Going Too Far by Jennifer Echols

going too far by Jennifer Echols

(all blurb/publishing info/ photo from barnesandnoble.com)
Pub. Date: March 2009
Publisher: Simon & Schuster Adult Publishing Group
Format: Paperback , 256pp
Sales Rank: 3,528
Age Range: Young Adult
Lexile: HL660L What’s This?
ISBN-13: 9781416571735
ISBN: 1416571736
Synopsis

HOW FAR WOULD YOU GO?

All Meg has ever wanted is to get away. Away from high school. Away from her backwater town. Away from her parents who seem determined to keep her imprisoned in their dead-end lives. But one crazy evening involving a dare and forbidden railroad tracks, she goes way too far...and almost doesn't make it back.

John made a choice to stay. To enforce the rules. To serve and protect. He has nothing but contempt for what he sees as childish rebellion, and he wants to teach Meg a lesson she won't soon forget. But Meg pushes him to the limit by questioning everything he learned at the police academy. And when he pushes back, demanding to know why she won't be tied down, they will drive each other to the edge -- and over....

My thoughts:
Meg is living a life of bad choices and fearlessness. After he arrest a group of teens, Police Officer After decides that the typical punishment won't due for Meg and her friend’s reckless behavior. In a valiant effort to show them first hand what the fast track of self destruction will do, he assigns each of the friends to follow an emergency response team for a week.

The mind blowing chemistry of Officer After and Meg grows into an incredible and passionate friendship that had me neglecting my responsibilities. I wanted more, so much more of them when the story was over. BUT I was very satisfied with the ending.

Going Too Far is fast paced, hot, sweet and just plain old fashion reading goodness. Anyone that likes to devour books full of feisty, snarky first love and discovery will enjoy this book.

Will I read Going Too Far again? Yes
Would I let my teen read this book? A troubled teen - yes. There is swearing, drugs and sex, because of this content I recommend that readers be 18 and up. I usually do not enjoy books with this style of writing, but it is so well written that watching Meg and Officer After grow and deal with their pain was a positive reading experience.

is HP worth the POPCORN?

Critics sure have had their "wand in a knot" over the release of HP And the Deathly Hollows. Did anyone attend the midnight showing and was it worth the popcorn?

Will I love the movie because I love the books?
Thanks for the input!


KJOVUS

Gratitude Giveaway

Welcome to Gratitude Giveaways!

Gratitude Giveaways is hosted by I am a Read Not a Writer to celebrate all that we are grateful for this year - including our wonderful followers.

I will be giving one winner a book of their choice up to 10$ (10 US dollars) from The Book Depository.

This contest is international or anywhere The Book Depository ships. Contest starts on November 17Th and ends at midnight on November 28Th.

How do you enter?
It's really easy!

1) Be a Google Friend Connect follower of my blog

(if you are an old follower you get a bonus point)
2) Leave a comment with your name and email
3) Tell me what your favorite thing is about Thanksgiving?

OR Tell me what book you would choose if you win.

There are over 180 blogs participating in the Gratitude Giveaway.

To check out the other great bloggers follow the links below.
GOOD LUCK!

PS If you would like to enter my National Adoption Month giveaway for your choice of Wings by Aprilynne Pike, Raised by Wolves jennifer Lynn Barnes, Tell Me Again about The Night I Was born by Jamie Lee Curtis or From Gods Arms to My Arms To Yours by Michael McLean

ENTER HERE:

Gratitude Giveaways and other Contest

Tonight at midnight EST the Gratitude Giveaways for our Fabulous Followers blog hop begins. It will last from November 17 to Sunday November 28. I will be participating with over 180 other book bloggers. So stop by again on Wednesday to enter and find the links to the 180 blogs that will be hosting a Gratitude Giveaway!

My Celebrate National Adoption Month giveaway is still open until November 20th. Winner can choose from one of the following, WINGS, RAISED BY WOLVES, TELL ME AGAIN ABOUT THE NIGHT I WAS BORN AND FROM GODS ARMS TO MY ARMS TO YOURS.

Enter Here:

Courtney Allison Moulton is have

15 weeks of Angelfire giveaway

to celebrate the countdown to the release of her book,

ANGELFIRE.

Enter HERE:

365 Days of Reading is giving away

Nightshade,

ends November 23.

Enter HERE:

The Nerds Wife

is giving away

Paranormalcy.

Ends November 19

Enter HERE:

Smitten with Books is giving away The Lost Saint and TLS fingernail polish. Enter HERE:

Review Personal Demons by Lisa Desrochers

Personal Demons Lisa Desrochers
(all publishing info/photo/blurb from barnesandnoble.com)
Pub. Date: September 2010
Publisher: Doherty, Tom Associates, LLC
Format: Paperback , 368pp
Sales Rank: 34,434
Age Range: Young Adult
Series: ISBN-13: 9780765328083
ISBN: 0765328089
Synopsis

Frannie Cavanaugh is a good Catholic girl with a bit of a wicked streak. She has spent years keeping everyone at a distance—-even her closest friends—-and it seems as if her senior year is going to be more of the same . . . until Luc Cain enrolls in her class. No one knows where he came from, but Frannie can’t seem to stay away from him.

What she doesn’t know is that Luc is on a mission. He’s been sent from Hell itself to claim Frannie’s soul. It should be easy—-all he has to do is get her to sin, and Luc is as tempting as they come. Frannie doesn’t stand a chance. But he has to work fast, because if the infernals are after her, the celestials can’t be far behind. And sure enough, it’s not long before the angel Gabriel shows up, willing to do anything to keep Luc from getting what he came for. It isn’t long before they find themselves fighting for more than just Frannie’s soul.

But if Luc fails, there will be Hell to pay . . . for all of them.

My Thoughts:
In Personal Demons a mortal’s soul is up fro grabs and is tempted by the very cunning demons and angelic beings that are assigned to either tempt or inspire you.

Lisa Desrochers creates a world where we are tagged for heaven and hell because of transgressions or our kind actions. The simplicity of tagging makes understanding long term circumstances of everyday choices comprehendible and tells a great story at the same time.

Frannie, Luc and Gabe are strong characters with deep connections that make the story raw and emotional. As the three lead characters grow and develop the story becomes more personal. The reader finds themselves choosing a side (between Luc and Gabe) and cheering for them. In the end I flip flopped so many times that I am still left conflicted about my choice and find myself changing my mind even after I have finished reading it.

Normally I dislike angel stories but Personal Demons rises above my expectations and prove to be a unique story. Book two in the Personal Demons series, Original Sin, is scheduled to be released July 5 2011. It is one book that will be on my pre order list!

Would I buy this book? Yes
Would I read it again? Yes
Would I let my teen read it? Nope, It is a young adult book. The mature teen would probably appreciate this book, but because of the language, violence and sexual situations, I recommend it for 18 and up.

A BIG THANK YOU to AMINA BLACK FOR THE BOOK!

spotlight: The Summoning, Kelley Armstrong

The Summoning (Darkest Powers #1)
Kelley Armstrong
(all blurb/publishing info and photos from barnesandnoble.com)
Product Details
Pub. Date: March 2009
Publisher: HarperCollins Publishers
Format: Paperback , 416pp
Sales Rank: 5,462
Age Range: Young Adult
Series: Darkest Powers Series , #1
ISBN-13: 9780061450549
ISBN: 0061450545
Edition Description: Reprint
Synopsis

After years of frequent moves following her mother’s death, Chloe Saunders’s life is finally settling down. She is attending art school, pursuing her dreams of becoming a director, making friends, meeting boys. Her biggest concern is that she’s not developing as fast as her friends are. But when puberty does hit, it brings more than hormone surges. Chloe starts seeing ghosts–everywhere, demanding her attention. After she suffers a breakdown, her devoted aunt Lauren gets her into a highly recommended group home.

At first, Lyle House seems a pretty okay place, except for Chloe’s small problem of fearing she might be facing a lifetime of mental illness. But as she gradually gets to know the other kids at the home–charming Simon and his ominous, unsmiling brother Derek, obnoxious Tori, and Rae, who has a “thing” for fire–Chloe begins to realize that there is something that binds them all together, and it isn’t your usual “problem kid” behaviour. And together they discover that Lyle House is not your usual group home either…

Mrs. Kjovus Guest Post - How I knew she was mine

Two weeks before she was born I sat folding laundry thinking about a name. A name for our new baby girl that would convey beauty, confidence and originality laced with intelligence.

As I ponder the infinite list of names, my mind could process only one - MARY.

"What? That's not original!" I thought to myself. But the longer I thought about it the more I felt it was the name for her. My grandmother’s name is Mary, she will be honored. I conceded and felt that it was perfect; the rightness of the ordinary name gave me chills.

I told Kenny about my name epiphany when he arrived home from work. He said OK and like usual didn't express much excitement about the pending adoption. At the time it felt like he did not want to adopt the child - his lack of enthusiasm fueled my own insecurity about our decision. Later I would find out that he was just as scared as I was about adoption.

Two weeks later as I stood in the newborn nursery, afraid to touch this chubby thick haired screamer my mind was saturated with fears. Was Kenny going through with this to make me happy or did he want it too?

The nurse said to me "You can hold her you know. That's your baby." The room started to spin and my knees wobbled. I swear that these 100 pounds of pressure wasn't on my chest a few minutes ago. Thank heavens I had enough forethought and coordination to take a picture of my husband at that exact moment. He was a new father observing his bundle of joy. The emotions he felt were expressed by his tender gaze and the fear dissipated as the warmth of our love confirmed that we made the right choice.


















I replied to the nurse "I would like to hold her when we can do it together - it’s a moment I want to share with my husband."


"Let’s go to your room then."

"HUH?"

"You get your own room - follow me."
The kind hospital had arranged for us to have our own room. As we closed the door behind us we were in our own quiet universe. I told Kenny to pick her up and he said "No I will break her." Then he slid his meaty paws under her swaddled body and kissed her forehead. When he looked at me two uncharacteristic tears slid down his rosy cheeks.

We examined her long black hair that I was excited I could put a barrette in. We counted 10 piggies and toes then about the same amount of chubby rolls!

We looked at her hospital ID tag and wondered if we had told the nurse what we were going to name her, because her tag said Mary.

An hour later we wheeled Mary to our birth mothers room to meet her biological grandparents and great grandmother. We were suddenly surrounded by a family that was more afraid than we were. They tried to welcome us but had so many concerns and fears of their own. We introduced ourselves and I was grateful my sister Em had a long standing relationship with the biological family. She provided a silent comfort to everyone. After introductions we ask Stephanie the biological mother, why the baby's ID tag said Mary.

"Oh, well it’s a name given to the first born daughter for many generations. My name is Mary Stephanie, My mom is Mary Shirlene and my grandmother is Mary Gwen."

Kenny and I shared a long gaze, and then I turned to Stephanie's mother and ask with a shaky voice if we could keep the family name of Mary.

Grandma Mary Shirlene wept and threw her arms around me and said "yes, we would love that!" At that exact moment I believe us and the biological family knew the adoption was supposed to be.

Great Grandma Mary Gwen slapped Kenny on the back and said "I am so happy this baby will have a father and I can already tell by the way you look at her, that you love her deeply."

She was right; Mary is a daddy's girl!

Thank you for helping us celebrate our family - created by the selfless act of love called adoption. We hope that by sharing our experience with you, you will be open to the joys and blessings of adoption. The choice may not be right for you, but you inevitably will discover a friend or family member whose life has profoundly been changed because of this miracle.

Mrs. Kjovus

Adoption Blog Hop

As part of the Celebrate National Adoption Month I am participating in an adoption blog hop. if you want to check out other adoption stories and foster family stories follow the link's below.
The adoption blog hop is sponsered by

You can find my Celebrate National Adoption Month Giveaway

and adoption story here:

Review Ghost Town by Rachel Caine

GHOST TOWN, Rachel Caine
(all publishing info blurb/photo is from barnesandnoble.com)
Pub. Date: October 2010
Publisher: Penguin Group (USA)
Format: Hardcover , 338pp
Sales Rank: 300
Age Range: Young Adult
Series: Morganville Vampires Series , #9
ISBN-13: 9780451231611
ISBN: 0451231619
Synopsis

Get ready for "non-stop vampire action" (Darque Reviews) in the latest Morganville Vampire novel from New York Times bestselling author Rachel Caine.

While developing a new system to maintain Morganville's defenses, student Claire Danvers discovers a way to amplify vampire mental powers. Through this, she's able to re-establish the field around this vampire-infested Texas college town that protects it from outsiders.

But the new upgrades have an unexpected consequence: people inside the town begin to slowly forget who they are-even the vampires. Soon, the town's little memory problem has turned into a full-on epidemic. Now Claire needs to figure out a way to pull the plug on her experiment- before she forgets how to save Morganville...


My Thoughts:
Throughout Ghost Town we see a new side of Shane, a vulnerable one that makes me like him more. Yet I tend to agree with Mr. and Mrs. Danvers, Claire could do better. But what is better than a boy who loves your daughter and is devoted to her in every way? Understandably they prefer a boy that loves their daughter and is not from Morganville.

Myrnin is a large part of the Ghost Town story. He is a quirky exciting character that makes this book work. Myrnin guards Clare and challenges her intellectually and she him. She keeps him anchored to sanity and humanity.

Clare is changing everything about Morganville, including the Vamps. The townspeople and vamps respect Clare and judging by Oliver's reactions to her - it’s an emotion he hasn't felt often or ever for a human.

I was sad to learn that there are only three books left in Rachel Caine’s series, hopefully the publishers will want more, and I know I do. I could read about Morganville and the adventures of Claire and the gang until she is done with college....when she gets her PHD.

Would I buy this book? Originally I said no, but the more I read of the series the more I want it. I think more than a paperback copy; I would enjoy the Morganville series in audio book. I have more time to listen than to read and the Morganville series is entertaining and fast paced the perfect chemistry for an audio book.
Would I read Ghost Town again? Yes.
Would I let my teen read this book? Nope, it is a young adult book. I recommend age 18 and up.

LOL

If you are a fan of Maggie Stiefvater's Linger, book two of the Wolves of Mercy Falls series, you should check out her blog post of character paperdolls.

Cole's made me laugh out loud.

You can find it here:

Saturday Spotlight - Wings Aprilynne Pike

WINGS, APRILYNNE PIKE
(all publishing info/blurb/photo from barnesandnoble.com)
Pub. Date: April 2010
Publisher: HarperCollins Publishers
Format: Paperback , 294pp
Sales Rank: 11,460
Age Range: Young Adult
Series: ISBN-13: 9780061668050
ISBN: 0061668052
Synopsis

Laurel was mesmerized, staring at the pale things with wide eyes. They were terrifyingly beautiful—too beautiful for words.

Laurel turned to the mirror again, her eyes on the hovering petals that floated beside her head. They looked almost like wings.

In this extraordinary tale of magic and intrigue, romance and danger, everything you thought you knew about faeries will be changed forever.

National Adoption Month + giveaway

Our Story:
Four and half years ago a young woman named Stephanie was pregnant. She was already a single mom and struggling to keep up with the expense of raising a child on her own. Stephanie tried to figure out a budget on how she would be able to pay for diapers and wipes and formula and all the things that accompany a newborn, but no matter how hard she tried to budget, it just didn’t work. Within two weeks of finding out she was pregnant she felt very strongly that she was suppose to place her baby for adoption.

Stephanie had been working with my sister Em at the time. Em had expressed her love and grief for us as we struggled to have a family. We had been medically perusing pregnancy without success and felt our dreams of parenthood shatter as we grasped tighter to the hope of holding a child in our arms.

As the nine months of pregnancy progressed Stephanie knew with such conviction that we were the couple she wanted to give her baby to, that we were intimidated. After all we had been unsuccessful for eight years and counting. It was difficult and frightening to open our minds and hearts to someone giving us her baby in fear of disappointment.

My wife and I had discussed adoption in the past, even before we were married. We felt that adoption would be the very last option for us at this point in our lives. While the thought of adopting a child thrilled us, the realization that we would never have a biological child of our own seemed to rip through our souls with bittersweet joy of potential parenthood.

We were afraid she would change her mind.

Mary was born in January 2007. Stephanie wanted us to be the first to hold her, feed her and spend time with her. I believe that because she was already a parent she understood what precious moments these were in our lives. She was also so happy for us. She was happy that we would be the baby’s parents and take her camping and fishing. She was happy that her baby would have two loving parents that adored her, wanted her and would give her everything she was not able to give. She was happy the baby would have a dog, a home and lots of cousins to shower her with attention.

The most remarkable part of watching this young woman change our lives was that she didn’t have any family support with the adoption. Her mother was afraid too, afraid of never seeing her grandchild, never holding her, afraid of the life she would have or wouldn’t have. Stephanie is a courageous person, a hero to us. She changed our lives for the better, she set examples for other young women and she gave her baby something that she could not give to her on her own.

While Mary is our child, it is important that she know she has another family, a family that love her and celebrate her life with us. We have tried hard to maintain contact with our childrens biological family; we send cards, emails and photos several times a year. (More about that later this month)

When Mary was nine months old we got a phone call from Stephanie. Her little sister Shantelle was pregnant and wanted to place her baby for adoption, with us.

On Thanksgiving Day we found out that Mary would have a baby brother. Shantelle was so happy that we would have a son, happy that our children would have a biological connection with each other. It was the first time she had showed excitement with her pregnancy – because she knew what she was giving us. She was giving us “the gift we could not give each other” (Lyrics by Michael Mclean), a family, and a boy to go with our girl.

While adoption is not the right choice for every pregnant woman or infertile couple, it was right for us. We love and admire these young women and all those that are involved in the adoption process. For us, adoption is an answer to our prayers, two little miracles that have made us better people.

CONTEST TIME:
November is National Adoption Month. We would like to celebrate this very special gift of love with everyone we meet, both in the blog world and real world. To celebrate we are giving away WINGS by Aprilynne Pike.

We chose the book WINGS because the main character Laurel is adopted. She has two loving parents that adore her and do everything they can to communicate and express friendship and love to their daughter. As Laurel discovers her biological family she accepts who she is and embraces both sides of her heritage.

It’s also a very good book. ;)

If you already own Wings we can change it to Tell Me Again About The Night I Was Born by Jamie Lee Curtis; From Gods Arms To My Arms To Yours by Michael Mclean or Raised By Wolves by Jennifer Lynn Barnes or a few other titles that haven't been decided at the moment.

To enter this contest you must be a follower of this blog and leave a comment stating whether or not you or someone you know about has had a positive adoption experience. (Been adopted, placed a child for adoption, or is waiting to adopt or if you haven't known anyone tell us - we would still like you to enter the contest) and then your email address. That’s it. (You can read my contest policy here.) This contest is international, anywhere that the book depository ships. Contest ends on National Adoption Day, November 20 2010. (If you want a bonus entry put this contest on your sidebar or contest link, leave us the link in your message)

Thank you for helping us celebrate!

Our first family photo, Mary is 55 minutes old.

The first time my wife held her new baby.

Me and Cole.

VOTE!

"There are three things I have learned never to discuss with people: religion, politics, and the Great Pumpkin." -
Linus van Pelt.