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Simon Pulse

The Story of Us by Deb Caletti
Publisher: Simon Pulse (April 24th, 2012)
Reading Level: Young Adult
Hardcover: 390 pages
Source: ARC from Publisher
Rating: 4 of 5 stars
Cricket’s on a self-imposed break from her longtime boyfriend—but she’s picked a bad week to sort out her love life. For one thing, her mother’s romance is taking center stage: After jilting two previous fiancés, her mom is finally marrying Dan Jax, whom Cricket loves. But as wedding attendees arrive for a week of festivities at a guesthouse whose hippie owners have a sweet, sexy son—Ash—complications arise:Cricket’s future stepsisters make it clear they’re not happy about the marriage. An old friend decides this is the week to declare his love for Cricket. Grandpa chooses to reveal a big secret at a family gathering. Dan’s ex-wife shows up. And even the dogs—Cricket’s old, ill Jupiter and Dan’s young, lively Cruiser—seem to be declaring war.
While Cricket fears that Dan is in danger of becoming ditched husband-to-be number three, she’s also alarmed by her own desires. Because even though her boyfriend looms large in her mind, Ash is right in front of her…

Review:

The Story of Us is a serious book, but there are so many hilarious moments. Cricket's family has gathered with her mom's future-husband Dan's family for their wedding and it's a little like that movie Christmas Vacation. There are so many disasters happening around every corner. Cricket's worried about her mom taking off again before the wedding but she's also dealing with her own issues which include the cute guy Ash, her evil future step-sisters, and a house full of crazy, stressed out family members.

Cricket was a good character because she does truly love her family and worry about them — even her older brother. And while she is young, she still comes off as mature and wise. She wants what's best for her mom and that has become a big priority in her life. She has started to question her relationship with Janssen. They have been together forever but she just can't get over a few doubts. Although we don't really get to know Janssen first-hand, he is still very much included in the book. Cricket emails with him often and shares their history. This gives us a great chance to get to know him through her experiences and he was a fascinating character!

Ash is there, and he's hot, and he pays attention to Cricket. He has a bit of that dark, mysterious vibe going on and that really draws Cricket to him. She just has trouble finding out if that's real affection or her just latching on to something for comfort.

The plot was really what created such a well-rounded story in this book. Each character brought so much drama and fun. I think that everyone will find at least a few characters who remind them of a person in their own family. Some parts of the story lagged a bit for me, especially with a great deal of focus on the family dog. Not that I dislike dogs, I don't, but her emails with Janssen were mostly about the dog and I just wanted to know more about their relationship instead.

This book is a real coming-of-age story, involving a girl just trying to deal with the changes in her life. As with many young adults, change is scary and it can be difficult to let go of the security of a home, boyfriend, or friend. It's a time where a person takes a big leap of faith and that's exactly what Cricket had to learn to do. Deb Caletti truly knows how to target the mind of a teenager and dive into their dreams and fears.

Recommended: People looking for something cute and funny, but with a deeper meaning.

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The One That I Want by Janenifer Echols
Publisher: Simon Pulse (December 6th, 2011)
Reading Level: Young Adult
Paperback: 288 pages
Source: Author (Thank You!)
Rating: 4 of 5 stars
Gemma can't believe her luck when the star football player starts flirting with her. Max is totally swoon-worthy, and even gets her quirky sense of humor. So when he asks out her so-called best friend Addison, Gemma's heartbroken.Then Addison pressures Gemma to join the date with one of Max's friends. But the more time they all spend together, the harder Gemma falls for Max. She can't help thinking that Max likes her back--it's just too bad he's already dating Addison. How can Gemma get the guy she wants without going after her best friend's boyfriend?

Review:

That driving spirit puts her at odds with her best"friend" Addison. Addison was one of those girls who seems to only rely on friends when it benefits them, or uses friends as a way to make herself feel better while putting them down. She was not a good person, at all. She was constantly short-changing Gemma and trying to get under her skin. I loved that Gemma was able to keep control of herself and not let Addison rule her self-esteem.

Once Gemma and Addison run into some football players from another school, Addison immediately sets her sights on the one Gemma likes, Max. This puts Gemma in a difficult situation because she is paired with Max's best friend, who she obviously doesn't have anything in common with. But as Gemma and Max interact more, their feelings for each other really start to show.

Gemma and Max were really able to connect on a deep level. They understood each other and gave each other that much needed friendship. Max was a wonderful character. He was a guy with a lot of insecurities and worries of his own. I enjoyed seeing him open up to Gemma and, in turn, show her that she could be liked for who she is and not who she could be.

The One That I Want was a lovely, sweet romance with a great underlying message. I do wish Gemma would have punched Addison a few times (ha!) but this book may help people realize what friendships are unhealthy and what romances are worth fighting for.

Recommended: People who love Janenifer Echols (ME!) and people who enjoy a romantic contemporary with a focus on friendship.

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Where it Began by Ann Redisch Stampler
Publisher: Simon Pulse (March 6th, 2012)
Reading Level: Young Adult
Hardback: 384 pages
Source: Publisher
Rating: 3 of 5 stars
Sometimes the end is just the beginning.

Gabby lived under the radar until her makeover. Way under. But when she started her senior year as a blonder, better-dressed version of herself, she struck gold: Billy Nash believed she was a the flawless girl she was pretending to be. The next eight months with Billy were bliss… Until the night Gabby woke up on the ground next to the remains of his BMW without a single memory of how she got there.

And Billy's nowhere to be found.

All Gabby wants is to make everything perfect again. But getting her life back isn't difficult, it's impossible. Because nothing is the same, and Gabby's beginning to realize she's missed more than a few danger signs along the way.

It's time for Gabby to face the truth, even if it means everything changes.

Especially if it means everything changes.

Review:

When Gabby wakes up in the hospital she is completely confused. The one thing she does know is that she has a boyfriend, Billy, and he is not there with her. She can't figure out why he doesn't visit her. As she heals, pieces of the puzzle come together for her but it is a slow process.

A lot of this book goes through Gabby's memories and the time right after she"changed". She had been an average girl but after her mother forces her to get a makeover, she gets much more popular and that is what originally gets the attention of the popular Billy Nash.

The plot of this book was okay but Gabby really annoyed me. She was very self-centered and a lot of the book just discusses her looks. I got tired of reading about her hair and clothes. I wanted her to focus more on the important things but that never really happened. Parts of the book really lagged for me and it drove me crazy when she kept worrying about Billy. I wanted to feel more attached to the characters but I didn't.

I would still pick up other books by Ann Redisch Stampler because her writing style is enjoyable. This book just fell short for me.
Recommended: Contemporary fans wanting something with a little mystery.

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I am participating in the tour for Where it Began and today author Ann Redisch Stampler is here to share her This or That list with us.
I was lucky enough to get 2 ARCs of Where it Began so be sure to sign up below for the chance to win a copy!
THIS OR THAT

Peanut Butter or Chocolate
Chocolate. Oh my God, chocolate. I just ate leftover chocolate raspberry birthday cake for lunch.
Coffee or Tea
Mostly tea. Irish breakfast and green.
Writing in quiet or Writing with music
Mornings, maybe music. Night, absolute quiet.
Organized or Cluttered
Aspire to organized. Not entirely successful
Spontaneous or Planner
With writing, in the beginning stages, it has to be spontaneous. No outline. Can’t force anything. Then when I have hundreds of pages of disjointed chapters, and vast numbers of disembodied sentences, lots of catch-up planning.
Beach or Mountains
Beach. I grew up in Santa Barbara. Beach!
Comedy or Horror
Comedy. There’s more than enough naturally occurring horror in the world without cultivating it.
Geek or Chic
I am so chic. Don’t laugh. (There are certain articles of clothing Gabby makes fun of in the book that I actually own.)
Adventure seeker or Couch potato
Adventure seeker. Aspirationally. Unfortunately, writing involves a tremendous amount of sitting on a couch. I actually write on a couch.
Early bird or Night owl
Insomniac. I’m just always up.

Where it Began by Ann Redisch Stampler
Publisher: Simon Pulse (March 6th, 2012)
Reading Level: Young Adult
Hardback: 384 pages
Sometimes the end is just the beginning.

Gabby lived under the radar until her makeover. Way under. But when she started her senior year as a blonder, better-dressed version of herself, she struck gold: Billy Nash believed she was a the flawless girl she was pretending to be. The next eight months with Billy were bliss… Until the night Gabby woke up on the ground next to the remains of his BMW without a single memory of how she got there.

And Billy's nowhere to be found.

All Gabby wants is to make everything perfect again. But getting her life back isn't difficult, it's impossible. Because nothing is the same, and Gabby's beginning to realize she's missed more than a few danger signs along the way.

It's time for Gabby to face the truth, even if it means everything changes.

Especially if it means everything changes.

Prize:

• 1 winner will receive an ARC of WHERE IT BEGAN.

• You must be at least 13 to enter.
• Name and email must be provided and counts as 1 entry.
• Extra entries are possible and links must be provided.
• Contest is US Only and ends March 12th.
• Once contacted, the winner will have 48 hours to respond.
• The form must be filled out to enter.

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Cumberland Island
by
Emma Carlson Berne

Have you ever been to Cumberland Island, Georgia? Don’t go, if you’re the nervous type, which I am. Also, I am blessed with an active imagination.

Last summer, my best friend Jessica and I were on the ferry to the island (which is accessible only by aforementioned ferry). We were primed for a weekend of backpacking and camping—really, the only thing to do on the island, which is minimally inhabited. The place is a sandy wilderness of live oak trees dripping Spanish moss, giant palmetto shrubs, armadillos, ticks, and ferocious red ants.

So there we were on the ferry, and there was a crazy woman on with us. We knew she was crazy because she was carrying nothing but a plastic grocery bag full of Mountain Dew and pretzels. And she was declaring to anyone listening that she was going camping on the island. Most of the ride, though, she sat in a corner and mumbled to herself.

We were all off-loaded at the island, including the crazy woman, and the ferry chugged away. It was twilight, and there was no way off the island until the next morning. And the whole time we were lugging our packs to the campsite and setting up our tent, I was listening for our crazy friend. Because I’d decided that she was very likely going to come and kill us during the night. Why? Because she was crazy, that’s why.

And because I was at an isolated campsite, two miles from anyone else, except for Jessica, of course. We were in the woods and huge palmetto shrubs surrounded the site, so we couldn’t really see anything except palmetto leaves. And blackness. Or hear anything but the rustling branches over our heads, or occasionally, an armadillo crashing in the underbrush. The armadillos sounded just like human footsteps. So when the crazy woman crept up on me, perhaps, as I was bending over the fire—
Yeah.

Well, you can guess how well I slept.

Oh, and it rained too.

“Don’t worry,” Jessica said in the tent, when I finally confessed my fears. “You have to enter her fantasy and become a part of it before she’d attack you. That’s what Robin says, anyway.” Robin was Jessica’s husband and a psychiatrist, so he must know. But I didn’t feel terribly reassured.

And the thing about being in a tent is that you can’t see who’s creeping up on you. And yet you have no real protection. No locks. A nylon door with a zipper. Which can be easily unzipped from the outside. Or someone with a knife could just stick it right through the side of the tent. How did Margaret Atwood put it? “Butchered like kittens in a sack.” That was the phrase.

When we made our way down to the ferry dock the next day, we didn’t see the crazy woman in with the rest of the waiting group. She didn’t appear when we boarded either. I shivered as the boat pulled away from the shore.

But, of course, it was only my imagination.

Right?

Still Waters by Emma Carlson Berne
Publisher: Simon Pulse (December 20th, 2011)
Reading Level: Young Adult
Paperback: 212 pages
Hannah can't wait to sneak off for a romantic weekend with her boyfriend, Colin. He's leaving for college soon, and Hannah wants their trip to the lake house to be one they'll never forget. But once Hannah and Colin get there, things start to seem a bit… off. They can't find the town on any map. The house they are staying in looks as if someone's been living there, even though it's been deserted for years. And Colin doesn't seem quite himself. As he grows more unstable, Hannah worries about Colin's dark side, and her own safety.
Nothing is as perfect as it seems, and what lies beneath may haunt her forever.

Prize:

• 1 winner will receive a copy of Still Waters.

• You must be at least 13 to enter.
• Name and email must be provided and counts as 1 entry.
• Extra entries are possible and links must be provided.
• Contest is US Only and ends November 14th.
• Once contacted, the winner will have 48 hours to respond.
• The form must be filled out to enter.

a Rafflecopter giveaway

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Reminder: If you are interested in the COMMENT CONTEST, remember to include your email address with your comment for an extra entry! Please read full entry rules here. Don't forget to check out Lisa's Haunted Halloween post for today!

Two-Way Street by Lauren Barnholdt
Publisher: Simon Pulse (June 26th, 2007)
Reading Level: Young Adult
Paperback: 288 pages
Rating: 4 of 5 stars
There are two sides to every breakup.

This is Jordan and Courtney, totally in love. Sure, they were an unlikely high school couple. But they clicked; it worked. They're even going to the same college, and driving cross-country together for orientation.

Then Jordan dumps Courtney — for a girl he met on the Internet.

It's too late to change plans, so the road trip is on. Courtney's heartbroken, but figures she can tough it out for a few days. La la la — this is Courtney pretending not to care.

But in a strange twist, Jordan cares. A lot.

Turns out, he's got a secret or two that he's not telling Courtney. And it has everything to do with why they broke up, why they can't get back together, and how, in spite of it all, this couple is destined for each other.

Review: I first picked up this book because I read, and loved, Sometimes it Happens by Lauren Barnholdt. Her writing just flowed so easily and I loved the witty dialogue she came up with. Two-Way Street has a similar feel and the story line is just as interesting.

Courtney is the good girl. It would seem from the outside and her and Jordan should never work out. He's the popular party boy and she is the girl who would rather stay home than party. But they fall in love and everything seems perfect. But Jordan soon learns a secret about Courtney's father and is forced to make a decision. In order to protect Courtney from the truth, he must let her go. Courtney doesn't understand why Jordan broke up with her and she is devastated.

Jordan and Courtney have been planning to go to the same college and drive across the country together for orientation. It's too late to change those plans so they go on that lovely adventure together, even though they are barely speaking.

Two-Way Street does have a serious topic but Lauren really finds ways to break up the more"depressing" parts by adding in hilarious moments. She really captured the essence of teen drama and how boys and girls play games with each other. We are able to see the story of Courtney and Jordan from both points of view and see how they fell in love and what broke them apart.

Jordan was just adorable. I have a soft spot for bad boys and I think he just made the perfect character for this story. Courtney may have been stubborn but she also seemed very real. I could believe their interactions and problems that came from being stuck in a car together for 3 days.

Two-Way Street is another wonderful book by Lauren Barnholdt and I can't wait to read more from her in the future. I didn't love it as much as Sometimes it Happens but if you want a quick, funny read, you gotta pick this one up!

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Right of Way by Lauren Barnholdt
Published: Simon Pulse (July 9th, 2013)
Reading Level: Young Adult
Hardcover: 320 pages
Rating: 4 of 5 stars
Summary:
Can a road trip repair a romance gone wrong? Find out in this standalone companion to Lauren Barnholdt’s Two-way Street.

Here are Peyton and Jace, meeting on vacation. Click! It’s awesome, it’s easy, it’s romantic. This is the real deal.

Unless it isn’t. Because when you’re in love, you don’t just stop calling one day. And you don’t keep secrets. Or lie. And when your life starts falling apart, you’re supposed to have the other person to lean on.

Here are Peyton and Jace again, broken up but thrown together on a road trip. One of them is lying about the destination. One of them is pretending not to be leaving something behind. And neither of them is prepared for what’s coming on the road ahead…

Review:

Here we meet Peyton and Jace while they are at a wedding but they already have a history. I was a bit confused. It has been a while since I read Two-Way Street. You don't have to read that book to enjoy this one but the characters are connected. I just struggled with what Peyton and Jace's history could be. Jace seemed to want to talk with Peyton but she wanted nothing to do with him.

Then Peyton ends up being stranded at the wedding and has to get a ride with Jace. Peyton is wanting to run away so she plans to use Jace for a ride, but to make him drop her off on the way. I am a sucker for road trip books so that aspect of the story was really enjoyable. The pair do have some cute interactions together. I did think some of their decisions were pretty silly though. I just wanted the characters to loosen up a bit and stop hiding the truth from each other and really sit down and think about their decisions. If they would have done that, this book would have been nearly perfect.

I did really love the fact that we get to hear both POVs in this story. And that we do get a little update on some past characters we've heard of. As far as Lauren's books go, I've read nearly all of them and this one was mid-way for me. There have been a few I've liked better but this one is still a pretty good read.

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The Book of Broken Hearts by Sarah Ockler
Published: Simon Pulse (May 21st, 2013)
Reading Level: Young Adult
Hardcover: 352 pages
Rating: 3 of 5 stars
Summary:
When all signs point to heartbreak, can love still be a rule of the road? A poignant and romantic novel from the author of Bittersweet and Twenty Boy Summer.

Jude has learned a lot from her older sisters, but the most important thing is this: The Vargas brothers are notorious heartbreakers. She’s seen the tears and disasters that dating a Vargas boy can cause, and she swore an oath—with candles and a contract and everything—to never have anything to do with one.

Now Jude is the only sister still living at home, and she’s spending the summer helping her ailing father restore his vintage motorcycle—which means hiring a mechanic to help out. Is it Jude’s fault he happens to be cute? And surprisingly sweet? And a Vargas?

Jude tells herself it’s strictly bike business with Emilio. Her sisters will never find out, and Jude can spot those flirty little Vargas tricks a mile away—no way would she fall for them. But Jude’s defenses are crumbling, and if history is destined to repeat itself, she’s speeding toward some serious heartbreak… unless her sisters were wrong?

Jude may have taken an oath, but she’s beginning to think that when it comes to love, some promises might be worth breaking.

Review:

Jude definitely portrays being the baby of the family well. She feels the burden of being left at home, alone, and being her parent's last hope, in many ways. She's all they have left and she's really amerced herself into this job. She has a difficult time realizing the severity of her father's diagnosis.

Soon she think that if they are able to fix his old bike that maybe it will help him cope, or even get better. She finds a guy to help and it sure doesn't hurt that he's so hot: ) But there's a catch, he's a Vargas. Jude's sisters have had some bad history with his family. They've gotten their hearts broken one too many times and they don't want her to go through the same fate.

This book is"cute" in many ways. Even though it has a deep meaning based around family and dealing with a disease, it's a nice romance too. I just couldn't fully get into it. I didn't buy the fact that this"oath" was such a big deal. I also didn't really enjoy all the flashbacks and found that I started skipping a few.

My favorite part was getting to know Emilio. He was such a great character and I felt he made Jude a better person. Someone who could deal with what was going on around her instead of being in denial.

I think I've read all of Sarah's books and while this one wasn't my favorite, it's still a good book to check out.

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Shine by Jeri Smith-Ready
Publisher: Simon Pulse (May 1st, 2012)
Reading Level: Young Adult
Hardback: 399 pages
Source: Publisher
Series: Shade, #3
Rating: 4 of 5 stars
Life can change in an instant, and no one understands that better than Aura. It’s been almost a year since her boyfriend tragically died. She’s finally letting go of Logan’s violet-hued ghost, but not her search to uncover the truth about her past.

As the first in a generation that can see ghosts, Aura is convinced she has a connection to the Shift. She’s trusted Zachary, ever patient and ever by her side, with all that she knows. But when the government threatens his life in an attempt to learn Aura’s secrets, she will stop at nothing to protect herself and the one she loves… even if that means betraying her own heart.

Review:

If you've read the first few books, you know that Logan has been gone for a while, but not really.: ) I enjoyed when he would reappear. It was hard to finally let him go. Many, many tears were shed!

Aura has grown so much throughout this series. She seems much better prepared to deal with drama and the craziness of her existence. She seemed ready to face things head on and really figure out what created the shift that caused people to see ghosts. Her and Zachary visit Newrange in Ireland in order to see why it was significant that their parents happened to be there during such a critical point in time. The time that lead to their births and the shift.

I loved seeing where this plot ended up. I never felt like I knew what was coming. It was so well thought-out and explored. Shine really gave Aura her moment where she fought for what she knew was right, no matter who ended up by her side. Yes, we do get the romance but it doesn't interfere with the reason behind the plot. It was just a bonus to it all. It did take me a bit longer to get into the story, compared to the first book, but that's sort of typical for the end of a series.

I really hate seeing these characters go. It's hard to find a series where you really connect with everyone on some level. Jeri Smith-Ready is fabulous in every way and I can't wait to see what she comes up with next. This series was build upon such a unique premise, I'm sure she has something else surprising up her sleeve.

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