Enthusiasm

Name: Enthusiasm

Author: Polly Shulman
Pages: 198
Start Date: March 31
Finish Date: March 31
Type: Chick Lit; Hardback
Status: Library
Rating:

Summary: "There is little more likely to exasperate a person of sense than finding herself tied by affection and habit to an Enthusiast." Julie knows from bitter experience: her best friend, Ashleigh, is an Enthusiast. Ashleigh’s current fancy is also Julie’s own passion, Pride and Prejudice, and the heroine’s quest for True Love. And so Julie finds herself swept along with Ashleigh, dressed in vintage frocks and sneaking into a dance at the local all-boys’ prep school. There they discover several likely candidates for True Love, including the handsome and sensitive Parr. And Julie begins to wonder if maybe this obsession of Ashleigh’s isn’t so bad after all. . . .

My Review: OMGosh! I picked this book up by whim about 1.5 ago and put it down; I picked it again and couldn't put back down! I loved it! And really it's about Ash. Yeah Julie tells it, but in the end, it wraps up about Ash. Also I think i feel in love with Parr when he gives her the ginger ale. But, main lesson in this book? Communicate.

Excerpt: A long time later i woke to find myself strangely warm in my cold room, with warm, steady breaths in my ear. After a moment I remembered who was there. he had turned over sometime in the night. He had his arm over my waist, his knees bent behind mine, like a pair of spoons. I felt his chest against my back, rising and falling with his sleeping breath. Blissful, I fell asleep again.... ~ pg. 161

Cover/Title:
Cute cover, but I think it should be Ash not Juls since the title is clearly Ash, but wateva!

Extras:
Erin's Speech and her Song

Yolanda's Speech and her Song

Ashleigh's Speech and her Song

Julie's Speech and her Song

Parr's Books in his Room

Flowers in her room after Ash cleans it

~ The Clumsy Reader aka Christine

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Coming Undone

Name: Coming Undone

Author: Susan Adersen

Pages: 376
Start Date: March 28
Finish Date: March 31
Type: Romance; Softback
Status: My Bookshelf; 4th in Marine Series
Rating:

Summary:On the Steal the Thunder tour, the real show's offstage

It's supposed to be the biggest summer of Priscilla Jayne Morgan's life. She's on the brink of country music superstardom, yet she had to fire her crooked-manager Mama, and the tabloids are having a field day. Now her record label's hired a watchdog to escort her on her massive summer tour. And not just anyone, either -- they sicked Jared Hamilton on her, the guy she once idolized more than anyone in the world. Well, she doesn't care how hot he is. It's been too many years and too much water under the bridge, and she'll be damned if he gets to tell her what to do now. Jared remembers exactly how headstrong P.J. can be and he knows she's going to be a handful. Problem is, he'd love to have his hands full of her. But he's cool. He's professional. And he's always in control. He'd better be. Because for five long weeks he's stuck in close quarters with the wildest girl in show business.

My Review: The only reason I read this book was because I just had to see PJ get her happy ending. Ya'll really need to read 'Hot and Bothered' before you read this. Really this book was kinda blah but I liked the end where you have all the couples together and it really wraps up the series. Oh, and the side romance is soooooooo cute! But I hated all the jack with J 'holding himself back' and "I am glacier" shit was just so annoying. But it was worth, like I said, seeing PJ getting her happy ending.

Excerpt:"Jesus, Peej," he muttered and, reaching out, wrapped his hand around her nape. Bending his head, he kissed her. It was brief, hard, and full of frustration. when he lifted his mouth from hers, he stared down at her for a moment, swore under his breath, then set her loose and strode away. P.J. watched him go until Nell's heartfelt "Whew!" redirected her attention. She turned to find her friend fanning her self with her fingers. " I bet make-up sex with that man is almost worth the crap that comes before it." ~ pg. 325

Cover/Title: At least it isn't cheesy. Well, not completely....

Extras:
Book Site
What she sings in the bar:
Hicktown
Billy's Got his Beer Goggles on
I Ain't No Quitter

~ The Clumsy Reader aka Christine

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Guyaholic

Name: Guyaholic
Author: Carolyn Mackler
Pages: 177
Start Date: March 24
Finish Date: March 27
Type: Chick Lit; Softback
Status: My Bookshelf; 2nd in the Valentine Series
Rating:

Summary: Ever since V’s mom dumped her with her grandparents, she’s bounced from guy to guy. That is, until a fateful hockey puck lands her in the lap of Sam Almond, who is different from the start. But V makes an irreversible mistake at her graduation party and risks losing Sam forever, spurring her on a cross country road trip to visit her mom in hopes of putting two thousand miles between herself, Sam, and the wreckage of that night. With humor and compassion, Carolyn Mackler takes readers on an unforgettable ride of missed exits, misadventures, and the kind of epiphanies that come only when you’re on a route you’ve never taken before.

My Review: I loved V in Vegan Virgin Valentine so reading this was a no brainer. I gotta say, Carolyn did it again. It described teen-age feelings that i didn't even know adults realized existed. But obviously, Carolyn knows they do. The book was sad at times, but funny for many pages. And the experiences V goes through makes you scared and sometimes makes you want to beat the doggy-poo out of V.Out all the books I have ever read, this book was truly heart-warming.

Excerpt: "I know," Mara says, rolling her eyes. "She's a different person since we got here. She met some guy, a graffiti artist. Luckily, they usually bring the handcuffs to his place." ~ pg. 121 (curtsy of My Mother :) )

Cover/Title: Perfect name, but does it describe V or her Mom?? Yeah that gives ya' somethin to think about. I like the picture, just a picture, but i thought she said her bug had leather in it? Well, it's ok. She probably just hijacked this car :)-

Extras: I emailed the author because IDKs Sam's song! Do you? WEll, comment if ya' do please and thank you. :)

Book Site

V's Croos-Country Playlist list
The Playlist I made
~ The Clumsy Reader aka Christine

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Head Over Heels

Name: Head Over Heels
Author: Susan Andersen
Pages: 352
Start Date: March 25
Finish Date: March 25
Type: Mystery Romance; Paperback
Status: My Bookshelf; 1st in Marine Series
Rating:

Summary:
Who said "you can't go home again"? In Veronica Davis's case,who'd want to -- especially when you hail from Fossil, Washington? But now she's back among the good-ol' boys who think she's fair game just because she's in a waitress uniform.
The truth is, Veronica's the boss -- at least until she can sell the family saloon and skip town again as fast as her feet can carry her-and nobody knows that better than Cooper Blackstock. From behind the bar, the ex-Special Forces Marines all. And his undercover agenda has made the feisty boss-lady's troubles his own.
And her troubles are considerable, what with a family in turmoil, a pseudo-bartender with dangerous secrets, a murder investigation, and death threats. Though the town surprisingly rallies in support, it's still a good thing that Cooper will be there to catch Veronica if she stumbles -- if he doesn't start falling himself.

My Review: I had read the 3rd book in this series and I already loved Susan, so when I saw this book for sale for 99 cents I had to have it! When I got it, it was a rainy day and I sat and finished the whole thing.I got to say, I liked this one compared to some other ones by Susan. The crime is really realistic and the love just didn't happen over night. It, ya' know, started as lust and worked into more over a period of time, not, like, 3 weeks. But what was "WTH?" was Coop's hair? I mean all his hair except his eyebrows, which are black, is blonde!? That's like not possible. But hey her book so her hair colors.

Excerpt:
"Hi, Coop! I'm having a Lassie dinner." "A what?" "That's what Aunt Ronnie calls milk and cookies: a Lassie dinner. She said some kid named Timmy always got milk and cookies after Lassie rescued him." She shrugged. "It was some show about a dog that she watched when she was jus' a little kid." ~ pg. 231

Cover/Title: Eh cute but boring. I am speaking of the title and cover.

Extras:
Boo Radley- where the cat's name came from (he's the third one down)
Turn it Loose - pg. 113
Patsy Cline ~ Sweet Dreams - pg.178 when Ronnie leaves Coop at bar
~ The Clumsy Reader aka Christine

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Vegan Virgin Valentine

Name: Vegan Virgin Valentine
Author: Carolyn Mackler
Pages: 228
Start Date: March 20
Finish Date: March 21
Type: Coming of Age/Family & Love Story; Softcover
Status: My Bookshelf; 1st in Valentine Series
Rating:
Summary:
Mara Valentine is in control. She's a straight - a student, a strict vegan and she's heading to Yale in the fall. So when her hell raising sixteen-year-old niece, V, comes to live with the family, Mara is horrified. Even more so when she starts dreaming about cheese sandwiches every night and realizes she is falling for James, her boss. Unable to ignore these unfamiliar cravings, Mara starts to give into them a little and in doing so discovers her sexuality, redefines her relationship with her over-anxious parents, and realizes that V could, in fact, be a potential friend and ally.

My Review: I had read Carolyn's "Love and Other Four Letter words" and " The earth, my butt, and other big round things" and loved both the stories and how the author sounded like a teen. I gotta say, she did it again! The way Mara acted (being a vegan, being a A+ student, and ,of course, being a virgin) was right on the dot on how teen acts. I also liked that the guy she falls for is her boss. But he was sooooooo sweet!!!!!! And V......... oh V. I gotta say, honestly I am the two Valentine girls put together. I have my wild side like V but I'm a lot more down to earth like Mara. But I do not dream of grilled cheese or smoke weed. This book is for any girl who just feels like she can't relate to all these cool heroins in books these days. Everyone can relate to V or Mara in someway. I promise you :)

Excerpt: We ended up discussing these totally random things, like how annoying it is when you cut a tag out of your shirt because it's uncomfortable but then that little remaining strip itches even more. Or why do people walk on the right in grocery stores, jut like how we drive on the road? Did walking come first and the cars follow? Or did cars dictate pedestrian patterns and, if so, how did people walk before cars came along? ~ pg. 98

Cover/Title: Cute cover but it took me forever to realize it's V's pink tank top and rhinestone letters only spelling the title instead. I think that could look like one of the girls. And the title is long but fits the book.

Extras:
Oklahoma!
What James is reading (Mara's Fave Book) pg. 110

James fave book (Mara read it and I will too!) pg. 110

Herbert the Dino - pg. 148

Boyz II Men - End of the Road (the theme song for prom *gag*) pg. 152

THE STICKER! or well close enough..
~ The Clumsy Reader aka Christine

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Eternal

Name: Eternal
Author: Cynthia Leitich Smith
Pages: 307
Start Date: March 18
Finish Date: March 19
Type: Gothic Romance/Fantasy; Softback
Status: My Bookshelf; 2nd in Tantalize Series
Rating:

Summary: At last, Miranda is the life of the party: all she had to do was die. Elevated and adopted by none other than the reigning King of the Mantle of Dracul, Miranda goes from high-school theater wannabe to glamorous royal fiend overnight.Meanwhile, her reckless and adoring guardian angel, Zachary, demoted to human guise as the princess’s personal assistant, has his work cut out for him trying to save his girl’s soul and plan the Master’s fast-approaching Death Day gala.

My Review: This book blew me away... I was just getting over having a 102+ fever and I was Jell-O so I just picked this up to read it and I didn't put it down till I was done. And since, like I said, was getting over being sick I am one of those who has weird, vivid dreams when sick or recovering so this book really made my dreams weird LOL. But I'll admit the beginning was kinda funny but i was waiting for something to happen. And when it did (the turning) it dragged. Only when Zach went for the job interview did I start to really fall in love with it. Oh, and yeah, Zach was *Hallelujah Chorus* hot, awesome, perfect, funny, heavenly, built, smart, and my dream guy. But really, who has read this book, and HAVEN'T dreamed of Zachary The Suspended Angel? If you haven't............... well need I say? OH! And it says on the Author's site that she is working on "Blessed, A Gothic Fantasy" but it doesn't say any more but I think we can safely say it's the sequel for this! :D

Excerpt:

Walk away from this foul place. Find solace somewhere in the shadows between good and evil. Make love till the End Days. ~ pg. 295 (!!!)

Cover/Title: The cover is simple and at first I didn't really like it. But there were so many different things it could be so the wing just kinda summarizes it I guess. The title is great because it's a love that with last for eternity , even past death,hell,and heaven. ;)

Extras:
Book Site & Info
Archangel Michael

Archangel Raphael (I don't remember if he was in this but he's a major Arch so I thought I'd put him here)

Cool Archangel Page

The Castle (It actual says this is Drac's)

A Song that relates to this book: Forever by Fireflight like it made me cry it's so good! :(

The Arkansas Razorback T-Shirt that girl was probably wearing on train! I thought that was awesome because I live like 3 hours from Little Rock! :0 ~pg. 87

Urban Cowboy - the movie they are watching on pg. 217

The "Man-eater" Lions Zach goes and sees (pg. 237) with the picture and if you read the page in the book, it's EXACTLY the same!

Just Something Cool

~ The Clumsy Reader aka Christine

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Envy: A Luxe Novel

Name: Envy: A Luxe Novel
Author: Anna Godbersen
Pages: 405
Start Date: March 14
Finish Date: March 17
Type: Historical Drama/Romance; Hardback
Status: Library; 3rd in Luxe Series (3/4)
Rating:

Summary:
Jealous whispers.Old rivalries.New betrayals.
Two months after Elizabeth Holland's dramatic homecoming, Manhattan eagerly awaits her return to the pinnacle of society. When Elizabeth refuses to rejoin her sister Diana's side, however, those watching New York's favorite family begin to suspect that all is not as it seems behind the stately doors of No. 17 Gramercy Park South.Farther uptown, Henry and Penelope Schoonmaker are the city's most celebrated couple. But despite the glittering diamond ring on Penelope's finger, the newlyweds share little more than scorn for each other. And while the newspapers call Penelope's social-climbing best friend, Carolina Broad, an heiress, her fortune—and her fame—are anything but secure, especially now that one of society's darlings is slipping tales to the eager press.In this next thrilling installment of Anna Godbersen's bestselling Luxe series, Manhattan's most envied residents appear to have everything they desire: Wealth. Beauty. Happiness. But sometimes the most practiced smiles hide the most scandalous secrets. . . .
My Review: This, for me, was by far the best of the books. So far. I haven't had a chance yet to read the 4th. But this one was great! The prologue was so well written, but who were all the people? I got Lina and Diana but who are the others? I'm so clueless! But I loved it when they go to Florida and the whole slave/war thing going on was awesome! OH! And the end?! AHHHHHH!!! The one thing that threw me for a loop was Diana and Grayson; I mean: HOLY CRAP!? ON A TABLE?! I never though D was like that :( But hey, when a girl has a broken heart, AnYtHiNg can happen I guess...

Excerpt: She closed her eyes and imagined that she was floating, that she was unattached to everything in the whole vast universe. That Gamercy was gone and money a game that children played at. She would have to go back to that sad house and her own sad room, but not just yet. She would go later... - pg. 283

Cover/Title: I LOVE THE DRESS! I swear for Homecoming (it's a duh I'll be in it) I want this dress! Oh um the model looks like D I guess and the title if *wink* perfect.

Extras:
THE DRESSES!
Ode to Diana and Herny
~ The Clumsy Reader aka Christine

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13 Little Blue Envelopes

Name: 13 Little Blue Envelopes
Author: Maureen Johnson
Pages: 320
Start Date: March 12
Finish Date: March 13 [haha]
Type: YA Travel/Adventure; Hardback
Status: Library; 1st in Little Blue Envelope Series
Rating:

Summary: Inside little blue envelope 1 are $1,000 and instructions to buy a plane ticket.In envelope 2 are directions to a specific London flat.The note in envelope 3 tells Ginny: Find a starving artist.Because of envelope 4, Ginny and a playwright/thief/ bloke–about–town called Keith go to Scotland together, with somewhat disastrous–though utterly romantic–results. But will she ever see him again?Everything about Ginny will change this summer, and it's all because of the 13 little blue envelopes.

My Review: The back made it sound like a very romantic book, but it really wasn't. It was more cute in that department. But the real story was about traveling and the dead aunt and 'the meaning of life.' I loved this book until the end. He says there diffidently something but then she states hat she's going home. WTF????????? But now I have a whole lists of things to see and places to go. Plus the sequel to look forward to....

Excerpt: On top of that, she was terrified of crossing the street, since everyone drove like a stunt extra from a movie chase. (Even the nuns, of which were plenty.) - 133

Cover/Title: The cover i disagree with. She states that she was tall and big boned. I'm like that and I am not like the cover. Plus the whole, skin-showing thing is not something I want to see. Yeah yeah I know: I'm being a grandma.

Extras:
Sequel Link
Book Page
Author Site

What she drinks in Paris --> Lillet ; Lillet Site (just fudge the date, it's FINE!)

~ The Clumsy Reader aka Christine

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Update & FYI

I was looking through some more blogger sites and I decided I was going to start putting in 'cover/title' little things and extras [link, videos, pictures, music, ect.] but i started going back through my old reviews and after about 7 I said: FUDGE THIS! So it's going to be a 'from now on' thing. Also I'm InSaNeLy behind on reviews. with my limited time on the laptop I am caught up to Feb. 21. But I only have 10 more reviews to put up! Yay me! Also if there is any challenges you know of that are extremely hard or/and have great prizes, contact me! Please I beg you because all the challenges, except the 451 F. one, are easy. So have a great, cookie-eating book- reading day like moi! :)

PS- My mother just informed me that I have been putting "exert" when's it's really "excerpt".
So.................sorry................

~ The Clumsy Reader aka Christine

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Rumors: A Luxe Novel

Name: Rumors: A Luxe Novel
Author: Anna Godberson
Pages: 423
Start Date: March 3
Finish Date: March 9
Type: Historical Romance/Drama
Status: Library; 2nd in the Luxe Series (2/4)
Rating:

Summary:After bidding good-bye to New York's brightest star, Elizabeth Holland, rumors continue to fly about her untimely demise. All eyes are on those closest to the dearly departed: her mischievous sister, Diana, now the family's only hope for redemption; New York's most notorious cad, Henry Schoonmaker, the flame Elizabeth never extinguished; the seductive Penelope Hayes, poised to claim all that her best friend left behind—including Henry; even Elizabeth's scheming former maid, Lina Broud, who discovers that while money matters and breeding counts, gossip is the new currency. As old friends become rivals, Manhattan's most dazzling socialites find their futures threatened by whispers from the past. In this delicious sequel to The Luxe, nothing is more dangerous than a scandal . . . or more precious than a secret.

My Review: This book dragged for me! I can't say much without giving spoilers but i gotta say that I think the end is screwed up! I mean what happens made me cry!!! But all in all it earned a good, solid 4 star because what happened needed to happen to move on the third book.

Exert: So this was betrayal. It was like being left alone in the desert at dusk without water or warmth. It left your mouth dry and your will broken. It sapped your tears and made you hollow. ~ pg. 375

Cover/Title: I expected Penny to be more beautiful but I guess that's close enough. The dress is OK, I personally love the thirds! And Rumors is good too, but I think "Deceit" would be more fitting.

Extras:

Book Teaser

I Can't find the dress but here is something close -Dress-

I think the meadow Elizabeth talks about might look like this or maybe this

~ The Clumsy Reader aka Christine

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Mermaid Park

Name: Mermaid Park
Author: Beth Mayall
Pages: 248
Start Date: March 10
Finish Date: March 11
Type: Family Life/Romance; Hardback
Status: School Library
Rating:

Summary: Sixteen-year-old Amy rush doesn’t expect much from her summer at the Jersey shore, until she stumbles on Mermaid park, an old tourist spot where girls dress in fabulous costumes and put on underwater shows. working at the park changes Amy’s life in more ways than she could have imagined. she finds romance, a new found self-confidence, and discovers breathtaking revelations about long-buried family secrets.

My Review: This was a book. Nothing that would make it like an "Oscar" nominee (in books) but I really liked the characters at the park, and the swimming part was awesome, how she described it! But I'd love a sequel about her coming back to hang with her g-pa and training the next queen. What you think?

Excerpt:

"Coke is too basic for somebody so complex."

I smiled. "Interesting. My soda horoscope. Keep going."

"The we have Sprite," he said, turning to look at me. " But that's lemon-lime, which says your sour, and you're sweet."

"Oh," I said, laughing now." You are smooth."

"Root Beer is my pick for you."

"Why?"

"It's unusual. It looks like Coke in the glass, but when you taste it - it surprises you." ~ pg. 62

Cover/Title: The title is flawless! The cover is....... not what I think she should look like. She says she is a little big in the thigh area and the model really isn't, lol. But whatever! :}

Extras:
Music from the beginning:

Rolling Stones - I can't get no satisfaction; brown sugar <-- Brown Sugar is the better one!

Queen - Another one bites the dust; We will rock you <-- If you like this song you need to see "A Knights Tale"

~ The Clumsy Reader aka Christine

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