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Fri, March 8, 2013

Star Crossed by Jennifer Echols Review

Star Crossed
By Jennifer Echols
Publication date: Feb. 26, 2013
Pocket Books, 384 pages
Source: Borrowed! Sharing is caring, y’all!

Wendy Mann loves her job rescuing celebrities from public relations scrapes. She grew up with nothing, and now she’s drawn to glitz, glamour, and a lighthearted lifestyle. She speaks her mind, so she’s just the tough cookie to tell stars the truth about how other people see them, even when they don’t want to hear it. But after six years at the top of her game, Wendy crosses the line. A star she was sent to save rebels against her and nearly gets her fired. To salvage her job, she must rehabilitate the career of a singing starlet with a penchant for posting inappropriate photos of herself and arguing online with her famous ex. Problem is, the ex is represented by Wendy’s arch nemesis from college, the hot and haughty Daniel Blackstone. And both stars are scheduled for a collision course on national television, broadcast live from Las Vegas.

Daniel’s uneasy when he hears Wendy Mann from his firm’s most hated competitor has been brought in to revive the career of his client’s ex-girlfriend. Daniel must win at any cost. And if he has to seduce Wendy to smooth the way to their partnership, he’s willing to sacrifice himself for the cause. But Daniel doesn’t count on the scorching heat between them—and when they get to Vegas, all bets are off.

— Goodreads.com description

Okay, yeah…so it’s an adult book…but sometimes you need a little bit of adult mixed in to your reading materials ifyouknowwhatimsaying.

So I read a lot of adult books actually, I just rarely review them on the blog, but we’re going to make an exception with Star Crossed because (a) it’s by YA authoress extrodinaire Jennifer Echols and (b) I think you guys would really enjoy it.

Maybe the fact that I’ll be in Vegas for a week this month for work played a part in this — VEGAS!!! — but I loved the setting, loved the romance and just completely enjoyed every bit of this story. I’m just a bit sad I’ve read it already because it would be PERFECT reading material on the plane ride there. Drat. Poor planning, Anna. But have no fear: I’m saving you from my sad fate.

Guys, Star Crossed would make the perfect airport/vacation/beach read book. Light, easy, enjoyable. Check it out.

PS: Should I review the grownup books I read? I worry it’d be confusing. Plus, you know, I don’t want to be a bad influence on the children. HAHAHA.

Thu, January 17, 2013

Attachments by Rainbow Rowell Review

Attachments
By Rainbow Rowell
Publication date: April 14, 2011
Dutton Adult, 323 pages
Source:

Beth and Jennifer know their company monitors their office e-mail. But the women still spend all day sending each other messages, gossiping about their coworkers at the newspaper and baring their personal lives like an open book. Jennifer tells Beth everything she can’t seem to tell her husband about her anxieties over starting a family. And Beth tells Jennifer everything, period.

When Lincoln applied to be an Internet security officer, he hardly imagined he’d be sifting through other people’s inboxes like some sort of electronic Peeping Tom. Lincoln is supposed to turn people in for misusing company e-mail, but he can’t quite bring himself to crack down on Beth and Jennifer. He can’t help but be entertained-and captivated- by their stories.

But by the time Lincoln realizes he’s falling for Beth, it’s way too late for him to ever introduce himself. What would he say to her? “Hi, I’m the guy who reads your e-mail, and also, I love you.” After a series of close encounters and missed connections, Lincoln decides it’s time to muster the courage to follow his heart . . . even if he can’t see exactly where it’s leading him.

Written with whip-smart precision and charm, Attachments is a strikingly clever and deeply romantic debut about falling in love with the person who makes you feel like the best version of yourself. Even if it’s someone you’ve never met.

— Goodreads.com description

As we have established time and time again, when my friend Ginger tells me to read a book, I do. It’s pretty pathetic actually. “Read this book, Anna.” “Okay, yes ma’am, whatever you say ma’am.” OK, the language I actually used was more crude, aka calling myself her Book B****. But still, she told me I HAD to read Attachments by Rainbow Rowell and, per usual, I am so glad I did!

It’s an adult book. I don’t usually review the adult books I read, but I made an exception for this one for two reasons:

(1) Rainbow Rowell has a YA book coming out soon that’s getting a lot of buzz (Eleanor & Park)
(2) IT WAS SO GOOD.

The book is mostly a romance, the type of romantic comedy I get swept away in. But it’s also more than that: It’s about family and friendship, and it’s highly enjoyable.

Bonus points: It’s set in a newsroom. About three careers ago, I ran the night shift copydesk at a newspaper. Loved all the references to life in the news biz (before it mostly went online)!

Mon, April 30, 2012

The Night Circus by Erin Morgenstern Book Review

The Night Circus
By Erin Morgenstern
Publication date: Sept. 13, 2011
Doubleday, 387 pages
Source: Library (in the Bahamas!)

The circus arrives without warning. No announcements precede it. It is simply there, when yesterday it was not. Within the black-and-white striped canvas tents is an utterly unique experience full of breathtaking amazements. It is called Le Cirque des Rêves, and it is only open at night.

But behind the scenes, a fierce competition is underway—a duel between two young magicians, Celia and Marco, who have been trained since childhood expressly for this purpose by their mercurial instructors. Unbeknownst to them, this is a game in which only one can be left standing, and the circus is but the stage for a remarkable battle of imagination and will. Despite themselves, however, Celia and Marco tumble headfirst into love—a deep, magical love that makes the lights flicker and the room grow warm whenever they so much as brush hands.

True love or not, the game must play out, and the fates of everyone involved, from the cast of extraordinary circus per­formers to the patrons, hang in the balance, suspended as precariously as the daring acrobats overhead.

Written in rich, seductive prose, this spell-casting novel is a feast for the senses and the heart.

— Goodreads.com description

What is there to say about The Night Circus by Erin Morgenstern that hasn’t been said in the thousands of reviews that beat me to the punch?

This book is so good. The Night Circus is a gorgeous story, beautifully visualized and imaginatively written.

Morgenstern captures the unbelievable fantasy of magic and its darker underside by weaving together tragic and hopeful stories from the many larger-than-life characters who live their lives under the Night Circus big top. Seeing these stories connect, piece by piece, is a stunning experience. To say it’s magical is worthy of an eye roll, I know, but that’s simply the best way to put it.

I am, without a doubt, going to recommend this one to my book club in the future. The Night Circus by Erin Morgenstern is an adult book I’m really glad I read, and one that will appeal to all types of readers.

Fri, October 28, 2011

Anna’s Foray into Romance Novels

I saw Sarah MacLean’s Nine Rules to Break When Romancing a Rake and Ten Ways to Be Adored When Landing a Lord recommended time and time again online. I’ve never read a romance book before, so I figured, why not try it out?

Well, holy heck I loved them. I thought these books would be trashy and anti-feminist, but they were surprisingly smart and funny.

But they left me thinking: How the heck do people read these books in public? Seriously, this was a big hangup. You should have seen me on the El on the way to work, trying to hide the covers with my hands.

So, romance readers, two questions:

1. Seriously, do you just read these as eBooks or just not in public? Or are you just less shy than I am?
2. I liked these — so can you share any other recommendations in the genre?

If anyone else is nervous about branching out to these much-maligned genre, I say give it a go!

Tue, July 5, 2011

My Secret Love of Janet Evanovich + Stephanie Plum Movie Casting

Yeah, I know, shocking. Grown-up alert! But not TOO grown-up, because I’m talking Stephanie Plum, here, people — the woman doesn’t know how to act like a grown-up.

If you don’t know already, Stephanie is the star of her own book series by Janet Evanovich. Their titles are numbered – One for the Money and so on — and this weekend I got up to Sizzling Sixteen.

They follow Stephanie’s zany hijinks — and yes, they really do deserve to be called that — as a bounty hunter in New Jersey. These books are cookie cutter and the plot never goes anywhere. SO WHY CAN I NOT STOP READING THEM?

Seriously, someone help me. This is a cry for help.

I mean, I haven’t read so many books about the same set of characters since The Baby-Sitters Club. Is it just that I’m so involved 16 books in that there’s no turning back till Stephanie either gets fatally shot, sent to jail or settles down and marries Morelli?!

And lord help me if that ever happens because, frankly, Ranger is one of the reasons I’m still reading these books. (“Babe.”)

But here I am, downloading book 17 on my Kindle. And despite what I said earlier, I’m still super pumped that book 1, One for the Money, is being made into a movie that premieres next January. Check out the casting: