Lock & Key By Sarah Dessen

Summary:Ruby knows that the game is up. For the past few months, she's been on her own in the yellow house, managing somehow, knowing that her mother will probably never return.

That's how she comes to live with Cora, the sister she hasn't seen in ten years, and Cora's husband Jamie, whose down-to-earth demeanor makes it hard for Ruby to believe he founded the most popular networking Web site around. A luxurious house, fancy private school, a new wardrobe, the promise of college and a future; it's a dream come true. So why is Ruby such a reluctant Cinderella, wary and defensive? And why is Nate, the genial boy next door with some secrets of his own, unable to accept the help that Ruby is just learning to give?

My favorite quote from book:“It's a lot easier to be lost than found. It's the reason we're always searching and rarely discovered--so many locks not enough keys.”

My review:Lock and Key probably is one of my favorites from Sarah Dessen. At first I was really reluctant to read Lock and Key(don't ask my why, i don't know). This book was my first book by Sarah Dessen, but boy let me tell you, it will defiantly not be my last. The beginning was really slow, but the book got better. I found myself really liking the main character, Ruby. Sarah Dessen did an amazing job with this book.  It was definitely more than I was expecting from Ms. Dessen. I heard some people say that her writing was really cheesy, but I must say I disagree. I mean I was a bit weirded out by Ruby Cooper (the main character) at first. She was not the usual YA main character who are usually either really sweet, nice, or plain old Katniss Everdeen ( and yes I just used Katniss Everdeen as a verb)  ; or a mixture of both sweet and Katniss. This book centres around Ruby Cooper, whose mother has abandoned her. Her sister (who she has not seen or spoke to for 10 years) and her sister's husband, Jamie (who I found adorable), take her in, moving her to a new school. The boy next door tries to help her, and I think from the beginning we of that relationship we all knew what would happen. We are wrong(well sort of). It didn't turn out completely like I thought it would. Yes, some parts of it was what I expected, but other parts where complete surprises. Ruby has not had much success with family. Her father left; her protective older sister, Cora, left; and her boozing mother finally leaves, too. What I like about Ruby was that she didn't once complain about any part of this( true, she did complain about some of the good stuff that were happening to her, but that's not the point) At first, I was a bit annoyed at how ungrateful Ruby seemed toward the characters that were helping her, but as the book went on she developed and starting to accept their help. I also loved the way Dessen starts to gradually reveal things about a certain character's past, which makes you think completely different things about the character. As usual, there were some wonderful quotes throughout the novel and the end of the book left me feeling warm and fuzzy, even if it wasn't the usual perfect ending. I think readers will appreciate the transformation of Ruby and, essentially, the message of how it's okay to trust again and open yourself up to new experiences and people. I kind of figured it would be lovey-dovey mushy romantic stuff.I was very wrong. In fact, the romance of this story actually takes a back seat until maybe the last 100 or so pages. All the characters in this story are incredibly likable (aside from the obvious one, I wouldn't tell you who the 'unlikable' characters really are). I found myself rooting for everyone to find that happy ending. Overall, it is a really good book. I give it a 4 out of 5 stars. 

Dairy Queen By Catherine Gilbert Murdock

Summary: When you don’t talk, there’s a lot of stuff that ends up not getting said.Harsh words indeed, from Brian Nelson of all people. But, D. J. can’t help admitting, maybe he’s right. When you don’t talk, there’s a lot of stuff that ends up not getting said.Stuff like why her best friend, Amber, isn’t so friendly anymore. Or why her little brother, Curtis, never opens his mouth. Why her mom has two jobs and a big secret. Why her college-football-star brothers won’t even call home. Why her dad would go ballistic if she tried out for the high school football team herself. And why Brian is so, so out of her league. When you don’t talk, there’s a lot of stuff that ends up not getting said.Welcome to the summer that fifteen-year-old D. J. Schwenk of Red Bend, Wisconsin, learns to talk, and ends up having an awful lot of stuff to say.

My favorite Quote: “Everyone I looked at, their whole lives, did exactly what they were supposed to do without even questioning it, without even wondering if they could do something different.”


My review:Due to the cover I had my reserves about reading this book. When I finally found a spare two minutes to sit down and start reading this book, I suddenly ended up drawn in for a couple of hours discovering that Dairy Queen is just as ridiculously funny, silly, and heartwarming as everyone had told me it was.I had heard nothing but good reviews for this book, so I went in expecting a lot and I wasn’t disappointed. At the beginning of the book I was thinking," Great, I am sitting here reading about cows, what do people see in this book", but for some unknown ( and amazing) reason I kept on reading. I really liked it. I'll be honest it's not a book for everyone.  It was charming and adorable,but not in that kiddish weird way.I’ve seen Dairy Queen by Catherine Gilbert Murdock around for years, but I never took the time to actually read what it was about. I knew that it was popular, but that was about it. It was a cute read. Don't get me wrong, it was not a book that will change the world or get a noble peace prize but it was a fun light hearted read. The author was able to do what other authors are unable to do, which is to make an avarge but still lovable main character. D.J Schwenk was exactly that. She was simple, she had no real super power but she was still pretty awesome in her own way. Overall, I think the book is pretty good. I give it a 4.1 out of 5

The One Kiera Cass book trailer

My review for this book is coming soon!! I am so excited for this book to come out. I am waiting for the book

Divergent Original book trailer

Go to   http://tnlrblog.blogspot.com/2014/05/divergent-by-veronica-roth.html to see my review for this book!!!!!!!!

Divergent by Veronica Roth

Summary: In Beatrice Prior’s dystopian Chicago world, society is divided into five factions, each dedicated to the cultivation of a particular virtue—Candor (the honest), Abnegation (the selfless), Dauntless (the brave), Amity (the peaceful), and Erudite (the intelligent). On an appointed day of every year, all sixteen-year-olds must select the faction to which they will devote the rest of their lives. For Beatrice, the decision is between staying with her family and being who she really is—she can’t have both. So she makes a choice that surprises everyone, including herself. During the highly competitive initiation that follows, Beatrice renames herself Tris and struggles alongside her fellow initiates to live out the choice they have made. Together they must undergo extreme physical tests of endurance and intense psychological simulations, some with devastating consequences. As initiation transforms them all, Tris must determine who her friends really are—and where, exactly, a romance with a sometimes fascinating, sometimes exasperating boy fits into the life she's chosen. But Tris also has a secret, one she's kept hidden from everyone because she's been warned it can mean death. And as she discovers unrest and growing conflict that threaten to unravel her seemingly perfect society, she also learns that her secret might help her save those she loves . . . or it might destroy her. Author Veronica Roth bursts onto the YA scene with the first book in the Divergent series—dystopian thrillers filled with electrifying decisions, heartbreaking betrayals, stunning consequences, and unexpected romance.

Favorite Quote from book: “Becoming fearless isn't the point. That's impossible. It's learning how to control your fear, and how to be free from it.” 

My review: Through out this whole book I was just thinking, " Does it smell like Hunger Games in here to you?". Beatrice Prior is a member of Abnegation, the selfless, but she dreams of another life. One where she can look at her own reflection without being scolded or dress in something other than a gray potato sack (Fine, they don't actually wear potato sacks, but it sounds like they might as well have). So she chooses to join Dauntless, the fearless and brave, and her life, as well as her disappointed family's, is forever altered. Now known as Tris, she gets thrown into a world of speeding trains, speeding bullets, and unusual lead male characters. The book barely explains how any of the lead characters look. Tris described Four as  a man who the corners of his mouth turn down naturally. He has very long thin fingers, a scar on his chin, and eye sockets that are so deep they sound like a deformity when described by Tris, with eyes so dark blue they're almost black and a light blue patch in those eyes. Basically he looks like Gollum from Lord of the rings(below) .

Gollum, You know "My precious"

Okay, okay, I completely understand why people could really like this and also why people could find it a huge disappointment.The thing is if you read Hunger games before this, it just does not live up. Do not get me wrong, I loved this book. It was really nice. Just not Hunger games nice. I think that all the characters were not explained well enough for us to really understand them. At first I really didn't like Tris that much. She and I just didn't .... you know.. click. I really didn't like Tobias either. I mean he was cool and all, but just not enough. Overall it was a nice book. The thing is that the book just didn't seem thought out enough to me. To tell the truth a may and may not have read the second and third book if it wasn't for the fact that I am just a really nosey person. I give this book a 3.5 out of 5.