The Choice

Wow! You can't help but get completely lost in Nicholas Spark's books. This is no exception. About 5 years ago, I swore off his books because they made me too sad, but I couldn't keep away. His characters are so strong! You feel like you're their best friend or close relative. The Choice is about falling in love where it is least expected, not playing by the rules, and making beyond difficult decisions in life. It is very surprising because while you're preparing for heartbreak- it isn't the heart break you're setting yourself up for.

Extra Credit

I love Andrew Clements books. This is about a girl who must do an extra credit project to pass the 6th grade. Her project ends up being a pen pal from Afghanistan. Through this process both students learn a lot about themselves and life. I think it will be especially good for students to read. It really gave me a good cultural idea of what life is like in a small town in Afghanistan. I wasn't too crazy about the ending, but I guess there was no other way to end it.

The Cinderella Pact

The Cinderella Pact is about three friends who decide once and for all to lose weight. They each take three different paths and learn a lot about themselves on the way. Then of course, there is a "Cinderella" type story going on with the main character. One of the characters ends up divorcing her husband because she realizes she just settled for him. This really bothered me. Here was this guy who loved her to begin with, with the weight on, and then she decides she didn't really love him. She goes out all the time, flirting with guys and drinking. Besides that, I loved this book!

Always and Forever

This book is why it feels like I haven't been on here in forever. It took me about 3 weeks to read. It was very good but slow in parts. Typical women's friendship book where you learn about 3 unconnected women in alternating chapters that are going through one of the many hurtles of life. At the end they all become friends when meeting at a spa in Ireland. This book was okay, but nothing out of the ordinary.

The Christmas Cookie Club

Still not sure what my final assessment of this book is. Its about 12 women who get together once a year, bring cookies with recipe, and discuss their lives and the cookies all night. Reminds me of my friends with book club and recipe club. This was actually the December pick for my book club. Of course every woman had gone through some different kind of heart ache or obstacle, and we learned in detail about each. Some of the issues were downright scandalous and promoted a lot of discussion during book club. Made us think a lot about the line between our morals and the friendship and love we share for one another. I guess the biggest downfall of this book is that it gives us the background of these women, but the story ends that night. So where they all go is undetermined. Instead of the book coming to a conclusion, it seemed to leave a lot unsaid. There really wasn't an ending for most of the issues- not that there is in life, but too much was left up in the air for me.