Yuri: Her Russian Protector #3 by Roxie Rivera

Yuri: Her Russian Protector #3 by Roxie Rivera is the third book in the 'Her Russian Protector' series and is approximately 334 pages in length. 

I've already read and reviewed the first two books in the 'Her Russian Protector' series by Roxie Rivera; Ivan (Her Russian Protector #1) and Dimitri (Her Russian Protector #2).

I was able to download a copy of Yuri: Her Russian Protector #3 by Roxie Rivera for FREE to my Kindle from Amazon. Below is my unbiased review of Yuri: Her Russian Protector #3 by Roxie Rivera.

As a quick recap of sorts, I really enjoyed reading Ivan (Her Russian Protector #1) a lot as it was a HOT read, but thought Dimitri (Her Russian Protector #2) was just okay. So, I had mixed feelings about continuing with the 'Her Russian Protector' series. But I decided to give Yuri: Her Russian Protector #3 by Roxie Rivera a go when I was able to download it for FREE to my Kindle from Amazon.

I ended up liking Yuri: Her Russian Protector #3 by Roxie Rivera quite a bit... It's not as as good as the Ivan (Her Russian Protector #1), but it's better than Dimitri (Her Russian Protector #2). 

What I enjoyed about Yuri: Her Russian Protector #3 by Roxie Rivera is the continuation of the story... We find the same characters in each book in the 'Her Russian Protector' series, but the focus for each novel is on one of four Russian men with a dark past and a relationship he explores with the woman he falls in love with. I liked the characters in Yuri: Her Russian Protector #3 and the erotic scenes between Yuri and Lena were hot and steamy. 

There were a few minor editing issues that needed to be addressed in Yuri: Her Russian Protector #3. Plus, I wasn't completely in love with the storyline and plot details. Overall though, I thought that Yuri: Her Russian Protector #3 by Roxie Rivera was a good read.

The following is the plot summary for Yuri: Her Russian Protector #3 by Roxie Rivera from Amazon's website:

While clawing her way out of Houston’s worst neighborhood, Lena vowed to never let any man have power over her. After a lifetime of broken promises from her criminal father and a mother who abandoned her, Lena believes that love makes you vulnerable. She’s never been tempted to test that belief…until Yuri. Sexy as sin and with a dark reputation, Russian billionaire Yuri Novakovsky survived a miserable childhood of poverty and neglect to ascend the pinnacle of success. He enjoys the perks of his massive wealth without much thought to the consequences…until Lena. When Lena’s father and cousin blunder into an international art theft operation, Yuri seizes his chance to be her protector. But when past misdeeds catch up with him and threaten Lena’s safety, Yuri puts her love and trust in him to the test. He’ll prove he’s the man she needs—a man she can trust and depend upon—one sensual, wicked kiss at a time.

I am giving Yuri: Her Russian Protector #3 by Roxie Rivera a rating of 3.5 stars out of 5 stars.

Until my next post, happy reading!!

Bookish Quote of the Day!!!

Friday Finds #99

Friday Finds is a book meme hosted by Jenn at A Daily Rhythm. Friday Finds is a chance to share and show off the books you discovered during the week and would like to add to your reading list... 

Or a place to simply feature the books you've actually purchased throughout the week and have added to your to be read pile!

Here's a list of books I've added to my ever growing 'to be read pile' this week:

1. The Fortune Hunter by Daisy Goodwin
This book has been on my reading wishlist for awhile, so am glad I now have it.

2. Her Russian Protector Boxed Set (Books 1-3) by Roxie Rivera
(Freebie ebook download from Amazon. I've already read the 1st books in this series and look forward to reading the 3rd book... In fact, I've already started reading book 3.)

3. Halloween Magic & Mayhem by Stella Wilkinson 
(Another free ebook download from Amazon. Just in time for Halloween!!)

4. Knit Kimono by Vicki Square
(Knitting book on how to knit kimonos!!)

So, what did pick up this week to add to your reading pile?

Harriet Klausner, the woman who wrote 31,014 Amazon book reviews, dead at 63

This morning, while surfing on Google News, I discovered a rather lengthy, in depth article on the Washington Post website titled The woman who wrote 31,014 Amazon book reviews and upended the Internet, dead at 63 by Sarah Kaplan. In the article, Ms. Kaplan writes the following:

Harriet Klausner’s story might be that of a woman who loved books and wanted to praise them in effusive (if somewhat error-prone) prose. It might also be the story of a numbers-obsessed shill who pretended to read thousands of books and then duped consumers by posting pointless reviews about them.

Regardless, it’s a story about the Internet, where democracy and mediocrity go hand in hand and powerful communities can form around topics as obscure as one lady with a (disputed) love of books.

Sarah Kaplan's article immediately grabbed my attention as I've purchased many books (as well as many other items) from Amazon over the years. I've also written quite a few reviews of the things I've purchased on Amazon's website as well. 

When writing book reviews on Amazon, I couldn't help but notice that there was a certain reviewer on Amazon named Harriet Klausner, that was VERY PROLIFIC in her book review postings on Amazon. In fact, there was a time when Harriet Klausner was the number one reviewer on Amazon. 

I could never quite figure out how Ms. Klausner wrote anywhere from as little as 1 to 4 book reviews a day to upwards of 10 to 20 book reviews on a near daily basis. It didn't quite seem possible to me that one woman could read and then write that many book reviews on Amazon's website on a daily basis. 

I've always wondered when Ms. Klausner found the time to eat, sleep, clean her home and other daily chores/tasks throughout the day... Like interacting with people and so on. I also wondered if more than one person was logging in as Harriet Klausner and leaving book reviews on Amazon.

Click on the above link to read the full article. 

Until my next post, happy reading!!

Author & Feminist Spotlight --- Gloria Steinem

I can't say as I've read anything written by Gloria Steinem, but I admire her tremendously as a woman and a feminist. 

Earlier today, I came across an article in the New York Times titled Gloria Steinem: By the Book, which is an interview of Ms. Steinem discussing authors and books that she likes. The interview was a really interesting and informative article for me to read. I hope you enjoy reading it as well.

Until my next post, happy reading!!

New Scary Books to Read For Halloween!!

Looking to read some a new spooky book during the Halloween holiday this year? Then check out the books mentioned in the LA Times article titled 13 scary new books to make Halloween spookier by Carolyn Kellogg... You may just find a new scary favorite!!

Top Ten Tuesday --- 10 Literary Halloween Costumes I'd Love to Wear on Halloween!!

Top Ten Tuesday is an original feature/weekly meme created here at The Broke and the Bookish. This feature was created because we are particularly fond of lists here at The Broke and the Bookish. We'd love to share our lists with other bookish folks and would LOVE to see your top ten lists!

Each week we will post a new Top Ten list that one of our bloggers here at The Broke and the Bookish will answer. Everyone is welcome to join. All we ask is that you link back to The Broke and the Bookish on your own Top Ten Tuesday post AND add your name to the Linky widget so that everyone can check out other bloggers lists! If you don't have a blog, just post your answers as a comment. Have fun with it! It's a fun way to get to know your fellow bloggers.

The following are the 10 Literary Halloween Costumes I'd Love to Wear on Halloween!!

1. Medusa 

2. Alice in Wonderland

3. Glinda the Good Witch

4. Pippi Longstockings

5. Mary Poppins

6. Tinkerbell

7. Rapunzel

8. Behemoth (Black cat from The Master & Margarita)

9. Queen of Hearts from Alice in Wonderland

10. Peter Pan

What literary figure would you like to dress up as for Halloween this year?

Insomnia (Sexual Misconduct Book 1) by Bethany Bazile

Okay, every so often I'll download an erotica eBook to my Kindle and read it... I recently read an erotica novella titled Insomnia (Sexual Misconduct Book 1) by Bethany Bazile and it is approximately 108 pages in length. 

Before I share my review of Insomnia (Sexual Misconduct Book 1), I want to let my readers know that I was able to download it for FREE to my Kindle from Amazon. The following is my unbiased review of Insomnia (Sexual Misconduct Book 1) by Bethany Bazile.

Overall, I thought Insomnia (Sexual Misconduct Book 1) by Bethany Bazile was just okay. It needs some editing work. I didn't like the cliffhanger ending. I didn't like the instant lust/love connection between Xander and Avery. And the 'sexual misconduct' was unbelievable... I can't believe that a psychotherapist would put up with a new patient coming on to them and eventually giving into to having sex with them. Having a sexual relationship with one's patient is unprofessional and unethical. There are secrets that both  Xander and Avery each have and it seems like the author is dragging the secrets out in order to write about them in separate novellas... So get on with it already and spell out the secrets both characters have, instead of writing a free downloadable novella as a 'teaser read' to get readers to buy the rest of the series.

The perks for Insomnia (Sexual Misconduct Book 1) by Bethany Bazile are as follows: 

Good sex scenes.
A few plot twists and turns.
One unforeseen event I didn't see coming.

There are two more books that make up the Sexual Misconduct Series by Bethany Bazile. I don't plan to continue reading the series.

I am giving Insomnia (Sexual Misconduct Book 1) by Bethany Bazile a rating 2 stars out of 5 stars.

Until my next post, happy reading!!

Friday Finds #98

Friday Finds is a book meme hosted by Jenn at A Daily Rhythm. Friday Finds is a chance to share and show off the books you discovered during the week and would like to add to your reading list... 

Or a place to simply feature the books you've actually purchased throughout the week and have added to your to be read pile!

Here's the one and only book I added to my ever growing 'to be read pile' this week:

The Mango Bride by Marivi Soliven --- I purchased this brand new paperback novel at The Dollar Tree Store near me for a ONLY dollar!! I saw another four brand new books there as well all for a dollar each. I showed some restraint and only purchased one book this week!

What did you add to your reading wishlist or your 'to be read pile' this week?

Top Ten Tuesday --- 10 Wishes I'd Ask The Book Genie To Grant Me

Top Ten Tuesday is an original feature/weekly meme created here at The Broke and the Bookish. This feature was created because we are particularly fond of lists here at The Broke and the Bookish. We'd love to share our lists with other bookish folks and would LOVE to see your top ten lists!

Each week we will post a new Top Ten list that one of our bloggers here at The Broke and the Bookish will answer. Everyone is welcome to join. All we ask is that you link back to The Broke and the Bookish on your own Top Ten Tuesday post AND add your name to the Linky widget so that everyone can check out other bloggers lists! If you don't have a blog, just post your answers as a comment. Have fun with it! It's a fun way to get to know your fellow bloggers.

So here's my top 10 Wishes I'd Ask The Book Genie To Grant Me

1. I currently wish I was able to speed read so that I could read through books faster and ultimately read more books each year!

2. I would love to have a first edition autographed copy of East of Eden of John Steinbeck as it is my favorite novel that Steinbeck wrote.... Heck, why stop there?! I'd love to have signed first editions of books by all my favorite authors.

3. Host a dinner party with my favorite authors as my guests... Wouldn't that be a great way to get to know some of one's favorite authors?

4. Be BBF's with a few of my favorite authors!!

5. Be able to read advance copies of books written by my favorite authors before anyone else does.

6. Be able to write my own best-selling novel and have it made into a hit movie.

7. Have the perfect home library built to enjoy my ever growing book collection.

8. Travel the world to visit all the wonderful bookstores and libraries I've only read about online.

9. Stay at a few nights at The Library Hotel in New York, New York.

10. Build a larger vocabulary, so that I may rely less on having to look up the definition of a word in the dictionary.

Christopher Walken Reading Edgar Allan Poe’s “The Raven”

I remember reading the classic poem, The Raven by Edgar Allan, Poe when I was in middle school (or was it high school that I read this poem?!?!). I remember that I really enjoyed reading The Raven a lot back then. The imagery created by Edgar Allan Poe in The Raven is so vivid, that I could see in my mind's eye what was going on as the poem unfolded.

So, when I discovered an article on the Buzzfeed website last night titled, Christopher Walken Reading Edgar Allan Poe’s “The Raven” Will Make Your Literary-Loving Heart Explode by Alison Caporimo, I couldn't wait to listen to how Christopher Walken read The Raven. 

Let's just say that Christoper Walken's narration of The Raven is downright awesome. Click on the link provided above to be taken to the above article where you'll find a link to listen to Christopher Walken reading The Raven.

23 Underrated Horror Reads!

I usually don't find myself reading many books from the horror genre all that often. But with Halloween right around the corner, I wanted to find a few horror books that would make for scary reading. 

I recently came across an article on Buzzfeed titled 23 Underrated Horror Books You Have To Read ASAP by Anna Kopsky. I was thrilled with the list of books I discovered in Kopsky's article! 

The good news (for me anyway) is that I haven't read any of the books listed in Anna Kopsky's article, but have heard of a few of the book titles that made the list. I'm looking forward to adding a few of the book titles to my ever growing reading wishlist and reading them in the future.

So are you reading any horror themed books for Halloween?? Do you have a favorite horror novel that you would recommend?

Until my next post, happy reading!!

I Love Yarn Day 2015!!

I learned that today is I Love Yarn Day through Craft Yarn Council. So, if you're a knitter, crocheter, or another type of yarn crafter then today is cause for celebration! Check out the websites above to learn more about I Love Yarn Day 2015 as there are contests to enter, free patterns available to download, and so much more.

I love my new found hobby of knitting. I enjoy the creative process of transforming skeins of yarn into something beautiful and useful. I am always amazed at how the finished product turns out once I finished knitting a project. I also find that knitting is a great way to relieve stress and unwind after a busy day or week, which is another wonderful perk of knitting.

As a newer knitter, I am always on the look out to learn how to improve and expand my knitting skills. Or simply read a book filled with stories about knitting, whether it be fiction or nonfiction. 

So, below is a list of ten books I would like to read about knitting:

Knitting Yarns: Writers on Knitting by Ann Hood

The Knitting Circle by Ann Hood

Knitting Rules!: The Yarn Harlot's Bag of Knitting Tricks by Stephanie Pearl-McPhee

Stitch 'n Bitch: The Knitter's Handbook by Debbie Stoller

Stitch 'n Bitch Superstar Knitting: Go Beyond the Basics by Debbie Stoller

Knitting in Plain English: The Only Book Any Knitter Will Ever Need by Maggie Righetti
Circular Knitting Workshop: Essential Techniques to Master Knitting in the Round by Margaret Radcliffe

Lace One-Skein Wonders®: 101 Projects Celebrating the Possibilities of Lace by Judith Durant

Knit Your Socks on Straight: A New and Inventive Technique with Just Two Needles by Alice Curtis

Knit Kimono by Vicki Square

Are you a knitter or crocheter? If so, which books have been a valuable resource for you in learning about and/or improving your craft?

Friday Finds #97

Friday Finds is a book meme hosted by Jenn at A Daily Rhythm. Friday Finds is a chance to share and show off the books you discovered during the week and would like to add to your reading list... 

Or a place to simply feature the books you've actually purchased throughout the week and have added to your to be read pile!

Here's the books I've added to my ever growing reading pile this week:

1. Darklight Redemption (Post-Human Universe Book 1) by Joe Mikolay. (I won this paperback book through the Goodreads First Reads Giveaway program.)

2. Living Long, Living Passionately by Karen Casey. (I won this paperback book through the Goodreads First Reads Giveaway program.)

3. Click, Clack, CASH: How to Make Money Knitting by Emily Pearle. (I purchased the eBook version of this book through Amazon. I am a beginning knitter and would love to eventually sell some of the things I knit, so I decided to download this book and see which ideas are presented in this book.)

4. The Martian by Andy Weir. (I had hopped to read this novel before the movie was released, but didn't have a chance to do so.)

5. Pippi Longstocking by Astrid Lindgren. (Audible download)

So, which books have you added to your reading wishlist and/or 'to be read' pile this week?

Pippi Longstocking by Astrid Lindgren

Unabridged Audio Edition

I've known about the character of Pippi Longstocking for years, but I've never read the book or even knew who the author of Pippi Longstocking was until recently.

Yesterday, I discovered that Audible's Daily Deal was the unabridged audio version of Pippi Longstocking by Astrid Lindgren and narrated by Christina Moore and was being sold for the low price of 99 cents. After listening to the audio sample of Pippi Longstocking on Audible, I decided to download and listen to it yesterday afternoon. Total playing time for Pippi Longstocking is 2 hours, 35 minutes.

I really enjoyed listening to the unabridged audio version of Pippi Londtocking by Astrid Lindgren. I thought that Christina Moore did a wonderful job narrating this audiobook.

I also enjoyed the characters of Pippi Longstocking along with Tommy and his sister Annika. Pippi Longstocking is quite an unconventional character and a free spirit. The chapters in Pippi Longstocking are short and highlight different adventures that take place throughout the novel itself. 

The only two complaints I have about Pippi Longstocking are as follows:

1. The abrupt ending this novel had was a disappointment.

2.  Towards the end of the last chapter in Pippi Longstocking, it mentions 'loaded guns', which made me feel a bit uneasy... I just didn't see any reason for the author to have brought up 'guns' as a topic in a children's book.

The following is the publisher's summary from Audible:

If you’ve ever dreamed about a life of absolute freedom, you’ll love this book. First published in 1950, Pippi Longstocking has given generations of kids a vision of days free from chores, bedtime hours, and homework. Now Christina Moore’s delightful unabridged narration gives new life to Pippi’s unconventional, free-spirited adventures.

I am giving Pippi Longstocking by Astrid Lindgren a rating of 3 stars out of 5 stars.

Until my next post, happy reading!!

Melody and Murder (Melody The Librarian #1) by Leslie Leigh

Cozy Mystery eBook Novella

I'm a sucker for cozy mystery novels, so when I saw Melody and Murder (Melody The Librarian #1) by Leslie Leigh on Amazon for FREE, I immediately downloaded the ebook edition to my Kindle.

Melody and Murder by Leslie Leigh is a novella that is the first book in the 'Melody the Librarian Series' and it is approximately 141 pages in length.

Below is my honest and unbiased review of Melody and Murder (Melody The Librarian #1) by Leslie Leigh.

First off, let me start by saying that I love reading cozy mystery novels and novellas... Secondly, I'd like to also add that Melody and Murder is the third novella I've read by Leslie Leigh so far. I just keep coming back for more of Leslie Leigh's books.

As far as Melody and Murder goes, I enjoyed reading this quick cozy mystery novella overall. I read it over the course of an afternoon. The leading character, Melody, is a fun character... She's funny and in her 30s. Melody is also a librarian who returns to her small town roots and becomes the managing librarian at the local public library. 

When Melody discovers the dead body of a local homeless man outside the front doors of the library one morning, she suspects foul play is involved despite the fact that nothing obvious (like a stab or gunshot wound) warranted a homocide investigation. The police and paramedics that arrive on the scene only suspect that the homeless man most likely died due to hypothermia, but Melody's gut feeling leads her to believe otherwise. So, with the help of her bother (who happens to be a state police officer), Melody helps solve the homicide of two different homeless men within her small community. 

The only thing I didn't care for about Melody and Murder (Melody The Librarian #1) by Leslie Leigh was the fact that the murderer confesses to Melody of the crimes committed and the reason behind the murders given was a lame one. Granted I didn't guess who the murderer was until it was revealed, but the way in which the murderer was revealed was not fulfilling to me the reader. Everything else about Melody and Murder (Melody The Librarian #1) by Leslie Leigh, was a delight though.

I am giving Melody and Murder (Melody The Librarian #1) by Leslie Leigh an overall rating of 3 stars out of 5 stars.

Until my next post, happy reading!!

Top Ten Tuesday --- Top Ten Author Duos You'd LOVE To See Write A Book Together!!

Top Ten Tuesday is an original feature/weekly meme created here at The Broke and the Bookish. This feature was created because we are particularly fond of lists here at The Broke and the Bookish. We'd love to share our lists with other bookish folks and would LOVE to see your top ten lists!

Each week we will post a new Top Ten list that one of our bloggers here at The Broke and the Bookish will answer. Everyone is welcome to join. All we ask is that you link back to The Broke and the Bookish on your own Top Ten Tuesday post AND add your name to the Linky widget so that everyone can check out other bloggers lists! If you don't have a blog, just post your answers as a comment. Have fun with it! It's a fun way to get to know your fellow bloggers.

The following are the Top Ten Author Duos I'd LOVE To See Write A Book Together!! 

1. Ernest Hemingway & John Steinbeck -- I know both of these Nobel Prize winning authors are both deceased... But wouldn't it be great to see what these two literary giants would write if they had written a novel together?? 

2. Jerry Spinelli & Judy Blume --- I like novels written by both of authors, so wonder what kind of young adult and/or children's novel these two authors would write about if they wrote a book together.

3. Robin Lafevers & Diana Gabaldon --- Both of these women write captivating historical fiction filled with interesting characters. I'd enjoy reading a historical novel they would create together.

4. Margaret Atwood & Barbara Kingsolver --- The writing of both of these women is amazing, so I would be very interested in what sort of novel they would create together.

5. Dame Agatha Christie & Sir Arthur Conan Doyle --- These two iconic British writers are much loved by fans around the world for their writing as well as iconic characters. It would be interesting to see what sort of novel the two of them would write together if they could only join forces!

6. Geraldine Brooks & Sue Monk Kidd --- Love each of these author's writing styles and their unique voices, so I would enjoy reading a novel they would write together.

7. Jules Verne & H. G. Wells ---I'd love to read a novel created by Jules Verne and H. G. Wells. I wonder how it would turn out??

8. Elizabeth Gilbert & Amy Stewart --- Both of these authors have written non-fiction and fiction, so it would be interesting to see what they would choose to write about if they put their writing talents together. Would they choose to write fiction or non-fiction??

9. Mikhail Bulgakov & Mikhail Lermontov --- These are my two favorite Russian writers. I love to read what sort of novel they would have written together if they had joined forces.

10. Bonnie Edwards & Sasha White --- I've read an erotica novella by each of these authors and thought each novella was good on it's own merit. I wonder what kind of erotica novel the two of these authors could create together??

Which writers would you pair up to write a novel together?

Click, Clack, CASH: How to Make Money Knitting by Emily Pearle

eBook Edition

Some day in the future, I'd eventually love to make money via my newly found love of knitting. 

At the present moment though, I enjoy the creative process of knitting and learning how to improve my current knitting skills. I'm having fun knitting items for myself and also knitting items that I like to give as gifts to family members and close friends.

But as I mentioned above, I'd eventually love to make and sell handmade knitted items to others. Wouldn't that be cool? 

It just so happened that while surfing Amazon's website last night, I came across an ebook titled Click, Clack, CASH: How to Make Money Knitting by Emily Pearle. For 99 cents, I decided to download this ebook and see what ideas Emily Pearle had to share in her ebook about making money through knitting. 

Click, Clack, CASH: How to Make Money Knitting by Emily Pearle is a short read and is approximately 44 pages in length. I liked the short, well organized chapters, the quotes at the start of each chapter, and the authors humor. I also liked many of the ideas that Ms. Pearle presented in her ebook. I just wished that she had expounded a bit more on a few of the topics that she had presented in her ebook. 

I am giving Click, Clack, CASH: How to Make Money Knitting by Emily Pearle an overall rating of 3 stars out of 5 stars.

Until my next post, happy reading!!

Friday Finds #96

Friday Finds is a book meme hosted by Jenn at A Daily Rhythm. Friday Finds is a chance to share and show off the books you discovered during the week and would like to add to your reading list... 

Or a place to simply feature the books you've actually purchased throughout the week and have added to your to be read pile!

Here's the books I've added to my ever growing reading pile this week:

1. Girl Waits With Gun by Amy Stewart (I picked this new hardback novel up at an author signing event at a local bookstore... Oh, what fun it is to hear authors talk about their new books and have them sign them afterward!!)

2. Soda Politics: Taking on Big Soda (and Winning) by Dr. Marion Nestle (I won this finished hardback book through the Goodreads First Reads Giveaway)

Which books have you added to your 'to be read' pile this week?

Author Signing Event ~~~ Amy Stewart @ Rakestraw Books in Danville, California!!

Me with author, Amy Stewart

Last night was date night for my husband and me!! So, what did we do? We visited a wonderful local independent bookstore in Danville, California called Rakestraw Books. 

I'm a fan of author, Amy Stewart, and her wonderfully written books. I've enjoyed reading both of Amy Stewart's nonfiction works Wicked Bugs and Wicked Plants. 

Amy Stewart

Anyway, I've known for quite a while that Amy Stewart was coming to Rakestraw Books to speak about and sign copies of her latest book, a novel, titled Girl Waits With Gun. Actually, I've been beyond excited about her visit to Rakestraw Books and am so glad that my hubby and I attended this event.

We arrived at Rakestraw Books early, purchased a copy of Girl Waits With Gun, mingled a bit, and found fabulous seats in the front row to better hear and see Amy Stewart speak about her latest book. Amy Stewart gave a fascinating talk to a nice sized group of us who had come to hear her speak and have her sign copies of her new novel. I enjoyed learning the inspiration behind her new novel the Girl Waits With Gun.

Listen to an NPR interview of Amy Stewart discussing how she came to write Girl Waits With Gun. 

Girl Waits For Gun is the first novel in a series of books to be written by Amy Stewart about the Kopp Sisters. 

Until my next post, happy reading!!

Forever By Judy Blume

Paperback Edition

For Banned Books Week 2015 (September 27 through October 3rd) this year, I chose to read Forever by Judy Blume. Forever marks the third Judy Blume book I've read this year. 

I never read any of Judy Blume's novels when I was a youngster, even though they were extremely popular among kids my age back in the day. So, I guess you can say I am reading a few of Ms. Blume's novels now that I am an adult to see what I missed out on when I was a kid.

The following is a plot summary for Forever by Judy Blume that I discovered on Goodreads:

There's a first for everything.

When you build up something in your mind -- really imagine it, wish for it -- sometimes, when it actually happens, it doesn't live up to your expectations. 

True love is nothing like that.

Especially not for Katherine and Michael, who can't get enough of each other. Their relationship is unique: sincere, intense, and fun all at the same time. Although they haven't been together all that long, they know it's serious. A whole world opens up as young passion and sexuality bloom.

But it's senior year of high school, and there are big changes ahead. Michael and Katherine are destined for another big "first": a decision. Is this the love of a lifetime, or the very beginning of a lifetime of love?

I am glad that I read Forever by Judy Blume. The following themes are brought up in Forever: teen aged sex, losing one's virginity, birth control, teen pregnancy, abortion, first love, etc. Basically, just about all the hot topics one can imagine that are hot topics to discuss with teenagers.

For the most part, I liked Forever by Judy Blume as I think the topics touched upon in the novel are important ones for young adults to read about and discuss.

I liked most of the characters in Forever, especially Kathrine, the leading character... The character I liked the least is her boyfriend, Michael, as I thought he was really immature at times and too pushy about wanting sex with Kathrine. Yes, I know teenage boys are portrayed as horny teenagers only wanting sex, but come on, really, are all teenage boys only horny for sex??

Some other things seemed questionable to me... Like, 18 year olds in Forever being able to legally drink alcohol at aged 18 years old when the legal drinking age in the USA is 21 years old. I'd think that the story would want to keep with what is actually going on in society to be credible. Also, Katherine's parents didn't seem to have an issue with her hanging out with her boyfriend, Michael, alone in their house unsupervised... I don't know, but if I were a parent to a high school student, I wouldn't want them to be alone together unsupervised thinking that they may have sex. I don't have issues with sex, but am concerned about unsafe sex and teenage pregnancy among young adults. And a few other things I had issue with as well.

Forever is a young adult novel that has been banned for the following reasons according to the Censorship & Judy Blume on Weebly: 

Frequency of sexual activity and sexual descriptions
Use of “four-letter” words
Does not promote abstinence
Does not promote monogamous relationships
Demoralized marital sex
Disobedience to parents is shown
Talks about masturbation
Talks about birth control
Sexuality
Lack of moral tone
Sexual passages inappropriate for young people

I am giving Forever by Judy Blume a rating of 3 stars out of 5 stars.

Which banned book or books did you read during Banned Books Week?

Bookish Quote of the Day!!