the rundown.

Just a short list (cause you know how much I love a list!) of the books I've been reading lately.

1) Matched, by Ally Condie. I absolutely loved this book. Cassia was such a relatable character and I really loved watching her grow. Her relationship with Ky was timed perfectly; they didn't rush into it too quickly. This was an amazing book...I can't wait for the next one to come out!

2) The Truth About Forever, by Sarah Dessen. This was the third (?) Dessen book I've read, and so far, it's been my favorite. The characters are really likeable, it's entertaining and intriguing. Macy was a great MC. One of my favorite aspects of this story was Will's art and how that worked with the rest of the story.

3) The Moon by Night, by Madeleine L'Engle. I'm a long time L'Engle fan, and this book was just as good as her others. I think it's the first in the Vicky Austin series. I've read one of the later books, a Ring of Endless Light, and I picked this one up to see how her story begins. It's entertaining and, like many other L'Engle books, has some good God stuff written in with the story.

4) Through Painted Deserts, by Donald Miller. This book deserves its own post at BLAK. It's my go-to road trip book, and I read it all the way through the Kansas and Colorado desert. It's one of my favorite Miller books.

I know there's more, but it's almost Tuesday, I'm very tired, and I'm going to try to crank out a post at BLAK.

Holiday break reading? Any 2011 books I should keep my eyes open for?

Double Shot by Erynn Mangum

Double Shot is the third book in Erynn Mangum’s trilogy about Maya Davis, a coffee obsessed, slightly crazy, completely loveable barista. Maya works at Cool Beans, a local coffee shop. In Double Shot, she’s just become engaged to Jack. Everything will work out perfectly...won’t it? Maya is faced with the challenge of a possible move to Seattle, honeymoon decisions, her premature nephew, and planning a wedding in only three months. Her faith in God is challenged as she struggles to accept the possibility of leaving her family and her friends.

I really enjoyed this book. When I requested it, I didn’t realize that it was the conclusion of a trilogy. Even though it was the end of the trilogy, it was still great. I was impressed that Eyrnn was able to write a book that could stand on its own, without requiring the first two books. As in the Lauren Holbrook series, Maya has the same coffee obsession and likeable personality.

Unlike the Lauren Holbrook series, I felt like the God thing was better incorporated into this book. In Lauren’s series, I felt like Erynn ended most chapters with one to two paragraphs about God, and that was it. She did a much better job in this novel.

It’s a great read!

Note: I received this book free of charge from NavPress. I was not required to write a favorable review, only an honest one.

Double Shot- Erynn Mangum

I shrug. "I'm no theologian. I just have my beliefs."
Jack grins again. "Like your belief that God's favorite color is pink?"
Andrew about loses his mouthful of ravioli. "Pink?" he sputters. "Why pink?"
I have a very good reason for this. "Sunsets and sunrises are always at least a little bit pink," I say. "Since God takes so much time to create those, I figure it has to be a favorite color or His."
Liz is smiling. "I like your logic, Maya Davis."
"Thanks, I like your cooking."
She laughs.
Double Shot pg. 114

Erynn is witty. Every book I read by her doesn't finish and make you want to be inside the story of that book, but instead the book is like lessons learned with a biblical perspective. "Double Shot" is a splendid book. Maya Davis (the main character) is hysterical. I enjoyed reading about her personality and weird quirks that just make the book even better. Jack (the fiance) is a great example of a Godly guy who is looking to lead his soon to be family. Together the two make a wonderful pair that worships God, and has funny stories that will make you crack up.
I enjoyed this book a lot, and highly recommend it to you.

~Ali

Disclaimer: I received this book free from NavPress Publishers as part of their blogger review program. I wasn't required to be have a favorable opinion, but a honest one.

Angry by Laura L. Smith

Emma is angry. Angry because, when she only wants to have the life of a normal teenage girl, things seem to be out of control. She’s angry at her father for having an affair and splitting her family. She’s angry at her siblings because she always has to watch them. She’s angry at her mother for avoiding much of the responsibility after her parents’ separation. Emma is angry at God, too. She feels like in the midst of all her family trouble, he has abandoned her.

This book was interesting. It was a short, quick read, and I managed it in an afternoon. It was a good book, and I would recommend it for anyone who feels anger towards a divorce in their family or something of that sort. It wasn’t relevant to me. The story seemed to develop too quickly, and Emma’s character lacked depth. I felt like the author would forget about the main plot line, Emma’s anger, during the drama scenes and such. When she came back to that, it was somewhat sudden and unexpected.

Other than that, the book was enjoyable. Personally, it wasn’t a favorite, but I think that you could give it a try.

Note: I received this book free of charge for NavPress. I was not required to write a favorable review, only an honest one.

the plan of action.

I wanted to tell you what's going to happen with the Paperdoll Blog Party. Basically, it's going to be a bunch of reviews of Paperdoll, plus some fun stuff thrown in. I'm really excited about it. We'll be having some really cool bloggers reviewing the book, as well as a review by Natalie herself.

I'm still working on the scheduling part of it; hopefully we can get it up and going before Christmas. I'll be traveling during the holidays, so likely the blog party will begin in early January. It'll be a week long event, with something posted every day. There'll be something special on the first day, reviews the next five days, and something to wind it up on the seventh day. Tell your friends about it! Blog about it! The more people participating the better!

If you have any questions, let me know. If you'd like to contribute a review, please feel free to email it to me. I can't wait!

**originally posted at Beauty Like a Kaleidoscope.

Hatteras Girl, by Alice J. Wisler

Jackie Donavan has two things she’s looking for: a strong, wonderful man to marry, and a bed and breakfast she’s planned on owning since childhood. Her well-meaning family has tried to help her with this first ambition, setting her up for numerous blind dates, none of which prove successful. For the time being, she works for a magazine near her home, helping to pay for the old Bailey Place, the bed and breakfast she’s been saving up for. On a mission to buy the Bailey Place, she meets Davis Erickson, the handsome and available owner of the Bailey Place. Have her dreams been fulfilled?

Alice J. Wisler did a great job on this novel. Jackie is a likeable and relatable person, and Buck was amazing. The book is set in a beach town (in South Carolina, possibly? My geography is terrible.) and the description was lovely. My only problem with this book happened to be Jackie: I was upset as soon as Davis walked into the picture. They moved way too fast and that wasn’t cool. It was slightly predictable, but that’s expected of chick lit, right? The book was sweet and the ending satisfying.

Note: I received this book free of charge from Bethany House Publishers. I was not required to write a favorable review, only an honest one.

Amy Inspired, by Bethany Pierce.

Amy Gallagher is a college professor and an aspiring writer. Her passion for words caused her to give up a safe job that she loved to pursue the last item on her childhood list of careers: famous novelist.

Her rejection slips are piling up when Eli, odd and unavailable, comes to live in her apartment by her roommate’s invite. Eli, who is an artist, wears his hair in a ponytail and has a long distance relationship with his girlfriend in Europe, slowly turns Amy’s world around. Despite Amy’s reservations, he proves that he may be the inspiration she’s been looking for.

I enjoyed this book. It was a classic chick lit: girl meets boy, boy is unavailable/undesirable. Girl becomes friends with boy. They have a falling out. Boy leaves. They meet again, girl realizes boy in available/desirable. It ends happily ever after.

I thought that the book, although lovely, was slightly depressing. Amy is walking around, single, her ambitions unfulfilled, and that’s how it continues for the majority of the book. The scene that saved it was the end of the book, where Amy is looking at his art in the display. That scene was magical. It formed a clear picture in my mind, and that’s what I walked away with from this book.

Note: I received this book free of charge from Bethany House Publishers. I was not required to write a positive review, only an honest one.

Heaven is for Real

Heaven is for Real, by Todd Burpo, is the story of a little boy's brush with death and his trip to Heaven and back.

Colton Burpo, aged 4, astounds his parents when he casually says something about speaking to Jesus in Heaven. It began a few months before.

Colton was in the hospital with a ruptured appendix. The doctors at the previous hospital had dismissed the idea of a ruptured appendix, and tried other treatments over a five day period. 
His parents decide that it’s not working, and move him to a different hospital. Colton has emergency surgery, during which he spends three minutes in Heaven.

Over the next few years, more details become evident. He displays knowledge of relatives who died before he was born, as well as meeting his miscarried sister.

I did enjoy this book. The story was interesting enough to keep me reading, especially Colton’s stories of Heaven. But besides that, the story didn’t really hold me. Yes, it was interesting, but that was all. The words didn’t pull me in. I finished it, and sat there thinking, “Well, the whole Heaven thing was cool.” The book was great for it’s purpose: telling Colton’s story. That’s as far as it went with me.

Note: I received this book free of charge from Thomas Nelson Publishing. I was not required to post a favorable review, only an honest one.

Artemis Fowl: the Atlantis Complex.

Seems like our favorite genius super-criminal has developed a slight (and quickly progressing) mental disease. I had high expectations for this book: it had to live up to all the previous books AND still intrigue me with a new story.

Eion Colfer has created another amazing Fowl tale.

It begins in Iceland, puts the characters in new situations that they don't know how to respond to. Artemis is falling apart as he tries to save the world, trusting no one, Foaly is faced with danger first hand, Holly has to take command, and it falls to Butler to protect Artemis even when he doesn't trust Butler.

The book is full of new enemies, new threats, and the one person able to stop them is trapped in his own mind.

One of my favorite Fowl books! I fall more in love with Artemis every time I read them...why can't he be around to help me with Geometry? The end of this book was slightly bittersweet knowing that there will be just one more book published. Maybe a Miles and Beckett series next? I'm voting yes for that one.

Blue Like Jazz.

Read it. Go on. Find a copy, pick it up, and read it. This book, well, it doesn't sound like a book. It reads more like a conversation, like listening while a good friend tells his story. It's about the author, Donald Miller, and his journey in accepting God's love. It's blunt and real. It made me think, made me laugh, and made me question how I was living. One of my favorite chapters is the one about confessions. When I read that chapter, I felt like I needed to apologize. To my family, to those kids at school who I judged, to the girl at youth group who annoys me.

This book is one of those books that you pick up, read, and flip to the front cover and read again. It's that kind of book that sticks in your head. It challenged me more than anything I've read before. One of my all time favorites.

You Were Made to Make a Difference.

Max Lucado collaborated with his daughter Jenna Lucado Bishop in this book for teens. It gives easy, practical tips of ways that you can serve God and your community. I enjoyed how easy this book is to understand, and yet it’s packed with great truths. It displays stories of teens who made a difference, who realized that God created them to do more in their lives than what immediately benefits them.  You Were Made to Make a Difference is enjoyable and clear, full of inspiring stories of young people who rose beyond negative stereotypes and did something to help someone else.

One of my favorite chapters was chapter five: Unplug and Tune In. It talked about how our generation is dulled by technology and media, rarely taking the time to “unplug the headphones,” and see the need around them.

I think that the ideas in this book are vital for teens who need to step out of their comfort zone and make a difference for someone who can’t do it on their own. Max Lucado and Jenna Bishop did a fabulous job of making this relevant for teenagers.

I’d recommend this book to anyone who has read and enjoyed books like Do Hard Things and Start Here by Alex & Brett Harris. My rating? Four stars. Great job, Max and Jenna.

(thanks so much, Booksneeze, for providing this book free of charge.)

Rematch

I finished book number two (Rematch) of the "Miss Match" series by Erynn Mangum. I loved it! I'll admit, It was fairly predictable, like most romance novels, but the characters made me laugh and made the book in itself, very enjoyable. Laurie has done it again! She matched up another pair of her friends. It's hilarious to see her not care what other people in the story think about her or what she does. I don't want to say too much more, for fear that I'll give the story line away. One more to go!
Keep reading!

~Ali~

"Miss Match"

I finished this book in three days, which means something-this book was great! "Miss Match" is a character in the book named Lauren Holbrook. She's very witty, vertically challenged, caffeine addicted, and hilarious. Though this book is "romantic" per say, it's absolutely one of the most funny books I have EVER read. It could just be because I can relate the main girl more then normal, or the fact that I'm a hopeful romantic, who knows? The book doesn't go to deep into the feelings involved with romance, but it has to do with Lauren not wanting to be married. She struggled with the idea throughout the whole book, and by the end isn't completely sure she wants to be married yet. I don't want to tell you to much more without running the book! The bummer-this book has two more in its series... I only have the first one.
But the other two on on there way!
I completely recommend this book, if you're in for light-hearted lovable story, with bunches of laughs.
Comment on this post or on my blog if you end up reading it, if you'd like :)

~Ali~

The Picture of Dorian Gray

The story of a beautiful young man who becomes obsessed with his own beauty. When he sees a life-sized painting of himself, he declares that he wished the painting would show all signs of age and sins, and he remains young.

This book was hard to put down. You wanted to find out what happened to Dorian in the end and if he ended up destroying the picture. Dorian was a fascinating character. Talk about a real case of Narcissism. I think, that, even at the beginning of the book I distrusted him, and he seemed shallow. Not shallow like his character was written shallowly, but he, Dorian, didn't have a very deep grasp of life.

Oscar Wilde is (was? I think he's dead) really a good writer. I laughed the whole time I was reading the Importance of Being Earnest. Even though the Picture of Dorian Gray is very different, Lord Henry really reminded me of Algernon.*

I enjoyed it, and I was happy with the ending, it really made me think. You should read this book!



*Algernon is one of the main characters in the Importance of Being Earnest. Read this play. It is so funny. (funny, like, dry English wit.)

lemony snicket, the hobbit, l.m. montgomery, and c.s. lewis

I miss my books.*

I just added a few pages of Lemony Snicket to my quote page, and now I'm seriously considering naming one of my children Lemony.** That guy is so clever, I love reading him.

I miss the Hobbit.*** I have for weeks. Even before I left I kept thinking about how I needed to read the Hobbit and how much I missed Frodo&Company, but I just never read it. And now I have to wait till August. :(

L.M Montgomery has been towards the front of my mind, especially the Emily books. There are few writers as quotable as she is.

And last but not least, I'm hungering after Narnia. Narnia is one of my favorite places ever, and I really want to go there. Wouldn't it be amazing to be able to travel into books, like the Magic Treehouse? I would sooo buy that treehouse, any day.

If I can just wait until August for my books...

*truly, this isn't a book review, but I promise to review all these books when I get home and can read them. :)
**after Bilbo, Lucy, and Peter, of course...not to mention Anne Shirley, Caspian, and Frodo...
***ever since I watched the Lord of the Rings movies I've wanted to visit/live in New Zealand.

The Great Good Thing

When I was younger somehow I ended up with a book by Roderick Townley. I don't even remember where I got it, but I read it over and over. It's the story a girl named Sylvie who lives in a story. It really appealed to me because I was always the girl with her nose in a book and it was interesting to see the relationship the reader ended up having with Sylvie. I've never thought about books and the characters in books the way they are in the Great Good Thing. The plot of the book that Sylvie lives in is very cliche, but the rest of the book is really original. I loved how Sylvie ended up saving her book and getting it re-written. I always thought it was a great book, and it's one of my childhood favorites. And, there's a sequel! This is a great book to read to little kids with big imaginations, because they'd get it, and likely, they'd never think about the books they read the same way.

Saints in Limbo

"Saints in Limbo" by River Jordan.
I read this book a few weeks back because the cover looked intriguing. As soon as I read the first chapter, I realized River Jordan, was 3 things.
1) a very descriptive author
2) a person who liked out of "the norm" things
3) someone with a very majestic name
None the less, this book is a rather strange fiction novel. I'm not sure if I would really push the reading of this book. Yes, it is very well written, and kind of quirky, but it is also very strange. Here let me say this-they find a magical rock that can take a person back in time, and someone is trying to steal that magical rock. Sounds like it could make you laugh, but this book doesn't really have any humor in it, sadly.

The reason you would read this book, River Jordan develops the characters very well, also the story line has a good twist in it, and the book just in itself it written in the way that make you feel as if you have an emotional attachment to the characters. Plus, River Jordan is possibly the coolest name ever, seriously...I'm not kidding.

Reasons you shouldn't read this book, it's a little boring and strange. Also, there isn't any "life lesson" learned.
In conclusion, if you want to waste some time because you're bored...read "Saints in Limbo"
~Ali~

Once Upon a Time

"'This is the best advice I ever got,' she said. 'And it's so easy, you'll kick yourself for not thinking of it. I just take a yellow legal pad - the cheap kind like you buy at Office Max - and I block out the story scene by scene.'

I smiled. A yellow legal pad. I did feel kind of dumb. Because of course that's how you write a story. :)" Natalie Llyod

Well, this is Ali here. Just to be blunt- I read books, and lots of them. I find that books bring you out of your own world and give you a whole new perspective on everything you ever though possible or impossible. I simply giggle on the inside when I encounter a book that makes me want to sing. (I know, singing AND reading...whats going to come next?) None the less, my friend Katie and I share a lot of the same amusement in books.

So BEHOLD!

This blog was born.

So through all of our goofy and exciting adventures, here goes nothing.

Once Upon a Time, there were these friends, who were going to blog about all sorts of books that they have read and are going to read...

With hope of no disappointment, and lots of cheers through our reviews,

~Ali~

once upon a time, there was a girl who read books.

The girl talked about books, and she devoured books, and she loved books. So she started a book blog.

Hi. I'm that girl, just in case you didn't know :) My friend and I *waves to Ali* started this because she too is a fellow book-lover, and we wanted to talk about the books we read. So "Once Upon a Time" was born.

Yes. I know that this title is cliche. Really, I don't care. Sometimes I like cliche. Anyways, prepare to read our rambles and thoughts about books! This is the only time I'm going to say this, because not that I'm judgemental or anything, but I think it's lame when other people do it, but please, please comment. It will make my day! :) And while you're at it, check out my blog and Ali's blog.

Happy May!