45. Envy by Anna Godbersen

I love this series. The more I read the more I want to read. I hear the next book will be coming out shortly. In the meantime, Im going to delve into some chick books and start the shopaholic series! Thank goodness for paperbackswap.com :)

From BN.com
Synopsis
Jealous whispers.
Old rivalries.
New betrayals.
Two months after Elizabeth Holland's dramatic homecoming, Manhattan eagerly awaits her return to the pinnacle of society. When Elizabeth refuses to rejoin her sister Diana's side, however, those watching New York's favorite family begin to suspect that all is not as it seems behind the stately doors of No. 17 Gramercy Park South.
Farther uptown, Henry and Penelope Schoonmaker are the city's most celebrated couple. But despite the glittering diamond ring on Penelope's finger, the newlyweds share little more than scorn for each other. And while the newspapers call Penelope's social-climbing best friend, Carolina Broad, an heiress, her fortune—and her fame—are anything but secure, especially now that one of society's darlings is slipping tales to the eager press.
In this next thrilling installment of Anna Godbersen's bestselling Luxe series, Manhattan's most envied residents appear to have everything they desire: Wealth. Beauty. Happiness. But sometimes the most practiced smiles hide the most scandalous secrets. . . .

44 Size 14 Is Not Fat Either - Meg Cabot

Eh - A little boring in my opinion. Too much like the last book. I doubt Ill keep up with this series!

From Publishers WeeklyIn Cabot's entertaining, if flawed, second cozy (after 2006's Size 12 Is Not Fat) to feature Heather Wells, a teen music idol turned student-life employee at NYU-like New York College, a cheerleader in Heather's dorm turns up dead—or, at least her head turns up, stewed almost beyond recognition in a cafeteria pot. Lindsay Combs was bubbly and popular, but as Heather digs deeper, she learns that Lindsay wasn't all sweetness and light. She slept around and was involved with obnoxious fraternity boys who made pin money dealing drugs. If solving Lindsay's murder isn't enough to keep Heather busy, her father, recently released after a 20-year prison sentence, shows up on her doorstep, looking for a renewed relationship and a place to stay. The roster of suspects is underdeveloped, and the denouement is both predictable and implausible, but Heather's charm and wit amply compensate. (Nov. 28) Copyright © Reed Business Information, a division of Reed Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved. From BooklistFans of Cabot's Size 12 Is Not Fat (2005) will be pleased that almost nothing has changed in this sequel. Once again, a killer is on the loose at fictional New York College--a young woman's decapitated head is found in a dorm kitchen's bubbling soup pot. Heather Wells, pop star turned residential advisor, dives in to solve the mystery with the same fumbling humor, vulnerability, and tenacity that she displayed in the first title. Even the love interest is the same here, and Cabot teases readers with an open ending that promises more sequels. Accessible to newcomers, this will still appeal most to readers ofSize 12. Gillian EngbergCopyright © American Library Association. All rights reserved

43 Rumors (A Luxe Novel) by Anna Godbersen

This is the second book in the series. I really like the series thus far. I think part of it is the drama and part of it is the fact that its loosely based on reality. I hope the third book, which I will be starting today goes as well... And I hope there is a fourth book coming soon! I have to thank my best friend for turning me onto this series!

Review
Praise for The Luxe:"Mystery, romance, jealousy, betrayal, humor, and gorgeous, historically accurate details. I couldn't put The Luxe down!" (Cecily von Ziegesar, author of the #1 New York Times bestselling Gossip Girl series )

Product Description

True love. False friends. Scandalous gossip. Welcome back to Manhattan, 1899.

As rumors fly about the untimely demise of New York's brightest star, Elizabeth Holland, all eyes are on those closest to the dearly departed: her sister, Diana, the family's only hope for redemption; Henry Schoonmaker, the flame Elizabeth never extinguished; Penelope Hayes, poised to claim all that her best friend left behind; even Elizabeth's former maid, Lina Broud, who discovers that while money matters and breeding counts, gossip is the new currency. In this delicious sequel to the New York Times bestselling The Luxe, nothing is more dangerous than a scandal . . . or more precious than a secret.

42 Finger Lickin Fifteen by Janet Evanovich

I will not be as brutal as the publishers weekly review. I love the Stephanie Plum series, but I must admit they are getting to be the same pretty much again and again. Lula was center stage for this story though, which I liked. She is HILARIOUS! I really wish Stephanie would make up her mind on the Morelli and Ranger thing. Let me tell you, that is getting a little unrealistic. PS my vote is SOOOO for Ranger! I hope she starts to delve more into his history. I think it would spice things up.

From Publishers Weekly
Bestseller Evanovich recycles tired themes better executed in earlier adventures in her latest Stephanie Plum adventure (Fearless Fourteen, etc.). When Lula inadvertently witnesses the beheading of culinary TV star Stanley Chipotle in a Trenton, N.J., alley, Stephanie's on-again off-again boyfriend, cop Joe Morelli, reluctantly takes the case. Lula, with the help of Grandma Mazur, enters the same barbequing competition Chipotle was in town to promote, hoping to lure the murderers out of hiding. Meanwhile, Ranger has recruited Stephanie to help solve a series of break-ins at properties under the protection of Rangeman Security. The inevitable sparks fly between Stephanie and Ranger, with Morelli grumbling on the sidelines. Evanovich dishes up her usual mixture of shoot-'em-up action (numerous cars explode) and quirky characters (notably a neighborhood flasher with a devoted following), but the lackluster plot will disappoint fans. (June 23)
Copyright © Reed Business Information, a division of Reed Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

41 The Luxe by Anna Godbersen

The Luxe - Anna Godberson This is not something Id usually read, by my best friend has the series and loves them. It was a really good book. It was dragging a little the first few chapters but after that, I didnt want to put it down. I have the 2nd and 3rd ones on hold now at the library.

Editorial Reviews

From Publishers Weekly
With a quote from The Age of Innocence as an epigraph and an enthusiastic blurb from the creator of Gossip Girl on its back cover, this lavishly produced debut makes no secret of its twin influences. The story opens in 1899 with the funeral of Elizabeth Holland, a well-bred beauty said to have plunged to her death in the Hudson River. The narrative then travels back several weeks, tracing the relationships and events that have led to the somber assembly. This tangled web includes not one but two sets of star-crossed lovers; an upstairs/downstairs romance; a scheming social climber; a bitter servant girl; and oodles of money, all set in a Edith Wharton via Hollywood vision of Old New York. The dialogue has its clunky moments, and the plot twist that drives the tale is telegraphed from the very start, but readers caught up in the fancy dress intrigue are unlikely to mind much: it’s all part of the dishy fun. Needless to say, the ending paves the way for at least one sequel. Ages 14-up. (Dec.) --This text refers to the Hardcover edition.

From Kirkus Reviews
A big, sumptuous tale of catty girls, dark secrets and windswept romance unfurls in this compulsively readable novel of late-19th-century New York City socialites. Godbersen weaves a tenuous web of deceit, backstabbing and pretense that follows four teens: Elizabeth Holland, a prim and proper lady of old-money society, is betrothed to one man, though furtively loves another; Henry Schoonmaker, a debauched playboy who must marry Elizabeth or be disinherited; Diana Holland, Elizabeth’s younger sister who is in love with her fiancé; and Penelope Hayes, a member of the nouveau riche who will stop at nothing to win Henry’s affections. As Elizabeth and Henry’s wedding approaches, the spectacle unfolds in a wondrously grandiose scene, making for a fun, though not entirely unexpected dénouement. A delicious new twist along the Gossip Girl vein, readers will clamor for this sharp, smart drama of friends, lovers, lies and betrayal. (Fiction. YA) --This text refers to the Hardcover edition.

40 The Truth About Forever by Sara Dessen

Amazon.com Review
With her sixth novel, award-winning author Sarah Dessen offers up another generous helping of finely crafted storytelling about real teens dealing with real life. In The Truth About Forever, when asked how she is coping with her father's death, invariably seventeen year old Macy Queen's answer is "fine," when nothing could be further from the truth. In actuality, she is drowning in grief while maintaining a flawless façade of good grades and unblemished behavior. Though she feels lost when her boyfriend heads to "Brain Camp" for the summer, she finds herself a job with the quirky Wish Catering crew, and meets "sa-woon"-worthy Wes, whose chaotic lifestyle is in direct opposition to her own. As the two share their stories over the summer, Macy realizes she can no longer keep her feelings on ice. Though it feels like her future endedwith her dad's death, Macy's learns that forever is all about beginnings. Dessen charts Macy's navigation of grief in such an honest way it will touch every reader who meets her. All of the Dessen trademarks are here: a girl in transition, a wonderfully fleshed out cast of secondary characters, and of course, the luminous, powerful writing itself. The Truth About Forever will more than satisfy Dessen's legion of fans, and will win her countless more as well. Highly recommended.

This was a pretty good book. I recommend.

39 - Swapping Lives by Jane Green

Editorial Reviews

From Publishers Weekly
Vicky Townsley, single and successful features director of Poise!Poise!
Copyright © Reed Business Information, a division of Reed Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved. --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

From Booklist
Reality shows and contests are a hot topic for fiction these days, and Green (The Other Woman, 2005) is the latest writer to jump on the bandwagon. Green's vehicle is a Poise! magazine contest that gives a married woman the opportunity to switch places with Poise! features director Vicky Townsley, who at 35 is professionally fulfilled but unhappy that she's not yet found a man. She's hoping she may have met the one in Jamie Donnelly, a handsome Irish comedian who has a reputation as a womanizer. Across the pond in Highfield, Connecticut, Amber Winslow has what seems like the perfect life with her husband, Richard, and her two adorable children. But Amber is tired of keeping up with her competitive friends, and she sends a letter in to Poise! never expecting to win. Readers probably won't be surprised that Vicky and Amber learn to appreciate their own lives thanks to the switch, but they will enjoy watching Green peel the layers of the women's lives back, highlighting that both women have issues they need to change and others they need to accept. Green is a popular chick-lit writer, so expect demand. Kristine Huntley
Copyright © American Library Association. All rights reserved --This text refers to the Hardcover edition.


This book kinda sucked. I have always been a fan of Jane Green books as really easy fun reads. This one was just a little too boring and predictable for me!

38 - Ready or Not by Meg Cabot

Product Description
Top ten things Samantha Madison isn't ready for
10. Spending Thanksgiving at Camp David
9. With her boyfriend, the president's son
8. Who wants to take things to the Next Level
7. Which Sam inadvertently announces live on MTV
6. While discussing the president's dubious policies on families, morals, and, yes, sex
5. Juggling her new after-school job at Potomac Video
4. Even though she's already the (unpaid) teen ambassador to the UN
3. Getting accosted because she's "the redheaded girl who saved the president's life," despite her new ebony tresses
2. Dealing with her popular sister Lucy, who for once can't get the guy she wants
And the number-one thing Sam isn't ready for?
1. Finding out the hard way that in art class, "life drawing" means "naked people"


About the Author
Meg Cabot was born in Bloomington, Indiana. In addition to writing adult contemporary fiction, she is the author of the bestselling young adult fiction series The Princess Diaries. She lives in Key West, Florida, with her husband.

I thought this book was kinda boring. I found myself re-reading the same pages over and over again. This book is in my opinion best suited for the 13-15 year old range.

37 - Pants On Fire by Meg Cabot

Editorial Reviews

From Booklist
Katie Ellison is a big-time liar: she is running for the title of Quahog Princess, but she can't stand the clams her town is famous for, and she juggles two boyfriends. But the lie that weighs on her soul the most is the big secret that she is keeping about her former best friend, Tommy. To complicate matters, Tommy suddenly returns to town after a four-year absence that began after he spilled the beans about local football players who cheated on their SATs. Katie sorts through her attraction to multiple guys, including Tommy, who became all grown up and gorgeous while he was away. Lightweight and predictable, this is still an enjoyable read that's sure to be popular with Cabot's many fans. Debbie Carton
Copyright © American Library Association. All rights reserved --This text refers to the Hardcover edition.

Product Description
But she can't exactly tell the truth, either—not when she's juggling two boyfriends, secretly hating the high school football team everyone else worships, and trying to have the best summer ever. At least Katie has it all under control (sort of). Her biggest secret, what really happened the night Tommy Sullivan is a freak was spray-painted on the junior high gymnasium wall, is safe.
That is, until Tommy comes back to town. Katie is sure he's going to ruin all her plans, and she'll do anything to hang on to her perfect existence. Even if it means telling more lies. Even if, now that Tommy's around, she's actually—truthfully—having the time of her life.

I thought this was a good chick book type read. Definitely great for a beach/summer read. I recommend.

36 - Protect and Defend by Vince Flynn

For the remainder of the year - since I am now caught up to listing what I have already read, I have decided to change it up and give a description of the rest of the books for the year and my opinion on whether I would recommend them or not.

So here it is for the above :

Editorial Reviews

Review
"Flynn didn't invent the post-9/11 thriller, but he might as well have.... [He] is the best pure adrenaline-charged action writer out there today." -- Providence Journal

Product Description
New York Times bestselling author Vince Flynn returns with his most explosive political thriller yet. A tour de force of action-packed suspense, Protect and Defend delivers an all-too-realistic and utterly compelling vision of nations navigating the minefield of international intrigue. A true "heavyweight in the political thriller arena" (Minneapolis Star Tribune), Vince Flynn has created a flesh-and-blood hero that readers can cheer for and a "finger-blistering page-turner" they won't dare put down.
In Protect and Defend, the action begins in the heart of Iran, where billions of dollars are being spent on the development of a nuclear program. No longer willing to wait for the international community to stop its neighboring enemy, Israel launches one of the most creative and daring espionage operations ever conceived. The attack leaves a radioactive tomb and environmental disaster in the middle of Iran's second largest city. An outraged Iranian government publicly blames both Israel and the United States for the attack and demands retribution. Privately, Iran's bombastic president wants much more. He wants America and Israel to pay for their aggression with blood.
Enter Mitch Rapp, America's top counterterrorism operative. Used to employing deception, Rapp sees an opportunity where others see only Iranian reprisals that could leave thousands of Americans dead. Rapp convinces President Josh Alexander to sign off on a risky operation that will further embarrass the Iranian government and push their country to the brink of revolution. As part of the plan, CIA director Irene Kennedy is dispatched to the region for a clandestine meeting with Azad Ashani, her Iranian counterpart. But Rapp isn't the only one hatching plans. Iran's President Amatullah has recruited Hezbollah master terrorist Imad Mukhtar to do his dirty work. For decades Mukhtar has acted as a surrogate for Iran, blazing a trail of death and destruction across the Middle East and beyond. When Kennedy's meeting with Ashani goes disastrously wrong, Rapp and Mukhtar are set on a collision course that threatens to engulf the entire region in war. With the clock ticking, Rapp is given twenty-four hours, no questions asked, to do whatever it takes to stop Mukhtar, and avert an unthinkable catastrophe.

May 2009 Book List

I did not read any books in April! Swamped with work and life, but recreational activities were put on hold.

29 I Love A Man In Uniform - Lily Burana

30 Rusty Nail - Joe Konrath

31 Executive Power - Vince Flynn

32 Act of Treason - Vince Flynn

33 Size Twelve Is Not Fat - Meg Cabot

34 Strip City - Lily Burana

35 Seperation of Power - Vince Flynn

March 2009 Book List

21 Ashes to Ashes - Tami Hoag

22 Charmed - Kendall Hart

23 Harry Potter and The Sorscerors Stone - JK Rowling

24 Motor Mouth - Janet Evanovich

25 Deck The Halls - Mary Higgins Clark

26 The Wedding - Nicholas Sparks

27 Farenheit 451 - Ray Bradbury

28 Tweak: Growing Up On Meth - Nic Sheff

Another month with not alot of reading. Plenty of snow though!

February 2009 Book List

17 Making Jack Falcone - Joaquin Garcia

18 No Place Left to Bury The Dead - Nicole Itiano

19 Elvis Priscilla and Me - Michael Edwards

20 On Call In Hell - Richard Jaddick

21 Whitewash - Alex Kava


Kind of a slow month. But I went on vacation so at least I had a good time :)

January Book List

1 Bill OReilly Bold Fresh Piece of Humanity
2 David Sheff Beautiful Boy:
3 Mary Higgins Clark Ive Heard That Song Before
4 Anthony Swafford Exit A
5 Jeffrey Deavers The Sleeping Doll
6 Bill Sammon The Evangelical President
7 Marcus Lutrell The Lone Survivor
8 Glenn Beck Inconvienent Book
9 Plum Sykes The Debutante Divorce
10 Jonah Goldberg Liberal Fascism
11 Candace Bushnell One Fifth
12 Lauren Weisberger Chasing Harry Winston
13 Emma McLaughlin Citizen Girl
14 Bob Woodward The Secret Man
15 Edward Conlon Blue Blood


So there are all the books I read in January :) I will not be posting any descriptions, but I usually go to amazon.com to look up the editorial reviews
Happy Reading

2009 Book Challenge

This is my 2009 book challenge. I began this in January with the goal of reading 100 books this year! So far I am well on my way and almost to half of my goal. I know with it being July I should have already surpassed it, but life happens!

Hopefully you can get some good reading suggestions! Im always open for more