The Swap by Megan Shull

ARC provided by the Publisher via Edelweiss

Author: Megan Shull
Genre: Middle Grade | Fantasy
Release Date: August 26th 2014  
Publisher:  Katherine Tegen Books
Rating: ❤❤❤❤❤
Read: April 6th, 2014

Synopsis
“YOU BE ME...AND I'LL BE YOU.”

ELLIE spent the summer before seventh grade getting dropped by her best friend since forever. JACK spent it training in “The Cage” with his tough-as-nails brothers and hard-to-please dad. By the time middle school starts, they’re both ready for a change. And just as Jack’s thinking girls have it so easy, Ellie’s wishing she could be anyone but herself.

Then, BAM! They swap lives—and bodies!

Now Jack’s fending off mean girls at sleepover parties while Ellie’s reigning as the Prince of Thatcher Middle School. As their crazy weekend races on—and their feelings for each other grow—Ellie and Jack begin to realize that maybe the best way to learn how to be yourself is to spend a little time being someone else.

My Thoughts
This was a delightful middle grade book. To be honest, it was more like a tween version of a movie entitled "It's a Boy Girl Thing", still I did have a good time reading it. The book was humorous, emotional and heartwarming.

The characters were adorable. I loved both Ellie and Jack. How they dealt with the messed up situation they were in was surprising. The other characters were well-developed as well. However, at times they didn't talk and behave their age.

The storyline was intriguing and made me want to keep on reading. It was nicely written with enough detail to build up the anticipation.

One thing that bugged me about this book was the dialogues which were kind of weird. The wording in most of the conversations didn't them sound natural, and there were quite a lot of repetitive words.

Overall, it was a wonder book about friendship and family.

The Perfect Game by J. Sterling

Authors: J. Sterling
Series: The Perfect Game
Book: 1

Genre: New Adult | Contemporary
Release Date: October 11th 2012
Rating: ❤❤❤❤❤ 

Synopsis

He's a game she never intended to play.
And she's the game changer he never knew he needed.

The Perfect Game tells the story of college juniors, Cassie Andrews & Jack Carter. When Cassie meets rising baseball hopeful Jack, she is determined to steer clear of him and his typical cocky attitude. But Jack has other things on his mind... like getting Cassie to give him the time of day.

They're both damaged, filled with mistrust and guarded before they find one another (and themselves) in this emotional journey about love and forgiveness. Strap yourselves for a ride that will not only break your heart, but put it back together.

Sometimes life gets ugly before it gets beautiful...

Review

I chose to read this book when I heard it was somehow similar to Beautiful Disaster since they both had bad tempered main characters and everything. I generally don't mind bad [fictional] boys. They are hot and since I enjoyed  Beautiful Disaster so much, I was so excited to start this book. Boy, never have I ever been so disappointed! Everything about this book was just wrong.

Let's start with Cassie, the main female character. She kept mentioning how her life had been screwed by her father not keeping his promises. Please! Parents lie sometimes, nothing is out of ordinary. Deal with it. I didn't understand how just her father never kept his end of the deal messed her up so badly. Dramatic much?

Now about Jack Carter. Tsk, tsk, tsk. What should I say? I didn't find his bad temper hot at all. I admit I like reading about possessive/bad tempered boys, but Jack was more irritable than he was hot. I really hated the way he treated women (other than his "Kitten"). Even those women were so annoying. he should not have said those things to them:
"Oh, so you're not a stripper, you're a whore?" ~  Jack said this to Cassie when he met her the first time. Very charming, right?
"... I'll find someone to teach you a little respect." ~ Jack said to Andrea when she tried to ask him to go to a part with her. So what now? Threatening a woman?
"I'm sure you were always a slut..." ~ Jack said to Chrystle after their night together. It takes two to do what they had done.

I did not feel the romance. Jack started pursuing Cassie like crazy after only met her once and it was like 5 minutes. It was a bit too fast. It was too desperate and I felt like the author just wanted to get it over with. The night they slept together for the first time was not how I had imaging it would be. First Cassie said she was not ready. And of course, Jack said it was ok, he would wait, blah, blah. Then he said he loved her and guess what? Cassie was ready. It took around 5 minutes and 3 words for Cassie to be ready. That was convenient.

How the author kept mention the same things over and over again was just so exhausting. I lost count how many time Cassie rolled her eyes. It drove me over the edge. And the F-bomb. Is it so necessary that almost every YA and NA book now have the f-words? I am not a writer (obviously), but I don't think a good book depends on how many F-bombs it has.
My phone vibrated in my pocket and I reached in and pulled it out. Text from Melissa. My f*cking savior...

I am glad that some people enjoy their time reading this book. Maybe it is just not a book for me, so I am not going to say I had a good time reading this book.

Stealing Parker

Author: Miranda Kenneally
Series: Hundred Oaks
Book: 2Pages: 245 
Genre: Contemporary Romance
Published Date: October 1st 2012
Publisher: Sourcebooks Fire
Rating: ❤❤❤❤

Synopsis
After her family's scandal rocks their conservative small town, 17-year-old Parker Shelton goes overboard trying to prove that she won't turn out like her mother: a lesbian. The all-star third-baseman quits the softball team, drops 20 pounds and starts making out with guys--a lot. But hitting on the hot new assistant baseball coach might be taking it a step too far...especially when he starts flirting back.

Some Main Characters
Parker Shelton: a high school senior who used to be on the school softball team, but quit after her parents got divorced.
Drew: Parker's best friend and a baseball player for their high school.
Brian Hoffman: a 23-year-old baseball coach.
Corndog: also known as Will, Drew's friend and teammate. He is a bright school who always competes with Parker to be the valedictorian.
Ryan: Parker's druggie older brother.
Laura: Parker's former best friend.

Favorite Quote
Sometimes you gotta do what's right for you and forget about everybody else. All that matters is what you want. What you need. ~ chapter 13

Review
Since I finished Ms. Miranda Kenneally's previous book, Catching Jordan, I have come to love her writing and I was so excited to be able to read her next book. I am glad to say that this book is also fantastic.

Starting out, this novel revolves around a high school senior, Parker Shelton. Parker's life has changed drastically after her mother, who finally comes out of the closet, left Parker to start a new life with her girlfriend. Because of this, Parker has been picked on by her softball teammate that she might be a lesbian just like her mother. It is tough time for Parker, but luckily she has Drew by her side to support her. Since softball reminds her so much of her mother, Parker decides to quit the team and she starts paying more attention on how she looks. In order to prove that she does like boys, not girls, Parker starts hooking up with several different boys. Until she meets a new assistant coach, Brian Hoffman. He is charming, friendly and completely gorgeous. Parker is hooked! The problem is he is six years older...

What I really like about this book is that it teaches you the important of friendship. When Parker is being bullied, Drew always stays by her side supporting her, which makes it easier for Parker to cope. Besides, it shows us that as long as we are happy with our choices, we do not have to worry about what other people think. Parker's mother is through with living a lie. She comes out and changes her life. I admire that. Unlike her mother, Parker's father puts all his attention on what others have to say about him. He even breaks up with his new girlfriend just because people from his church say it is not the right thing for him to do.

This book focuses a lot on religion. How Parker and her family always go to church every Sunday is not that difficult to relate to even I am not that very religious. What surprised me was that  the people at their church are so judgmental and their behavior toward Parker and her family after the mother comes out  is so not Christian-like. Parents tell their kids to stop associating with Parker. People talk sh*t behind others' back. It is ridiculous that they consider themselves Christians and what they do is completely opposite.

Nevertheless, this book reminds me too much of Catching Jordan. Probably it is because the author seemed to follow the same pattern which has made the book a bit predictable. However, this book is still very enjoyable in its own way. The characters are well-thought-out and likeable. And have I mentioned that Jordan and her man appeared in this book also? Well, it was kind of like a cameo, but yes, they were in this book as well. If you enjoyed Catching Jordan, I am sure you'll love this one as well.

Catching Jordan

Author: Miranda Kenneally
Series: Hundred Oaks
Book: 1
Pages: 281
Genre: Contemporary Romance
Published Date: December 1, 2011
Publisher: Sourcebooks Fire
Rating: ❤❤❤❤❤

Synopsis:
What girl doesn't want to be surrounded by gorgeous jocks day in and day out? Jordan Woods isn't just surrounded by hot guys, though - she leads them as the captain and quarterback on her high school football team. They all see her as one of the guys, and that's just fine. As long as she gets her athletic scholarship to a powerhouse university. But now there's a new guy in town who threatens her starring position on the team... and has her suddenly wishing to be seen as more than just a teammate.

Characters:
Jordan Woods: a seventeen-year-old high school senior. She is in the football team, as a quarterback and a captain.
Sam Henry: Jordan's best friend and teammate. He is the wide receiver in the football team.
Tyler Green: aka "Ty". He is a new student moving from Texas. He is also playing as a quarterback.
JJ: Jordan's friend and teammate.
Carter: Jordan's friend and teammate.
Mike Woods: Jordan's big brother who is also a football player, but in collegiate level.
Donovan Woods: Jordan's father, an NFL player. He disagrees with Jordan's choice to be a football player.
Mrs. Woods: Jordan's mother, who is very supportive to Jordan.
Jake Reynolds: Mike's best friend.
Vanessa: Ty's younger sister.
Kristen Markum: a cheerleader.
Carrie Myer: a cheerleader and Henry's ex.
Lacey: a cheerleader.
Marie: a cheerleader. She and Henry "date" each other.
Coach Miller: Jordan's coach.
Coach Thompson: the coach of Alabama team

Review:
This book is a must-read! I love this book so much and cannot wait to read another of Ms. Kenneally's work. This one of books is simply fantastic. It's clean, precise, funny, romantic, and straight-to-the-point. I strongly recommend this one to the bookish who are like me... hopeless romantic!

First thing that attracted me about this book is the cover. Duh... like always! I love browsing through books and select the ones that have the best covers of the bunch. This one won... hands down! Just one look at the cover and I was like, have to read it.

The inside of the book is not a disappointment either. Each page is just as good as the last one. I love how the author added in a lot of humor. The wording is easy to understand and straight forward, and that's the most important part of any books. Sometimes, I find myself having fun reading a book, but it is just too abstract, messy and too much detail, which is kinda like a turnoff to me.

Here comes spoiler! If you have not read the book yet, I recommend not to read what comes ahead.

Frankly speaking, I was secretly wishing for Jordan to fall for Henry since the beginning. Who doesn't want to fall in love with your best friend? Someone who knows you and loves you for your true self. When she thinks she loves Ty, I was a bit disappointed since I was looking forward to read about Jordan and Henry's road to romance. Hard to judge Jordan when Ty is hot like hell and Henry is not making any move, but pushing her to date Ty. It is a selfless love! And I'm completely falling in love with Henry for that. When Jordan realizes that the one Henry loves is her... I was like, told ya! It is just sweet, very sweet.

I wish there were many other books out there like this one.