Book Review: I heart you, You haunt me by Lisa Schroeder

Title: I heart you, You haunt me

Author: Lisa Schroeder

Genre: Young Adult

Pages:  227

Publisher: Simon Pulse

Year Published: 2008

First Line: “I’ve never been to a funeral until today.”

“Girl meets boy.

Girl loses boy.

Girl gets boy back…

                                …sort of.

Ava can’t see or touch him,

Unless she’s dreaming.

She can’t hear his voice except for the faint whispers I her mind.

Most would think she’s crazy, but she know he’s here.

Jackson.

The boy Ava thought she’d spend the rest of her life with.

He’s back from the dead,

As proof that love truly knows no bounds.”

My Rating: 4/5

I never thought I would enjoy a book in poetry stance so much. It makes the story more dramatic. I love that time seems to be moving slower (in a good way) I feel like I got to know Ava. And that’s something that makes me truly happy. I feel that real authors are able to get across just who there characters are and we as readers can see them in our mind.

I also think that the themes in this novel were impressive. I think that as young adults death is something really hard to deal with. Not only if we’re directly affected but also if we know a friend who is going through the grieving process. We try to follow social norms but it is an awkward topic. I’d say more awkward than the sex talk.

Finally the suspense in this book wasn’t all that great, and for me that’s where it lost it’s one star. All an all a great weekend read.

THANK YOU LISA SCHROEDER FOR SHOWING GRIEVING IN IT’S FULL FORM!

Thanks for reading,

Love,

Sidny xoxo

Spoiler: I heart you, You haunt me by Lisa Schroeder

I really have started to enjoy novels that use a poetry based form for writing. They are a quick, hard hitting read and perfect for this weekend. I think that this book tackles the idea of grieving more than supernatural afterlives, which I didn’t expect, but it was important that they talked about it as mentioned above. I did like that they used a ghost but it wasn’t just about ghosts. Sometimes that just too much for me to handle especially since the last book I read had a ghost concept in it as well. I guess the next most important thing to talk about is…

♥Characters♥

♥Ava: From the start as a reader we feel sorry for Ava. She had her first love and she didn’t just break up with him, he died. And at the tender age of 15 dealing with love in itself is hard never mind the death of someone you love. I think that she didn’t know how to deal with something so serious and so she found comfort in Jackson’s ghost. I was happy to see her come out of her shell at the end and let go. After all it wasn’t her fault.

♥Jackson: So we never really meet him except in ghost form and though it seems that he is really is there, who can be certain. I think he must have really loved Ava and maybe they could have made it work if it hadn’t been for the accident. I also don’t think that he ever blamed her for daring him. I think he blamed himself for going along with it even thought it was so dangerous. If anything that’s certainly why he stuck around so long.

♥Cali: She seems like a sweet friend and she tries her best to help Ava through this tough time, but like most teenagers she just doesn’t quite know how.

♥Lyric: Awesome name, first off! And secondly I think that he really did like Ava, but first off she wasn’t ready to try again with someone so soon and secondly she made the choice that her friendship with Cali was more important. Thank goodness. Hopefully he finds someone.

♥Moment to Remember♥

♥Pg. 178

“’Was it hard?’ I ask. ‘Letting go?’

‘Not as hard as holding on to something that wasn’t real.’

I gulp ‘Can I ask how you did it?’

‘I just decided, Ava. That’s all. I just decided.’”

♥Last Line: “I am hopeful.”

Thanks for reading,

Love,

Sidny xoxo

Book Review: Liv, Forever by Amy Talkington

Title: Liv, Forever

Author: Amy Talkington

Genres: Young Adult, Fantasy, Paranormal

Pages: 288

Publisher: Soho Press

Date To Be Published: March 2014

“When Liv Bloom lands an art scholarship at Wickham Hall, it’s her ticket out of the foster system. Liv isn’t sure what to make of the school’s weird traditions and rituals, but she couldn’t be happier—especially when Malcolm Astor, fellow artist and scion of one of the school’s original families, starts falling for her. Fellow scholarship kid Gabe Nichols warns her not to get involved with a “Wicky,” but things are finally going Liv’s way, and all she wants to do is enjoy it.
But Liv’s bliss is cut short when she is viciously murdered. In death, she discovers that she’s the latest victim of a dark conspiracy that spans 150 years and many, many lives. Gabe, cursed with the ability to see their ghosts, turns out to be Liv’s only link to the world of the living.
Liv must rely on Gabe’s help to prove to Malcolm that she’s still present… lingering with the other spirits. Together, Liv, Gabe, and Malcolm fight to expose the terrible truth that haunts the halls of Wickham before more lives are lost.”

-Goodreads.com

My Rating: 4.5/5

So this book review and spoiler are going to be a little bit different. This book was sent to me through a giveaway from www.goodreads.com (Thanks so much goodreads folks) and so it hasn’t yet been published and out. I was instructed that I can not give quote from this book so I will be unable to do memorable moments but I will try my best to do my normal things without interfering with out instructions.

Now to the point. This book was a really interesting thriller about the secrets of boarding schools. It was exciting and grabbed my attention. I think the way that supernaturals played a role in this book was the main reason I liked it. I’m not a huge fan of on going romance but this one just felt right. I feel like I got to experience part of boarding school for myself.  The only thing I didn’t enjoy was the ending. I felt like it was just to abrupt and made me wonder if there will be another book. I’d be interested in seeing the next step

THANK YOU AMY TALKINGTON FOR GIVING READERS A PIECE OF BOARDING SCHOOL PLUS SOME SUPERNATURAL AWESOMENESS!

Thanks for reading,

Love,

Sidny xoxo

Spoiler: Liv, Forever by Amy Talkington

So this book wasn’t at all what I expected. And I mean that in the best way possible. I love the idea that a boarding school has a secret society and that they’re pretty seriously evil. That just made me extremely happy. I loved the whole setting really. The way that the ghosts were at the places they had died made the book far more interesting because we got to see so much more of the campus. What kind of campus has a nature preserve by the way, oh yah, an AWESOME ONE!

♥Characters♥

♥Olivia: I think she’s a really sweet girl who has a very tough time in life. I was upset that we didn’t find out who her birth mother was. I definitely thought that that was the direction this book was gonna take. But instead she died. Which was just sad. But it was a pretty amazing story. The way that they solved the mystery. So great! I did like that everything she talked about included comparing it to a painting. I think we all have that one little thing that we compare our lives with. Whether it be movies, books or in this case painting.

♥Gabe: Love him simply because he’s an outcast. And he sees ghosts. That’s pretty cool. I do wonder what happened to his brother though.

♥Malcolm: He seems like a good guy and I thought that he was too nice. You know what I mean, like obviously he was the murderer. And then this awesome thing happened where he wasn’t. Although he was about to get inducted as the murder’s president which is pretty creepy in itself. I did like him closer to the end as he stood up to his father. I hope he moves on though. It’s great that he fell in love, but they were so young.

♥Kent: How did he even think that murdering is ok. Or that he shouldn’t tell anyone that it was going on over and over and over.  Madness! I don’t think he should have had to die, but still.

♥The Ghosts: They have different stories but all so similarly depressing. They were all innocent and had no reason to die.

Unfortunately I can’t include Memorable Moments for the simple reason that this book has not yet been released and I was reading the unedited version. But a huge thanks to www.goodreads.com for the give away!

Thanks for reading,
Love,

Sidny xoxo

Book Review: Family Storms by V.C Andrews

Title: Family Storms

Author: V.C Andrews

Series: Storms (Book #1)

Genre: Young Adult

Pages: 378

Year Published: 2011

Publisher: Pocket Star Books

First Line: “‘We gotta move,’ Mama said.”

“Living on the streets with her destitute mother, selling knickknacks and trinkets just to survive, Sasha Porter dreams of someday having a normal life, with a real house and family. But never dreamed a devastating tragedy would bring her those very things: on a stormy night by a rain spattered highway a speeding car veers out of control striking and killing her mother and badly injuring Sasha

In the hospital, Sasha is whisked off to a fancy private suit at the request of wealthy Mrs. Jordan March, a complete stranger who keeps watch by Sasha’s bedside and insists she come live at her family’s sprawling, luxurious mansion. Sasha soon learns Mrs. March never recovered from the loss of her daughter Alena, and with nowhere else to go, Sasha agrees to use Alena’s room, sleep in her bed, and wear her clothes. But someone will make sure that Sasha never takes Alena’s place: a jelous sister dead set on making Sasha’s life a living hell.”

My Rating: 4/5

I’ll mention first that this rating might not be what it once was as this is the second time I’ve read this book. Also V.C Andrews is one of my favourite authors so if you don’t enjoy her books normally, I doubt that this will be one that you like much either.

One great thing about a V.C Andrews book is that you can sit there after reading part of it and just simply wonder “Who thinks that way?” or “Who would make that the basis of book?” But you are never left without some kind of surprise while reading her books. Suspense and thrilling twists and turns are key. This book did not disappoint.

I would probably suggest this book for someone in there later teenage years so probably 16+ simply because of the content and how scarring it might be for younger people, but then again sometimes that depends on your maturity.

All in all this is a great book with a thrilling ending. Can’t wait to pick up Cloudburst and start reading it.

Thanks for reading,

Love,

Sidny xoxo

Spoiler: Family Storms by VC Andrews

As mentioned above this is not the first time I’ve read this book and the main reason that I reread it is so that I can finally get to the second one. I have wanted to read it for a while but kept on forgetting what happened in the first book. So tadah! One down and one to go. As in most V.C Andrews book there is thrills and unexpected twists around every corner and this one didn’t disappoint.

The events in this book grab the readers attention and force us to listen to Sasha’s point of view. But I think the best way to talk about that is under this lovely characters tab.

♥Characters♥

♥Sasha: To be homeless so young is a scary thought, but it is a reality for many. I think that she has a tragic role in this book and I hope that the next book will give us some insight on her foster family. Because they seem kinda nutty. She seems like a good kid, who just really wants to fit and be normal and for such a long time she’s been anything but. She’s been a homeless little girl, following her crazed mother. When her mother ended up dead it was sad enough, but for the mother of the girl driving the car (Mrs. March) to then offer her a home is just beyond bizarre. In real life that’s not really even a passing thought. I hope that things turn out for the best for her and that she doesn’t end up pregnant, but God only knows.

♥Mrs. March: It’s really to bad that her youngest died so young, but to constantly dreg her up and ignore the daughter that you still have doesn’t seem to make sense to me. Jordan (Mrs. March) still has Kiera. She probably wouldn’t be so spoiled if she didn’t have to constantly fight for attention.

♥Kiera: She’s a spoiled kid, but more than that she is someone who just wants so attention and to be noticed for a change. First she was competing with her sister, then her dead sister and now a stranger off the street. That can’t be a confidence booster of any form. But to do what she did to Sasha? That’s evil and wrong on whole new levels that I can’t even imagine. She’s a scheming one. Have to see how her character unfolds in the next book.

♥Mr. March: He seems like a nice enough guy. Making a nice living for his family (nice being a huge understatement) but maybe after all that has happened with Kiera he’ll realize that she needs some help and more than that love from both her parents. Not just love but rules. That could be a good solution.

♥Ricky: I’m not sure if we’ll see more of him in the next book or if he’ll just fade into the background, but what he did wasn’t right. I understand peer pressure, but to rape someone? What the heck!?!

♥Moments to Remember♥

♥Pg. 199

“’Did you eat with chopsticks? I hate it. It takes too long to eat. My fingers are too fat and clumsy, anyways.’

 ‘We didn’t eat with chopsticks at home,’ I said. ‘But always in an Asian restaurant. You shouldn’t eat fast, anyway. It’s not good for you.

‘Oh, are you one of those health nuts?’

‘No,’ I said. ‘I’m just nuts.’”

♥Pg. 377

“’I’m not going to say I’m sorry, if that’s what you’re waiting to hear.’

‘That’s all right. I can wait. Someday you will.’

‘How did you get so arrogant?’

‘I had a good teacher,’ I said.”

♥Last Line: “And before I was finished, I was certain in my heart that wherever she was, she was smiling.”

Thanks for reading,

Love,

Sidny xoxo

No I haven't forgotten about you!

I know I haven't been working on this blog as much as I have in the past but I have some pretty important personal life changes going on at the moment. I'm still reading Family Storms by V.C Andrews and hope to have a review ready by next week sometime but I make no promises.
What are these life changes you ask?
Well number one I'm switching from having two part time jobs to having one full time job as of next Friday
And number two, I'm moving out of my parents house which involves a whole lot of packing. I never knew I had so much stuff.
Finally, getting college stuff ready for the fall. Yup I'm already planning that far ahead.
So let's make a deal fellow readers,
I won't forget about you,
if you don't forget about me :)

Thanks for reading,
Love,
Sidny xoxo