Beez: Be careful what you wish for 

Alexandra Potter

Heather Hamilton is always wishing for things. Not just big stuff - like world peace, or that Brad Pitt wants her as his next leading lady - but little, everyday wishes made without thinking. With her luck, she knows they'll never come true...

Until one day she buys some heather from a gypsy. Suddenly the bad hair days stop. A handsome American answers her ad for a housemate. She starts seeing James - The Perfect Man who sends her flowers, excels in the bedroom, and isn't afraid to say "I love you".

But are these wishes-come-true a blessing or a curse? Does getting what you want make you happy? And is there such a thing as too much foreplay?

A classic Alexandra Potter. Somehow she takes one idea and turns it into a book! Alexandra Potter is the ultimate chic lit. Her books have ways of being incredible fun and insightful and eye opening. The moral of this book is in its title, Be careful what you wish for. I mean its no secret that every time I see a pair of pretty shoes(or anything) I wish I could have them(I know you do too). And its not that I don't want all my wishes to come true, all I'm saying is that if they did there's hardly any fun in it. And if you read this book, you'll come to know that maybe all wishes coming true doesn't necessarily make you happy.

Let me warn you beforehand that unlike other books in which cute American girl falls for sexy English guy with British accent, in this book cute English girl falls for the American guy. Who happens to be a stand up comedian. Who(stand up comedians, not the guy) Heather hates. I am going to shut up(or stop typing) before I spill all.

Heather is one of those characters that leads a completely messed up life and though that might sound good on paper she is really in need of some vigorous shaking up. Heather's wishes are pretty much a way of convenience(a place in the tube) and honestly there is no need to stop wishing for them. Heather is a comical person. She sends texts in the midnight to ex boyfriends asking if they fancy a shag(she was drunk). Heather is also a wedding photographer(I love them). And always late. Which is how the story begins.

Now let me tell you about Gabe James. James has all the qualities of Heather's perfect guy. Actually before that he was Heather's completely hot neighbor with amazing cheek bones on whom she had a huge crush on but always met in horribly awkward or embarrassing situations. But in the wishes-come-true period Heather without knowing wishes for her perfect man and James asks her out. Because he has also always had a crush on her. 

James is perfect in every way but not so much for Heather. I won't list his qualities and his bad points but to be truthful I didn't really like him. Or I like him but I feel a bit sorry for him(sorry James). But on a side note I felt that he and Jess(the best friend) would be perfect together(don't ask how, I could just picture them looking cute together).

Now the guy Heather falls for aka the american shall not be named(oops) in this review. He shall be called "The guy" from here. The guy is cute, has a weird dressing style, ridiculously funny, and my best part argues with Heather on a totally cute topic that I'm totally not telling. The guy is an utterly fun character and his imperfectness makes him so much perfect for Heather. The guy can make you(and Heather) laugh and can cheer up the most down moments in your(or Heather's) life. The guy makes a very good friend.

This is a teeny-meeny part I did not like.The guy and Heather are very good friends who enjoy each others company, no pressure. I felt that their relationship never had time to develop. Now normally if a girl falls in love with a friend, they have incredibly awkward moments and she has a whole denial period, then comes the by-mistake-deep-heart-eye staring then those few stolen kisses, stammered apologies and finally confession of love from both sides, but this book lacked that. Heather just comes to a realization that she loves him after she has mmmmm(sorry got mute). 

Also I do not like the way they make up. Alexandra Potter could have made it so much more romantic. There are some moments but its nothing like your typical heartfelt moment.

I rate this book a 3.5. I know that after you read my review you'll think how come? but I've never been madly in love with Alexandra Potter. She has the perfect settings but she ticks me off in a few places. Now on my advice whether to read it or leave it...

Honestly its ones own choice. I wouldn't undo my reading it. Its not all romance, its a mixed bag. It totally depends on your mood and genre choice(I don't advice this for Raven types). So honestly(and no offence), do what you want.

Lots of love and donuts

Beez.

Raven: Princess: A true story of life behind the veil in Saudi Arabia

A (hoax) novel by Jean Sasson

Publication Date: March 1, 2001 
Publisher: Windsor-Brooke Books

Pages: 233
Targeted Audience: Stupid/Easily Manipulated people

Summary: Sultana is a Saudi Arabian princess, a woman born to fabulous, uncountable wealth. She has four mansions on three continents, her own private jet, glittering jewels, designer dresses galore. But in reality she lives in a gilded cage. She has no freedom, no control over her own life, no value but as a bearer of sons. Hidden behind her black floor-length veil, she is a prisoner, jailed by her father, her husband, her sons, and her country.Sultana is a member of the Saudi royal family, closely related to the king. For the sake of her daughters, she has decided to take the risk of speaking out about the life of women in her country, regardless of their rank. She must hide her identity for fear that the religous leaders in her country would call for her death to punish her honesty. Only a woman in her position could possibly hope to escape from being revealed and punished, despite her cloak and anonymity.Sultana tells of her own life, from her turbulent childhood to her arranged marriage--a happy one until her husband decided to displace her by taking a second wife--and of the lives of her sisters, her friends and her servants. Although they share affection, confidences and an easy camaraderie within the confines of the women's quarters, they also share a history of appaling oppressions, everyday occurrences that in any other culture would be seen as shocking human rights violations; thirteen-year-old girls forced to marry men five times their age, young women killed by drowning, stoning, or isolation in the "women's room," a padded, windowless cell where women are confined with neither light nor conversation until death claims them.By speaking out, Sultana risks bringing the wrath of the Saudi establishment upon her head and te heads of her children. But by telling her story to Jean Sasson, Sultana has allowed us to see beyond the veils of this secret society, to the heart of a nation where sex, money, and power reign supreme.

Okay, I might be way too harsh with this review but that's only because I have never hated a book more than this one right here. So here goes my rant. 

This book is said to be about Sultana (Not real name) who is a Saudi Princess and even though she belongs to the royal family she is bound by strict rules that define that women are only used for sexual relief and to bear the children for their husbands. And how they are enslaved by their fathers, husbands and brothers. 

First of all, what kind of a person who belongs to a family of famous people would want such intimidate details of her life story (which is different than others, obviously!) to be written by a foreign author and available for publish in abroad? Secondly, how is it possible that when such details were put in a book for everyone to read, how did her family not find it out? 

The facts in the book are obvious enough for anyone to understand that it's fake. 

Fact #1: She said that she wasn't allowed to go into the mosque. Being a Saudi Princess she should have known that Mosques have a separate section for women. 

Fact #2: It's said that women were forced to marry after puberty. I agree that women were (and in some places still are) being made to marry men right after maturation. But it was to avoid going around and having sex before marriage as doing that is unlawful in Islam. But but but I have heard that it's mentioned in the Quran (the holy book of Muslims) that it is the woman who gets to decide when and whom she wants to marry. Remember that it's always the humans who twist rules to fit their requirement.

Fact #3: Woman are given the highest respect in Islam. Women are told to cover themselves so as not to attract the attention of unwanted men but men are not even allowed to look at them with bad intentions as thinking of a bad deed is equal to doing one. And to support this fact, a quote from the Quran itself (translated of course): He who is best to his wife is the best man among you. (However, I agree that polygamy is allowed in Islam but I don't think that anybody in the modern generation follows that as everyone knows that it's difficult enough to handle the expenses and lectures of one woman)

Fact #4: Also a father who educates a minimum of three daughters has gained a palace in Heaven. This is another thing from the holy book that shows that education is not prerogative to women/girls.

Fact #5: There is a story kind of thing that I have heard. It's about this man who asks the prophet "Who is the one worthy of more respect after Allah (The god worshiped by Muslims)? and the prophet says "Your mother".  The man asks one again "Who after that?" and the prophet says "Your mother". Once again the man asks "And who after that?" and the prophet says the same thing again. For the last time the man asks "Who after that?" and then the prophet says "Your father".

This does not mean that Fathers are not respected enough, they are but it's just that Mothers are held higher.

There are many facts that I can go on about (like the one about piercing the vagina or something which is absolutely stupid and I think that the author has just made it up) but I just wanted to tell you guys that anyone who believes in this book and let's themselves be manipulated by it, Islam is not a bad religion. It has given it's followers many rules to follow but it's for their own advantage. Like listening to music and watching movies is not allowed in Islam, it's not forbidden but it's said so as to avoid any thing that takes one away from worshiping their God. I think it's the same for Protestants (I heard that like Muslims they too are supposed to cover their heads, not drink, not have sex before marriage, not worship images or idols of God, not listen to music or watch movies and not wear gold).

I accept that women are oppressed but anyone would be fool to believe that Islam is a religion that promotes it. Women of every religion are oppressed by men of different religions. Just because one man from one particular religion does so does not mean that every man of that religion does it. The same goes for Terrorism.

So this is what I had to say about this book. Since I hate this one so much I don't think I will be reading the other two that follow this one. 

And I won't be rating this one since I have nothing to give it, but I won't be stopping you from reading it either. You can read it for yourself and understand that it's the biggest hoax ever.

Lots of hatred for the author but love and pasta for you guys,

Raven

Our first ever guest review!! 

Wings, (Wings#1) 

Aprilynne Pike

Laurel was mesmerized, staring at the pale things with wide eyes. They were terrifyingly beautiful—too beautiful for words.

Laurel turned to the mirror again, her eyes on the hovering petals that floated beside her head. They looked almost like wings.

In this extraordinary tale of magic and intrigue, romance and danger, everything you thought you knew about faeries will be changed forever.

Oooh...this one is a fairy tale, I just love fairy tales. They are all about chiseled, fair prince charming, evil villains and very helpless princesses. But this book has one thing which is so different, that it makes it stand out from all those fairy tales lying in my bookshelf, this book paints an entirely different image of fairies. Read on and you will find out.

Firstly, when my friend told me she had a love story which had fairies in it, I was psyched. She bought it to school the next day. I started reading it and that was it.... I couldn't put the book down.

This story is about a girl (Ok-ok I know every book has one but she is somewhat different) Laurel who is a faerie (yes I know the spelling is wrong) a new type of being as she is also a plant. (Ok I know what you are thinking that I am insane and how can fairy's be made out of plants but believe me its true) Anyways she is from Avalon, a kingdom which is full of faerie beings and is ruled by winter faeries. There are four types of faeire's:

1) The winter faeries who are the most powerful ones in the bunch and they are on top of the hierarchy system

2) The autumn faeries who are also known as mixers and they make portions for the rest of them. These portions are to cure the sick or to overcome the trolls-their natural enemies.

3) The summer faeries like... no love doing fireworks, they are a type who use their powers to entertain the Fae's (plural of faeries).

4) And the spring faeries. Most of them are guardians and the others are the helpers.

The most important thing about these faeries are that their jobs can’t be imitated by other season Fae's like an autumn faerie's work cannot be done by a summer faerie or a human (believe me David tried....oops silly me, I forgot to mention whose David, but don’t worry as always I will be there to save the day). And for shopaholic’s like me, let me tell you that shopping at fairs or markets of Avalon is completely and utterly FREE! CAN YOU BELIEVE IT!

So I should save the day and tell you about David.

Okay so Laurel was like a hard-hit (not exactly like one but somewhat similar to it) She was planted in the human world while she was a sapling (or a baby. But folks let’s not forget that she is a plant) and she was also given a memory portion to forget all about Avalon. She meets David in a school when her family moves into a different city.

Let’s fast forward it people... there is also another hero in this book. His name is Tamani and he is a fellow Fae just like our heroine Laurel.[are you getting my gist here?! ;) ]. So when Laurel starts liking-oh no! I think we past that stage after the first five chapters of the book-loving David, Tamani is given the signal to enter Laurels life. Who is Laurel going to choose finally.... I kept on wondering but you don’t come to know this in this part, there are 3 more parts left to it and the last part will tell you all about Laurels decision!!!!

So people in team David (he is sooo cute) please raise your hands and all the Tamani fans (including me) (god he is gorgeous) please stand up!!

No story goes smoothly for long; there is always a stone in its path, what say you people?! Well this story has one too but over here it’s a troll who won’t stop at anything to take the land Laurel's family owns because it has the gate to Avalon. He can go to any lengths so people be aware not to get on the bad side of this or any other troll.

This is all the major things this story is about and if you wanted the story to keep surprising you with all its suspense you should have thought about it before reading this review.... cause I can never stomach anything. I have to blurt it out. Nevertheless there are some parts I forgot to mention so you can read and find it out.

Lots of love and Nutella,

Ripley

Dream Cast!!

Sara Paxton as Laurel, Alex Pettyfer as Tamani, Gregg Sulkin as David, Gérard Depardieu as Barnes, James Marsden as Shar and Christina Hendricks as Chelsea