The Statistical Probability of Love at First Sight - Jennifer E. Smith

The Statistical Probability of Love at First Sight by Jennifer E. Smith
Date Released: January 2nd 2012
Publisher: Poppy
Pages: 236 pages
Date Read: December 23rd 2011
Format:  Hardcover
Source: Barnes&Nobles

Summary:

Who would have guessed that four minutes could change everything?

Today should be one of the worst days of seventeen-year-old Hadley Sullivan's life. She's stuck at JFK, late to her father's second wedding, which is taking place in London and involves a soon to be step-mother that Hadley's never even met. Then she meets the perfect boy in the airport's cramped waiting area. His name is Oliver, he's British, and he's in seat 18C. Hadley's in 18A.

Twists of fate and quirks of timing play out in this thoughtful novel about family connections, second chances and first loves. Set over a 24-hour-period, Hadley and Oliver's story will make you believe that true love finds you when you're least expecting it.

From Goodreads

My Review:

I Really Liked It and It Was Amazing. 

lol, I have no idea how to explain yet. It was a simple story really, sweet, the beginning of a bigger one for Hadley and Oliver; but there were so many little details and things that just made the story so great and complete. I'm smiling like a fool right now, I seriously can't wait to re-read it. It's such a beautiful book that every time I glance at it I just get a bigger smile, and I'm sure it's going to be that way for a long time.

Oliver and Hadley were perfect. Not in a no flaws kind of way, but in a perfectly well done human characters with flaws and all. They both had different perspectives on many things but they also completed each other. I know that this sounds cheesy, especially if you consider that the story takes place over a 24 hour period, but everything was just so well done. I seriously applause Jennifer E. Smith, she did a wonderful job with this book, and like I said earlier, you can tell this is just the beginning for Oliver and Hadley.

This is a must-be-in-your-shelf book, no doubt. The Statistical Probability that you will love it is: 100%

“It's not the changes that will break your heart; it's that tug of familiarity.”

&

Tweet Review

This is a must-be-in-your-shelf book, no doubt. The Statistical Probability that you will love it is: 100%

Ripple - Mandy Hubbard

Ripple by Mandy Hubbard
Date Released: July 21st 2011
Publisher: Razorbill/Penguin
Pages: 260 pages
Date Read: October 29, 2011
Format: Hardcover
Source: Amazon

Summary:

Lexi is cursed with a dark secret. Each day she goes to school like a normal teenager, and each night she must swim, or the pain will be unbearable. She is a siren - a deadly mermaid destined to lure men to their watery deaths. After a terrible tragedy, Lexi shut herself off from the world, vowing to protect the ones she loves. But she soon finds herself caught between a new boy at school who may have the power to melt her icy exterior, and a handsome water spirit who says he can break Lexi's curse if she gives up everything else. Lexi is faced with the hardest decision she's ever had to make: the life she's always longed for - or the love she can't live without?

From Goodreads

My Review:

I had very high expectations for Ripple, the cover is gorgeous and it's a great storyline, and I am very happy to say it did not let me down :)

Last Year - or at least I think it was last year... - I read You Wish also by Mandy Hubbard, the story was great. The only problem? I didn't like the main character. yeah, not so good. Luckily this was not the case with Ripple, I liked Lexi a lot.

Lexi is cursed, she's draw to water and she sings, and her singing kills. She falls in Love, but then she figures out a way to get rid of her curse. the price? give up her Love. so what will she choose?

I have no idea if I'm just naive but, wow, I was shocked so many times during the book! her decisions, what everything turned out to be, what a certain someone turned out to be, and the ending. wow, the ending. didn't saw that one coming. Not. At. All.

and aside from the shocking part in the ending it was also realistic. I really liked the last chapter [thirty-three] I think it was the perfect finale for the book.

Ripple is the first mermaid book I read and It most definitely won't be my last. Mandy Hubbard created an original storyline with intriguing characters and with lots of surprises around the corner. If you haven't read a book by Mandy Hubbard before, you must. It won't disappoint.

“You don't have to sleep, you don't have to dream, to have nightmares.”

Tweet Review

Mandy Hubbard created an original storyline with intriguing characters and with lots of surprises around the corner. If you haven't read a book by Mandy Hubbard before, you must. It won't disappoint.

There You'll Find Me - Jenny B. Jones

There You'll Find Me by Jenny B. Jones
Date Released: October 4th 2011
Publisher: Thomas Nelson
Pages: 320 pages
Date Read: November 13 2011
Format: e-book
Source: Publisher via NetGalley

Summary:

In a small cottage house in rural Ireland, Finley discovers she can no longer outrun the past.

When Finley travels to Ireland as a foreign exchange student, she hopes to create a new identity and get some answers from the God who took her brother away and seems to have left her high and dry.

But from the moment she boards the plane and sits by Beckett Rush, teen star of the hottest vampire flicks, nothing goes according to Finley's plan.

When she gets too close to Beckett, a classmate goes on a mission to make sure Finley packs her bags, departs Ireland-and leaves Beckett alone.

Finley feels the pressure all around. As things start to fall apart, she begins to rely on a not-so-healthy method of taking control of her life.

Finley tries to balance it all-disasters on the set of Beckett's new movie, the demands of school, and her growing romance with one actor who is not what he seems. Yet Finley is also not who she portrays to Beckett and her friends.

For the first time in her life, Finley must get honest with herself to get right with God.

From Goodreads

My Review:

There You'll Find Me is a story about grief, change, self-discovery and falling in love in the process.

Finley has been dealing with a lot during the past two years, her brother’s death, depression and a few bad turns, so she decides to take trip to Ireland in hopes of finding peace, calm and completing her musical piece for an upcoming audition. And what does she find instead? An arrogant actor [this one is before the plane arrives at Ireland], a bully and a bitter old granny; add a new family and best friend to the mix.

Obviously her peaceful and calming trip doesn’t turn out to be so relaxing, and soon Finley finds herself going the wrong way again, giving in to the pain that lives inside her and that she so desperately tries to deny, but there’s a boy that refuses to leave her, a lady that needs her help and some things she needs to find.

The story was beautiful, and even though it circled around religion – I am not a fan of religion in books – It didn’t bother me, I really do think it was, somehow, ‘essential’ to the story.

I had my Laugh Out Loud moments, parts where I nearly cry and parts in which all I wanted was to clap [is that weird?] Standing Ovation for There You’ll Find Me, and also for Jenny B. Jones writing style! It was poetic!

Big Thanks to Netgally for letting me access this book :D!

"You can talk to your old dad about anything, you know. Except boys. And bras. And that Bieber fellow."

Tweet Review

A story about grief, change, self-discovery and falling in love in the process. Beautiful

White Witch Pond - Jody Kihara

White Witch Pond by Jody Kihara
Date Released:  February 22nd 2011
Date Read: June 2011
Format: Kindle Edition
Sourcd: Author

Summary:

Shaya Solen’s walk home from school takes her past an eerie pond, where one day she finds an old bracelet made of raven feathers. Soon, strange events begin to unfold: a shadowy figure glimpsed across the water, ominous nightmares haunting Shaya, and rumors of a witch who once drowned in the pond. With the discovery of a strange family connection to the witch, Shaya is drawn into a mystery that must be solved before the approaching Halloween, which is the thirteenth anniversary of the witch’s death – and Shaya’s birthday.

From Goodreads

My Review:

They say photos are worth more than a thousand words. I think the same about tittles. When reading the title of White Witch Pond and learning that the main character was somewhere around 12 years old, I thought it would be about a little girl meeting this witch and then becoming friends or something. A little spook in the middle but, no more than that. Turns out it’s a creepy story, with a creepy witch and creepy situations. Preconceived Ideas. What would we do without them?

Even though the books has a twelve year old as its main character, I think that White Witch Pond is a book for a little bit older teens, ‘cause my twelve year old niece was having a little bit trouble with the writing style – very good by the way – and with sleeping at night xDD…. I didn’t of course…. Like non, I slept like a baby while reading it, never scared, I’m seventeen pfft! No problems. No. Zero. Nada. O.O

Yes, you can probably smell the lie ten countries away. I can’t stand scary movies or books or even haunted mansions. I get scared WAY to easily. I still love ‘em though. That’s called masochism. The books wasn’t THAT scary, though It did had its creepy parts, especially if you read them at night, and your window is closed.

One of my favorite things about the books was Shaya – the main character – she was so sweet and innocent, but still, she held her bravery up high. She actually reminds me of me in my early teen years.

The story is a light fun and sure to give goose-bumps book – it took me like, 3 weeks to read it, I had my SAT’s- but then I decided to re-read it ‘cause I couldn’t remember it by the time I continued reading it xD It took me only 2 hours. In my 6 hour ride to San Francisco, White Witch Pond definitely made my day trip.

Even though the story IS kinda creepy and scary, the ending was just PERFECT. With the right amount of everything, from sweetness to humor. It guaranteed that it will leave you with a smile plastered in your face when you read the last line

A must read when you’re on your way to San Francisco… maybe not forcefully to San Francisco but it works! xD

“A note sat on the kitchen table. Shaya snatched it up and read:
Shay,
I'm taking Dev to the clinic, he's still sick. Didn't want to wake you, you were sleeping so soundly. Hope to be back early afternoon.
Love,
Mom
PS – don't forget you're grounded”

The Pledge - Kimberly Derting

The Pledge by Kimberly Derting
Date Released: November 15th 2011
Publisher: Margaret K. McElderry
Pages: 323 pages
Date Read: November 14th 2011
Format: ARC
Source: Simon Schuster October Galley Grab

Summary:

In the violent country of Ludania, the classes are strictly divided by the language they speak. The smallest transgression, like looking a member of a higher class in the eye while they are speaking their native tongue, results in immediate execution. Seventeen-year-old Charlaina has always been able to understand the languages of all classes, and she's spent her life trying to hide her secret. The only place she can really be free is the drug-fueled underground clubs where people go to shake off the oppressive rules of the world they live in. It's there that she meets a beautiful and mysterious boy named Max who speaks a language she's never heard before . . . and her secret is almost exposed.

Charlie is intensely attracted to Max, even though she can't be sure where his real loyalties lie. As the emergency drills give way to real crisis and the violence escalates, it becomes clear that Charlie is the key to something much bigger: her country's only chance for freedom from the terrible power of a deadly regime.

From Goodreads

My Review:

Wow, I really enjoyed this book. I wasn't sure what to expect because, for ARC's I don't usually read the summaries.... just in case I get wrong ideas before I even start. So I just jumper right into it and I was just hooked. The book was so addictive! it was so easy to enter Charlie's world, a world in which, depending on the language you speak, the class you belong to. So when her city is under attack and she has to leave her home, she discovers a secret that will change everything; also, the Queen realizes that Charlie is a very important piece in her game... 


And then there's Max. :D and Amazing guy that has some secrets of his own, and maybe I'm just naive but I was so shocked when I found out what I found out O.O I'm not telliiiiing....


In general I was constantly being surprised as the story unraveled, especially around the ending. The story also reminded me a little bit of Eragon and The Hunger Games, though this didn't make me enjoy it any less, Charlie was an awesome character, it was a great storyline, there was a guy and I constantly had my heart pounding along with Charlie's. What more can we ask for?

What are you so afraid of?

Tweet Review

Awesome characters, it was a great storyline, there was a guy and I constantly had my heart pounding along with Charlie's. What more can we ask for?

 You might also like:

The Frankincense Trail - Jody Kihara

The Frankincense Trail by Jody Kihara
Date Released: June 30th
Publisher:Star Magnolia Publishing 
Pages: 265
Date Read: June 23rd
Format: e-book
Source: Author

Summary:

In 200BC, frankincense was worth its weight in gold, making Arabia was the envy of the world. But wealth comes at a cost: the precious resin had to be transported along the Frankincense Road, a dangerous route through rocky mountains and barren desert.

Alia is a princess in a dwindling kingdom that lies on the Frankincense Road. Having grown up hearing tales of Bilqis, the Queen of Sheba, she dreams of finding a way to restore her kingdom’s former might. When a caravan journeying to the mysterious incense lands stops to take on travellers, she sees her chance.

She soon realises, however, that her trust in the caravan leaders has been misguided. They are not mere incense merchants, but traitors and mercenaries. Alia’s journey soon turns from dangerous to life-threatening.

The Frankincense Trail is a story that transports the reader to a time and place reminiscent of the Arabian Nights tales.

From Goodreads

My Review:

I think this is the First Historical Fiction book I read and wow, it did not disappoint, especially because I am already familiar with Jody Kihara’s work. The Frankincense Trail has an amazing setting and the descriptions are fabulous, I could see everything clear in my mind.

Apart from this we have a great story and characters, Meet Alia, a princess that knows what it takes to save her country though she is not given the opportunity – being a girl in that time is not so good – and she is soon to be married –also not so helpful – and she has a really really really annoying little brother – tell me about it. So what happens with the adventures? She takes them in her own hands and joins a caravan that is passing through, and of course, she uses a little disguise ;)

So far my favorite novel of Jody Kihara. I would have liked to see Alia and Kardals relationship go further though, still, Jody Kihara has not let me down :)

Don't Miss The Chance to get Your Own Copy! Jody is giving away 5 Copies of her book! check it out

Giveaway Here

Read The First 2 Chapters and Watch The Trailer

and Join the Twitter Fun!

Anna and the French Kiss - Stephanie Perkins

Anna and the French Kiss by Stephanie Perkins
Date Released: December 2nd 2010
Publisher: Dutton
Pages: 372 pages
Date Read: October 3rd 2011
Format: Hardcover
Source: Borders [RIP]

Summary:

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 Etienne St. Clair: perfect, Parisian (and English and American, which makes for a swoon-worthy accent), and utterly irresistible. The only problem is that he's taken, and Anna might be, too, if anything comes of her almost-relationship back home.

As winter melts into spring, will a year of romantic near - misses end with the French kiss Anna - and readers - have long awaited?

From Goodreads

My Review:

Wow, where do I start? I’ve had this book since ever, and I’ve heard ENDLESS recommendations and now I’m just banging my head against the wall wondering: Why the Heck did I not read it sooner????

It is one of the most Cute Love stories I have ever read! It was hilarious, moving, and beautiful. I would burst out laughing when I was riding the bus [happened 2 times. I am still mortified] and then I was feeling sorry for Anna and I wanted to cry and I wanted to slap and kiss St. Clair. OooOOoOOOOooOoOoh…St. Claaaaaaair…… *siiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiigh* Me has found a new crush. Seriously, I fell hard for this guy <3

Aside from the swoon-ish guy, Anna and The French Kiss is just beautiful. Beautiful setting, beautiful story, but most of all, beautiful characters, Anna was so relatable, Rashmi, Mer, Josh, St. Clair, EVERYONE! I really felt a deep connection with all of them and they became friends of my own, I was –still am – pretty sad that the book had to end, still, I’m left with a big smile on my face :)

Wonderful story, amazing characters and the best city in the world. Anna and the French Kiss is a must-read, it guarantees to linger in your heart and to make you want to visit France and get a French Kiss ;)

“Is it possible for home to be a person and not a place?”

Tweet Review

Wonderful story, amazing characters and the best city in the world. Anna and the French Kiss is a must-read, it guarantees to linger in your heart and to make you want to visit France and get a French Kiss ;)