The Chili Queen - Sandra Dallas

Rating: 4 of 5 horses

Pages: 292

Challenges: Library, Romance, Book Awards (SPUR), 20 in 2009

Synopsis (and picture from BN.com)

Life may have been hard on Addie French, but when she meets friendless Emma Roby on a train, all her protective instincts emerge. Emma's brother is seeing her off to Nalgitas to marry a man she has never met. And Emma seems like a lost soul to Addie-someone who needs Addie's savvy and wary eye. It isn't often that Addie is drawn to anyone as a friend, but Emma seems different somehow. When Emma's prospective fails to show up at the train depot, Addie breaks all her principles to shelter the girl at her brothel, The Chili Queen. But once Emma enters Addie's life, the secrets that unfold and schemes that are hatched cause both women to question everything they thought they knew.

Review

I liked this book it surprised me which is always nice. I can see why it won a Spur Award. Although I have enjoyed all of Sandra Dallas's books I have read - this is probably one of my favorites. The characters were good and believable and the twists and turns were completely believable too! One was a little bit of a challenge - a man acting as a woman, but in the end I think I can accept that too!

Light Years - Tammar Stein

Rating: 4 out of 5 horses

Pages: 263

Challenge: Young Adult Romance, Young Adult, New Author, Library, 20 in 2009

Synopsis (and picture from BN.com)
He went to school to learn how to kill me. The Israeli girl who ruined his life. Seven people were killed instead. A single mother of two. A computer programmer. Two college students. A grandmother and her four-year-old grandson sharing an ice cream. And Dov, my boyfriend, my heart, the man I wanted to marry, who was there waiting for me.

Maya leaves Israel to study astronomy at the University of Virginia, running from the violence, guilt, and memories of her past. As the narrative switches between Virginia and Israel, we learn about Maya’s life as a soldier, her ambiguous devotion to Israel, and her love for her boyfriend, Dov, who is tragically killed in a suicide bombing. Now, in Virginia, amid the day-to-day pressures of classes, roommates, and fraternity parties, Maya attempts to reconcile her Israeli past with her American future.

Review

I would recommend this book. It did a good job of hoping from Israel and discussing the past and present day Virgina. Also it gave me a much better perspective on what Israelis go through on a day-to-day basis with their terror attacks. It was very insightful!

Here are some of my favorite quotes or insights:

"They didn't even realize that light could conceal far more than it ever revealed. It deceived you, tricked you, and lulled you straight into the heart of danger. (184)"

Maya blames herself for Dov's death. Justin says, "If you hadn't existed, then maybe this wouldn't have happened. But whatever that waiter did to get himself fired would have probably happened sooner or later with someone else. You can't live life hoping nothing you do affect anything or anyone else. That's just life. You can't predict how the most simple thing will turn out, but that doesn't mean that you step away from living life and try to hide away. (247)"

"...I was especially taken by the words of Epictetus, a Roman slave from two thousand years ago. His advice: let go of what you cannot control, focus only on what falls directly under your control--your opinions, your will, your moral fortitude. (250)"

On why Israel keeps fighting, "We do it because after each war, after each victory and every death, we keep thinking and hoping it will be over. (258)"

Rumors - Anna Godbersen

Rating: 5 horses out of 5

Pages: 423

Challenges: Library, Young Adult, Young Adult Romance, 20 in 2009

Synopsis

The second book in the Luxe Series picks up on the main characters of the first: Elizabeth and Diana Holland, Penelope Hayes, and Carolina (Lina) Broud. Elizabeth was taken for dead, but really went to find her true love Will in California. Diana is in love with Elizabeth's fiance (arranged by their parents) Harry and Penelope is after Harry as well. Lina is just trying to break into the upper class after being fired as Elizabeth's maid.

Will Elizabeth find Will? Will she be able to come back home to New York after leaving under the pretense of having "fallen" into the river? Will Elizabeth and Will be happy together?

Will Diana and Harry find happiness together?

Will Penelope continue her manipulation to marry Harry?

Will Lina continue to use her inside knowledge of the Holland family to get money from Penelope? Or will she find herself loyal to her previous employers? Will she get her sister Claire in trouble for divulging Holland family secrets? Will Lina get exposed for not being in the upper class?

Review

The second book in the Luxe series was just as good as the first! I devoured it. I like historical fiction and have really enjoyed both of these series. #3 comes out in a few days and I already have it reserved at the library. The last chapter of the book sets up the premise of the next book (but I don't want to give anything away). If you have started this series and liked the first book I am confident that you will like the second as well.

Getting Rid Of Matthew - Jane Fallon

Rating: 2

Pages: 336

Challenges: New Author, Audio, Library, Book Awards, 20 in 2009

Synopsis (from BN.com)

A sparkling, sophisticated, witty story about what happens when he finally leaves his wife for you . . . and you realize you don't want him after all.
For once this isn't a novel about the heroine getting the guy. It's about getting rid of the guy, and in the process, finding herself.

Helen is nearly forty, and has, for far too long, had an affair with Matthew, a high-powered, much older, attractive, married man who was once, of course, her boss. After years of being disappointed by missed dates, out-of-the-way restaurants where there's no chance of them being caught, broken promises, and hushed phone calls, at last Helen realizes enough is enough-it's time to dump Matthew and get on with her life.

This, of course, is the exact moment when Matthew decides to leave his wife for her. He appears on her doorstep, announcing, "I've done it! I've left her! I'm yours!" and proceeds to move in. Helen then discovers how much she can't bear him. But she can't just throw him out-after all, she's been begging him to do exactly this for years. The only thing to do, she decides, is to convince his wife, Sophie, to take him back.

So after a "chance" meeting in the park, Helen befriends Sophie and hears all about her lying, cheating husband. But then, the unexpected happens-Helen really starts to like Sophie, and thinks she's way too good for a selfish bore like Matthew. And then there's the other small problem of Matthew's handsome, charming son . . .

Jane Fallon turns the conventional love story on its head in this irresistibly delicious, ironic debut for every woman who has ever realized, "Be careful what you wish for."

Review

This book was a Book Sense Pick and although I typically think the Book Sense picks are pretty good I was very disappointed in this one. I thought it was predictable and I kept wondering why does Helen or even Sophie want Matthew? He is a guy who is a serial cheater and can't have one woman at a time. He is pompous and a bore who only cares about himself. Helen stayed in a 4 year relationship with this man and only after he moved in (because he was worried he was loosing her) did she realize she wanted to break up with him. Then the book was all about her living 2 lives and trying to get rid of him. I wouldn't recommend this book.

Lock and Key - Sarah Dessen

Rating: 5 - Loved it!

Pages: 432

Challenges: New Author, Library Book, Young Adult, Young Adult Romance

Synopsis (from Publishers Weekly)
Dessen (Just Listen) inverts a familiar fairy tale: what if Cinderella got the prince, the castle and all its accoutrements, but wasn’t remotely interested? After her mother abandons her, Ruby Cooper is flying below the radar of officialdom and trying to make it to her 18th birthday, when she’s busted by the landlord and turned over to social services. Ruby gets taken in by her estranged sister, Cora, who left for college a decade earlier and never looked back, and Cora’s husband, Jamie, the wealthy founder of a ubiquitous social networking site.

Resentful, suspicious and vulnerable, she resists mightily, refusing the risky business of depending on anybody but herself, and wearing the key to her old house around her neck. All the Dessen trademarks are here—the swoon-worthy boy next door who is not what he appears to be; and the supporting characters who force Ruby to rethink her cynical worldview, among them the frazzled owner of a jewelry kiosk at the mall. The author again defines characters primarily through dialogue, and although Ruby and her love interest, Nate, sound wiser than their years, they talk the way teens might want to—from the heart. A must for Dessen fans, it will win her new readers, too.

Review

Well this reader is a new fan of Sarah Dessen! This book was awesome. It kept me entertained and I could relate to Ruby's struggles with life and adjusting. I liked how she came into her own in the book.

I am so glad I joined the Young Adult Romance Challenge - it has introduced me to so many great books!

Peaches - Jodi Lynn Anderson

Rating: 4 out of 5 horses

Pages: 320

Genre: Young Adult (Romance)

Challenges: Young Adult, Young Adult romance, New Author, Library

Synopsis (from BN.com)

In a Ya-Ya Sisterhood for teens, Peaches combines three unforgettable heroines who have nothing in common but the troubles that have gotten them sentenced to a summer of peach picking at a Georgia orchard.

Leeda is a debutante dating wrong-side-of-the-tracks Rex.

Murphy, the wildest girl in Bridgewater, likes whichever side Rex is on.
Birdie is a dreamer whose passion for Girl Scout cookies is matched only by her love for a boy named Enrico.

When their worlds collide, The Breakfast Club meets The Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants in an entirely original and provocative story with a lush, captivating setting.

Review

This book reminded me a lot of the Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants (the movie I haven't read the book). But it was different and very good. I liked it a lot and will read some of the others in the series.

Higher Power of Lucky - Susan Patron

Rating: 3 out of 5 horses

Pages: 160

Genre: Young Adult

Challenges: New Author, Audio, Library, Dewey Recommended, Young Adult, Award Winner

Synopsis (from BN.com)

Lucky, age ten, can't wait another day. The meanness gland in her heart and the crevices full of questions in her brain make running away from Hard Pan, California (population 43), the rock-bottom only choice she has.

It's all Brigitte's fault -- for wanting to go back to France. Guardians are supposed to stay put and look after girls in their care! Instead Lucky is sure that she'll be abandoned to some orphanage in Los Angeles where her beloved dog, HMS Beagle, won't be allowed. She'll have to lose her friends Miles, who lives on cookies, and Lincoln, future U.S. president (maybe) and member of the International Guild of Knot Tyers. Just as bad, she'll have to give up eavesdropping on twelve-step anonymous programs where the interesting talk is all about Higher Powers. Lucky needs her own -- and quick.

But she hadn't planned on a dust storm.
Or needing to lug the world's heaviest survival-kit backpack into the desert.

Review

I thought this book was cute, but thought it was a little slow until the last few chapters. It was a quick read!

Library's

Shelf Life has a great post on some of the changes in the LA Library and they aren't good. One of the changes is not purchasing books? Huh? How can you have a library with no books? I thought the article was interesting and makes me feel like I should get involved in my library to become an advocate! California tends to be a trend setter in many ways I hope this is not one of them!! Hop over and take a look at her blog. Let me know what you think!

Library Lovers

I got this meme from BookGirl and had to participate because I LOVE the library. I feel so blessed to live in a country that has opened the world to me for FREE through books!

How do you plan on celebrating Library Lovers month?
I think I will take some treats into the library and thank the librarians!

How often do you accidentally spell library as ‘libary’ when you’re in a hurry?
Always...I am a terrible speller so I am sure that have have spelled it MANY ways wrong!
What is the most amount of books you’ve ever had checked out at one time?
I think that since my daughter has been born I have checked out about 40 books. Those kids books add up FAST and only take minutes to read so you have to check out a lot…hence the large amount on the fine question! Btw – the kids books seem to walk off too!

What is the longest you’ve ever gone without visiting the library?
Probably 6 months. When I made really good money I bought a lot of books and didn’t go to the library much…then…I got laid off and re-discovered the library. J Now I use the library a lot! I especially love books-on-CD, which is a $40 - $100 savings a pop!

What is the biggest fine you’ve ever had? $20! The librarian felt so bad for me that she gave me 3 used books for free ($1 value).

When you go to the library, do you plan ahead and make a list? Or do you browse?
My closest library is a satellite library out of an elementary school, so they have a very small room for fiction…hence my need to plan ahead. I actually reserve books off the internet and then just pick them up at the desk…at least for my books. For my 1 year olds books…we browse. The Louisville libraries (any of them) don’t seem to be great browsing libraries. I haven’t put my finger on why…but the Champaign, IL library is awesome for browsing…they have a lot of new releases and popular books near the front and spread out in a way that you can see all the covers. I got so spoiled…who would have thought a larger library wouldn’t be as good? Not me. This may sound weird, but Champaign is building a new library and I can’t wait to visit…even though I can’t check out any books. When I was in Paris I wanted to stop by the library, but only got a chance to stop by.

Have you ever been shushed or hushed by a librarian?
Yes, but I was 13! In fact, one of my friends had 2 boys fight over her at the library and one through the other through a side door window. The librarian reamed me and my friend out about it! I will never forget that.

What is the worst (against-the-rules) thing you’ve ever done in the library?
Again at 13 we would “unofficially” check books out (i.e. walk out with them) and return them after we read them…this was before the alarms would go off. Although the window breaking incident might rank up there too...though I didn't do it.

What’s the worst thing you’ve ever done to a library book?
My dog chewed up a hardback book, but I paid for it.

Have you ever had a “favorite” librarian?
Yes! Mr. Reynolds my librarian in the High School library. I volunteered at the library and loved working with him!

If you could change one thing about your library it would be…
More browser friendly and more downloadable books. They have a decent selection of download books, but they don’t seem to EVER update them…they get this from a third party so I don’t know what the deal is.