Tasha S

• Rated 5 stars

“If only Naomi hadn’t picked heads. Her life would have been so different. She wouldn’t have fallen down the steps and woken up with amnesia, she wouldn’t have met James, and most importantly she wouldn’t be questioning herself. When Naomi wakes up from her fall she finds herself in a hospital bed not remembering anything past 12 years old. This means she doesn’t remember her parents divorce, her tennis star boyfriend, and why her best friend Will calls her “Chief.” With the help of her dad and Will Naomi slowly starts to piece her life back together. The only thing is she’s still not sure who she used to be and really isn’t sure if she still wants to be that person. Naomi even begins to question what she ever saw in Ace and wonders why she can’t get James out of her mind. As the weeks go by Naomi finds it difficult at times, especially dealing with rude kids in school, but over time she starts to build her life back up, even if it’s not the same as it used to be. But she always wonders if she will ever remember again.

This was a breathtaking and emotional book. It was stupendous to say the least. I loved the story line and thought it was completely original. I loved how Naomi got to reinvent herself. I mean who wouldn’t want to make themselves the real person that they were meant to be? Not only was the story good, but Gabrielle Zevin’s writing style was phenomenal. She created three dimensional characters who you wished were your best friends. They dealt with real issues and felt real love. Also there was a deep level of emotion written into the pages. The last chapter of the book made me so sad, but not sad sad, almost like a happy sad. This was the first time a book had made me feel this way and I really liked how the author was able to provoke feeling with just her words. This was an all around great book that I think is a must read for any teenager. It provides realism with a bit of humor and just really couldn’t get much better!”

Tasha S wrote this review Wednesday, July 30, 2008. ( reply | permalink )

• Rated 5 stars

“Imagine the juiciness of Gossip Girl, but 100 years ago in Manhattan. It may have been a long time ago, but the gossip and scandals are just as good if not better!

Elizabeth is the perfect 1800's upper society Manhattan girl. She's elegant and poised and could have any man she wants. Henry Schoonmaker is the man everyone wants but he is always into trouble and just can't seem to stay with a girl for any length of time. When Elizabeth and Henry are thrust into a relationship together in order to save one's family finances and the other's reputation. They soon become the most prestigious couple in Manhattan, but are either of them truly happy? Some people aren't so impressed by this star couple, especially Elizabeth's best friend Penelope who thought that she was going to marry Henry. Penelope is a girl used to getting what she wants, and she will not let Henry get away from her. It's just not Penelope that is making life difficult for Elizabeth, it is also the fact that Elizabeth can't seem to decide on whether or not to save her family or follow her heart. So many secrets are hidden throughout upper class Manhattan and are just waiting to be heard. The Luxe is a truly seductive and classy novel, with plenty of gossip to fulfill any girls desires!

I absolutely love this book! I have heard many different things about the book from it not being well written to it being awesome. Well I definitely side with the people that say it is awesome. However hard I tried I couldn't put the book down. After the first page it was all I could do not to turn to the end of the book and find out what happens! I was able to contain myself, and I was so glad I waited because there are so many different parts that play a role in the book that you wouldn't understand if you hadn't read the entire book. This is a great first novel from Ana Godbersen and like I said irresistible to put down. I know there is a sequel coming out in the future which is stupendous because there are so many questions left unanswered! I'm looking forward to reading more books in the Luxe series and maybe even re-reading Luxe!”

Tasha S wrote this review Wednesday, July 30, 2008. ( reply | permalink )

• Rated 5 stars

“Violet likes to think of herself as a wallflower. She's a senior who's never had a boyfriend and has a grand total of two friends. She just feels plain and ordinary. Nothing about her stands out, except for the fact that she is freakishly tall. So when a representitive from Tryst modeling agency asks her to fly up to New York for a consultation, she agrees. Little does she know that this decision will change her in so many ways. Violet's first trip to New York is a hit, in fact she booked for four shows during Fashion Week! She is overjoyed and is finally seeing herself as just a little bit out-of-the-ordinary. Fashion Week is a hit. Violet can't contain herself and when she walks down the runway she flashes a huge smile, which soon becomes her trademark. She does such a great job that she pushes her nemesis, Veronica, out of the prized closing slot of the show. As Fashion Week draws to an end, Violet rises to stardom. She's finally found a friend, and maybe even a boyfriend. Once Fashion Week finishes she relunctantly comes home to good, old Chapel Hill High School where she is profusely greeted, not just by her 2 best friends, but by the ever so popular BK (bees knees) girls. Violet is loving all the attention, but she let's what's really important slide. Thinking her modeling career has slowed down, Violet is shocked to hear that she is still hot in New York, and Tryst wants her to come live up in New York. After much persuasion her parents agree and Violet graduates high school early and packs her bags for the Big Apple. Busy schedules and sharing a one-bedroom apartment with four other girls, including Veronica, excites Violet at first, but will the spark soon die off.

This was an exceptionally good book. Violet is one of the most down-to-earth characters I've met. Yes, being a model can sometimes make her full of herself, but she seems like such a friendly and honest person. This story makes me realize that we all have our doubts. Whether it be if were good enough, pretty enough, or smart enough. I think Melissa Walker does a great job sharing the message that we all have our talents, and faults. Also that it is important for us to be nice to everyone, because we don't know their circumstances. I also loved all the fashion in the book. I myself am not a fashion-junkie, but I think it's fun to learn something new about pop culture. All the fashion lingo was fun to read and also I was allowed a sneak peak into the world of modelling. This a great book for any teen girl, especially one who has ever thought she was not good enough, but turns out to be superior!”

Tasha S wrote this review Wednesday, July 30, 2008. ( reply | permalink )

• Rated 5 stars

“At the end of Violet on the Runway, Violet swears that she's quit the modeling industry. That is until she is offered the opportunity to walk the runway in Brazil. Violet has always wanted to travel and she sees this as her ticket. Deferring college for a semester Violet heads to Brazil while her best friends, Julie and Roger, head of to their respective colleges. While in Brazil Violet meets up with Veronica, and realizes that Veronica is one of the best friends that she has in the industry. When Violet's not catching up with Veronica, she's putting on a spectacular show and designers are all wanting her to walk for them. Then there's Paulo... An up-and-coming designer who is extremely hot, and whom Violet can't help but fall helplessly in love with. She almost feels that she could go all the way with Paulo, that is until she finds him in bed with another woman. Mortified she hops back on a plane to the States and wallows for two weeks, feasting on ice cream and cheeseburgers. Her brother finally convinces her to get her act together and she does. She flies up to New York and hangs out with Roger and his highly annoying girlfriend Chloe. After her outing Violet knows she's ready to go back into the modeling world, and calls up her agent, Angela. When she sees Angela, she wishes she had never called. Angela immediately starts picking Violet apart for putting on 5 pounds. Violet's ashamed of herself, but continues trying to get rid of that blasted ice cream weight. Her dream of traveling comes true again when she is whisked off to Spain. Here she is still pestered about her weight, but when she speaks up she gets into a lot of trouble. Will Violet ever be satisfied with her body? Is her modeling career over?

Wow! This book was just as good as the first one. For me that rarely happens. Violet was as strong as ever in this book and I loved how she stood up for what she believed in. Throughout the story Violet is pressured into losing weight even though she's already skinny. This deals with the whole models are too skinny issue that real world models are facing today. I thought that Melissa Walker did a fantastic job getting the message across that we all need to be comfortable with our bodies and that being skinny definitely has it's negative side. Once again I couldn't put the book down and was riveted by the story. I stayed up until all hours of the night to finish it and it was so worth it! One thing that frustrated me during the whole book is Violet and Roger's relationship. I believe that they are destined to be together. Why, o, why does he have to be with that Chloe girl? Why Melissa Walker did you have to leave us hanging with their whole relationship? So many questions left unanswered. Hopefully they will all be answered in the third book in the series Violet in Private, which comes out in August. I absolutely can't wait:)”

Tasha S wrote this review Wednesday, July 30, 2008. ( reply | permalink )

1 of 1 members found this review helpful.

• Rated 5 stars

“Usually when parents tuck their kids in at night they tell them to have sweet dreams, right? According to Janie that's wrong. She can't remember ever having a dream. Instead she falls into other people's dreams. Some may think this is really neat, but for Janie it's horrible. Janie can't spend the night at other people's house, and when people fall asleep at school she's also sucked into their dreams. Janie's been having this problem since she was eight years old. Now she's seventeen and a senior in high school, and the whole dream thing is getting very old. The worst thing is she can't tell anybody in fear that they'll think she's crazy. Lately it seems all the dreams are the same, being naked in front of a crowd or falling into an endless pit. Then she starts falling into the same dream, actually more of a nightmare that hits way to close to home. She can't really make sense of it, but she hopes it will soon stop. Aside from the dreams though her life seems to be looking up. Her grades are good, she has an amazing boyfriend who understands her and knows her secret, and her alcoholic mother mother has started to be a little more motherly. Just as life is looking up, a cloud comes and rains on Janie's happiness. Her and her boyfriend Cabel have an unofficial break up, and her favorite patient at the nursing home she works at, Ms. Stubin, dies. Then Cable is all of a sudden dating rich girl Shay and Janie doesn't understand this at all, and it seems that everything else is confusing her. Will Janie find some answers to her confusion, or will she plummet into darkness with only other people's dreams to keep her company?

I. Loved. This. Book. Wake gives the term "page-turner" a whole new meaning. From the moment I opened the book it was glued to my hands and I was on the edge of my seat, anxious to read what happened next. The story was completely original and was absolutely fascinating. There were so many twists and turns that kept me guessing until the very last sentence. Even then it wasn't enough, there are still so many questions buzzing around my head. It is so not fair that the book had to end! The characters were also amazing. Janie was great and I am so jealous of her relationship with Cabel, for the most part! To me all the characters had their own unique personality which made the book have great depth. What stunned me even more about this book is that Lisa McMann is a first time author. I can't wait to see what she has in store for us next, especially the sequel to Wake, Fade which comes out next year. ”

Tasha S wrote this review Wednesday, July 30, 2008. ( reply | permalink )

• Rated 5 stars

“Lady Emily and her best friends from boarding school, Priscilla, Ariadne, and Daphne, are all ready to graduate and head back to their homes in nineteenth century London. They’re even more excited for Priscilla’s coming out ball, which they all are planning on attending. That is until Emily learns that she is engaged to Lord Robert Townsend. This puts a damper on all of the girls’ plans as Lord Robert is not planning on attending the ball and doesn’t think Emily will be either. While Emily doesn’t think that the marriage will work, her father thinks it is a match made in heaven and fails to honor Emily’s request to cancel the engagement. Emily knows that if she is ever going to be a member of the Royal Society of Beaux Arts and go to Priscilla’s ball that she will simply have to take matters into her own hands. With the help of her best friends, Emily sets off to find something that will prove that Lord Robert will not be a good husband. What Emily finds not only surprises her, but also helps her find something she’s been longing for, love.

It's hard to express the way I felt about this book in one word, but I'll try. This book is AMAZING! Actually, the book is more than amazing, it’s fantastic, superior, radiant, and any other synonym you can think of! – now can you tell how much I loved this book?! I am always up for a historical fiction and this book certainly lived up and surpassed every expectation I had of it. I mean it contained mystery, suspense and love. What more could a girl ask for? Regina Scott created a great story where the characters were three dimensional and you felt like you were walking the cobbled streets of nineteenth century England. I especially loved Emily’s character. I could feel the sarcasm in her words and felt her sadness when she was grieving over not attending the ball. While I had my hunches as to what Lord Robert was up to, there were always little twists and turns that kept me second guessing myself until the moment was revealed. Regina Scott has definitely found her niche in the YA world and I’m crossing my fingers and toes that there will be more adventures with La Petite Four. I really just cannot get over how good this book is! I urge you all to scurry to your closest book provider and get this book as it is….AMAZING!!!”

Tasha S wrote this review Wednesday, July 30, 2008. ( reply | permalink )

• Rated 5 stars

“When Serena’s parents make her move to a small town she’s not sure her skater chick self will fit in with all the preps. To top things off she’s deaf and quite a few people, including some teachers, think she’s a freak. Even though life isn’t perfect Serena is pretty content with her life and especially enjoys hanging out with her crush and the school rebel Miller. Surprisingly though Serena makes friends with preppy girl Rachel very quickly. While Rachel is really nice she is also part of a group of super exclusive girls and Serena is sure she won’t fit in. Especially when she meets Sonya who has it out for her the first time their eyes meet. Soon the group of girls who weren’t the most accepting at first find out that Serena has an amazing talent for reading lips. She can pick out anyone’s conversations and can easily pick up gossip. The group knows that Serena’s talent can be used to learn many dirty secrets and make the girls even more popular. With her new found popularity Serena learns the difference between true and fake friends, takes down a secret sorority, and finds the true person she really is.

This was a stunning book. It was a light read, but still had substance and was completely captivating. The storyline was completely original and was very enjoyable. I honestly don’t think that there was anything that I disliked about this book. The characters were three dimensional and I felt like Serena was my best friend. It was also very easy to relate to Serena. While I have no idea what it’s like to be deaf, I do know how it feels trying to fit in and be accepted. What I loved is how Serena was able to stay true to herself and while she deterred a little bit, she always came back to her true self. Then there’s Miller. He sounds like the perfect boyfriend any girl could ever dream of and I am very jealous of his and Serena’s relationship! Like I said before there was nothing I disliked about this book and completely look forward to more books by the fabulous Teri Brown, who I may add is a member of the amazing Class of 2k8.”

Tasha S wrote this review Wednesday, July 30, 2008. ( reply | permalink )

• Rated 5 stars

“
Persephone and Penelope Leeland are the twin daughters of a well known English viscount and are getting ready to be thrown into their first season. While you couldn’t tell the girls apart by looking at them, if you talked to them you would know that they are completely different girls.

All Penelope can talk about is the upcoming balls that the girls are planning on going to and the numerous gowns that she is going to wear. She’s loves all thoughts that have to do with future dances and possible husbands. Then there is Persephone. She would much rather hunker down and devote her time to magical studies. She really doesn’t want anything to do with finding a husband or dancing the night away in a dress that she can hardly breathe in.

Just as the season is about to begin the girls governess disappears. It’s up to the girls to figure out what happened. Along the way the girls will discover that the kidnapping of their governess has much to do with the plot to take away Princess Victoria’s power. Encountering many interesting people, including a mysterious Irish wizard and a boy that might just be husband worthy, the girls set off to solve the mystery.

I am a huge historical fiction fan as well as I love books that include magic. Putting the two together created an amazing book that I instantly fell in love with. I thought that the story was completely original and absolutely spellbinding. I was highly impressed with Marissa Doyle’s ability to captivate my attention throughout the whole book. I don’t think I actually put the book down once - which is a big thing for me! I thought it was really neat that the main characters were twins who really didn’t have much in common. The girls’ differences though made the book so interesting and it was really evident that they depended on each other for different strengths. Another really special thing about this book is that the story sticks. The story keeps ringing through my head and I’m still loving it! I was really impressed with Marissa Doyle’s debut novel and absolutely cannot wait for the sequel which will be out sometime next year (why o why does it have to be that far away!). It has definitely become a new favorite of mine and if you haven’t had the opportunity to read the Bewitching Season I highly suggest you run and get it now. ”

Tasha S wrote this review Wednesday, July 30, 2008. ( reply | permalink )

• Rated 5 stars

“
Alice thinks she is invisible. The only person that seems to know her is her best friend in the whole entire world, Jewel. They are the perfect pair. They both enjoy coffee and art, and life couldn't be better. That is until the blood bath dance rolls around. Alice wants desperately to go with the star football player Simon Murphy and never thinks it could happen in a million years. Then the impossible happens. Simon Murphy kisses Alice - the same day Jewel kisses Alice. Alice is overwhelmed. Overcome by emotions Alice goes with the perfect guy, Simon Murphy. They quickly bond, and Simon soon asks Alice to go to the Blood Bath dance. This sends her friendship with Jewel over the edge and it seems like they are no longer best friends. Alice and Simon's relationship gets serious pretty fast, but Simon's a good guy and leaves all the decisions up to Alice. All Alice wants is a friend to confide in. She realizes that Jewel is the only person that has ever been her friend. She soon comes to see that it's o.k. to branch out and that in all reality she is not the slightest bit invisible, if only she puts a little effort in.


I loved this book. I want Alice to be my best friend! She is a thoughtful character who I see so much of myself in. Liz Gallagher created an extremely vivid setting of Seattle, WA. I felt like I was walking the same streets as Alice and I could almost feel the rain dripping on my forehead. The other characters besides Alice also had great depth. Sometimes I feel like authors only put their effort into creating the main character, but not in this case. Each character had their own personality and set of quirks, which made me feel like I really knew them. All in all I highly recommend this fabulous book, and I look forward to seeing what Liz Gallagher has in store for readers next!”

Tasha S wrote this review Wednesday, July 30, 2008. ( reply | permalink )

• Rated 4 stars

“Win and Chris have been best friends since the third grade. Now they are graduating high school and are planning the ultimate graduation getaway. They’re going to bike from their home in West Virginia to Seattle, Washington, almost a coast-to-coast trek. The ride is filled with many different adventures, both physical and emotional. From being chased by a coyote to crashing many different events just to get free food - the fun never seems to end for this dynamic duo. That is until one day Win leaves Chris in the dust. As he rides away all Win manages to say is “good bye.”

Chris returns home by himself ready to start school. He’s still mad at Win for ditching him and hasn’t heard from him since that day. Only days after Chris starts school he gets a visit from an FBI agent. As it turns out Win never made it home and was carrying $20,000 with him. Chris is looking quite suspicious, but he knows no more about Win then anyone else. As Chris’ world shifts he learns more about himself than anyone could have taught him.

Readers will find themselves truly inspired after reading Shift. It is an eloquently written self-discovery book that will totally engross the reader. One really unique quality of this book is how one chapter describes what is currently happening in Chris’ life and the next chapter relapses to the bike trip that he and Win took. This novel is filled with outstanding characters, heartbreak, and mystery. Although it is not a classic whodunit mystery, readers will continue to question what happened to Win and Win and Chris’ friendship until the last page is turned. Jennifer Bradbury created a stunning debut novel that makes the reader really cherish the friendships they have and encourages them to take any given opportunity. I highly recommend this book to all readers regardless of age, gender, or genre preference. I think everyone will be able to pull something out of this novel. I whole-heartedly loved this book and look forward to more books from the author!”

Tasha S wrote this review Wednesday, July 30, 2008. ( reply | permalink )