Jenuine Cupcakes

Author: Kevin Craig Publication: June 28, 2011 (Read in June 2012) By: Museit Young Publishing 3 Stars! Zach Carson is a loyal friend. But is loyalty enough to keep best friends together when one of them sets fire to the rural barn they use as the local hangout? Zach, Jeff Barsell and Arnie Wilson struggle to pick up the pieces when news spreads that a body was discovered in the burnt out shell of the neighboring home. When the word murder is used by the local police, the stakes grow even higher. When the police start searching for their most likely suspect-none other than Jeff's older brother, and nemesis, Marty Barsell, the boys decide to join forces and come up with a way to prove his innocence. But just how innocent is Marty Barsell?  When Marty admits to being at the scene of the crime, the three friends enlist the help of Zach's annoying sister, Sherry, as well as the sympathetic town eccentric, Ms. Halverton. But can they keep it together long enoug...

Author: Huntley Fitzpatrick Publication: June 14, 2012 By: Dial Books for Young Readers LOVE.IT.SO.HARD!!! A MUST READ! “One thing my mother never knew, and would disapprove of most of all, was that I watched the Garretts. All the time.” The Garretts are everything the Reeds are not. Loud, numerous, messy, affectionate. And every day from her balcony perch, seventeen-year-old Samantha Reed wishes she was one of them . . . until one summer evening, Jase Garrett climbs her terrace and changes everything. As the two fall fiercely in love, Jase's family makes Samantha one of their own. Then in an instant, the bottom drops out of her world and she is suddenly faced with an impossible decision. Which perfect family will save her? Or is it time she saved herself? A dreamy summer read, full of characters who stay with you long after the story is over. I LOVE THIS BOOK SO HARD!  Once I started it, I couldn't read it fast enough and yet I didn't want it to end. This i...

Author: Nyrae Dawn Publication: June 7, 2012 By: ebook (companion novel to What A Boy Wants) 4 STARS! OhMyJaden!  Thank you Nyrae for giving us Jay's story even if it did break my heart and leave me struggling to hold it together by the end.  *cries all the tears* I fell in love with Sebastian in What A Boy Wants but was also a HUGE fan of his smart ass BFF Jaden Sinclair. Jaden is cute, snarkilicious and the kind of guy whose always there for his friends no questions asked.  His biggest flaw is not sharing his feelings with the people who love him.  This is because his home life sucks and he's so beaten down by the those who are supposed to love him unconditionally. \m/ *punches them in the face*  Things get worse the closer it gets to Graduation and as a result, Jay ends up in jail which jeopardizes the road trip to NYC he and his friends have been looking forward to all year. Jaden seems to be spiraling out of control and his only hope are his lifel...

Waiting on Wednesday  "Waiting On" Wednesday is a weekly event, hosted by Jill at Breaking the Spine , that spotlights upcoming releases that we're eagerly anticipating. Finale (Hush Hush #4) by Becca Fitzpatrick Publication: October 23, 2012 By: Simon & Schuster   From Goodreads: Nora is more certain than ever that she is in love with Patch. Fallen angel or no, he is the one for her. Her heritage and destiny may mean that they will always be enemies, but there is no turning her back on him. But now they face their biggest challenge. Can their love survive a seemingly insurmountable divide. And in the end, will there be enough trust left to rebuild what has been broken? The lines are drawn - but which sides are they on? Patch. That is all. ...

Author: Trish Doller Publication: June 19, 2012 By: Bloomsbury Children's   LOVED.IT.SO.HARD!! "War is only half the battle." Thank you to Netgalley & Bloomsbury! I only meant to "peek" at this but was pulled in and had to read until I finished the entire book which took about 3 hours and then I was crying ALL THE TEARS! I can't stop talking about this book now!  It made me laugh, it made me cry, it broke my heart, it gave me hope and it made me want to do SOMETHING for Marines everywhere. When nineteen year old Travis returns homes from a tour of duty in Afghanistan, his life plays out like a sad country song.  He's lost his girl, lost his car, his parents are getting divorced and his brother Ryan barely speaks to him which is probably because he's the one who stole Travis' girlfriend. (Smooth move dude) Things are strained with his old friends and Travis can't even drown his sorrows at the local bar without getting a b...

Fifty Shades of Grey Trilogy or 50 Shades of You Have GOT to Be Kidding Me?! By: E.L. James Let me start my saying that this review wasn't supposed to happen - ever.  Why?   Well, because I swore I'd never read this book, yet here I am, ready to share my thoughts. (I also would love to be able to wash my eyes out with soap.)  "Have you read 50 Shades of Grey? " If I had a $1 for every time someone asked me that question in the past couple of months, both of my kids' college educations would be fully paid for by now. What made me change my mind? Last week I noticed a lengthy discussion taking place on the FB profile of a friend of mine and I was going to add my .02 until I saw how many people had something to say but most hadn't read it yet. Just like me. Someone argued that the Song of Solomon in the Bible is just as sexually explicit. That person obviously hasn't read their Bible in awhile.  Yes, it IS explicit compared to other parts of the...

Ask The Experts     As Armchair BEA comes to a close, today is "Ask The Experts" day.   I've only been blogging for about a year (which is like 5 minutes in the blogosphere) and I still have TONS of questions!   Today is my chance to ask them. *claps excitedly*  Feel free to leave links, advice, etc. in your comments and know that I will  a) love you forever just because you stopped by b) be so very thankful for any help you share c) think you're made of awesome d) all of the above (this is the correct answer just in case you forgot to study.)     Here goes... 1) How do you make a blog button? (If you look around here, you'll notice I don't have one to "grab" because I don't know how to make one. *hangs head in shame*) 2) Are the images you use in your blog buttons free or did you have to pay for them?  Have to register/trademark them? 3) What's the best way to offer advertising to sources ...