Review: Rush by Jonathan Friesen

Title: Rush
Author: Jonathan Friesen
Pages: 296
Pub. Date: June 2010
Synopsis (from B&N): Equal parts romance and heart-pounding action, this novel will leave you absolutely breathless. Join teen Jake King, an adrenaline junkie turned hotshot firefighter, as he struggles with the one risk he cannot take: losing his best friend and secret love, the beautiful Salome Lee. But to Jake, firefighting is like breathing pure adrenaline. And if he doesn't stop soon, they could all get burned

Opinion/Review: I have to be completely honest and say that when I picked this book up it was because I liked the author’s previous book (jerk California). The whole fire idea was a little iffy for me but I’m glad that I bought this book. The main character Jake is misunderstood by everyone except his best friend Salome. They don’t understand the need for the brain clearing adrenaline. He has to do his crazy stunts to feel like everybody does but one stunt leads to a series of life changes that could be disastrous for Jake, Salome and the town of Brockton, California. Let me start out by saying that this fictional town revolves around the firefighters who come during the wildfire season. Even Jake’s brother is part of these crews until his friend becomes an immortal (a secret firefighter club). The whole town turns on the king family, investigations are digging into mysterious deaths and Jake is a blind idiot. I definitely recommend this book but have to give it a 4 out of 5 just because it took Jake too long to see what was right under his nose.

Books I love and want to share contest

UPDATE:changed name due to my mistake
UPDATE: sorry forgot but U.S. only and please leave which book you would like to win with your entry.Ends 1/31
Alright I like to keep some contest on here all the time for my followers new or old.This contest will be my longest one. Basically I will be giving away three books and these are just some of my favorites so in the spirit of the holidays i will give them away to you guys.

Again these are some books that I really like and want to get people to read them although since they did come out like 1-3 years ago some of you may have read them.The great thing is that along with the books will be some swag. Mr. Friesen was kind enough to send some signed bookmarks to go along with the winner of the book. For mr. Lyga's book I will be parting with a minimate I won and a postcard. For two way street I haven't got anything yet and if i dont i will add a jerk california signed bookmark and a postcard from F&GG. So yeah three winners.one book+swag each.

Rules: First and foremost you must be or become a follower to enter.Please leave which book you would like to win and in case two or more people want the same book it will be on a first come first serve basis.

+1 new follower

+2 old follower

+1 for every comment on a post starting with papertowns

+2 for comments that were made before 12/1

+2 sidebar or blog post

+5 add me to your blogroll

That is it contest ends 1/31 so plenty of time to enter and rack up some extra points.
Oh and please leave email if you are not comftable with this email it to me at Weirdpanda3@gmail.com

Jerk, California by Jonathan friesen

Title: Jerk California

Author: Jonathan Friesen

Publisher: Speak(penguin)

Pages: 327

Synopsis(B&N):

Twitch, Jerk, Freak—Sam Carrier has been called them all. Because of his Tourette's syndrome, Sam is in near constant motion with tics and twitches and verbal outbursts. So, of course, high school is nothing but torment. Forget friends; forget even hoping that beautiful, perfect Naomi will look his way. And home isn't much better with his domineering stepfather reminding him that the only person who was more useless than Sam was his dead father, Jack. But then an unexpected turn of events unearths the truth about his father. And suddenly Sam doesn't know who he is, or even where he'll go next. What he does know is that the only girl in the world who can make him happy and nervous at the same time is everywhere he turns . . . and he'd give anything just to be still.

Opinion/review:I have actually reread this book many times since last year and now i can share what I thought. I really enjoyed this book. It's the type of book that gets stuck in your head(not literally). It's also very refreshing to read something different, that you can relate to and feels real. Sam struggles to be "normal" he lives with a hatred and feeling that his disease is a curse. Under all that is the thought that his father didnt want him and was some type of loser. His stepdad disowned him when he got Tourette's and his mom cowers and doesnt help sam. Then comes Naomi, beautiful and mysterious Naomi who has her own secrets. Then crazy coot who Sam doesnt understand but because of him learns something that changes his life and even his name. Sam's journey to self discovery is literally a journey somehow he and Naomi get thrown together on a road to trip that will lead them to Jerk, California and some answers. The one thing though that everybody must keep in mind is that all the characters have some flaws that will annoy you but thats what makes them seem so real.5/5 you must go buy this now!

P.S. there is also a song that was inspired by the book listen it here.