Blog

Book Review, the loser's guide to life and love

Book Review: The Loser’s Guide to Life and Love

Kathryn Cooper

Title: The Loser’s Guide to Life and Love
Author: A. E. Cannon
Publisher: HarperTeen
Release Date: July 2008
Pages: 272
Series: none

From Goodreads.com:
Ordinary, boring Ed works a loser summer job at Reel Life Movies, where he doesn’t even have his own name tag. He’s stuck with “Sergio.” Ed’s only consolations are his two best friends. Shelving DVDs isn’t so mind-numbingly dull with Scout cracking jokes, and after hours Ed hangs out with the superbrain, Quark. Life starts to look up when the girl of his dreams saunters into Reel Life. Ed knows he doesn’t stand a chance . . . but maybe, just maybe Sergio does. All he has to do is pretend to be a smoldering Brazilian stud for the rest of his life. Simple, right? But . . . Ed’s new dream girl has her own secrets, Scout wants to be more than Ed’s best friend, and his buddy Quark wants Scout for himself. Star-crossed crushes make for hilarious misunderstandings as Ed guides his life toward disaster in this fresh, contemporary twist on Shakespeare’s Midsummer Night’s Dream.

My Thoughts: 
Don’t you love the title? LOL that’s what really caught my attention. I actually haven’t read Shakespeare’s A Midsummer Night’s Dream, but I did see the play and know the basics. I agree with the summary that it’s a fun twist on the play.

The book is told from 4 character’s perspectives. Mostly told from Ed, the main character. The other 3 are Scout (a ‘one of the guys’ type girl, Ed’s best friend, and star soccer player), Quart (genius neighbor, also Ed’s friend), and Ellie (sweet, beautiful, new in town). All fun characters.

Cannon did a great job showing true high school emotions. The characters had lots of insecurities that I think are common for many teenagers and some adults. I liked seeing them work through insecurity to learn their strengths.

This is a really light-hearted read, even too silly for me at times. Not for someone who only reads serious stuff. This is a quick read; if it was any longer I probably would have lost interest. Again I would have liked there to be no cussing. Period. It was a really funny read though. I laughed out loud quite a few times.


Content Ratings: highlight between the ( ) for details
Sexual Content: mild ( kissing, thoughts of sex- like “am I the only teenager not having sex” ) 
Language: mild/moderate ( 5 d***, 3 h***, 1 bloody h***, 2 s*** )
Violence: almost none ( punch in the face )

Happy Reading!

Uncategorized

Happy Halloween!

Kathryn Cooper

In honor of Halloween I’ll post a picture of my husband Colt and me from two years ago. Can you guess who we are? Hint… YA book characters.

That’s right! We’re Bella and Edward from the Twilight saga. You can’t tell in this picture, but Colt even had honey colored contacts. No one knew we were dressed up, but we had a good laugh acting like teenagers.

Happy Halloween!

in my mailbox

In My Mailbox (3)

Kathryn Cooper

In My Mailbox, hosted by The Story Siren, is a weekly post where bloggers list the books they received this week. The books can be from anywhere: publishers, authors, won in a giveaway, bought, borrowed from the library.

For review from author.
Protostar (The Star-Crossed Saga #1) by Braxton Cosby

From Goodreads.com:
On the brink of Civil War, the Torrian Alliance continues with its mission to obliterate Star-children across the universe in order to suppress an intergalactic evil. Following the recommendations of his Council, King Gregorio Derry has agreed to send his only son William, on a mission to restore honor to his family. What starts out routine, becomes a lot more complicated as an inopportune crash landing delays the assassination. During this time, William begins to form a ‘connection’ with Sydney that challenges his inner being. But this conflict is the least of his problems, as a conspiracy back on his home planet Fabricius threatens the lives of those he loves and his father’s royal legacy. Along with that, he must unravel a hidden threat here on Earth that seeks to secure a vested interest that threatens both his and Sydney’s safety. Will William be able to complete his mission or will he choose love, sacrificing everything he stands for?

Won from I Am A Reader Not a Writer.
An Old-Fashioned Romance by Marcia Lynn McClure

From Goodreads.com:
Life went along simply, if not rather monotonously, for Breck McCall. Her job was satisfying, she had true friends. But she felt empty . . . as if part of her soul was detached and lost to her. She longed for something . . . something which seemed to be missing. Yet, there were moments when Breck felt she might almost touch something wonderful. And most of those moments came while in the presence of her handsome, yet seemingly haunted boss . . . Reese Thatcher.

Book Review, forgive my fins

Book Review: Forgive My Fins

Kathryn Cooper

Title: Forgive My Fins
Author: Tera Lynn Childs
Publisher: Katherine Tegan Books
Release Date: May 2010
Pages: 293
Series: Fins #1
4 STARS: I Really Liked It

From Goodreads.com:
Lily Sanderson has a secret, and it’s not that she has a huge crush on gorgeous swimming god Brody Bennett, who makes her heart beat flipper-fast. Unrequited love is hard enough when you’re a normal teenage girl, but when you’re half human, half mermaid, like Lily, there’s no such thing as a simple crush.
Lily’s mermaid identity is a secret that can’t get out, since she’s not just any mermaid—she’s a Thalassinian princess. When Lily found out three years ago that her mother was actually a human, she finally realized why she didn’t feel quite at home in Thalassinia, and she’s been living on land and going to Seaview High School ever since, hoping to find where she truly belongs. Sure, land has its problems—like her obnoxious biker-boy neighbor, Quince Fletcher—but it has that one major perk: Brody. The problem is, mermaids aren’t really the casual dating type—the instant they “bond,” it’s for life.
When Lily’s attempt to win Brody’s love leads to a tsunami-sized case of mistaken identity, she is in for a tidal wave of relationship drama, and she finds out, quick as a tailfin flick, that happily ever after never sails quite as smoothly as you planned.

My Thoughts:
I’m still smiling about this book. It’s just so cute! Sometimes I just really love when the boy and girl act like they hate each other. I like a love story where the love is worked for through sweat and tears.

Poor Lily, she is a bit confused when it comes to love. But really who didn’t have an unattainable crush in high school? You know, the guy you fantasized was prince charming when only looking at the surface. If any high schoolers are reading this, yes, have your crush but just don’t waste too much time on him. Go out and date the guys that are your best friends- way more fun.

Okay back to the book. I don’t know what else to say; I really loved the main character Lily. I also loved the story line. I had to know what happened! It was such a unique concept. I could NOT guess what would happen. It was fun just letting go of all the guessing and letting the author truly take me for a ride. A fun and light read. I started it last night and finished it by lunch. Yes, I practically ignored my kids. Hey it’s Saturday, and they were playing.


My only complaint was the language. It wasn’t as bad as other books I’ve read, but I always think cussing is unnecessary to the storyline.

Great mermaid book! Go out and read it! 

Favorite Line:
On page 21:
“His smile makes me dizzy–in a good way. I know this is love. What else could make me sweat and smile and swoon all at once?”

Content Ratings: highlight between the ( ) to see details
Sexual Content: mild ( some kissing )
Language: moderate ( 2 d***, 2 a**, 8 h****, a few God, but what made it moderate instead of mild was 1 G** d**** and 1 b**** )
Violence: practically none ( one instance with a few punches )

Happy Reading!

Book Review, wolves boys and other things that might kill me

Book Review: Wolves, Boys, & Other Things That Might Kill Me

Kathryn Cooper

Title: Wolves, Boys, & Other Things That Might Kill Me
Author: Kristen Chandler
Publisher: Viking
Release Date: May 13, 2010
Pages: 371
Series: none
3 STARS: I Liked It

From Goodreads.com:
It’s K.J.’s junior year in the small town of West End, Montana, and whether she likes it or not, things are different this year. Over the summer, she turned from the blah daughter of a hunting and fishing guide into a noticeably cuter version of the outdoor loner. Normally, K.J. wouldn’t care less, but then she meets Virgil, whose mom is studying the controversial wolf packs in nearby Yellowstone Park. And from the moment Virgil casts a glance at her from under his shaggy blond hair, K.J. is uncharacteristically smitten. Soon, both K.J. and Virgil are spending a lot of their time watching the wolves (and each other), and K.J. begins to see herself and her town in a whole new light.

My Thoughts:
This cover is actually for the paperback. I like it more than the hardcover. I love the mountains and lake. Makes me kind of cold just looking at it.

There are at least 2 reasons why I decide I like a book. 1) I love the main character. Whether the storyline is interesting or not I want to find out more about this character’s life. 2) I love the storyline. Either it’s action packed or a great romance or even a hint of a brewing romance.
Sometimes a book has both or just one or the other that’s working for me.

For me this book had #1. I loved the main character KJ from the very first page. I’m not anything like KJ, but Kristen Chandler’s voice for KJ just pulled me in. KJ is funny! I really like “humor breaks” in a book, especially when it surprises me and makes me laugh out loud. KJ is somewhat confused about herself. She doesn’t seem to know what she can accomplish. The part of her I related with the most is that she blushes easily which I think I do too. Poor girl, high school can be rough sometimes.

I liked the small town feeling of this book. I liked the outdoorsy stuff too. My husband’s a big time fisherman so I understood some of the fisherman talk. This book makes me want to go to Yellowstone and see all the beauty and wildlife.

What I didn’t like was when KJ was too hard on herself. I know it was showing a character flaw, but it was a little frustrating. I’m not really familiar with small town dynamics, but it felt like some events went from a little thing then unrealistically spiraled out of control to a big mess of a problem.

Overall, an entertaining read that I enjoyed.

Favorite Line:
On Page 39: This is Mrs. Brady talking also called Mrs. Baby in KJ’s mind since she’s always pregnant.

“‘What about something like ‘Wolf Notes’? That sounds nice and neutral.’ If Mrs. Baby looked any more pleased with this idea she’d go into premature labor.”

Maybe since I’ve had 3 kids I find pregnancy humor hilarious.



Content Ratings: highlight between ( ) to see more details
Sexual Content: mild ( some kissing, some thoughts )
Language: mild/moderate- a few h***, a few a**, 1 s***
Violence: mild ( not too detailed wolf fights, other tense moments )

Happy Reading!

under the never sky, waiting on wednesday

Waiting On Wednesday: Under the Never Sky

Kathryn Cooper

“Waiting On” Wednesday is a weekly event, hosted by Jill at Breaking the Spine, that spotlights upcoming releases that we’re eagerly anticipating.

Under the Never Sky
by Veronica Rossi
Release Date is January 3, 2012

Book Description from HarperTeen.com:
Since she’d been on the outside, she’d survived an Aether storm, she’d had a knife held to her throat, and she’d seen men murdered. This was worse.
Exiled from her home, the enclosed city of Reverie, Aria knows her chances of surviving in the outer wasteland—known as The Death Shop—are slim. If the cannibals don’t get her, the violent, electrified energy storms will. She’s been taught that the very air she breathes can kill her. Then Aria meets an Outsider named Perry. He’s wild—a savage—and her only hope of staying alive.
A hunter for his tribe in a merciless landscape, Perry views Aria as sheltered and fragile—everything he would expect from a Dweller. But he needs Aria’s help too; she alone holds the key to his redemption. Opposites in nearly every way, Aria and Perry must accept each other to survive. Their unlikely alliance forges a bond that will determine the fate of all who live under the never sky.
In her enthralling debut, Veronica Rossi sends readers on an unforgettable adventure set in a world brimming with harshness and beauty. 

I hadn’t heard about this book. I found it while browsing the HarperTeen upcoming releases. It sounds really good. I really like books where the boy and girl kind of hate each other at the beginning. It makes a fun dynamic. I’ve added it to my extremely long to-read list!

Happy Reading!

Book Review, the scorch trials

Book Review: The Scorch Trials

Kathryn Cooper

This book is the 2nd in a series so DON’T READ the review unless you’ve read the first book. Even the character names can giveaway who lived or died in the first book. You’ve been warned.
Read my review for book 1: The Maze Runner

Title: The Scorch Trials
Author: James Dashner
Publisher: Delacorte Books
Release Date: October 2010
Pages: 490
Series: The Maze Runner #2
4 STARS: I Really Liked It

From Goodreads.com:
Solving the Maze was supposed to be the end. No more puzzles. No more variables. And no more running. Thomas was sure that escape meant he and the Gladers would get their lives back. But no one really knew what sort of life they were going back to.
In the Maze, life was easy. They had food, and shelter, and safety . . . until Teresa triggered the end. In the world outside the Maze, however, the end was triggered long ago.
Burned by sun flares and baked by a new, brutal climate, the earth is a wasteland. Government has disintegrated—and with it, order—and now Cranks, people covered in festering wounds and driven to murderous insanity by the infectious disease known as the Flare, roam the crumbling cities hunting for their next victim . . . and meal.
The Gladers are far from finished with running. Instead of freedom, they find themselves faced with another trial. They must cross the Scorch, the most burned-out section of the world, and arrive at a safe haven in two weeks. And WICKED has made sure to adjust the variables and stack the odds against them.
Thomas can only wonder—does he hold the secret of freedom somewhere in his mind? Or will he forever be at the mercy of WICKED?

My Thoughts:
This is one exciting book. I didn’t know who to trust or what to expect. I constantly tried to take all the clues and make sense of what was going to happen!! By the end of the book I still didn’t have a clue what would happen in the 3rd and final book.

Thomas is a great character. He does what it takes to survive and keep his friends alive. He’s the kind of guy you’d want as a friend and leader. Thomas has a friend named Minho who I love! He seriously cracks me up. I love his bluntness. Minho’s a tough and light-hearted guy trying to get through these horrific circumstances. He seriously makes me laugh out loud. Newt is another friend of Thomas’s that I think is awesome!

I definitely cringed and felt sick throughout the tense moments. I won’t say anymore because no one wants their read spoiled. Check My Ratings at the end of this post to see more details.

I can’t wait to read the 3rd book. I should be starting it very soon! As soon as my husband finishes it. Since he introduced me to the series he gets first dips on the next book in the series. That’s our little deal.


My Ratings: (highlight between ( ) to view details)
Sexual Content: very mild ( 1 brief kiss )
Language: mild ( bloody-few times, made up words used instead like “shuck” “slint” “klunk” )
Violence: moderate ( fighting, blood, deaths, vivid injuries, loss of limbs, gruesome enemies )

Happy Reading!

Book Review, princess for hire

Book Review: Princess for Hire

Kathryn Cooper

Title: Princess for Hire
Author: Lindsey Leavitt
Publisher: Disney- Hyperion
Release Date: March 2010
Pages: 240
Series: Princess for Hire #1
3 STARS: I Liked It

From Goodreads.com:
When a flawlessly dressed woman steps out of an iridescent bubble and wants to know, like, now if you’d like to become a substitute princess, do you: a) run b) faint c) say yes! For Desi Bascomb, who’s been longing for a bit of glamour in her Idaho life, the choice is a definite c)–that is, once she can stop pinching herself. As her new agent, Meredith, explains, Desi has a rare magical ability: when she applies the ancient Egyptian formula “Royal Rouge,” she can transform temporarily into the exact look-alike of any princess who needs her subbing services. Dream come true, right? Well, Desi soon discovers that subbing involves a lot more than wearing a tiara and waving at cameras. Like, what do you do when a bullying older sister puts you on a heinous crash diet? Or when the tribal villagers gather to watch you perform a ceremonial dance you don’t know? Or when a princess’s conflicted sweetheart shows up to break things off–and you’re sure she would want you to change his mind? In this hilarious, winning debut, one girl’s dream of glamour transforms into something bigger: the desire to make a positive impact. And an impact Desi makes, one royal fiasco at a time.

My Thoughts:
This is a really cute book. The main character is a 13 year old girl named Desi. Lindsey Leavitt did a great job showing Desi’s journey of self-discovery. It’s always great to see a character grow. This book is definitely perfect and appropriate for girls 14 and under. I think I’ll recommend it for my 11 year old niece.

This book made me laugh out loud. I love a quick, easy read with lots of laughs. I’m sure we all remember how awkward we felt at times during our junior high years. Desi goes through a lot and learns a lot in the process. I look forward to reading the next book in the series.

My Ratings: highlight between ( ) to see explanations
Sexual Content: mild ( kiss, Amazon rain forest tribal attire- aka not a lot- for a bit )
Language: none
Violence: none

Happy Reading!

assassin, Book Review, Flashback Friday

Flashback Friday: Assassin

Kathryn Cooper

Flashback Friday is a weekly post where I review a book I love but haven’t read recently. I wanted a way to share books I read before starting my book blog. These reviews will not be as detailed as more recently read books fresh on my mind.

What book do you love but haven’t read recently? You can talk about the book or leave a link to your blog post about it in a comment. I look forward to reading where your Flashback takes us.

Title: Assassin
Author: pseudonym Grace Cavendish
Publisher: Delacorte Books
Release Date: September 2004
Pages: 208
Series: Lady Grace Cavendish #1

From Goodreads.com:WHEN MARGARET CAVENDISH, one of Elizabeth I’s Gentlewomen of the Bedchamber, lost her life in a bungled attempt to kill the Queen, her daughter, Lady Grace, became a protégée to the monarch, who takes Grace under her wing. Now Grace, a spunky girl who romps through the gardens with the laundry maids and court tumblers and rolls her eyes at her fellow ladies, chronicles the court intrigues that swirl around her. . . .
It’s the spring of 1569 and 13-year-old Lady Grace, the youngest lady-in-waiting to the Queen, finds herself at a glittering ball choosing amongst three suitors. But the Queen’s generosity turns deadly as threats, dark secrets, and even murder descend on the Tudor court. And it is up to Grace to use her intelligence, stealth, and curious nature to solve the mystery that threatens the very lifeblood of England.

My Thoughts:
This is a really great book series for young teens. I enjoyed it too of course. Grace is fun, brave, independent. I always wonder what she’ll do next. After reading these books I discovered that I love murder mystery books!


I recommend this book to anyone wanting a fun, suspenseful, entertaining, read.

My Ratings:
Sexual Content: none that I can remember
Language: none
Violence: mild- murder mystery

Happy Reading!