It's time for RAK! Plus, May Wishlist

Isalys and Vanessa at Book Soulmates have started this fantastic feature, Random Acts of Kindness, in which we can play Secret Santa all year long!

Rules:

• Sign up each month you'd like to participate in.

• Show off your participation! Grab one of the buttons available :)

• Create a wishlist and post it in the Google Doc located in each R.A.K post for the month.

{Post on your blog, Amazon, where ever as long as there's a link to it.}

 

• If you choose to do a R.A.K for someone, check out their wishlist and contact that blogger for their address.

Sounds awesome, right? Go sign up now!

 

 

Last month I received one RAK, and sent out 17.  

Here is My wishlist: HERE

Sixteenth Summer by Michelle Dalton

Sixteenth Summer by Michelle Dalton
Release Date: May 3, 2011
Publisher: Simon Pulse
Age Group: Young Adult
Pages: 304


Summary: Anna is dreading another tourist-filled summer on Dune Island that follows the same routine: beach, ice cream, friends, repeat. That is, until she locks eyes with Will, the gorgeous and sweet guy visiting from New York. Soon, her summer is filled with flirtatious fun as Anna falls head over heels in love. But with every perfect afternoon, sweet kiss, and walk on the beach, Anna can’t ignore that the days are quickly growing shorter, and Will has to leave at the end of August. Anna’s never felt anything like this before, but when forever isn’t even a possibility, one summer doesn’t feel worth the promise of her heart breaking…. 

My Thoughts: I was very very excited to read this one! We are introduced to Anna who lives on Dune Island with her family. She spends most of her time with her best friends Sam and Caroline. They have recently became a couple. Anna isn't interested in any of the local boys. How can she be, when she has seen them during their most embarrassing moments as children? She is independent and pretty much brushes any guys advances off.


Than comes along Will. Gorgeous and sweet Will. He isn't a local boy. He is from New York. His brother and mom came to the island for summer vacation. Anna catches his eye on the beach one day and he ends up asking her out a few days later. They start dating, and she starts to fall in love with him. The problem? He's leaving at the end of summer.

I enjoyed the dates they went on, the events they attended. I loved hearing about their time on the beach, seeing turtles, dolphins, etc. I also loved how she worked at her families ice cream shop so we got to experience ice cream flavors (made me hungry and craving ice cream during the book). I also enjoyed meeting Will's family and I adored his mom and his brother.

I really liked Will. I liked the way they were together, however I felt like I needed more depth. More depth to their relationship. I just felt like it was missing something. Yes, their was romance and sticky sweet moments but I knew deep down their relationship couldn't last past the summer and that made me sad.

I enjoyed reading Sixteenth Summer but it wasn't everything I wanted it to be. I would have liked to learn more about Will's life in New York. Who were his friends there, what did he do, did he have a lot of ex-girlfriends, etc? I felt like I knew lots about Anna but nothing about Will.

Overall: I liked Sixteenth Summer but I expected a little more out of it. I'd recommend reading this when your in the mood for sweet romance but not a lot of deep thinking.

Cover: Love the cover! Its pretty. The colors go together and I love the sand on the bottom of her feet. Definitely a summer book.

What I'd Give It:  

Waiting On Wednesday (85)

Waiting On Wednesday is a weekly event, hosted by Jill at Breaking the Spine. WOW spotlights forthcoming titles that we absolutely can't wait to read.

Crossed by Ally Condie
Summary: In search of a future that may not exist and faced with the decision of who to share it with, Cassia journeys to the Outer Provinces in pursuit of Ky — taken by the Society to his certain death — only to find that he has escaped, leaving a series of clues in his wake.

Cassia’s quest leads her to question much of what she holds dear, even as she finds glimmers of a different life across the border. But as Cassia nears resolve and certainty about her future with Ky, an invitation for rebellion, an unexpected betrayal, and a surprise visit from Xander — who may hold the key to the uprising and, still, to Cassia’s heart — change the game once again. Nothing is as expected on the edge of Society, where crosses and double crosses make the path more twisted than ever.

Why I Want It: Sounds Amazing! I loved Matched!!!!  

Moonglass by Jessi Kirby

Moonglass by Jessi Kirby
Release Date: May 3, 2011
Publisher: Simon And Schuster Children's Publishing
Age Group: Young Adult
Pages: 240

Summary: I read once that water is a symbol for emotions. And for a while now, I've thought maybe my mother drowned in both.

Anna's life is upended when her father accepts a job transfer the summer before her junior year. It's bad enough that she has to leave her friends and her life behind, but her dad is moving them to the beach where her parents first met and fell in love- a place awash in memories that Anna would just as soon leave under the surface.
While life on the beach is pretty great, with ocean views and one adorable lifeguard in particular, there are also family secrets that were buried along the shore years ago. And the ebb and flow of the ocean's tide means that nothing- not the sea glass that she collects on the sand and not the truths behind Anna's mother's death- stays buried forever.

My Thoughts: We are introduced to Anna who moves to a new beach town with her father who manages the beach. He was transferred there a few months ago and Anna has finally joined him. She was staying with her grandmother for the summer. She's back on the beach where her mother grew up. Her mother died when she was very young. Drowned. Anna doesn't want to be here. She wants to be back home with her friends, her school, and her life.

Anna starts at her new school and she meets a new friend and joins the track team with her. She meets a boy on the beach; Tyler. Her dad tells her to stay away from all the lifeguards, they all are nothing but TROUBLE! Of course Anna doesn't listen and wants to know more about the mysterious boy.

I'm not going to go on and on about this one. Its simply too beautiful to give away too many spoilers. Moonglass was everything I was looking for. It was truly magnificent. It was a beach read, makes me want to go lay out on the beach right now in the sun.  

Moonglass was a wonderful and captivating love story. 

Overall: AMAZING Debut! Hope Kirby writes more!

Cover: Adore it! Love the purple, love the clouds, love the people!

What I'd Give It: 

Playing Hurt by Holly Schindler

Playing Hurt by Holly Schindler
Release Date: March 8, 2011
Publisher: Flux
Age Group: Young Adult
Pages: 312



Summary: Star basketball player Chelsea "Nitro" Keyes had the promise of a full ride to college—and everyone's admiration back home. Then she took a horrible fall during senior year. Now a metal plate holds her together and she feels like a stranger in her own family.
That summer, Chelsea's dad hires Clint, a nineteen-year-old ex-hockey player and "boot camp" trainer, to work with her at a northern Minnesota lake resort. As they grow close, Chelsea finds that Clint's haunted by his own tragedy. Will their romance end up hurting them all over again—or finally heal their heartbreak?

My Thoughts: Wow, Wow, Wow! Where to even begin to start with this review? I read a lot of books I love. I purposely read books I think I will enjoy. But reading Playing Hurt was beyond enjoyable. It was amazing. It was delicious, it was sexy, it was pure beauty.

We are introduced to Chelsea whose in high school. She was the star of the basketball team, had the perfect family, and the perfect boyfriend Gabe. She was having the time of her life. Until one night during a basketball game. She takes a fall and injures her hip. She learns she can no longer play basketball. Ripped away from the one thing she loves the most, she starts to go into a depression. She just doesn't enjoy anything as much as basketball.

We are than introduced to Clint. Sweet and sexy Clint. Clint lives in Minnesota where he's an athlete working at a resort. Clint is also going through a tough time. A few years ago, he went through a terrible thing. He can physically still play hockey but he has no motivation too. To really do any team sport. That was all taken away from him because of guilt. His own guilt.


Chelsea's family decides to take a family vacation up to the resort and her dad hired Clint as her personal trainer. To hopefully whip her back into shape and get her to at least start doing something again. While training with Clint, the rest of her family are enjoying their vacation. Her brother is even off practicing with a band, his dream come true.

Chelsea and Clint meet, and yes the chemistry is definitely there but they keep their distance. They are both hurt and the attraction that they feel could lead them both down a dangerous tunnel. Hurt feelings, broken hearts, awkward conversations.

As more and more time goes by, the two start to realize what they have both lost and what they could both possibly gain by getting to know one another. This book is told in alternating viewpoints and I fell in love with both sides of the story. I respected Chelsea and I fell in love with Clint.

I honestly can't say much else here. I want YOU to experience Playing Hurt on your own. I want you to feel the magic I felt while reading this book. The sports aspect, the relationships with her family and boyfriend, the tragedy in Clint's life.  Playing Hurt is deep. Really deep. It's not like anything you've probably read in the past. I enjoyed A Blue So Dark by Schindler, but it didn't hold a candlestick to Playing Hurt.  Playing Hurt was like a long walk on a hot day, romantic and soothing. You'll be crying and laughing throughout the novel. This is a book you should definitely go right out and buy now!!!

Overall: Loved it so much I know I'll be thinking about it for days. Please write a sequel!

Cover: Adore It! Its what first attracted me to the book. Fits perfectly. Love the way their legs are up in the air.

What I'd Give It: