sexy re-telling of those events--updated and redressed for your reading pleasure with an ending that may leave you a little more satisfied.

*Warnings: This title contains erotic situations, lesbian sex, sex toys, and also makes mention of pornography, salmon, amusement parks, chocolate covered strawberries, brownies (as well as girl scouts), plaid skirts, naughty uses for confessionals and some sacrilegious humor.

I gave this one five stars.

Have you read any Selena Kitt?

I can't get enough of her!

Have a great day!

Happy Thanksgiving!

I just wanted to say a quick Happy Thanksgiving to everyone who celebrates! And if you don't, I hope you have an all around good day! 

I thought I'd talk a little about our Thanksgiving:

1. Watch the Thanksgiving day parade.

2. Do the final preparations for the food.

3. Shower and get prettied up.

4. Wait for everyone to show up.

5.Watch football.

6. And EAT EAT EAT!

Our usual Thanksgiving menu is something like: Honey Baked Ham, turkey, stuffing, green bean casserole, pasta salad, pies galore, every kind of cider, eggnog, ice cream, and even a little champagne. 

But sadly, this year it will be so very different. We will be without most our family & friends. No brother, no nieces and nephews, no best friends to crash our party, and the most difficult of all: No sister. We won't be making our regular dishes because we won't have a million people coming to dinner. It's weird and sad, but that's just how it will be. 

I'm hoping some of them will be able to come visit around Christmas time, I know we're having a few relatives visit from out of state. And of course Nika will be coming home to stay with us for a month while she's on break from university. I am most excited about that. 

I decided to make this post a little fun: 

1. What is your favorite Thanksgiving side dish?

Stuffing or dressing. Whatever you prefer to call it!

2. What is your favorite Thanksgiving dessert?

Peach cobbler or cherry pie... yum!

3. Do you like just the turkey, just the sides, or both?

I usually don't eat turkey. I prefer ham. But I like the sides and the main meat.

4. What does your ideal Thanksgiving outfit look like?

Usually black, with a little pop of color.

5. What is your best Thanksgiving memory?

Probably Thanksgiving Day 2010, we had a lot of people over. And everyone was so happy. It was just a perfect holiday.

6. How many words can you make out of "GOBBLE"?

Globe, lobe, go, be, bob, leg, ego, ole, log, beg, blob.

7. Least favorite Thanksgiving dish?

Yams.

8. Do you have any quirky Thanksgiving family traditions?

Not really, we tend to always end up playing cards though.

9. Where do you and your family usually celebrate Thanksgiving?

At my parents house.

10. What are you most thankful for?

This year has been very crazy. I'm thankful to have found a job so easily after moving out of state and surviving being away from our family and my sister. I'm thankful I'm happy and healthy. I'm thankful that my aunt's cancer is still in remission. 

11. How many words can you make out of THANKSGIVING?

Thanks, giving, tank, tanks, having, saving, taking, king, than, gang, gangs, thank. 

12. What is one word to describe thanksgiving for you and your family? why?

Crazy. Because it's the best organized chaos you've ever seen. People running all over, everyone has their own task plus you're trying to help kids and watch them and finish cooking and do your makeup and call so and so to make sure they're on their way. And then at the end of the day it feel so calm. 

Have a fabulous day!

Waiting on Wednesday: Anything He Wants

Waiting On Wednesday #14!  "Waiting On" Wednesday is a weekly event, hosted by Breaking the Spine, that spotlights upcoming releases that we're eagerly anticipating.
This week my pick is:

Anything He Wants by Sara Fawkes

Expected Publication: Nov 27, 2012

Synopsis:

First published as a five-part e serial novel, Anything He Wants inflamed imaginations everywhere and became a national bestseller.  Now available for the first time ever as a complete book, this edition contains never-before-released scenes and special bonus material. Don’t miss this erotic tale of  a powerful billionaire who always gets what he wants and the young woman who’s about to enter his exclusive realm--a world of glittering opulence and all-consuming passion, where she’ll explore the darkest reaches of her own desire.

Lucy Delacourt's temp position isn't quite her dream job but it pays the bills. The highlight of her day is riding the elevator in the mornings with a handsome stranger. Tall, dark, and sexy as hell, Lucy knows he's way out of her league, but a girl can look, right? 

Everything changes the day the stranger seduces her. Completely out of character, she yields without a fight, but she has no idea her wanton acts with a man whose name she doesn't know will change her life forever. Because the sexy stranger is none other than Jeremiah Hamilton, billionaire CEO of Hamilton Industries, and one taste isn't nearly enough to satisfy his need.  As the billionaire pulls Lucy deeper into his world of high stakes business deals and ruthless takeovers, he demands nothing less than her complete surrender.  But even as enemies seek deadly revenge against him, she’ll discover that her greatest threat is falling for her fiercely guarded boss…and yielding to her own darkest needs.

[Goodreads - Amazon - B&N]

This one sounds really hot.

And super, super amazing.

I hope to be reading this soon!

What are you waiting on?

Book Review: Switch by Megan Hart

Don't think. 

Don't question. 

Just do. 

The anonymous note wasn't for me. Don't get me wrong, I'm not in the habit of reading other people's mail, but it was just a piece of paper with a few lines scrawled on it, clearly meant for the apartment upstairs. It looked so innocent, but decidedly-- deliciously-- it was not.

Before replacing the note--and the ones that followed --in its rightful slot, I devoured its contents: suggestions, instructions, summonses, commands. Each was more daring, more intricate and more arousing than the last... and I followed them all to the letter.

Before the notes, if a man had told me what to do, I'd have told him where to go. But submission is an art, and there's something oddly freeing about doing someone's bidding...especially when it feels so very, very good.

But I find that the more I surrender, the more powerful I feel--so it's time to switch up roles.

We play by my rules now.

[Goodreads - Amazon - B&N]

My Thoughts:

Okay... I'm just gonna come right out and say it... This book was crap and a major let down... So let's get into the why. First off, this is the first book I've read by Megan Hart. I had others planned to read first, like: Dirty & Tempted. But I was walking through Wal-Mart and happened to see this on one of the end caps. And I thought she's a best selling author, and the synopsis sounds good, I'll take a chance and get it. Man! I was so wrong! Big mistake on my part...

The first part of this review will be spoiler free and then I will begin my rant and I'll talk about the entire book, even the part that I couldn't bare to read, but looked it up because I had to know what happened. 

So, in the synopsis it says "Don't think. Don't question. Just do." It should say "Don't think. Don't question. Just keep on walking." Pass this book up! When I read the synopsis I assumed she would find these letters and start some sort of relationship with the person sending them. And by the last part, "we play by my rules now," I figured she would be the more dominant person in said relationship. This book has absolutely nothing to do with domination or submission. Or anything that the synopsis might hint into to.

This book is about a woman who is obsessed with stationary and starts finding these notes in her mailbox, so she starts following the instructions and replaces the notes in the correct box. The stupid thing is... How is it fun if the other end doesn't know you're even playing, let alone complying? So in the book, you pretty much just go along with her daily life, it's nothing special except she's a slut. At least we have something to read about.

Now I'll go on with my rant... The beginning of this book she's going partying with her friend. And pretty much looking for someone to have to sex with. She ends up seeing her ex husband. And has sex with him. And there's a lot of flash backs. They're fairly boring. The sex scenes are okay, not horrible, but not great. She does use some weird terminology, maybe I'm just sheltered, but I have never heard anyone ever refer to a penis as a prick. I do know that it's used to call someone a dick. But never heard it actually used as a name for a penis.

So finally she meets the guy that is receiving the letters and she has a little date with him. I think that part of the book was actually interesting because I was thinking it could really take off, it could really turn out to be a great book. But then it didn't. So she has sex with pretty much everyone, including her boss. And then ends up getting back with her ex husband. That's pretty much the end.

Have you read Megan Hart?

Did you read Switch?

Did you like it?