Beauty, A Retelling of the story of Beauty & The Beast, by Robin McKinley

I read this story for the first time in second grade. But, trust me, it's a book that is amazing no matter what age you read it. This is a retelling like you've never read before.
This is the story of Beauty, a girl who grows up by the sea, lives with her wealthy family, and has two beautiful and kind older sisters. But, Beauty is anything but beatiful, she is awkward, sallow faced, with big hands and feet.
Her fathers shipping business goes bankrupt and their family is forced to travel to the forest to live.
The story takes a twist when her father returns home from a trip with tales of a wild beast, living in a castle in the forest beyond their home, and, in order for the fathers' life to be spared, one of his daughters must go, willingly to live with the beast. Forever.
But nothing is as it seems...

Poison Study, by Maria V. Snyder

On the day Yelena is to be executed for murder she is offered a choice – continue with the hanging, or, become a food taster. Seems harmless right? Or not. She becomes the food taster, a.k.a. poison tester for all the drinks and meals for the Commander of Ixia.


As she becomes more comfortable in her role at the palace she begins to formulate her escape plan. But with internal plots, strange magical powers, and enemies out to get her…she might not ever be free again. Such an amazing (seriously, insanly amazing) book. I won't update the remainder of the trilogy *no spoilers here!* but suffice it to say - this is a MUST READ.

Dear John, by Nicholas Sparks

Anything with Channing Tatum will automatically get an A++ from me. I saw the previews and didn't want to wait until the release date to find out what this story was all about.

"Dear John," the letter read...and with those two words, a heart was broken and two lives were changed forever.

This book is an incredible journey of love and of heartbreak. A heartbreak you could never possibly imagine. If you want to laugh, cry, or just feel, I reccommend this book.

Fallen, by Lauren Kate

There's something achingly familiar about Daniel Grigori.Mysterious and aloof, he captures Luce Price's attention from the moment she sees him on her first day at the Sword & Cross boarding school in sultry Savannah, Georgia. He's the one bright spot in a place where cell phones are forbidden, the other students are all screw-ups, and security cameras watch every move.

This book is full of intrigue, friendships, and a little romance. Each character is incredible and believable. This is part of a series, can't wait for Torment, Fall 2010.

Splendor, by Anna Godbersen

Final book in The Luxe Series, I was on tenterhooks the entire time, waiting for the end, hoping for what it should be.

This was, hands-down, the most disappointing end to a series/book I have ever read. The book ends and it leaves you empty, wishing the author would have thought through her characters more, I don't feel like the ending was something (had they been real people) would have ever, ever in a million years, ever let happen.

I will be extremely hesitant to purchase another book from this author again.

The Luxe by Anna Godbersen

Pretty girls in pretty dresses, partying until dawn.
Irresistible boys with mischievous smiles and dangerous intentions.
White lies, dark secrets, and scandalous hookups.
This is Manhattan, 1899.


Beautiful sisters Elizabeth and Diana Holland rule Manhattan's social scene. Or so it appears. When the girls discover their status among New York City's elite is far from secure, suddenly everyone — from the backstabbing socialite Penelope Hayes, to the debonair bachelor Henry Schoonmaker, to the spiteful maid Lina Broud — threatens Elizabeth's and Diana's golden future.

This is now a 4 part series, I am re-reading this series, I had stopped after book 2. The 3rd book wasn't out yet and the ending of the 2nd devastated me. It took me a little bit to get into the book, but, once you get hooked, you cannot put it down. The storyline is riveting, the characters pull you in, and when they are happy so are you, when their heart is broken so is yours. Godbersen delivers in this entire series.

The Hourglass Door by Lisa Mangum

Abby's senior year of high school is going according to plan: good friends, cute boyfriend, and college applications in the mail. But when Dante Alexander, foreign-exchange student from Italy, steps into her life, he turns it upside down. He's mysterious, and interesting, and unlike anyone she's ever met before. Abby can't deny the growing attraction she feels for him. Nor can she deny the unusual things that seem to happen when Dante is around. Soon Abby finds herself drawn into a mystery whose roots reach into sixteenth-century Florence, and she uncovers a dangerous truth that threatens not only her future but the lives of those she loves.

From start to finish, I loved this book, can't wait for the sequel in 2010. This book is definitely a cliff-hanger, but well worth it. I love the mystery of Dante, the uncertainty of Abby, their characters mesh so well and they are believeable. The only hang-up I had was the Truth conversation they had. You'll know what I'm talking about when you read it.

Graceling

I read this about a month ago, and LOVED the story line. Katsa is a girl who grew up long, long ago, in a world where certain people are born with a Grace.
Some people have a Grace of counting, swimming, knowing when someone is lying, Katsa's Grace is different though.

Her Grace is killing...