Winner of Target GC

Wendi P-- she has been contacted and has 48 hrs to get back to me. Thanks for playing and be sure to enter the Swanky Paper Giveaway.

Friday Ramdomness

Well this week was the Blue & Gold dinner and my ds got a kit for the Pinewood Derby car. He is very excited to build it...Can you guess his theme  for the Car ??? Those who know my son--already have some idea...

Been busy with getting all the paperwork together for K's  Kindergarden registration

Taking A out to Red Robin because this month she got the HONESTY award in her class.

My kids and I are all excited to go see Amy and new little baby, along with the rest of the family.

Our Taxes are done ..

** Winner of the Ecostore Giveaway is Belinda M

Jekel Loves Hyde-- Book Review

Jill Jekel has always obeyed her parent's rules--especially the about never opening the mysterious old box in her father's office.But when her dad is murdered and her college savings disappear, this good girl is tempted to peek inside, because the contents just might be key to winning a lucrative chemistry scholorship.


To better her odd, Jill enlist the help of gorgeoouse , brooding Tristen Hyde, who has his own dark secrets locked away.As the team of Jekel and Hyde, they recreate experiments based on the classic novel , hoping not only to win the prize but to save Tristan's sanity.( Back of the book)



This is my first time reading this young adult novel and after reading this book..I wanted to read her other book I had on hand. Jessica Guide to Dating the darkside..



Jill is smart and good girl and Tristen is english, bad boy..and they are both in Chemistry class. Most books seem to have science class has a meeting point ...but this book kept them both in lab and using Chemistry with Chemistry. I do like that it dealt with Jekyl/Hyde and many times it brought up the original book and I loved how it showed the Geneology of the families and notes from both sides of the families of Hyde/Jekel. Jill is an artist and Tristan plays the piano.



Tristan has some secrets that he is keeping from Jill. Jill wants to help him with his issues. I did love that Jill wanted to be a bad girl and wanted to be like Tristan.



Tristan at times wanted to embrace the bad side and do more than making out with Jill. I liked how the author made this to bad choice and something that should be when couples are engaged or married, but I also noticed with the characters it was something that they wanted to do.



I didn't like that Jill is like the parent at times..taking care of her mother, paying bills. Where as Tristan has a very over bearing Dad at times.



As a parent , I liked it and it would be something to discuss with my daughter.


Overall I liked the concept of this book and dealing with Jekel/Hyde. This is a cute young adult novel and it comes out in May 2010.



Book Review= 4



Thanks to Aroundtheworld book for the book and this is my Honest Review



I liked it so I have started reading her other book--Jessica Guide to dating on the darkside and finished it all ready.

Firespell -- BWB Review

As the new girl at the elite St. Sophia's boarding school, Lily Parker thinks her classmates are the most monstrous things she'll have to face.

When Lily's Guardians decided to send her away to a fancy boarding school in Chicago, she was shocked. So was St.Sophia's . Lily's ultra rich brat pack classmates think Lily should be the punchline to every joke, and on top of that, she's hearing strange noises and seeing bizarre things in the shadows of the creepy building.

The only thing keeping her sane is her roommate , scout, but even Scout's a little weird -- she keeps disappearing late at night and won't tell Lily where she's been. But when a prank leaves Lily trapped in the catacombs beneath the school, Lily find Scout running from a real monster( Goodreads.com )

I had read an adult novel by the same author previously. I did love her worlds that she does create for adults and teens.

I enjoyed the friendship of Lily and Scout. I could also see the relationships of love between Lily and Shepherd, and Scout and Michael. I liked Scout and Lesley as friends to Lily as navigates her 2 years at St. Sophia's school.

I enjoyed them working as a team and it reminded me of the Buffy gang or Scobby do Mysteries. This book has many 80's references like brat pack, mentioning of Reo Speed wagon. I did see Gilmore Girls and Sex and the City references. I kept wondering how old Scout was because the 80's references were odd, but liked her quirks and loved that she helped out in the community with the junior varsity and loved that there was variety of skills and people ...want to learn more about the team.

What I don't like is a girl being on her own at a boarding school and her parents are keeping secrets from her. I wanted to know more about the Parents and what they are doing , or there responsibility to Team.

I liked that Lily would do all that she could to save her friend whether she had any powers at all because that's friends do in times of need.

Book Review=4

BWB=4

I would let my daughter read this book if she wanted too.

This is my own book and my Honest review.

Questions: Lily & Jason-- what does the next book holds for them?? starting a new romantic relationship with dating/ and dealing with demons all the while being teenagers and going to school-- reminds me of Buffy Summers, curious if he bites her mmmmm

Lily & Scouts Friendship has a lot of secrets , so in the end who did you relate to lily or scout ?? What about Lesley or Veronica ? Would you hang out with the Brat pack or be the loner?? I think I tended to relate to Scout with her being so different in High School. But there are times I see myself wanting to be always studying like Lesley and helping my friends out  and studying , and there times I'm sure we all wanted to hang with the popular kids ...I know at times I did. I think I could relate to the girls because there was a part of me in the book.

What do you think of the overwhelming trend in YA lit , where the parents are either dead, shipping kids off to boarding schools? Do you think this is a real look at parents today and what teens are dealing with ?? As a Parent ..I don't like it, because if the parents don't know how to raise or deal with the children that they created or their short comings in raising them..sorta a pet peeve right with as many books doing this from Fallen, Twilight, etc. But as a teenager I can remember at times I thought my parents didn't understand me or my problems, and I can see why it Lit that stories do this. It creates drama and a teenager having to grow up, and face adult challenges.

Follow up parental question: Authors employ the missing parents to mature their teenage protagonist. The protagonist doesn't have the option to act as an irresponsible teen , because they do not have any parent supervision. Did you find Lily behavior normal for a teenager , or more mature ?? I actually found Lily to be more normal -- Granted she found out that she has a power..but she didn't whine too much which is refreshing. I also thought that the school was better on patrolling when students misbehaving or sent into the office. I think that knowing Lily family history and parents friendship with the Principal , she was chosen to live with Scout, Lesley, and Veronica. I actually enjoyed this writer and how she deals with characters. 

Whisper -- Book review

Joy is used to Hearing Whispers-- to walking down the street and instantly knowing people's deepest , darkest desires. She uses this talent for good, to make people happy and give them what they want.But for her older sister Jessica, the family gift is curse ans she uses it to make people's lives --especially Joy's miserable. Still when Joy Hears a mysterious and frightening Whisper from Jessica's own mind, she knows she has to save her sister, even it it means running away with a boy she barely knows--a boy who may have a dark secret of his own.( Back of the book).

This book was a fast read for me. This is a Young adult novel.

I was happy to see a family trying to solve the problem- not just a girl doing it all by herself.

I loved that it showed sisters with abilities and what can happen , whether good and bad and those choices.

I loved that there was some romance between some characters and then even more secrets are to be uncovered.

Joy does all that she help her sister even when they get into a huge fight at school. In this family all the girls have the gift.

I loved this book...and love the characters, and loved seeing a family work together because seeing that is pretty rare in books.

I would let my daughter read this book and talk about it.

Book Review=4


This book comes out in May and thanks to aroundtheworldtour for the book and this is my Honest review.

When Mike Kissed Emma-Book Review

Emma Landon has a plan she's going to be in the high school musical and sing the most romantic song possible to her boyfriend.She's not looking for the lead, just a decent part where she and Trevor can dance on stage.The Plan starts to unravel when she gets the starring role, and playing opposite her is not her perfect boyfriend, but the school loner, Biker Mike.When Mike kisses Emma at the school dance, everything changes. ( Back of the book)

What a cute young adult novel. I could totally relate because I did a play in high school.

Emma -- telling the story

Mike-- loner, also in play

Trevor-- boyfriend and in play

It was nice to see a family in a book and siblings sticking up for each other. Emma is trying for the part of Liesel in the musical -- Sound of Music but ends up as Maria. Biker Mike is a loner and tries out for the play too and he gets the lead of Captain Von Trap.

This was a great book about friendships, and getting to know someone in high school. Its amazing how perceptions of people change once you get to know them. I think that true in any relationship . This was a fast read for me, but Loved the cover and story. Its a cute story and I would recommend my daughter to read this book.

Book Review=4

Thanks to Aroundtheworld Book tour for the book and this is my Honest Review.

Wanachi/Target Giveaway

Have you ever wanted to make your own Chinese food at home ? Well you can make it with Wanchai Ferry.

I Have made this product before and its very easy to do and to make it in less than 14 minutes. Its now in the frozen food section now.

Coupon for $1.50

I'm Giving away a Prize pack of :

$25 GC to Target

VIP coupon for Wanchai Ferry Entree

Asian inspired rice bowls

chopsticks

bamboo place mats

Giveaway Question-- Whats your favorite Chinese food ??? Contest goes 2/28

Thanks to myblogspark and Wanchai Ferry for giving me this opportunity to participate in this giveaway, and I'm also receiving the same prize pack.