moving to wonderland

one of the reasons i started this blog was to talk about one of my passion: books. over the years, i have blogged about the books that i have read and last night while i was chatting with my friend, she gave me an idea to bring back my focus on books. that's why i've decided to create a separate book blog that i aptly named, pages from wonderland. (big thanks to my friend for coming up with this cool name!)

in the next couple of days, i will be transferring my old book posts from this blog to the wonderland blog and hopefully i can continue to create better reviews in the future! occasionally, i will probably squeeze a couple of movie reviews (my other passion) too (either in this blog or the pfw blog).

here's the link: pagesfromwonderland.wordpress.com

happy reading!

april 2012 book list

this month, i thought i'd read a book from different genres.. i tried to expand my selection a bit but didn't have a lot of time.

21 baby drive south by stephanie bond

The hardheaded Armstrong brothers are determined to rebuild their tornado-ravaged hometown in the Georgia mountains. They've got the means, they've got the manpower…what they need are women! So they place an ad in a northern newspaper and wait for the ladies to answer their call….
Porter, the youngest Armstrong, is all for importing women. Still, he's so blown away by the sheer numbers, he falls off the water tower. Luckily there's a doctor among the newcomers—sweet and sexy Dr. Nikki Salinger. And Porter has every intention of checking out her bedside manner….

4 stars - this is the first book of the southern roads trilogy about 3 brothers trying to rebuild their hometown. there's nothing special about the story but i like the characters and the buildup of the relationship between porter and nikki.

22 girl at sea by maureen johnson

The Girl: Clio Ford, seventeen, wants to spend the summer smooching her art-store crush, not stuck on a boat in the Mediterranean. At least she'll get a killer tan.
The Mission: Survive her father's crazy antics. Oh, and also find some missing underwater treasure that could unlock the secrets of civilization.
The Crew: Dad's wacky best friend Martin, his bizarre research partner Julia, her voluptuous daughter Elsa . . . and then there's Aidan, Julia's incredibly attractive, incredibly arrogant assistant.

3.5 stars - i have been trying to read this book for months but it was only now that i actually sat down and read the whole book. i like clio and elsa but i didnt like dad and julia. i wasn't sure about aidan though, feels like he never showed interest in clio yet he told her he liked her from the moment he saw her and he was grumpy. the missing underwater treasure plot dragged and the treasure didn't really feel like such. i also skipped over the parts retelling the story of the lady. but overall it was an okay read if you have nothing to do in an afternoon.

23 the deed by lynsay sands

Lady Emmalene Eberhart wanted to do it. She’d even begged an audience with the King so that he would order her husband to do it— because she was determined to be a good wife. But then her husband died, and Emma remained a virgin.
Now the innocent young beauty finds herself with an ample dowry and promised to Amaury de Aneford, a landless knight whose able sword helped defend the King’s crown. Surely her new husband would want to do the deed, for his rugged good looks certainly make Emma’s heart skip more than a beat. And Emma suspects there is more to a wedding night than just a sound sleep . . . and more to true love than she ever imagined.

4 stars - i remember back in high school when i loved historical romances cause they had traditional values, hot dukes, gorgeous ladies and beautiful love story. but now, reading this genre just wanted to make me laugh from the absurdity of the plot. or maybe it was just this book in particular. though this book mixed romance with some mystery and action so it was alright. author kept it interesting by making the story fast paced so despite the thin plotline, i still enjoyed this book.

24 spellbound by rachel hawkins

Just as Sophie Mercer has come to accept her extraordinary magical powers as a demon, the Prodigium Council strips them away. Now Sophie is defenseless, alone, and at the mercy of her sworn enemies—the Brannicks, a family of warrior women who hunt down the Prodigium.  Or at least that’s what Sophie thinks, until she makes a surprising discovery. The Brannicks know an epic war is coming, and they believe Sophie is the only one powerful enough to stop the world from ending. But without her magic, Sophie isn’t as confident. Sophie’s bound for one hell of a ride—can she get her powers back before it’s too late?

4 stars - final book of the hex hall trilogy which i quite enjoyed. though honestly i kind of forgotten the story of the second book (i just remember them trapped in the house then the kids she was staying with were controlled by demons etc). it did sort of reminded me of harry potter when they all went back to hogwarts to protect the school though the difference is in hex hall, the bad people are running the school. i liked the final fight scene. and the ending was satisfying. again, so many other books that trumps twilight like this series.

25 any given christmas by candis terry

Dean Silverthorne's mother may be dead, but she still has matchmaking to do.
When an injury dashes NFL Quarterback Dean Silverthorne's Super Bowl dreams, he heads back to Deer Lick, Montana, with a chip on his wounded shoulder, more determined than ever to get back in the game. He loves his kooky family, but this trip home is going to be a very brief Christmas visit.
His game plan doesn't include an instant attraction to Emma Hart, a feisty kindergarten teacher who seems to be the only person in Deer Lick not interested in the hometown hero. Or his dearly departed mom popping up with mistletoe in hand and meddling on the mind. Now Dean can't help but wonder if there's more to love than life between the goal posts.

4 stars - this is the second book of the sugar shack series (i haven't read the first book) though it doesnt matter. i dont understand what's the purpose of the dead mom trying to matchmake her children, this could have been left out or they could have kept the mom alive and the plot would still move along. i think i've read a couple of books similar to this one (yes because i love sports romances esp between an athlete and a totally different personality) so while this was a fun and easy read, it was nothing groundbreaking.

march 2012 book list

great month for book reading since i'm holed up in the hotel room for 2 weeks with little internet and tv selections.

11. battle hymn of the tiger mother by amy chua

An awe-inspiring, often hilarious, and unerringly honest story of one mother's exercise in extreme parenting, revealing the rewards-and the costs-of raising her children the Chinese way.
All decent parents want to do what's best for their children. What Battle Hymn of the Tiger Mother reveals is that the Chinese just have a totally different idea of how to do that. Western parents try to respect their children's individuality, encouraging them to pursue their true passions and providing a nurturing environment. The Chinese believe that the best way to protect your children is by preparing them for the future and arming them with skills, strong work habits, and inner confidence. Battle Hymn of the Tiger Mother chronicles Chua's iron-willed decision to raise her daughters, Sophia and Lulu, her way-the Chinese way-and the remarkable results her choice inspires.
But Chua demands as much of herself as she does of her daughters. And in her sacrifices-the exacting attention spent studying her daughters' performances, the office hours lost shuttling the girls to lessons-the depth of her love for her children becomes clear. Battle Hymn of the Tiger Mother is an eye-opening exploration of the differences in Eastern and Western parenting--and the lessons parents and children everywhere teach one another.
3.5 stars - when i heard that amy chua is a filipino chinese living in america, i was curious to read the book, not because of her controversial topic, but because i wanted to see if we had the same experience growing up, since i'm also a filipino-chinese. one of my best friends have read the book and she found it amusing because it reminded her a bit of her childhood. so i finally got a copy and read the book.
in some ways what she is saying is true, like the thinking of the "chinese" parents is similar to how my mom thinks. my mom was never as bad as amy was to her kids but i guess it's because i'm not a prodigy. and this book didn't focus on their academics, it focused more on her children playing the violin and the piano. i guess if i had the gift that sophie and lulu had, my mom probably would have done the same thing. oh, i almost forgot, my mom is a tiger and i'm a monkey (the worst match since tigers and monkeys do not get along). my mom did make me play the piano but i was like lulu when it comes to practicing. i would waste time laughing and playing pranks than practicing. finally after telling my mom that i really dont want to learn piano, she let me off. academics wise, i was a good kid and was on the honor roll so my mom mostly left me alone (though i still remember moments where i would cry when my mom would repeatedly spank, scold, slap me with a metal ruler if i didn't know the answer) and focused her attention to my less bookish brother.
on the book however, i think the media just made a big deal out of this book because they are "western"parents so just like what amy was saying in thebook, western parents have different ideas about rearing children so i guess to them they were aghast at the "abuse" amy seemed to be putting on her kids. for me, i felt bad about her kids but then i remember i had a similar childhood of not having a lot of free time. on weekends i am obliged to work at our family business since i was in grade school until i finished college. and i agreed with amy and lulu. looking back, if my mom was less lenient on me i probably wouldn't be as diligent as i am now. i value hard work and patience. i value the discipline that she and my school instilled in me. and while my mom and i continue to be at odds at every single turn, i'm proud of her and thank her for pushing me hard when i was young so i can enjoy and reap the benefits i'm getting now.

12. damn you, auto correct! by jillian madison

“Damn You, Autocorrect!”
If you own an iPhone, BlackBerry, Droid, or any smartphone, there’s a good chance you’ve screamed that phrase out at least once. In Damn You, Autocorrect! Pop-culture blogger Jillian Madison shows you are not alone.
Filled with submissions from readers of her popular website, this laugh-out-loud funny book features cringe-worthy exchanges with parents, friends, significant others, and co-workers that contain some of the most unintentionally hilarious—and mortifying—mistakes ever caused by Autocorrect. Inside, you’ll find a husband who tells his wife that he just “laid” (paid) the babysitter, a dad who tells his daughter that he and her mom are going to “divorce” (Disney), and many more epic texting fails too raunchy to list here.
Whether you love technology, texting humor, or taking just a little bit of pleasure in the misfortune of others, Damn You, Autocorrect! will leave you laughing until you cry, and thankful that nothing this embarrassing has happened to you. Yet.

4 stars - this is really a book, but more like a compilation of auto correct fail. very very quick read. had me laughing out loud for most parts. i am one of those people who has disabled auto correct so this doesn't happen to me. now i dont understand why people continue to enable this feature and blame autocorrect if they send out inappropriate texts but nevermind. it is hilarious reading them!

13. don't mess with texas by christie craig

Nikki Hunt thought her night couldn't get worse when her no-good, cheating ex ditched her at dinner, sticking her with the bill. Then she found his body stuffed in the trunk of her car and lost her two-hundred-dollar meal all over his three-thousand-dollar suit. Now not only is Nikki nearly broke, she's a murder suspect.
Former cop turned PI, Dallas O'Connor knows what it's like to be unjustly accused. But one look at the sexy-though skittish-suspect tells him she couldn't hurt anyone. The lead detective, Dallas's own brother, has the wrong woman and Dallas hopes a little late-night "undercover" work will help him prove it . . .

4 stars - this was quick and fun read just like her other novels. i like all characters and looking forward to the  stories of the other brothers.

14. geek girl's guide to cheerleading by charity tahmaseb
When self-proclaimed geek girl Bethany becomes the newest member of the varsity cheerleading squad, she realizes that there’s one thing worse than blending in to the lockers: getting noticed. Who knew cheerleading was so hard? Well, at least there’s a manual. Too bad it doesn’t cover any of the tough questions like: What do you do when the head cheerleader spills her beer on you at your first in-crowd party? And how do you protect your best friend from the biggest player in the senior class? Bethany is going to need all her geek brainpower just to survive the season!
4 stars - love bethany and i didn't really understand how she can be friends with moni who was hungry for popularity and didn't even considered her feelings and dropped her even after all she did for her. but it's good she learned her lesson and they became friends again. i was confused with the wrestler guy though if he  actualy liked moni or not.

15. i've got your number by sophie kinsella

Poppy Wyatt has never felt luckier. She is about to marry her ideal man, Magnus Tavish, but in one afternoon her “happily ever after” begins to fall apart. Not only has she lost her engagement ring in a hotel fire drill but in the panic that follows, her phone is stolen. As she paces shakily around the lobby, she spots an abandoned phone in a trash can. Finders keepers! Now she can leave a number for the hotel to contact her when they find her ring. Perfect!
Well, perfect except that the phone’s owner, businessman Sam Roxton, doesn’t agree. He wants his phone back and doesn’t appreciate Poppy reading his messages and wading into his personal life.
What ensues is a hilarious and unpredictable turn of events as Poppy and Sam increasingly upend each other’s lives through emails and text messages. As Poppy juggles wedding preparations, mysterious phone calls, and hiding her left hand from Magnus and his parents . . . she soon realizes that she is in for the biggest surprise of her life.

4.5 stars - the plot is very flimsy but i was still drawn to both characters and their chemistry. it's not easy to  find someone that you feel instant connection too and be able to communicate with them without those awkward pauses. the story somehow seems similar to can you keep a secret that's why i liked it because the shopaholic series was too much. and i was one of those people who cheered when she finally made the right decision to break up with her fiance. i understand going to the safe route but i believe we should not sacrifice our happiness just because people around us are pressuring us to settle down. 

16. lethal by sandra brown

When her four year old daughter informs her a sick man is in their yard, Honor Gillette rushes out to help him. But that "sick" man turns out to be Lee Coburn, the man accused of murdering seven people the night before. Dangerous, desperate, and armed, he promises Honor that she and her daughter won't be hurt as long as she does everything he asks. She has no choice but to accept him at his word.
But Honor soon discovers that even those close to her can't be trusted. Coburn claims that her beloved late husband possessed something extremely valuable that places Honor and her daughter in grave danger. Coburn is there to retrieve it -- at any cost. From FBI offices in Washington, D.C., to a rundown shrimp boat in coastal Louisiana, Coburn and Honor run for their lives from the very people sworn to protect them, and unravel a web of corruption and depravity that threatens not only them, but the fabric of our society

4 stars - i've been reading her books since i was in high school and i know she can do better than the okay but forgettable novels that she has been releasing of late (smash cut, tough customer, smoke screen, ricochet, play dirty). most of her newer stories are more political and farfetched stories that are not as interesting as before, and this impedes me from enjoying the books. the characters for example, the hero has become darker, more of a wrongly accused bad boy but actually a good guy. while the heroine is almost always married or was married to a seemingly good guy but actually a bad guy.. starting to get what i mean? for book is just like her previous novels except it was more fast paced with a "which one is the bad guy" vibe like charade or mirror image (2 of my favorite novels). but 3 things that made me rate this a 4 instead of 4.5 are: the heroine's name is honor which is the same first name as her heroine in another book, the reveal of the bad guy was a bit unbelievable and anti climactic, and the open endend epilogue seemed like she ran out of pages and left it at that.

17. faking faith by josie bloss

Dylan Mahoney is living one big unholy lie.
Thanks to a humiliating and painfully public sexting incident, Dylan has become the social pariah at her suburban Chicago high school. She’s ignored by everyone—when she’s not being taunted—and estranged from her two best friends. So when Dylan discovers the blogs of homeschooled fundamentalist Christian girls, she’s immediately drawn into their fascinating world of hope chests, chaperoned courtships, and wifely submission.
Blogging as Faith, her devout and wholesome alter ego, Dylan befriends Abigail, the online group’s queen bee. After staying with Abigail and her family for a few days, Dylan begins to grow closer to Abigail (and her intriguingly complicated older brother). Soon, Dylan is forced to choose: keep living a lie . . . or come clean and face the consequences.

3.5 stars - the thing about this book is that the premise is so weird, i couldn't help but be like her and get so engrossed with the story. i am catholic but not like them that's very conservative and i feel like i'm friends with dylan and have asked her to go to their place and see what it looks like. and that's why at some point i also  felt bad. i dont know if she was really curious or she was criticizing their lifestyle. while she had the best intentions, she is still young and has not realized that there are so many different cultures that we should try to understand them, there is no one way and your life is not the right one just because you live it. but what i'm most glad about this book is the friendship that was formed between dylan and abigail. i know there will not be any sequel but i hope that they meet when they're older and still be friends.

18. international kissing club by ivy adams
Piper, Cassidy, Mei, and Izzy have been best friends their whole lives. And they've always agreed on one goal: to get out of tiny Paris, Texas, and see the world. The school's foreign exchange program seems like the perfect escape: Piper will go to the original Paris; Mei will go to China; Cassidy will go to Australia; and Izzy, unable to afford the program, will stay at home. To add spice to their semester away, and to stay connected to their best friends, the girls start The International Kissing Club, a Facebook page where they can anonymously update one another and brag about all the amazing guys they're meeting. After all, these girls are traveling abroad: amazing guys abound at every turn! But sometimes fun, flirty vacation flings turn into more serious romances, and sometimes you don't return from abroad the same person you were. Will the girls' relationships-and their friendships-be able to survive?
3 stars - i almost put down this book mainly because i didn't like half of the characters and their stories and the facebook pages i just skipped. at first i thought piper was the lead but she was the least that i liked. and i think the reason people keep making fun of her is because she has low self esteem. and i thought as her friends, they should not only support her, they should also scold her and help her be stronger. i dont know if she will end up with sebastian, but im glad she didn't now because she needed to grow up first. i like cassidy and lucas, they were sweet. i also liked izzy and tanner. for mei, i liked that the author was realistic in telling a mature theme like adoption. im not adopted but im sure it's difficult to be one and be searching for your identity. and im glad she realized that her current family loves her.

19. kiss and blog by alyson noel

As freshmen at Ocean High last year, Winter and her best friend Sloane thought they could ditch their nerdy past, launching from invisible to cool.  But after another miserable year of standing on the sidelines they make a pact to do whatever it takes not to go unnoticed in their sophomore year, promising each other that whoever makes it into the cool group first will bring the other along.
One Sloane gets a taste of life on the A-list, she slams that door in Winter's face.  Suddenly cast out of her former best friend's life, Winter takes revenge the modern way: by announcing all of Sloane's dirty little secrets on an anonymous blog.  Then the blog becomes more popular than she ever dreamed and Winter must decide if her retaliation is really worth the consequences--and if the price for popularity is one she's willing to pay.  Once again, Alyson Noël navigates the tricky waters of the high school social scene with the heart and humor her readers have come to love.

3.5 stars - i like the story except for the main part -- which is creating a blog about her ex friend. im not really sure what was the point of her putting a blog except maybe for them to sort of patch up in the end? but still, i think no matter how angry you are, you shouldn't be doing that to someone, especially someone you considered as a friend. that's just mean and there are some things that are just meant to be private. if she felt writing as therapeutic, there are other venues for that, like writing in good old diary or marking the blog as private. that also shows how scary social networking is.

20. bloody valentine by melissa dela cruz
Vampires have powers beyond human comprehension: strength that defies logic, speed that cannot be captured on film, the ability to shapeshift and more. But in matters of the heart, no one, not even the strikingly beautiful and outrageously wealthy Blue Bloods, has total control. In Bloody Valentine, bestselling author Melissa de la Cruz offers readers a new story about the love lives of their favorite vamps - the passion and heartache, the hope and devastation, the lust and longing. Combined with all the glitz, glamour, and mystery fans have come to expect, this is sure to be another huge hit in the Blue Bloods series.
4 stars - i have been following the blue bloods series since book 1 came out, while the stories are getting more complex, it still focuses on sky and i love this book because she finally bonds with jack. i wish they make a tv series of this or made a movie of this instead of twilight which was really just fluff. my only problem is feels like the author is trying to milk the readers by releasing short novellas like this before releasing a full book with meatier content.

feb 2012 book list

5. pure red by danielle joseph

I, Cassia Bernard, do solemnly swear to find pure red—my passion—this summer. Dad's passion is art. When he's painting, no one can reach him, not even me. My mom's passion was the ocean. She said the ocean allows you to see whatever you want to see. That was one of the last things she ever said to me...
Sometimes what your heart desires isn't what it needs. Over the course of a hot Miami summer, sixteen-year-old Cassia discovers that sometimes it takes bullies and basketball, a best friend, and a gorgeous guy to help you understand what you actually need—and to help you see that, maybe, everything isn't so black and white.
3.5 stars - this was an eas read. liked the meanings of the colors. liked how the book shows that you can have several passions. felt the romance with graham was a bit rushed and underdeveloped - felt like he was more interested in art and talking to her dad then her then they had one date and they are together? also liked the story about the dad and them resolving their issues.


6. baby it's cold outside by addison fox

After a frantic call, Sloan McKinley travels to the heart of the Alaskan wilderness to be there for her best friend, who's just inherited property in the small town of Indigo. The last thing she expects is to be lured by the town's matriarchs into their annual contest to get their grandsons married off.
But Sloan can't deny the appeal of the rugged local men-Walker Montgomery in particular. Soon she finds herself falling in love with the wild outdoors...and with one of Indigo's most beloved residents. There's just one question that remains: is the town's most confirmed bachelor ready to get caught?
4 stars - love the story between the different characters though it kinda hindered with the storytelling trying to introduce each pair while focusing on walker and sloan, but enough to be invested and eagerly anticipating the sequels. there's nothing new with the story... boy and girl meet in a small town, both afraid to love and both falling anyways. i guess it's how the autho wrote the story that kept it interesting and enjoyable to read. 


7. black ties and lullabyes by jane graves

Bernadette Hogan doesn't make mistakes. Not when it comes to caring for her mother, and not at her job protecting Texas's most eligible--and infuriating--bachelor. Maybe that's why she's overcome with guilt after one tiny indiscretion: a passionate fling with her boss that's left her confused, intrigued...and pregnant.
To self-made millionaire Jeremy Bridges, women are like fine wine: if held for too long, they sour. But one wild night with Bernadette changed all that. She makes him laugh, she makes him think, and soon she's going to make him a father. For the first time, Jeremy wants to be a one-woman man. So how can he convince the fiercely independent Bernadette he's ready to change from partying playboy to dependable dad--and become the loving husband she deserves?
4.5 stars - amazing how many books i can read when internet is down and im sitting on the cool sandy beach without a care in the world. i started reading this book in the morning and didn't stop until i had to pack up and check out. love rich, handsome arrogant guys who fall mightily for the simple yet strong independent woman. though sometimes you tend to think if this really happens inreality or just in fiction. i guess this is what most girls want.. to feel like they caught the best man who thinks they are also the best woman. she may not be the prettiest, sexiest, smartest but that one man she is everything. the premise is very standard chicklit but this story still tugged my heart.

8. catching jordan by miranda kinneally

What girl doesn't want to be surrounded by gorgeous jocks day in and day out? Jordan Woods isn't just surrounded by hot guys, though- she leads them as the captain and quarterback of her high school football team. They all see her as one of the guys and that's just fine. As long as she gets her athletic scholarship to a powerhouse university.
But everything she's ever worked for is threatened when Ty Greeen moves to her school. Not only is he an amazing QB, but he's also amazingly hot. And for the first time, Jordan's feeling vulnerable. Can she keep her head in the game while her heart's on the line?
4 stars - i like books of girls falling in love with her best guy friend... as well as awkward girls getting the hottest guy in school. so this book for me could have gone either ways. i like the first part when jordan started liking ty. but then henry suddenly dropped the bomb that he loves her and suddenly she likes him back? the transition was too fast and the author never made the reader feel that they were more than best friends. also, why would jor have sex with ty even before they become a couple? call me prude but that's just icky. so now the book made me shift my attention to henry-jor and then henry stops speaking to jor! i was as confused with the book as jor!! it just didn't made sense to me and the no-speaking just dragged the story. on the other hand, i liked the development between the dad and jor and about football. i considered giving this book 3.5 stars but the feel-good ending and how the author didnt make ty a bad guy made me finally rate this a 4 stars.


9. getting over garret delaney by abby mcdonald
Seventeen-year-old Sadie is in love: epic, heartfelt, and utterly onesided. The object of her obsession - ahem, affection - is her best friend, Garrett Delaney, who has been oblivious to Sadie's
feelings ever since he sauntered into her life and wowed her with his passion for Proust (not to mention his deep-blue eyes). For two long, painful years, Sadie has been Garrett's constant companion, sharing his taste in everything from tragic Russian literature to art films to '80s indie rock
- all to no avail. But when Garrett leaves for a summer literary retreat, Sadie is sure that the absence will make his heart grow fonder - until he calls to say he's fallen in love. With some other girl! A
heartbroken Sadie realizes that she's finally had enough. It's time for total Garrett detox! Aided by a barista job, an eclectic crew of new friends (including the hunky chef, Josh), and a customized selfhelp
guide, Sadie embarks on a summer of personal reinvention full of laughter, mortifying meltdowns, and a double shot of love.
4 stars - i had pre-conceived expectations on how this book would go.. girl is in love with her best friend, bf goes away for the summer, girls meets boy at a summer job and fall in love, bf comes back but she eventually chooses new boy.. well.. it is mostly that but i was surprised that this isn't just about romance but more on self-discovery. all through out the book the story tackled on how girl and bf was in their own little world together. while that doesn't necessarily sound bad, it does tend to limit your self-growth when you close off all other relationships with other people and then you come off as obsessive... or when you try to follow or ship the other person so much you end up losing your identity. this book showed us a different side of being in love with a person.. the unhealthy kind and i loved how new and old friends helpe her have a new perspective in life. now while i expect that she ends up with josh, what i didn't expect was how garrett ended up being shown as a jerk who seems in love with himself more than being supposedly best friends with a girl. it made me ask myself if he really liked her or not. i think what the story lacked was a heart to heart talk between the two because it did seem like girl and her friends were analyzing garret's actions without the girl even talking seriously to him and how hurt she was. i thought as best friends they can have that talk and forgive each other but the story went on the total "let-go-and-move-on" scenario. on the other hand, there was little interaction between josh and girl and even less hints that josh liked her but i think the whole point of the whole story is for her to move on and realize there are other fishes in the sea.

10. bridesmaid lotto by rachel astor
Josie’s quite content to be single, much to her mother’s disappointment. So when a bizarre contest is announced where a socialite is holding a lottery to pick her bridesmaids (and rake in a little extra cash), she can’t roll her eyes fast enough, even if it does mean meeting Jake Hall, her one and only movie star crush. Obviously, Josie doesn’t enter the bridesmaid lottery, so you can imagine her surprise when her picture pops up among the winners, thanks to Mom. With a little prodding -- okay bribing -- Josie agrees to participate.
The wedding turns into the event of the year, and Josie finds herself in the middle of a paparazzi feeding frenzy, which gets even crazier after Jake Hall takes a special interest in her.
Can Josie handle the pressure in the spotlight? Is it possible she might really have a chance with Jake Hall?
3.5 stars - to enjoy this novel, one has to suspend disbelief and pretend the fantasy is possible and just go with the flow. i mean, who makes a lotto out of her own wedding? and who would want to attend a wedding where you dont know most people and even be a bridesmaid to a stranger? josie doesn' really exude a good heroine for me. people keep saying she is gorgeous but she has low self-esteem. not sure if the author wants to tell us that regular average girls can also date hot movie stars. next is jake hall. it would have been nice if the author gave his pov every now and then coz we can't tell what's on his mind. sometimes josie thinks he is ignoring her then a few beats later he approaches her and he seems interested. but then he never calls just emails or talks to her when they see each other. on the other hand, i was expecting jake to be the cynic playboy so i was surprised that he was the perfect nice guy. at first, i though putting matty as the gay best friend was so cliche and i thought it should have been calla who is close to josie so was surprised that matty was a great friend and calla was the twist in the story, though i felt bad that she had to be the bad person. emma van horn was pretty useless.. dont know why she was in the story other than to setup the whole premise. she didn't even bother befriending the bridesmaids and is just so fake. i like jennifer and hoped that she had her own story rahter than setting a trilogy of josie's disaster diary which i just skipped. oh, lastly the mom. i just want to wring her neck! first she pushes josie to join the lotto and is embarrassed by her? it's all her fault and josie wuldn't have agreed if she didn't pay for her vacation and she backs off at the last minute? i was planning to give this book 4 stars but after mentioning all the above i think im bringing the rating down to 3.5 stars.

Jan 2012 Booklist

starting the year right by reading a couple of books!

1 abbi glines the vincent boys

Being the good girl isn’t all it’s cracked up to be. Ashton Gray has grown weary of playing the part to please her parents, and to be worthy of the town’s prince charming, Sawyer Vincent. Maybe That’s why she’s found herself spending time with Sawyer’s cousin, Beau, while he’s away for the summer camping with his family. Beau is nothing like her perfect boyfriend. He’s the sexiest guy she’s ever seen, dangerous in ways she’s only day dreamed about, and the one guy she should stay away from. 

Beau never envied Sawyer his loving parents, his big nice home, or his position as quarterback. He loves him like a brother. Which is why he's tried everything in his power to keep his distance from Sawyer’s girlfriend. Even if he has loved her since the age of five, Ashton is Sawyer’s girl, so therefore she’s off limits. But when Sawyer leaves for the summer, Ashton, the one girl Beau would move Heaven and Earth for, decides she wants to get into trouble. Stabbing the one person who’s always accepted him and stood by him in the back, is the cost of finally holding Ashton Gray in his arms. Is she worth losing his cousin over?.... Hell Yeah.

4 stars - liked how the author was able to tackle the story with all characters being hurt but not bitter and learning to forgive and move on. I guess that shows true friendship and love.

2 until there was you kristan higgins 

Posey Osterhagen can't complain. She owns a successful architectural salvaging company, she's surrounded by her lovable, if off-center, family and she has a boyfriend—sort of. Still, something's missing. Something tall, brooding and criminally good-looking…something like Liam Murphy.

When Posey was sixteen, the bad boy of Bellsford, New Hampshire, broke her heart. But now he's back, sending Posey's traitorous schoolgirl heart into overdrive once again. She should be giving him a wide berth, but it seems fate has other ideas….

4 stars - I love all of her books and first time the book showed both characters pov. At first i couldnt understand why posey liked liam so much. Liam basically ignored her. But i liked how he came back they met again and this time liam was able to see her as a woman. I think posey was cute with her huge crush and im glad she became mature abt it and it turned to real love. I didnt like though that posey was a bit of a doormat. And i hate gretchen. I love nicole. Liams overprotectiveness was a lil bit off but at least he learned to mellow down in the end.

3 days of gold jude deveraux

Angus McTern is respected by the men of his clan and adored by the women. He takes his duties as laird seriously and has everything he wants in life—until Edilean Talbot shows up. Breathtakingly beautiful and born of privilege, Edilean needs Angus’s help to reclaim the gold she inherited from her father. The treasure is bound for America, but when Angus tries to seize it, he’s accused of kidnapping and theft and has to escape with Edilean to the new country. There they discover almost insurmountable obstacles, and a love as wild and free as the land itself.

3.5 stars - it has been a long time since ive last read a historical romance or something from jude deveraux. I like setting, from scotland traveling to america. I like angus but i dont like the girl that much. For the most part of the story she was just what angus said, she is useless.. she is not smart, she doesnt have any talent. All she has is incredible beauty and lots of gold. The story dwelled on their time spent in the ship together which was fine because we get to see their feelings develop but i didnt like her pettiness. When they landed in america the story dwelled on her with harriet and tabitha.. dont know where the story was leading and it dragged a bit. I fast forwarded my reading until she finally realized what she wanted to do --which is to start a business employing women. I admire her for doing this esp when at the start she didnt like these women. However pages later we find out that the farm manager was tabitha and harriet managed the finances.. so what exactly does she do? And after years of living in america she still doesnt seem to have any purpose or direction in life. Moving on to angus story --i dont know why he suddenly joined the army (until it was explained in one sentence later that he needed to get land). But i feel like it was there so that he can meet up with his clanmates again. The ending tied everything up nicely with james finally dying and everyone is coupled up.

4 education of hailey kendrick by eileen cook

Hailey Kendrick has always done exactly what's expected of her. She has the right friends, dates the right boy, gets good grades, and follows the rules. But one night, Hailey risks everything by breaking a very big rule in a very public way...and with a very unexpected partner in crime. Hailey gets caught, but her accomplice does not, and Hailey takes the fall for both of them. In the process, she loses everything--her best friend, her boyfriend, her popularity, her reputation. But some secrets are worth keeping, no matter the cost...or are they?
4.5 stars - i love books that show the coming of age of a person, because the person gets to discover one's self and thus becoming mature. At first i thought this was going to be a typical falling for your boyfriend's best friend story so i was glad that it wasnt. It's not just hailey who grew up, but also tristan, joel n kelsie. you can really prove that your friendship is true when even after fighting and problems you still stand by each other. While i like drew i thought their relationship was too rushed. He started out as an older more worldly guy then when he kissed her she slapped him. but then when the climax came she finally realized she liked him too. All through out the story hailey didnt seem to think of drew that way except for very few instances when she thought of him as hot. I also like how they tackled the issue between hailey and her dad though i wish that the dad apologized to her instead of resolving it quickly.

dec 2011 booklist

54. katie klein - cross my heart
3.5 stars: while i liked the overall story, i thought the lame twist at the end seemed forced just so to have a dramatic climax. but working of the premise that parker is an undercover cop, can't believe the girl took long to forgive him. yes, he lied but that was his job. i think she was just too young or immature to understand. on the other hand, what is a 22 year old doing, messing with a young girl while on the job. you can say it's love but still have some professionalisn and he even put her in harm's way. so overall, i felt that they were too young to have this kind of relationship. maybe if the girl was in college and he was a fresh cop, the story would have been more reasonable. and why does blake have to be the bad guy in the end? why can't they just break up because the relationship is not working anymore? i think that's the trouble with some stories dealing with third parties... the boyfriend or girlfriend should not always be the bad guy or girl. sometimes relationships just dont work out.

55. jennifer jabaley - crush control
3.5 stars: the story spent too much time with quinton and the girl and less on max and the girl. all we know is that max and the girl have communicated all these years but when she was back in town, there weren't a lot of scenes of max and the girl.. so i felt like either what they were feeling was due to their puppy love when they were kids or their constant communication has turned the crush into love. and i felt sorry for quinton, all through out the story he was "controlled" by the spell so we didnt have the chance to really meet quinton as normal person.

56. toni blake - holly lane
4 stars: ive never really liked sue ann that much in the previous books but i was surprised and felt for her when jeff cheated and left her. her confused feelings and refusal to love adam back maybe a bit painful to read chapter after chapter but it was a reasonable concern. however, if i were her friends, i wouldn't encourage her to start another relationship so quickly after her divorce. she should have let her heart heal first before diving back to love. on the other hand, adam is someone everyone knows and is considered a good guy so i can understand why her friends were fine with it. i didn't like adam's scroogy side and his xmas carol-like side plot, it was cheesy and didn't add much value to the story -- i skipped those parts. and jeff was portrayed as a good guy for the past three books and he suddenly changed to a jerk without reason. hope there were also more scenes of sue ann and jeff to better explain why he did it.

57. abby mcdonald - boys, bears and a serious pair of hiking boots
3.5 stars: the green teen was a bit extreme, other wise this is an ok story, a bit predictable coz even though there were 3 guys, it was so obvious from the very start who she will end up with (it's always the rude mysterious boy!).

i was only able to read half of what i read in 2010, but that's okay..i still enjoyed the books.. looking forward to another year of good reads!!

oct and nov booklist

october wasn't exactly a busy month for me but i spend most of my time watching my favorite tv shows than reading my Kindle while i was in the mood for reading ebooks during the month of november.

46. ask anyone by sherryl woods

Waking up to discover an antique carousel horse and an armed guard in his front yard is not what Bobby Spencer needs on a quiet Sunday morning. Once again the Spencers are going to be the talk of Trinity Harbor, Virginia. And Bobby isn't feeling very kindly toward the person responsible.
But Jenna Pennington Kennedy is a desperate woman. That carousel horse is her ticket to capturing Bobby's attention and convincing him to offer her the opportunity to plan the town's new riverfront development. It is also her chance to prove to her father that she is a responsible woman and not the reckless kid she'd once been. The last thing Bobby wants in his life is a sexy single mom who's driven to succeed. The last thing Jenna's looking for is another ride on an emotional roller coaster. But in Trinity Harbor, love has a way of defying expectations. Ask anyone.

4 stars. while the story was great, the lack of chemistry and romance between the two made it a bit boring to finish.

47. big girls dont cry by cathie linz
After her plus-size modeling career tanks, Leena Riley becomes a receptionist in her hometown veterinarian's office. Too bad the vet is Cole Flannigan, a boy who taunted her all through school. Good thing Leena has grown into her curves, because he's about to grow very fond of her.
4 stars. fun read. i like both characters but not the rest of the characters.

48. epic fail by claire lazebnik

At Coral Tree Prep in Los Angeles, who your parents are can make or break you. Case in point:
As the son of Hollywood royalty, Derek Edwards is pretty much prince of the school—not that he deigns to acknowledge many of his loyal subjects.
As the daughter of the new principal, Elise Benton isn’t exactly on everyone’s must-sit-next-to-at-lunch list.
When Elise’s beautiful sister catches the eye of the prince’s best friend, Elise gets to spend a lot of time with Derek, making her the envy of every girl on campus. Except she refuses to fall for any of his rare smiles and instead warms up to his enemy, the surprisingly charming social outcast Webster Grant. But in this hilarious tale of fitting in and flirting, not all snubs are undeserved, not all celebrity brats are bratty, and pride and prejudice can get in the way of true love for only so long.

4 stars. i like derek, elise, chase and jules, though chase and jules getting together at the first day of school was just too fast it's unbelievable. the book didn't really explain what derek liked about elise except on the last page which i thought wasn't enough. layla was okay for me but it would have been nice for elise to include layla with them once in a while. i mean she's the sister and they have to be friends right? not sure if there would be a sequal? and im also not sure why the book is called as such. oh, i didn't like the mom very much. she's the principal yet she seems to like the boys more for their popularity than being good boys to her daughters. same with the best friend dianne (even though she had very limited exposure). everyone seems to be obsessed with derek's parents than him but i guess it's his fault for being standoffish but i like how the author made him popular but mysterious and not the usual rich and all around great guy.

49. her best friend's wedding by abby gaines

When did Sadie Beecham get those curves? She'd always been the geek next door, his baby sister Meg's brainy best friend. Smart, sure. But hot? He never would have imagined it…before. Now, Trey Kincaid's imagining all sorts of things. And none of them has to do with Sadie's gifted mind.
A mind, he discovers, she's clearly lost. Because she thinks she's in love with Meg's fiancé. And that's an obsession he's determined to put an end to—one way or the other.

4 stars. loved the characters from the very start. i like that this book talks about having flaws and that there's no such thing as a perfect relationship. there should be give and take and love is not always enough. you also need commitment to make it work.

50. every move she makes by beverly barton
When he was 18 years old, handsome bad boy Reed Conway was convicted of a crime he didn't commit killing his abusive stepfather, Junior Blalock. Out on parole after 15 years and back in his hometown of Spring Creek, Ala., Reed is determined to find the real murderer. But it seems everyone had a reason to kill Junior, including Senator Web Porter, the man who prosecuted Reed when he was the county DA. Meanwhile, the murderer, aware of the danger posed by Reed's probing, arranges events that will put the parolee back in the slammer. Complicating matters further is Reed's attraction to Web's daughter, taciturn Ella Porter. Ella is drawn to Reed's raw strength, and together the two overcome their vastly different backgrounds, join forces and try to find the real killer.
4 stars. i like reed and ella though it's unbelievable that they can fall in love after having short tense encounters that resulted in them always arguing about the past. or maybe their feelings came from when they were still young (before reed was sent to prison) but then the book mentioned that they've never interacted before. midway through the story i had kind of guessed who the killer was because she was the only person that didn't have a redeeming quality (she was too whiny and bitter for the reader to feel bad about her situation). i also thought that the killer was going to such lengths to not get caught that her ideas were strangely getting absurd by every chapter. i thought she was too deranged and i guess i was right after reading the final chapter. she was so consumed with hate and anger she lost all sense. i also didn't like how everyone's sex lives were intertwined with each other. i felt like i was reading the creepy version of melrose place. regina as wade's daughter was fine but cybil as ella's mom is too much. and all throughout the story ohn henry loved carolyn but in the end he actually loved cybil but was just jealous thinking she was in love with wade after one night stand? too lame. oh and ella not knowing all the connections in her family? either she's naive or stupid to not notice all these things happening in her own home. if you do away with logic and just read the book, it's still a fun read.  

51. the man she loves to hate by kelly hunter

Three reasons to keep away from Cole Rees...1. My mom had a scorching affair with his dad--just think how awkward that "meet the family" would be...
2. His arrogance drives me mad--he might be a gorgeous billionaire, but I hate how he knows it!
3. Every time he touches me I go up in flames...and it's utterly terrifying.
Come on, a fling with the man I love to hate? Like that would ever work out...

3.5 stars. i like the story because the conflict was believable. i would have rated this higher but i didn't like that the story seems to condone adultery with rachel saying that it's okay as long as you love the person, which is not right. she didn't even regret or apologize to her daughter for what happened. what kind of mother is that? mothers should be protecting their daughters. also, the book seemed to blame everything on james but rachel was also wrong in having an affair with a married man so openly, even if she didn't take a cent from james. i think this novel focused more on the damage an affair can have on children but the story could have had a deeper impact if there had been a closure between colin's mom and rachel (maybe like a showdown) because there wasn't any. it was like colin's mom became the bad person after james died and rachel is still the woman who loved a man. im not saying im siding with colin's mom since she was also bad but i wish rachel acknowledged her wrong doing to the mom. i thought the ending was also a bit rushed. i was hoping that hannah would have reconciled with jolie (since hannah said that she didn't hate jolie, she just had to choose between her family and jolie so she hated that she had to push her away) but it didn't happen except for a short talk in the toilet. funny how the lead character was named after angelina jolie.. dont know it that was deliberate or not. lastly, i wonder if hannah has her own story. id love her to get together with derek (the granite-eyed man).

52. charming by susie kaye lopez

Three psychics in two countries with the same message can’t be wrong, can they? Sophie Lancaster is about to find out. Going off to college is stressful enough without throwing in the revelation that someone has been watching you your entire life. This is Sophie’s reality when she is informed that her soul mate from a former lifetime is by her side. A practical skeptic when it comes to love, Sophie refuses to believe this could be true. However, as the pieces of the puzzle fall into place, she finds it is becoming impossible to deny.
It is not until Sophie meets her soul mate in a dream and recognizes him immediately that she surrenders to the truth. He is the boy she has been sketching her entire life, the one she calls Charming. Suddenly in the midst of her own fairytale, Sophie soon finds herself in an impossible love that she’d do anything to keep. But are the soul mates destined to live their life together only in dreams?

4 stars. the story somewhat felt familiar but it still kept me interested enough to finish in one sitting. i thought lopez was delaying the meeting between ethan and sophie so that she can have her "big twist" (though the hints throughout the story just made it anti-climactic). i thought it would have been better to let the two meet one or two chapters earlier (and not on the last few pages) so we could have seen their interaction in their new bodies. oh and there was too much kissing for two teenagers, felt like that's all they did whenever they met in a dream, they didn't even talk much except for professing their beyond forever love for each other. which was a bit cheesy but then they've waited for 150 years to be reunited so i guess that's a reasonable excuse. 

53. lola and the boy next door by stephanie perkins

For budding costume designer Lola Nolan, the more outrageous, the outfit-—more sparkly, more fun, more wild-—the better. But even though Lola’s style is outrageous, she’s a devoted daughter and friend with some big plans for the future. And everything is pretty perfect (right down to her hot rocker boyfriend) until the dreaded Bell twins move back into the house next door.
When the family returns and Cricket-—a gifted inventor and engineer—steps out from his twin sister’s shadow and back into Lola’s life, she must finally reconcile a lifetime of feelings for the boy next door.

3.5 stars. i really loved anna and etienne so i guess i kinda expected a lot from this book. the story is great but somehow i wasn't as invested with lola and cricket as i were with anne and etienne. i like lola but cricket, not so much, and that's the reason why i didn't like the book as much as i would like to. i also didn't like how the author tried to make max really nice at the start then just suddenly make him a huge jerk just to justify lola breaking up with him and finally going out with cricket? i think that was a big disappointment for me (kind of like meg cabot's queen of babble series).

september booklist

September was a busy month for me, with juggling 2 accounts and getting an unexpected travel to bangalore for a new audit. i did however managed to get some reading time in the airplane and in the hotel room.

43. major crush by jennifer echols
Tired of the beauty-pagean circuit, Virginia Sauter tosses her tiara, pierces her nose, and auditions for the most unlikely of roles -- drum major of the high school marching band. Virginia wins, but is forced to share the title with Drew, whose family has held the position for generations. Sure, Drew is hot, but because of his superior attitude, he and Virginia are constantly arguing. That is, until they share more than just their half-time salute...But as the drum major's heated competition turns to sizzling romance, explosive rumors threaten everything -- including the band's success. Love seemed to be a sure hit, but Virginia and Drew may be marching straight into disaster. 4 stars. Cute ya novel.

44. flat out sexy by erin mccarthy
Two years after Tamara Briggs's husband was killed in a wreck at Talladega, she's back to dating, but her latest beau is a dud. She dumps him and remains intent on not ending up with another race-car driver, but that's exactly what she gets when she meets Elec Monroe. Things progress quickly, and soon she's having dynamite sex with this younger man who's nice to her kids—who could ask for more? There's a catch of course: Elec is the son of Tamara's dead husband's father's sworn enemy. 4 1/2 stars. Loved eric and tamara and their sweet story. there wasn't really much conflict like the plot made it out to be and focused more on their relationship.

45. divorced, desperate and dating by christie craig
A mystery writer is forced to reconsider her policy against dating when she is protected from death threats by the sexiest cop she's ever seen. 4 stars. Fun story but i hated the dilly dallying between the 2 characters which went all through out the story. the girl was so pakipot and the guy was just to tight lipped.

46. compromising positions by jenna bayley burke
David Strong knows how to do a lot of things that is, until he gets tangled up with Sophie Delfino and her Sensational Sex workout. He’s supposed to help her demonstrate Kama Sutra positions for her couples’ yoga class which unexpectedly tests his control to the limit. Sophie’s been fantasizing about David since her teens, but she never dreamed she’d actually be expected to run through her intimate desires—with an audience! Sophie knows she wants David in every way, and she’s flexible enough to use whatever she has to get him. David can’t afford any unexpected distractions. Besides the sensual positions he has to endure without embarrassing himself in public, there’s an embezzler stealing from his company. And then there’s Sophie—who is well on her way to stealing his well-guarded heart.
3 1/2 stars. Started great but went downhill during the last few chapters. didn't care much for craig and daphne. liked david but the vasectomy thing/storyline was just lame.

novels started but did not finish - maybe i was just not in the mood or the writing/story just didn't have an appeal for me to read until the end

47. tammara webster - between the lines
boring. didn't sound like they were hollywood actors (well, not that i know what happens offscreen). read in the reviews that the story gets better but wasn't interested enough to read on.

48. janice thompson - fools rush in
for some reason, i dont lke reading stories on italian americans (i guess because my weird mind tends to read the story with a really bad accent and all i can picture are the people from the godfather or jersey shore).

august booklist

i was able to read many books this month since i stayed in mumbai for 2 weeks and didn't bring anything to keep me company except for my kindle.

37. so over you by gwen hayes

Layney Logan, girl reporter. That's all she's ever wanted to be. This year, her senior year, not only does she have to share the coveted Senior Editor position with her arch nemesis, Jimmy Foster, she also has to figure out how to keep the school paper alive. With the local paper closing and the school cutting Journalism from the budget, it's a long shot. Working side-by-side with Foster, the guy she likes to call Lucifer,makes it even worse. The only thing Layney dislikes more than swimming in the high school dating pool is Jimmy Foster think he got the best of her, so she takes his ridiculous newspaper assignment--to go on twelve blind dates--to prove his powers of darkness won't work on her. The trouble is, the more she learns about herself on her journey of bad blind dates, the more she wonders if maybe Foster has known her better than she knows herself all this time.  And maybe she should have trusted him with the secret she’s kept for four years—the secret that broke them up to begin with.

4 stars - the ending came out of nowhere, as if the author just wanted to make an "unexpected twist" at the end to shock us or to justify them breaking up in the first place. i think if they had talked about it they wouldn't have broken up (so what a waste!) but then i guess that was the true cause --they were too young and they needed time to grow up and face this tough situation in a more mature manner. nevertheless, i had fun reading all of layne's dates and the chemistry between the two.


38. lonely hearts club by elizabeth eulberg

Penny's parents are Beatles fanatics - in fact, they love the Beatles, so much, they named their daughters Lucy (in the Sky with Diamonds), Rita (the Lovely Meter Maid) and Penny Lane after Beatles songs.
When Penny discovers her boyfriend cheating on her, she decides she's sick of boys and all the aggravation they cause her. She swears off boys (until she's out of high school, anyway) and decides to form a club. What better name than The Lonely Hearts Club since she's grown up in a Beatles culture? To be a member you must:
* stop dating boys while you're in high school
* attend all couple events (such as Homecoming, parties, etc) as a group
* attend Saturday night meetings
* be supportive of friends, even when they make bad choices
The Lonely Hearts Club turns out to be more popular than Penny ever imagined, but it also causes problems. The boys at her high school aren't crazy about it and the principal thinks it's disruptive. Things really start to heat up for Penny, though, when she starts to like a certain boy. Penny and her club learn a lot about life in just a few months.


4 1/2 stars - really love this book. i love the girl power movement in the story even though it started because of a boy. i loved the story between penny and ryan bauer. and i like the message at the end that just because you're in a relationship does not mean you cannot hang out with your girlfriends. in fact that's always been my motto -- boys come and go but girlfriends are forever!

39. caleb+ kate by cindy martinusen-coloma

As the popular darling of the junior class and heiress to the five-star Monrovi Inn empire, Kate has both everything and nothing. She's bored with school and life...until she locks eyes with Caleb at a school dance.
Caleb is new to Kate's exclusive prep school, and it's clear he doesn't fit in. In fact, he and his dad work in maintenance for Kate's father. And while Caleb knows better than to spend time with the boss's daughter, it seems that every time he tries to back away, something pulls him right back in.
When their parents demand that they are to stay away from each other, they learn of a fight between their families that occurred more than fifty years ago. It's a mystery Kate doesn't understand...but a legacy Caleb has endured his entire life.
With the world stacked against them, Caleb and Kate will have to walk by faith to find the path that God has planned for them.


3 1/2 stars - the story was okay, very predictable since of course you know they will end up together. i was a bit bored with the writing and skipped some parts because it felt like i have seen this movie before (like a disney channel original movie or a lifetime tv movie) but i still liked the ending.

40. cindy ella by robin palmer
Prom fever has infected LA—especially Cindy’s two annoying stepsisters, and her overly Botoxed stepmother. Cindy seems to be the only one immune to it all. But her anti-prom letter in the school newspaper does more to turn Cindy into Queen of the Freaks than close the gap between the popular kids and the rest of the students. Everyone thinks she’s committed social suicide, except for her two best friends, the yoga goddess India and John Hughes–worshipping Malcolm, and shockingly, the most popular senior at Castle Heights High and Cindy’s crush, Adam Silver. Suddenly Cindy starts to think that maybe her social life could have a happily ever after. But there’s still the rest of the school to deal with. With a little bit of help from an unexpected source and a fabulous pair of heels, Cindy realizes that she still has a chance at a happily ever after.

4 stars - the story reminded me a little bit of hillary duff's movie, cinderella story meets pretty in pink so it was no surprise to me that her chatmate was the hot senior she was crushing on. but still it's a good YA book. the stepmom and the twins were actually not so bad and i liked her friends India and Malcolm. just dont understand the obsession on prom though.

41. perfect play by jaci burton

The last thing event planner Tara Lincoln needs is the jet-set lifestyle of a football pro like Mick Riley; even though their steamy and passionate one-night stand proved that Mick is an all-star-both on the field and in the bedroom.
Tara played the game of love once and lost big, and she doesn't intend to put herself out there again, especially with a certified heartbreaker. But when Mick sets his mind to win, nothing will stop him. And he has the perfect play in mind to catch this sultry vixen.


4 stars - nice story but there was just too much sex! so many sex scenes that were quite graphic that i ended up skipping most of these parts. 

42. romantically challenged by beth orsoff
When L.A. entertainment lawyer Julie Burns becomes convinced that finding The One is "just a numbers game," she sets out on a dating frenzy. From chance meetings and blind dates to dating services and the wonderful world of the Internet, Julie will try anything to meet her man. And in the process, she discovers a secret or two about the single life: Sometimes love sneaks up on you when you least expect it-and even the worst first impressions can have surprising results.

3 1/2 stars - i liked the story overall but i thought there were too much dating and too many guys for one girl. i understand that's the point of the story that she's unlucky in love but then she ended up with one of the first guys introduced in the story.. it's like the author gave us a wild goose chase only to come back to the start. but i guess it's journey that brought her to her true love that's more important.

june and july booklist

really busy months so haven't had the chance to read as much books as i can:

june
26. deirdre martin - icebreaker
Sinead O'Brien is a top female litigator in New York City and a workaholic. Adam Perry's hard-hitting style is legendary among hockey players and fans, and Blades management hopes he'll inspire the team to win the Stanley Cup. But although a recent hit was legal according to the rules of the game, an ambitious district attorney has charged him with assault. And while the league is officially supporting Adam, behind the scenes it's another matter. 4 stars


27. robin kaye - breakfast in bed
Rich Ronaldi is almost the complete package-smart, sexy, great job-but when his girlfriend dumps him, Rich swears he'll learn to cook and clean just to win her back…

Rich is the only guy Becca Larsen's ever met who hasn't tried to change her. She's glad to help him master the domestic arts, but she'll be damned if he'll start cooking in another woman's kitchen-or bedroom… 4 stars

28. anne humphrey - rhymes with cupid
Goodman's Gifts & Stationery Store

February 14
Cashier: Elyse

3 boxes of heart-shaped chocolate . . . $12.00 Chocolate is the only good thing about this nauseating holiday.

4 containers of candy hearts . . . $5.00 Ever since my ex cheated on me, I've sworn off love. Too bad my new neighbor Patrick didn't get the memo.

1 Valentine's Day card . . . $4.50 I'm not interested. Although, he is pretty cute. And sweet. And funny.

1 singing Cupid doll (promotional item) . . . $0.00 Stupid Cupid! Point your arrows at someone else. . . .Subtotal . . . $21.50

It's going to be a complicated Valentine's Day.

4 stars

29. kate angell - strike zone
When the captain of the Richmond Rogues starts dating his former runaway bride, he knows this time their relationship will be a home run. 4 1/2 stars 

30. aimee ferris - will work for prom dress
Quigley Johnson has, reluctantly, given up the rest of her last year of high school to take part in her best friend Ann's Betterment Plan, which will turn them into the best-dressed, most sought-after, most admired girls at their senior formal. Because - hey - who doesn't want the perfect prom, complete with a dream dress and a devastatingly handsome date? 
But the prom costs money and that's how Quigley gets stuck making artistic topping masterpieces on frozen pizzas canvases, before becoming a live model for Ms. Parisi's fashion design class, where she meets Zander.
He's cute, and cool, and funny, with a killer design sensibility (even if he can't sketch).  But is he too good to be true? And what about David, the hot, talented artist at school, who's also kind of a jerk, but won't leave Quigley alone? And Ann - she started the Betterment Plan to improve Quigley and herself, but it seems like it's ripping their friendship to shreds.
This road to the prom dream may just end in disaster. 4 stars.

31. kate brian - sweet 16
Teagan Phillips's sweet sixteen is the event of the season. No one at Rosewood Prep throws a bash as extravagant, exclusive, or over-the-top expensive as Teagan. No one is as obnoxious, either. On the big night she falls stilettos-over-tiara into the country club wine cellar and blacks out. When she comes to, there is a strange woman standing at the foot of the stairs.

No, Teagan, this mystery woman is not one of "the help." She is here to take you on a ride, to bring you back through time and show you some very unpretty realities. And if you're lucky, she just might put the sweet back in sixteen.... 4 1/2 stars

july

32. christie ridgway - crush on you

The Baci sisters are on a mission to save the winery that's been in their family for generations-by transforming it into the perfect wedding destination. If only Alessandra Baci-affectionately known as the "Nun of Napa"-didn't need the help of tempting neighbor and business rival Penn Bennett.

33. wendelin van draanen - flipped
Juli Baker devoutly believes in three things: the sanctity of trees (especially her beloved sycamore), the wholesomeness of the eggs she collects from her backyard flock of chickens, and that someday she will kiss Bryce Loski. Ever since she saw Bryce's baby blues back in second grade, Juli has been smitten. Unfortunately, Bryce has never felt the same. Frankly, he thinks Juli Baker is a little weird--after all, what kind of freak raises chickens and sits in trees for fun? Then, in eighth grade, everything changes. Bryce begins to see that Juli's unusual interests and pride in her family are, well, kind of cool. And Juli starts to think that maybe Bryce's brilliant blue eyes are as empty as the rest of Bryce seems to be. After all, what kind of jerk doesn't care about other people's feelings about chickens and trees? 4 stars


34. heather hepler - cupcake queen
When her mother moves them from the city to a small town to open up a cupcake bakery, Penny's life isn't what she expected. Her father has stayed behind, and Mom isn't talking about what the future holds for their family. And then there's Charity, the girl who plays mean pranks almost daily. There are also bright spots in Hog's Hollow - like Tally, an expert in Rock Paper Scissors, and Marcus, the boy who is always running on the beach. But just when it looks as though Penny is settling in, her parents ask her to make a choice that will turn everything upside down again. A sweet novel about love, creativity, and accepting life's unexpected turns. 4 1/2 stars


35. jessica bird - an irresistible bachelor
For struggling art conservationist Callie Burke, the chance to restore a world-famous painting is the opportunity of a lifetime—one that no one in her right mind would turn down. Call her crazy, but Callie has serious reservations about working with the painting’s owner. Warm and sexy, Jack Walker makes no attempt to hide the strong attraction he feels for Callie—even as she tries to keep their relationship professional. Now, cocooned in his studio in Boston, she will either have to learn to ignore the man and concentrate on the masterpiece, or give in to the kind of passion that can never be captured on canvas.
Jack Walker is a practical man who runs his life, his empire, and his fortune effortlessly. Yet from the moment he met Callie Burke, he wanted her with all the intensity of a first crush. As he gets to know her, the desire blossoms into something more—and Jack finds that for the first time in his life he is leading with his heart instead of his head. . . . 4 1/2 stars

36. tina ferrarro - top ten uses for an unworn prom dress
Sophomore year, Nicolette Antonovich was dumped two days before prom by the hottest guy at school. As a result, she became the proud owner of one unworn, perfectly magical pink vintage dress. But Nic is determined to put that night behind her for good. She's a junior now— older, wiser, and completely overwhelmed by a new set of problems: (1) The bank's ready to foreclose on her childhood home. (2) Her father's too busy with his "replacement" daughter to care. (3) Her best friend's brother is an eternal thorn in her side. (4) Her best friend isn't exactly the rose attached to that thorn. (5) Rumors are flying around school that could get her kicked off the volleyball team, which would (6) ruin all chances of a college scholarship. (7) She still likes the boy who dumped her in the first place. (8) And what in the world do you do with an unworn prom dress, anyway? Strangely, it's getting to the bottom of this last dilemma that just might hold the answer to all Nic's problems. 4 1/2 stars

may booklist

a few of my fave authors released new novels and i quickly grabbed a copy to read this month:


21. erin mccarthy - mouth to mouth
It was supposed to be your average stakeout. My partner and I would scope out both the coffee shop and Laurel Wilkins, the latest target of con man Trevor Dean's scheme to meet women online and bilk them of their money - and everything else. So I went inside to get a better look. So she happened to be gorgeous with a body that made me temporarily forget how to order coffee. So she knew my name - Russ Evans - and hugged me like we were more than friends. So what the $ No. @ is going on?At least she's willing to offer herself up as bait. All I have to do is keep her safe - and keep my hands off. Anything else would be against the rules. And oh so tempting... 4 1/2 stars - fun, sexy, a bit suspenseful read.


22. kristan higgins - my one and only
Divorce attorney Harper James can't catch a break. Bad enough that she runs into her ex-hubby, Nick, at her sister's destination wedding, but now, by a cruel twist of fate, she's being forced to make a cross-country road trip with him. And her almost-fiancé back at home is not likely to be sympathetic.

Harper can't help that Nick has come blazing back into her life in all of his frustratingly appealing, gorgeous architect glory. But in Nick's eyes, Harper's always been the one. If they can only get it right this time, forever might be waiting—just around the bend.

4 1/2 stars - i love both harper and nick. this felt real. they both made mistakes and it's good that they finally were able to talk about it and admit their shortcomings- though i didn't like that nick expected harper to always be the one to drop her things and follow him, harper was also wrong for filing for divorce immediately - nick was shocked of course and he wanted to think things through. the ending was kinda grand gesture-y cute. and as always, kristan creates the second male lead as someone who's nice and likeable.

23. becca fitzpatrick - hush hush
High school sophomore Nora Grey, a dedicated student striving for a college scholarship, lives with her widowed mother in a country farmhouse outside Portland, ME. When Patch, her new biology partner, is suddenly thrust into her life, Nora is both attracted to his charm and put off by his inexplicable awareness of her thoughts. Eventually, she learns that he is a fallen angel who wants to become human. She is susceptible to his control, but other forces are at work as well, and Nora finds herself caught in the middle of dangerous situations and unexplainable events.
3 stars - a lot of hype about this book but this was disappointing. the mystery surrounding patch just dragged for most of the story and lots of fake scares went overboard, all without explaining much -- at some time i almost gave up but i managed to finish the story. another problem i have here is patch's character - he's supposed to be the hot arrogant sexy fallen angel but he mostly came off as annoying and suspicious. i dont understand why nora would like this guy at all. the only saving factor for this book is the villain (though even the villain was still unreal). im not bothering to read the entire series.


24. jill shalvis - simply irresistible
Maddie Moore meets the man of her dreams, but must fight her inner demons to make it work. Maddie, straight out of an abusive relationship and unemployed, is trying to change "from mouse to tough girl." When she arrives at Lucky Harbor, Wash., to reunite with her two half-sisters and inspect the dilapidated inn inherited from their mother, Maddie nearly runs a handsome stranger off the road. Jax Cullen is the town's mayor, a master carpenter, and a passionate lover. He's willing to give Maddie everything if she can overcome her fear of men and vulnerability.
4 stars - the first book in the lucky harbor series, maddie's the boring sister, and so's the story. i mean the plot is okay, the romance is sweet but there weren't a lot of tension or emotions in this book -- very generic romance story. but i like the two other sisters so im willing to read the 2nd and 3rd book.


25. rachel gibson - any man of mine

What happens in Vegas . . . doesn't always stay there.

Autumn Haven's Las Vegas "to-do" list said to catch a show and play the slots—not wake up married to a sexy jerk like Sam LeClaire. The first moment she saw him eyeing her like a luscious piece of the dessert buffet, her usually responsible self told her to run. And she did—right into the wildest fantasy weekend of her life. But Monday morning jolted her back to reality, and before she could say "pass the coffee," Sam was gone.

Now a successful wedding planner, Autumn hasn't clapped eyes on the heartbreaking hockey superstar for over two years . . . until she organizes his teammate's "Special Day," where Sam makes a big play to pick up where he left off! But she has vowed any man of hers plays for keeps. Is Sam the man for her or does she banish him to the sin bin forever?

4 stars - not sure why amazon readers rated this book as 3 1/2 stars, but i liked this more than her earlier release. i liked how sam continues to support and love his son despite the divorce. i love how their relationship evolved and matured -something they needed to do since knowing each other for only 5 days has not enough foundation for a lasting relationship. im happy they had a second chance and they were able to resolve the major issues.