Jen in Bookland

Eleanor & Park Synopsis: Set over the course of one school year in 1986, ELEANOR AND PARK is the story of two star-crossed misfits – smart enough to know that first love almost never lasts, but brave and desperate enough to try. When Eleanor meets Park, you’ll remember your own first love – and just how hard it pulled you under. Review: There are not enough words for how amazing this book is. Seriously. I finished it and I cannot get it out of my head. It is so heartbreaking and beautiful and just amazing. From the first sentence I was hooked. I wanted to know more, wanted to know Eleanor and Park and everything that would happen. This was one of those books when I was devastated when it was over. One of those books that just sucks you in so far when you finally get to the end you just can't believe it is over. I remember looking and seeing I only had 20 pages left and just being in denial. It cannot be over, I never wanted it to end. I could have continued re...

Simple Perfection: A Rosemary Beach Novel (The Rosemary Beach Series) Synopsis: Woods had his perfect life mapped out for him. Rise up the ranks of the family business. Marry the rich girl of his parents’ dreams. Pretend that wealth and privilege was all he’d ever wanted. Then a girl named Della breezed into town, a beautifully imperfect stranger who captured his heart and opened his eyes to a new kind of future. Woods is ready and willing to sacrifice everything for her when the sudden death of his father leaves him with his mother to care for and a business to manage. Della is determined to be strong for Woods, even as she’s quietly falling to pieces. No matter how far from home she’s run, the ghosts of her past have never stopped haunting her. Struggling to hide her true feelings from Woods, Della fears she can’t be his rock without dragging him down into the darkness with her. But is she strong enough to let go of the last thing holding her together? Review: *T...

Irreplaceable (Harmony Book 2) Synopsis: It wasn’t his fault she lay broken and battered. He wasn’t responsible for the injuries covering her bruised body. Her heart, however, told a different story. She endured the pain of its jagged edges as it shattered against her chest, ripping through the hope she once held. Her spirit was broken, and only one man was to blame for that. Cassandra Clarke had known better than to trust her all to a man like Logan West. She’d thought he was different—a better man than he’d portrayed to others. A man worth risking it all for.  But she was wrong, and would never make that mistake again. What happens when you question everything you longed to believe—deny all emotions you still hold for a man unworthy of them? Faced with Logan’s persistence, Cassandra must find the strength to keep her guard up or risk falling again for the one man her body feels…is irreplaceable. Review: This book picks up right where Inevitable...

Inevitable (Harmony Book 1) Synopsis: After experiencing a humiliating breakup, twenty-two-year-old Cassandra Clarke is fresh out of college and living a simple solitary life without any intentions of pursuing love anytime soon. When the estate next door sells, the last thing Cassandra expects is the unnerving attraction she feels for her sinfully handsome neighbor, Logan West, the young and charming single father with a playboy reputation. It’s through Oliver, Logan’s four-year-old son, who keeps popping up in her childhood tree house, that she slowly begins to catch glimpses of the compassionate and wounded man Logan has hidden beneath his strong exterior. Cassandra knows it's wrong and that she's heading for another heartbreak.  Logan will never be able to give her what she wants…love. Review: Okay so this is my second read through in preparation for reading the second book! It feels like I originally read this book forever ago and while I ...

Twisted Perfection: A Rosemary Beach Novel (The Rosemary Beach Series) Synopsis: Life outside of her house was a new experience for Della Sloane. The dark secrets of her past weren’t something she ever intended to share with anyone. They would never understand. No one would ever get close enough to find out. There was always a chance she’d go crazy sooner than they expected… Woods Kerrington had never been one to be attracted to fragile females. They seemed like too much work. He wasn’t in it for the work just the pleasure. A night full of naughty fun had been exactly what was on his mind when he’d laid eyes on the hot little number that didn’t know how to pump gas and needed some help. What he didn’t know was she was as fragile as they came. The carefree girl who spoke her mind and didn’t care what the world thought of her was more breakable than he could ever imagine… Review: I've really enjoyed every book I have read by Abbi Glines. They are quick reads and I l...

Twenty-Eight and a Half Wishes (Rose Gardner Mystery #1) Synopsis: For Rose Gardner, working at the DMV on a Friday afternoon is bad even before she sees a vision of herself dead. She's had plenty of visions, usually boring ones like someone's toilet's overflowed, but she's never seen one of herself before. When her overbearing momma winds up murdered on her sofa instead, two things are certain: There isn't enough hydrogen peroxide in the state of Arkansas to get that stain out, and Rose is the prime suspect. Rose realizes she's wasted twenty-four years of living and makes a list on the back of a Wal-Mart receipt: twenty-eight things she wants to accomplish before her vision comes true. She's well on her way with the help of her next door neighbor Joe, who has no trouble teaching Rose the rules of drinking, but won't help with number fifteen-- do more with a man. Joe's new to town, but it doesn't take a vision for Rose to realize he...

Have you read Inevitable by Angela Graham yet? Yes? Well then you probably already know that book two comes out on Friday!!!! Yes that really does deserve 4 exclamation marks. Well it probably deserves way more, but let's not get too carried away here. Have you been counting down the days as I have? No you haven't? Really? Why not? Go get yourself a copy pronto!! Seriously it was one of the best books I have read this year and it feels like I have been waiting a lifetime for the second book. So do yourself a favor and go get this book! It is amazing. For reals. Then once you have finished (and it will probably be late at night/early in the morning because it is so good that once you start you will not want to put it down. Sleep? Who needs sleep when you could be reading this book?) you will be ready for the release of the second book! Now stop wasting time reading this and go get this book! Reviews of both books to come next week. Also as a side note - book reviews will ...

KILLER (A Jack Rhodes Mystery) Synopsis: For fans of Robert Parker's smart but tough-as-nails heroes, screenwriter Stephen Carpenter introduces a new character to the mystery genre, Jack Rhodes. Jack is an author and former boxer who was on his way to literary success when his life was blown apart by the horrific suicide of his fiancee. Devastated, Jack went on a fifteen-month alcoholic spiral into near-oblivion before eventually working past his demons to become a best-selling crime novelist. But just as Jack is finishing his fourth book about a vicious serial killer, the LAPD interrupts his quiet routine with news of what appears to be a copycat murder from his first book. There's just one problem--the murder took place before Jack's book was published. Jack begins to investigate, using techniques he learned through his meticulous research with police and FBI investigators. To his horror, Jack discovers that each of the murders he has imagined are all real...

Untethered Synopsis: Sylvie isn’t comfortable in her own skin. In fact, there are times she can’t even manage to stay inside it. But if there is one thing she’s sure of, it’s her love for Kevin Phillips. She’s willing to stake everything on it –her family, her friends, and possibly her soul.  Sixteen-year-old Sylvie has been best friends with Cassie forever. But everything is turned around when the boy Sylvie’s loved since fifth grade falls for Cassie. Devastated, Sylvie intends to get Kevin by any means possible, even if it involves treachery, deceit, and the dark side of astral projection. She is positive her plans will give her what she wants, but she doesn’t count on it all spiraling out of control.  Untethered explores the intoxicating and dangerous world of jealousy and obsession when coupled with paranormal ability. Finalist in Mslexia novel competition. Review: I received this book in exchange for a review. Really when I read the description I was ju...

Forbidden Synopsis: She should not exist. He should not love her. Claire Brennan has been attending Emerson Academy for two years now (the longest she and her mom have remained anywhere) and she’s desperate to stay put for the rest of high school. So there’s no way she’s going to tell her mom about the psychic visions she’s been having or the creepy warnings that she’s in danger. Alec MacKenzie is fed up with his duties to watch and, when necessary, eliminate the descendants of his angelic forefathers. He chose Emerson as the ideal hiding place where he could be normal for once. He hadn’t factored Claire into his plans. . . . Their love is forbidden, going against everything Alec has been taught to believe. But when the reason behind Claire’s unusual powers is revealed and the threat to her life becomes clear, how far will Alec go to protect her? Review: I don't really have a strong opinion of this book one way or the other. I found it just eh and it was ki...

Lola and the Boy Next Door Synopsis: Budding designer Lola Nolan doesn’t believe in fashion...she believes in costume. The more expressive the outfit--more sparkly, more fun, more wild--the better. But even though Lola’s style is outrageous, she’s a devoted daughter and friend with some big plans for the future. And everything is pretty perfect (right down to her hot rocker boyfriend) until the dreaded Bell twins, Calliope and Cricket, return to the neighborhood. When Cricket--a gifted inventor--steps out from his twin sister’s shadow and back into Lola’s life, she must finally reconcile a lifetime of feelings for the boy next door. Review: When I started this book I wasn't sure about it. I mean it seemed like it would just be a repeat of the first book, but instead of the boy having a girlfriend the girl had a boyfriend. I almost skipped it since I was just so so on the first book. I am so glad I didn't. This book felt more real. It is one of the few books w...

Anna and the French Kiss Synopsis: Anna is looking forward to her senior year in Atlanta, where she has a great job, a loyal best friend, and a crush on the verge of becoming more. Which is why she is less than thrilled about being shipped off to boarding school in Paris--until she meets Étienne St. Clair. Smart, charming, beautiful, Étienne has it all...including a serious girlfriend. But in the City of Light, wishes have a way of coming true. Will a year of romantic near-misses end with their long-awaited French kiss? Review: At first Anna really annoyed me. She just complained about how she had to spend a year in Paris. Paris. Poor her. On her first day there she makes a friend and the following day is accepted into the friend group. She has a hot guy she crushes as part of that group and they all keep taking her out and trying to help her fit in. I feel sorry for her that she has such a rough life. If she were all alone and had a hard time making friend...

Two Thousand Miles Synopsis A tragic event forces seventeen-year-old Kat Parker to move two thousand miles away from her cushy life in Malibu, California to a simpler one in Slidell, Louisiana, where she falls for the beautiful Mason Dugas and the Broussard's--the family who has taken her in. But Kat fears she may lose them all when the secret she's been keeping is revealed and she's suddenly summoned back to Malibu to settle unfinished business. tragic event forces seventeen-year-old Kat Parker to move two thousand miles away from her cushy life in Malibu, California to a simpler one in Slidell, Louisiana, where she falls for the beautiful Mason Dugas and the Broussard's--the family who has taken her in. But Kat fears she may lose them all when the secret she's been keeping is revealed and she's suddenly summoned back to Malibu to settle unfinished business. Review: This book was kind of interesting. I didn't read the synopsis before starti...

You Against Me Synopsis If someone hurts your sister and you're any kind of man, you seek revenge, right? If your brother's accused of a terrible crime but says he didn't do it, you defend him, don't you? When Mikey's sister claims a boy assaulted her, his world begins to fall apart. When Ellie's brother is charged with the offence, her world begins to unravel. When Mikey and Ellie meet, two worlds collide. This is a brave and unflinching novel from the bestselling author of Before I Die. It's a book about loyalty and the choices that come with it. But above all it's a book about love. Review: I haven't read anything else by this author, but I was very interesting in seeing how this story would play out. I was really interested in seeing what happened to both families. Even though it is a bit of a stretch to think the brother and sister of the victim/accused would fall in love, I still enjoyed it. It was really interesting...

Crazy Beautiful Love (The Martelli Brothers) Synopsis This is not the typical bad boy meets good girl story.  Logan Martelli is a bad boy. He's handsome, sexy, and knows what he wants. He steals cars. He doesn't do relationships. And he has the hottest green eyes in River Valley.  Maddie Wright is a good girl with a wild streak. She's confident, strong, and goes after whatever or whoever she wants. And Maddie wants Logan Martelli with a passion.  One fateful night brings Logan and Maddie together and electricity sparks between them. Maddie and Logan make a real connection, but when Logan finds out who she is, he wants nothing to do with her. However, he soon realizes he can get the ultimate revenge for his family if he continues to date Maddie. The problem is he's starting to fall for Maddie, and he knows that a relationship will mess up everything.  Logan has to decide if revenge is worth losing his one shot at real love. What price will he pay if...

Him Synopsis: Sarah Miller hasn’t been home in seven years. She thought she could stay away forever. If it wasn’t for her big brother's wedding, that is. Part of her even feels silly for staying away this long. It's not like anyone even knew what happened. Well, except for him. That guy. The one she compared all others to. The one who set the bar so high no other guy after him could even compete. The one who made her feel like anything was possible. The one she thought she would never be good enough for. The one she spent the last seven years trying to forget. All she needs to do is make it through the next week without running into him. Review: *Note spoilers ahead* I really liked the cover of this book. It instantly made me want to read it even before I knew what the story was. The book started off alright. Pretty quick I found I really liked the flashback chapters and the present day chapters were a little lacking. Like there wasn't much going on in t...

Worst Week Ever (A Long Road to Love) Synopsis: What do you get when you put a hardworking, can-do middle-class young woman together with a egoistical, outrageous, billionaire boss, then throw in the worst week of disasters imaginable? Book 1 of the 3 book series A Long Road to Love, named Worst Week Ever.  Trent Lancaster spends one month without his Executive Assistant (or as his drivers refers to Carrie: 'Trent's brain, left hand, and right hand'. He's had a miserable month without her at his side and to ensure it never happens again, he intends to marry this brilliant beauty. Only given all the times he's threatened to fire her, he's not sure she even likes him. However, the future of his company and his happiness depend upon him succeeding, so Trent begins a slow one week seduction, that happens to coincide with Carrie Hanson's Worst Week Ever when everything that can go wrong does so in hilarious form. (Hilarious to the reader, Carrie is...