published  by:  Brilliance Audio

release date:  May 1, 2011

From Goodreads: When her best guy friend falls victim to a vicious hate crime, sixteen-year-old Cat sets out to discover who in her small town did it. Richly atmospheric, this daring mystery mines the secrets of a tightly knit Southern community and examines the strength of will it takes to go against everyone you know in the name of justice.

So I’m unofficially Lauren Myracle’s biggest fan.  As you can see , Lauren and I are TIGHT-as in, she allowed me to hold her leg while she was rocking the YA author-signed Pajants.  Yes, I know you are jealous -I’m jealous of me too!

However, she doesn’t just rock pajants, behave like the most awesome person in the world with the whole National Book Award thing (she was ROBBED I tell you!), and is just a super sweet person to us Girls in the Stacks fans (Stacy and Nancy got to escort her around TX one night and she was AMAZING to them as well)-she writes spectacular books!

I will admit right here that the cover threw me -I didn’t like it, and I kept putting off reading it because I’m not one for big flowers on trees.  However, once I popped in CD #1, I was hooked!  First of all-the cover doesn’t show how the story is part mystery and part coming of age drama.  I LOVED the whole mystery angle and how the main character Cat led us to solving not only the mystery of what happened to her gay best friend Patrick, but also what had happened to her so long ago that made her drop all her friends and start hating her seemingly great brother.  She has to re-examine what she believes about all the friends she has grown up with and about who she is as a person-love that!

But really-I also loved how true to life it was.  This book really isn’t about being gay and hate crimes (although does show how wrong it is that Patrick was somewhat bullied by his friends for being gay), but more about meth addictions and the subsequent destruction they cause.  I am not one for drug books (I can’t handle the gritty realness of Ellen Hopkins’ work for example, although she is BRILLIANT) -but this book-THIS BOOK-was funny, plus we had a mystery to solve, and I like a good Nancy Drew mystery any day!

If you like to listen to audiobooks at all, this one is a definite must-the narrator Elizabeth Evans really captures the small-town Southern accent PERFECTLY and really enhanced the reading with her many drawls for each character.

So really-go grab this book-it is an awesome read for those who like mysteries, for those who like realistic YA (without too much gritty darkness), and for those who just like a great story!

*Thanks to Brilliance Audio for giving me a copy to review.

From Goodreads: The demon Lilith has been destroyed and Jace has been freed from her captivity. But when the Shadowhunters arrive to rescue him, they find only blood and broken glass. Not only is the boy Clary loves missing–but so is the boy she hates, Sebastian, the son of her father Valentine: a son determined to succeed where their father failed, and bring the Shadowhunters to their knees.

No magic the Clave can summon can locate either boy, but Jace cannot stay away—not from Clary. When they meet again Clary discovers the horror Lilith’s dying magic has wrought—Jace is no longer the boy she loved. He and Sebastian are now bound to each other, and Jace has become what he most feared: a true servant of Valentine’s evil. The Clave is determined to destroy Sebastian, but there is no way to harm one boy without destroying the other. Will the Shadowhunters hesitate to kill one of their own?

Only a small band of Clary and Jace’s friends and family believe that Jace can still be saved — and that the fate of the Shadowhunters’ future may hinge on that salvation. They must defy the Clave and strike out on their own. Alec, Magnus, Simon and Isabelle must work together to save Jace: bargaining with the sinister Faerie Queen, contemplating deals with demons, and turning at last to the Iron Sisters, the reclusive and merciless weapons makers for the Shadowhunters, who tell them that no weapon on this earth can sever the bond between Sebastian and Jace. Their only chance of cutting Jace free is to challenge Heaven and Hell — a risk that could claim any, or all, of their lives.

And they must do it without Clary. For Clary has gone into the heart of darkness, to play a dangerous game utterly alone. The price of losing the game is not just her own life, but Jace’s soul. She’s willing to do anything for Jace, but can she even still trust him? Or is he truly lost? What price is too high to pay, even for love?

Darkness threatens to claim the Shadowhunters in the harrowing fifth book of the Mortal Instruments series.

My take – This book was a great follow up to the cliffhanger that was City of Fallen Angels (see review here).  Major geek out on several levels here!  Let’s see if I can break it down for ya’ll without spoilers:

Plot- for me, the action took a back seat in this book as it really focuses on relationships.  A little slow to get rolling, but definitely got up to steam at the end and kept me hooked.  Major progress on all the relationships, and some interesting developments that surprised me … yes, definitely the climax was a shocker.

Characters – Jace is once again not himself, and Clary is a little freaked out because she still loves him, and it’s his body and hotness and all, but the guy she loves is not in there … at least, the good part.  Clary gets to be reckless and play double agent to save her true love; Jace has a moment where he breaks free (and that right there was worth all the other angst).

Sebastian was also a little surprising because he was showed Clary his softer side.  We thought he was pure evil, but is he really? Mwaa haa haa…

Simon got a lot to do in this story (yay!) and his still-forming relationship with Izzy was so cute.  Of course, Izzy needs to stop acting so tough and tell him how she feels, just sayin’.

The Magnus and Alec story line was the hardest one for me – seriously, I wanted to thump Alec in the head for major stupidity.

Infernal Devices tie-in – Oh my gosh, hints that one of the Silent Brothers (Brother Zachariah) may be Will or Jem – I guess we will find out when Clockwork Princess comes out!!

See you in the STACKS!
Nancy

The Immortal Rules

from goodreads - Allison Sekemoto survives in the Fringe, the outermost circle of a vampire city. By day, she and her crew scavenge for food. By night, any one of them could be eaten.

Some days, all that drives Allie is her hatred of them. The vampires who keep humans as blood cattle. Until the night Allie herself is attacked—and given the ultimate choice. Die or become one of the monsters.

Faced with her own mortality, Allie becomes what she despises most. To survive, she must learn the rules of being immortal, including the most important: go long enough without human blood, and you will go mad….

my take – Let me just say that, I love me some Kagawa!!! This book is stellar, from the writing to the plot to the characters to the world building – everything! Here’s what I really liked:

*World building. Oh. My. The world created is fantastic, so very dire and survival of the fittest that the addition of vampires and ZOMBIES seems reasonable and acceptable. Did I mention also, believable? There’s no poetic snoring on landscape descriptions or soliloquys on the injustice of the Fringers – just the facts with the right amount of emotion and verve.

*Plot. AHHH!!! It’s so simple, yet filled with enough intrigue and mystery to keep you on your toes. I liked the twits thrown at us, and how nothing came easy for Allie and I liked the ending.

*Allie/Kanin. Allie is one tough girl.  She’s not perfect, but in a world of eating roaches and spiders to stave off starvation, this girls has the street smarts needed to survive. She also has a heart, though she may hide that at times.

Kanin. I love that he is a vampire and I love the mystery that surrounds him. He’s a dangerous monster with a soft side lurking under his scary demeanor.

What I didn’t like – Yep, there was one thing I did not like:

*ZEKE. This guy (Allie’s main squeeze) was just a little too perfect. A little too good. A little too giving and nice. One could argue that there is a certain scene that makes him less than admirable, but I see his action as selflessness. Zeke needs some character flaws!! People, only Peeta can be THAT good.

This is a must read for vampire/apocalyptic lovers!!

Stacy

From Goodreads.com:  Love is dangerous and trust is priceless in Holly Black’s “powerful, edgy dark” fantasy series (Publishers Weekly).

As I read the last word in this book I had two successive reactions:  1.) no, she didn’t and 2.) um, excuse me, where was Eric in this book?

That’s right, mama wasn’t happy.

Technically speaking, the writing was great. It’s typical Sookie standard.  There was some laughs, some banter, some action – it’s just the plot was boring, it didn’t light my fire.  I also wasn’t pleased with the direction Harris took the story. More specifically, who Sookie will end up with. While this may seem trite, you know this is one of the only reasons we read this series. It’s all about the ‘teams’ and whose side you’re on.

Now I know Harris has been preparing us fans for years, saying things like Sookie will do what’s best for Sookie, she will live a nice long normal life and she will not be turned   – y’all, it’s one thing to be told this, but it’s quite different to read them in action.

I basically view this book (and Dead Reckoning) as filler books. Harris is tying up storylines and, unfortunately closing off much loved relationships. I’m not just talking Eric, I see her separating from all her supe friends sans Jason and Sam, and maybe Bill.

To wrap up my thoughts I will leave you with a few possible outcomes for book 13:

1. Using the cluviel dor has consequences, therefore causing someone Sookie loves to die. Eric. Sookie is distraught and falls into the arms of Barry the Bellboy, I mean Quinn. And they have beautiful, bald-headed babies together.

2. Eric will man up and kick the Oklahoma Queen to the curb; it will be fraught with actions and blood spillage. The body count will be high. The only down fall is the cluviel dor consequence will be Eric becomes mortal and Sookie will have to protect him with her killer survival skills the rest of their lives.

3. Eric marries the Queen of Oklahoma, Bill continues to pine for Sookie, Pam refuses to move to Oklahoma and opens up a women’s pant suite store all while Sookie and Sam hook-up. Eventually, they get married.  Sadly, the consequence of using the cluviel dor is that Jason is no longer handsome and Michele leaves him.

4. The consequence of using the cluviel dor is that one by one each of Sookie’s former lovers and friends die in a freak accident (Eric while racking leaves, Bill explodes while pumping gas while talking on his cell phone, Tara asphyxiates putting on spanx etc). However, a la Dallas and Bobby Ewing she wakes up one morning and hears the shower running, she quickly pads to the bathroom to find Gran lathering up. Everything was a dream.

If you’ve read this book, please let me know what you think! Did you like it? Am I in the minority?

XOXO, Stacy

Somebody to Love

goodreads description – After her father loses the family fortune in an insider-trading scheme, single mom Parker Welles is faced with some hard decisions. First order of business: go to Gideon’s Cove, Maine, to sell the only thing she now owns—a decrepit house in need of some serious flipping. When her father’s wingman, James Cahill, asks to go with her, she’s not thrilled even if he is fairly gorgeous and knows his way around a toolbox. Having to fend for herself financially for the first time in her life, Parker signs on as a florist’s assistant and starts to find out who she really is. Maybe James isn’t the glib lawyer she always thought he was. And maybe the house isn’t the only thing that needs a little TLC.

my take – This is a great book for the beach or one to have in your car that you can pick up when you’re unexpectedly delayed and jump right in – it’s easy and breezy.

I instantly connected with Parker Welles; I have a thing for the emotionally neglected. While she may be a successful author and a trust fund baby, her life is far from perfect. Her dad treats her with indifference and her extended family our downright mean (spiteful) to her. Besides, her only friends are Ethan (her son’s father) and his wife Lucy. She is the epitome of loneliness.
James, the love interest, is one of those good American guys. He’s from a blue collar family, and worked hard for his education – he is handy with the tools, smart and successful. While he’s not squeaky clean, he is honorable and respectable. Plus, he has emotional baggage too. What’s not to like?

The relationship between Parker and James is a slow burn and eventually their chemistry is undeniable. Parker is pretty tough on James and a little judgmental (matter of fact I wanted to have a sit down with her a few time, but then I remembered her family and gave her a pass), but James handled her well.

The secondary characters and the small town setting were fun. Aunt Lavinia was a hoot, and we seriously need a Chantal book, and possibly a Malone one too.

However, I did find a few things unrealistic:
1. Her book about the Holly Rollers (which was A+ with me!) was made into a movie; however she didn’t go to the premier, or remember its opening weekend? Umm, is there really an author out there like that?
2. Her flower arrangements skills. Does a summer camp class really make you a better florist than your aunt who has been doing it for 30 years?
3. Again, with the flowers – this time her new business. As a small business owner I know how hard it is to open a small business, how was she able to open one so quickly after that summer in Gideon’s Cove?
4. After her and her son’s trust funds were lost, she had to move was left a small cottage with $11,000 to her name she never once had an emotional breakdown – you know, the kind with lots of tears and snot.

Overall, this is a good choice for a lazy summer day!

XOXO, Stacy

Masque of the Red Death

description - While struggling with the demons from her past, Araby finds a reason to survive after a devastating plague has decimated the population and no one is whom they seem to be.

Stacy’s take - One of the first things that draw you into this flambeaux story about disease and death are the depths of the characters. The first chapter alone introduces us to Araby, and we soon discover she has demons – a past that she is trying to numb herself from. Oblivion is her peace.

The other characters as well have shrouded pasts. However, a book with a bunch of characters with desperate beginnings is not in itself interesting. In this book it’s the way each character deals with their past in the present. How they fuel their passion going forward. It’s astonishing the many different ways Bethany Griffin can spin a tortured past to a productive future, or counter productive, as the case maybe.

My favorite characters are Elliot, Araby, Araby’s father, April and the nasty Reverend Malcontent. In that order.

favorite scene - In one particular passage Araby and Elliot are in Prince Prospero’s boat, surrounded by crocodiles. We learn so much about Elliot; his fears, his desires. We can see his internal tug-a-war. This scene is touching and creepy, but gives us a glimpse inside to who Elliot is.

one complaint - Araby takes a vow of chaste because of the death of Finn, however her resolve doesn’t seem to stand on firm ground.

XOXO

publisher: Balzer + Bray (Harper Collins)

author website: Heidi Ayarbe

buy me: amazon barnes&noble

from amazon:  Sanctuary.

A one-word text message: That’s all Michal “Mike” Garcia needs to gather a crowd. Mike is a seventeen-year-old bookie, and Sanctuary is where she takes bets for anyone at Carson City High with enough cash. Her only rule: Never participate, never place a bet for herself.

Then Josh Ellison moves to town. He pushes Mike to live her life, to feel a rush of something—play the game, he urges, stop being a spectator.

So Mike breaks her one rule. She places a bet, feels the rush.

And loses.

In an act of desperation, she and Josh—who has a sordid past of his own—concoct a plan: The pair will steal from Carson City’s elite to pay back Mike’s debt. Then they’ll give the rest of their haul to those who need it most. How can burglary be wrong if they are making things right?

Wanted will thrust readers into the gritty underbelly of Carson City, where worth is determined by a score, power is derived from threat, and the greatest feat is surviving it all.

my take: In typical Heidi Ayarbe style, she takes a subject I know little about and makes me feel like I should be the voice for all the people who can’t or won’t speak up. I feel love for the characters whether you agree with their actions or not. I want to adopt every character in her books and cook them a home cooked meal (does picking up Boston Market or Chick-Fil-A count?).  Ayarbe makes me feel for a character even when, as I generalize about that group, and in this case, bookies, I tend to disregard them and wish they would all go to jail.

Oh, not so with my dear protagonist Mike that Ayarbe melts my heart with. In a book where you think you know the ending, in a book where you think you are conservative, and in a book where you lean to the left, you’ll only think about the kids and how you can help them at the end of Wanted or any of Ayarbe’s books for that matter.  They aren’t preachy.  It’s just a story told.  A story that probably comes closer to the truth than anything I imagine.  Next time you hear about incidents in the news, maybe, just maybe you’ll think about the person and the circumstances that got them there. And maybe just maybe our world will change bit by bit.

Love, StackGirl Shannan who still ranks Compromised by Heidi Ayarbe as one of my most favorite books

What a Boy Wants

goodreads description - Courtesy of watching his mom’s relationships, Sebastian Hawkins knows what girls need to do to get a guy. He has what he considers a PHD in hooking up. When he needs extra cash for a car, Sebastian starts up an online venture as The Hook-up Doctor, to anonymously help girls land the guy of their dreams. Of course, his services don’t offer a happily-ever-after guarantee. He’s seen firsthand getting together never means staying together.

And then he falls in love…

Writing

Nyrae not only has the mechanics of writing down, she also the ability to bring the words alive in a realistic way, full of emotion with lots of teen angst. WABW is a fun read, and there were definite moments when a chuckle would escape my lips and I would say, “That Sebastian” and shake my head.

Sebastian

Oh, that Sebastian. He’s arrogant and cocky, and he’s bought into his whole persona of being the Hook Up Doctor.  It definitely takes him by surprise when he becomes one of those sappy boys, the ones who he constantly made fun of for being in love. I enjoyed reading his inner monologue, it was funny and sweet. His growth as a character may not be off the charts, but he does grow and learns something about himself along the way.

The BFFS – Sebastian, Pris, Aspen and Jaden

The friendship between Sebastian, Pris, Aspen and Jaden is real and endearing.  They are a tight knit group who will always have each other’s back. They even have a Pre-Party Plan, which is hilarious  and genius.

Thanks Nayrae for giving us a fun, easy book to read!!

 Stacy, just keeping it real…

The Selection

from goodreads -  For thirty-five girls, the Selection is the chance of a lifetime. The opportunity to escape the life laid out for them since birth. To be swept up in a world of glittering gowns and priceless jewels. To live in the palace and compete for the heart of the gorgeous Prince Maxon.

my take - Fans of Matched and The Hunger Games (and the TV show, The Bachelor) will see lots of familiar  elements in The Selection by Kiera Cass. Things like, a love triangle, a caste system, doting attendants (think subdued versions of Octavia, Venia and Flavius) and a country in turmoil – however, that doesn’t mean that The Selection is a copy cat book. It’s not, it definitely has its own originality.

How it’s different:

1.) The world building. The world Cass has created is not as dire as in The Hunger Games, or so controlled like that of Matched where citizens have no freedoms of choice and are limited in knowledge. Citizens of Illea are informed, and their only repression comes from their caste fate, not strict government control. Albeit it can be argued that they are controlled, but it’s not so much big brother is watching with spies or secret cameras.

2.) The story. It’s basically The Bachelor in a readable YA format and instead of a rich guy, it’s a rich Prince looking for his future Queen. However, the difference comes in that each girl is pampered, respected and protected – and the rebel attacks. We don’t know much about the rebels, except that there are two types – the Northerners and the Southerners. I believe by book two we will have a better understanding of the rebels and what it is they want/looking for and maybe even see a turncoat or two.

3.) America and the ending. America (the MC) is a strong, stubborn heroine which is not unlike that of Cassie and Katniss. Yet, the difference is that America comes from a loving home with strong (though at times strained) family ties. She’s devoted to her family and takes pride in her “talent,” her musical abilities. America is also honest with herself, and that honesty is apparent by the end of the book. The ending (which is NOT a cliffhanger) shows her courage, sense of adventure and ability to keep a level-head.

side-note: I’m not a fan of the love triangle, and in this case it’s really killing me – I like them both! Okay, maybe I like Maxon slightly more (he was the star of this book), but my allegiance could easily be swayed with the next book!!

This is a must read for lovers utopia/dystopia genres and maybe even those of reality TV.

The Language of Flowers

Our discussion covers all the main themes of the book, plus we talk about The Camellia Network, co-founded by Diffenbaugh.

For more information we highly suggest listening to our interview with Vanessa, we promise you will be inspired by her – she is made of awesome.

*SPOILERS abound and as always you can find us on itunes*

From Goodreads:  Why be the sheep, when you can be the wolf?

Seventeen-year-old Ismae escapes from the brutality of an arranged marriage into the sanctuary of the convent of St. Mortain, where the sisters still serve the gods of old. Here she learns that the god of Death Himself has blessed her with dangerous gifts—and a violent destiny. If she chooses to stay at the convent, she will be trained as an assassin and serve as a handmaiden to Death. To claim her new life, she must destroy the lives of others.
Ismae’s most important assignment takes her straight into the high court of Brittany—where she finds herself woefully under prepared—not only for the deadly games of intrigue and treason, but for the impossible choices she must make. For how can she deliver Death’s vengeance upon a target who, against her will, has stolen her heart?

My Take:  This book came along just when I needed it.  A grand adventure, a heroine who becomes empowered, and a romance that sizzles.  I only had a couple of nits to pick, but it didn’t detract from my enjoyment of this book.

Ismae is a beaten down but still independent girl when she arrives at the convent, and she resolves never again to be at the mercy of others.  She trains hard and learns she has a natural immunity to poisons, which makes her assistant to the convent’s poison maker.  She is smart but naive in the ways of the world, having only known hardship and distrust from her father.  Her talent for, er, executing people gets her assigned to a mission.  She sees a mystical “marque”  that the god of Death puts on the people who must be punished for their misdeeds (punish=death).

Duval is (of course) handsome, honest, and equally talented at political intrique and fighting.  His relationship with Ismae starts off as an uneasy alliance, but blossoms into love.  More worldly than Ismae, he brings her to court as his pretend mistress.  His desire to protect his half-sister the Duchess, and keep her on the throne of Brittany, is his driving force.  Duval is a clear cut good guy in a book full of characters with ulterior motives and intense ambitions.

The adventure is full of political intriques, backstabbing, treachery, fighting and, of course, poison.  Ismae’s blind faith in the convent is soon tested, and she realizes that the world is not as black and white as the Reverend Mother says it is.  Learning to think for herself is scary, but Ismae follows her heart (and her God) to do what she thinks is right.

There will be a sequel, and on Ms. LaFevers’ website it says it is about a character who plays a small role in this book.  I believe there is also a third book coming, and I have a hunch who it will feature but we will have to see.   

See you in the STACKS,
Nancy 

about: Yesterday’s News is one of the greatest bestsellers of all time in Sweden with more than 800,000 copies sold – 1 in every 4 Swedish woman has already read it!

The main character Agnes has most things in life: a family who is always there for her, a good job at a fancy restaurant, a boyfriend who loves her, and a best friend whom she knows inside out. Or does she? All of a sudden things begin to crumble, one by one, and soon nothing is as it was. Her boyfriend Tobias leaves her for a big busted singer, and she is fired by Gerard, the sexist and abusive owner of the restaurant where she works. She gambles everything she has on the success of the newly opened restaurant, but the road to the glowing review which will open the door to fame and fortune has, to say the least, unexpected twists and turns.

my take:  Yesterday’s News is a huge hit in Sweden and when given the opportunity, I was anxious to see if what was popular in Sweden would interest me. (The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo series, that hails from Sweden, may have made me a little more than anxious to see what this book beholds.)

Let me tell you though, there is nothing similar about this book and The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo.  This is an easy chick-lit read. I read it in an afternoon while the kids were home.  The story follows the struggles of Agnes when it seems all was going well in her life. She develops some nice relationships, goes through some peculiar situations, and we get some interesting behind-the-scenes of the restaurant business.

It’s all about A, her family and her friends in a few months of her life. It’s really just a story. Things happen but aren’t built up where I cried or anything. I felt for Pablo my favorite character in the book followed by Maddie. I liked Agnes and her work ethic. I thought she was kind and makes stupid and smart decisions like all of us do.  She was definitely real. Her BFF was a good story to follow also. I liked her part and revelations about her own life.

The translation needs some work, but I was reading an advanced copy and I’m sure all those kinks will be worked out for the final book.  Overall, Yesterday’s News is a good chick-lit read where you get to see a moment in time of Agnes, how she handles her work, her relationships with her friends, and her love for her family.

Shannan

Gilt

from goodreads - When Kitty Tylney’s best friend, Catherine Howard, worms her way into King Henry VIII’s heart and brings Kitty to court, she’s thrust into a world filled with fabulous gowns, sparkling jewels, and elegant parties. No longer stuck in Cat’s shadow, Kitty’s now caught between two men–the object of her affection and the object of her desire. But court is also full of secrets, lies, and sordid affairs, and as Kitty witnesses Cat’s meteoric rise and fall as queen, she must figure out how to keep being a good friend when the price of telling the truth could literally be her head.

my take - The best way for me to describe this book is like a modernized telling of life in the court of King Henry VIII. That’s not to say it’s set in modern times, it’s set in the 1540s – the time of King Henry’s reign. It just has a modern feel, think sentence structure, vernacular.

The stars of the show are Kitty and Cat. Kitty is passive and lonely and dependent on Cat, but don’t think weak. She has a mind of her own. She is also a faithful and loyal friend, to the very end.  BFF Cat (Catherine Howard) is Kitty’s complete opposite. She is selfish, mean, narcissistic and totally self-serving.  The two together provide good fodder for unhealthy relationships. Don’t get me wrong, they have poignant moments together, but overall Cat is using Kitty for a confident and Kitty using Cat for a secure place to live.

Once Cat marries Henry VIII, she is still vile, but now everyone is required to succumb to her orders. Those orders grow harder and harder for Kitty to follow. At this point court life is in full force and one must watch what they say, whom they’re seen with for court gossip is vicious and anything can be turned into treason.

As for the two men after Kitty’s affection, William and Edmund, each offer something completely different. By the end of the story I have respect for both (I forgive easily). However, don’t think love triangle.

The ending is filled with hope, a chance for new beginnings (no cliff hanger).

Overall, it’s a good entertaining story and perfect for those who love historical reads.

side note – As I understand, Longshore is planning a three-novel series, though not direct sequels. She plans on writing more about court life and mentions we might see some of our favorites again. I’m hoping we get to see how Kitty’s life turned out.

XOXO
Stacy 

We talk about a range of topics, including her never published YA novel, the foster care system in the US and what she’s doing about it*, news on the movie front (keeping our fingers crossed!) and of course her writing. Vanessa is a true inspiration, we can’t praise her enough. For more information, follow her on twitter or  facebook.

Do you agree with our assessments? Think we’re off base? Let us know in the comments!

What potential do Elizabeth, Renata, and Grant see in Victoria that she has a hard time seeing in herself?

Amanda – Her ability to love and be loved.  This central theme in so many works of literature just shows how vital being loved is and what can happen to a person’s self-worth when they believe that they cannot be loved or love in return.

While Victoria has been hungry and malnourished often in her life, food ends up meaning more than just nourishment to her. Why?

Stacy – Food means survival.

Amanda – I’m going to have to agree with Stacy, and say that for someone like Victoria, who has been denied even the simplest pleasures, food becomes part of her experiences and memories.  In the chapters about her life with Elizabeth, details about the food she was cooked, what smells she encountered, and what she saw and touched are all key visual stimulants for the reader; seeing the world through Victoria’s eyes is key to the reader understanding, deeper than a base level, who Victoria is.  Without key components like this, Victoria could be an unsympathetic character.

Victoria and Elizabeth both struggle with the idea of being part of a family. What does it mean to you to be part of a family? What defines family?

Stacy – A family means unconditional love. It also means forgiveness, guidance and trust. Does a family have to be blood relations? Frankly, no.

Amanda – I learned a long time ago that family isn’t necessarily blood.  Knowing that I have people I can depend on, trust, talk to, and build great memories with beats “blood ties” for me any day.  When you can’t trust your own blood, who do you turn to?  This is why I understood, at least on some level, why Victoria struggled to understand family.

One of the major themes in The Language of Flowers is forgiveness and second chances — do you think Victoria deserves one after the things she did (both as a child and as an adult)? What about Catherine? And Elizabeth?

Stacy – Everyone deserves forgiveness, Victoria is no exception. However, second chances? I say yes because I was emotionally invested in her story and wanted her to have a happily ever after. At the same time, I realize that Victoria made some very poor choices that severely affected and hurt several people. I think Victoria should count herself lucky.

What did you think of the structure of the book — the alternating chapters of past and present? In what ways did the two storylines parallel each other, and how did they diverge?

Amanda – The way the stories diverted made me want to care for a character (Victoria) that I was already emotionally invested in.  Because only bits of her past were revealed at a time and then you were shoved into the present-day narration, I needed to know what had happened that made Victoria who she was as an adult.  You can easily see that Victoria’s emotional instability started early and affected decisions across her childhood and into her adult life.

The novel touches on many different themes (love, family, forgiveness, second chances). Which do you think is the most important? And what did you think was ultimately the lesson?

Stacy – Forgiveness and love, they go hand in hand. If you truly love someone, you forgive them. This doesn’t mean you give them second chances, but it does mean that you’re not carrying around that heavy yoke.

As for the ultimate lesson – family. When you have a “true” family you will find that love, forgiveness and second chances are natural components.

At the end of the novel, Victoria learns that moss grows without roots. What does this mean, and why is it such a revelation for her?

Stacy –  Sadly, Victoria’s life is without roots. When she learns that moss grows without roots, she realizes that’s her as well. It’s at this moment that she understands that she can have a wonderful life and flourish, despite her horrific beginnings. That life is about choices, not always just circumstances.

Based on your reading of the novel, what are your impressions of the foster care system in America? What could be improved?

Stacy – Let’s hope the foster care system isn’t as dire as the novel makes it out to be, that Diffenbaugh took some literary liberties. However, “aging out” is not fiction and to me that is heartbreaking. Can you imagine moving out at 18 with nobody to rely on but yourself?

Thankfully, Diffenbaugh is co-founding a non-profit that strictly address this issue, The Camellia Network.

Amanda – Based strictly on the novel, I would be scared to death of the foster care system.  And I would also want to adopt a whole of bunch of kids to protect and love!

The Last Echo by Kimberly Derting
(The Body Finder #3)
publisher: HarperTeen
author links: website / twitter
buy me:  Barnes&Noble  / Amazon

from Goodreads: Violet kept her morbid ability to sense dead bodies a secret from everyone except her family and her childhood-best-friend-turned-boyfriend, Jay Heaton. That is until forensic psychologist Sara Priest discovered Violet’s talent and invited her to use her gift to track down murderers. Now, as she works with an eclectic group of individuals—including mysterious and dangerously attractive Rafe—it’s Violet’s job to help those who have been murdered by bringing their killers to justice. When Violet discovers the body of a college girl killed by “the girlfriend collector” she is determined to solve the case. But now the serial killer is on the lookout for a new “relationship” and Violet may have caught his eye….

my take: I am a huge fan of Kimberly Derting’s The Body Finder series!  The Last Echo, the third book in the series does not disappoint!  Violet, my modern Nancy Drew, is alive and kickin’ in this suspenseful and mysterious tale.  Why do I love this book so much?  Let me count the ways…

1. Violet is believeably smart and I love that she is a girl whose parents are around and – mostly – involved in her life.  She respects them and whatever she does she thinks back on experiences she had with her parents and bf, Jay.  The things she experiences could happen.

2. The mystery is thoughtful and again, believable. I believe the killer and his motivation.  I believe the circumstances.  I would have thought that Violet would have a major alarm system though.  Just sayin’…  Get that girl some cameras monitoring her home!

3. Jay is amazing.  I love him and Violet loves him and I love him and well, you get the point.

4. The crew at the Center is amazing and I like that we got to see deeper into the motives for them working at the center.  The gang is awesome.

5. Rafe.  I like him.  Soooo there.

Read this book.  But note there is still one more book after this.  So, maybe this book should be called The 2nd to Last Echo.  Again, just sayin’.

See you in the STACKS,
Shannan

Bent Road by Lori Roy
publisher: Dutton Adult
release date: March 31, 2011
book info: goodreads author site

from goodreads: For twenty years, Celia Scott has watched her husband, Arthur, hide from the secrets surrounding his sister Eve’s death. As a young man, Arthur fled his small Kansas hometown, moved to Detroit, married Celia, and never looked back. But when the 1967 riots frighten him even more than his past, he convinces Celia to pack up their family and return to the road he grew up on, Bent Road, and that same small town where Eve mysteriously died…

my take: I was so excited for the girls to ask me to review this book!  I have been campaigning for months to be a guest reviewer and was equally excited to have a debut author as my first book.  However, I have mixed reviews about Bent Road by Lori Roy.

While I don’t regret reading the book, I hope there is a sequel to provide closure to what happens to all the characters.  I did not see great character development in the story.  I’m left wondering if Daniel and Eviee ever adjusted to life in Kansas.  I wonder how Elanie’s wedding played out with the dress she spent most of the novel sewing.

There are several supporting characters that I’m emotionally involved in that I would like to see what happen to them too.  I also wondered about the state of Arthur and Cecila’s marriage.  It seemed very flat during the story.  However, I loved Ms. Roy’s description of the setting and time.  I did feel like I was a part of rural Kansas in the 1960’s.

The story ran the gammet of social ills’ — from the civil right movement in Detroit to murder in a small town in the MidWest.  I was left wondering if all the social ill’s were intentionally under-developed to be reflective of the actual time period or were they under-developed by a rookie novelist.

There was definitely solid story development and I look forward to Lori Roy’s growth as a novelist.

Amanda - I will definitely read Ms. Roy’s next novel. 

The Peculiars by Maureen Doyle McQuerry
Publisher:  Amulet Books
Release Date:  May 1, 2012
Find the author:  website / Facebook / Twitter

From Goodreads.com:  This dark and thrilling adventure, with an unforgettable heroine, will captivate fans of steampunk, fantasy, and romance. On her 18th birthday, Lena Mattacascar decides to search for her father, who disappeared into the northern wilderness of Scree when Lena was young. Scree is inhabited by Peculiars, people whose unusual characteristics make them unacceptable to modern society. Lena wonders if her father is the source of her own extraordinary characteristics and if she, too, is Peculiar. On the train she meets a young librarian, Jimson Quiggley, who is traveling to a town on the edge of Scree to work in the home and library of the inventor Mr. Beasley. The train is stopped by men being chased by the handsome young marshal Thomas Saltre. When Saltre learns who Lena’s father is, he convinces her to spy on Mr. Beasley and the strange folk who disappear into his home, Zephyr House. A daring escape in an aerocopter leads Lena into the wilds of Scree to confront her deepest fears.

Amanda’s take:  I have to be totally honest – when I saw this book on NetGalley, two things made me want to read it:  the fact that one of the characters was a librarian (yay librarian love!) and the cover.  Let’s be honest, the cover is gorgeous, it went right to my little steampunk heart.  So onto my Nook went the book!

I loved the premise of this book:  Lena, who has long spindly fingers and huge feet, decides to try and find her father, who abandoned her when she was five.  Lena’s family tells her she has goblin blood because her strange hands and feet show classic goblin traits.  Lena hides her “deformities” under long skirts and in dark gloves, but she secretly wonders if her father’s disappearance into Scree, where society keeps its undesirable – looking citizens (called Peculiars), has something to do with the way she looks.  The first part of the book that lays out Lena’s character,  how she decides to board a train to the outerlands to Scree, then her interactions with Jimson Quiggley, an untrained librarian going to a job, was good.  It kept me reading and wanting to know more about the Peculiars and Lena and if Jimson would become a love interest for her.

There’s some action when the train is boarded by outlaws who are being chased by Thomas Saltre, a marshal in one of the border towns.  Thomas is an easily despicable character, because after he finds out who Lena’s father is, he uses her and her need to get into Scree to spy on the local oddball, Mr. Beasley.  I hated Thomas instantly; he blackmails Lena, asks her to stick her neck out for him and makes her risk her newfound friendships with Jimson and Beasley.  What baffled me was Lena’s attraction to Thomas, even when he was using her.

Mr. Beasley, whose huge home library attracted Jimson and, subsequently Lena (whose mother is a librarian) was another odd character that I couldn’t quite wrap my head around.  The dude is bald and pencils his eyebrows on!  I kept thinking of some of my aunts who I saw when I was younger that had those scary, dark pencil drawn eyebrows and telling my brother I was scared of so and so because their eyebrows were like caterpillars.  But beyond the whole eyebrow issue, Beasley is a quirky kind of character who is very secretive and appears to be hiding something.  When Jimson spots a winged woman on one of the balconies at Beasley’s house, Lena grows suspicious and she and Jimson try to find the mystery woman.

What occurs after this point is a mix of action and self – discovery; one reviewer on Goodreads described the book as part quest.  I would definitely have to agree with that, since Lena and Jimson wind up joining Mr. Beasley’s cause:  saving Peculiars from vigilantes like Thomas who would see them and their sympathizers suffering, imprisoned, or even killed.  Lena’s quest to find her father takes on a new aim as the group flees Beasley’s house when it is invaded by Thomas and his men.  They are now on a rescue mission, trying to save themselves and the two people whom Beasley was trying to smuggle into Scree.

McQuerry’s characters are really well – written and my reactions to them were almost instantaneous.  The only character I was slightly disappointed in was Lena.  I lay that blame more at the feet of strong heroines like Katsa, Katniss, and Karou.  (Graceling, The Hunger Games, and Daughter of Smoke and Bone respectively.)  I, and I think many YA readers, have become so used to strong female protagonists that characters like Lena, who take some extra time to come into their own strengths, can be frustrating.  But this is not a negative reflection on McQuerry’s writing, but instead a reflection upon the way YA novels, for the most part, are focusing on female power and prowess.

But that’s a discussion for another day!  (Unless you want to start one in the comments, and by all means do!)  I did enjoy The Peculiars and I want to see what else this author has up her sleeve.

We’re on board for this months Ladies Home Journal book club pick, The Language of Flowers by Vanessa Diffenbaugh.  We’re so excited we can’t stand it, because we’ve read this book (read review here) and have met the fabulous Vanessa Diffenbaugh – it’s one of our many BEA 2011 highlights!!

We would LOVE for you to read along with us – and of course, talk FLOWER POWER!!!!

publisher: Random House
release: April 3, 2012 (paperback)
book links: goodreads / facebook / twitter / LHJ

from goodreads - A mesmerizing, moving, and elegantly written debut novel, The Language of Flowers beautifully weaves past and present, creating a vivid portrait of an unforgettable woman whose gift for flowers helps her change the lives of others even as she struggles to overcome her own troubled past.

Please join us for one of our discussions:

April 13  - we’ll tackle those scholarly discussion questions

April 15 – Vanessa Diffenbaugh will be on the blog talking all about her book!

April 22 –  listen in to our podcast for our candid thoughts and opinions

And make sure to join in the discussion on twitter, just use the hashtag #LHJbookclub . We’re always open for academic debate!!!

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For more information about Ladies Home Journal book club and The Language of Flowers by Vanessa Diffenbaugh, click here.

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publisher: Pendrell Publishing
author site: Website  / Blog
buy me: Barnes&Noble  / Amazon

from pendrell:  Waking up in a coffin hungry for blood is only the beginning for sixteen-year-old Ava Blue. When Chance Caldon, the hottie who dug her up, tells her that she’s half vampire, Ava’s world really turns upside down.

Half vamp? Ava can’t believe it…she doesn’t even know what that means! Not until Aldric, a thousand-year-old vampire, shows up and tells her it’s true–and that he’s the one who turned her. Then Ava truly begins to believe what she is. Now, she has to deal with a sudden and powerful bloodlust, the desire to see Aldric dead, and her growing crush for Chance. Ava knows she’s a monster now, she can feel it; and her life is over.

But redemption isn’t lost. Aldric is giving her a chance to regain her humanity. The price? Kill a hundred vampires, or remain a bloodsucker forever.

So Ava sets out to get her life back. But killing vampires begins a battle that could destroy everything she is working toward. In the end, Ava’s decisions will forever change her life and the lives of those she loves. 

Be sure to follow along on the rest of the tour! There are giveaways at every stop!

3rd: Refracted Light Reviews
4th: Fire & Ice
5th: I Am A Reader, Not A Writer
6th: Hypable
7th: Oodles of Books
8th: The Reading Date
9th: A Book Lovers Review
10th: Good Choice Reading
11th: SupaGurl Books
12th: Books with Bite
13th: Once Upon a Twilight - Grand Prize
27th: Live Chat with Jamie on Once Upon a Twilight at 9PM CST (10PM EST / 7PM PST)

publisher: Balzer + Bray (imprint of HarperCollins)
website: Jill Scribbles
purchase: amazon / barnes&noble

from goodreads: Vee Bell is certain of one irrefutable truth—her sister’s friend Sophie didn’t kill herself. She was murdered.

Vee knows this because she was there. Everyone believes Vee is narcoleptic, but she doesn’t actually fall asleep during these episodes: When she passes out, she slides into somebody else’s mind and experiences the world through that person’s eyes. She’s slid into her sister as she cheated on a math test, into a teacher sneaking a drink before class. She learned the worst about a supposed “friend” when she slid into her during a school dance. But nothing could have prepared Vee for what happens one October night when she slides into the mind of someone holding a bloody knife, standing over Sophie’s slashed body.

Vee desperately wishes she could share her secret, but who would believe her? It sounds so crazy that she can’t bring herself to tell her best friend, Rollins, let alone the police. Even if she could confide in Rollins, he has been acting off lately, more distant, especially now that she’s been spending more time with Zane.

Enmeshed in a terrifying web of secrets, lies, and danger and with no one to turn to, Vee must find a way to unmask the killer before he or she strikes again.

my take:  I didn’t guess the ending.  I really didn’t guess it until Vee did.  Sooo…with that said, it’s a great book I will definitely pass around.

Vee is level headed and seems every bit like a typical teen that has had a hard life.  Her mom had died years earlier, she lives with her father who is never around and sister who is in with the popular crowd.  I believed every decision she made.  I supported her and what she thought.

Let’s talk boys…  I love the name Zane!  It just screams a certain kind of guy and this is the one I pictured.  He is a good guy that I am happy Vee gets to know.  *swoon*  Then there is Rollins, Vee’s best friend.  Can I just say here that I am SOOOO happy that this book isn’t about a love triangle!!!  With that said, Rollins has been very important in Vee’s life but still has some secrets of his own.  No, you can’t guess them.  Yes, you will have to read the book.  However, these secrets that he and Vee both are keeping seem to be tearing them apart.  Again, it is TOTALLY believable.

Let me just say that Slide is part mystery, part romance, and part contemporary.  I just adored it.  Truly adored it!  I can’t wait to find out what is in store for Vee or for the author, Jill Hathaway.  I’m definitely on board for a Slide 2, but really this could be a perfect stand alone.

I also understand that Hathaway will be touring with my BFF, Kimberly Derting for the Dark Days Tour.  Wish I was there as I think the Body Finder Series and this go perfectly hand in hand.  In fact, if you are a fan of Derting (who isn’t??), you will love Slide.

Wishing Dark Days was coming to SoCal with Derting and Hathaway,
Shannan

Jane

my thoughts: What a wonderful modern re-telling of the classic. I loved this updated version of Jane.  I think it followed the classic beautifully and kept the original intent of the story intact.

Jane (as the character) seemed real.  I felt her pain, loneliness, hopelessness and isolation. Despite her misgivings, she is honest, trustworthy and honorable. I just wanted to hug her. If you can’t tell, I love underdog characters.

Having Nico as an aged rock star was perfect. His eccentric lifestyle fits the part perfect. I found him handsome, sweet, egotistical, moody, melodramatic and pitch perfect.

The relationship between Jane and Nico naturally progressed. I almost found it better than the classic. I could feel the heat radiate. The intensity was, well, intense. Plus, this version had more “passion,” if you know what I mean.

One of the differences between this and the classic was that of Nico’s friends. In this version, the friends seemed like real, true friends and not people just hanging around to better their position in society. I liked this version better. The friends in this book treated Jane with respect and were nice to her, which was so unlike the friends in the classic.

If you love classic literature re-telling’s than this is a must read. It’s modernized in every sense of the word, yet keeps the integrity of the original. Plus it was easy to read, no French to English dictionary needed.

Stacy

From Goodreads:  A daring new departure from the inspired creator of The Vampire Chronicles (“unrelentingly erotic. . . unforgettable.”), the Lives of the Mayfair Witches (“Anne Rice will live on through the ages of literature”), and the angels of The Songs of the Seraphim (“remarkable.”). A whole new world—modern, sleek, high-tech, and at its center, a story as old and compelling as history—the making of a werewolf, re-imagined and re-invented as only Anne Rice, teller of mesmerizing tales, conjurer extraordinaire of other realms, could create it.

The time is the present.

The place, the rugged coast of northern California. A bluff high above the Pacific. A grand mansion full of beauty and tantalizing history set against a towering redwood forest.

A young reporter on assignment from the San Francisco Observer. . . an older woman, welcoming him into her magnificent, historic family home that he has been sent to write about and that she must sell with some urgency . . . A chance encounter between two unlikely people . . . an idyllic night—shattered by horrific unimaginable violence. . .The young man inexplicably attacked—bitten—by a beast he cannot see in the rural darkness . . . A violent episode that sets in motion a terrifying yet seductive transformation as the young man, caught between ecstasy and horror, between embracing who he is evolving into and fearing who—what—he will become, soon experiences the thrill of the wolf gift.

As he resists the paradoxical pleasure and enthrallment of his wolfen savagery and delights in the power and (surprising) capacity for good, he is caught up in a strange and dangerous rescue and is desperately hunted as “the Man Wolf,” by authorities, the media and scientists (evidence of DNA threaten to reveal his dual existence). . . As a new and profound love enfolds him, questions emerge that propel him deeper into his mysterious new world: questions of why and how he has been given this gift; of its true nature and the curious but satisfying pull towards goodness; of the profound realization that there are others like him who may be watching—guardian creatures who have existed throughout time and may possess ancient secrets and alchemical knowledge and throughout it all, the search for salvation for a soul tormented by a new realm of temptations, and the fraught, exhilarating journey, still to come, of being and becoming, fully, both wolf and man.

WARNING:  SPOILERS ABOUND!!!

My Take:  Good enough story but not as gripping as I’d hoped. I’m always hoping for another Interview with the Vampire, but I have not really enjoyed anything of hers since 1990’s The Witching Hour. Another reviewer likened it to looking up an old ex to rekindle the flame …and sadly, that’s what I wanted but didn’t really get.

We begin with Reuben, a 23-year-old incredibly handsome and obscenely rich budding reporter whose mother nicknamed him “Sunshine Boy”. Oh, mommy. Well, Rice writes Reuben as a basically decent person, even with his sexual shennanigans (more on that later).

The juxtaposition of handsome, poetic, cerebral Reuben with the very visceral, bloody and avenging “Man Wolf” is striking. As a wolf, Reuben retains his intelligence and also had a cool new spidey-sense, the ability to smell evil. Rice comes up with a new mythos for werewolves – one that doesn’t need a full moon to shift, and that makes them look more like a hairy bigfoot than a wolf.  Reuben coins the name “Man Wolf” in the newspaper articles he writes about himself, but if I had the chance to name my alter ego, I don’t think “Man Wolf” would make the top 10 list.

So, now we get to the shenanigans part: While writing a story about a mysterious mansion, Reuben falls into bed with the woman who owns it (despite the fact that he has a girlfriend). That night, the woman is murdered (by her brothers, we learn later) and Reuben is bitten by the “animal” that killed the attackers.  But before the attack (and after the sex), the woman called her lawyers and left Reuben the house in her will. Reuben must be a stud!

Reuben also wanders as a werewolf and meets a woman who lives in the forest and, ahem, seduces her in wolf form. My bs meter went off about then – one: what woman in her right mind would not scream or at least run when confronted by a beastie covered in blood, and two: then have sex with him? Whaaaa? I wondered if maybe she’d seen one before, knew about them somehow, something … but no, as we learn later on, she just digs nature, no previous werewolf experience.  And she does this twice before even seeing Reuben in human form.  Oh, ick.

Okay, so far we have lots of people who are really smart and they all like to wax philosophical. Rice likes her characters to talk and talk and ponder and think about the why of things, and I really like just a tiny bit of that in between the action, not the pages and pages we get. Nearer to the end we meet Stuart, a modern San Francisco teenager (and gay-rights activist) who gets pulled in to this mess when Reuben saves him from being beaten to death (but unfortunately too late for his boyfriend). Reuben accidentally turns him into a werewolf.  When Stuart speaks, he sounds like a 65-year-old philosophy scholar instead of a 16-year-old boy. The last 65 pages of the book are after the climax, and are all discussion of the history of werewolves and, again, Stuart and Rueben sound like twin professors instead of young guys who live in California.  Just a little too out of touch for me.

The action in this book is pretty exciting when we get to it;  the mystery of the house, and Uncle Felix, kept me interested enough to read this book all the way through.  Just my previously mentioned disconnects kept a good story from being great.

See you in the STACKS,
Nancy

publisher: Carina Press
website: Unscripted
purchase: Barnes & Noble  Amazon

from goodreads:  As a producer on a reality dating show, Abby Edwards knows that true love is a myth. Her career and her friends are all she needs. Right?

When her screenwriter ex makes a hit movie based on their relationship, Abby’s faults are projected on screens across the country. Suddenly the fact that her job depends on orchestrating hot tub hook-ups doesn’t seem so impressive.

Her friends rally to help. Zoe thinks she needs to meet a guy. Stephanie suggests an attitude adjustment. Nancy wants her to get in touch with her inner Goddess. Abby knows they mean well, but she prefers to focus on her work. Unfortunately, she’s already embarrassed herself in front of her new boss, Will Harper, who she would find totally crush-worthy if he weren’t so irritating.

Abby’s about to be reminded that life doesn’t follow a script–and good things happen when you least expect it…

my take: Not that it matters in the least but this is the first book that I read on my phone. I actually liked reading it that way as I always had it with me.  Ebooks are totes cool!  With that said, let’s talk about Unscripted…

Unscripted is an easy and fun read.  I wish it had more romance in it but those of us who like chick-lit would find the relationships of the girls interesting and the reality TV part of Unscripted pretty funny (and those who participate in the shows downright crazy).

I feel the characters were strong and well developed. Let’s talk about Zoe for a minute here.  She was totally crazy superficial.  Why must she be such a bitch and it makes me sad that this character is probably based on someone real.  She is just awful and I wan’t totally bummed when they werent’ speaking. However, I did like when they made up towards the end of the book.  It seemed heart felt.

I do like Abby.   Her TV assignments were completely believable. I hope not all women in power in show business are she devils but maybe they are. Sad to think that in order to be taken seriously you have to be a uber bitch – but I regress…  Abby’s character is strong with a good work ethic, kind hearted, and funny to boot.  I wish we had more interaction between her and Will.  We really didn’t get enough scenes with any sparks and other things that make us chick-lit, romance lovin’ girls swoon.  Yes, I said swoon and I need it, darn it.

I enjoyed Unscripted and I recommend you pick it up to read on a day where you are cuddled on the couch, with a blanket over your feet, when you are done watching all the Bachelor’s that you DVR’d.  Not that I watch that.  At all.  (Btw, Coutrney? Seriously? blah!)

Wanting to check out the places in LA that are mentioned in this book,
Shannan