Review: Along for the Ride

We regret more the things we didn't do, than those we did.

When Auden opts to take some time off studying and visit her dad, she expects to spend quality time with him. But instead she gets stuck with her stepmom and new baby sister in a small town, that hosts only one coffee shop. Her introvert self doesn't mind the quiet - if only is were quiet. Her dad keeps nagging about his writer's block leaving her stepmom alone to care for the baby. So Auden takes over the responsibility of babysitting and managing the accounts of her stepmom's store. Will Auden ever be able to let go and have some fun?

Dessen won a Goodreads Choice Awards for this novel, and it's easy to understand why. The character development goes deep. Everyone has flaws and qualities, including Auden. As always, a male protagonist is introduced to help balance her out. But Eli isn't just there to fill up the pages. He has scars of his own that need proper attention.Divorce is major topic and profusely addressed although it could have been about 80 pages shorter and still kept it's meaning.

All work and no play makes everyone go dull, so remember to unwind from time to time and go ride a bike.

Happy Valentine's Day

Une photo publiée par natalia (@natyuniverse) le 14 Févr. 2015 à 13h14 PST

I would like to wish everyone a Happy VD filled with chocolates and books. Here are some of my favorite romance novels for this season:

What is your favorite romance novel?

Review: We can Work it Out

Penny, leader of The Lonely Hearts Club (an association for single girls with a broken heart), thinks she can handle it all. Club parties and gatherings with the girls every Saturday night, school, family nights, and of course manage to spend time with her new boyfriend Ryan -- the girl can really stretch her schedule.  Plus, Ryan's so compliant when it comes to organizing his time around hers. He even forgives her for being uncomfortable with PDA, in case The Lonely Hearts Club members resent her for it. But how long will Ryan keep this ''we can work it out'' attitude? Is Penny asking for too much?

Most of Penny's troubles were actually in her head. Creating a single girls group was a fantastic idea, especially one that meets on Saturday nights and spends Valentine's day together. But she took it too far by not wanting to delegate any of the functions. There's no reason to be ashamed of meeting Mr.Right and that is something Penny had to learn the hard way.

Prepare for some teary-eye moments, and giggles as author Elizabeth Eulberg demonstrates how obsessed Penny's family is with the Beatles.

 

Top Ten Tuesday: Thinking Out Loud

 

Hosted by The Broke and the Bookish

TOP TEN THINGS I LIKE/DISLIKE ABOUT ROMANCE NOVELS

Likes

You can learn a lot from reading romance novels. There's something about looking at a relationship from afar that makes you say ''Why does she stay with him if he always puts her second?'' SO...

1) The life lessons you learn by reading them

2) Inspiring sweet romantic ideas 

3) Books that contains some poetry 

4)Exotic locations 

5) When they make me cry 

Dislikes

6)Temporary Breakups when they should be together

7) Love triangles 

8) Instalove 

9) Needy characters (the girl stays with a creep just because) 

10) Unrealistic couples (they don't get into a single fight)

What do you like/dislike about romance novels?

My Batmans have never looked this hot

Let's face it, with shows like Gotham, toy demands, movies and comic books -- superheroes are not going anywhere. We are better off learning how to draw them, whether to recreate personal fantasies or to please our inner child. 

I admit it -- I'm not that good at drawing. This was me before the book:

It's difficult finding the correct posture and the right places to shade. And the face! How do you go from a stick figure to an actual human being? That's why this book provided me with lots of help. Not only does it contain action scenes. But it shows you how to begin by drawing the faces and then moves on to the entire body. It also includes all DC favorites such as The Kents, the Batmobile, Black Canary and Harley Queen. All the bios were written to help boost super heroes and villains knowledge.

A great help for DC fans.