Return to Paradise by: Simone Elkeles

Publication Date: 

September 2010

Overview:

Caleb Becker left Paradise eight months ago, taking with him the secret he promised to take to his grave. If the truth got out, it would ruin everything.

Maggie Armstrong tried to be strong after Caleb broke her heart and disappeared. Somehow, she managed to move on. She’s determined to make a new life for herself.

But then Caleb and Maggie are forced together on a summer trip. They try ignoring their passion for each other, but buried feelings resurface. Caleb must face the truth about the night of Maggie’s accident, or the secret that destroyed their relationship will forever stand between them. 

My thoughts:

Life is so much easier when you pretend you are fine, but it's a lie. Your boyfriuend comes back to town or I should say you ran into him in the most unlikely place. 

And now you must get over yourself and allow him to achieve what he nees to all the while you are struggling with your feelings and trying to understand why he is back in your life without actually wanting to be. Do you want him to be. 

Do you love one another, can you move past the past and be happy. More and more these questions are ones that plague them both. 

in the end the truth comes out...it tears people apart, but brings others closer together. I am incrediably happy with the end of this.

My rating: 

4 stars

BEHIND!!!!

Sorry fans, 
I am 2 months behind on the post. I will catch up.....but between my schedule and everything I don't get on but about once a week.....if that! I have several post that need to be made but will try for four a week. No promises, I don't get much time off and then when I do I feel like I need to catch up at home as well. I do keep notes on all that I read in order to keep up. Notebook is getting pretty thick!

Thanks for following!

The Nature of Jade by: Deb Caletti

Publication Date: 

March 2008

Overview:

Jade DeLuna is too young to die. She knows this, and yet she can't quite believe it, especially when the terrifying thoughts, loss of breath, and dizzy feelings come. Since being diagnosed with Panic Disorder, she's trying her best to stay calm, and visiting the elephants at the nearby zoo seems to help. That's why Jade keeps the live zoo webcam on in her room, and that's where she first sees the boy in the red jacket. A boy who stops to watch the elephants. A boy carrying a baby. 

His name is Sebastian, and he is raising his son alone. Jade is drawn into Sebastian's cozy life with his son and his activist grandmother on their Seattle houseboat, and before she knows it, she's in love. With this boy who has lived through harder times than anyone she knows. This boy with a past. 

Jade knows the situation is beyond complicated, but she hasn't felt this safe in a long time. She owes it all to Sebastian, her boy with the great heart. Her boy who is hiding a terrible secret. A secret that will force Jade to decide between what is right, and what feels right. 

My thoughts:

This is one of those ramblers, where the author let the character go on and on. And sometimes it's about things that don't seem to matter. I mostly give up on these but after reading the summary I was intrigued and kept on. I am glad I did though. 

I think the story touched me more then most I have read lately. I know elephants are amazing creatures, but at the end of the day that relationships that are emotional and touching are the ones that draw you in the most. And this one isn't a let down. 

Love should be able to conquer all, but at times things are more complicated then that. Life gets in the way or occurs and sets you off track. Other peoples actions and emotions affect you. It's the way of life and this story shows us that.

My Rating:

3 stars

Leaving Paradise by: Simone Elkeles

Publication Date: 

April 2008

Overview:

Nothing has been the same since Caleb Becker left a party drunk, got behind the wheel, and hit Maggie Armstrong. Even after months of painful physical therapy, Maggie walks with a limp. Her social life is nil and a scholarship to study abroad—her chance to escape everyone and their pitying stares—has been canceled.

After a year in juvenile jail, Caleb’s free . . . if freedom means endless nagging from a transition coach and the prying eyes of the entire town. Coming home should feel good, but his family and ex-girlfriend seem like strangers.

Caleb and Maggie are outsiders, pigeon-holed as "criminal" and "freak." Then the truth emerges about what really happened the night of the accident and, once again, everything changes. It’s a bleak and tortuous journey for Caleb and Maggie, yet they end up finding comfort and strength from a surprising source: each other.

My thoughts: 

Falling is love is hard enough, but when it's your best friends brother...your entering a "no-go-zone." Then when you go and get hit by a car, that messes up the rest of your life. Now your dealing with people staring you down and giving you dirty looks. You lose your best friend and your best friend losses her brother. 

Thinking the brother hit you with his car makes you hate him, but was it really him or his fault. 

his life isn't any better, his mom is having a private breakdown and your sister is now a gothic recluse. And his ex- girlfriend keeps coming by for a booty call all the while dating his bf.

Yucky!

My rating:

4 stars

Up Next: 

Return to paradise

Wild Roses by: Deb Caletti

Publication Date:

March 2008

Overview: 

Seventeen-year-old Cassie Morgan lives with a time bomb (a.k.a. her stepfather, Dino Cavalli). To the public, Dino is a world-renowned violin player and composer. To Cassie, he's an erratic, self-centered bully. And he's getting worse: He no longer sleeps, and he grows increasingly paranoid. Before, Cassie was angry. Now she is afraid. 

Enter Ian Waters: a brilliant young violinist, and Dino's first-ever student. The minute Cassie lays eyes on Ian she knows she's doomed. Cassie thought she understood that love could bring pain, but this union will have consequences she could not have imagined. 

In the end, only one thing becomes clear: In the world of insanity, nothing is sacred....

My thoughts:

This girl is crazy and so is this book. She is such a rambler, but Lord she will not shut up. I didn't make it all the way through...because it was like sitting through one of my sisters hourly talks about her life and every little tiny detail that she think she has to portray. 

Maybe this character has ADHD, I don't know I just know that getting through this book will take more patients then I have.

My rating:

1 star

Things I can't forget by: Miranda Kenneally

Publication Date: 

March 2013

Overview:

SOME RULES WERE MEANT TO BE BROKEN

Kate has always been the good girl. Too good, according to some people at school—although they have no idea the guilty secret she carries. But this summer, everything is different...

This summer she's a counselor at Cumberland Creek summer camp, and she wants to put the past behind her. This summer Matt is back as a counselor too. He's the first guy she ever kissed, and he's gone from geeky songwriter who loved The Hardy Boys to a buff lifeguard who loves to flirt...with her.

Kate used to think the world was black and white, right and wrong. Turns out, life isn't that easy...

My thoughts:

Kate decided to escape for the summer and signed up to be art director at a church camp she attended as a kid. Working here was suppose to heal her from the sin she thought she committed. but really all she did was help a friend in need, dire need. 

But going to camp opened a can of worms. She met Matt as a child, he was her first kiss and probably her first idea of love. She wants him to be her first everything but will she let go! 

Matt is everything she wants but can she let herself have him.

My rating:

5 stars

Up Next: 

Racing Savannah

Stealing Parker by: Miranda Kenneally

Publication Date: 

October 2012

Overview:

Parker Shelton pretty much has the perfect life. She's on her way to becoming valedictorian at Hundred Oaks High, she's made the all-star softball team, and she has plenty of friends. Then her mother's scandal rocks their small town and suddenly no one will talk to her.

Now Parker wants a new life.

So she quits softball. Drops twenty pounds. And she figures why kiss one guy when she can kiss three. Or four. Why limit herself to high school boys when the majorly cute new baseball coach seems especially flirty?

But how far is too far before she loses herself completely?

My thoughts:

Parker's life is rough, she feels like her mom abandoned her (due to her being a lesbian and running away). Her brother has turned to drugs and alcohol and her father is oblivious. 

So she decides to find her own way in life and signs up to help the boys baseball team. Which she then meets new assistant coach Brian, whose 23. 

But when your 17 no one can tell you that numbers are important. you figure life is worth living no matter the age and you want what you really want, which in her case is a grown man.

Brian should know better but lets lust get the better of him and things turn a bit crazy for the duo. When things fall apart she leans on Will for support and help and that makes Brian less desirable. But when her archenemy discover her thing with Brian she reports it and set off a chain of events.

My rating:

5 stars

Up Next: 

Things I can't forget

Catching Jordan by: Miranda Kenneally

Publication Date:

December 2011

Overview:

ONE OF THE BOYS

What girl doesn't want to be surrounded by gorgeous jocks day in and day out? Jordan Woods isn't just surrounded by hot guys, though–she leads them as the captain and quarterback of her high school football team. They all see her as one of the guys and that's just fine. As long as she gets her athletic scholarship to a powerhouse university.

But everything she's ever worked for is threatened when Ty Green moves to her school. Not only is he an amazing QB, but he's also amazingly hot. And for the first time, Jordan's feeling vulnerable. Can she keep her head in the game while her heart's on the line?

My thoughts:

This is a fun filled story about love and relationships. I just have to say this girl is pretty lucky to have all these guys for friends. I had a few and they are real and honest, better then girl-friends. Even if she is a football tar and a kick butt chick she has the star studded power that most girl long for. She can still be hot and have a boyfriend, but most think she can't. 

After trying things out with Ty, which mean losing her v-card and much more. She realizes that Henry- the best guy friend, is more her type and really something is looking for. My fingers are crossed that things can work out between them.

My rating: 

4 stars

Up Next:

Stealing Parker