Waiting for Wednesday - Illuminated by Erica Orloff

Waiting on Wednesday is a weekly memo that is hosted by Breaking the Spine Blog.

This week I am featuring Illuminated by Erica Orloff

So more about the book….

Expected Release Date:8th December 2011


An epic romance full of mysteries that transcend time—fans of Romeo and Juliet and The Time Traveler’s Wife will rejoice!

Some loves are not made to last . . . Like Romeo and Juliet, Heloise and Abelard were doomed from the start, and their romance was destined to pass into history. Yet when sixteen-year-old Callie Martin discovers a diary hidden within an antique book, their story—and hers—takes on another life. For the diary leads Callie to the brilliant and handsome August, who is just as mysterious as the secret the diary hides. Their attraction is undeniable. As the two hunt down the truth behind the diary—and that of Heloise and Abelard’s ancient romance—their romance becomes all-consuming. But Callie knows it can’t last . . . love never does. Will their love that burns as bright as a shooting star flame out, or will these star-crossed lovers be able to defy history?



Best wishes

Debs :-)

Book Challenges for 2012

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Debs :-)

Book Haul!!!! 4th Dec 2011

Part One

Part Two

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Debs :-)

Book Review - The Next Door Boys by Jolene B. Perry

With her body still recovering from last year's cancer treatments, Leigh Tressman is determined to be independent. Despite the interference from her overprotective brother, physical frustrations, and spiritual dilemmas— not to mention the ever expanding line of young men ready to fall in love with her— Leigh discovers what it actually means to stand on her own and learns that love can be found in unexpected but delightful places.








If you would prefer to see the video review, please see below....

What a great story.  This book does have a religious feel to it and that made the story so much more beautiful to read.  Leigh is a very strong character who knows what she wants to do and goes out there to try and get it.  She does struggle with keeping up with what she wants to do as she is getting over her cancer treatements but that does not stop her from trying.  Her brother, Jaron, is equally as strong, very protective and living just next door to help when needed.  

Leigh forms such great friendships when she decides to learn more when she learns architecture and stays in a shared house away from her parents watchful, worried eyes.

For me this story wsa about friendships.  Friendships between Leigh and her parents, brother, friends and potential love interests for which there are a few....

Such a beautiful story....

My Review:  8 out of 10

Best Wishes

Debs :-) 

Book Review - Saving June by Hannah Harrington

'If she’d waited less than two weeks, she’d be June who died in June. But I guess my sister didn’t consider that.’

Harper Scott’s older sister has always been the perfect one so when June takes her own life a week before her high school graduation, sixteen-year-old Harper is devastated. Everyone’s sorry, but no one can explain why.

When her divorcing parents decide to split her sister’s ashes into his-and-her urns, Harper takes matters into her own hands. She’ll steal the ashes and drive cross-country with her best friend, Laney, to the one place June always dreamed of going California.

Enter Jake Tolan. He’s a boy with a bad attitude, a classic-rock obsession and nothing in common with Harper’s sister. But Jake had a connection with June, and when he insists on joining them, Harper’s just desperate enough to let him. With his alternately charming and infuriating demeanour and his belief that music can see you through anything, he might be exactly what she needs.

Except June wasn’t the only one hiding something. Jake’s keeping a secret that has the power to turn Harper’s life upside down again.

If you would prefer to see the video review, please see below...

This story does have its sad parts and its happy parts mixed in so this story, for me, was a bit of a roller coaster of emotion.  

For me, this story was very much about journeys, the journey of self-discovery (Harper discovering more about her own personality and situation), the journey of friendships (between Harper and her friend, Laney, when Laney decides to come with Harper on her journey to California), the journey of families (mainly between Harper and her mother both before she leaves for California and when she gets back), the obvious journey to California where they are headed to give Harper's sister, June, her final resting place and also the journey of love.  Such a beautiful story....


My Review:   9 out of 10

Best wishes

Debs :-)
 

Book Review - Wish Upon a Star by Sarah Morgan

Love is in the air this Christmas!

Christy was hoping to skip Christmas this year. Her kids have other ideas - they've put their dad's name at number one on their Christmas list. So it looks as if Christy will be hightailing it up to the Lake District to play happy families with her ex!

Snow-capped mountains and roaring log fires - Alessandro's home is like walking into a Christmas card. Is it really safe for her to spend Christmas with her dreamy, funny - no! - entirely infuriating ex-hubby?

Miranda has completely the opposite problem. Being single and pregnant at Christmas was certainly not her wish come true. She doesn't believe in miracles, but then resident hunk Jake sweeps her off her snow-covered shoes. Come Boxing Day dare she dream that Mr Sex-on-Legs might be for more than just Christmas?

 

If you would prefer to see the video review, please see below...

So, this is the first Christmas book I have read for this Christmas season 2011 and I absolutely loved it.   I had not realised until I was half way through this book that it is actually two stories in one book.  

The first story we follow Christy who has left her husband and moved miles away with her children.  It is coming up to Christmastime and all the children want for Christmas is to have the family altogether, with their father.  Christy decides to give the children what they want and travels back to the family home where the father, Alessandro, lives.  In this story, we have two very fiery and strong characters, Christy and Alessandro, and following their story and how they decide to tackle the twist and turns that come with seeing each other again was truly wonderful to read.

The second story we follow Miranda who at the beginning seems like she has hit the bottom of the well of depression, riding her bike out of the town where she lives when a snow storm strikes.  Enter Jake, who is her night in shining armour and rescues her in more ways than one.  Such a great story to follow, especially following Miranda's journey out of that well of depression and maybe finding some happiness.  Maybe that might be with Jake? 

The icing on top of the cake for me with this story is that they connect.  Jake from the second story features in the first story as the best friend of Christy and Alessandro (and potential love interest....).  Both Christy and Alessandro feature in the second story as well, which for me just ties these stories together so beautifully...  

My Review - 9 out of 10

Best wishes


Debs :-)

Book Review - The Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins (Hunger Games 1)

In the ruins of a place once known as North America lies the nation of Panem, a shining Capitol surrounded by twelve outlying districts. The Capitol is harsh and cruel and keeps the districts in line by forcing them all to send one boy and one girl between the ages of twelve and eighteen to participate in the annual Hunger Games, a fight to the death on live TV.

Sixteen-year-old Katniss Everdeen, who lives alone with her mother and younger sister, regards it as a death sentence when she steps forward to take her sister's place in the Games. But Katniss has been close to dead before—and survival, for her, is second nature. Without really meaning to, she becomes a contender. But if she is to win, she will have to start making choices that will weigh survival against humanity and life against love.

If you would prefer to see the video review, please see below.

What a great story...  I really enjoyed this book much more than what I thought I would.  For a while now I have seen this book everywhere, in you tube videos and blog reviews and hauls (and I believe it is now being turned into a movie which, after reading the book, I am very excited about...) so I thought I would pick it up and see what I thought of it.  

First of all, I absolutely love the cover that I picked up which is the same as the one in the picture above.  At first I was confused by the boy in the picture but after reading it, it must be Petra who is a character that is in the Hunger Games and also comes from the same District as Katniss.

One of the best aspects of this book for me was the character Katniss.  She is such a strong, determined character that I was hoping, from day one, that she would win..

This was such a great book and I am so that that I picked it up...

My Review - 7 out of 10

Best wishes

Debs :-)