Book Review: Fallen

At bookclub, quite a while ago, someone was offering this book up for free. I can't even remember if they had read it themselves, or if they just knew they wouldn't get to it and were offering it to the first taker. It sounded interesting; a love story involving a guardian angel and a mortal. You know, one of thosestories, that seem to be so popular these days.

The novel, Fallen, by Lauren Kate, starts out in a former place and time. It was slow and confusing to me. I had a hard time differenciating the characters and the setting. I didn't understand the relationships and their motives. Then we jump to the present day, where Luce, the female leading character, is enrolled in a boarding school of sorts for troubled kids. The background of why she has to go there is explained but lacked enough depth for me to truly understand it. 

At the boarding school we meet all sorts of characters who are eventually sorted out but it takes a while. Luce finds a best girl friend (Penn), a handsome admirer named Cam and then there's the guy. You know the one. You're attracted to him but he remains aloof, even rude at times. But you can still feel the pull from him, like he's trying to avoid you only because he wants you so bad. You get the gist. That pretty much says it all.

It takes a long time to get to the action. I honestly almost didn't get there because the character development and plot progression was so slow and shallow. There is finally action in the end, which was pretty good. The bad guy is way more interesting and fun to read about than the good guy, so when he started to be more of the story, it really picked up. Too bad for the good guy and the love story. I just wasn't sold on it.

Anyway, it was so-so. There is no language, sex or gore. There is lovesick longing and supernatural fighting. I wouldn't necessarily recommend it. 

They say its recommended for grade 8 and up but I don't like the idea of my daughters reading this type of book that makes a first love, puppy love, high school love seem sooo life consuming. Life is much more than who you love in high school. (my opinion). And the website says Disney has the movie rights and they are in pre-production. What? I don't understand that. Wait, hollywood movies....maybe I do.

Book Review: The Pioneer Woman: From Black Heels to Tractor Wheels

Ree Drumond is an entertaining writer and a great
cook. Just ask any of the thousands who subscribe to
her blog and website, thepioneerwoman.com. She
started writing her love story on her blog, which was
wildly popular. Thus was born the idea to write a full
length book. And if she’d had more material to work
with, it might have worked.

This was a nice book to read. A cute, fish-out-of-water story. She’s a city girl who's moved back home to sort out some changes in her life and the end of a 3-year relationship. She meets a cowboy in a bar and she is smitten. The rest of the story revolves around her learning the ins and outs of country living and her embarrassing yet entertaining mistakes as she tries to woo and impress her "Marlboro Man." We also hear a lot about the disintegration of her parent’s marriage. 

Parts of this book are entertaining and even well written. Other parts are redundant and repetitive. I kept waiting for something real to happen. Most of the action was between their lips and her raging desire to be with him. Though conservative and moral, which I appreciated very much, I got tired of her going on and on about her attraction to him. I felt like it was a little overdone.

On the positive side, it did make me reflect on the energy and enthusiasm of new, young love. The thrill when he says your name, or calls on the phone, or grabs your hand. I enjoyed reading about the honeymoon, which did not turn out the way they had planned. The chapter about having her first baby was also entertaining.

All in all, it was a fun read but hard for me to keep going. The draw to continue on to the next chapter was not strong enough. I felt like I was re-reading sections because she said the same things over and over. Would I recommend it? Well, if you like Pioneer Woman, you will probably like this book. If you like deeper reading, things that make you think, probably not. If you just want a toothless, light book for the end of summer, go for it. You may enjoy it.Ree Drumond is an entertaining writer and a great
cook. Just ask any of the thousands who subscribe to
her blog and website, thepioneerwoman.com. She
started writing her love story on her blog, which was
wildly popular. Thus was born the idea to write a full
length book. And if she’d had more material to work
with, it might have worked.

This was a nice book to read. A cute, fish-out-of-water story. She’s a city girl who's moved back home to sort out some changes in her life and the end of a 3-year relationship. She meets a cowboy in a bar and she is smitten. The rest of the story revolves around her learning the ins and outs of country living and her embarrassing yet entertaining mistakes as she tries to woo and impress her "Marlboro Man." We also hear a lot about the disintegration of her parent’s marriage. 

Parts of this book are entertaining and even well written. Other parts are redundant and repetitive. I kept waiting for something real to happen. Most of the action was between their lips and her raging desire to be with him. Though conservative and moral, which I appreciated very much, I got tired of her going on and on about her attraction to him. I felt like it was a little overdone.

On the positive side, it did make me reflect on the energy and enthusiasm of new, young love. The thrill when he says your name, or calls on the phone, or grabs your hand. I enjoyed reading about the honeymoon, which did not turn out the way they had planned. The chapter about having her first baby was also entertaining.

All in all, it was a fun read but hard for me to keep going. The draw to continue on to the next chapter was not strong enough. I felt like I was re-reading sections because she said the same things over and over. Would I recommend it? Well, if you like Pioneer Woman, you will probably like this book. If you like deeper reading, things that make you think, probably not. If you just want a toothless, light book for the end of summer, go for it. You may enjoy it.Ree Drumond is an entertaining writer and a great
cook. Just ask any of the thousands who subscribe to
her blog and website, thepioneerwoman.com. She
started writing her love story on her blog, which was
wildly popular. Thus was born the idea to write a full
length book. And if she’d had more material to work
with, it might have worked.

This was a nice book to read. A cute, fish-out-of-water story. She’s a city girl who's moved back home to sort out some changes in her life and the end of a 3-year relationship. She meets a cowboy in a bar and she is smitten. The rest of the story revolves around her learning the ins and outs of country living and her embarrassing yet entertaining mistakes as she tries to woo and impress her "Marlboro Man." We also hear a lot about the disintegration of her parent’s marriage. 

Parts of this book are entertaining and even well written. Other parts are redundant and repetitive. I kept waiting for something real to happen. Most of the action was between their lips and her raging desire to be with him. Though conservative and moral, which I appreciated very much, I got tired of her going on and on about her attraction to him. I felt like it was a little overdone.

On the positive side, it did make me reflect on the energy and enthusiasm of new, young love. The thrill when he says your name, or calls on the phone, or grabs your hand. I enjoyed reading about the honeymoon, which did not turn out the way they had planned. The chapter about having her first baby was also entertaining.

All in all, it was a fun read but hard for me to keep going. The draw to continue on to the next chapter was not strong enough. I felt like I was re-reading sections because she said the same things over and over. Would I recommend it? Well, if you like Pioneer Woman, you will probably like this book. If you like deeper reading, things that make you think, probably not. If you just want a toothless, light book for the end of summer, go for it. You may enjoy it.