If you haven't been obsessively keeping tabs on our blog, I must say I'm neither surprised nor upset. So here are some posts of note from June, just in case you missed them ;D
Showing posts with label sarah ockler. Show all posts
Showing posts with label sarah ockler. Show all posts
Monday, July 1, 2013
Monday, June 24, 2013
Top Ten Tuesday: Books I've Read in 2013
2) Dare You To by Katie McGarry - My review
3) Clockwork Princess by Cassandra Clare
4) Just One Day by Gayle Forman
5) The Indigo Spell by Richelle Mead - My review
6) The Truth About You and Me by Amanda Grace
7) Unravel Me by Tahereh Mafi - My review
9) School Spirits by Rachel Hawkins - My review
10) The Book of Broken Hearts by Sarah Ockler - My review
Wednesday, June 12, 2013
Book Review: The Book of Broken Hearts by Sarah Ockler
Series: Standalone
Genre: Ya Contemporary
Publication Date: May 21, 2013
Publisher: Simon Pulse
Format: eARC
Pages: 352
Source: Received from publisher for review, via Edelweiss
Jude has learned a lot from her older sisters, but the most important thing is this: The Vargas brothers are notorious heartbreakers. She’s seen the tears and disasters that dating a Vargas boy can cause, and she swore an oath—with candles and a contract and everything—to never have anything to do with one.
Now Jude is the only sister still living at home, and she’s spending the summer helping her ailing father restore his vintage motorcycle—which means hiring a mechanic to help out. Is it Jude’s fault he happens to be cute? And surprisingly sweet? And a Vargas?
Jude tells herself it’s strictly bike business with Emilio. Her sisters will never find out, and Jude can spot those flirty little Vargas tricks a mile away—no way would she fall for them. But Jude’s defenses are crumbling, and if history is destined to repeat itself, she’s speeding toward some serious heartbreak…unless her sisters were wrong?
Jude may have taken an oath, but she’s beginning to think that when it comes to love, some promises might be worth breaking. (Summary from goodreads.com)
Protagonist:
Jude is a character I had no issues connecting to. Sometimes I related to her so much that I kind of wanted to cry. She's the youngest child which means not only is she left to deal with everything on her own but she also has to live in the path that her sisters have already walked. She gets their hand-me-down clothes and their hand-me-down heartbreaks. I felt so bad the way her friends treated her and I respected the fact that her family came before their opinions no matter what. I absolutely loved what she was trying to do for her dad with the motorcycle. As a total daddy's girl, I really enjoyed Jude's relationship with her father. It was sweet and realistic. Jude has great values and I really liked and respected her.
That Vargas Boy:
Okay, guys, Emilio is HOT. Sarah Ockler put together the perfect YA boy: rides a motorcycle (and fixes them), has a bad reputation, a tragic story, and loves his mom. Jude has taken an oath to her sisters that she will stay away from all Vargas boys, but that becomes pretty difficult for her when she realizes that Emilio is not like his brothers. He is unfailingly sweet. He helps Jude out the best he can, even if he doesn't necessarily know what's going on. He doesn't judge her or her family, even though sometime they deserve it. Most importantly, he's always there for Jude. Simply said, I love him. I love the relationship between the two of them.
Plot:
So, Jude's dad has Alzheimer's, and his memory gets worse everyday. For some reason, when he thinks about his motorcycle, though, his memory becomes crystal clear. In an attempt to help restore her father's memory, Jude makes it her mission to get his old motorcycle fixed up. Enter hot boy, insensitive friends, infuriating but well-meaning family members, and old western movies. It's an emotional story line with perfect pacing, leaving me completely engaged throughout the entire book.
To summarize:
This book rocked my hypothetical socks. It's a great addition to the contemporary YA world, one that will stand out in my mind for a while. I connected to it very strongly, and even if you don't find the same connection, I guarantee you will find something in this book that worms its way into your heart. This is a book I'd most definitely re-read.
Tuesday, June 11, 2013
Top Ten Tuesday: Beach Reads
When I think of beach reads I imagine books that are easy to immerse yourself in, have a bit of humor in them, are relatively quick reads, and are mostly just light and fun. Not all of these books fit the description, but still. I also looked at my beach reads list from last year and tried not to pick the same books.
2) The Truth About You and Me by Amanda Grace
3) Golden by Jessi Kirby
4) The Book of Broken Hearts by Sarah Ockler
5) Vampire Academy by Richelle Mead
6) Just One Day by Gayle Forman
7) All Sarah Dessen books
8) Pushing the Limits by Katie McGarry
9) The Ghost and the Goth by Stacey Kade
10) Getting Revenge on Lauren Wood by Eileen Cook
By 'beach read' I think I'll generalize it to a summer/holiday/light-hearted/fun/friends/romance read :) Though they're not all typical contemporary as I'm not reeeeeally a contemporary girl.
2) Boys Don't Cry - Malorie Blackman
3) Star-Crossed - Rachel Wing
4) The Truth About Forever - Sarah Dessen
5) Shiver - Maggie Stiefvater
6) Incarnate - Jodi Meadows
7) Sam Cruz's Unfallible Guide to Getting Girls - Tellulah Darling
8) Candor - Pam Bachorz
9) Everneath - Brodi Ashton
10) Lock and Key - Sarah Dessen
Tuesday, June 4, 2013
Top Ten Tuesday: Books Featuring Travel of Some Sort
1) Along for the Ride by Sarah Dessen - Obviously, the form of travel in this book is a bicycle, which plays a really big role in this book. More symbolic than anything, I think. But, I just re-read this book (one of my favorite of Dessen's) and it was even better the 2nd time around.
2) The Book of Broken Hearts by Sarah Ockler - All I have to say--motorcycle boys=NOM.
3) Just One Day by Gayle Forman - This book has all sorts of different travel in it. In fact, readers get to travel all over the world with this book!
4) The Vampire Academy series by Richelle Mead - From planes to cars to trains to feet to mind traveling, Rose goes on so many adventures throughout this series. (I just had to put this on my list. Just had to.)
5) Such a Rush by Jennifer Echols - A teenage girl who flies airplanes? Yeah buddy.
6) Pushing the Limits by Katie McGarry - Another book that I just HAD to put on the list. Because it's frackin' awesome. There is a road trip at the end, sorta, so it counts!
7) Unbreak My Heart by Melissa Walker - I think this is the only book I've read that takes place primarily on a boat. Love it!
8) On the Island by Tracey Garvis Graves - Plane crashes have never been sexier ;D
9) Golden by Jessi Kirby & 10) The Fault in Our Stars by John Green - Both of these books feature a unique adventure (one by car, the other by plane) that made the books so much more realistic and meaningful.
Saturday, June 1, 2013
What Time Is It? (Giveaway)
Summer time, duh!
I cannot be the only one super duper extremely excited!!
Uh, anyhow...
Summer is the season full of possibilities, lazy days, and (most importantly) shenanigans! In order to celebrate such shenanigans, I've decided it is time for a summer-tastic giveaway.
What's up for grabs?
One lucky person will win one (1) summer release that either I've read and adored or I'm dying to read. This giveaway is available to all areas that The Book Depository ships to.
The winner may choose one (1) of the following books:
All I Need by Susane Colasanti | A Really Awesome Mess by Trish Cook and Brendan Halpin |
Dare You To by Katie McGarry | Golden by Jessi Kirby | Gameboard of the Gods by Richelle Mead |
The Book of Broken Hearts by Sarah Ockler | The Secret Ingredient by Stewart Lewis |
This Is What Happy Looks Like by Jennifer E. Smith | You Look Different in Real Life by Jennifer Castle |
Dirty Little Secret by Jennifer Echols | The Moon and More by Sarah Dessen |
Five Summers by Una LaMarche | When You Were Here by Daisy Whitney |
The Distance Between Us by Kasie West | Right of Way by Lauren Barnholdt |
a Rafflecopter giveaway
Or...
Summer is the season full of possibilities, lazy days, and (most importantly) shenanigans! In order to celebrate such shenanigans, I've decided it is time for a summer-tastic giveaway.
What's up for grabs?
One lucky person will win one (1) summer release that either I've read and adored or I'm dying to read. This giveaway is available to all areas that The Book Depository ships to.
The winner may choose one (1) of the following books:
Dare You To by Katie McGarry | Golden by Jessi Kirby | Gameboard of the Gods by Richelle Mead |
The Book of Broken Hearts by Sarah Ockler | The Secret Ingredient by Stewart Lewis |
This Is What Happy Looks Like by Jennifer E. Smith | You Look Different in Real Life by Jennifer Castle |
Dirty Little Secret by Jennifer Echols | The Moon and More by Sarah Dessen |
Five Summers by Una LaMarche | When You Were Here by Daisy Whitney |
The Distance Between Us by Kasie West | Right of Way by Lauren Barnholdt |
Monday, April 22, 2013
It's Monday! What are you reading?
Fresh Out Of The Oven
The Book of Broken Hearts by Sarah Ockler - Gabbi
Currently Baking
A Corner of White by Jaclyn Moriarty - Gabbi
The Blood Keeper by Tessa Gratton - Gabbi
Rebel Heart by Moira Young (re-read) - Charlotte
Waiting On The Counter
Golden by Jessi Kirby - Gabbi
Okay, so my week hasn't been up to its usual standards. The school year is winding down and my teachers are all like, "Let's assign ALL THE PROJECTZ and test them on everything ever!" Ugh. - Gabbi
What are you reading?
Monday, April 15, 2013
It's Monday! What are you reading?
Finished:
That Time I Joined the Circus by J.J. Howard - Gabbi
Blood Magic by Tessa Gratton - Gabbi
The Bane by Keary Taylor - Gabbi
The Truth About You and Me by Amanda Grace - Gabbi
Masquerade by Cambria Hebert - Nova
Delirium by Lauren Oliver - Nova
Angelfire by Courtney Allison Moulton - Nova
On the chopping block:
The Blood Keeper by Tessa Gratton - Gabbi
A Corner of White by Jaclyn Moriarty - Gabbi
Ashes, Ashes by Jo Treggiari - Nova
The Graveyard Book by Neil Gaiman - Nova
Waiting in line:
The Book of Broken Hearts by Sarah Ockler - Gabbi
All of The Infernal Devices by Cassandra Clare - NovaDefiance by C.J. Redwine - Nova
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