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	<description>Young Adult Book Reviews &#38; More</description>
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		<title>Read But Not Reviewed: April 2013</title>
		<link>http://muggle-born.net/read-but-not-reviewed-april-2013/?utm_source=rss&#038;utm_medium=rss&#038;utm_campaign=read-but-not-reviewed-april-2013</link>
		<comments>http://muggle-born.net/read-but-not-reviewed-april-2013/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Wed, 01 May 2013 15:35:31 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>Cialina</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[Read But Not Reviewed]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Author: Allen Zadoff]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Author: Jennifer Brown]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Author: Talia Vance]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Author: Teri Brown]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Book: Born of Illusion]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Book: Boy Nobody]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Book: Spies and Prejudice]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Book: Thousand Words]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://muggle-born.net/?p=4977</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[<p>So things have been a little quiet over here at Muggle-Born, and here&#8217;s why: I&#8217;ve officially decided to quit blogging upcoming books at this blog. I&#8217;ll probably keep reviewing here for fun on books that I&#8217;ve read and have already been released. But if you&#8217;re looking for my thoughts on upcoming or recently released books, [...]</p><p>Post written by <a href="http://muggle-born.net">Muggle-Born.net</a></p>]]></description>
				<content:encoded><![CDATA[<p style="text-align: left;">So things have been a little quiet over here at Muggle-Born, and here&#8217;s why:</p>
<p style="text-align: left;">I&#8217;ve officially decided to quit blogging upcoming books at this blog. I&#8217;ll probably keep reviewing here for fun on books that I&#8217;ve read and have already been released. But if you&#8217;re looking for my thoughts on upcoming or recently released books, you can find them over at <a href="http://postscriptd.com/" target="_blank">PostScript&#8217;d</a>.</p>
<p style="text-align: left;">What is <a href="http://postscriptd.com/" target="_blank">PostScript&#8217;d</a>, you might ask? Well, it is a brand new, amazing site for all things books. In addition to bookish articles and reviews, our team does hit lists of books to watch out for as well as on-camera interviews with your favorite authors.</p>
<p style="text-align: left;">I&#8217;m really excited about being a part of the team over there, even if it means I&#8217;m spending less time blogging at Muggle-Born.</p>
<p style="text-align: left;">But just to recap on the books I&#8217;ve been reading lately&#8230;</p>
<h2 style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://muggle-born.net/wp-content/uploads/2013/04/boynobody.jpg"><img class="aligncenter size-full wp-image-3947" alt="Read But Not Reviewed" src="http://muggle-born.net/wp-content/uploads/2012/02/readreview.png" width="365" height="200" /><br />
</a> <a href="http://muggle-born.net/wp-content/uploads/2013/04/thousandwords.jpg"><br />
</a> <img class="alignright size-medium wp-image-4980" title="Spies and Prejudice by Talia Vance" alt="Spies and Prejudice by Talia Vance" src="http://muggle-born.net/wp-content/uploads/2013/04/spiesandprejudice-200x300.jpg" width="200" height="300" /> <a href="http://muggle-born.net/wp-content/uploads/2013/04/bornofillusion.jpg"><br />
</a>Spies and Prejudice by Talia Vance</h2>
<blockquote><p>Fields’ Rule #1: Don’t fall for the enemy.</p>
<p>Berry Fields is not looking for a boyfriend. She’s busy trailing cheaters and liars in her job as a private investigator, collecting evidence of the affairs she’s sure all men commit. And thanks to a pepper spray incident during an eighth grade game of spin the bottle, the guys at her school are not exactly lining up to date her, either.</p>
<p>So when arrogant—and gorgeous—Tanner Halston rolls into town and calls her “nothing amazing,” it’s no loss for Berry. She’ll forget him in no time. She’s more concerned with the questions surfacing about her mother’s death.</p>
<p>But why does Tanner seem to pop up everywhere in her investigation, always getting in her way? Is he trying to stop her from discovering the truth, or protecting her from an unknown threat? And why can’t Berry remember to hate him when he looks into her eyes?</p>
<p>With a playful nod to Jane Austen, Spies and Prejudice will captivate readers as love and espionage collide.</p>
<p><strong>Expected Publication Date: June 11th 2013 by Egmont</strong></p>
<p><a href="http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/10194632-spies-and-prejudice" target="_blank"><img class="aligncenter size-full wp-image-2109" title="Add to Goodreads" alt="" src="http://muggle-born.net/wp-content/uploads/2011/05/goodreadsadd.jpg" width="92" height="16" /></a></p></blockquote>
<p style="text-align: center;">I really enjoyed this one. My review of <em>Spies and Prejudice </em>will be up on <a href="http://postscriptd.com/" target="_blank">PostScript&#8217;d</a> soon.</p>
<h2 style="text-align: center;"></h2>
<h2><img class="alignleft" title="Thousand Words by Jennifer Brown" alt="Thousand Words by Jennifer Brown" src="http://muggle-born.net/wp-content/uploads/2013/04/thousandwords-198x300.jpg" width="198" height="300" /></h2>
<div></div>
<h2 style="text-align: center;">Thousand Words by Jennifer Brown</h2>
<blockquote><p>Ashleigh&#8217;s boyfriend, Kaleb, is about to leave for college, and Ashleigh is worried that he&#8217;ll forget about her while he&#8217;s away. So at a legendary end-of-summer pool party, Ashleigh&#8217;s friends suggest she text him a picture of herself &#8212; sans swimsuit &#8212; to take with him. Before she can talk herself out of it, Ashleigh strides off to the bathroom, snaps a photo in the full-length mirror, and hits &#8220;send.&#8221;</p>
<p>But when Kaleb and Ashleigh go through a bad breakup, Kaleb takes revenge by forwarding the text to his baseball team. Soon the photo has gone viral, attracting the attention of the school board, the local police, and the media. As her friends and family try to distance themselves from the scandal, Ashleigh feels completely alone &#8212; until she meets Mack while serving her court-ordered community service. Not only does Mack offer a fresh chance at friendship, but he&#8217;s the one person in town who received the text of Ashleigh&#8217;s photo &#8212; and didn&#8217;t look.</p>
<p>Acclaimed author Jennifer Brown brings readers a gripping novel about honesty and betrayal, redemption and friendship, attraction and integrity, as Ashleigh finds that while a picture may be worth a thousand words . . . it doesn&#8217;t always tell the whole story.</p>
<p><strong>Expected Publication Date: May 21st 2013 by Little Brown Books for Young Readers</strong></p>
<p><a href="http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/12283331-thousand-words" target="_blank"><img class="aligncenter size-full wp-image-2109" title="Add to Goodreads" alt="" src="http://muggle-born.net/wp-content/uploads/2011/05/goodreadsadd.jpg" width="92" height="16" /></a></p></blockquote>
<p style="text-align: center;">I couldn&#8217;t put this one down.</p>
<h2><img class="alignright" title="Boy Nobody by Allen Zadoff" alt="Boy Nobody by Allen Zadoff" src="http://muggle-born.net/wp-content/uploads/2013/04/boynobody-198x300.jpg" width="198" height="300" /></h2>
<div></div>
<h2 style="text-align: center;">Boy Nobody by Allen Zadoff</h2>
<blockquote><p>Boy Nobody is the perennial new kid in school, the one few notice and nobody thinks much about. He shows up in a new high school, in a new town, under a new name, makes few friends and doesn&#8217;t stay long. Just long enough for someone in his new friend&#8217;s family to die &#8212; of &#8220;natural causes.&#8221; Mission accomplished, Boy Nobody disappears, and moves on to the next target.</p>
<p>When his own parents died of not-so-natural causes at the age of eleven, Boy Nobody found himself under the control of The Program, a shadowy government organization that uses brainwashed kids as counter-espionage operatives. But somewhere, deep inside Boy Nobody, is somebody: the boy he once was, the boy who wants normal things (like a real home, his parents back), a boy who wants out. And he just might want those things badly enough to sabotage The Program&#8217;s next mission.</p>
<p><strong>Expected Publication Date: June 11th 2013 by Little, Brown &amp; CO BYR</strong></p>
<p><a href="http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/14740626-boy-nobody" target="_blank"><img class="aligncenter size-full wp-image-2109" title="Add to Goodreads" alt="" src="http://muggle-born.net/wp-content/uploads/2011/05/goodreadsadd.jpg" width="92" height="16" /></a></p></blockquote>
<p style="text-align: center;"><em>Boy Nobody </em>by Allen Zadoff is an action-packed read, but the writing style was not for me.</p>
<h2><img class="alignleft" title="Born of Illusion by Teri Brown" alt="Born of Illusion by Teri Brown" src="http://muggle-born.net/wp-content/uploads/2013/04/bornofillusion-198x300.jpg" width="198" height="300" /></h2>
<div></div>
<h2 style="text-align: center;">Born of Illusion by Teri Brown</h2>
<blockquote><p>Anna Van Housen is thirteen the first time she breaks her mother out of jail. By sixteen she’s street smart and savvy, assisting her mother, the renowned medium Marguerite Van Housen, in her stage show and séances, and easily navigating the underground world of magicians, mediums and mentalists in 1920’s New York City. Handcuffs and sleight of hand illusions have never been much of a challenge for Anna. The real trick is keeping her true gifts secret from her opportunistic mother, who will stop at nothing to gain her ambition of becoming the most famous medium who ever lived. But when a strange, serious young man moves into the flat downstairs, introducing her to a secret society that studies people with gifts like hers, he threatens to reveal the secrets Anna has fought so hard to keep, forcing her to face the truth about her past. Could the stories her mother has told her really be true? Could she really be the illegitimate daughter of the greatest magician of all?</p>
<p><strong>Expected Publication Date: June 11th 2013 by Balzer &amp; Bray</strong></p>
<p><a href="http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/13000748-born-of-illusion" target="_blank"><img class="aligncenter size-full wp-image-2109" title="Add to Goodreads" alt="" src="http://muggle-born.net/wp-content/uploads/2011/05/goodreadsadd.jpg" width="92" height="16" /></a></p></blockquote>
<p style="text-align: center;">I enjoyed <em>Born of Illusion </em>so much that I&#8217;m willing to give video reviewing another shot. I&#8217;ll definitely post up a link to my video once I&#8217;ve recorded it. <img src='http://muggle-born.net/wp-includes/images/smilies/smile.gif' alt=':)' class='wp-smiley' /> </p>
<p>Post written by <a href="http://muggle-born.net">Muggle-Born.net</a></p>]]></content:encoded>
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		<title>Secrets of a Summer Night by Lisa Kleypas Romance Book Review</title>
		<link>http://muggle-born.net/secrets-of-a-summer-night-by-lisa-kleypas-romance-book-review/?utm_source=rss&#038;utm_medium=rss&#038;utm_campaign=secrets-of-a-summer-night-by-lisa-kleypas-romance-book-review</link>
		<comments>http://muggle-born.net/secrets-of-a-summer-night-by-lisa-kleypas-romance-book-review/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Tue, 30 Apr 2013 15:35:02 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>Cialina</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[Book Review]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Four Stars]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Author: Lisa Kleypas]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Book: Secrets of a Summer Night]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Genre: Historical romance]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Publisher: Avon]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Series: Wallflower]]></category>

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		<description><![CDATA[<p>SECRETS OF A SUMMER NIGHT by Lisa Kleypas Romance Book Review Series: Wallflowers, #1 Publication Date: October 26th 2004 by Avon Summary: Four young ladies enter London society with one common goal: they must use their feminine wit and wiles to find a husband. So a daring husband-hunting scheme is born. Annabelle Peyton, determined to save her [...]</p><p>Post written by <a href="http://muggle-born.net">Muggle-Born.net</a></p>]]></description>
				<content:encoded><![CDATA[<p><img class="aligncenter size-full wp-image-2661" title="Amortentia Review" alt="" src="http://muggle-born.net/wp-content/uploads/2011/07/amortentia.png" width="300" height="156" /></p>
<p><em><br />
<img class="alignright" title="Secrets of a Summer Night by Lisa Kleypas" alt="Secrets of a Summer Night by Lisa Kleypas" src="http://muggle-born.net/wp-content/uploads/2013/04/secretsofasummernight-185x300.jpg" width="185" height="300" />SECRETS OF A SUMMER NIGHT</em> by Lisa Kleypas Romance Book Review<br />
<strong>Series:</strong> Wallflowers, #1<br />
<strong>Publication Date:</strong> October 26th 2004 by Avon<br />
<a href="http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/114162.Secrets_of_a_Summer_Night?ac=1" target="_blank"><img class="alignnone size-full wp-image-2109" title="Add to Goodreads" alt="" src="http://muggle-born.net/wp-content/uploads/2011/05/goodreadsadd.jpg" width="92" height="16" /></a></p>
<blockquote><p><strong>Summary:</strong></p>
<p><em>Four young ladies enter London society with one common goal: they must use their feminine wit and wiles to find a husband. So a daring husband-hunting scheme is born.</em></p>
<p>Annabelle Peyton, determined to save her family from disaster, decides to use her beauty and wit to tempt a suitable nobleman into making an offer of marriage. But Annabelle&#8217;s most intriguing—and persistent—admirer, wealthy, powerful Simon Hunt, has made it clear that while he will introduce her to irresistible pleasure he will not offer marriage. Annabelle is determined to resist his unthinkable proposition&#8230;but it is impossible in the face of such skillful seduction.</p>
<p>Her friends, looking to help, conspire to entice a more suitable gentleman to offer for Annabelle, for only then will she be safe from Simon—and her own longings. But on one summer night, Annabelle succumbs to Simon&#8217;s passionate embrace and tempting kisses&#8230;and she discovers that love is the most dangerous game of all.</p></blockquote>
<p><strong>Heroine: </strong>I like that Annabelle is willing to marry to save her family from ruin. I like that she has her family in mind, but she isn&#8217;t desperate enough to be someone&#8217;s mistress. I like that she was still able to hold on to whatever dignity she has left even if she doesn&#8217;t have much money.</p>
<p><strong>Hero: </strong>I like that Simon didn&#8217;t come from the nobility class. It was refreshing and different, and I liked how it reflected the changing environment in England due to science and technology. However, one thing that bothered me about his character is the fact that it took him basically the whole book to tell Annabelle what he really wanted was marriage. For someone that&#8217;s so set on Annabelle, I don&#8217;t know why he didn&#8217;t make his intentions clear in the beginning.</p>
<p><strong>Supporting Cast: </strong>I really love the Wallflowers and this group of friends &#8211; it makes me wonder why I didn&#8217;t choose to read this sooner!</p>
<p><strong>Plot:</strong> I love the concept of the Wallflowers coming together to find husbands for each other. Furthermore, I really enjoyed that the story doesn&#8217;t end at the marriage. We get a glimpse into their married life, which usually doesn&#8217;t happen in romance novels. I think it worked for<em> Secrets of a Summer Night</em>, and I never felt once that the resolution was too stretched out.</p>
<p><strong>Romance: </strong>I looked forward to a lot of the Simon/Annabelle interactions. I&#8217;m already a fan of Lisa Kleypas so I knew that the romance would be up to par. I was not disappointed with <em>Secrets of a Summer Night</em>.</p>
<h2 style="text-align: center;">Love Potion Strength:</h2>
<p style="text-align: center;"><img title="Star" alt="" src="/images/star.gif" /><img title="Star" alt="" src="/images/star.gif" /><img title="Star" alt="" src="/images/star.gif" /><img title="Star" alt="" src="/images/star.gif" /> - <em> Exceeds Expectations </em></p>
<p style="text-align: center;">I&#8217;m definitely reading the rest of the Wallflowers series as soon as possible.</p>
<p>Post written by <a href="http://muggle-born.net">Muggle-Born.net</a></p>]]></content:encoded>
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		<title>The Marriage Trap by Jennifer Probst Romance Book Review</title>
		<link>http://muggle-born.net/the-marriage-trap-by-jennifer-probst-romance-book-review/?utm_source=rss&#038;utm_medium=rss&#038;utm_campaign=the-marriage-trap-by-jennifer-probst-romance-book-review</link>
		<comments>http://muggle-born.net/the-marriage-trap-by-jennifer-probst-romance-book-review/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Fri, 19 Apr 2013 06:24:27 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>Cialina</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[Book Review]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Four Stars]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Author: Jennifer Probst]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Book: The Marriage Trap]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Genre: Contemporary romance]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Publisher: Gallery Books]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Series: Marriage to a Billionaire]]></category>

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		<description><![CDATA[<p>THE MARRIAGE TRAP by Jennifer Probst Romance Book Review Series: Marriage to a Billionaire, #2 Publication Date: October 2nd 2012 Summary: WIFE WANTED… Italian billionaire seeks faux fiancée. Willing to agree to anything in return&#8230; In order for his sister to marry, Italian billionaire Michael Conte has to find himself a bride – and fast! [...]</p><p>Post written by <a href="http://muggle-born.net">Muggle-Born.net</a></p>]]></description>
				<content:encoded><![CDATA[<p><img class="aligncenter size-full wp-image-2661" title="Amortentia Review" alt="" src="http://muggle-born.net/wp-content/uploads/2011/07/amortentia.png" width="300" height="156" /></p>
<p><em><a href="http://muggle-born.net/wp-content/uploads/2013/04/themarriagetrap.jpg"><img class="alignright size-medium wp-image-4970" alt="The Marriage Trap by Jennifer Probst" src="http://muggle-born.net/wp-content/uploads/2013/04/themarriagetrap-193x300.jpg" width="193" height="300" /></a>THE MARRIAGE TRAP</em> by Jennifer Probst Romance Book Review<br />
<strong>Series:</strong> Marriage to a Billionaire, #2<br />
<strong>Publication Date:</strong> October 2nd 2012<br />
<a href="http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/14165516-the-marriage-trap" target="_blank"><img class="alignnone size-full wp-image-2109" title="Add to Goodreads" alt="" src="http://muggle-born.net/wp-content/uploads/2011/05/goodreadsadd.jpg" width="92" height="16" /></a></p>
<blockquote><p><strong>Summary:</strong> WIFE WANTED…</p>
<p>Italian billionaire seeks faux fiancée. Willing to agree to anything in return&#8230;</p>
<p>In order for his sister to marry, Italian billionaire Michael Conte has to find himself a bride – and fast! When he learns that photographer Maggie Ryan is going to be in Milan, Michael hatches a plan to introduce her to his family as his “fiancée.” Never mind that Maggie is confident, independent, and a control freak. Never mind that she’s everything he doesn’t want in a wife… and everything he wants in his bed!</p>
<p>Convinced that Michael is in love with her married gal pal, Maggie agrees to keep up the ruse if he’ll keep away from her friend. Besides, she’s not attracted to charming, ridiculously hot billionaires who drive her nuts. Once they’re in Italy, however, everything changes – and the sexual tension between Maggie and Michael goes from simmer to naked nuclear meltdown!</p>
<p>But have they found the perfect arrangement… or are they trapped in a make-believe marriage?</p></blockquote>
<p><strong>Heroine: </strong>Maggie&#8217;s character genuinely surprised me. She comes off as a really confident woman, but she&#8217;s guarded when it comes to feelings and relationships. I guess I didn&#8217;t really believe her that she had reason to be guarded until her character finally reveals the trauma she&#8217;s been through in the past.<strong><br />
</strong></p>
<p>I thought that Maggie got a little excessive at times when she kept insisting that Michael was in love with her best friend, but I got over it. Minor complaint. If it had only been the only bump in the road that preventing Michael and Maggie from getting together, then we would have had issues. But it wasn&#8217;t, so I&#8217;ll stop whining about it.<strong><br />
</strong></p>
<p><strong>Hero:</strong> I don&#8217;t really have much to say about Michael. I mean, he&#8217;s also a deeply layered character who tries so hard to be the best he can for his family. Except sometimes he doesn&#8217;t realize that his sisters have grown up and he needs to listen to what they want in life. I thought it was great that Maggie was able to make him see what he was doing wrong.</p>
<p><strong>Supporting Cast: </strong>If you are a fan of this series, you will definitely love the supporting cast. I think that the connections are a little confusing if you haven&#8217;t read the books in a while, and it took me a while to acclimate myself with the characters&#8217; relationships. Family is a big deal in the Marriage to a Billionaire series and I really enjoy it.<strong><br />
</strong></p>
<p><strong>Plot:</strong> I am a sucker for a good arranged marriage plot. Since I already read the third book before this one, I had a vague idea of how it was going to play out so any suspense was lost on me. Still, I enjoyed how the story played out. <strong><br />
</strong></p>
<p><strong>Romance: </strong>Probst is always spot on when it comes to building sexual tension and chemistry with the characters. This is no exception.</p>
<h2 style="text-align: center;">Love Potion Strength:</h2>
<p style="text-align: center;"><img title="Star" alt="" src="/images/star.gif" /><img title="Star" alt="" src="/images/star.gif" /><img title="Star" alt="" src="/images/star.gif" /><img title="Star" alt="" src="/images/star.gif" /> -<em> Exceeds Expectations<br />
</em></p>
<p style="text-align: center;">So I finally am up to date to the Marriage to a Billionaire series and I am sad. I want more yummy contemporary romance. Trust me, I will be reading <em>all</em> of Jennifer Probst&#8217;s books.</p>
<p style="text-align: center;">Guys, I should mention that this book has lots of details on cooking Italian food and good wine. It will make you crave both.</p>
<p>Post written by <a href="http://muggle-born.net">Muggle-Born.net</a></p>]]></content:encoded>
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		<title>Where She Went by Gayle Forman Book Review</title>
		<link>http://muggle-born.net/where-she-went-by-gayle-forman-book-review/?utm_source=rss&#038;utm_medium=rss&#038;utm_campaign=where-she-went-by-gayle-forman-book-review</link>
		<comments>http://muggle-born.net/where-she-went-by-gayle-forman-book-review/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Fri, 05 Apr 2013 22:52:14 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>Cialina</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[Book Review]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Four Stars]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Audience: Young Adult]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Author: Gayle Forman]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Book: Where She Went]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Genre: Contemporary]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Genre: Romance]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Must Buy]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Publisher: Dutton Juvenile]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Romantic Read]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Series: If I Stay]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Tear-Jerker]]></category>

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		<description><![CDATA[<p>WHERE SHE WENT by Gayle Forman Book Review Series: If I Stay, #2 Publication Date: November 4th 2010 by Dutton Juvenile Rating: &#8211; Exceeds Expectations &#124; Book Summary: It&#8217;s been three years since the devastating accident . . . three years since Mia walked out of Adam&#8217;s life forever. Now living on opposite coasts, Mia [...]</p><p>Post written by <a href="http://muggle-born.net">Muggle-Born.net</a></p>]]></description>
				<content:encoded><![CDATA[<p><em><a href="http://muggle-born.net/wp-content/uploads/2013/04/whereshewent.jpg"><img class="alignright size-medium wp-image-4957" alt="Where She Went by Gayle Forman" src="http://muggle-born.net/wp-content/uploads/2013/04/whereshewent-200x300.jpg" width="200" height="300" /></a>WHERE SHE WENT</em> by Gayle Forman Book Review<br />
<strong>Series:</strong> If I Stay, #2<br />
<strong>Publication Date:</strong> November 4th 2010 by Dutton Juvenile<br />
<strong>Rating:</strong> <a href="/category/books/review/four-stars/"><img title="Star" alt="" src="/images/star.gif" border="0" /><img title="Star" alt="" src="/images/star.gif" border="0" /><img title="Star" alt="" src="/images/star.gif" border="0" /><img title="Star" alt="" src="/images/star.gif" border="0" /> &#8211; Exceeds Expectations</a> | <a href="/tag/must-buy/"><img title="Must Buy" alt="" src="/images/iconcolor/mustbuy.png" border="0" /></a><a href="/tag/romantic-read/"><img title="Romantic Read" alt="" src="/images/iconcolor/heart.png" border="0" /></a><a href="/tag/tear-jerker/"><img title="Tear-Jerker" alt="" src="/images/iconcolor/tear.png" border="0" /></a><br />
<a href="http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/8492825-where-she-went" target="_blank"><img class="alignnone size-full wp-image-2109" title="Add to Goodreads" alt="" src="http://muggle-born.net/wp-content/uploads/2011/05/goodreadsadd.jpg" width="92" height="16" /></a></p>
<blockquote><p><strong>Book Summary:</strong> It&#8217;s been three years since the devastating accident . . . three years since Mia walked out of Adam&#8217;s life forever.</p>
<p>Now living on opposite coasts, Mia is Juilliard&#8217;s rising star and Adam is LA tabloid fodder, thanks to his new rock star status and celebrity girlfriend. When Adam gets stuck in New York by himself, chance brings the couple together again, for one last night. As they explore the city that has become Mia&#8217;s home, Adam and Mia revisit the past and open their hearts to the future-and each other.</p>
<p>Told from Adam&#8217;s point of view in the spare, lyrical prose that defined If I Stay, Where She Went explores the devastation of grief, the promise of new hope, and the flame of rekindled romance.</p></blockquote>
<p><strong>Book Review Overview:</strong></p>
<ul>
<li>It was amazing to read about what Mia and Adam were able to accomplish in the last three years!</li>
<li>Get the tissues ready &#8211; this one is a tear-jerker!</li>
</ul>
<p>So I basically thought it was too good to be true when just about <em>all</em> of my bookish friends told me that <em>WHERE SHE WENT</em> by Gayle Forman is better than the first book, <em>If I Stay</em>. It was <em>impossible</em>, I thought to myself.</p>
<p>Then I was proved that the impossible is possible.</p>
<p><em>WHERE SHE WENT</em> by Gayle Forman is all kinds of awesome. I read it in two sittings &#8211; I only stopped to cook and eat dinner, which was something I <em>almost</em> forgot to do because this book is so hard to put down.</p>
<p>Fast forward three years later after the accident. Adam is a famous rock star, and it&#8217;s been three years since he last saw Mia when she left for Julliard in New York. Despite the fame and money and a celebrity girlfriend, Adam still cannot let go of Mia. Their paths collide in New York when Adam stumbles upon her first concert at Carnegie Hall.</p>
<p>First of all, I loved reading about Mia and Adam three years later. Despite the fact that Adam is pretty much miserable and still heart-broken, I was so proud of what Mia and Adam had accomplished in the last three years. I almost wanted to do a happy dance because they were both able to live their dreams.</p>
<p>I really enjoyed the change of perspective in <em>WHERE SHE WENT</em>, which is told entirely from Adam&#8217;s perspective. I feel like male protagonists are so rare in young adult &#8211; so it was a refreshing change of pace.</p>
<p><em>WHERE SHE WENT</em> by Gayle Forman also involved tears and sniffles. I cried a few times while reading when all the emotions and feelings just got too overwhelming. My heart went out to Adam and Mia. They&#8217;ve gone through <em>so</em> much. A sign of a talented author, for me, is the ability to make me cry through words on a page.</p>
<p>Gayle Forman is quickly becoming one of my favorite authors. I&#8217;m basically going to get my hands on every book she publishes. I&#8217;m a fan. <em>WHERE SHE WENT</em> by Gayle Forman will not disappoint fans of <em>If I Stay</em>.</p>
<p>&nbsp;</p>
<table class="authorbio" border="0">
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<h3>About the Author</h3>
<div id="outerAuthorBio">
<div id="authorBio"><img class="alignleft  wp-image-4937" alt="Gayle Forman" src="http://muggle-born.net/wp-content/uploads/2013/03/gayleforman-150x150.jpg" width="90" height="90" />Gayle Forman is an award-winning author and journalist whose articles have appeared in numerous publications, including Seventeen, Cosmopolitan and Elle in the US. She lives in Brooklyn with her family.</div>
</div>
</td>
<td valign="top" width="30%">
<h3>Find the Author</h3>
<p style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.gayleforman.com/" target="_blank">Website</a> | <a href="http://www.twitter.com/gayleforman" target="_blank">Twitter</a> | <a href="http://www.goodreads.com/author/show/295178.Gayle_Forman">GoodReads</a></p>
<p style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://www.amazon.com/dp/0142420891/ref=as_li_ss_til?tag=mugglborn-20&amp;camp=0&amp;creative=0&amp;linkCode=as4&amp;creativeASIN=0142420891&amp;adid=0X05PJQCYY8JTDDSDCYG&amp;" target="_blank"><img class="size-full wp-image-2826 aligncenter" title="Buy with Amazon" alt="" src="http://muggle-born.net/wp-content/uploads/2011/08/amazon.gif" width="78" height="22" /></a><a href="http://www.bookdepository.com/Where-She-Went-Gayle-Forman/9780142420898/?a_aid=muggleborn" target="_blank"><img class="size-full wp-image-2827 aligncenter" title="Buy with Book Depository" alt="" src="http://muggle-born.net/wp-content/uploads/2011/08/bookdepository.gif" width="62" height="22" /></a></p>
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		<title>Spring Cleaning &#8211; Free Books!</title>
		<link>http://muggle-born.net/spring-cleaning-free-books/?utm_source=rss&#038;utm_medium=rss&#038;utm_campaign=spring-cleaning-free-books</link>
		<comments>http://muggle-born.net/spring-cleaning-free-books/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Tue, 26 Mar 2013 21:02:23 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>Cialina</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[Contests & Giveaways]]></category>

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		<description><![CDATA[<p>My family is moving to a smaller house, and unfortunately my place in New York City is still too small for all my books. I need to get rid of a ton of books and I need your help. I want my books to go to other readers. I&#8217;ve made a list of books that I&#8217;m [...]</p><p>Post written by <a href="http://muggle-born.net">Muggle-Born.net</a></p>]]></description>
				<content:encoded><![CDATA[<p>My family is moving to a smaller house, and unfortunately my place in New York City is still too small for all my books. I need to get rid of a ton of books and I need <em>your help</em>.</p>
<p>I want my books to go to other readers. <a href="https://docs.google.com/spreadsheet/viewform?formkey=dGRFN0MwWHc0dWRVRHRqaWVuS3IwLUE6MQ#gid=0" target="_blank">I&#8217;ve made a list of books that I&#8217;m willing to part from.</a></p>
<p>Unfortunately, I can&#8217;t pay for shipping. I&#8217;m using the poor college student excuse.</p>
<p>If you&#8217;re willing to pay for shipping, you can take as many of these books as you want. I&#8217;m even willing to ship international.</p>
<p style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://docs.google.com/spreadsheet/viewform?formkey=dGRFN0MwWHc0dWRVRHRqaWVuS3IwLUE6MQ#gid=0" target="_blank"><strong>Free Books (+ Shipping)</strong></a></p>
<p style="text-align: left;">If you have any questions, just let me know. <img src='http://muggle-born.net/wp-includes/images/smilies/smile.gif' alt=':)' class='wp-smiley' /> </p>
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		<title>The Secret Sisterhood of Heartbreakers by Lynn Weingarten Book Review</title>
		<link>http://muggle-born.net/the-secret-sisterhood-of-heartbreakers-by-lynn-weingarten-book-review/?utm_source=rss&#038;utm_medium=rss&#038;utm_campaign=the-secret-sisterhood-of-heartbreakers-by-lynn-weingarten-book-review</link>
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		<pubDate>Mon, 25 Mar 2013 23:48:13 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>Cialina</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[Book Review]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Two Stars]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Audience: Young Adult]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Author: Lynne Weingarten]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Book: The Secret Sisterhood of Heartbreakers]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Genre: Contemporary]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Publisher: HarperTeen]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Series: The Secret Sisterhood of Heartbreakers]]></category>

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		<description><![CDATA[<p>THE SECRET SISTERHOOD OF HEARTBREAKERS by Lynn Weingarten Book Review Series: The Secret Sisterhood of Heartbreakers, #1 Publication Date: December 27th 2011 by HarperTeen Rating:  &#8211; Poor Book Summary: If there’s an upside to having your heart broken, it’s this: A broken heart makes you brave. The first day of sophomore year doesn’t go the way [...]</p><p>Post written by <a href="http://muggle-born.net">Muggle-Born.net</a></p>]]></description>
				<content:encoded><![CDATA[<p><em><img class="alignright size-medium wp-image-3630" alt="The Secret Sisterhood of Heartbreakers" src="http://muggle-born.net/wp-content/uploads/2012/01/secretsisterhood-198x300.jpg" width="198" height="300" />THE SECRET SISTERHOOD OF HEARTBREAKERS</em> by Lynn Weingarten Book Review<br />
<strong>Series:</strong> The Secret Sisterhood of Heartbreakers, #1<br />
<strong>Publication Date:</strong> December 27th 2011 by HarperTeen<br />
<strong>Rating:</strong> <a href="/category/books/review/two-stars/"><img title="Star" alt="" src="/images/star.gif" border="0" /><img title="Star" alt="" src="/images/star.gif" border="0" /> &#8211; Poor</a><br />
<a href="http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/9266804-the-secret-sisterhood-of-heartbreakers" target="_blank"><img class="alignnone size-full wp-image-2109" title="Add to Goodreads" alt="" src="http://muggle-born.net/wp-content/uploads/2011/05/goodreadsadd.jpg" width="92" height="16" /></a></p>
<blockquote><p><strong>Book Summary:</strong> If there’s an upside to having your heart broken, it’s this: A broken heart makes you brave.</p>
<p>The first day of sophomore year doesn’t go the way Lucy planned. After a summer apart from her boyfriend, she’s ready to greet him with a special surprise and instead gets a shocking one in return: He’s breaking up with her. Beyond devastated, Lucy has no idea how she’s going to make it through homeroom, let alone the rest of her life.</p>
<p>Enter three stunning girls with the unnatural ability to attract boys and an offer Lucy can’t refuse: They can heal her heart in an instant. And then she’ll be one of them—a member of a sisterhood that is impervious to heartbreak and has access to magic distilled from the tears of brokenhearted boys. But to gain their power, Lucy must get a guy to fall in love with her the old-fashioned way, and then break his heart in the next seven days.</p>
<p>While the sisterhood may need another Heartbreaker, Lucy’s only desire is to get her ex back. But how far is she willing to go, and who is she willing to cross to get what she wants?</p></blockquote>
<p><strong>The Secret Sisterhood of Heartbreakers by Lynn Weingarten Book Review Overview:</strong></p>
<ul>
<li>Like/hate relationship with <em>THE SECRET SISTERHOOD OF HEARTBREAKERS</em></li>
<li>Love the writing style, hate the premise</li>
<li>Not a book I would recommend to teens</li>
</ul>
<p style="text-align: start;"><em>THE SECRET SISTERHOOD OF HEARTBREAKERS </em>by Lynn Weingarten requires readers to suspend their disbelief. The novel is contemporary sprinkled with a dash of magic.</p>
<p style="text-align: start;">I have a like/hate relationship with <em>THE SECRET SISTERHOOD OF HEARTBREAKERS</em>. I knew that coming in I would not like any of the characters. They&#8217;re cruel and insanely bitchy, but this is one of those books that I was willing to give the characters a chance to make it up to me. They didn&#8217;t.</p>
<p style="text-align: start;">Lucy, the protagonist, is a little naive and a little obsessed with her ex-boyfriend. The moment we are introduced to Alex, I knew that he is Bad News. The boy is clearly not in love with Lucy, but she doesn&#8217;t see that. He wasn&#8217;t worth all the effort, and it was clearly a lost cause. But Lucy is determined to win him back, so she turns a blind eye against his flaws for the majority of the book. Worst of all, she&#8217;s a terrible best friend to Tristan. While he is always there for her in the book, Lucy is quick to abandon him when Olivia and her friends take her in. Lucy doesn&#8217;t really feel remorse towards how badly she treated Tristan &#8211; disappointing because he was one of the very few likeable characters in the novel.</p>
<p style="text-align: start;">The mission of the Sisterhood is pretty vindictive and cruel. This book is basically teaching teenagers that boys are their playthings. They are there for you to flirt and date, but when you get tired of them, they are disposable. Um, what the hell? I&#8217;m sorry, but just because a boy breaks your heart, it does not mean that it gives you the right to break the heart of others <em>for fun</em>. Weingarten attempts to give her characters a conscience, but it fails hard. I don&#8217;t buy it at all that the characters have a bit of compassion in them.</p>
<p style="text-align: start;">On the other hand, I really enjoyed Weingarten&#8217;s writing style &#8211; so much that I ended up reading this book in one sitting. I think partially that this has to do with the fact that I wanted to know if the characters were going to disappoint me. I had to know, and I couldn&#8217;t put the book down. <em>THE SECRET SISTERHOOD OF HEARTBREAKERS</em> is a breezy read.</p>
<p style="text-align: start;">Despite being a quick and breezy read, <em>THE SECRET SISTERHOOD OF HEARTBREAKERS</em> by Lynn Weingarten is not the kind of book I would recommend. In fact, I am making quite sure that my younger cousins stay far away from this book. And to think that this is the first in a series&#8230; <img src='http://muggle-born.net/wp-includes/images/smilies/sad.gif' alt=':(' class='wp-smiley' /> </p>
<p>&nbsp;</p>
<table class="authorbio" border="0">
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<h3>About the Author</h3>
<p>Lynn Weingarten is a writer of books, eater of snacks, and friend of dogs. Before she started writing full time, Lynn originated, developed and edited young adult and middle grade fiction properties for Alloy Entertainment, the production company behind Pretty Little Liars, Gossip Girl, and The Vampire Diaries. Lynn grew up in New York state, spent nine years in New York City, and in currently living in Scotland with her husband.</td>
<td valign="top" width="30%">
<h3>Find the Author</h3>
<p style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://lynnweingarten.com/" target="_blank">Website</a> | <a href="https://twitter.com/lynnweingarten" target="_blank">Twitter</a> | <a href="http://www.goodreads.com/author/show/1818261.Lynn_Weingarten" target="_blank">GoodReads</a></p>
<p style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B005AJQCJE/ref=as_li_ss_tl?ie=UTF8&amp;camp=1789&amp;creative=390957&amp;creativeASIN=B005AJQCJE&amp;linkCode=as2&amp;tag=mugglborn-20" target="_blank"><img class="size-full wp-image-2826 aligncenter" title="Buy with Amazon" alt="" src="http://muggle-born.net/wp-content/uploads/2011/08/amazon.gif" width="78" height="22" /></a><a href="http://www.bookdepository.com/Secret-Sisterhood-Heartbreakers-Lynn-Weingarten/9780061926181/?a_aid=muggleborn" target="_blank"><img class="size-full wp-image-2827 aligncenter" title="Buy with Book Depository" alt="" src="http://muggle-born.net/wp-content/uploads/2011/08/bookdepository.gif" width="62" height="22" /></a></p>
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		<title>Marco Impossible by Hannah Moskowitz Book Review</title>
		<link>http://muggle-born.net/marco-impossible-by-hannah-moskowitz/?utm_source=rss&#038;utm_medium=rss&#038;utm_campaign=marco-impossible-by-hannah-moskowitz</link>
		<comments>http://muggle-born.net/marco-impossible-by-hannah-moskowitz/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Mon, 18 Mar 2013 04:30:37 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>Cialina</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[Book Review]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Three Stars]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Audience: Middle Grade]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Author: Hannah Moskowitz]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Book: Marco Impossible]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Borrow It]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Genre: Contemporary]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Publisher: Roaring Brook Press]]></category>

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		<description><![CDATA[<p>MARCO IMPOSSIBLE by Hannah Moskowitz Book Review Publication Date: March 19th 2013 by Roaring Brook Press Rating: &#8211; Acceptable &#124; Book Summary: Thirteen-year-old best friends Stephen and Marco attempt a go-for-broke heist to break into the high school prom and get Marco onstage to confess his love for (and hopefully steal the heart of) Benji, [...]</p><p>Post written by <a href="http://muggle-born.net">Muggle-Born.net</a></p>]]></description>
				<content:encoded><![CDATA[<p><em><img class="alignright size-medium wp-image-4827" alt="Marco Impossible by Hannah Moskowitz" src="http://muggle-born.net/wp-content/uploads/2012/12/marcoimpossible-200x300.jpg" width="200" height="300" />MARCO IMPOSSIBLE</em> by Hannah Moskowitz Book Review<br />
<strong>Publication Date:</strong> March 19th 2013 by Roaring Brook Press<br />
<strong>Rating:</strong> <a href="/category/books/review/three-stars/"><img title="Star" alt="" src="/images/star.gif" border="0" /><img title="Star" alt="" src="/images/star.gif" border="0" /><img title="Star" alt="" src="/images/star.gif" border="0" /> &#8211; Acceptable</a> | <a href="/tag/borrow-it/"><img title="Borrow It" alt="" src="/images/iconcolor/borrow.png" border="0" /></a><br />
<a href="http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/12477984-marco-impossible" target="_blank"><img class="alignnone size-full wp-image-2109" title="Add to Goodreads" alt="" src="http://muggle-born.net/wp-content/uploads/2011/05/goodreadsadd.jpg" width="92" height="16" /></a></p>
<blockquote><p><strong>Book Summary:</strong> Thirteen-year-old best friends Stephen and Marco attempt a go-for-broke heist to break into the high school prom and get Marco onstage to confess his love for (and hopefully steal the heart of) Benji, the adorable exchange student and bass player of the prom band. Of course, things don&#8217;t always go according to plan, and every heist comes with its fair share of hijinks.</p></blockquote>
<p><strong>Marco Impossible by Hannah Moskowitz Book Review Overview:</strong></p>
<ul>
<li>Marco can be a bit overbearing by the end of the book</li>
<li>The sibling relationships are a highlight of <em>MARCO IMPOSSIBLE</em></li>
<li>A speedy read with a satisfying ending</li>
</ul>
<p>Stephen is going to help his best friend, Marco, break into the high school prom so that he can declare his love for Benji in <em>MARCO IMPOSSIBLE</em> by Hannah Moskowitz. The recent middle school graduates are going all for nothing with a crazy plan for a declaration of love. While Marco is figuring out the last minute plans for their heist, Stephen learns that someone may be out to get Marco &#8211; someone who is uncomfortable with the fact that Marco is gay. Stephen must help accomplish Marco&#8217;s plan while uncovering who might be behind all of the hate crimes.</p>
<p>I know that part of the point of this book is to hate Marco quite a bit. After all, it is Stephen who is our protagonist and we want him to finally step out from Marco&#8217;s shadow. I know Marco is being bullied and all, but I really hate how he takes it all out on Stephen. He can really be a brat sometimes. His character was starting to get overbearing towards the end, and it made relating to Stephen a lot easier.</p>
<p>What I love most about <em>MARCO IMPOSSIBLE</em> by Hannah Moskowitz is the endearing relationships between Stephen and all of his siblings. As the middle child, he has such different relationships with each of his five siblings. I love that even if they are all different, they clearly love each other. I thought that the sibling relationships in <em>MARCO IMPOSSIBLE</em> by Hannah Moskowitz were truly genuine.</p>
<p><em>MARCO IMPOSSIBLE</em> by Hannah Moskowitz is a pretty speedy read with a satisfying ending. Despite my fallbacks with Marco, I&#8217;d still be willing to try other Hannah Moskowitz books. In fact, this one has just made me more curious about her young adult novels. I&#8217;d recommend this book to middle grade readers who love strong friendships and familial relationships.</p>
<table class="authorbio" border="0">
<tbody>
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<td width="70%">
<h3>About the Author</h3>
<p><img class="alignleft  wp-image-4829" alt="Hannah Moskowitz" src="http://muggle-born.net/wp-content/uploads/2012/12/hannahmoskowitz-150x150.jpg" width="90" height="90" />Hannah Moskowitz wrote her first story, about a kitten named Lilly on the run from cat hunters, for a contest when she was seven years old. She was disqualified for violence. Her first book, BREAK, was on the ALA&#8217;s 2010 list of Popular Paperbacks for Young Adults. She is a student at The University of Maryland.</td>
<td valign="top" width="30%">
<h3>Find the Author</h3>
<p style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.untilhannah.com/" target="_blank">Website</a> | <a href="http://twitter.com/#!/hannahmosk" target="_blank">Twitter</a> | <a href="http://www.goodreads.com/author/show/1217665.Hannah_Moskowitz" target="_blank">GoodReads</a></p>
<p style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://www.amazon.com/dp/1596437219/ref=as_li_ss_til?tag=mugglborn-20&amp;camp=0&amp;creative=0&amp;linkCode=as4&amp;creativeASIN=1596437219&amp;adid=0GF4ZBV339E255N9RXWA&amp;" target="_blank"><img class="size-full wp-image-2826 aligncenter" title="Buy with Amazon" alt="" src="http://muggle-born.net/wp-content/uploads/2011/08/amazon.gif" width="78" height="22" /></a><a href="http://www.bookdepository.com/Marco-Impossible-Hannah-Moskowitz/9781596437210/?a_aid=muggleborn" target="_blank"><img class="size-full wp-image-2827 aligncenter" title="Buy with Book Depository" alt="" src="http://muggle-born.net/wp-content/uploads/2011/08/bookdepository.gif" width="62" height="22" /></a></p>
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		<title>If I Stay by Gayle Forman Book Review</title>
		<link>http://muggle-born.net/if-i-stay-by-gayle-forman-book-review/?utm_source=rss&#038;utm_medium=rss&#038;utm_campaign=if-i-stay-by-gayle-forman-book-review</link>
		<comments>http://muggle-born.net/if-i-stay-by-gayle-forman-book-review/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Tue, 12 Mar 2013 17:57:51 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>Cialina</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[Book Review]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Four Stars]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Audience: Young Adult]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Author: Gayle Forman]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Book: If I Stay]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Genre: Contemporary]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Publisher: Dutton Juvenile]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Series: If I Stay]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Tear-Jerker]]></category>

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		<description><![CDATA[<p>IF I STAY by Gayle Forman Book Review Series: If I Stay, #1 Publication Date: April 2nd 2009 by Dutton Juvenile Rating: &#8211; Exceeds Expectations&#124; Book Summary: In a single moment, everything changes. Seventeen-year-old Mia has no memory of the accident; she can only recall riding along the snow-wet Oregon road with her family. Then, [...]</p><p>Post written by <a href="http://muggle-born.net">Muggle-Born.net</a></p>]]></description>
				<content:encoded><![CDATA[<p><em><img class="alignright size-medium wp-image-4935" alt="If I Stay by Gayle Forman" src="http://muggle-born.net/wp-content/uploads/2013/03/ifistay-200x300.jpg" width="200" height="300" />IF I STAY</em> by Gayle Forman Book Review<br />
<strong>Series:</strong> If I Stay, #1<br />
<strong>Publication Date:</strong> April 2nd 2009 by Dutton Juvenile<br />
<strong>Rating:</strong> <a href="/category/books/review/four-stars/"><img title="Star" alt="" src="/images/star.gif" border="0" /><img title="Star" alt="" src="/images/star.gif" border="0" /><img title="Star" alt="" src="/images/star.gif" border="0" /><img title="Star" alt="" src="/images/star.gif" border="0" /> &#8211; Exceeds Expectations</a>| <a href="/tag/tear-jerker/"><img title="Tear-Jerker" alt="" src="/images/iconcolor/tear.png" border="0" /></a><br />
<a href="http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/6990472-if-i-stay" target="_blank"><img class="alignnone size-full wp-image-2109" title="Add to Goodreads" alt="" src="http://muggle-born.net/wp-content/uploads/2011/05/goodreadsadd.jpg" width="92" height="16" /></a></p>
<blockquote><p><strong>Book Summary:</strong> In a single moment, everything changes. Seventeen-year-old Mia has no memory of the accident; she can only recall riding along the snow-wet Oregon road with her family. Then, in a blink, she finds herself watching as her own damaged body is taken from the wreck&#8230;</p>
<p>A sophisticated, layered, and heart-achingly beautiful story about the power of family and friends, the choices we all make, and the ultimate choice Mia commands.</p></blockquote>
<p><strong>Book Review Overview:</strong></p>
<ul>
<li>An absolute tear-jerker</li>
<li>Protagonist with an awesome relationship with boyfriend and parents</li>
<li>One of the best books I&#8217;ve read so far in 2013</li>
</ul>
<p>Have your tissues ready because <em>If I Stay </em>by Gayle Forman is one hell of a tear-jerker. Mia&#8217;s family was just going out for a drive one morning. Next thing she knows, Mia is watching herself get taken away by an ambulance after a horrific car accident.<em></em></p>
<p>I love how point of view is used in <em>If I Stay</em>. Even if Mia is in a coma, she has an out of body experience that sees what is going on around her while she remains in critical condition at the ICU. She cannot interact with anyone, but she can listen to conversations and follow family members and friends around the hospital.</p>
<p>Forman also uses flashbacks quite well. Through flashbacks, we learn more about how Mia and Adam&#8217;s relationship developed. We also learned more about Mia&#8217;s family. By the time I reached the end of the book, I felt such a strong connection with all of the minor characters that the whole novel became even more heart-wrenching. This is one of the few books in YA in which the protagonist actually has an awesome relationship with her parents. For once, the parents are not absentee or ignorant. Their relationship with Mia just makes this book all the more powerful.</p>
<p>Okay, there is so much buzz in the blogging world about swoon-worthy Adam. And alright, I admit it &#8211; he is very swoon-worthy. He&#8217;s such a nice guy and he&#8217;s such a perfect boyfriend to Mia. What more can a girl want?</p>
<p><em>If I Stay</em> by Gayle Forman is one of the best books I&#8217;ve read this year. I had a hard time putting this book down. Now, I can&#8217;t wait to pick up the sequel <em>Where She Went. </em></p>
<p style="text-align: center;"><strong><br />
</strong></p>
<table class="authorbio" border="0">
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<h3>About the Author</h3>
<div id="outerAuthorBio">
<div id="authorBio"><img class="alignleft  wp-image-4937" alt="Gayle Forman" src="http://muggle-born.net/wp-content/uploads/2013/03/gayleforman-150x150.jpg" width="90" height="90" />Gayle Forman is an award-winning author and journalist whose articles have appeared in numerous publications, including Seventeen, Cosmopolitan and Elle in the US. She lives in Brooklyn with her family.</div>
</div>
</td>
<td valign="top" width="30%">
<h3>Find the Author</h3>
<p style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.gayleforman.com/" target="_blank">Website</a> | <a href="http://www.twitter.com/gayleforman" target="_blank">Twitter</a> | <a href="http://www.goodreads.com/author/show/295178.Gayle_Forman">GoodReads</a></p>
<p style="text-align: center;"><img class="size-full wp-image-2826 aligncenter" title="Buy with Amazon" alt="" src="http://muggle-born.net/wp-content/uploads/2011/08/amazon.gif" width="78" height="22" /><a href="http://www.bookdepository.com/If-I-Stay-Gayle-Forman/9780525421030/?a_aid=muggleborn" target="_blank"><img class="size-full wp-image-2827 aligncenter" title="Buy with Book Depository" alt="" src="http://muggle-born.net/wp-content/uploads/2011/08/bookdepository.gif" width="62" height="22" /></a></p>
</td>
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</table>
<p>Post written by <a href="http://muggle-born.net">Muggle-Born.net</a></p>]]></content:encoded>
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		<title>Exclusively Yours by Shannon Stacey Romance Book Review</title>
		<link>http://muggle-born.net/exclusively-yours-by-shannon-stacey-romance-book-review/?utm_source=rss&#038;utm_medium=rss&#038;utm_campaign=exclusively-yours-by-shannon-stacey-romance-book-review</link>
		<comments>http://muggle-born.net/exclusively-yours-by-shannon-stacey-romance-book-review/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Fri, 08 Mar 2013 18:27:23 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>Cialina</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[Book Review]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Three Stars]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Audience: Adult]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Author: Shannon Stacey]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Book: Exclusively Yours]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Genre: Contemporary romance]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Publisher: Carina Press]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Series: Kowalski Family]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://muggle-born.net/?p=4889</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[<p>EXCLUSIVELY YOURS by Shannon Stacey Book Review Series: Kowalski Family, #1 Publication Date: June 7th 2010 by Carina Press Summary: When Keri Daniels&#8217; editor finds out she has previous carnal knowledge of reclusive bestselling author Joe Kowalski, she gives Keri a choice: get an interview or get a new job. Joe&#8217;s never forgotten the first [...]</p><p>Post written by <a href="http://muggle-born.net">Muggle-Born.net</a></p>]]></description>
				<content:encoded><![CDATA[<p><img class="aligncenter size-full wp-image-2661" title="Amortentia Review" alt="" src="http://muggle-born.net/wp-content/uploads/2011/07/amortentia.png" width="300" height="156" /><br />
<img class="alignright size-medium wp-image-4931" alt="Exclusively Yours by Shannon Stacey" src="http://muggle-born.net/wp-content/uploads/2013/03/exclusivelyyours-189x300.jpg" width="189" height="300" /><em>EXCLUSIVELY YOURS</em> by Shannon Stacey Book Review<br />
<strong>Series:</strong> Kowalski Family, #1<br />
<strong>Publication Date:</strong> June 7th 2010 by Carina Press<br />
<a href="http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/8417155-exclusively-yours" target="_blank"><img class="alignnone size-full wp-image-2109" title="Add to Goodreads" alt="" src="http://muggle-born.net/wp-content/uploads/2011/05/goodreadsadd.jpg" width="92" height="16" /></a></p>
<blockquote><p><strong>Summary:</strong> When Keri Daniels&#8217; editor finds out she has previous carnal knowledge of reclusive bestselling author Joe Kowalski, she gives Keri a choice: get an interview or get a new job.</p>
<p>Joe&#8217;s never forgotten the first girl to break his heart, so he&#8217;s intrigued to hear Keri&#8217;s back in town&#8211;and looking for him. Despite his intense need for privacy, he&#8217;ll grant Keri an interview if it means a chance to finish what they started in high school.</p>
<p>He proposes an outrageous plan&#8211;for every day she survives with his family on their annual camping and four-wheeling trip, Keri can ask one question. Keri agrees; she&#8217;s worked too hard to walk away from her career.</p>
<p>But the chemistry between them is still as potent as the bug spray, Joe&#8217;s sister is out to avenge his broken heart and Keri hasn&#8217;t ridden an ATV since she was ten. Who knew a little blackmail, a whole lot of family and some sizzling romantic interludes could make Keri reconsider the old dream of Keri &amp; Joe 2gether 4ever.</p></blockquote>
<p><strong>Heroine:</strong> I will admit it straight up &#8211; there were times where I questioned Keri&#8217;s personality and her character. There were times where I was <em>so</em> sure that she was going to let me down. But it seems that I just had to put a little more faith in her. I was really happy with her character&#8217;s growth and as she struggled to figure out what she wanted in life. I think that her struggle between work/love/family really resonated with me, which made her very easy to get along with.</p>
<p><strong>Hero:</strong> Joe is easily likeable due to his devotion to his family. It also doesn&#8217;t hurt that he is a writer. Sold.</p>
<p><strong>Supporting Cast:</strong> What makes this book so fun is seeing the interaction of the whole Kowalski family. They add such a warm-hearted dimension to the story. I am definitely leaning on picking up the rest of the series just to see more of the family.</p>
<p><strong>Plot: </strong>I love how Keri and Joe share a past. It adds such a fun layer to the story as we learn about what had happened to them all those years ago, and trying to see if it is possible for them to still mend it.<strong><br />
</strong></p>
<p><strong>Romance: </strong>Keri and Joe instantly had chemistry as if they were never apart. I enjoyed seeing how Keri and Joe repaired their relationship. Their past added a lot of tension and drama which made it all the more fun and exciting. The romance had a great build up that was definitely worth it.</p>
<h2 style="text-align: center;">Love Potion Strength:</h2>
<p style="text-align: center;"><img title="Star" alt="" src="/images/star.gif" /><img title="Star" alt="" src="/images/star.gif" /><img title="Star" alt="" src="/images/star.gif" /> -<em>Acceptable<br />
</em></p>
<p style="text-align: center;">I&#8217;ve been having lots of great lucky lately when picking up contemporary romances. <em>Exclusively Yours</em> was an enjoyable read, and I&#8217;m definitely considering picking up the rest of the series.</p>
<p>Post written by <a href="http://muggle-born.net">Muggle-Born.net</a></p>]]></content:encoded>
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		<title>Twenty Boy Summer by Sarah Ockler Book Review</title>
		<link>http://muggle-born.net/twenty-boy-summer-by-sarah-ockler-book-review/?utm_source=rss&#038;utm_medium=rss&#038;utm_campaign=twenty-boy-summer-by-sarah-ockler-book-review</link>
		<comments>http://muggle-born.net/twenty-boy-summer-by-sarah-ockler-book-review/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Mon, 04 Mar 2013 04:26:28 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>Cialina</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[Book Review]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Three Stars]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Audience: Young Adult]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Author: Sarah Ockler]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Book: Twenty Boy Summer]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Borrow It]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Genre: Contemporary]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Genre: Romance]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Publisher: Little Brown Books for Young Readers]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Tear-Jerker]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://muggle-born.net/?p=4917</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[<p>TWENTY BOY SUMMER by Sarah Ockler Book Review Publication Date: June 1st 2009 by Little, Brown Books for Young Readers Rating: &#8211; Acceptable &#124; Book Summary: &#8220;Don’t worry, Anna. I’ll tell her, okay? Just let me think about the best way to do it.&#8221; &#8220;Okay.&#8221; &#8220;Promise me? Promise you won’t say anything?&#8221; &#8220;Don’t worry.” I [...]</p><p>Post written by <a href="http://muggle-born.net">Muggle-Born.net</a></p>]]></description>
				<content:encoded><![CDATA[<p><em><a href="http://muggle-born.net/wp-content/uploads/2013/03/twentyboysummer.jpg"><img class="alignright size-medium wp-image-4922" alt="Twenty Boy Summer by Sarah Ockler" src="http://muggle-born.net/wp-content/uploads/2013/03/twentyboysummer-198x300.jpg" width="198" height="300" /></a>TWENTY BOY SUMMER</em> by Sarah Ockler Book Review<br />
<strong>Publication Date:</strong> June 1st 2009 by Little, Brown Books for Young Readers<br />
<strong>Rating:</strong> <a href="/category/books/review/three-stars/"><img title="Star" alt="" src="/images/star.gif" border="0" /><img title="Star" alt="" src="/images/star.gif" border="0" /><img title="Star" alt="" src="/images/star.gif" border="0" /> &#8211; Acceptable</a> | <a href="/tag/borrow-it/"><img title="Borrow It" alt="" src="/images/iconcolor/borrow.png" border="0" /></a><a href="/tag/tear-jerker/"><img title="Tear-Jerker" alt="" src="/images/iconcolor/tear.png" border="0" /></a><br />
<a href="http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/5231173-twenty-boy-summer" target="_blank"><img class="alignnone size-full wp-image-2109" title="Add to Goodreads" alt="" src="http://muggle-born.net/wp-content/uploads/2011/05/goodreadsadd.jpg" width="92" height="16" /></a></p>
<blockquote><p><strong>Book Summary: </strong><em>&#8220;Don’t worry, Anna. I’ll tell her, okay? Just let me think about the best way to do it.&#8221;<br />
&#8220;Okay.&#8221;<br />
&#8220;Promise me? Promise you won’t say anything?&#8221;<br />
&#8220;Don’t worry.” I laughed. “It’s our secret, right?&#8221;</em></p>
<p>According to Anna’s best friend, Frankie, twenty days in Zanzibar Bay is the perfect opportunity to have a summer fling, and if they meet one boy every day, there’s a pretty good chance Anna will find her first summer romance. Anna lightheartedly agrees to the game, but there’s something she hasn’t told Frankie–she’s already had her romance, and it was with Frankie’s older brother, Matt, just before his tragic death one year ago.</p>
<p>TWENTY BOY SUMMER explores what it truly means to love someone, what it means to grieve, and ultimately, how to make the most of every beautiful moment life has to offer.</p></blockquote>
<p><strong>Twenty Boy Summer by Sarah Ockler Book Review Overview:</strong></p>
<ul>
<li>Refreshing break from the cold New York winter</li>
<li>I did not approve of the twenty boy contest, but <em>Twenty Boy Summer</em> has awesome kissing scenes</li>
<li>This book almost made me cry</li>
</ul>
<p>During the summer, I recommended <em>TWENTY BOY SUMMER</em> by Sarah Ockler to my sister because I&#8217;d seen it around the blogosphere. She likes the summer romance young adult novels &#8211; ones that I&#8217;m not too fond of. But since my dystopian hangover &#8211; caused by reading too many dystopian novels, most recently <a href="http://postscriptd.com/fuse-may-be-too-long-to-catch-fire/" target="_blank"><em>Fuse</em> by Julianna Baggott</a> &#8211; I thought it was about time to take a break and read something different. I took a break from the dreary New York weather and vacationed in the California summer with protagonist, Anna in <em>TWENTY BOY SUMMER</em>.</p>
<p>Anna is secretly in love with her best friend&#8217;s brother, Matt, who also happened to be her other best friend. When Matt finally kisses her on her 15th birthday, Anna is ecstatic. But just before Anna and Matt can tell his sister about their relationship, Matt dies from a heart defect. One year later, Anna travels with Frankie to Zanzibar Bay, California with her family in hopes to overcome their grief.</p>
<p>My main frustration in <em>TWENTY BOY SUMMER</em> by Sarah Ockler is this twenty boy contest that the book revolves around. I know that Frankie is dealing with the loss of her brother by basically rebelling with booze and boys. But I <em>really</em> don&#8217;t like it. I guess I just never saw the appeal of summer romances and excessive flirting. It made me constantly want to roll my eyes.</p>
<p>But I admit, Sarah Ockler has a knack for kissing scenes.</p>
<p>If it weren&#8217;t for the fact that <em>TWENTY BOY SUMMER</em> is border-line tear-jerker, then I probably would not have enjoyed this book. When Ockler gets to the more serious parts of the novel, she does not back down. I found myself getting choked up whenever the girls finally confront their grief.</p>
<p>What I wish <em>TWENTY BOY SUMMER</em> focused more on was the  relationship between Aunt Jayne and Anna. Aunt Jayne seems to have a better understanding of Anna than anyone else in the novel. It&#8217;s a shame that we only get a short glimpse of how Aunt Jayne sees her. In general, I wish that the parents weren&#8217;t as oblivious as they were. While they tried to spend quality time with Frankie and Anna, I feel like they were still always avoiding the topic of Matt.</p>
<p>However, I do think that Ockler made a great point towards the end of the novel that at the end of the day, everyone has to deal with their grief in their own way. Everyone is a little different when it comes to dealing with the grief of losing a loved one.</p>
<table class="authorbio" border="0">
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<h3>About the Author</h3>
<p><a href="http://muggle-born.net/wp-content/uploads/2013/03/sarahockler.jpg"><img class="alignleft  wp-image-4923" alt="Sarah Ockler" src="http://muggle-born.net/wp-content/uploads/2013/03/sarahockler-150x150.jpg" width="90" height="90" /></a>Sarah Ockler is the bestselling author of novels for teens, including Bittersweet, Fixing Delilah, and the critically acclaimed Twenty Boy Summer, a YALSA Teens&#8217; Top Ten nominee and IndieNext List pick. She is a champion cupcake eater, coffee drinker, night person, and bookworm.</p>
<p>When she&#8217;s not writing or reading at home in Colorado, Sarah enjoys taking pictures, hugging trees, and road-tripping through the country with her husband, Alex.</td>
<td valign="top" width="30%">
<h3>Find the Author</h3>
<p style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://sarahockler.com/" target="_blank">Website</a> | <a href="http://www.twitter.com/sarahockler" target="_blank">Twitter</a> | <a href="http://www.goodreads.com/author/show/2188726.Sarah_Ockler" target="_blank">GoodReads</a></p>
<p style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://www.amazon.com/dp/0316051586/ref=as_li_ss_til?tag=mugglborn-20&amp;camp=0&amp;creative=0&amp;linkCode=as4&amp;creativeASIN=0316051586&amp;adid=1MF6D9C6BS7JVRK59JEE&amp;" target="_blank"><img class="size-full wp-image-2826 aligncenter" title="Buy with Amazon" alt="" src="http://muggle-born.net/wp-content/uploads/2011/08/amazon.gif" width="78" height="22" /></a><a href="http://www.bookdepository.com/Twenty-Boy-Summer-Sarah-Ockler/9780316051590/?a_aid=muggleborn" target="_blank"><img class="size-full wp-image-2827 aligncenter" title="Buy with Book Depository" alt="" src="http://muggle-born.net/wp-content/uploads/2011/08/bookdepository.gif" width="62" height="22" /></a></p>
</td>
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</tbody>
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<p>Post written by <a href="http://muggle-born.net">Muggle-Born.net</a></p>]]></content:encoded>
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