Review: The Summer My Life Began by Shannon Greenland

The Summer My Life Began by Shannon Greenland

Published: May 10th, 2012 | Speak
Acquired: Netgalley
Genre: YA Contemporary
Overall: ½
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Elizabeth Margaret--better known as Em--has always known what her life would contain: an internship at her father's firm, a degree from Harvard, and a career as a lawyer. The only problem is, it's not what she wants. So when she gets the opportunity to get away and spend a month with the aunt she never knew, she jumps at the chance. While there, Em learns that her family has some pretty significant secrets. And then there's Cade, the laid-back local surfer boy who seems to be everything Em isn't. Naturally, she can't resist him, and as their romance blossoms, Em feels that for the first time ever, she is really living life on her own terms.

My thoughts:
This is one of those books that are perfect for a quick beach or weekend read. Not too much depth, straight to the point, emotions, a little rough times, but over all romance. And that's all we need sometimes.

Elizabeth Margaret (gag on that name) had lived her life under her parent and grandmother's very watchful eye. Her sister the only one keeping her sane and hiding her love for cooking. She wanted to make sure she always pleased her parents, never daring to let them know that her path of being a lawyer and going to Harvard just wasn't what she wanted. But when she receives a letter from her eccentric aunt who lives on an island, she sees it as her opportunity to break away from her perfect life and see how the other half lives.
I knew that I'd like Elizabeth Margaret - ahem, Em - from how close she is with her sister and her passion for cooking and life. When she arrives at the island resort I couldn't wait to meet her aunt and the boy that she would inevitably come across. And I knew I'd love them. I just wish I had more to love. They really weren't in the book as much, yet every page either involved her aunt or Cade. I just craved them!

There was a surprising amount of depth to this book, though still a bit shallow, the real life angst and issues, though not surprising, still I loved learning about Cade and Em's life, their past and together.

Their romance felt real and honest and I loved that. There wasn't much to truly grasp with how short this book is, but I still loved them.
Every character on the island was fun and had so much life that it made me want to live on a resort on an island as well.

When Em learns a family secret that completely changes her entire life, I was genuinely shocked and just as confused as Em was. I was also surprised by how her family, especially her younger sister took the news.
Her decisions in the end seemed a bit forced, yet right for her.

I may have to check out more from Shannon Greenland soon!

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Author Info:
Shannon Greenland has gone hiking, rafting, swimming, snorkeling, sailing, surfing, mountain biking, spelunking, canoeing, power lifting, running, camping, para sailing . . . well, you get the drift. She’s traveled the world extensively and is thrilled to be living in northern Virginia, looking for her new adventure. Believe it or not, Shannon dreaded reading and writing when she was a kid. How ironic that she’s now an award winning author.
More on her: website |  twitter | facebook | goodreads

Review: Hush, Hush by Becca Fitzpatrick

Hush, Hush by Becca Fitzpatrick

Published: October 13th, 2009 | Simon & Schuster
Acquired: Won in contest
Format: Hardback
Genre:  YA Paranormal
Overall:

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A SACRED OATH
A FALLEN ANGEL
A FORBIDDEN LOVE
Romance was not part of Nora Grey's the plan. She's never been particularly attracted to the boys at her school, no matter how hard her best friend, Vee, pushes them at her. Not until Patch comes along. With his easy smile and eyes that seem to see inside her, Patch draws Nora to him against her better judgment.
But after a series of terrifying encounters, Nora's not sure whom to trust. Patch seems to be everywhere she is and seems to know more about her than her closest friends. She can't decide whether she should fall into his arms or run and hide. And when she tries to seek some answers, she finds herself near a truth that is way more unsettling than anything Patch makes her feel.
For she is right in the middle of an ancient battle between the immortal and those that have fallen - and, when it comes to choosing sides, the wrong choice will cost Nora her life.

My thoughts:
I'm going to blame my lack of interest in this book in the fact that I missed the mark. And I wasn't as excited to read it as when I received the book--two years ago.
I love a good paranormal and angels can be fun, but this book just wasn't that fun to me.

I didn't feel the connection between Nora or Patch (whose name annoyed me) at all throughout the book. And when I did feel an inkling of something it was more on his part than her's even though it's from Nora's POV.

I had pretty much everything in the book figured out from the beginning. Who the mystery hooded person was, what he was, how the relationship would go, how most of the book would go, the typical ignorant best friend, who personally I'd have to slap.
I'm kind of over that "stereotypical friendship" in a lot of books, especially paranormal, where the main character is the brainiac smart "average looking" girl and her best friend is the polar opposite. That's not really life.

Okay... on to some positives.
Patch, I loved him and his sarcastic assiness. (Yes, I made that word up.) I liked how open he was with her about being an angel, but she was just kind of too dumb to tell. He cared about her, but in the way that you don't care about someone. When he decided to let himself be wherever she was, his presence made the book for me and I found myself wanting to read only parts that involved him. Nora's character seemed a bit dry for me, even her obnoxious best friend spiced it up.
The two guys they meet at a coffee shop screamed "bad news" for me from the second they spoke. And I would audibly sigh or roll my eyes when they showed up.

The ending wasn't very surprising or contain that "bang" I like with paranormals. I love cliffhangers even more and this didn't contain that either. However, I really want to read the next books to see where this series goes. A couple blogger friends told me they didn't enjoy it as much, but that only makes me want to read it more, because they each gave this one 5 stars.


Agh. I did enjoy this book, but I feel my review is really negative. Apologies! 


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About the author:
Becca Fitzpatrick grew up reading Nancy Drew and Trixie Belden with a flashlight under the covers. She graduated college with a degree in health, which she promptly abandoned for storytelling. When not writing, she's most likely prowling sale racks for reject shoes, running, or watching crime dramas on TV.
More on her: website | twitter | facebook | goodreads 

This Week in Books (005)

1. My Life Next Door by Huntley Fitzpatrick (YA contemp, purchased for kindle)
2. Pushing The Limits by Katie McGarry (YA contemp, ARC - borrowed from friend | July 31st)
3. League of Strays by L.B. Schulman (YA contemp, review | Oct. 1st)
4. Darkness Before Dawn by J.A. London (YA dystopian, purchased for kindle)
5. Confessions of an Angry Girl by Louise Rozett (YA contemp, review |  Aug. 28th)
6. Don't Let Me Go by Catherine Ryan Hyde (YA contemp, purchased for kindle)
7. Reaper [Lightbringer #2] by K.D. McEntire (YA paranormal, ARC review for GCR | Aug. 24th)

A little more:

Wow, it's been a long time since I've posted anything! Well, I'm back with a lot books this week and they're all from this past week! Though I'm currently reading Hush, Hush by Becca Fitzpatrick, I need to jump intot he ones that are to be released by the end of July and August ASAP! 

I'm quite excited for My Life Next Door so, I may have to push a couple others aside to dive into this one!I should really organize my book shelf (when we move into our new house) and Kindle by release month!!)

I have read the first book in the Lightbringer series (review here) and enjoyed it, so I'm looking forward to Reaper. Though, I won't lie, the covers are not appealing to me in anyway. They're still great books!

So, I really really realllllly need to stop accepting books to review, stay off of netgalley and stay away from the library until these are done!

So much rain here (even though it's still hot) so, I shall face my window and read read read! :)

Hope you have a great week and try to keep cool!

"This Week in Books" is hosted by Alea at Pop Culture Junkie

Review: Cross My Heart by Sasha Gould

Cross My Heart by Sasha Gould

Published: March 13th, 2012 | Random House
Age: YA Historical Fiction
Pages: 262
Acquired: Netgalley
Overall: 
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Venice, 1585.
When 16-year-old Laura della Scala learns that her older sister, Beatrice, has drowned, she is given no time to grieve. Instead, Laura's father removes her from the convent where he forcibly sent her years earlier and orders her to marry Beatrice's fiancé, a repulsive old merchant named Vincenzo. Panicked, Laura betrays a powerful man to earn her way into the Segreta, a shadowy society of women who deal in only one currency—secrets. The Segreta seems like the answer to Laura's prayers. The day after she joins their ranks, Vincenzo is publicly humiliated and conveniently exiled. Soon, however, Laura begins to suspect that her sister's death was not a tragic accident but a cold-blooded murder—one that might involve the Segreta and the women she has come to trust.

My thoughts:
From the very first sentence, I knew this book would be more than just words on a page. In a lot of ways, it was almost a painting the way the author was able to create such a magical world. A place I had never visited and definitely a time i would never be able to see. Yet, I felt like I was there in Venice along with Laura.

The characters in this book each had a very short part, yet they were all important in their own way and I was able to feel the same emotions Laura felt at the time. (Seriously, Sasha Gould has a way with words!)
There is something about historical fiction that seems so grounding, it shows you how simple life can be yet the characters seem happy (when they're not trying to solve their sisters murder or get out of a marriage to a very creepy, very old man.)

When Laura goes to a dinner to meet her arranged husband, she meets a boy, Vicenzo who she can't seem to forget. He's not rich and now that her father is rapidly losing money, he most definitely wouldn't be allowed in their family. But she learns of the Segreta and through them and her strong will she fights to get what she wants.
There were a lot of twists and events that I wasn't expecting in this book, so it kept me on my toes the entire time.
I loved the scenery, the gorgeous world of Venice, the heartbreak and strength of Laura, the romance of it. Everything.

I can't wait to read more of historical fictions and more from Sasha Gould.
If you love historical fiction, mystery, romance, or all of the above. You'll love this one!