Book Review: Rush Me by Allison Parr

At First Sight: Rachel Hamilton is living the post-grad dream in New York City, or at least attempting to as she tries to land a paid position in publishing and have fun with her friends. 

One night while out at a party with a friend, she ends up crashing a different party by mistake, and walks into the world of the New York Leopards - a famous American football team she's completely clueless about, since she doesn't follow sports at all.

At the party she meets Ryan Carter, one of the league's most beloved quarterbacks, and they don't get off to the most auspicious start. But then, Rachel ends up becoming a pet of sorts to the rest of the team, and is basically adopted by Abe - a rookie player who misses his family in California, and who attaches himself to Rachel since she's the only jewish person he knows in NYC. 

Little by little, Ryan and Rachel start to spend time together and change their impressions of each other, but things are never easy when you thrown fame and indecision into the mix. 

Second Glance: Rush Me was a fun little contemporary (it's not very long at all, clocking about 240 pages in all), but it has quite a nice pace that allow the story to move on without feeling very rushed. However, sometimes it seemed like there were scenes missing - like, where did everyone got Rachel's phone number? and Ryan and Rachel go from not really talking much at all, to him letting her spend the night at his house - and that was perhaps one of my biggest problems with the book.  

The other problem I had is that Ryan and Rachel fight over the silliest things, to the point where I did face-palm a few times, and kept thinking they both had a lot of growing up to do - on one hand it made sense because Rachel is like 23 and Ryan about 26 or so, but on the other hand it really annoyed me sometimes. 

But, other than that, the book was actually lots of fun to read, the writing was good and the characters engaging. I liked Ryan and Rachel, and Abe and the other people of their world and I do look forward to the next book by the author, since she does a great job of portraying the chemistry between the characters. 

Bottom Line: I really hope my review doesn't sound negative, because I don't really have negative feelings toward Rush Me, it was fun and easy to read and had likable characters all around. Sometimes it was a little surreal but that was about it. 

1/2

Book Review: Eleanor & Park by Rainbow Rowell

At First Sight: The year is 1986 and Park Sheridan was riding the bus to school when a new girl came on. She's big, redheaded and awkward... and no one wants to let her sit; so Park does.

He isn't happy about it, and he isn't gracious - he was quite happy flying under the bullies radar, somewhat protected by the fact he has been next-door-neighbor to Chief Bully since they were kids and that they are sort of friends but not really - but he does what's right.

Eleanor doesn't know what to think, and she isn't exactly gracious about Park's offer. But from then on they share their bus rides, mostly in awkward silence, until Park realizes that Eleanor is reading his comics over his shoulder, and that they both love music.

And they start to fall in love, regardless of how much as their Real Lives try to make it stop. 

Second Glance: I loved Rainbow Rowell's previous offering; Attachements, and Eleanor and Park just blew me out of the park. From the moment I started there was no stoping for me. Both of them felt so young and so alive and I loved the 80's references - and props to Ms. Rowell for making the book full of 86' references without making it dated.

Anyway, Eleanor and Park are really the stars of the book in equal measures. Both of them have family issues though in very different ways: Eleanor has trouble with her mom's new husband who's crazy and sometimes violent; Park is the product of a Great Love Affair between his parents (his dad is a war vet, his mom from South Korea) and often feels like he doesn't measure up to the ideas his father has of manhood.

It was awesome to see the contrast between both their families, Eleanor's is harsh and everyone is kind of out to get their own. Park's, whoever imperfect, was full of love. Even his parents were still totally in love and it was sweet to read about it. I loved Park's parents. They were decent people and they wanted their kids to be happy.

Also, the author totally played with my emotions near the end, I was all "what? this is how its it going to end? there aren't that many pages left" but she totes managed to turn it around and I was like "OMG!! I'm so happy!!! SQUEEEEEE!!!"* 

Bottom Line: Other than I loved Eleanor and Park, go read it, the hype is totally granted and everyone should read Rainbow Rowell's books? I got nothing. Totally recommend. 

Favorite Quote: There are so many!
"Lame and fantastic?"
"Those are your middle names."

"Eleanor wouldn't try to stop her, no matter what; she was a guest in this garage. She'd eaten this woman's food and manhandled her son - she was in no position to argue."

"I want to break that song into pieces, and love them all to death."

*Actual reaction.

Meg-A-Reders 2013

Hello everyone!!

Just writing this post as my official sign up for the Meg-A-Readers Blog Hop hosted - for the second year in a row - by Mandy @ The Romance and and Diana @ Little Miss Drama Queen!

I'm really excited! I participated last year but this one I wasn't sure because of my work load, but I said, what the heck! It's Meg Cabot!!

Anyway!!
I hope to do a couple of reviews (on of the PD series 10 years later, and another of the second book in the Abandon trilogy, which I have yet to read!!!!)

If anyone else is interested in participating or following the event, check out Mandy's post

Speed Date: Big Girl Panties by Stephanie Evanovich

The Plot: If it weren't because he was desperate to get back home, Logan Montgomery wouldn't have found himself seating in Coach next to Holly Brennan. Never a skinny girl - and having gained a lot of weight in the last couple of years - Holly isn't happy to be seating next to a man who would give Adonis a run for his money.

But they get talking a little on the flight from Toronto to New Jersey and Logan decides he's going to help her lose the extra weight; since he is a really famous personal trainer to various pro athletes, after all. Holly isn't sure at first, but soon decides that it's time she started moving on and gaining her life back, starting with losing all the extra weight she put on while taking care of her late husband Bruce.

Soon enough, Logan and Holly strike an easy friendship, as they throw themselves into Holly's fitness quest. And, as time passes, their friendship deepens and they become something of a fixture in each other's lives. But neither of them is quite prepared for the attraction that grows beween them as Holly's weight begins to drop bit by bit, and they spend more and more time together. 

First Date: Oh, Logan! You're a bit of a jerk but at least you're honest. I like that. Holly you're determined, I like that too. And I kind of like the stuff Logan says about fitness and wellness, he's very professional about his work as a personal trainer. 

Second Date: Finally! It took you forever to get it together, Holly and Logan!!! *Sigh* Also, I like Chase and Amanda, but I don't see the point of going so in detail about their sex lives, and relationship they got absolutely no conflict between them, it's distracting. 

Third Date: And now, y'all start acting silly. Still I enjoyed getting to know you guys. 

Relationship Status: On Probation.

I really liked the book over all, but the third date was a bit of a bust. It felt like the author wasn't sure how or where to end the story, so the ending felt both a little abrupt and a little long-winded, if that's possible.

But, as I said, I did like the book a lot, it was so much fun to read. 

2/3

What's a Book Speed Date, you ask? It's a quickie review--about 150 words or so--of any genre book (variety is the spice of life, after all).

If you want to join in or just read other speed date reviews, check out The Book Swarm

PS -Sorry, I'm a day late.
PSS - Thanks to the publisher for the review copy via Edelweiss

Book Review: Taking the Cake (Confectionately Yours #2)

At First Sight: Hayley is still trying to adjust to all the changes in her life, like moving in with her grandma and having to share a room with her little sister Chloe, like the fact her dad has a girlfriend and it's getting pretty serious; and her two longest friendships seem to be at a weird place.

But there are also some good things in Hayley's life: Devon, her crush, seems to be acting flirty, she found a good friend in classmate Meghan, and sometimes it seems like Marco (one of those long-standing friendships) is coming around.

Yet, things start going a little crazy in her life as Thanksgiving approaches, and her Dad announces they are going to meet his girlfriend's parents, tilting her world again. 

Second Glance: I wasn't sure what to write as the summary for Taking the Cake because in some ways nothing much happens and if I tell you I kind of tell you the whole plot of the book. Basically, it continues where Save the Cupcake! left off as Hayley keeps narrating her life as she navigates middle school.

I loved every bit of it.

I really like Hayley, she worries and she's a good friend but she's not above some jealousy now and then or wanting things to stay the same. It takes her a while to appreciate good changes but she usually gets there.

In Taking the Cake, she grows up a little more, does things that she isn't sure of - with mixed results - and bakes a lot of cupcakes. 

Bottom Line: Confectionately Yours is an adorable series and Taking the Cake a really nice adition to it! It works like just the best brain candy you could ever imagine and it's fun to boot, plus I love reading about Hayley's recipes for cupcakes. 

Favorite Quote: "It might be a bad idea... but what good is a friend if she won't get behind your bad ideas?"

2/3