Between Here and Forever by Elizabeth Scott

This book was really not like anything I expected, least of all like anything I expected to read from Elizabeth Scott. But, that's not necessarily a bad thing, but not necessarily a good thing either.

Although the heroine was annoyingly insecure, it was impossible to not let her steal your heart as you watch her blossom from a (figuratively) ugly duckling to a (inwardly) beautiful swan.

Elizabeth Scott touched on some sensitive topics in this one, which I praise her for. But, I'm not really sure that I enjoyed this one as much as her previous novels. A lot of mixed feelings on this one.

Management Skills by January Rowe

 

*Hello followers. I just want to say that I am truly sorry for how late this review is. I know that this review was supposed to be up days ago, but I just got really busy. So, here it is.

I am a big fan of erotic fiction, but I often find that a lot of the books in the genre are too extreme and unrealistic for me, and this was one of them. Usually, I'm not a fan of Dominance/Submission, and that still hasn't changed. Also, one might find this novel a bit lacking in character development and maybe depth (but I guess this was as deep as an erotic romance novel could get). But despite all of this, I still enjoyed this one. This novel is definitely on my list of bawdy aphrodisiacs.

Nightlight: A Parody by Harvard Lampoon

My thoughts: Was I the only one who found this novel hilarious? I guess I'm just among the little few who loved this book. I'm a big fan of parodies, so maybe that contributed to my love for this novel? Or maybe it was just the writing itself? Maybe it was just the creativity of it? Because, with parodies there are just so many possibilities. It's kind of like with genes: there's was a one in a million chance that we'd be living the lives that we are living now, and we were all that one in a million. Stephanie Meyer could have been born with my life and personality, and vice versa. But, Stephanie Meyer is Stephanie Meyer, and I'm me. Am I making any sense? No? Okay, well anyway there were just so many different ways this book could've gone, but I think the author chose the right direction.

Wherever You Go by Heather Davis

"Seventeen-year-old Holly Mullen has felt lost and lonely ever since her boyfriend, Rob, died in a tragic accident. The fact that she has to spend most of her free time caring for her little sister and Alzheimer’s-stricken grandfather doesn’t help. But Holly has no idea that as she goes about her days, Rob’s ghost is watching over her. He isn’t happy when he sees his best friend, Jason, reach out to help Holly with her grandfather—but as a ghost, he can do nothing to stop it. Is his best friend really falling for his girlfriend? 
As Holly wonders whether to open her heart to Jason, the past comes back to haunt her. Her grandfather claims to be communicating with the ghost of Rob. Could the messages he has for Holly be real? And if so, how can the loved ones Rob left behind help his tortured soul make it to the other side?
Told from the perspectives of Holly, Jason, and Rob, Wherever You Go is is a poignant story about making peace with the past, opening your heart to love, and finding the courage to move forward into the light."


I truly did enjoy this book. So much so that I finished it within four hours. I mean, what's not to love? A love triangle between a ghost boy, aforementioned ghost boy's best friend, and his girlfriend? Makes for an interesteing story, doesn't it? Of course, that's not all it was. It was more than just a romance. Wherever You Go was about moving on and letting go, and just grieving in general. Anyone who has ever lost someone will relate to Holly and Jason, and even Rob's family.


Here's a warning: if you're going to read this (which you most definitely should!), have some tissues handy, because this one is a tear jerker. But, it wasn't a complete downer, which is what I loved about it. It had it's sad moments (which were actually quite frequent) and then it had it's sweet moments, and, sometimes, it even had it's funny moments.


Another thing I loved about this book was how it was written. Told from three different points of view, the author told each character's story from the 1st, 2nd, and 3rd person. Rob's POV was in the 2nd person (which was my favorite, as I had never before read anything written in the 2nd person), Holly's POV was writen in the 1st person, and Jason's was written in the 3rd person. You could tell Heather Davis was obviously skilled in all three types of writing. Overall, I give this one 4/5 stars.
  

Just to keep You Updated: Upcoming Reviews

Wherever You Go

Expected Review Date: COMPLETED

Between Here and Forever

Expected review date: COMPLETED

Boyfriends with Girlfriends

Sixteenth Summer

Putting Makeup on Dead People

Girl Wonder

*For Mature Audiences* A Marriage Of Inconvenience* 

*For Mature Audiences* The Outlaw Bride

*For Mature Audiences*  Management Skills

Expected review date: COMPLETED

* The expected review dates are not permanent. Sometimes, I may run a little behind on my reading, so the expected review dates may change. Only a very select few books on the Upcoming Review list have expected review dates, for the simple reason that those books are usually the ones I want to read the most. The ones with no expected review date listed are usually ones I'm either indifferent about reading or just ones I'm not sure when I'll have the time to read. However, all books on Upcoming Review lists will be read and reviewed within (at the most) one month.

What Can't Wait by Ashley Hope Perez

I have to be honest: when I first read the description for this book, I was kind of hesitant to read it. But, I decided to read it anyway. And this is the first time I've ever been glad that I second guessed myself. 

Lately, I've been reading a lot of crap books, but this was not one of them. The characters were so realistic (which you have to both love and hate). Also, the heroine, Marisa, was just so strong and brave. She's one character who I can look up to. No matter how tough things got for her, she never gave up (even though she sometimes wanted to). 

Marisa's teacher once quoted to her: "Don't ask for an easier life; ask to be a stronger person." And that's exactly what Marisa did. When things were tough at home, she kept on going. When she fell, she got back up again (but most of the time, only after licking her wounds a bit). 

Let's face it: life is hard. But the way I see it, the harder the life, the stronger the person. Marisa Moreno is a great example of this. And, she made it. She succeeded because she didn't give up. 

I just think that this book is really inspirational (even though it's fiction) for young girls, especially ones who come from backgrounds like Marisa's. 

"Our greatest glory is not in never failing, but in rising up every time we fail" - Ralph Waldo Emerson

We'll Always Have Summer by Jenny Han

Excerpt: There are moments in a girl's life that are bigger than we know at the time. When you look back, you say, that was one of those life-changing, fork-in-the-road moments and I didn't even see it coming. I had no idea. And then there are the moments that you know are big. That whatever you do next, there will be an impact. Your life could go one of two directions. Do or die.




For those of you who have read the previous two books, we know that Belly's story left off with her and Jeremiah about to cross the more than friends line (and not to mention the epilogue that foreshadowed Belly's wedding, which left us with many questions, including: Belly and who's wedding?). Now, nearly two years later, Belly (who now goes by Isabel)  and Jeremiah are in love and going strong; they even attend the same college. But is everything as peachy as it seems? Turns out the answer to that question is no. 


When Belly discovers that Jeremiah has been keeping a big secret from her (and yes I'm referring to "the worst mistake a boy can make"), she flips. She's angry (and I don't blame her for it), but not for too long. She loves him too much to stay mad at him. And Jeremiah loves her too much to stand losing her. Which is why Jere pops the question during their reconciliation, and also why Belly says yes. Of course, neither of their parents are too happy about this engagement. In fact, Laurel's disapproval nearly destroys she and Belly's relationship. As for the siblings, they aren't as blatant about their disapproval, even though I know Conrad would have liked to kick Jere's arse for being so selfish and immature (and not to mention the fact that Jeremiah's trying to marry "his girl"). 


As their wedding day nears, Belly seems to have more and more doubts about getting married. But she quickly pushes them away, convinced that her and Jere are meant to be together. That is, until Conrad confesses to Belly that he is still in love with her and has in fact never stopped loving her. After that, she can no longer deny her feelings (at least to herself) for him. But nonetheless, she blows up at his confession,, angry at his bad timing.


No one can deny that Belly loves both Jeremiah and Conrad. But what's a girl to do when she's in love with two guys who happen to be brothers, one of which she happens to be engaged to? Who will Belly choose? You'll have to read to find out. ;)




My thoughts: As a few reviewers have already said, the third novel lacked the relaxing-summer-ish feel of the first two books. But, I have to admit that I did  like this one better than the other two for the simple fact that it contained chapters from Conrad's POV. If I were Team Jeremiah, the second book would have been my favorite of the three, considering the fact that it contained chapters from Jere's POV. But alas, I am Team Conrad because, as all we Team Conrad members know, Conrad is just awesome and it doesn't get any awesomer than Conrad! Anyway, back to the book! So, I have to say that I was only mildly satisfied with the ending. While it was the ending I'd hoped for, it kind of felt bittersweet. I'm not quite sure why, but that's just how it felt to me. 


I saw a different side of everyone in this novel, that's for sure. For Belly, it was her immature side (okay, I know I've seen this side of her dozens of times, but it really stood out to me this time. Sometimes I just wanted to smack her upside the head with a shoe and see if she could possibly get any dumber); for Jere, it was his douche baggy/immature side (although I still love him); for Conrad it was his caring and loving side (basically, I was able to see the REAL Conrad); for Stephen it was his more protective/sensitive/caring side; for Adam Fisher it was his fatherly side; and for Laure it was her protective side. 


Overall, I have to say that I liked this one a lot; I almost loved it, but I wasn't quite there. Jenny Han has done it again. I give it a 4/5.