Book Review: Pretty Little Liars Stunning

Katie July 12, 2012 0 Comments

On June 5th, the latest book in the Pretty Little Liars series came out – Stunning.  It was also the day that the series returned to ABC Family. (And also the day I wrote this review! I am waiting to start the show until after I get the review written so I don’t get confused because the storylines are WAY different!)

Whenever I finish reading these books I am always completely FREAKED out over every little noise.  Of course I finished this one after pulling a late night at work, and when I heard the front door opening at 7pm I nearly jumped out of my skin.  Of course, it was just a coworker who works late nights coming in, but it is crazy how every little snap, crackle and pop around me makes me ears perked up because I am convinced A is after ME.

And yes, A is still after our Pretty Little Liars in Stunning.  Aria is dealing with her relationship with Noel – she finds out a secret about his dad and A tells her to break up with him or she will spill the secret.

Spencer is trying to get into an elite group at Princeton, where she will be attending next fall, but A doesn’t want that to happen for her.

Emily is dealing with an ex, and some drama surrounding one of her big secrets that the girls know, but no one else does.  Except of course, for A.

Hanna’s dad is still running for senate and she is helping with his campaign.  But when she goes against A, A tries her best to humiliate her.  But does it backfire on A? It seems that way – but we know that no one can beat A at her own game.

How the heck DOES A know everything? How is she everywhere at once? and most importantly – WHO THE HECK IS SHE!? and why is she so dead set on making the girls and everyone around thems lives miserable?

Obviously I recommend this book series to anyone who is interested.  My only suggestion would be – if you watch the TV show too – read up when the show is on hiatus.  The books and the show have taken completely different paths, though the characters for the most part are the same, so you’ll want to try and keep both separate in your head or you’ll be really confused!

I bought this book for my Nook because I love the series and was not asked the post a review. I did because I wanted to 🙂

About the Book

In Rosewood, Pennsylvania, four stunningly beautiful girls are haunted by a very ugly past. Spencer, Aria, Hanna, and Emily want nothing more than to forget Alison DiLaurentis, their former best friend who tried to ruin their lives. But someone refuses to let her memory die. A is still out there, lurking in the shadows and digging up the pretty little liars’ newest secrets.

Emily’s reconnecting with an old flame, one baby step at a time. But is she headed toward true love or another bundle of heartache? Spencer’s learning about the highs and lows of campus life on a trip to Princeton. Aria’s seeing a whole new side to Noel’s dad—and it could drive a wedge between her and Noel. And, for better or worse, Hanna’s getting in touch with her inner A.

Secret by secret, lie by lie, the girls get tangled in A’s dangerous web. A knows about everything, from their tiniest transgressions to the awful incident in Jamaica. Soon A will have enough ammunition to pull the trigger and end the pretty little liars, once and for all. . . .

Book Review: Starring Me

Katie July 10, 2012 0 Comments

Starring Me by Krista McGee follows Kara McCormick’s journey as an aspiring actress. If the names sound familiar, it is because not too long ago I read First Date which I guess is kind of a prequel to Starring Me. (You can check out my review of First Date here). Kara had appeared on Book of Love, a reality TV show to find a date for the President’s son.  While she didn’t win, she did make a great new friend Addy – a Christian who is now not quite dating the President’s son – but they certainly are interested in each other.  Kara finds out that there is auditions for a show that is similar to Saturday Night Live for teens and decides to audition.  During the audition process she hangs out with Addy and Jonathon and his friend Chad Beacon – a huge singing star that had won a reality competition that Kara was a fan of.

What Kara doesn’t know is that Chad, who she is now incredibly interested in, is the male lead on the show she is auditioning for.  Kara makes it to the top 10 contestants to win the spot on the show and is put in to a house with the other contestants and Flora, the house mother.  Flora works for the Beacon’s and was sent to help pick who will win.  While the girls think the winner will be based on who does the best on the auditions that they are doing, it is actually going to be Flora’s decision and she is looking for their character and a good Christian girl to star alongside Chad.  On the first day, Flora decides she wants Kara but there is just one small problem – Kara is not a Christian – yet!  With the help of Addy, Jonathon and Flora – they try to help Kara see that God loves her and everyone.

Some things happen in Kara’s life and it makes her wonder if she made the right decision going from New York to Orlando to do this audition and possibly the variety show, but God shows her that everything was done for a reason and she tries to finally accept him in her heart and her family’s as well.

I really enjoyed this book – still a bit cheesy like First Date – but sometimes that is just what you need, right?  It is just over 350 pages and a relatively quick read.  It does have a lot of religion mentioned in it, so if that is not your thing then you might want to skip this one. But if you are Christian or do not mind there being mentions of Christianity, the Bible and God then I would recommend this book to you.

I received a free e-copy of this book from the publisher through NetGalley in order to write this review. I was not otherwise compensated.

About the Book

Kara McKormick is told she’s auditioning to star in a new teen variety show. But it’s what she isn’t told that could change her life.

The feisty New Yorker moves to sunny Orlando to participate in a month-long audition, where she’ll live with nine other contestants and an eccentric housemother. Kara knows that the show already has a big-time celebrity lined up for the co-host, but she doesn’t know who it is.

Chad Beacon quickly rose to fame after winning America’s Next Star, but he doesn’t want his entire career to be about singing. There is so much more he wants to do—like act. The new variety show sounds like the perfect next step for him, but his parents want him to have a co-star who shares his faith since they’ll be spending so much time together.

Acting is high on Kara’s priority list. But a relationship with God? Not so much. In fact, she’s tried to stay away from anything religious. But God is after Kara’s heart and He’s put people in her life who are showing her there’s far more to Christianity than rules and judgment.

And just when it seems that Kara’s going to have to give up her acting dream, God reveals that she may have a starring role after all—in a story so big only He could write it.

Book Review: I am (not) the walrus

Katie July 8, 2012 0 Comments

I Am (Not) The Walrus is a book about a young boy named Toby, who plays bass in a Beatles cover band with his pal Zack.  They are in high school and Toby might be a little bit hung up on his ex girlfriend. (At least until he finds a new potential love interest.)  While trying to fix his bass, which was brought home one night by his brother Shawn who is now off in the Navy, Toby finds a note inside saying that the bass is stolen and if found to return it to Julie.  Toby is faced with a situation – does he return it? Or keep it and act like he never found the note?  This situation is what guides the plot for the rest of the book.

Toby ends up calling the number on the note and a guy answers – not Julie.  He tries to find out where Julie now lives to talk to her about the bass and meanwhile the guy that he called now is after Toby an wants the bass.  A music store owner tells Toby that it is a very low serial numbered Fender and that it may be one of the “lost” guitars – ones that were used by famous musicians but were stolen.  Could Toby’s bass have been stolen from a well known musician?

While this story is a juvenile book, I thought it was a cute story about high school kids involving friends, girlfriends and some rock n roll.  It is an easy read and a bit of a mystery as well, which I always enjoy.

I received a free review e-copy of this book in order to write this review from the publisher through NetGalley. I was not otherwise compensated.

A quirky story about girls, love, and rock ‘n’ roll

As the singer and bass player for Lucky Twenty, a Beatles cover band, Toby wants to make it big. But Zach, Toby’s best friend and fellow band member, is convinced there’s a problem: Toby’s utter lack of mojo. How can he croon about love when he’s never even kissed a girl?

So begins Toby’s quest for cred as a lovestruck singer. But his quest derails when he finds a note inside his old bass guitar. Who is the true owner of the bass? And can a kiss really help Toby figure out who he is?

Book Review: Grammar Girl’s 101 Troublesome Words

Katie July 6, 2012 0 Comments

Ok, I’ll admit it. I get excited when grammar books show up to be reviewed.  I read grammar books for fun!  Part of the reason is because I want to know how many tips and tricks I already know (I was a Communication / Journalism minor in college, after all.  A lot of these were hammered in to my brain repeatedly by multiple classes.)  The other reason is because there are so many words out there, it is impossible for any book or class to cover them all and I am always up to learning new things.

Grammar Girl’s 101 Troublesome Words (You’ll Master in No Time) is sorted in alphabetical order.  Each word or phrase is hi lighted at the top of the page and then there is a little bit about what rules there are for that word/phrase. Or lack there of.  Some words are evolving (e-mail vs email) and other words just really don’t have any rules to follow because of how quickly the English language is changing.  After each write up, there is an example of using the word.

These examples are “cool” examples though! They include quotes from TV shows like Dexter, Gossip Girl and The OC (just a few of my favorites) and current magazines and other publications and all that.  I thought this was a great touch because I’m more likely to remember something Chuck Bass said than I am to remember something a silly BOOK said.  (Throw it all in to a song sung by a boyband and I’ll NEVER forget.)

101 Troublesome Words (and all of the quickandditrytips!) is definitely recommended for anyone who likes to write or is just geeky about words.

About the Book

Millions of people around the world communicate better thanks to Mignon Fogarty, aka Grammar Girl, whose top-rated weekly grammar podcast has been downloaded more than 40 million times. Now she’s turning her attention to solving your worst problems-one troublesome word at a time.

Are you feeling “all right” or “alright”? Does “biweekly” mean twice a week or every two weeks? Do you run a gauntlet or a gantlet? Is a pair of twins four people or two?

The English language is always changing, and that means we are left with words and phrases that are only sort of wrong (or worse, have different definitions depending on where you look them up). How do you know which to use? Grammar Girl to the rescue! This handy reference guide contains the full 411 on 101 words that have given you trouble before-but will never again.

Full of clear, straightforward definitions and fun quotations from pop culture icons such as Gregory House and J. K. Rowling, as well as from classical writers such as Mark Twain and Benjamin Franklin, this highly-useable guidebook takes the guesswork out of your writing, so you’ll never be at a loss for words again.