And Hope to Die

Steal dealing with the sad loss of my Grandparent's house, but we have found a lot of pictures and special memories we are so glad we haven't lost. You never know what you have until it is gone (see last review). On the other side of things, The Thirteenth Tale is turning out to be a fantastic book, and today I got a copy of Fast Food Nation to read in English class. I've actually heard that it is a great book and I can't wait to get started. One thing I know, in times of sadness, I'm glad I can turn to my special friends, the books.
And now to get started, Cross My Heart by Julie Wright. This is definitely in the category of LDS chick lit. It is very very very chick lit. Lovers of fantasy, this holds no dragons or death defying stunts. It actually involves so many love triangles and quadrangles my head was spinning (which the back of the book actually predicted, might I add). This books is about lovesick Jillian. A recent love study her boyfriend Jack took her to (a bit suspicious, Jack?) revealed that Jill was still in love with her ex, Geoffrey. Geoffrey, the one who stole Jill's advertising idea and got a promotion out of it, which led to his untimely dumping. Then, when Jill gets a job back in her home town with Geoffrey at a competing company and her parents down the road, she just happens to meet a wonderful (and Mormon) man named Allen. Allen is sweet and they really have a chance of hitting it off, if he wasn't so hung up on his ex-girlfriend who also happens to be dating some hot-shot in advertising. Whoever will Jill end up with?
I didn't love this book. It wasn't horrible, but it wasn't great. I just isn't my kind of book, frankly. I picked it up at a teen writers conference when the author was there, and she signed my book (and mentioned that she was in love with my hair, thank you very much). The book just felt so predictable. All of the reactions were just what you would expect, and it felt like the Mormon side of it was so forced! Everything she said was like she was pushing the religion in my face, which is weird, considering I'm the same religion! The characters were kind of flat and the sarcasm wasn't great. Also, the ending held none of the surprise the book's blurb promised. The whole book just fell flat.

Rating: 3/5


P.S. The book says "Cecilia, Love rocks! Be Happy believe in yourself and keep writing" On a side note, Julie Wright was my favorite teacher at this writers conference. She was amazing and I would willingly go take another class from her!