The Fault in Our Stars

The Fault of Our Stars

By John Green;Dutton Books 2012


Summary: Despite the tumor-shrinking medical miracle that has bought her a few years, Hazel has never been anything but terminal, her final chapter inscribed upon diagnosis. But when a gorgeous plot twist named Augustus Waters suddenly appears at Cancer Kid Support Group, Hazel's story is about to be completely rewritten.

My Review: I have read a few of John Green's books over the years and thought them to be alright, until this book. 

I have been meaning to read this for some time. People were always asking me if I had read it yet? My answer was always no. A couple of months ago it was on sale on Amazon. So I bought it and downloaded it to my kindle. There it sat for months and months until yesterday. 

While on my road trip to Colorado. I decided to read it. From there on out I could not stop reading it! I was so drawn into the story of two teenagers with cancer, who fall in love even thought they are eventually going to die. It really showed me that even when life is bleak you still have to live every day like it is your best day and to not let an opportunity pass you by. 

The main character Hazel, I found to be very relate able. She enjoys reading, watching TV, laying on the grass and looking at the night and day sky. Through out the book you can see her journey of opening up and letting people in. Hazel provides us with insight about what it is like to know you are dying. Her story is about deciding to love and be loved, even when you know it will cause pain.
  

I give this book 4.5 out of 5 stars. I really enjoyed it! And I highly recomend it! 


Watch Out For: Cancer, near death experiences,  brief sex scene, kissing, mild language, brief drinking scene, and descriptions of drugs for cancer patients. 


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Love Letters of a Lifetime

Love Letters of a Lifetime: Romance in America
By Dana Reeve; Hyperion 2001

Summary: The first book from Lifetime, Television for Women a lovely volume of the most poignant and romantic love letters collected from women everywhere.The tradition of writing love letters is almost as timeless as love itself. And in that spirit, in January/February 2001, Lifetime, the number one television brand for women, will celebrate its Love Letters of a Lifetime month, culminating in a special network television event. Together, these love letters reach beyond the ethnic, social, and economic boundaries to expose real love in all its forms. And to show that love endures, each letter is put into context of the current relationship with updates on the couples.

From bittersweet, old-fashioned letter-writing to cyber love the newest way to profess your love over the web this perfect gift for romantics everywhere crosses over from generation to generation and touches the heart.

My Review: This book melted my heart. It is a reminder that love does exist and that everyone's love story is something special. This is based on real life love stories and not some made up one.  It is a collection of love letters from couples, that they wrote to each other from when they first started dating until now. it gives background stories and the actual letters.

I thought this read to be inspirational and just plain adorable. I really want to start writing love letters for my future husband and when I am married I will definatly countine to write him love letters.  If you are looking for a good read, full of love then this is the book for you. 

Kissed by an Angel

Kissed by an Angel

Elizabeth Chandler; Simon Pulse 1998

Summary:  Ivy and Tristan are meant to be together. Both stunningly attractive, brilliantly talented and very much in love, they think their happiness will last forever. When a terrible car accident shatters their world, killing Tristan and injuring Ivy, she must face life alone - or so she thinks. However, Tristan is watching over her as her guardian angel - so close she can feel his touch and hear his voice. And no one needs a guardian angel more than Ivy, because someone is trying to kill her. But if Tristan saves Ivy, his mission on earth will be finished, and he'll have to leave her behind. Will saving Ivy mean losing her forever?

My Review: Thank you Target for putting this book on your shelve all those years ago.  When I first picked up the book I didn’t know what to expect.  I guessed from the title that it would be a love story, but it was more than that. It was also a murder mystery.  I love mystery and this book gave it to me. I loved trying to guess how things connected or matched up.  I was on my toes towards the end. I started to speed read through this book just so I could see what happened next.

Here is my favorite quote from the book! "When you love someone, it’s never over. You move on, because you have to but you take them with you in your heart" –Kissed by an Angel

Tristan(Love that name) is such a sweet heart  and really cares about Ivy and looks out for her.  I feel so badly for Ivy because losing someone like that would be hard and I wouldn’t know how to move on. And it doesn’t help that some creeper is trying to kill you either.

Chandler  presented interesting ideas about guardian angels. She really knows teenagers and the lives that they live. She also presented about the nature of first love and relationships.

I thought it was good book and just something to nice to sit down and read.

Watch Out for:  Murder, death, obsession, Love, kissing, and some language. 

A Kiss in Time

A Kiss in Time

By Alex Finn; Harper Teen

Summary:

Talia fell under a spell . . . . Jack broke the curse. 

I was told to beware the accursed spindle, but it was so enchanting, so hypnotic. . . .  stunner who turns out to be 316 years old. Can a kiss transcend all - even time?

I was looking for a little adventure the day I ditched my tour group. But finding a comatose town, with a hot-looking chick asleep in it, was so not what I had in mind. 

I awakened in the same place but in another time - to a stranger's soft kiss. 

I couldn't help kissing her. Sometimes you just have to kiss someone. I didn't know this would happen. 

Now I am in dire trouble because my father, the king, says I have brought ruin upon our country. I have no choice but to run away with this commoner! 

Now I'm stuck with a bratty princess and a trunk full of her jewels. . . . The good news: My parents will freak! 

Think you have dating issues? Try locking lips with a snoozing


My Review: I have always loved the story of Sleeping Beauty, but this story made love it even more. This modern day tale of a princess being awaken by a regular teen is fantastic. The story is told from both point of views; Talia the princess and Jack the American Teenager. Jack acts out in order to get his parents to notice him and Talia just wants to be free.  They both help one another. Jack helps Talia escape her home and brings  her to his world where there are buses, Judge Judy, and French fries! Talia has beliefs in modesty, justice, and  democracy in all things.

When reading this I came to realize how much I rely on the the things of this world. Technology and peoples approval are things I live for. Through Talia I realized that just by being one's self you can gain peoples approval and that by conversation you can find happiness. I loved watching Jack grow throughout this story. How he came to be a respected and responsible guy, instead of the slacker loser everyone thought he was.

I really loved this novel and I highly recommend it! If you are a lover of fairy tales, true love, and destiny then this is a book for you!

Things to Watch Out For: Partying, drinking, sensual acts, and witch craft.

Two Roads

Two Roads
By Chris Crowe; Bookcraft

Summary: Jared is coming to the end of his mission and still continues to have flashblacks of that fatal night two years ago. Now Jared is dealing with a mamma's boy companion, who asks one too many questions about his past life. Jared is forced to tell this "greenie" about his conversion to the LDS church and how a girl named Leisel changed his life forever.

My Review: I have always been really fond of this novel. It is a short read, but well worth it. The author really describes the trials that young adults face today such as teen parties, peer pressure, and all the social things along with that.   He addresses the deep stuff like anti religion/ethics/cults, issues that people deal with on a daily basis. This is an LDS (mormon) novel and talks about the LDS church throughout the book. This truly is an excellent read though, this was my third time reading it and I absolutely loved it.

Watch Out For: Drinking, partying, crazy driving, anti mormon/ethics/ religions pamphlets,  and a car-wreck.

The Forest of Hands and Teeth

The Forest of Hands and Teeth
By Carrie Ryan; Delacorte Press


Summary: In Mary's world these things are known. The Sisterhood always knows best. The Guardians protect and serve. The Unconsecrated will never relent. And you must always mind the fence that surrounds the village; the fence that protects the village form the Forest of Hands and Teeth.
But everything that Mary has ever known starts to fail her. She's learning things she's never wanted to know about the Sisterhood and its secrets, the Gauridans and their power, and about the Unconsecrated and their relentlessness.


When the fence is breached and her world is thrown into chaos, Mary must choose between her village and her future. She must face the truth about the Forest of Hands and Teeth. Could there really be a life outside a world surrounded in so much death?




My Review: This was such an amazing book! I seriously could not put it down. I even brought it with me to work out with. ha ha. I have never been into the zombie type books, but this one changed my views completely.The hungry unconsecrated beings tearing at the fences surrounded by the village would literally send shivers down my spine. All the mysteries of the sisterhood,village, numbered gates, and never ending paths really got me hooked and intrigued about what I was reading.


The descriptions in this book made the images and characters so clear to me, as if I was really there, witnessing the whole story first handed. Can you imagine being trapped in a world where you are told that there is nothing beyond the fences, but the unconsecrated? Or to only have your mother's story of the ocean to keep you hoping that there is a world beyond the village? I know I can't. The emotions and imagery in the this novel is incredible and definitely worth the read.


The Forest of Hands and Teeth is an intense story of hope, faith, and dreams. In this book, the character Mary has this undying faith in her mothers stories of the ocean and will stop at nothing until she sees the ocean and gets away from the village that holds her there. Her hopes and dreams of her mothers stories test her faith and courage to give up the world she's always known, and push past the gates into the unknown.


 I'm not even going to lie, I cried like a baby throughout this whole book. I would put myself in the character of Mary. I felt all her emotions through the things she faced throughout the whole story. Making the story more terrifying and thrilling. It push reading to a whole different level. We will call it "Being one with the book." ha ha. Try it sometime.


All in all,this was truly a masterpiece and well written novel. I give two thumps way up for Carrie Ryan and her excellent writing skills. I highly recommend this novel to those who aren't afraid to face the unconsecrated.


P.S. I can't wait for the next one in the series, The Dead-Tossed Waves, which I will be buying as soon as possible!!


Things to Watch Out For: Sensual acts, religious ceremonies, killings, unconsecrated beings(zombies basically), graphic detail, death, violence, and terror.


For More information: Carrie Ryan and her books: GoodReads-Carrie Ryan,
                                      The Forest of Hands and Teeth: Common Sense Review

Desert Fire

Desert Fire
Marcia Lynn McClure; Distractions Ink 

Summary:  A nameless beauty is discovered and rescued in desert by Jackson McCall, a ruggedly handsome and noble man. With no ounce of memory of her past , this nameless woman stays at the McCall ranch and becomes apart of the McCall family. But ever since the moment Jackson rescued her, she knew he would forever hold her heart captive. With this woman win the heart of JAckson McCall?

My Review: This is the book that started it all! This novel began Marcia's journey to captivating the hearts of woman with her fantastic love stories and devilishly handsome men! An excellent read.

Watch Out For: Mild violence