What I Did For Love

What I Did for Love by Susan Elizabeth Phillips
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Like everyone else, it did feel like a fan-fiction of real life events of the whole Jennifer Aniston/Brad Pitt-Angelina Jolie debacle, but to me it didn't ruin the story. It went off on it's own from that familiar story line and I really did like it.

I haven't read a contemporary romance for a little while so perhaps it was a little refreshing to read something that wasn't that deep. It was a light read with interesting, somewhat shallow, fun characters.

I liked how Bram was so determined to make Georgie think he was the jerk he had always been. Perhaps he didn't go along with her scheme initially but once he started to think more of her than just an annoyance, he became a real cool guy. I enjoyed how their relationship grew into friendship with their easy banter and chemistry. I liked Georgie (and not just because of her name!), even though she thought of the crazy idea, but I wouldn't doubt the Hollywood elite come up with these harebrained ideas in real life!

I don't normally like when books go off and bring focus on supporting characters, but in this book it really worked. I loved Aaron's character and his total and utter opposite but hysterical relationship with Chaz. Aaron for some reason was my favorite supporting character.

Good story and several books down the line I'll read another one of Susan Elizabeth Phillips' books.

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Insurgent (Divergent #2)

Insurgent by Veronica Roth
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Ack! This is why I hate reading current series. What a cliffhanger! What an incredible ending that has me thirsting to read the next...oh man, how long will that be!?!?!?

GREAT BOOK!

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The Book Thief

The Book Thief by Markus Zusak
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Ay yi yi, I don't know what to give this book. There is no denying that narrating a book by Death was both creepy but ingenious! He narrated the book during WWII, in Molching, Germany about an orphan girl named Liesel Meminger who is sent to live with foster parents during the height of Hitlers reign. She was not Jewish nor were her foster parents, but they were sympathetic towards them. Her story starts and ends with Death but this book focuses mostly on her few years with her foster parents. From dealing with being an orphan, making friends, protecting a Jew, discovery of books, Hitler youth, bombs, she deals with a lot in her youth; a side of WWII that I had not yet read about.

I tried reading this book a year or two ago and was so confused at the beginning that I stopped reading it. It's so highly rated that when I saw an audio book version was available, I borrowed it from the library.

Once I got over the initial weirdness that started with Death's narration and what he meant by the colors of the sky upon people's deaths, then I started following it just fine. Well, I mostly understood it, but I still got lost a time or two because it jumped around so much in time and place and characters. I couldn't remember what the current topic was and would have to scan backwards to figure it out.

The narrator was fantastic. I really enjoyed his voice, the books emotions were clearly conveyed by him. But oh my stars, I was getting annoyed by all the "Jesus, Mary, and Joseph" and "Crucify Christ" exclamations. It was almost a little offending. That's the book for you though, it had a lot of swearing. It fit for the theme of the book though.

I guess as far as how much I personally liked this book, I'd give it a three. For the creativity, I'd give it a five. So I guess averaging that out, I'll give it a four. Such a strange, strange book.

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Partials (Partials #1)

Partials by Dan Wells
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Very scientific. Not much romance. I really liked it! Trying to find a cure to a virus that has wiped out 99.9% of the human race, not too hard to believe in the future and the author made it that more believable. I really enjoyed the detail of the virus and how the Partials were created and their purpose. Pretty neat concept.

I don't have much more to say, I started another book between now and when I finished it. I am really excited to read the next books in the series.

I'd say I liked this book more than Insurgent (which I'm now currently reading).

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A Heart Revealed

A Heart Revealed by Julie Lessman
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

I liked this book, but not as much as the first one. It seemed almost to get a little too carried away with drama this time.

The story was supposed to be mostly about Sean and Emma and their love story but it felt overshadowed by a few other dramatic sideshows like Sean's sister Charity and her issues with her husband Mitch. That seemed a bit too dramatic. I'm not quite sure I agreed with how Mitch handled the situation to begin with or how he dealt with it when Charity lost her temper.

Sean and Emma's love story didn't even really begin until more than half way through. I was irritated at Sean's stupidity with Rose, I mean really, can a guy really be that blind to not see Rose's ploy or how incredibly immature she was? The fact that he blamed growing up with sisters for not being able to handle Rose's tears seemed a bit ridiculous.

Then the ending was way too fast. It was a great story but I would have liked to spend more time on the Sean and Emma story line.

Anyway, other than that the book was great. I liked being able to catch up with Luke and Kate. Sean and Emma's conversations were great. I don't want to bash the book but it easily could have been five stars if the water and fire works were a bit more tamed! I would still recommend it though!

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Ready Player One

Ready Player One by Ernest Cline


Unfortunately, just not my cup of tea. I don't want to read something this slanted on politics, I want to escape reality, not have this books agenda ground it into my brain. He's a talented and creative writer though. Good luck to him!

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Bridge of Scarlet Leaves

Bridge of Scarlet Leaves by Kristina McMorris
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Fantastic! I love a book that can teach me something about history while maintaining an incredible story line.

The setting in the beginning of the book takes place in California just before the bombing of Pearl Harbor which then of course was the start of WWII. The story revolves around three main characters, Maddie Kern, her brother TJ Kern and TJ's best friend Lane Moritomo who is the son of Japanese immigrants.

Lane and Maddie fall in love but hide it from TJ. Due to Lane's Japanese heritage his parents plan to bring a bride from Japan to California for him to marry. Lane doesn't agree with all that goes along with his parent's customs so he refuses and convinces Maddie to elope with him. Nobody knows of their arrangement because interracial marriage is not only frowned upon pre-WWII, it's illegal in 30 states.

As they are having their quick weekend honeymoon in Seattle, Pearl Harbor is attacked. Lane quickly realizes whites are blaming him for Japan's bombing the United States. Maddie and Lane make haste back to California where TJ discovers what they did and demands they divorce.

When Lane returns home he finds the FBI in his house arresting his father simply because he works at a bank in California that is owned by the Japanese. Lane, his mother and sister are forced to one of the many internment camps made for those with as little as 1/16 Japanese heritage. Lane files for divorce simply to save Maddie from the embarrassment and criticism he's sure she'll suffer for being married to a Japanese man.

Maddie refuses to sign the papers and tracks Lane down to his internment camp and resides with him and his family. TJ on the other hand, he's had enough, between his sister marrying his best friend and the anger he feels for that betrayal, he joins the Army and is shipped off to the Pacific.

Lane is embarrassed of his and his families conditions, anger at the country which he loves so much, angry that Maddie is willing to sacrifice so much for him, it hurts his pride. He too joins the military for intelligence, to put his language to good use for his country. To prove himself...to find himself.

The book continues on as Maddie, Lane’s mother and sister move on to another location. Lane is also shipped to the Pacific. What effect will the war have on these three characters? Read to find out! Amazing, wonderful book.

This book is easily five stars for me. As I mentioned, a book that teaches me so much with such a fantastic story is a winner. The book was well researched and the fact that the author is the daughter of a white American mother and Japanese immigrant father gives her a lot of credit too. I have not read her other book Letters From Home, but look forward to doing so. If you liked, Hotel on the Corner of Bitter and Sweet, I can nearly guarantee that you will like this book too.


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