Across the Universe by Beth Revis

This was a really fantastic book, and not something I usually read.

Elder, the heir to the ruler of the Godspeed, is your typical rebellious teen, albeit one of status.  He is learning about the inner workings of the ship and what caused fighting and chaos on Sol-Earth.  Slated to become the next leader of these people who are to inhabit Centauri-Earth, this education is incredibly important.

Amy has decided to follow her parents and become cryogenically frozen, to be awakened in 300 years on Centauri-Earth.  Her parents are essential to the mission…Amy…not so much.  When she is violently awoken 50 years ahead of schedule, the current leader, Eldest, doesn’t hesitate to threaten death on Amy, unnecessary, excess cargo who wouldn’t be missed.  Elder however, has taken a liking to Amy because of her absolute difference.

Together, Elder and Amy try to figure out who is attempting to murder the other cryo-frozens.  At their every step, it seems that Elder and Amy are running into more shady business with Eldest and Doc, as well as the other people on Godspeed.

The story contained in Across the Universe is unforgettable.  It’s so twisty and mysterious.  The fact that the story is so…scientifically founded, but also blended with glorious fiction and just enough variables to make something of a mystery too, that I couldn’t put it down!  I was so enthralled with the character and the adventure that it was actually hard to get my attention away from it.

I highly encourage this read.  It has a rich plot with many devices that really added to its depth and its overall appeal to a reader like me.  I hope that if you pick it up, you truly enjoy it as much as I did!

Teaser Quote: “I want to take her into my arms and hold her tight. But at the same time, I know that is the exact opposite of what she wants. She wants to be free, and all I want is to hold her tight against me."-Elder  

Amy and Roger's Epic Detour by Morgan Matson

Great summer read.  (our layover campsite gets WiFi, so you guys get to be graced with my online presence for a few more glorious hours.)  It was about a road trip, fitting because I read it on a road trip.
Amy's dad has passed away unexpectedly and her mother feels that a fresh start is exactly what they need.  After three months, her twin brother Charlie's partying has gotten out of control and he's sent to rehab in North Carolina, while Amy's mother packs up and moves to Connecticut.  Amy spends the last month of school alone in her house in California and begins to feel lonely and invisible.  When Amy finds out that her mother can't afford to fly both Amy and their car cross country,  and Amy doesn't care to drive it, in comes Roger.  A year older, just off his freshman year at college in Colorado, these two do take an EPIC detour to chase feelings that need to be reconciled for both of them.  They get to know each other in unexpected ways and when Amy's mother finds out what they've been doing, they overcome some unexpected consequences to take a journey unmatched and quite unforgettable.
I LOVED THIS BOOK.  It was hard to get into at first, but as Amy and Roger developed as characters, and met many more endearing characters along the way, the story drew me in and didn't let me go.  As we watch Amy come out of her shell, we also see the pieces of her story and why she feels the way she feels about the whole issue of driving, rehab, her mother, and her brother, as well as the special relationship she had with her dad before he passed away.
The story is a little bit of mixed media, which adds a refreshing touch to the story in it's most serious entirety. I really liked the story, and it was perfect with just enough mystery to keep it interesting.

Teaser Quote: “Roger: "God, I've been wanting to do that for a long time."

Amy: "Really"

Roger: "Oh yes. Since Kansas. At least.” 

Heat Rises by Richard Castle

Okay, I went ultimate fangirl here.  Like for realsies.
Nikki Heat is on the case of a Catholic priest who was murdered in a BDSM dungeon.  The investigation costs Nikki A LOT.  Along the way, her now boyfriend, Jameson Rook is there for her and convinces her that trust is the most important tool in the whole investigation, especially when it leads all the way to the top administrators of the NYPD.
The plot plays out exactly like a Castle episode, which I looooove and I am so enchanted by the fact that they're shorter, so it's a good beach read, especially if you're sitting down with the intent to follow a plotline, because there is a seriously complicated plot.

Teaser Quote: “John Lennon said life was what happened while you made other plans. So was death.” -Jameson Rook


Okay, so i'm sorry this was sooo short, but it's already late, and I'm leaving for a week and a half on the beaches of Maine, so I probably won't do reviews until I'm home, unless I go supercray and have to escape for a while.   However, I want to thank dedicated readers who are as enthusiastic about the books I read as I am.  I love you all!


Love,
AjB

Lola and the Boy Next Door by Stephanie Perkins

Once again, WOW!
Lola has an intense personality that is accentuated by her style.  She pledges not to wear the same thing twice.  She's dating a gorgeous punk-rocker and has pretty much everything going for her.  She has a wonderful life, 2 loving parents, and new neighbors.  Well...not so new.  The Bells have moved back in after traveling around the country in search of the perfect figure skating coach for their daughter Calliope.  Her fraternal twin brother, Cricket, and Lola have some shared history that didn't end so well.  But now, Lola is happy, and convinced that being friends with Cricket is something she can do.  Anna and St. Clair make a couple appearances as some of Lola's closest friends, who talk to her about falling for each other.  Through the novel, it becomes harder for Lola and Cricket to maintain a normal friendship because of the old feelings that are still blatantly there between them.  Lola's life slowly deteriorates when her former addict birth mother shows up and begins living with her family.  Her and her boyfriend Max fight about Cricket, among other things, which ultimately leads to an extremely ugly break up.  There's insane plot twists, and the CUTEST MOMENTS EVER.  I love this.
Perkins goes 2 for 2 with this one.  She brings an intense family dynamic with the homosexual fathers and the birth mother present as well.  I cannot even describe how amazingly Perkins portrayed the rocker chic idea but ultimately underneath that, a good girl, a good daughter, who only wants to do right by herself and her personality.

Teaser Quote: “Perfect is overrated. Perfect is boring."
I smile. "You don't think I'm perfect?"
"No. You're delightfully screwy, and I wouldn't have you any other way.”-Lola and Cricket

Anna and the French Kiss by Stephanie Perkins

Wow.  Wow, wow, wow.  But before I get to that, allow me to give you a plot summary.

Anna's father writes romance novels.  Think Nicholas Sparks, fraught with...cancer...and other terminal diseases.  But when he tries to impress his other well-to-do friends with his money by sending her to a boarding school in Paris, Anna believes he's gone way too far.  On the first night, she cries when her parents leave, only to meet a potential best friend in Meredith Chevalier.  On her way out of Meredith's room, she meets resident ultra-hottie, Etienne St. Clair.  He's confident, nice, gentle, and ultimately CAH-YUTE!  Anna and St. Clair quickly become BFF's and everyone can see them quickly falling for each other.  The only problem?  St. Clair's girlfriend Ellie, who graduated from School of America in Paris (SOAP) the previous year.  At Thanksgiving, things take a turn for the worst when St. Clair finds out that his beloved mother has stage 2B Cancer and is beginning treatment.  What's worse is that his control freak father won't let him come home to California because his grades have been dropping.  Being the only two on campus, Anna makes it her personal mission to cheer St. Clair up, which leads to them growing incredibly close.  Through a series of twists and turns, both Anna and St. Clair develop into people they never realized they could be, both for themselves and for each other.
Okay, so this book blew me away.  I had this stigma about a title like this, but I read a couple reviews who all said the book was fantastic.  THEY WERE RIGHT!  Oh my word.  Anna has such depth for a heroine, especially in a novel like this.  I can't even describe how much there is to Anna.  And St. Clair!  Even when he's barely talking, there's this...confidence that his persona exudes.  It's incredible for a first novel.  I am so excited to read more of Perkins for the amazing and exciting personality that her main characters have.

Teaser Quote: “I wish friends held hands more often, like the children I see on the streets sometimes. I'm not sure why we have to grow up and get embarrassed about it.”-Anna

Twenty Boy Summer by Sarah Ockler

This is a really great summer read.  Not the most substance, but it does deal with some issues that face girls today.
Anna, Francesca (Frankie), and Matt have been best friends forever.  When Anna turns 15, the friendship between her and Matt shifts to something...more.  They are ready to embark on a wild romantic relationship, and Matt promises to tell his sister Frankie when they vacation in Zanzibar Bay, California a month after he and Anna begin seeing each other, but on Frankie and Matt's last night at home, driving home from an impromptu ice cream, an unknown defect in Matt's heart causes his heart to stop and the teens to get in a car crash.  Frankie and Anna survive, but Matt's heart had stopped before the accident even occurred.  Because of the promise that Anna made to Matt, one year after his death, Frankie still doesn't know about Matt and Anna's mutual feelings.  The girls, along with Frankie's parents Red and Jayne, travel to Zanzibar Bay and embark on the A.B.S.E., or Absolute Best Summer Ever.  The goal? meet 20 boys on the trip.  This quickly goes awry when Anna meets Sam.  Gorgeous.  Beach babe.  A year older.  Kind and gentle.  Anna is finally starting to let go of her love for Matt after going out with Sam, but it scares her.  Anna finally starts to open up to same, even ditches Anna's Albatross a.k.a her virginity, but after a sweet walk down the beach back with Sam, she finds Frankie with her journal in hand, furious...
You can read to find out the rest, but it is a very good story that deals with death, love, not love, sex, and friendship.  These are things and choices that all teenagers are dealing with these days!  Sarah Ockler does a really good job capturing the heartfelt emotions between Matt, Anna, Frankie, and Sam, as well as how the death of their only son effects Red and Jayne.  It's a really good story that captures you from the first page.
I really encourage you to pick up this book if you're headed out to the beach for vacation (like me!) because it's a perfect summer story for when you're soaking up those rays like Anna and Frankie!

Teaser Quote: “He loved to read. He loved words, the way they string together into sentences and stories. He wanted to study them, to know and create them, to share them with the world. ”-Anna

Surprise!

So, over the past few weeks, I've opened up Breaking Pieces and had this gut instinct that it's time to finish it.  This does not mean the end of Eliya and Ezra, but I can't help feeling that there's room for a bigger story.  I think it'll be written in 3rd person this time so I can focus on Annie and Kyle (characters you haven't met yet) and how they evolve, as well as developing the relationship between Ezra and Eliya.
I'm excited for this new project, and I love the support that I get from readers who like my stuff.  Keep Reading!

Love,
AjB

A Looooong Excerpt from Breaking Pieces

So, it's been a really long time since I did anything with Breaking Pieces, so don't complain if it's super duper bad.  It's been a while.

"So," my mother said as we cruised down the interstate, "You start school on Monday."
"Mhmm." I said, staring out the window at vast expanses of farmland.
"What, Eliya?  What do you want from me?  Tell me!"
The thing was, if she even had to ask, I could'nt tell her.  She was way past me telling her that I didn't want to move again because she obviously didn't care what it did to me.

"Kevins, Eliya?"  My Chemistry teach said with a bored tone that implied she couldn't care less.
"It's Ellie.  Not Eliya."
"Fine."  She said, marking it down, "Welcome."
Yeah, okay, I thought, taking my seat without saying anything.
In my observations of the classroom, I assumed my favorite type of seat.  Back corner, out of the way.  It was perfect.  I could pull all the straight-A's I wanted, but I would never actually have to participate.
The bell rang just as a tall, dark boy walked through the door with a sour expression.
"I was in the doorway." He said in a deep voice.
"Just take a seat, Ezra."  The teacher, I hadn't quite learned her name yet, said with an exasperated tone.
He looked at me.  Correction, glared at me, then made his way back to the empty seat in front of me.  I wanted so badly to scream, "WHAT?!?!?!?!", as if his entitlement issues gave him the right to be so rude.  However, I didn't, mostly because as he sat down, his hair was eye level with me and I saw how silky and fine his medium-length black locks were.
This was my problem.  In every place, every city, there was a particular boy who I was...smitten with.  I would flirt around, but nothing more, and by the time he wanted more than batting eyelashes, it was time to move on.  This boy, Ezra, was different though.  He had a past, not necessarily a good one either.  Imagine the headline--"Prosecutor's Daughter Hooks Up with Previously Prosecuted".  My mother would have an aneurysm...how splendid.  Then again, I was convinced my mother already hated me, why not push it?
"So, what?  Is your name on this seat or something?"  The words were out, I was leaning forward, whispering in his ear before my responsible superego could even control it.
"Whatever.  Screw off, kay?"
"You know, you can have it back tomorrow if you want."
"Didn't mommy ever tell you not to talk to strangers?  What's your problem?"
This was dangerous territory.  What my mother did and didn't tell me was none of anybody's business.  I'm not even sure if it's mine.  Needless to say, I was shut and locked when it came to this boy, from now on.  He probably thought he won, too.  Essentially, he did.  He found my deepest, darkest insecurities within two minutes.
I sat through the rest of Chemistry trying to pay attention to the notes, slowly appearing on the whiteboard.  As the bell rang obnoxiously overhead, I was the first up and out, getting as far away from the situation as possible.
I looked blindly at the room number on my schedule next to AP English Lit.  Suddenly, I was pushed and pulled and shoved against the wall as the majority of kids emptied out into the hallway.  Coming unstuk from the hallway was an adventure.  I was shoved back numerous times before I tripped, falling backwards, only to be caught and quickly righted.  In the flurry of motion, I saw tanned, toned arm muscles underneath a plain white t-shirt.  I looked up to thank whoever caught me when I realized it was him.  he was looking down on me with a clinical amusement.
"Welcome to the shark tank."
"Yeah.  By the way, you're bipolar behavior is not making me any warmer towards you."
"Oh come on...you're kind of...you look lost.  Where are you going?"
"AP English Lit.  Not that...you've...ever been there."
"Ouch."  He said slapping a hand to his chest, "That cuts deep.  It happens to be my next class."
"You're kidding."  I say somewhat incredulously, really hoping he was.
"Nope.  Follow me.  Oh yeah, ad I'm sorry.  I saw your reflection after I said that stuff."
"Yeah, well.  Whatever."  I said, only half meaning it.
We made our way to the English classroom silently and when we got there, I made it abundantly clear I didn't want anything to do with his sweet-'n'-sour attitude.  I made with the new girl introductions as he took his seat.  When I was done, I purposely turned my back to him, marching swiftly across the room.  As the class wore on, I stole glances at Ezra across the room.  Occasionally, I could feel him looking at me, but I never satisfied his searching glance.  There was obviously something so, so different about him it was intriguing.  I almost kissed him when he caught me in the hallway.  It's definitely way too dangerous for me, and for him, for us to fall in love or even attempt to.  I was sorry I even tried.
As sooon as the parting bell rang I bolted, fast enough that by the time anyone else was even close to the parking lot, I was hitting the gas on my '98 Chevy truck.  Suddinly, I thought about my situation for a minute.  Home, or my new house rather, was the last place I wanted to be.  It was empty, quiet, and disturbingly suburban.  Why shouldn't I go explore?
My columbus-esque ways led eventually to main street, where touristy vintage boutiques and expensive coffee shops stood side by side, dominating the local economic scene.  For the hell of it, I parked and picked a random coffee shop and walked in, suddenly craving a warm jolt of my normal, hot chocolate, 1/2 coffee.  As I grabbed it from the counter, snapping the lid securely in place, I could feel someone watching me.  I was fully expecting it to be Ezra, but instead found a girl watching me.  She was heavier set, dressed in a plain sweater and dark jeans, complete with face-flattering square-framed eyeglasses.  She seemed familiar enough, so I nodded in her direction. hoping she would take it at face value.  However, because I was having a shitty day already, she casually strolled to my side while businessmen stepped hungrily forward to take her abandoned place at the register.
"Hi!  I'm Layton.  You're Eliya, right?"
"It's Ellie."  I mumbled back.  She had succeeded getting on my nerves already.
"You're in my AP English class.  You walked in with Ezra Kayne."
"Yeah, we weren't together."
"Okay, well, it was nice meeting you.  I'm on the Student Aid Team, if you need anything, just let me know." She slipped a card across the counter to right next to my coffee.
"Thanks, I'll ummm.....be sure to do that."
By then, her coffee cup had arrived on the counter, so when she reached for mine, before it registered, she had already taken a sip.
"Yumm.  they make it the best of anywhere."
"Did you...?  That was mine."
"Oh!  I'm so sorry!  I have a cold, I'm sorry!"
"Well, umm..."  I was overwhelmed, I mean, it's just a cup of coffee.
"Here, take mine," she said, "we ordered the same thing."
"Oh, okay, well, I have to go.  Nice to meet you."
And as I took a sip and looked behind the counter, I knew the drink in my hand wasn't nearly as good as the drink next to Layton's textbook on the single table in the, mostly because smiling back at me from beside the espresso machine, was Ezra.

I hope you guys liked this one!!!!  More reviews and excerpts to come this summer!!!!!!!!

13 Little Blue Envelopes by Maureen Johnson

13 Little Blue Envelopes is not usually the book I read...okay that's a lie.  But let's be honest, and adventure through Europe at the direction of a deceased relative?  I've seen that movie before (It's a good one by the way).  Anyway, It's about Ginny, who has an...eclectic aunt who leaves her 13 letters.  The journey takes her to a roommate of her aunt's who seems too normal, let's be honest.  Anyway, the letters send her on a journey through Europe to places like Paris, Amsterdam, Denmark, and ultimately Rome.  In each place she has a task to complete and with the help of a few even more eclectic people, she manages to complete each one with a little added adventure on the side.
The thing is Ginny ends up discovering a lot about her aunt as she died from a brain tumor.  The story is endearing and at the risk of saying too much...okay i won't.  Hahahahaha.  Okay...I know this is intensely short, but I just did a long one, so that should satisfy you.

Teaser Quote: "'I'm Keith," he said, 'and you're . . . clearly mad, but what's your name?'"

Saving June by Hannah Harrington

Well.  Here we are again, and yet again, I've finished another book.  This one actually has a funny story attached:  I didn't want to read it.  I got it from the library like 3 months ago and have used up all my renewals avoiding bringing it back.  I was cleaning my room the other day and stacked up all library books needing to go back and was like "huh, I wonder why I didn't give it a chance."  So I started reading it and it was magnificent.
Harper (named after Harper Lee, a bonus for my {fellow} lit nerds!) has just lost her seemingly perfect older sister June, who committed suicide just one week before graduating.  Harper is frustrated by the pity she receives when she is trying to figure out everything.  As the rebellious teenage wild-child of the family, always being compared to June (even after she's gone), she has a hard time coping with all that being an only child comes with now that she hasn't had time to adjust to it.  Her best friend Laney tries to help, but no one can really "help" Harper get over what has happened to her already broken family.  Her parents plan on splitting up June's ashes, and Harper just can't stand that.  With the help of Jake Tolan, a boy with a serious music obsession and an outdated black rape van named Joplin, Harper, Laney, and Jake travel to California, the one place June always wanted to go.  Their adventure brings a lot of heartfelt moments and also some very exciting and heartbreaking moments too.  The whole journey is a roller coaster and it is so endearing to stick with.
The interesting thing about the whole plot line of religious doubts interwoven with suicide and what it's like for the people left behind is a conversation I just had with a friend of mine who was dealing with a similar situation.  It was interesting to see how the characters, especially Harper and then Jake dealt with the enormous loss and dealing with how someone could be so seemingly happy and then do something so...overwhelming.  The way Harrington brings June's legacy to life, it makes the way Harper, Jake, and even Laney struggle to cope with the loss of such a pure and good person.  It seems to make the loss even more painful when Harrington uses the song "Let it Be" as a vessel for the emotion that Harper is feeling.  It's an iconic song, so you can hear it in your ears as Harper breaks down and allows her sadness to overwhelm her for a while.  I've come to realize that The Beatles have a song for everything...and I mean EVERYTHING.
I'm really glad I put off returning this book to the library, because I would have lost out on the chance to read a remarkable tale of love, loss, family, and most importantly healing from something so enormous.  I definitely suggest this for a summer read (it's less sad than you think it is).  Leave a comment if you do read it!


Teaser Quote: "He took his pain and turned it into something beautiful. Into something that people connect to. And that's what good music does. It speaks to you. It changes you."  {About the song Tears in Heaven by Eric Clapton--see below}