Review: Take Me There by Carolee Dean

Title: Take Me There
Author: Carolee Dean
Release Date: July 2010
Publisher: Simon and Schuster
Length: 327

Source: Publisher
Format: ARC

Dylan has a bad-boy past and a criminal record. He knows that rich, beautiful Jess is way too good for him—but she has always been the one person who sees through his tough exterior and straight to his heart, and he has been hopelessly in love with her from the first time they met. He would change his life for a chance with her.

But trouble follows Dylan wherever he goes, and a deadly mistake soon forces him to hit the road and leave his dreams behind. He’s on the run and in search of answers—answers to questions he wishes he’d never asked.

Ok, so I admit I thought this was going to be a fluffy, verging on dull/predictable/ordinary story.

Wrong.

Wrong wrong wrong.

This book was deep, powerful, emotional, and tugged on my heartstrings like so few books have. The narrator, Dylan, had a strong and believable voice, and even though he has made some stupid choices, I couldn't help but find some way to identify with him and his struggles. And who doesn't love a bad boy who writes poetry?

Part mystery, part love story, part self discovery, this book is unlike any other book I've read. It made me appreciate the things my parents sacrifice for me, and what they sacrifice for each other. Carolee wrote with determination and that shone through her characters and her plot.

Please do yourself a favor and read this book. It has the power to change you in a way you don't quite understand.

1. Characters 20/20
2. Writing 20/20
3. Plot 21/20
4. Accurate YA voice 20/20
5. Cover 9/10
6. Title 9/10

Overall score: 99 or A

In My Mailbox (7)

IMM is a weekly meme hosted by Kristi at the Story Siren.

FOR REVIEW (thanks to Simon and Schuster for sending it):

Take Me There by Carolee Dean

July 2010 by Simon and Schuster

Dylan has a bad-boy past and a criminal record. He knows that rich, beautiful Jess is way too good for him—but she has always been the one person who sees through his tough exterior and straight to his heart, and he has been hopelessly in love with her from the first time they met. He would change his life for a chance with her.

But trouble follows Dylan wherever he goes, and a deadly mistake soon forces him to hit the road and leave his dreams behind. He’s on the run and in search of answers—answers to questions he wishes he’d never asked.

Cover Comparison: Wake by Lisa McMann (Part 1)

COVER COMPARISON: US vs. UK cover

U.S.

U.K.

Which do you prefer?

In My Mailbox (2)

In My Mailbox is a weekly meme hosted by Kristi at the Story Siren.

I'm a bit behind with my IMM, so this post is going to be from what I've received the past few weeks/since my last IMM.

ARCS for Review:

(cover not final)

Where the Truth Lies by Jessica Warman

(sorry couldn't find a picture of a cover for this one, but here is the authors website: http://jessicawarman.com/)

Store-Bought

Other:

Swag for the Body Finder (autographed)

Swag for the The Tension of Opposites

So what did you get this week?

Review: Home Sweet Drama (Canterwood Crest series #8) by Jessica Burkhart

Title: Home Sweet Drama (Canterwood Crest Series #8)

Author: Jessica Burkhart

Release Date: April 6, 2010

Publisher: Simon & Schuster Children’s Publishing (Aladdin)

Length: 240 pages

Format: ARC

Summary:

If the girls have learned anything, it's that only the strong survive at Canterwood Crest Academy. Just ask Jasmine.... Oh, whoops. You can't — she's back at Wellington Prep. Well, then, ask Heather Fox. After all, she's the lone Queen Bee left standing.

But Sasha Silver has more than proven that she's worthy competition on — and off — the arena. Is there a new queen in the making?

Review:

I am a horseback rider myself, and to find a series focusing in on the lives of other teenage riders, I was pretty excited. Since I first picked up the initial Canterwood Crest novel, Take the Reins, this series has been my comfort series despite targeting a younger crowd.

In Home Sweet Drama, the eighth installment, I was relieved to find that it was more focused on the main character’s, Sasha’s, riding since the last few books have leaned more towards her social life/drama. The increase of riding made me more interested in Sasha, and how she would handle it without being distracted. In previous books she had a hard time concentrating on her horse, Charm, because her thoughts would drift to her social life and comparing herself to other riders. But in this one, however, she gave Charm the attention he needed and therefore we have watched her mature as a rider throughout the series.

But while the amount of riding increased, the emphasis on her social life decreased, which was a major part of fueling the storyline. In comparison to other books, Home Sweet Drama was more predictable and low key. The amount of major events diminished, and while I appreciated the boost in Sasha’s riding life, I would have enjoyed some more twists and turns in her social life.

Grade: B