'Scuse Me While I Kill This Guy by Leslie Langtry

YOU CAN'T PICK YOUR FAMILY... 
Death by Chocolate is her favorite dessert. And those knitting needles aren't just for craft projects. To most people, Gin Bombay is an ordinary single mom. Then again, they don't know she's from a family of top secret assassins. Somewhere between leading a Girl Scout troop for her kindergartner--would nooses count for a knot badge?--and keeping their puppy from destroying the furniture, Gin now has to take out a new target. 

BUT YOU CAN PICK THEM OFF
Except this target has an incredibly hot Australian bodyguard who knows just how to make her weak in the knees. But with a mole threatening to expose everything, Gin doesn't have much time to let her hormones do the happy dance. She's got to find the leak and clear her assignment...or she'll end up next on the Bombay family hit list.

There isn't too much to say about a book that is less than 200 pages long (in ebook).

This was a cute, fun and fast read.

It's not an exceptional book. The writing wasn't great, the plot was ridiculous and it was incredibly predictable yet I still enjoyed reading it. I laughed out loud on several occasions and I liked the characters, Ginny especially. It was a great light read to get me out of a funk.

I will probably read the rest in the series.

3 out of 5 stars GET IT HERE:'Scuse Me While I Kill This Guy (Greatest Hits Mysteries)

We Have Always Lived in the Castle by Shirley Jackson

Merricat Blackwood lives on the family estate with her sister Constance and her uncle Julian. Not long ago there were seven Blackwoods—until a fatal dose of arsenic found its way into the sugar bowl one terrible night. Acquitted of the murders, Constance has returned home, where Merricat protects her from the curiousity and hostility of the villagers. Their days pass in happy isolation until cousin Charles appears. Only Merricat can see the danger, and she must act swiftly to keep Constance from his grasp.

It has been over 24 hours since I finished it and I still can't figure this book, or all it's high ratings, out.

My first reaction after finishing the book was, "What the hell?!" I have no idea what I was expecting from this book but I can tell you, I didn't get it.

First off, the book is filed under, horror, suspense and mystery on Goodreads. I don't understand how it could ever fall into those categories. There was absolutely no horror or suspense or mystery. I guess it is supposed to be a psychological thriller? I didn't see that either. Yes, there is a plethora of psychological disorders in it, ranging from agoraphobia to OCD but a thriller? No.

Secondly, there were so many threads left dangling and questions unanswered. A lot of books do this but nothing was really explained in this one. Nothing. Also, the one part that was supposed to be the shocking twist was seen from a mile away and the drama was lackluster.

We Have Always Lived let me down. I still can't say I hated it though, which is the confusing part. The one saving grace of the story was that there were a few fantastic prose throughout. They would come out of nowhere and take me by surprise.


2 out of 5 stars

A Woman in Berlin: Eight Weeks in the Conquered City: A Diary by Anonymous

For eight weeks in 1945, as Berlin fell to the Russian army, a young woman kept a daily record of life in her apartment building and among its residents. "With bald honesty and brutal lyricism" (Elle), the anonymous author depicts her fellow Berliners in all their humanity, as well as their cravenness, corrupted first by hunger and then by the Russians. "Spare and unpredictable, minutely observed and utterly free of self-pity" (The Plain Dealer, Cleveland), A Woman in Berlin tells of the complex relationship between civilians and an occupying army and the shameful indignities to which women in a conquered city are always subject--the mass rape suffered by all, regardless of age or infirmity.

This is a review I don't want to write. I don't think I could ever truly describe the haunting beauty of this book.

This is a heart-breakingly uninhibited account of Russian occupied Berlin by a German woman. She writes of day to day life which happens to be filled with bomb raids, pillaging for food and, once the Ivans invade, rape and murder.

The author, who was later revealed to be Marta Hillers, was once a journalist and you can see it in her writing. As I said before, I don't think I can give it any justice so I will just say her writing is beautiful and intelligent and so straight forward. It's actually because of the straight forwardness that it took me so long to read it. To read her writing about so many terrible incidents without malice really hurts your heart.

This is not a fun book to read. It is very difficult in most parts but it speaks frankly of how society adapts in extreme danger, how it all becomes about survival of the individual and then how it struggles to build itself back up in the end.

I highly recommend this to anyone.

5 out of 5 stars

GET IT HERE: A Woman in Berlin: Eight Weeks in the Conquered City: A Diary

The Perks of Being a Wallflower by Stephen Chbosky

Standing on the fringes of life offers a unique perspective. But there comes a time to see what it looks like from the dance floor.This haunting novel about the dilemma of passivity vs. passion marks the stunning debut of a provocative voice in contemporary fiction: The Perks of Being a Wallflower. This is the story of what it’s like to grow up in high school. More intimate than a diary, Charlie's letters are singular and unique, hilarious and devastating. We may not know where he lives. We may not know to whom he is writing. All we know is the world he shares. Caught between trying to live his life and trying to run from it puts him on a strange course through uncharted territory. The world of first dates and mixed tapes, family dramas and new friends. The world of sex, drugs, andThe Rocky Horror Picture Show, when all one requires is that perfect song on that perfect drive to feel infinite. Through Charlie, Stephen Chbosky has created a deeply affecting coming-of-age story, a powerful novel that will spirit you back to those wild and poignant roller coaster days known as growing up.

I actually feel like there is something wrong with me because every friend of mine who has read this book really liked it and rated it 4 or more stars but I just couldn't love it. I was underwhelmed with this book. I can give three main reasons why I feel this way, too.

One, is the main character. Charlie is a 15 year old boy who is about to start high school in the beginning of the book. This is unbelievable while reading it. For being 15, Charlie is incredibly naive to life and the world. He also seems to have some sort of emotional handicap. I even thought he might have aspergers at one point. Charlie was set up to be this incredibly intelligent kid, who was in AP classes, whose teacher gave him extra assignments and even said he was the most intelligent people he has ever met. Yet, he didn't know about basic things that teenagers, who grow up in normal families in normal cities going to normal public schools, know and cried at the drop of a hat. He grew through the story and in the end we find out the reason why he acts this way, to an extent, but it still wasn't realistic to me.

Reason two, I wasn't thrilled about this book was, while reading it, you get a very 60s/70s feel from it when, in fact, it is set in the early 90's. If it weren't for the date being posted at the top of each letter I would never have guessed it was set post 1980.  It had such a hippy feel to it that I wouldn't and don't associate with the early 90's.

Finally, reason number three. Every single "controversial" issue that teenagers could go through, including homosexuality, drug use and sexual abuse (just to name a few), was in this book to bring out your emotions. Because of the overuse and the narrative, though, I didn't feel much of anything emotionally. I actually felt used. Like Chbosky was trying to exploit my emotions to make me love his novel. Books making me feel cheap and used do not make the top of my list.

Despite all these things, the writing isn't bad. There are a few great characters, Patrick in particular and some of the story is quite good. The growth in all the characters was great to read about. It will never top my list of favorite books, though.

2.5 out of 5 stars

American Gods by Neil Gaiman

After three years in prison, Shadow has done his time. But as the days, then the hours, then the minutes, then the seconds until his release tick away, he can feel a storm building. Two days before he gets out, his wife Laura dies in a mysterious car crash, in apparently adulterous circumstances. Dazed, Shadow travels home, only to encounter the bizarre Mr. Wednesday claiming to be a refugee from a distant war, a former god and the king of America. Together they embark on a very strange journey across the States, along the way solving the murders which have occurred every winter in one small American town. But they are being pursued by someone with whom Shadow must make his peace... Disturbing, gripping and profoundly strange, Neil Gaiman's epic new novel sees him on the road to finding the soul of America.





This was my first taste of Neil Gaiman's writing. I bought it about 6 years ago, read it, loved it and lent it to a friend, who just recently gave it back to me. I wanted to reread it. I remember loving it and recommending it to people but I could only really remember one scene of it. So, I wanted to see if I still loved it and remind myself what it was that I loved so much.

I have written a review on another of Gaiman's books Neverwhere and gushed about his writing. I stick with that sentiment. He knows how to draw you in and never let you go. His descriptions are fascinating and, at times, beautiful. I can't get enough of it.

On to the story itself. It is a mesmerizing story of gods, old and new, and a man named Shadow, who is a bit lost in life, down on his luck and gets sucked into this world where he fits in more than he could ever have imagined.

I think it is a good thing I gave this book another read through. There is so much going on in the plot that I don't think I could have possibly taken in all of it. There are so many different gods to keep up with, symbolism to absorb and, once again I will say, the wonderful writing (I'm done now, I promise). I loved the mythology. I have always been interested in it. The way Gaiman presents it, though, is so intriguing, introducing you to all these gods in flashback and showing the different cultures they come from. Shadow is so likable, too. he gets frustrating at times but he is just a big lug you can't help but love.

The story gets dark and creepy at times and there are quite a few NC17 scenes (maybe even R) but that just adds to allure of the book. It gives you so much to think about, too. Society and it's values are put into question. Have we really stopped believing in gods of our ancestors and started worshiping, instead, modern technology and science? That may be an easy question to answer now, but read the book and learn more. It is truly thought provoking.

The only reason I didn't give this a full 5 stars is because it gets a bit long winded in parts. Really, though, this is a great read.

4.5 out of 5 stars

GET IT HERE:American Gods: A Novel

Night Road by Kristin Hannah

For eighteen years, Jude Farraday has put her children’s needs above her own, and it shows—her twins, Mia and Zach—are bright and happy teenagers. When Lexi Baill moves into their small, close knit community, no one is more welcoming than Jude. Lexi, a former foster child with a dark past, quickly becomes Mia’s best friend. Then Zach falls in love with Lexi and the three become inseparable. 

Jude does everything to keep her kids safe and on track for college. It has always been easy-- until senior year of high school. Suddenly she is at a loss. Nothing feels safe anymore; every time her kids leave the house, she worries about them. 

On a hot summer’s night her worst fears come true. One decision will change the course of their lives. In the blink of an eye, the Farraday family will be torn apart and Lexi will lose everything. In the years that follow, each must face the consequences of that single night and find a way to forget…or the courage to forgive.

This is the second book of Hannah's I have read. It is also the second time she has led me on an emotional roller coaster. Hannah has an innate ability to write such emotionally charged characters that you can't help but care about.

Jude, mother of twins Mia and Zach, wants nothing more than the best for her kids. She gives them freedoms while still hovering. She is a helicopter mom. So, when Lexi enters their kids lives she is hesitant to let her in. After a while they all welcome Lexi into their family which makes everything especially hard when tragedy strikes. Now, they all have to live with the decisions they made on that fateful day.

That sounds kind of predictable, right? I thought so too and it is sometimes. But Hannah's story telling brings you so far in so quickly that you just don't care. Then, she throws in a twist. Then, another twist. It all becomes very hard to put down. There were moments where I skimmed paragraphs, the author sometimes gets carried away with details, and the ending felt rushed and slightly forced. But, the characters, oh the characters, they made up for any flaws in the book. I loved them all. I felt frustrated with them, happy for them, sad with them and everything in between. One of the definitions of a good book, for me, is when all is said and done and you put it down, you feel like you have lost a friend. I felt that with this book. I didn't want it to end because I wanted to know more and see where these characters lives take them.

All in all, this is another great book from Kristin Hannah. I will be reading more from her in the future.

4 out of  5 stars

GET IT HERE: Night Road
Also, check out: Winter Garden Another great book by Kristin Hannah.

The Photograph by Penelope Lively

It opens with a snapshot: a young woman, Kath, at an unknown gathering, hands clasped with a man not her husband, their backs to the camera. Its envelope is marked DO NOT OPEN-DESTROY. But Kath's husband, Glyn, does not heed the warning. The mystery of the photograph, and of Kath herself and her recent death, propels him on a journey of discovery that sends shock waves through the lives of her family and friends. The elfin Kath-with her mesmerizing looks and casual ways-moves like an insistent ghost through the thoughts and memories of everyone who knew her: self-centered Glyn, past his lusty, passionate professorial prime; her remorselessly competent sister Elaine, a doyenne garden designer married to feckless ne'er-do-well Nick; and their daughter Polly, beloved of Kath, who oscillates between home and family and the tumultuous new era she inhabits. 

Oh, where do I begin? I did not enjoy this book, which disappoints me, as always. The premise sounded interesting but it was poorly told. The characters weren't developed, I had no feelings for them, one way or another. Plus, it so painfully slow. I only read the first chapter and skimmed the rest. I waited for it to pick up and go somewhere but it never did. When I can figure out the "twist" about half way through a book that I am only skimming, that tells you how bad it was.

What else can I say? The book was slow, morose, boring and predictable.

I am not a fan.

1 out of 5 stars

The Postmistress by Sarah Blake

What would happen if someone did the unthinkable-and didn't deliver a letter? Filled with stunning parallels to today, The Postmistress is a sweeping novel about the loss of innocence of two extraordinary women-and of two countries torn apart by war.

This is yet another book that I had such high hopes for and was let down upon reading it.

I will admit, I fell in love with the cover first. I love that picture. Love it. 

That and the beautiful writing are the only good things about this book. The language and the pictures Blake paints throughout the book are, at times, breathtaking. But the story lacked so much. It almost felt as if she focused on picking the right words to describe a scene that she forgot the plot of the story. The story is disjointed and often confusing. Some of the confusing parts make sense at the end when it all comes together but that fact did not make up for the rest of the book. Also, it was very slow moving. There were times where it picked up and, thanks to the writing, there were a few parts I really enjoyed. Overall, though, I did not enjoy it.

The characters were okay. I never fully connected with any of them and I felt like none of there stories were fully hashed out. Also, I am wondering why the book is called 'The Postmistress'. Number one, there is no such thing as a postmistress in the United States. Number two, the postmaster was only one of several characters. The majority of the book isn't even about her, it was about Frankie, an American reporting on the blitz in London.

I was so disappointed with this book. Blake's writing is the only reason I gave the book an extra star.

2 out of 5 stars

And the winners are....

Alright, ladies and gents, I want to thank you all for entering our very first giveaway!

Today is the day, so here are the winners of a e-copy of 'Letters'...

Chelsea C. and Séamus M!!

Congratulations! Abby will be contacting you personally via email!

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Don't forget, you can purchase the books from Abby Slovin's website, http://www.abbyslovin.com/

If anyone has any questions, concerns or even book recommendations feel free to email me at eeclark715@yahoo.com

An Abundance of Katherines by John Green

When it comes to relationships, Colin Singleton's type is girls named Katherine. And when it comes to girls named Katherine, Colin is always getting dumped. Nineteen times, to be exact. On a road trip miles from home, this anagram-happy, washedup child prodigy has ten thousand dollars in his pocket, a bloodthirsty feral hog on his trail, and an overweight, Judge Judy-loving best friend riding shotgun–but no Katherines. Colin is on a mission to prove The Theorem of Underlying Katherine Predictability, which he hopes will predict the future of any relationship, avenge Dumpees everywhere, and finally win him the girl. Love, friendship, and a dead Austro-Hungarian archduke add up to surprising and heart-changing conclusions in this ingeniously layered comic novel about reinventing oneself.

Colin is a child prodigy who just graduated high school and is trying to find a way to 'matter', to make his mark on the world, when he is dumped, for the 19th time, by a girl named Katherine. See, Colin has a thing for girls with the name Katherine. In fact, he has never dated a non-Katherine. While wallowing in sorrow over this latest breakup he decides there has to be a mathematical theorem that will predict the outcome of relationships. Who will be the Dumper and who will be the Dumpee.Meanwhile, he is out on a road trip with his best friend, Hassan, and ends up in Gutshot, Tennessee where he meets a slew of characters and learns a lot about life and himself.

This is only my second John Green book but I am in love with his writing. Though he writes YA books, they are not dumbed down. The dialogue his characters carry on are not what you normally hear in books for young adults but sophisticated and full of SAT worthy words. Why shouldn't YA books be full of intelligent characters with big vocabularies? He, also, can write characters that normally would be annoying or un-likeable and he makes you love them. Colin, for example is whiny and self-centered but there is such a realness about him that you can't help but like him in the end. Hassan was my absolute favorite. I laughed out loud quite a few times while reading 'Katherines' and most of the time it was due to something Hassan said.

The plot gets slow and sluggish at times. In fact it was a bit hard for me to get into at first but it is all necessary for the development of the characters. It is a bit predictable, too. But, it made the math nerd AND word nerd in me so very happy. It is chock full of anagrams and mathematical equations. Green even made me like the footnotes, which I do not particularly like in books.

Was this as good as 'A Fault in Their Stars'? No, not even close. It was a fun, fast and very well written book that I think most will enjoy. I kept going back and forth on what to rate this. In the end, Greens writing got it the higher rating from me.

4 out of 5 stars
GET IT HERE:An Abundance of Katherines

Between The Pages interview

A friend of mine, Johannah, interviewed me for her book review blog!!

Head over to her place, check it out, look around and leave her some love.

Find it here: Beyond The Pages

Night Machines by Kia Heavey

Maggie decided to have an affair. No one needed to know, not even her lover. . . .

Who would it hurt, if Maggie decided to carry on a torrid affair in her mind? It would soothe her feelings, hurt by her husband’s emotional abandonment while he worked on a disturbing new murder case. It would provide an outlet for the dizzying desire she felt for her employer. It would make her feel loved and appreciated and better able to be a good wife and mother.

But Maggie loses control of the fantasy as lust becomes love, and things she believed confined to her own imagination are somehow known to her spectral lover. A harmless mind game spins out of control and threatens the sanctity of Maggie’s greatest treasure – her family.  

Part romantic suspense, part fantasy and part psychological thriller, this book is a lot to take in. I was still engrossed in it, though. I didn't want to put it down.

The story itself is unique and something I have never read before. Maggie, a normal wife to a detective and mother of two small children goes back to work for the first time since having her kids. When she meets her new, and incredibly handsome, boss of the company, during her interview, she is surprised to find that they have a connection she barely remembers. Meanwhile, at home her relationship with her husband is going down hill due to the stress he is under from a case he is working on. To make up for the lack of romance in her life she conjures up a fantasy relationship with her boss, Dr. Cuthbert. No one has to know, right? It's just harmless fantasies she lives out in her dreams...or are they?

Heavey's writing is wonderful. She can bring you into this world seamlessly and it makes it hard to come out of it. Her imagery and prose are beautiful. I will admit, too, that it seeped into my dreams on a few occasion causing some fitful nights of sleep! All the characters are real and like-able, at least in the beginning! Maggie was especially relate-able. You see her morals and values throughout. All she wanted was a little reprieve from reality, who can't relate to that?

There were times in the story that I thought this certain section could have been left out but I later find out that all things are connected in some way. There were a few hazy points in the plot and some things that I really did think could have been left out but all in all it was a fun, fast read. 

If you are into paranormal, romantic thrillers check this one out. Don't forget to come back and tell me what you thought!

4 out of 5 stars

GET IT HERE: Night Machines
NOTE: The Kindle version is currently free!

Interview with Abby Slovin and a GIVEAWAY!

I recently had the pleasure of interviewing Abby Slovin, the author of Letters in Cardboard Boxes.

About this author

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Abby Slovin was born in the summer of 1983 and lived in the same house on Long Island until attending the University of Michigan. She has a deep love for New York City, Brooklyn especially, where much of her family has its roots. She loves to spend time outdoors, travel, research family genealogy, and relax at home in Jersey City with her husband, Dominick and dog, Grumpy.

LETTERS IN CARDBOARD BOXES:

Experience what advanced reviews are proclaiming, "An absolute must read...this is a novel you will want to keep with you for the rest of your life" and "A poignant and moving story...a true work of art."

Letters In Cardboard Boxes tells the story of an eccentric grandmother and her granddaughter alongside a series of fantastical letters they once exchanged. Their letters once traversed the East River to help Parker escape the loneliness of a childhood without her globe-trekking parents and communicate during her turbulent teenage years. Now, nearly a decade later, Parker begins to rediscover the evidence of this letter writing tradition, as well as the family’s untold stories and, unexpectedly, letters from her grandmother’s own youth that paint a very different portrait of the woman who raised her.

Letters carries us through the universally-shared experience of loss and the process of coping with life’s unexpected twists and turns. Through unusual and bold characters, the story moves through some of its heavier themes with honesty and humor. 

Here is what she had to say:

Hello, Abby and welcome to The Ultimate Book Nook!

I love hearing random facts about people so lets hear 3 about you.

1- A few articles of clothing in my closet have been with me for more than 20 years. I love the feel of a perfectly broken in t-shirt or pair of jeans.
2- One of my favorite things to do is sit in a park or in front of my window with a cup of coffee and watch the world pass.
3- I have never owned a car.  

Obviously, we are big readers around here. Do you love to read? What are some of your favorite books?

I love to read. I'll read pretty much anything recommended to me, in fact. I think one of the best aspects of reading is keeping your eyes open to new worlds and new experiences that you don't ordinarily have access to. Honestly, some of my favorite books have been recommendations I would never have tried on my own. Some of my favorites are One Hundred Years of Solitude, White Oleander, A Feast of Love, All Over Creation, anything Kurt Vonnegut, and Ishmael.  

Did you always want to write books?

I don't think I ever thought about it in a serious way until I was relatively far along in the process of writing Letters. Until then, it was a hobby that I enjoyed, no doubt. But during this process, it became such a huge part of me that it evolved into something more. 

How did you come up with the concept for Letters?

Although the story is completely fictional, it was inspired by a personal moment in my own life. While I was cleaning out some of my grandmother’s possessions after she had passed away, I found letters she had exchanged with my grandfather during their courtship and was hit with a lot of emotion. In particular, guilt at not having known this part of her life, sadness for not being able to talk to her about it, but also a lot of happiness that these letters breathed life into someone I loved who was no longer around. I started imagining a story with this idea at its center — of finding remnants of a person’s life after they’ve passed — and organized a fictional story around it. I named the main characters after my grandparents simply because it felt good to hear their names spoken out loud again. 

Do you use a lot of your own life experience while writing?

I tend to gravitate toward writing completely fictional worlds and feel they provide a good escape for me and an opportunity to give life to characters that don't exist in the real world. I love the challenge of creating truly genuine characters from a fictional place. But, as is the case with Letters, a lot of the inspiration has its roots in some of my own life experience. 

Lastly, can we expect anything new from you in the future?

Right now, I'm moving forward with two new projects. The first, being released monthly on the Dunce Academy blog, is a humorous story about a recent college graduate searching for work  (You can find out more here)

The other will be my next novel, called 10:15 on a Tuesday, tells the story of an unlikely friendship that develops between an upper-middle class widower and a psychic (find out more here)

Thank you for being with us Abby. I can't wait to read more from you.

Thanks for having me on your blog, Erin! If your readers have any questions for me or want more information about the novel, they should definitely email me at abby.slovin@gmail.com or visit the novel's website: http://www.abbyslovin.com/

Abby has been so gracious to also allow me to give away an e-book of Letters to two of you! In case you don't remember here is my review.

It's easy to enter, simply subscribe to the blog and like this post and click the link below and you are entered!. There are a few other things you can do to get some extra entries. The winners will be picked on May 2.
GOODLUCK!

Letters In Cardboard Boxes by Abby Slovin

Experience what advanced reviews are proclaiming, "An absolute must read...this is a novel you will want to keep with you for the rest of your life" and "A poignant and moving story...a true work of art."

Letters In Cardboard Boxes tells the story of an eccentric grandmother and her granddaughter alongside a series of fantastical letters they once exchanged. Their letters once traversed the East River to help Parker escape the loneliness of a childhood without her globe-trekking parents and communicate during her turbulent teenage years. Now, nearly a decade later, Parker begins to rediscover the evidence of this letter writing tradition, as well as the family’s untold stories and, unexpectedly, letters from her grandmother’s own youth that paint a very different portrait of the woman who raised her.

Letters carries us through the universally-shared experience of loss and the process of coping with life’s unexpected twists and turns. Through unusual and bold characters, the story moves through some of its heavier themes with honesty and humor.

'Letters In Cardboard Boxes' is a bittersweet tale about family, loss and taking the ones that mean the most to us for granted.

Parker's life is nowhere near ideal. She is looked over at her job, has a mediocre boyfriend and a self centered best friend. The only real thing she has in her life is her grandma, Dotty. But when Dotty gets sick Parker doesn't know how to cope. How will she go on without the one person who has always been there?

I liked this book. It was a bit slow moving, especially in the beginning, but it was a sweet and emotional story. Though I did not fully come to love Parker, she wasn't as developed as I had hoped, she is surrounded by some really strong characters. Dotty being one of them. She was fun and lively. Actually, while reading, I kept picturing Parker as much older and Dotty as much younger, that just shows the kind of people they are. I enjoyed Tanya, a troubled teen who is mentored by Dotty. She reminded me so much of me when I was 17. Tanya and Parker's relationship was sweet. I liked seeing them grow together. Jerry was another character that I loved. I think I loved him the most, actually. He was sweet, funny and endearing.

My biggest complaint isn't about the story or the writing, it is with the structure of the e-book. Or lack of structure, I should say. There were random breaks in paragraphs and times where it was really hard to determine who was speaking. The lack of chapters irked me a little too. I don't think I would have minded it so much if it was put together differently. I did really like the fact that Slovin broke it up in 5 parts. It was a creative way to break it up given the subject matter. 5 parts of the book. 5 stages of grief. Get it? I loved it.

Overall it is a good book. With the exception of Parker's character development and some editing issues it was a well written, bittersweet novel with beautiful prose and bits of humor.

4 out of 5 stars.

BUY IT HERE: Letters In Cardboard Boxes
Or get an e-book version here: Letters In Cardboard Boxes e-book

Those Who Save Us by Jenna Blum

For fifty years, Anna Schlemmer has refused to talk about her life in Germany during World War II. Her daughter, Trudy, was only three when she and her mother were liberated by an American soldier and went to live with him in Minnesota. Trudy's sole evidence of the past is an old photograph: a family portrait showing Anna, Trudy, and a Nazi officer, the Obersturmführer of Buchenwald. 

Driven by the guilt of her heritage, Trudy, now a professor of German history, begins investigating the past and finally unearths the dramatic and heartbreaking truth of her mother's life

This is a very compelling story about a mother and daughter during WWII, with a parallel story set in 1997. Or, it should have been compelling. In reality it was poorly executed and tiresome.

The story had so much potential. It tells of Anna's life as a young, single mother, in Nazi Germany and the lengths she goes to keep her and her daughter alive. It's appalling to think women had to subject themselves to such degradation just to get by. I liked Anna in the beginning, too. Although, that went away after a while. I still liked Anna's story much more than Trudy's. It was much more interesting. I really disliked Trudy. I had a hard time believing she was a middle aged professor because she behaved like a child. I didn't understand most of her actions. Her story could have been tied in a much better way.

The problem with Trudy's story, and Anna's once you are halfway through, is the writing. Blum's writing was repetitive, unnecessarily vulgar and often times awkward. It was like she focused more on the details of the sexual encounters than the great story line she had thought out. It wasn't just the sex, though, it had so many side stories that led to nothing. There was so much in the story that could, and should, have been left out. It would have gotten a much higher rating if they were.

So to sum it up, it was a great premise ruined by bad writing.

2.5 out of 5 stars

Soldier Boys by Dean Hughes

At the age of fifteen, Dieter's blind devotion gets him promoted from Hitler Youth into the German army. Dieter's determined to prove his allegiance and bravery all costs.

Spence, just sixteen, drops out of his Utah high school to begin training as a paratrooper. He's seen how boys who weren't much in high school can come home heroes, and Spence wants to prove to his friends and family that he really can be something.

Their worst fear was that the war would end too soon -- that they wouldn't get the chance to prove themselves. But when they finally see the action they were hoping for, it's like nothing they could have ever imagined.

There are a lot of Young Adult books out there that appeal to adults but I don't think this is one of them. This one really is for younger kids. maybe preteen/early teenagers. It had a lot of information in it but not a whole lot of depth.

I liked how the story was told from the two point of views. It was really interesting to read from both the American side and the German one. I think the book gave a pretty realistic look at what it would have been like for a young man during WWII, from both sides.

The story is well written and interesting but the ending felt very abrupt. We spend 200 pages reading about the goings on in these boys lives and then it only took 30 pages to wrap it all up. Plus, it is very sad.

Soldier Boys is a quick and easy read and I am glad that I read it even if it wasn't all that great.

3 out of 5 stars

BUY IT HERE:Soldier Boys

The Importance of Being Earnest by Oscar Wilde

Oscar Wilde's madcap farce about mistaken identities, secret engagements, and lovers' entanglements still delights readers more than a century after its 1895 publication and premiere performance. The rapid-fire wit and eccentric characters of The Importance of Being Earnest have made it a mainstay of the high school curriculum for decades. 

Cecily Cardew and Gwendolen Fairfax are both in love with the same mythical suitor. Jack Worthing has wooed Gwendolen as Ernest while Algernon has also posed as Ernest to win the heart of Jack's ward, Cecily. When all four arrive at Jack's country home on the same weekend—the "rivals" to fight for Ernest's undivided attention and the "Ernests" to claim their beloveds—pandemonium breaks loose. 

Only a senile nursemaid and an old, discarded hand-bag can save the day!


This little gem is hilarious. I never knew something written over 100 years ago could make me laugh so hard! It is full of amazing one-liners and witty banter. I found at least one quote on every page that I wanted to share. Plus, it is a very quick read. Something fun and easy to brighten your day.

Because there isn't much else to say about this other than READ IT, I am going to share just a few of my favorite quotes.

“All women become like their mothers. That is their tragedy. No man does, and that is his.” 

“If I am occasionally a little over-dressed, I make up for it by being always immensely over-eduacated.” 

“To be natural is such a very difficult pose to keep up.”

“To be born, or at any rate bred, in a hand-bag, whether it had handles or not, seems to me to display a contempt for the ordinary decencies of family life that reminds one of the worst excesses of the French Revolution.” 

“Now produce your explanation and pray make it improbable.” 

I will stop there. Really, just go read it. It's worth it.

5 out of 5 stars

BUY IT HERE:  The Importance of Being Earnest

Before I Fall by Lauren Oliver

What if you only had one day to live? What would you do? Who would you kiss? And how far would you go to save your own life?

Samantha Kingston has it all: looks, popularity, the perfect boyfriend. Friday, February 12, should be just another day in her charmed life. Instead, it turns out to be her last.

The catch: Samantha still wakes up the next morning. Living the last day of her life seven times during one miraculous week, she will untangle the mystery surrounding her death--and discover the true value of everything she is in danger of losing.

This is a hard book to rate. I loved it and I hate it. I loved how emotional it became and the thoughts it brought with it. I also hated the thoughts it brought and how unfair it was, over and over again.

In the beginning I hated Sam. Hated her. She is the epitome of a spoiled mean girl. That is the point, though. You are supposed to hate her in the beginning. She is supposed to be terrible. You can't become good if you are already good from the start.

I really appreciated her growth throughout the book. As I was reading and thinking about what I would do in that situation I came to the conclusion that I would act pretty similar to her. There would be confusion, then anger and rebellion and then, finally, peace and understanding.

What really makes this book is not the characters, though. It is Oliver's writing. It is beautiful and descriptive and so real. It has been 7 years since I was in high school and I didn't even have the kind of experience that was in this book, but she was still able to bring me back there.

The end is one that you have to sit back and think about after you are done. I finished it hours ago and haven't stopped thinking about it. It moved me. I may have shed a tear in the end, too.

I think this book is worth reading. Read it, if for nothing else, to remind you how precious every single day is and how for every single one of your actions there is a reaction.

Read it. Think about it.

4 out of  5 stars.

BUY IT HERE:Before I Fall

Sarah's Key by Tatiana de Rosnay

Paris, July 1942: Sarah, a ten year-old girl, is brutally arrested with her family by the French police in the Vel’ d’Hiv’ roundup, but not before she locks her younger brother in a cupboard in the family's apartment, thinking that she will be back within a few hours.
Paris, May 2002: On Vel’ d’Hiv’s 60th anniversary, journalist Julia Jarmond is asked to write an article about this black day in France's past. Through her contemporary investigation, she stumbles onto a trail of long-hidden family secrets that connect her to Sarah. Julia finds herself compelled to retrace the girl's ordeal, from that terrible term in the Vel d'Hiv', to the camps, and beyond. As she probes into Sarah's past, she begins to question her own place in France, and to reevaluate her marriage and her life. 

I, like many people in this book and in real life, had never heard about the events of July 16, 1942 in Paris. We all know a lot of terrible things happened during WWII and this was another horrific event to add to the rest. The thing that makes it even worse is that the French refused to acknowledge their participation in the roundup, and death, of 11,000 Jews, 4,000 of which were children.

There are two parallel stories being told in this book. One is Sarah's. She is only 9 years old in 1942 when the French police come to her family's door to take them to the Velodrome d'Hiver, where they were jam packed together for days in sweltering heat with no food or water, and then off to concentration camps. The other is Julia's, an American journalist living in Paris who is given the job of writing an article for the sixtieth anniversary of the Vel d'Hiv roundup. The chapters go back and forth between the two stories for about half the book and then it is just told from Julia's point of view.

Sarah's story is compelling and heartbreaking. I devoured the pages containing her story. I loved the history lesson in it. I had to know what happened next. Julia's story, on the other hand, was great in the beginning but quickly started feeling contrived. Once we stopped hearing Sarah's side the book became too much like chick-lit instead of the compelling Holocaust book it could have been.

While de Rosnay's writing is great there were several aspects of the book I just couldn't deal with. I couldn't believe Sarah's parents reactions to the big event (I refuse to spoil anything) in the story. I cannot believe, even with being as scared as they obviously had to be, that they would do nothing. I can't. Also, I got tired of hearing about how American Julia was. Oh, and don't get me started on the character of Bertrand.

I think this would have been a much better book if it focused more on Sarah rather than Julia. It was a decent book, though and while it got slightly predictable, I really did love the ending. It's no The Book Thief  but I still recommend reading it even if it's just for the history lesson.

3.5 out of 5 stars

BUY IT HERE:Sarah's Key

City of Fallen Angels by Cassandra Clare

The Mortal War is over, and Clary Fray is back home in New York, excited about all the possibilities before her. She's training to become a Shadowhunter and to use her unique power. Her mother is getting married to the love of her life. Downworlders and Shadowhunters are at peace at last. And—most important of all—Clary can finally call Jace her boyfriend. 

But nothing comes without a price. 

Someone is murdering the Shadowhunters who used to be in Valentine’s Circle, provoking tensions between Downworlders and Shadowhunters that could lead to a second bloody war. Clary’s best friend, Simon, can’t help her. His mother just found out he’s a vampire and now he’s homeless. Everywhere he turns, someone wants him on their side—along with the power of the curse wrecking his life. And they’re willing to do anything to get what they want. At the same time he’s dating two beautiful, dangerous girls—neither of whom knows about the other...

This is book #4 of the Mortal Instruments series. I have mentioned these books before in my review for Clockwork Angel, the first of a few prequels to this series. I didn't enjoy reading that book before but it actually was fun knowing things from Angel while reading this book.

Back to City of Fallen Angels. This was my least favorite book in this series. I struggled with it but I kept reading because I enjoy Clare's writing. It draws you in. I liked reading more about Simon, too. I always loved him.

I have seen this one compared to Twilight because of  Clare and Jace's relationship. I agree completely. It's full of self-loathing and angst. They were nothing like the people I fell in love with in the beginning of the series.

I just didn't find this book necessary. I don't think anything said in it absolutely needed to be said. I think Clare was grasping at straws to put a book together just to make her fans happy. The plot was filled with holes, the villian was weak and it got very confusing at times.  CoFA did not live up to my expectations and did not do the rest of the series justice.

Of course I will still read the next one.

2.5 out of 5 stars

The Fault in Our Stars by John Green

Despite the tumor-shrinking medical miracle that has bought her a few years, Hazel has never been anything but terminal, her final chapter inscribed upon diagnosis. But when a gorgeous plot twist named Augustus Waters suddenly appears at Cancer Kid Support Group, Hazel s story is about to be completely rewritten.

This is one of those rare books, for me. One that you absolutely cannot put down but force yourself to because you just don't want it to end. I made myself set the book down from time to time, not just because I had to do things like eat and sleep but because I just didn't want to finish it quite yet. I still read it in two days.

This book hurt me. It was painful to read. First it hurt because I was laughing so hard and then smiling so much. Then it hurt because I was crying so hard and my heart was truly broken. Like I said, it hurt.

The Fault in Our Stars is by no means a groundbreaking cancer book but it is so beautifully written that it feels more personal than any other I have read. I have heard a lot of people complain about the way Hazel and Augustus talk. That they don't "talk like normal teenagers." But they aren't normal teenagers. They have been through hell and back. Hazel is 16 years old, has stage IV cancer, has her GED and is attending college. That isn't normal. So I think they spoke exactly how they should have. All I could think while reading some of their quips and conversations is that I really wanted to know these kids! They were written exactly as they should be.

This is a book that I know I will reread several times. I actually borrowed it from the library but I am going to go buy a copy today. I find no flaws in this book, except that it made me lose sleep. I recommend this book to everyone. Just don't read it before bed because you will not get enough sleep if you do.

5 out of 5 stars

BUY IT HERE:The Fault in Our Stars

If You Were Here by Jen Lancaster

Amish-zombie-teen-romance author Mia and her husband Mac buy and renovate their first home in the Chicago suburbs that John Hughes' movies made famous. Along their harrowing renovation journey, they get caught up in various wars with the homeowners' association, meet some less-than-friendly neighbors, and are joined by a hilarious cast of supporting characters.

This book was bad. I had to force myself to finish it.

It started off cute enough. The whole thing is Mia's inner dialogue. She is cute, funny and quick witted but the novelty wears off real quick. There is a reason why we don't speak everything we think. Everyone does not need to know every tiny thought we have. Yet, the author must have think that's not true.

The story is filled with an endless supply of pop culture references, which unless you are a big John Hughes fan (who isn't?!), read People and watch a lot of HGTV, you probably won't get most of them. Also, most of these references are in the form of footnotes. I hate those footnotes. They were overused and unnecessary.

It got an extra star from me for the humor, there were times where it was really funny especially some of the Stephanie Meyer jabs, and the fact that she thought up a series of books about Amish Zombies. That is just brilliant. I would read those.

Overall, a very bad book. If you do choose to read it, read it soon. Before all the pop culture jokes become outdated (some of which already have.)

2 out of 5 stars

BUY IT HERE:If You Were Here: A Novel

The Girl Next Door by Brad Parks

Reading his own newspaper’s obituaries, veteran reporter Carter Ross comes across that of a woman named Nancy Marino, who was the victim of a hit-and-run while she was on the job delivering copies of that very paper, the Eagle-Examiner. Struck by the opportunity to write a heroic piece about an everyday woman killed too young, he heads to her wake to gather tributes and anecdotes. It’s the last place Ross expects to find controversy—which is exactly what happens when one of Nancy’s sisters convinces him that the accident might not have been accidental at all.

It turns out that the kind and generous Nancy may have made a few enemies, starting with her boss at the diner where she was a part-time waitress, and even including the publisher of theEagle-Examiner. Carter’s investigation of this seemingly simple story soon has him in big trouble with his full-time editor and sometime girlfriend, Tina Thompson, not to mention the rest of his bosses at the paper, but he can’t let it go—the story is just too good, and it keeps getting better. But will his nose for trouble finally take him too far?

This was a fun, fast paced read.

Parks's writing is solid. He pays great attention to detail without getting boring and his characters are well developed. I loved the main character, Carter Ross. He was witty and fun. For me, his voice didn't fit with the physical description given, though. I kept picturing someone entirely different while reading.

The only reason this book didn't get 5 stars from me is because it is unbelievably predictable. I had it all figured out by the middle of the book.

The book was good. I found myself giggling in a lot of places. I actually thought, while reading, it was very much like Evanvich's Stephanie Plus series, which is odd since I have never read those books. I have heard a lot about them and they seem to be pretty similar.

I just found out this is the 3rd book in a series. So now I have to go find the others and find out what else happens with Carter Ross.

4 out of 5 stars

The book comes out tomorrow March 13, 2012 but you can order it here: The Girl Next Door: A Mystery

Agent 6 by Tom Rob Smith

Leo Demidov is no longer a member of Moscow's secret police. But when his wife, Raisa, and daughters Zoya and Elena are invited on a "Peace Tour" to New York City, he is immediately suspicious.

Forbidden to travel with his family and trapped on the other side of the world, Leo watches helplessly as events in New York unfold and those closest to his heart are pulled into a web of political conspiracy and betrayal-one that will end in tragedy.



This is the last book of a trilogy by Smith. I love, love, loved the first, Child 44. I liked the second, The Secret Speech. Agent 6 was, by far, the worst of all three. I didn't like this one much.

Smith brought out my fascination for this period of time in the USSR with Child 44. All of his books are filled with horrifying facts of life then. That and the great writing are the only things this book had going for it. It had the facts but none of the suspense or grit of the first book.

I had a hard time getting into this one. I thought it was because I was sick but once I started feeling better I still couldn't get into it. The whole thing dragged. I could barely make myself care about the characters that I loved and cared about in the other two books. The huge time jumps drove me crazy, too.

I highly recommend reading Child 44. Tom Rob Smith is a fantastic writer. I can't wait to read what else he comes out with. I just hope it's more like his debut novel.

2 out of 5 stars

BUY IT HERE:Agent 6

Before I Go to Sleep by S.J. Watson

'As I sleep, my mind will erase everything I did today. I will wake up tomorrow as I did this morning. Thinking I'm still a child. Thinking I have a whole lifetime of choice ahead of me ...' Memories define us. So what if you lost yours every time you went to sleep? Your name, your identity, your past, even the people you love - all forgotten overnight. And the one person you trust may only be telling you half the story. Welcome to Christine's life.

I don't remember how I heard about this book. All I remember is that when I did, I knew I had to read it.

The book reminded me a lot of Memento (the movie, as I have not read the book...yet). Almost immediately you are brought into this big mystery. I was sitting there the entire time trying to figure it out. I had the ups and downs that Christine had, I was even doubting myself when she did. My mind was going through all sorts of crazy scenarios that could solve Christine's mystery. I love when books do that. When they mess with your head a bit and truly bring you into the suspense.

It was written well. The fact that you know only as much as Christine does makes it more thrilling. It very easily could have ended up repetitive and annoying but it wasn't at all. There were parts that I didn't think were necessary. Parts that I thought, would someone really write that down in their journal? Even if they were amnesic, is that necessary? There were only a few of those parts, though.

Toward the end I did have it figured out but I still think it was played out nicely. My only gripe about the book is the ending. I think it should have been a big emotional thing but it ended up being rushed and neatly packaged. I wanted a bit more out of it. I wasn't all that thrilled with the main character, either, but that got pushed aside by the great writing and suspense.

Overall, it's a pretty good book!

4 out of 5 stars

BUY IT HERE:Before I Go to Sleep: A Novel