Book Review: Girl on the Run

Girl On The Run

by Jane Costello

Genre: Chick Lit

Publication: 2011

Format: Paperback, 455 pages

Abby Rogers was persuaded to join the running club by the head of the club, Oliver (who she referred as Doctor Dishy). But the first session with the club didn’t turn out the way she wanted to as Abby had overestimated her limit bumped into Tom, someone she didn’t really want to meet again, and worst of all, she did something embarrassing in front of him.

Abby vowed never to run again.

But then something changed when Heidi, her colleague announced shocking news. Abby is now determined to get fit and joined the half-marathon. Only this time, she’s going to run for a cause.

Girl on the Run is my second book I’ve read from Jane Costello. The first one was My Single Friend, which I enjoyed so much! After reading this book, it is safe to say that I am charmed with Jane Costello’s writing style.

Abby Rogers is so likeable from the very first page. She’s warm and funny – definitely a character that you can relate to. I like that Abby decided to run for a good cause instead of joining the club just to pursue the guy she like.

It is hard not to love the other supporting characters like Tom, Jess and Heidi. I especially love the relationship between Tom and Abby which started off in the wrong foot and gradually they become friends. Tom is really sweet and funny. I love their banter ever since they’ve met and how Tom would support Abby in her work and running.

 Overall, Girl on the Run is a story of real friendship, love and determination. It is a fun, light read and comical. It amazed me how Jane Costello could describe a simple event and turn it comically and make me laugh out loud a lot. I’m definitely not disappointed with Jane Costello’s writing. I’m looking forward to her other books!

Book Cover’s Description

He's a real catch . . . if only she could catch him up

Abby Rogers has been on health kicks before - they involve eating one blueberry muffin for breakfast instead of two. But since starting her own business, after watching one too many episodes of The Apprentice, the 28-year-old's waistline has taken even more of a back seat than her long-neglected love life.

When Abby is encouraged to join her sporty best friend's running club - by none other than its gorgeous new captain - she finds a mysterious compulsion to exercise.

Sadly, her first session doesn't go to plan. Between the obscenely unflattering pink leggings, and the fact that her lungs feel as though they've been set on fire, she vows never to return.

Then her colleague Heidi turns up at work and makes a devastating announcement, one that will change her life - and Abby's - forever.

#14 Teaser Tuesday

Teaser Tuesdays is a weekly bookish meme, hosted by MizB of Should Be Reading. Anyone can play along! Just do the following:

• Grab your current read

• Open to a random page

• Share two (2) “teaser” sentences from somewhere on that page

• BE CAREFUL NOT TO INCLUDE SPOILERS! (make sure that what you share doesn’t give too much away! You don’t want to ruin the book for others!)

• Share the title & author, too, so that other TT participants can add the book to their TBR Lists if they like your teasers!

My teaser this week is from: 

Have you ever had a nightmare that involves walking into a maths exam and realizing that all your revision had been for French? Well, I'm living it  - Girl on the Run, Jane Costello, pg  167

She looked at him incrediculously. "I kissed you?"
He looked at her with glittering malice. "Don't worry," he said, "it wasn't memorable for me either - City of Bones, Cassandra Clare, page 318

I'm reading two books this week! I should be done with Girl on the Run tonight. I love Jane Costello's writing style. It's very relaxing and funny.

I'm starting City of Bones when a few friends recommended them to me. It was a bit confusing at first, but it was surprisingly good!

Would you share with me your teaser?

Book Review: Nightshade

Nightshade (Nightshade #1)
by Andrea Cremer

Genre: Young Adult, Fantasy, Romance
Publication: July 2011
Format: Paperback, 480 pages

'I wanted him to kiss me-wished he could smell the desire that I knew was pouring off me. 
You can't, Calla. This boy isn't the one for you.' 

Calla Tor has always known her destiny: graduation, marriage and then a life leading her pack. But when she defies her masters' laws to save a human boy, she must choose. Is one boy worth losing everything?

I wanted to read this book when I learned that the heroine, Calla is an alpha werewolf—the one who is leading her pack called Nightshades. I found it interesting to see the heroine with power instead of having her playing as a damsel in distress.

Nightshade begins with how Calla breaks the rules by saving a human boy (Shay) which later will play an important role in the story. Then the story gets a bit slow and confusing when Andrea Cremer starts to explain a bit more about Calla’s and the werewolf life, the Guardians, the Keeper, and the Searcher. It gets a bit boring during the explanation and I had to put down the book away for a few times. The story finally pick up its pace when Shay showed Calla a book on ‘the war of all against all’ which was forbidden by the guardian to read and their investigation begins.

I like Calla. She’s a strong woman, she fights back, she protects her pack and she’s good at it. Although it kinds of annoy me when she can’t seem to make her decision whether she likes Shay or Ren. There were hints of how she is attracted to both male. Calla didn’t really like the idea that she’s going to marry Ren because that was her destiny. That she didn’t have a choice for she is a warrior. She thinks of it as her fate. Then she met Shay, the human boy. For some reason, she was drawn to him as he is to her. But the thing is I think Calla had more chemistry with Ren than she had with Shay.

Ren didn’t really sound like a good guy at first. There is his behavior with the other girls which Calla didn’t approve. But after a few chapters, I could see that Ren is a good guy and that he loves Calla. And Calla seems to have some kind of attraction to Ren as well. Which makes me wonder, if Calla was attracted to Shay because she was trying to rebel. It was as if she wanted to say that she can make her own choice. (So… you could probably see that I’m rooting for Ren).

I love Nightshade. Andrea Cremer succeeds in building the story, characters and twist. I like how the love story between Calla, Ren and Shay didn’t overshadow the story itself, that the suspense and romance between characters complimented each other. I enjoyed the book and the suspense as it gets to the end. But then Andrea Cremer had to end the book with a cliffhanger. *sighs* WHY!! I’m really looking forward to read the next book and find out what happen to Calla next.

Book Review: The Sea of Monsters

The Sea of Monsters (Percy Jackson and the Olympians #2)

by Rick Riordan

Genre: Young Adult, Fantasy 

Publication: April 2006

Format: Paperback, 265 pages

My sister loaned the second book of Percy Jackson and the Olympians to me. She loves Rick Riordan’s work, and had refused to read other books by other writer when I offered her to. When I told her that The Sea of Monsters is a bit dull as compared to The Lightning Thief, she thought that there’s something wrong with me. She told me that the second book is better than the first one. Apparently we didn’t share the same thought.

In The Sea of Monsters, Percy had a dream hinted that Grover was in danger. Soon, he found out that camp half blood too was in danger as Thalia tree is poisoned. To restore Thalia tree back to normal Percy and Annabeth along with Percy’s half brother, Tyson, broke out of camp half and headed to the sea of monster to find a Fleece to heal Thalia tree and to save Grover.

Somehow I found that the second book is boring as compared to the first one, which might have explained why it took me days to finish this although it was a short one. I’m not quite sure what I didn’t like about the book. Perhaps it was the unnatural dialogue? The boring adventure? Or Percy’s point of view itself?

But I know for sure that I love the ending. It was very surprising :)

Book Cover’s Description

After a summer spent trying to prevent a catastrophic war among the Greek gods, Percy Jackson is finding his seventh-grade school year unnervingly quiet. His biggest problem is dealing with his new friend, Tyson, a six-foot-three, mentally challenged homeless kid who follows Percy everywhere, making it hard for Percy to have any normal friends. But things don't stay quiet for long. 

Percy soon discovers there is trouble at Camp Half-Blood: the magical borders that protect Half-Blood Hill have been poisoned by a mysterious enemy, and the only safe haven for demigods is on the verge of being overrun by mythological monsters. To save the camp, Percy needs the help of his best friend, Grover, who has been taken prisoner on an island somewhere in the Sea of Monsters, the dangerous waters Greek heroes have sailed for millennia. Only today, the Sea of Monsters goes by a new name: The Bermuda Triangle.

Together with his friends, Percy must retrieve the Golden Fleece from the Island of the Cyclopes or Camp Half-Blood will be destroyed. But first, Percy will learn a stunning new secret about his family, one that makes him question whether being claimed as Poseidon's son is an honor or simply a cruel joke.

#13 Teaser Tuesday

Teaser Tuesdays is a weekly bookish meme, hosted by MizB of Should Be Reading. Anyone can play along! Just do the following:

• Grab your current read

• Open to a random page

• Share two (2) “teaser” sentences from somewhere on that page

• BE CAREFUL NOT TO INCLUDE SPOILERS! (make sure that what you share doesn’t give too much away! You don’t want to ruin the book for others!)

• Share the title & author, too, so that other TT participants can add the book to their TBR Lists if they like your teasers!

My teaser this week is from: 

I'd just taken another step forward when Shay's cry of alarm pierced the tunnel. "Calla! Above you, move!" - page 291, Nightshade, Andrea Cremer

I'm reading Nightshade by Andrea Cremer this week. So far it's good. I like how the heroine is the one who is leading the pack :3 Looking forward to read the rest!

What are you reading this week?

#4 Blog a Quote

Blog A Quote is hosted by Michelle from Michelle Chew Writes where you share a quote from your favorite books every Monday (and you can do it any day you like)! Visit Michelle Chew Writes to sign up and submit your link.

My quote this week is from S.G Browne's Fated

Every human being has a choice. 

They can choose happiness or they can choose misery. They can choose forgiveness or they can choose resentment. They can choose love or they can choose anger. 

There are no absolutes. Every situation requires a choice. And every human chooses how he or she wants to react. But too many times, humans choose to be miserable. Too many times, they choose not to forgive. Too many times, they choose anger. — Fated by S.G. Browne

S. G Browne's Fated is surprisingly a good book, considering that I don't read humor that much. The characters includes Fate (or Fabio), God (or Jerry) Sloth, Greed, God, Destiny, Persistence, Karma and many others (my favorite is Karma. That guy is funny!) . I found that Fate's perception towards human is very interesting. I think I'm going to post more quotes on this book later on. 

Book Review: Catching Fire

Catching Fire (The Hunger Games #2)

by Suzanne Collins

Genre: Young Adult, Fantasy, Science Fiction 

Publication: 2010

Format: Paperback, 391 pages

I was really looking forward to read the second book of The Hunger Games series after the first one. I couldn’t help but to wonder what would possibly happen after Katniss and Peeta were crowned as victors of the 74th Annual Hunger Games. And I wonder what the capitol (or President Snow) planning.

Catching Fire is amazing! There were quite a number of times where I sat up straight with my jaw dropped because I was too shock Σ(゜ロ゜;)!! to learn what had happened. I was left gasping with each surprise and twist. In Catching Fire, Katniss found out that the capitol (or President Snow) wasn’t too please with her act of picking up berries in the last game might have ignited a revolution. Now the capitol is planning something to stop the uprisings in some district and ensure that things went back to how it was before.

I like how Suzanne Collins she described things, events and how she played with Katniss emotions. I like how I can see how Katniss grew throughout the book—where Collins showed her weaknesses and strengths. It makes her characters much more realistic. I love how Katniss and Peeta both wants to protect each other. I like Gale much more when I first watch the movie (because in my opinion, Liam Hemsworth is hotter than Josh Hutcherson), although Peeta sounds a lot more hotter in the book. Haha. I'm glad that Gale made a lot more appearance in this book.

Catching Fire is certainly an engrossing read. I was captured by Suzanne Collins’s writing style that I read every sentence and word carefully because I didn’t want to miss anything—her portrayal details. 

I definitely enjoyed the Catching Fire more than The Hunger Games. But that was probably because I have seen the movie first before I read the book. I look forward to read the next installment to the series: Mockingjay, as Suzanne Collins left me with cliffhanger!

Book Cover’s Description

Against all odds, Katniss Everdeen has won the annual Hunger Games with fellow district tribute Peeta Mellark. But it was a victory won in defiance of the Capitol and its harsh rules. Katniss and Peeta should be happy. After all, they have just won for themselves and their families a life of safety and plenty. But there are rumors of rebellion among the subjects, and Katniss and Peeta, to their horror, are the faces of that rebellion. The Capitol is angry -- and now it wants revenge. Full of plot twists, this riveting sequel to the New York Times bestseller is guaranteed to keep young readers on the edge of their seats!

#12 Teaser Tuesday

Teaser Tuesdays is a weekly bookish meme, hosted by MizB of Should Be Reading. Anyone can play along! Just do the following:

• Grab your current read

• Open to a random page

• Share two (2) “teaser” sentences from somewhere on that page

• BE CAREFUL NOT TO INCLUDE SPOILERS! (make sure that what you share doesn’t give too much away! You don’t want to ruin the book for others!)

• Share the title & author, too, so that other TT participants can add the book to their TBR Lists if they like your teasers!

Second nature. Instinct. I turn, drawing back the arrow, although I know already that the odds are not in my favor. - Page 134, Catching Fire, Suzanne Collins

I think I'm enjoying the second book more than the first one. But that's probably because I have seen the movie before I read the first book :D

Book Review: To Love an Earl

To Love An Earl

by Elizabeth Thornton

Genre: Historical Romance

Publication: 1988

Format: Paperback, 476 pages

Buy: Amazon

I got ‘To Love an Earl’ for book swap with Michelle from Michelle Chew Writes. (Thanks Michelle!) I don’t usually read (or buy) historical romance book. But I’ve been receiving some historical romance books from friends :D

I suspect that the heroine, Deirdre Fenton as a masochist and the hero, Rathbourne is a sadist. Even though Rathbourne lie, manipulate, threaten and blackmail Deirdre, in the end, she still loves the man, which proves that she’s an idiot. Rathbourne isn’t any better. I mean what kind of guy who would hurt someone you love and told her that he did all that because he loves her? Unless he’s a sadist, right? What I loathed the most was the first sexual encounter where I was really sure that it is a rape which Deirdre after some time (or what some called seduction), enjoy the encounter. I think that is sick. Or crazy. Or both.

To Love an Earl in my opinion is too lengthy and too dragging. There were quite a few times when I thought ‘when will this story end?’ I grew tired when a new conflict arose just as things starting to go right. Then, there were too much unimportant details and sentences which really tempted me to skip them. But that probably had something to do with the fact that I don’t like the characters. I can’t believe I finished the book! But I probably enjoy the book a bit more if it is not too dragging...

Book Cover’s Description

A woman of remarkable beauty and indomitable will, Deirdre Fenton is determined to extricate her incorrigible brother from his latest escapade - a dalliance with a renowned actress rumoured to be enjoying carte blanche with the infamous rake and war hero, the Earl of Rathbourne. Despite her memories of the night the Earl nearly ravished her senseless - inflaming her fury and her passions - Deirdre intends to straighten out her brother, and then find a husband who will be steady and faithful. She wants no part of love, or its inevitable heartbreak.

A master strategist on the battlefield and off, Rathbourne discovers trying to breach the defences of a woman who refuses to believe in happy endings is an uphill battle. And after five years of waiting to put Deirdre in her rightful place - in his home, his bed, and his heart - he's not above putting his considerable powers of persuasion to work. Firmly convinced passion is a battlefield where love conquers all, he vows to lead them both to victory...with the tender mercies of the heart.

Book Review: The Way to a Woman's Heart

The Way to a Woman's Heart

by Christina Jones

Genre: Chick Lit, Culinary Theme, Contemporary

Publication: February 2011

Format: Paperback, 455 pages

Buy: Amazon, Book Depository

The Way to a Woman’s Heart is mainly about Ella, who went to this remote English country village called Hideaway Farm as a nanny to get away from her life and boyfriend, Mark. Ella wants to have her own kids and Mark wasn’t fond of kids. Ella thought that by separated with Mark for three months, Mark might think that he can’t live without her and change his mind about having kids.

When Ella met Poll and George (Poll’s son) in Hideaway Farm, she was quickly smitten. Poll then told Ella about her plan to open her home to help those who need a home and that she need Ella to look after young George while she was taking care of the others. Of course, Ella wasn’t sure of the idea, but thought that she will go along with Poll’s plan. Poll then revealed that she had ‘adopted’ three people – Ash (a young chef who lost his home and job because his chef refuse to let his partner, Roy stay with them) Billy (who was accused for murdering his wife) and Trixie (who was accused as an arsonist and lost her home in a fire). They get along just well and found out that they all shared two things in common – cooking and T.V cookery show called Dewberrys Dinners. 

When they found out that their favorite Dewberry’s Dinners comes to Hideaway Farm looking for their latest contestant and looking for a venue to film the show, they all (unknown to each other) applied to the show. And thus, their journey to win cash prize and a chance to own their own restaurant begins.

I haven’t read anything written by Christina Jones before, and I thought that I should give The Way to a Woman’s Heart a try. But, this book wasn’t really what I thought it would be. I think I might be deceived by its cover, title and summary (which is the reason why I bought the book in the first place)!

The Way to a Woman’s Heart is a light read with light romance, humor and a little magical element in it (with Trixie believing in fairies). But I thought that the book was more into romance. But sadly, it is not. Although there was a hint of romance, I think it wasn’t enough. There were so little scene of Ella and Ash to the point that I wasn’t really sure when they start to like each other (I just knew that Ella thought of him as hot and handsome and that she like him instantly when they met). Then, there was the romance between Poll and Billy, which sadly didn’t get much coverage as well, except that they start to like each other in first sight.

The story had a slow pace at the beginning with the author trying to introduce the characters into the book. I think that the book finally picked up its pace when the Dewberry’s Dinners TV program is being introduced (which is 1/3 through the book). I thought the book had too much trivial dialogue. It would be better if the author use them to enhance the character’s relationship. I was disappointed with this book but overall, it was an okay read.

Book Cover's Description

Cooking seemed like the perfect distraction - until a delicious chef was thrown in the mix ...

Escaping from corporate city life into the heart of the Berkshire countryside, Ella Maloney hopes to find rural tranquillity and a chance to sort out the problems in her long-term relationship. On arriving, she realises tranquillity is in short supply, but welcomes the distraction her chaotic new life offers - until she meets devastatingly gorgeous, but equally attached, chef Ash Lawrence, and realises that he's maybe one distraction too many. 

And when Ella's favourite top-rated TV cookery programme - Dewberry's Dinners - comes looking for a venue to film their latest show, she pulls out all the culinary stops in an attempt to keep her mind on the task in hand (and not on the sexy Ash), but it's hard to keep your head when all around you people are losing theirs ...

#11 Teaser Tuesday

Teaser Tuesdays is a weekly bookish meme, hosted by MizB of Should Be Reading. Anyone can play along! Just do the following:

• Grab your current read

• Open to a random page

• Share two (2) “teaser” sentences from somewhere on that page

• BE CAREFUL NOT TO INCLUDE SPOILERS! (make sure that what you share doesn’t give too much away! You don’t want to ruin the book for others!)

• Share the title & author, too, so that other TT participants can add the book to their TBR Lists if they like your teasers!

Ella, completely horrified, had a fleeting glimpse of everyone else just staring open-mouthed at Trixie before the sweltering kitchen became as cold as ice, and vivid zigzags of gold flickered everywhere like a million darting fireflies.

‘What the…?’ Billy muttered.

- Page 235, The Way to a Woman’s Heart, Christina Jones

“If a kiss is the limit of your generosity, girl, you had better make it memorable, or I swear I’ll swear I’ll take what I want from you, and to hell with your blushes.” - Page 107, To Love an Earl, Elizabeth Thornton

I'm reading two books this time. One of them was for a challenge :D So far, they're both a bit slow... but The Way to a Woman's Heart is picking up its pace.

Please share with me your teaser :)

#3 Blog a Quote

Blog A Quote is hosted by Michelle from Michelle Chew Writes where you share a quote from your favorite books every Monday (and you can do it any day you like)! Visit Michelle Chew Writes to sign up and submit your link.

My quote this week is from Lindsey Kelk's I Heart New York

I'm always struct by how short wedding ceremonies are. The months of engagements, hours of planning, a whole weekend for the hen do even, and the lifelong deal was done inside twenty minutes and a couple of hymns. Even the photos took longer than the actual service - Angela

I was helping my mother with my brother's wedding since last year and finally, it is all over last weekend. So I thought of sharing a quote on wedding. And this quote from Lindsey Kelk's I Heart New York is very fitting. I have the same thought as Angela on wedding ceremonies :) 

Do you have any favorite quote from any book you like? Don't forget to join Blog a Quote hosted by Michelle by Michelle Chew Writes.