Reading the Best of the Best

Author Interview: Y.S. Lee

2012-01-20T23:24:00.000-05:00

Welcome Y.S. LEE to the blog!!!!:

Y S Lee was born in Singapore and raised in Vancouver and Toronto. In 2004, she completed her PhD in Victorian literature and culture. This research, combined with her time living in London, triggered an idea for a story about a women’s detective agency. The result was the Agency novels.

Ying is also the author of Masculinity and the English Working Class (Routledge). She now lives in Kingston, Ontario with her family. From her website.

Books:

1. When was it that you realized you had to be a writer and nothing else?
I was slow to realize this, mainly because I’m a bit of a coward. I spent a long timedoing graduate work, persuading myself that I wanted to be a university professor, or ateacher, or a policy analyst. Once into my PhD, though, I realized I wasn’t really happyas an academic. It was only then that I thought: now or never.

2. Where did the idea for The Agency: A Spy in the House come from?
I spent 6 months living in London, doing research (for my PhD) at the British Library.I really fell in love with the city and knew I wanted to write something about London –and, specifically, Victorian London.

3. What was the hardest part about writing The Agency: A Spy in the House? Theeasiest?
The hardest part of any book, for me, is the last third of the first draft. It requires somuch discipline and it’s SO tempting to abandon it for something fresh and exciting.Starting a book is the easiest and most fun – it’s an explosion of ideas, all of which arepossible and require lots of juicy research.

4. Even before reading The Agency: A Spy in the House, I knew that there was a lot ofresearch involved. I also know that you got your PhD work in Victorian literature andculture. Can you tell us why and what you find so fascinating about this time in history?
In 2010, we’re bombarded with messages that our world has never been so modern, sofast-paced, so technologically advanced, or so confusing. Well, the Victorians felt thesame way. They developed technologies that changed communications, manufacturing,travel, everything – their world shrank and changed so fast it must have been dizzying.Although we often hear about the C19 as an old-fashioned and distant time, I prefer tothink about how close it is to our own age.

5. I love reading about the Victorian! But I’m sure there weren’t any places like theAgency around (right?). So why did you decide on having a place like the Agency?
I wanted to write about a regular girl – someone without a rich family or theconnections to help her get ahead. But when I thought about the usual choices for agirl like Mary Quinn (marriage, factory labour, domestic service), it was so depressing.I created the Agency as a deliberately unrealistic antidote to the fate that otherwiseovertook poor, clever, Victorian girls. And you know, if an organization like the Agencyhad existed, it wouldn’t have left a trace anyway. So I think there’s room to live in hope!

6. With so many different types of genres out there to write about, why did you chooseYA?
I fell into YA by accident. I originally wrote A Great Stink (the book that became Spy)as an adult historical mystery. My agent’s the one who pointed out that it was actuallya coming-of-age story and suggested I revise it as a YA novel. I was startled at first, butquickly realized that she was absolutely right.

7. How many books will be in the Agency? What about after that?
There will be 3 Mary Quinn novels, for sure; there’s a slight possibility of a fourth. Andright now I’m researching a stand-alone book set in Southeast Asia during the SecondWorld War.

8. Do you have any advice for aspiring writers?You have to be a reader before you can be a writer. Read as widely and deeply as youcan; nothing will be wasted.

9. What comes to your mind when I say:
1. Love –blissful connection
2. James Easton – that smile
3. Music – harmony, tension, resolution
4. London – din, garden squares, stone, grime
5. Writing – best job in the world
6. YA – hope for the future
7. Spy – my debut novel, of course!

10. Is there anything else you’d like to add?
Thank you very much for having me here!

You can visit Y.S. Lee:

Website/Goodreads/Twitter/Facebook

Review: Sun and Moon, Ice and Snow by Jessica Day George

2012-01-19T08:00:00.000-05:00

Title: Sun and Moon, Ice and Snow
Author: Jessica Day George
Release Date: January 8, 2008
Publisher: Bloomsbury USA
Source: Library

Blessed—or cursed—with an ability to understand animals, the Lass (as she’s known to her family) has always been an oddball. And when an isbjorn (polar bear) seeks her out, and promises that her family will become rich if only the Lass will accompany him to his castle, she doesn’t hesitate. But the bear is not what he seems, nor is his castle, which is made of ice and inhabited by a silent staff of servents. Only a grueling journey on the backs of the four winds will reveal the truth: the bear is really a prince who’s been enchanted by a troll queen, and the Lass must come up with a way to free him before he’s forced to marry a troll princess.

Review: I love the fairy tale of East of the Sun, West of the Moon and have been trying to read as many re-tellings of the story that I can. I’d seen this book a lot at my library but I never really bothered to pick it up. Sun and Moon, Ice and Snow was a captivating re-telling set in a cold, oblique world that incorporates magic, belief in the unknown and a girl’s quest to help all who she loves.

As the story goes, the Lass is the unnamed ninth child to a poor family living in northern Scandinavia. She is not highly regarded by her mother but loved by her father and oldest brother. After saving a white reindeer, she gets a name and the gift to talk to animals. After some events, the Lass goes to the isbjorn’s (polar bear) ice castle to live with him for a year. The Lass’s curiously lands the isbjorn is trouble and she sets off to save him.

While I didn’t absolutely love this novel as I had hoped it, it had a lot of high points. One of them being the fact that the Lass went on the journey not only for her love but for her brother and family as well. I liked that there was more meaning to risking her life than just for her love. While her journey was lengthy and filled with mystery, danger, and of course, magic, I didn’t connect to her very well. The Lass just seemed to be on her journey and it was as if I was watching a movie. Jessica Day George did an amazing job with the descriptions and her writing was beautiful, sometimes it felt like there were way too many…words. Knowing this fairy tale well, at times I just wanted her to get on with the story.

Overall, it was a good read that I enjoyed. Sun and Moon, Ice and Snow was well written and with Jessica Day George’s lyrical prose and writing style, this book read like a real fairy tale should.

Overall: 3/5
Cover Comments: 3/5—Meh. It's not as captivating as I had hoped it would be. It didn't strike me when I first saw it.

Review: Stolen Away by Alyxandra Harvey

2012-01-18T00:00:00.000-05:00

Title: Stolen Away
Author: Alyxandra Harvey
Release Date: January 17, 2012
Publisher: Walker Childrens
Source: Netgalley/Publisher

For seventeen years, Eloise Hart had no idea the world of Faery even existed. Now she has been abducted and trapped in the Rath of Lord Strahan, King of Faery. Strahan was only meant to rule for seven years, as Faery tradition dictates, and then give up his crown to another. But he won't comply, and now chaos threatens both worlds.

The only one who can break his stranglehold on the Faery court is his wife. . . Eloise's aunt Antonia. Using Eloise to lure Antonia, Strahan captures his wife, desperate to end the only threat to his reign. Now Eloise must become the rescuer. Together with her best friends Jo and Devin, she must forge alliances with other Fae, including a gorgeous protector named Lucas, and Strahan's mysterious son, Eldric-who may or may not betray them.

Review: I love Alyxandra Harvey. There is no doubt about it. When I first heard about this book, I knew that it was going to be funny, smart, cute, and an overall enjoyable quick read. And oh, boy was it!

Alyxandra Harvey has done vampires and ghosts and now she’s making her debut into the world of the fairies! The plot, though predictable at times wasn't completely unoriginal. Our main character wasn’t the long lost daughter of a king or anything but rather just a pawn, as it says in the summary. Eloise, Jo, and Devin were totally awesome. They had a good friendship and were funny and awkward and so loyal to each other. Jo wasn't my favorite character and I found myself annoyed at her during a lot of the book. Her relationship in the book with a certain boy made her seem...desperate to have a boyfriend at all times and it was really the main focus with her story line.

The story was told though Alyxandra Harvey’s trademark duel POVs and it worked so well to create the atmosphere and help move the story forward. While I didn’t care for Eldric as much as I cared for Lucas (such a sweet, swoon worthy guy who fulfilled his purpose) and I have to give mad props to Alyxandra Harvey for not making the romance between Eloise and Lucas the main point in the story, but rather a side plot.

I will admit that this book felt extremely rushed. At 288 pages, though it seems long, the story had to be progressed very quickly and often without much background. Character development wasn't as prominent as I had hoped it would be leaving many unanswered questions. It also made it hard for me to connect with Eloise, who wasn't that bad and I flat out didn't like Jo very much. The romance between Eloise and Lucas had a lot of potential to grow but again, felt rushed. Jo and her guy pretty much had a bad insta love relationship.

Overall, it was a cute, quick read that takes you into a world that you thought you knew. Alyxandra Harvey makes fairies and the characters all her own in her own special way but you might be left unsatisfied due to the lack of character (and really, plot) development. I encourage you to read this book for yourself and make a decision!

Overall: 3/5
Cover Comments: 5/5—So striking and colorful and pretty. Love it!

Top Ten Tuesday {25}

2012-01-17T16:51:00.001-05:00

Top Ten Tuesday is a weekly feature hosted over at The Broke and the Bookish!
This week was Top Ten Books Top Ten Books I'd Recommend To Someone Who Doesn't Read X (fill in with choice of genre):

Top Ten Books I'd Recommend To Someone Who Doesn't Read X:

1) Anything by John Green: He has such an amazing, brutally honest yet funny writing style.

2) Anything by Sarah Dessen: She is, in my opinion, Queen of YA Contemporary.

3) Stephanie Perkins's Books: LOLA and ANNA. Need I say anything?

4) Twenty Boy Summer by Sarah Ockler: Misleading title guys. This book is so beautiful yet blunt and it deals with accepting life’s down turns and dealing with loss.

5) The Statistical Probability of Love at First Sight by Jennifer E. Smith: Fate and destiny. Coincidental meetings. Super cute story that has a lot of heart.

6) Virtuosity by Jessica Martinez: A rather recent read, it fits daily life, music and so much more together perfectly.

7) Anything by Sara Zarr: I read her How to Save a Life recently and I loved it so much. She’s able to create memorable characters and plot lines that really stick with you.

8) Amy and Roger’s Epic Detour by Morgan Matson: Road trips with lots of music lists and pictures and such a great story in general.

9) Simone Elkeles: Um. Yes. Need I explain?

10) If I Stay/Where She Went by Gayle Forman: Such a beautiful writer!

Review: Fracture by Megan Miranda

2012-01-17T13:00:00.000-05:00

Title: Fracture
Author: Megan Miranda
Release Date: January 17, 2012
Publisher: Walker & Company
Source: Publisher via NetGalley

By the time Delaney Maxwell was pulled from a Maine lake’s icy waters by her best friend, Decker Phillips, her heart had stopped beating. Her brain had stopped working. She was dead.

But somehow Delaney survived—despite the brain scans that show irreparable damage. Everyone wants Delaney to be fine, but she knows she’s far from normal. Pulled by strange sensations she can’t control or explain, Delaney now finds herself drawn to the dying, and when she meets Troy Varga, a boy who recently emerged from a coma with the same abilities, she is relieved to share this strange new existence. Unsure if her altered brain is predicting death or causing it, Delaney must figure out if their gift is a miracle, a freak of nature—or something else much more frightening….

Review: I had heard a few things about Fracture when I began reading this book and they were rather high. After a few failed books, I was afraid of how I was going to like this book but guys, I had nothing to worry about. Fracture, Megan Miranda’s debut novel was full of intrigue, mystery, and bitter sweet moments.

From what I’d heard, I had expected this book to be unlike anything I had read before, so I was *kind of* prepared. From the very beginning, Megan Miranda takes us on a roller coaster journey where we think we know what will happen next but she surprises us. The plot was interestingly paced: when it needed to be quick and suspenseful, it was. When it needed to be calm and cute, it was.

Megan Miranda is a great writer and was able to help me visualizes everything that was going on in the book. I could feel the bitter cold and the freezing water. The setting was so beautifully depicted that even the scariest parts were beautiful.

When Troy was first introduced, I was afraid of a love triangle. I, for a moment, thought that that is what was going to happen but then the author changed everything around. Nothing was what it seemed, least of all Troy and intentions. You knew after a minute of reading about Troy that there was much more going on with him; something deeper and darker.

Delaney herself was a great character and it was easy to sympathize with her but also to get angry at her. I knew she made a mistake on occasion and I wanted her to fix it, which she did. She held her own throughout this book and I loved seeing her grow. What makes you fall in love with a big, jock type guy who is the formula of a jerk? If he’s Decker, Delaney’s best friend who absolutely loves her, enough to cry big fat sobs when he sees her alive after saving her.

If you can't tell by this review, Fracture was an amazing, revoting, well written book that will send chills up your spine and keep you at the edge of your seats!

Overall: 5/5
Cover Comments: 5/5—SO PRETTY. And it fits so well with the book!

Review: Sleepaway Girls by Jen Calonita

2012-01-16T00:18:00.000-05:00

Title: Sleepaway Girls
Author: Jen Calonita
Release Date: May 1, 2009
Publisher: Little, Brown Young Readers
Source: Library

When Sam's best friend gets her first boyfriend, she's not ready to spend the summer listening to the two of them call each other "pookie." Sick of being a third wheel, Sam applies to be a counselor-in-training at Whispering Pines camp in the New York Catskills. But what she doesn't realize is that it's not going to be all Kumbaya sing-alongs and gooey s'mores. If Ashley, the alpha queen of Whispering Pines, doesn't ruin Sam's summer, then her raging crush on the surfer-blond and flirtatious Hunter just might. At least she has playful Cole, who's always teasing her, but is oh-so-comfortable to hang out with, and the singular gang of girls that become fast friends with Sam-they call themselves the Sleepaway Girls.

Review: I have read books by Jen Calonita before so I knew what to expect. I was going to get a cute, quick, and funny read about a girl’s life where something goes wrong and that is exactly what I got.

In Sleepaway Girls, we are introduced to Sam who does not want to stick around for the summer with her best friend who makes Sam feel like a third wheel. So she decides to change it up and go to a camp for the summer to be a counselor in training. Things take off to a shaky start when a girl does not like Sam and wants to ruin Sam’s first summer camp experience. Not all is bad for Sam though, especially when she makes friends and maybe even a summer romance!

While the plot has been done before, Jen Calonita makes this plot line her own, like always, though still predictable. Sam and the other characters are believable and you’ll laugh and get angry along with them. Her descriptions for the camp are impeccable and will make you want to go to summer camp right away! Though the ending was predictable, it was an ending that you would smile at.

Overall, I enjoyed the book as I’ve enjoyed Jen Calonita’s other books. No, this was not very new and orginal but it was a fun, cute and quick read.

Overall: 3/5
Cover Comments: 5/5—It's simple, cute and fits the book perfectly!

Book Trailer: Tempest by Julie Cross

2012-01-15T15:40:00.000-05:00

I have a new trailer for you guys! I've been waiting forever to read this book!

SO here is the trailer for Tempest by Julie Cross:
About the book:

The year is 2009. Nineteen-year-old Jackson Meyer is a normal guy… he’s in college, has a girlfriend… and he can travel back through time. But it’s not like the movies – nothing changes in the present after his jumps– it’s just harmless fun.

That is… until the day strangers burst in on Jackson and his girlfriend, Holly, and during a struggle with Jackson, Holly is fatally shot. In his panic, Jackson jumps back two years to 2007, but this is not like his previous time jumps. Now he’s stuck in 2007 and can’t get back to the future. Desperate to somehow return to 2009 to save Holly but unable to return to his rightful year, Jackson settles into 2007 and learns what he can about his abilities.

But it’s not long before the people who shot Holly in 2009 come looking for Jackson in the past, and these “Enemies of Time” will stop at nothing to recruit this powerful young time-traveler. Recruit… or kill him.

Review: As I Wake by Elizabeth Scott

2012-01-15T00:00:00.001-05:00

Title: As I Wake
Author: Elizabeth Scott
Release Date: September 15, 2011
Publisher: Dutten Juvenile
Source: Library

Ava is welcomed home from the hospital by a doting mother, lively friends, and a crush finally beginning to show interest. There's only one problem: Ava can't remember any of them - and can't shake the eerie feeling that she's not who they say she is.

Ava struggles to break through her amnesiac haze as she goes through the motions of high-school life, but the memories that surface take place in a very different world, where Ava and familiar-faced friends are under constant scrutiny and no one can be trusted. Ava doesn't know what to make of these visions, or of the boy who is at the center of them all, until he reappears in her life and offers answers . . . but only in exchange for her trust.

Review: Elizabeth Scott goes beyond her regular scope of hart hitting contemporary to bring in a sci-fi, dystopian book that has an interesting plot line and an even more interesting main character.

I had no idea what to expect from this book since even from the summary, you know that this is not a regular Elizabeth Scott novel. Ava wakes up on the hospital not knowing where she is or who she is. The reader knows as much as Ava does about it everything that is going on and while this adds to the mystery of the novel, it also adds to the confusion. The plot does not go into a lot of details and I felt that at the end of the book, I still had unsnarled questions.

The characters were full of mystery and intrigue but I didn't feel that they were ad developed as I had hoped they would. I wanted to know more about Ava and her friends and Morgan and what was really going on. Sadly, I felt that many of the important questions, like the rules and how the world that Elizabeth Scott created in this book worked, went unanswered and it left me unsatisfied at the end of the book.

Overall, As I Wake had a lot more potential to grow and become something even bigger than it was. This should not discourage you from reading this book, it's just not one of my favorite Elizabeth Scott.

Overall: 3/5
Cover Comments: 5/5—Look at the fire, the girl, her hair turning to smoke! SO AMAZING!

In My Mailbox (53)

2012-01-15T00:00:00.000-05:00

From the Library:

Inheritance by Christopher Paolini

For Review:

None

Purchased:

Across the Universe by Beth Revis
Shine by Lauren Myracle
**Extremely happy to have a hard back of both books. And both were just $2 each at my library so I'm not complaining!**

Won:

None

Hosted by The Story Siren

WHAT DID YOU GET IN YOUR MAILBOX?

I'm Just About to Lose It

2012-01-14T01:03:00.001-05:00

I could scream right now.

Seriously.

I think the problem is in my brain. I think something is wrong with me. WHY? Well, I'm reading a book that was released last year and talked about endlessly. I mean, endlessly, and EVERYONE LOVED THIS BOOK SO MUCH. The writing was amazing, the plot was OMG times a million and the love interest was a super, hot, sexy guy.

I'm reading this book, going "OMG I'm going to be totally in love!!!"

And I completely don't like it. Mind you, the author has amazing writing skills and the plot (though really confusing, works for the book) is good, the characters are....UGH.

I seriously can not believe that these characters are so stereotypical and people love them so much! The hot, sexy guy? He's completely rich, has been with all the girls,is super nice under all of his ***holeness, and wants to be with the main character because she's not boring and she's different. He's also a stalker which the girl doesn't mind. And she's in high school.

I don't know all the teenage girls out there BUT I HIGHLY doubt any girl wants to be with a guy who stalks her. Or has been with a lot of girls. WHO by the way, hate the main girl since she's got the hot and sexy guy's attention.

I'm going to stop now. Someone, out there, explain to me what is wrong with me????

Discussion: The Over Hyped Books These Days

2012-01-12T14:16:00.000-05:00

It seems to me that every new book these days is the Next Harry Potter or the Next Hunger Games. Or, some books are either The Best Book Ever or The Worst Book Ever. Which brings me to the point of this post: most of the Best Books Ever are Over Hyped. I can name two books of the past year (and continuing this year) that were hugely loved and talked about....but I just never got into them.

One of them is a dystopian book I began reading, didn't get into it but decided to read it another time. The other, a paranormal of sorts, I could care less if I tried to read it again.

For starters, I didn't like the charters very much in the paranormal one. They were so cliched and stereotyped that I stopped reading the book before I got 100 pages in.Teens in this generation are not like the teens depreciated in the book! From the bad-boy-who-has-a-heart to the overachiever, really annoying brother, I just about had it with the book. The saddest part? The author's writing was freaking amazing and I had wished that it had been enough to make me continue reading it.

It's not just one book either at is this case. Plenty of books get lots of hype but don't live up to it. Some books, like a Stephanie Perkins book or a John Green book deserve the hype. Yeah, not everyone is going to love them but for me, they deliver.

My biggest problem is when authors get a teens life wrong. Sure some teens might be able to connect with the character, but if she's 14, don't make her act like she's 17 or vise versa. I know what a 17 year old girl is like because I am one and I'm NOT saying that I know what all 17 year old girls are like but I have a pretty good idea. I want to connect with the main character. I want her to be someone I would hang out with.

I want the characters to be realistic.

No more stereotyping. As much as I love the bad boy, I want to see the smart, awkward good boy (Cricket Bell anyone?). I don't want a girl to make mistakes and just because she fixes what she did wrong to be justified as a well developed character from the beginning to the end. I want her to grow and change and become a better person.

The worst part about this is when the book disappoints you. In both of these hyped books, I had the impression that they we're as good as they sounded. I wanted them to be but....alas, they were not and this was such a sad thing.

I will admit that after boom blogging and writing reviews for such a long time now (...well, it's only been 2 years, but still) I am much more critical of the books I read. I know what I like to see and what I don't like to see in the books and that has, to put it bluntly, saved a lot of my free time.

All that said, I hope you realize that this is my opinion. I mean to offend no one at all; I'm just putting my thoughts out there. If you disagree, or even agree, tell me in the comments. Is there something else you don't like about hyped up books?

Threaded Comments Now In Blogger

2012-01-12T13:18:00.000-05:00

FINALLY!!!! Blogger has finally come out with thread comments! Now you can have discussions with your readers on your blog! Emily of Emily's Reading Room shows you how to do it in an EASY way! Check it out!!!

Click HERE to go to see how to do it all!

Another Hunger Games Inspired Video

2012-01-11T22:10:00.003-05:00

April of Good Books and Wine posted this and I just had to share.

I LOVE IT!

Review: The Statistical Probability of Love at First Sight by Jennifer E. Smith

2012-01-11T08:00:00.000-05:00

Title: The Statistical Probability of Love at First Sight
Author: Jennifer E. Smith
Release Date: January 2, 2012
Publisher: Poppy
Source: Publisher

Who would have guessed that four minutes could change everything?

Today should be one of the worst days of seventeen-year-old Hadley Sullivan's life. She's stuck at JFK, late to her father's second wedding, which is taking place in London and involves a soon to be step-mother that Hadley's never even met. Then she meets the perfect boy in the airport's cramped waiting area. His name is Oliver, he's British, and he's in seat 18C. Hadley's in 18A.

Twists of fate and quirks of timing play out in this thoughtful novel about family connections, second chances and first loves. Set over a 24-hour-period, Hadley and Oliver's story will make you believe that true love finds you when you're least expecting it.

Review: The 256 pages of this book are a pure joy to read and you’ll zip right through this book. I had been in a reading funk for a while and this book took me right out of it! It takes place over 24 hours, which makes it a unique story since not a lot of books do that these days. Jennifer E. Smith demonstrates wonderful writing, amazing characters and a plot too cute to be true.

We are introduced to Hadley who is not very happy about going to London for her father’s wedding to a women she has never met. She is portrayed so wonderfully and so realistically that you feel so much for her. You want her to be happy. Oliver, too, from the second we meet him is a charmer and a person who makes you smile. Both teens were multidimensional and it was like seeing the book and story unfold right in front of you. Jennifer E. Smith is a master at creating realistic characters!

This book does have a sort of insta love going on and while I usually dislike it, it worked so well for this story. Part of it had to do with the fact that Jennifer E. Smith’s writing was able to not make it forced like many authors seem to do. Her writing made the characters jump out and seem even more real than ever. Nothing about this book felt forced, especially the random meetings the two had throughout the book and when they get separated, you’ll want them to meet up again, just like I did.

Overall, The Statistical Probability of Love at First Sight is a quick, cute and heartwarming story that is sure to make you fall in love with the leading characters and get you out of a reading funk (like it did for me.) I couldn’t stop thinking about hoe Hadley and Oliver could be one of my real friends, facing some of the similar problems and feelings. This is a book you don’t want to miss!
Overall: 5/5
Cover Comments: 5/5—Love the simple font with the red LOVE and the two people kissing and the world behind them is all blurry!

I'm addicted...

2012-01-10T17:57:00.001-05:00

to this song:

I'm telling you guys, I've never liked a Taylor Swift song(and The Civil Wars, have to check them out now) before this much but I LOVE this one SO MUCH. It's so pretty and haunting and just awesome!

When I listen to this song, I think of Rue. Prim comes to mind too but its really just Prim.

AS OF TODAY, THE HUNGER GAMES COMES OUT IN 72 DAYS!!!!!!

Top Ten Tuesday {24}

2012-01-10T17:44:00.000-05:00

Top Ten Tuesday is a weekly feature hosted over at The Broke and the Bookish!
This week:

Top Ten Authors I Wish Would Write Another Book:

1) J. K. Rowling: Need I explain?

2) Suzanne Collins: She gave us The Hunger Games!I wanna know what else she can come up with!

3) Jane Austen: Need I explain?

4) Ann Rinaldi: I have no idea is she's written anything recent but Ann Rinaldi can tell a historical fiction story like its no one's business. I need more from her!

5) Lois Lowry: She gave us The Giver and Gathering Blue and Messenger. I want more!

6) Roald Dahl : Charlie and the Chocolate Factory. James and the Giant Peach. What more could I ask for?

7) Alexandra Bracken: I loved Brightly Woven and yes, she's got her new book coming out but I still want more!

8) Kristin Cashore: Bitterblue is coming out this year and I can't wait to read it. I know I'm going to love it but I still want her to write more and more. I haven't heard anything about something new so we'll see!

9) Eilis O'Neal: My brother recently got this book from the library and I remembered when I first read it and how much I loved it!

10) Laurie Halse Anderson: I have read only two of her books (Wintergirls and Speak) and I LOVED both of them. Haunting, heartbreaking, honest.

In My Mailbox (52)

2012-01-08T15:15:00.000-05:00

From the Library:

None

For Review:

The Queen of Kentucky by Alecia Whitaker
Stolen Away by Alyxandra Harvey
**Thanks Poppy and NetGalley**

Purchased:

None

Won:

None

Yet another slow week and I am so happy about that. I've got finals next week and I haven't gotten around to reading all that much.

Hosted by The Story Siren

WHAT DID YOU GET IN YOUR MAILBOX?

2012 Debut Author Challenge

2012-01-08T13:29:00.000-05:00

2012 Debut Author Challenge participant information:
--The objective of the DAC is to read at least twelve novels from Young Adult or Middle Grade Authors. While twelve is the minimum there is no maximum limit! I encourage readers who can read more than twelve to do so!

Hosted by the amazing Kristi of The Story Siren!

2012 100+ Reading Challenge

2012-01-08T13:24:00.004-05:00

Timeline: 01 Jan 2012 - 31 Dec 2012
Rules:
**Read 100+ books in 2012 (any genre)

**You can join at anytime. All books read in 2012 count towards the challenge regardless of when you sign up.

**This challenge can crossover to other challenges.

Signing up and more information can be found at Book Chick City, the host!

Review: If I Tell by Janet Gurtler

2012-01-06T19:08:00.000-05:00

Title: If I Tell
Author: Janet Gurtler
Release Date: October 21, 2011
Publisher: Sourcebooks Fire
Source: NetGalley

It was like watching a train wreck. I wanted to look away but couldn't take my eyes off them.

Her best friend and her mom's boyfriend. Locking lips. This is the secret Jasmine Evans has to keep at all costs. Because her mom is pregnant, and Jaz doesn't want to ruin her life-again (just being born did it the first time). But the harder Jaz tries to pretend everything is okay, the faster her life spins out of control. Until Jackson. He doesn't care about the popularity of her friends or the color of her skin. But can she really trust a guy who just transferred in from reform school? She might be willing to chance the heartbreak, but telling him everything and risking the truth getting out is a whole other level of scary.

Review: When I first heard about this book, it sounded super good. Drama filled but good so I wasn’t sure how I was going to like it at all. I did give it a chance and I’m glad I did. Now, I didn’t absolutely love this book but I did enjoy it!

Let’s start with Jasmine. She was just so insecure and always complained about how her being biracial was such a bad thing. She felt her life was a complete mess without any way of fixing it. Her relationship with her mother is less than perfect and things get much worse when she sees something she shouldn’t. She was really selfish and argued with people all the time, over everything and with everyone. She had a problem with trusting and didn’t let them know her better, which she blamed on her being biracial…but it was her. For the problem with Lacey and Simon and her mother, I wish Jaz would just confront them.

The other characters were good but weren’t as rounded as I would have liked them to be. We got bits and pieces of each characters background and how they dealt with it. Jackson, though, I liked a lot. He understood Jaz’s pain and was able to relate to her as much as possible. I did like that he didn’t get upset or anything by the fact that Jaz didn’t trust him at first but got to know her…and then she judged him and hurt him.

The emotions were probably the best part of this book though. I had a hard time believing that the book was over when it was. I loved how Ms. Gurtler was able to go from one emotion to the other emotion and make it all seem so natural. It all seemed so realistic to me and I loved that about the book.

Overall, I enjoyed reading this book and I loved how the emotions were so realistic. Even though Jaz and I didn't click, I loved Janet Gurtler's writing style. I can't wait to read her first novel, I'm Not Her! Also, I don't think my review should discourage you from checking out this book. I have read reviews that some people enjoyed it more than I did!

Overall: 3.5/5
Cover Comments: 5/5—I like how we can't see the character's face so I can imagine her in my own mind.

Review: A Need So Beautiful by Suzanne Young

2012-01-05T08:00:00.000-05:00

Title: A Need So Beautiful
Series: A Need So Beautiful #1
Author: Suzanne Young
Release Date: June 21, 2011
Publisher: Balzar & Bray
Source: Library

We all want to be remembered. Charlotte's destiny is to be Forgotten...

Charlotte’s best friend thinks Charlotte might be psychic. Her boyfriend thinks she’s cheating on him. But Charlotte knows what’s really wrong: She is one of the Forgotten, a kind of angel on earth, who feels the Need—a powerful, uncontrollable draw to help someone, usually a stranger.

But Charlotte never wanted this responsibility. What she wants is to help her best friend, whose life is spiraling out of control. She wants to lie in her boyfriend's arms forever. But as the Need grows stronger, it begins to take a dangerous toll on Charlotte. And who she was, is, and will become--her mark on this earth, her very existence--is in jeopardy of disappearing completely.

Charlotte will be forced to choose: Should she embrace her fate as a Forgotten, a fate that promises to rip her from the lives of those she loves forever? Or is she willing to fight against her destiny--no matter how dark the consequences.

Review: I’ve written this review about ten times. Seriously. I’ve read so many good reviews of this book from all sorts of bloggers that I had to check it out. I went into this book with huge expectations and sadly I was disappointed. And all those ten times I’ve written this review? I felt like I was bashing the author which was not my intention at all.

While the idea for this story is very, very unique, the characters did not help it at all: Charlotte has a “Need” to help people she doesn’t know, whether it be to save their life or someone else’s and in the process, she begins to lose parts of herself. People begin to forget about her. Yes, a girl who was being forgotten by the people she loved would be upset about it, sure, but I felt that Charlotte complained about it endlessly. At some points I did feel that Charlotte had a lot going on for her but she was never fully developed enough to me. She felt the pain and loss and anger but it was overshadowed by her complaining. I would have loved to connect with Charlotte and Sarah (her best friend) and Harlin (her boyfriend) at some point but I never did.

I’d also heard that Charlotte and Harlin had an established relationship but it didn’t feel that way to me. Seriously, I’ve never in my life heard of a couple who kiss without even knowing who they are in the middle of the hallway. It was really more of those insta love relationships or the kinds of relationships where the girl is all over the guy. As I read the book, there were so, so many times where Charlotte talked about how Harlin made her feel normal and how she couldn’t live without him. I will admit, there were times where their relationship didn’t feel all about kissing and other sexytimes, which were intense, but I didn’t feel like they had a connection. Harlin was a very good boyfriend and he did love and care for Charlotte very much…but….

The plot aspect of the Need itself kept me reading on. I went from page one to the last page, wanting more and more information about what the Need was and how it came to be, and while I did get some information on it, I would have liked more. I think it might be the reason I read book two.

I’m going to stop this review by saying that yes, I was disappointed in this book and there are the reasons why. I’m not sure what or why I didn’t like this book like so, so many other people have. Hopefully, this review didn’t seem like an author bashing because that was NOT my intention…

I think everyone should give this book a chance! Who knows, you might like it!

Overall: 3/5
Cover Comments: 5/5—LOVE this cover! It's so pretty and golden and whispy!

Book Trailer: The Way We Fall by Megan Crewe

2012-01-04T18:54:00.001-05:00

I read Megan's book Give Up The Ghost and really enjoyed it so I can't wait to read this on!

About the book:

It starts with an itch you just can't shake. Then comes a fever and a tickle in your throat. A few days later, you'll be blabbing your secrets and chatting with strangers like they’re old friends. Three more, and the paranoid hallucinations kick in.

And then you're dead.

When a deadly virus begins to sweep through sixteen-year-old Kaelyn’s community, the government quarantines her island—no one can leave, and no one can come back.

Those still healthy must fight for dwindling supplies, or lose all chance of survival. As everything familiar comes crashing down, Kaelyn joins forces with a former rival and discovers a new love in the midst of heartbreak. When the virus starts to rob her of friends and family, she clings to the belief that there must be a way to save the people she holds dearest.

Because how will she go on if there isn't?

Megan Crewe crafts a powerful and gripping exploration of self-preservation, first love, and hope. Poignant and dizzying, this heart-wrenching story of one girl’s bravery and unbeatable spirit will leave readers fervently awaiting the next book in this standout new series.

Releases Jan 24/12!Megan is having a giveaway at her blog so check it out HERE!

Book Trailer: Cinder by Marissa Meyer

2012-01-04T18:50:00.000-05:00

I really want to read this book! I've heard it fantastic!

About the book:

Even in the future, the story begins with Once Upon a Time…. Humans and androids crowd the raucous streets of New Beijing. A deadly plague ravages the population. From space, a ruthless lunar people watch, waiting to make their move. No one knows that Earth's fate hinges on one girl. . . . Cinder, a gifted mechanic, is a cyborg. She's a second-class citizen with a mysterious past, reviled by her stepmother and blamed for her stepsister's illness. But when her life becomes intertwined with the handsome Prince Kai's, she suddenly finds herself at the center of an intergalactic struggle, and a forbidden attraction. Caught between duty and freedom, loyalty and betrayal, she must uncover secrets about her past in order to protect her world's future.

"Waiting On" Wednesday (69)

2012-01-04T08:00:00.000-05:00

"Waiting On" Wednesday is a weekly event hosted by Breaking the Spine that spotlights upcoming releases that we're eagerly anticipating.

Title: Something Strange and Deadly
Author: Susan Dennard
Publisher: HarperTeen
Release Date: July 24, 2012

There’s something strange and deadly loose in Philadelphia…

Eleanor Fitt has a lot to worry about. Her brother has gone missing, her family has fallen on hard times, and her mother is determined to marry her off to any rich young man who walks by. But this is nothing compared to what she’s just read in the newspaper—

The Dead are rising in Philadelphia.

And then, in a frightening attack, a zombie delivers a letter to Eleanor…from her brother.

Whoever is controlling the Dead army has taken her brother as well. If Eleanor is going to find him, she’ll have to venture into the lab of the notorious Spirit-Hunters, who protect the city from supernatural forces. But as Eleanor spends more time with the Spirit-Hunters, including their maddeningly stubborn yet handsome inventor, Daniel, the situation becomes dire. And now, not only is her reputation on the line, but her very life may hang in the balance.

The cover. The synopsis. Everything!

**********************************************

Title:Sweet Evil

Author: Wendy Higgins

Publisher: HarperTeen
Release Date: May 1, 2012

What if there were teens whose lives literally depended on being bad influences? This is life for sons and daughters of fallen angels in Sweet Evil.

Anna, a tender-hearted southern girl, was born with the sixth sense to see and feel emotions of other people. She’s aware of a struggle within herself, an inexplicable pull toward danger, but it isn’t until she turns sixteen and meets the alluring Kaidan Rowe that she discovers her terrifying heritage, and her will-power is put to the test. He’s the boy your daddy warned you about. If only someone had warned Anna.

A cross-country trip forces Anna and Kai to face the reality that hope and love are not options for their kind. When it's time for Anna to confront her demons, will she choose to embrace her halo or her horns?

I love the cover so much! I want her dress but I will admit that the poses for the models are awkward loooking. The synopsis save it all though!

WHAT ARE YOU WAITING ON?

Top Ten Tuesday {23}

2012-01-03T08:00:00.000-05:00

Top Ten Tuesday is a weekly feature hosted over at The Broke and the Bookish!
This week:

Top Ten Books I'm Excited To Read in 2012:

1) Isla and the Happily Ever After by Stephanie Perkins: Loved ANNA and LOLA. Now I want ISLA.

2) Insuregent by Veronica Roth: Need I explain?

3) Bitterblue by Kristin Cashore: Love her previous books and I can't wait to continue the adventure!

4) Pandemonium (Delirium, #2) by Lauren Oliver : I almost died with the ending in Delirium and I need more!!!!

5) Goddess Interrupted by Aimee Carter I LOVE THIS BOOK! I cried like a baby when I first read this book. It’s so sad and heartwarming all at once!

6) Endlessly by Kiersten White: The end to a super awesome trilogy!

7) The Savage Grace by Bree Despain: Ditto.

8) The Selection by Kiera Cross There is just something about this cover that strikes me. Plus, it sounds really good too.

9) Partials by Dan Wells: The cover is awesome and the synopsis sounds fresh and new, so yes, I can't wait to read it!

10) The Giver Trilogy by Lois Lowery: LOVED these books. My very first introduction to the dystopian genera at the age of…seven…or six…one of those.

Yes, I did read A LOT ever since I was six years old. Yes, I did read Big Kids Books when the Big Kids didn't think I could read chapter books!

2012 Goals/Resolutions

2012-01-02T20:34:00.000-05:00

**This was supposed to have gone up on the 1st BUT then I reazlied that I had changed something about it and it had been saved as a draft.**

Bookish Goals:

Read at least 100 books: I've been reading at least 100 books in 2010 and 2011 and this year I hope to read 150 BUT I'll be just as happy with 100!
Read 3 books a week: This includes weekends so I think I can mange this!
Read older books/ Read book for me:Books from 2009 and later, including classics, and books from my library. I'm not a blogger who usually only posts about the newest books. I really want to highlight the older books as well!
Read all of my review books: Basically, tackle that huge TBR pile.
Read at least 2 hours EVERY SINGLE DAY: I think I can mange this. If I don't read 2 hours every day, I'll take what ever time I didn't read and add it to the next day. I'm sure it'll all be made up during the weekends though.

Blogging Goals:

Comment on more blogs: At least 5 every day.
Post at least 3-4 times a week: I was rather good about this last year and I hope to be even better this year!
Take some time off of blogging: Sometimes, I just need to relax or have a reading day.
Don’t feel guilty about negative reviews or late reviews: I'm usually good with not feeling guilty about negative reviews since I explain why I didn't like the book. I'm sooo behind on my reviews and I always feel guilty when life takes its toll on me.
Become more social: I'm really shy in real life and that come over into the blogosphere as well. I hope to change that. So, I'm gonna comment and I might randomly talk to you on Twitter. I promise, I'm nice!

Personal/ Life Goals:

Get healthy: I need to spend more time exercising and getting active.
Write in my journal: I’ve tried this every single year and I failed. I’ve begun a new journal and I’m hoping to write it every single day.
Participate in NaNo 2012: I failed this year, breaking my 2 year streak so I hope to begin this again. I love this event and I really want to challange myself.
Finish my WIP: No matter what, by December 31, 2012, I will have a finished manuscript. Maybe two (see above).
Be happy: I've had way too many sad/bad days. I'm usually in a very good mood and I want to keep it up!
Stay out of drama (real/blogging): I'm super good at staying out of drama in the blogging world (I usually find out about drama when someone rants in a post) but I can get involved in school drama and I want to stop!

SO! There is my rather long list. I'll be referring back to this list often to make sure I'm on track and stuff!

Happy Birthday...to Me!

2012-01-02T18:11:00.001-05:00

Yeah, so this is kind of going to be an "all about me" post thing since it's my birthday today! So today, I'm FINALLY 17 years old! I swear, it was like this birthday was never going to come around! I'm finally going to be able to get my full licence and all that sort of stuff!

I'm in rather a good mood today and I think it has to do with the fact that I feel this year is going to be a good year all around. I'm in a better mood than I've ever been and more determined to go good in school and blogging and in life than ever before! If you'd asked me before, I never really looked forward to my birthday (I think it has to do with the fact that it's so close to *kind of* Christmas and the new year) but this year is different. Is it just me though? I mean, doesn't anyone feel like this year is going to be different from '11?

Basically, that's all I wanted to say!

Review: Rules of Attraction (Perfect Chemistry #2) by Simone Elkeles

2012-01-02T13:32:00.000-05:00

Title: Rules of Attraction
Series: Perfect Chemistry #2
Author: Simone Elkeles
Release Date: April 27, 2010
Publisher: Walker & Company
Source: Library

When Carlos Fuentes returns to America after living in Mexico for a year, he doesn’t want any part of the life his older brother, Alex, has laid out for him at a high school in Colorado . Carlos likes living his life on the edge and wants to carve his own path—just like Alex did. Then he meets Kiara Westford. She doesn’t talk much and is completely intimidated by Carlos’ wild ways. As they get to know one another, Carlos assumes Kiara thinks she’s too good for him, and refuses to admit that she might be getting to him. But he soon realizes that being himself is exactly what Kiara needs right now.

Review: It’s no secret that I loved Perfect Chemistry and it was because of that reason that I was worried about how Simone Elkeles was going to pull off yet another book that dealt with drugs, gangs and of course, a Fluentes brother. The thing was, Simone could have easily taken the plot for Perfect Chemistry but replaced Alex with Carols. Luckily, Simone Elkeles managed to write a sexy, fun, and quick that stood out on itself.

One of my favorites aspect of this book was Kiara and Carlos. They were so different. While Alex was the flirtatious, I’m-a-bad-boy-but-I’m-also-avery-sweet-guy personality, Carlos is a legit bad boy. He doesn’t care for the rules and brakes as many as possible. But like most bad boys, Carlos does have heart and is actually a softy in the inside. His story was different from Alex’s and I’m happy to say that he stood out

Kiara was nothing like Brittany and I loved it! I think it was the fact that Kiara was so realistic. Yeah, there are people like Brittany around (fake persona and all) but I found myself more realting to Kiara, who’s the good girl and doesn’t really know how to act when a bad boy enters her life and turns it all around. She was funny, awkward and really realistic.

Of course the romance and the writing were back once again and I loved it! Simone Elkeles knows how to write angst and a blossoming romance with two people completely different, both of whom are trying to deny the attraction.

Lots of fun to read, Rules of Attraction was a sexy, fun read. While I did prefer Perfect Chemistry, Rules of Attraction was more relatable. I absolutely love Simone Elkeles’ writing and I can’t wait to read Chain Reactions.

Overall: 4.5/5
Cover Comments: 3/5—Oh, these covers! I really, really would not like to be seen by other people with that cover. Book was great...the cover, not so much!

In My Mailbox (51)

2012-01-01T15:11:00.000-05:00

From the Library:

ANeed So Beautiful by Suzanne Young

SleepawayGirls by Jen Calonita

Sunand Moon, Ice and Snow by Jessica Day George

Virtuosity by JessicaMartinez

As IWake by Elizabeth Scott
Shatter Me by Tahereh Mafi

For Review:

The Statistical Probability of Love at First Sight by Jennifer E. Smith

Immortal Beloved by Cate Tiernan

Darkness Falls by Cate Tiernan

**Thanks Poppy**

Purchased:

None

Won:

Everneath by Brodi Ashton

**Thanks Harmony**

Lots of e-books this week! I actually like reading on my Nook, which I never thought I would!

Hosted by The Story Siren

WHAT DID YOU GET IN YOUR MAILBOX?

Happy New Year

2012-01-01T01:35:00.000-05:00

HAPPY NEW YEAR!!!!!!!!!!!

I thought I'd start 2012 with a brand new look for the blog! What do you think?

Top Ten 2012 Releases

2011-12-30T12:40:00.000-05:00

Top 10 of 2011 is hosted by Jessica at Confessions of a Bookaholic, Lisa at A Life Bound by Books, Rachel from Fiktshun, and Jamie and Patricia from Two Chicks on Books.

Today's topic is TOP TEN MOST ANTICIPATED OF 2012. In no particular order:

Insurgent (Divergent #2) by Veronica Roth

Second Chance Summer by Morgan Matson

Fever (Chemical Garden #2) by Lauren DeStefano

Bitterblue by Kristin Cashore
NO COVER YET
Isla and the Happily Ever After by Stephanie Perkins

Above by Leah Bobet

The Statistical Probability of Love at First Sight by Jennifer E. Smith

Pandemonium (Delirium, #2) by Lauren Oliver

Enshadowed (Nevermore, #2) by Kelly Creagh

Incarnate by Jodi Meadows

Who Are Some Of Your Most Anticipated Books 0f 2012?

Top Ten Characters from 2011

2011-12-30T03:06:00.000-05:00

Top 10 of 2011 is hosted by Jessica at Confessions of a Bookaholic, Lisa at A Life Bound by Books, Rachel from Fiktshun, and Jamie and Patricia from Two Chicks on Books.

Today's topic is TOP TEN CHARACTERS OF 2011. In no particular order:

The ladies never specifically said what kind of favorite characters they wanted and I decided to go with characters who broke their stereotypes:

Nathan and Andy from Lola and the Boy Next Door: I had noticed an extreme lack of good parents in YA books. Why were they always so mean or non caring? Couldn’t we just have some awesome, normal parents? Well, Nathan and Andy were just the kinds of parents I needed to see. Not all parents are mean and don’t care about their kids. Andy and Nathan were nice and caring but weren’t afraid to become parents.

Hanna from Delirium by Lauren Oliver: Not all best friends are horrible , back stabbing b******. Hanna proved to be a funny, carrying friend who isn’t afraid to tell her bff when she’s being stupid or wrong.

Tris from Divergent: She’s not a damsel in distress. She’s not afraid to get into action, to do something dangerous. She’s not afraid to have a heart and be human at the same time as being a daring girl.

Jordan from Catching Jordan: Jordan hung out with the guys and went against what was considered normal. She didn’t listen to her dad tell her not to go after her dreams. When people said girl’s can’t play football, she said no. She went out to prove herself.

Duce from Enclave: I think I loved that Duce was able to be afraid of the “things” (if you’ve read it, you know what I’m talking about) but also be really strong. She was strong and didn’t let anything get her down. She was willing to get back up after a bad day or hard work.

Piper from Five Falvors of Dumb: She’s deaf but she was able to go way past the norm and prove that even though she can’t hear the music, she can play it. She didn’t let anything get to her and she knew what she wanted.

Kate from The Liar Society: Kate lost her best friend and even though people are telling her to move on, she knows that something happened to her best friend and Kate will stop at nothing to prove it. Kate was determined and it wasn’t for her. She was so selfless as to devote so much time and energy to prove that her friend had been wronged. When you think of a book like this, you’d think it would be about Kate morning her best friend’s death by like hosting memorial services in her honor. Instead, she’s out to get the person who killed her bff.

Kat from Uncommon Criminals: She’s a thief and you’d expect the thief to (mostly) have no heart and just steal the things they wanted. Kat wasn’t like that. She was a good person who only wanted to help people. Yeah she stole things, but she returned them to their rightful owners.

Kate from Die for Me: When I began this book, I was afraid that it was going to be a Twilight re make. I so expected Kate to become all Bella like when it came to Vincent (thought Vincent IS NOT a vampire)…she didn’t and that was a nice touch. She was interested in Vincent, yes, but she was willing to learn more about him and his kind and not become a damsel in distress. She held her own.

Rose from Vampire Academy Series: I’m including Rose not only because she’s just plain awesome and I think she broke the stereotype of being strong and willful but she had a heart also. I think she was also one of the most honest characters out there. There was no bull with her and she was willing to accept that yeah, she might not be alive the next morning.

Who Are Some Of Your Favorite Characters 0f 2011?

Top Ten Book Boyfriends of 2011

2011-12-28T23:28:00.001-05:00

Top 10 of 2011 is hosted by Jessica at Confessions of a Bookaholic, Lisa at A Life Bound by Books, Rachel from Fiktshun, and Jamie and Patricia from Two Chicks on Books.

Today's topic is TOP TEN BOOK BOYFRIENDS OF 2011. In no particular order:

1) Four from Divergent by Veronica Roth: so strong and sexy and awesome.

2) Vincent and Jules from Die For Me by Amy Plum: I never would have thought I would have fallen for a * 2 zombies* but Vincent and Jules were such nice, cute guys! Plus, they’re Parisian.

3) Archer from Demonglass by Rachel Hawkins: He's hot and sexy and mysterious and smoldering..

4) Jeremy from Virtuosity by Jessica Martinez: He's a violin player. He's super nice but mysterious too!

5) Cricket from Lola and the Boy Next Door by Stephanie Perkins: He’s such a super cutie! He’s weird and awkward and an inventor and oh so realistice!

6) Carlos from Rules of Attraction by Simone Elkeles: Hot, sexy, and the ultimate bad boy with a soft heart.

7) Fade from Enclave by Ann Aguire: He’s had such a hard life but he’s still so strong, and the silent brooding type!

8) Hunter from Love Story by Jennifer Echols: He’s the hot, sexy guy who you have a huge crush on and can’t seem to stop thinking about.

9) Zachary from Shade by Jeri Smith-Ready: He’s Scottish, he’s got an accent, he’s super nice and carrying and he’s smart too!

10) Adam from Where She Went by Gayle Forman: He's a singer, super cute and nice and sweet and swoon worthy.

Who Are Some Of Your Favorite Book Boyfriends 0f 2011?

Top 10 Book Covers of 2011

2011-12-27T08:00:00.000-05:00

Top 10 of 2011 is hosted by Jessica at Confessions of a Bookaholic, Lisa at A Life Bound by Books, Rachel from Fiktshun, and Jamie and Patricia from Two Chicks on Books.

Today's topic is TOP TEN BOOK COVERS OF 2011. In no particular order:

Divergent by Veronica Roth

Wither by Lauren DeStefano

Across the Universe by Beth Revis

Die For Me by Amy Plum

Liesl & Po by Lauren Oliver

Starcrossed by Josephine Angelini

Blood Red Road (Dustlands, #1) by Moira Young

Anna Dressed in Blood by Kendare Blake

The Unbecoming of Mara Dyer by Michelle Hodkin

Daughter of Smoke and Bone by Lalani Taylor

What Are Some Of Your Favorite Book Covers 0f 2011?

Top 10 Books I've Read in 2011 (Blog Event)

2011-12-26T13:57:00.000-05:00

Top 10 of 2011 is hosted by Jessica at Confessions of a Bookaholic, Lisa at A Life Bound by Books, Rachel from Fiktshun, and Jamie and Patricia from Two Chicks on Books.

Divergent by Veronica Roth 2011 Debut

Why: Divergent had a great plot AND a great romance. More so, the romance didn’t take over the plot. There was just the right amount of (super cute) romance that helped the plot progress. The plot, was SO AWESOME. It was like non stop action. The idea for the factions was interesting based on the virtues people like most. Tis is so tough and kick ass. She REALLY knows what she believes in and I found that to be amazing. Ms. Roth was able to convey danger, fear, angst, happiness, hurt, and a lot of other things, very well. This was one of the reasons I connected with Tris.

Enclave by Ann Aguire

Why: I have to also give Ms. Aguire HUGE props for her world building skills. Though it’s like post-apocalypse and all, holy moly was her world awesome. We see the world through Duce’s eyes and like Duce (who has lived under ground her whole life) we’re amazed and scared at what the world has turned into. From the very beginning, the way Ms. Aguirre characterized Duce was so awesome. Her determination to be a Huntress (and to be good at it) showed so much about it. It’s when she’s partnered with the slightly intimidating, broody Fade that her true character is revealed: she’s a girl who wants to do the right thing, she wants to protect the people she loves and she’s doing it the only way she knows how! I loved the relationship between Duce and Fade. It’s really when he enters her life that her journey really takes off. I just can’t get the world out of my head…and is it weird for me to say that I’m actually a little scared of the world that Ms. Aguirre introduced me to?

Wither by Lauren DeStefano 2011 Debut

Why: I have to give it to Ms. DeStefanofor not making polygamy the absolute main focus of this plot. To me, the main focus was on our protagonist Rhine and her feelings of where she currently was and what was happening to her. The plot moved a bit too slowly at times and some things seemed a bit repetitive and that really pulled me away. I just loved, loved the feel and sounding of the words together. This book really, really came alive with her descriptions but the best part was that the descriptions weren’t overdone. They were just right! The feel of this entire novel is just so palpable. The emotions and the descriptions were just so darn real! Rhine in turn was an amazing protagonist! She’s a strong, fierce girl who knows what she wants but she’s human too.

Anna and the French Kiss and Lola and the Boy Next Door by Stephanie Perkins

Why:Anna and Lola have become some of my favorite characters ever! These books are so well written, SO REALISTIC, fun, full of cute romance, and so much more. Anna’s got the whole “but does he like me” thing going for it and the teenage angst that comes with that question is super realistic. Lola is so, so unique. She’s not perfect and she’s got flaws but she’s willing to admit to it. Another realistic, fun, cute book that has an awesome, quirky, shy, nerdy boy crush!

The False Princess by Elis O’Neal 2011 Debut

Why:O’Neal has a great clear cut writing style that takes time to develop but it’s not too fast or too slow; it’s just right. She writes her characters to be believable people and people we can relate to even though they live in a fantasy world. She gives her characters a defined voice and is able to write it that way throughout the novel. It had great characters, romance, danger, surprises, twists and turns, sword fighting, a bad guy; it had everything!

The Near Witch by Victoria Schwab 2011 Debut

Why:Amazing. Wonderful. Poetic. Breathtaking. All of those adjectives TRY to describe The Near Witch by Victoria Schwab. There are some books out there that leave you breathless because of how beautifully and gracefully the author has written the book. The Near Witch is one of those books. Victoria Schwab’s writing is so epic. This book, with her descriptions and dialogue made this book come alive. It was like a bed time story come alive in the most perfect way.

Liesl & Po by Lauren Oliver

Why:Beautifully written, achingly sad but wonderful at the same time, Liesl & Po is one of the best middle grade books I’ve read. Liesl & Po was an enchanting, heartbreakingly beautiful book about losing someone you love and making it out alright. You HAVE to read this book.

The Liar Society by Lisa and Laura Roecker 2011 Debut

Why: What a nice jem in all the paranormal I was reading. Such a surprisingly dark and more in depth book than I had imagined. I had anticipated somewhat of a light, funny novel but wow was I happily surprised. The sisters had a great writing style and kept me engaged in the story the whole time. I can't wait to read more.

Virtuosity by Jessica Martinez 2011 Debut

Why:I just read this recently and it's been in my mind for a while now. Such a beautifully written, heart wrenching novel! Carmen was a great protagonist and I felt for her throughout the whole book. The plot was great, and some aspects kept me guessing on. As a violin player (NOT as good as Carmen), I loved reading all about the music and the notes and all the other things!

What Are Some Of Your Favorite Books 0f 2011?

Happy Holidays

2011-12-24T15:56:00.001-05:00

Happy Holidays and a Happy New Year!

I can't believe 2011 is almost over! It's been a great year but I hope 2012 will be even better. I won't be posting much until the 27th where the wrap up posts will be up! I talk about the best books, movies, shows, and music and more!

Review: The Merchant's Daughter by Melanie Dickerson

2011-12-22T16:45:00.000-05:00

Title: The Merchant's Daughter
Author: Melanie Dickerson
Release Date: November 29,2011
Publisher:Zondervan
Source: NetGalley

An unthinkable danger. An unexpected choice.

Annabel, once the daughter of a wealthy merchant, is trapped in indentured servitude to Lord Ranulf, a recluse who is rumored to be both terrifying and beastly. Her circumstances are made even worse by the proximity of Lord Ranulf's bailiff—a revolting man who has made unwelcome advances on Annabel in the past.

Believing that life in a nunnery is the best way to escape the escalation of the bailiff's vile behavior and to preserve the faith that sustains her, Annabel is surprised to discover a sense of security and joy in her encounters with Lord Ranulf. As Annabel struggles to confront her feelings, she is involved in a situation that could place Ranulf in grave danger.

Ranulf's future, and possibly his heart, may rest in her hands, and Annabel must decide whether to follow the plans she has cherished or the calling God has placed on her heart.

Review: I love historical fiction. So, so much! I love fairy tale re-tellings. I love reading historical fiction set in the medieval times. When I first came across The Merchant’s Daughter, I loved the premise and I decided to give it a try. A few pages into the book I realized that it was a historical fiction novel set in medieval England and later realized that it was a Beauty and the Beast re-telling!

I loved the plot! The time in which this book is set it not really written about these days and its always refreshing to see the world. I’m a history nerd and I’ve studied a lot about the different times in history, but if I hadn’t, I would have been surprised at the social difference from that time to today. Women were considered so low in the social status and they really were only good for keeping the house and taking care of the children and the husband. Many weren’t even allowed to read Bibles, as seen in this book! The plot incorporated the world perfectly with the characters and the situations that our protagonist, Annabel, gets herself into.

I will say that a lot of times, when there is a lot of talk of the Bible and other religious things, I get a little frazzled. I don’t like preachy books and as I continued to read on, I realized that the Bible played a huge part in the plot and was something big to our characters. It didn’t seem preachy though and I, personally, wasn’t surprised. Much. It fit the time really well, since religion was HUGE part of people’s lives in the 1300s(not saying that it isn’t today!) It really felt like it a part of the story and part of the characters lives and not intended to be preachy.

Annabel was as independent as women could be back then and she wasn’t going to take any wrong doing from anyone. She occasionally did act as her role, which was a servant, but other times, she was not going to take crap from anyone. For instance, Annabel’s family wants her to marry an old man who is willing to help her family out of debt…most girls her age would go right into but not Annabel. She wasn’t fazed by anyone or anything. She was herself and she accepted it!

Ranulf, who was such a tormented guy, didn’t really get…in depth. I felt that his character was lacking and his life before he He fit the place of the beast perfectly and I liked reading from his POV also! the secondary characters really help bring about the plot details and the climax. It goes to show how important family was, even though women weren’t considered as equal to men!

Overall, I loved this book! While, yes, some things were cliché (it’s kind of hard not to be, being a re-telling) but I loved how Beauty and the Beast was incorporated into this story! I think all of you should give it a chance!

Overall: 4/5
Cover Comments: 5/5—I love it! The dress, the mirror (with the beast) and the background all go really well with the story!

"Waiting On" Wednesday (68)

2011-12-21T19:51:00.000-05:00

"Waiting On" Wednesday is a weekly event hosted by Breaking the Spine that spotlights upcoming releases that we're eagerly anticipating.

Title: The Raft
Author: S. A. Bodeen
Publisher: Feiwel & Friends
Release Date: August 21, 2012

Robie, 16, lives with her family on the Midway atoll, a group of islands in the middle of the Pacific. Her parents are scientists; it’s an isolated life. Robie enjoys visiting her aunt in Hawaii – she gets back and forth on a cargo plane that brings supplies to Midway. During a visit, her aunt is called to the mainland for a work emergency, leaving Robie to get home on her own. On her flight back to Midway the cargo plane hits nasty weather, and goes down. It’s just Robie, the pilot, and Max, a co-pilot she’s never met till this flight, on board. Robie is pulled aboard a raft by Max, who is injured and slipping in and out of consciousness. They have a bag of candy and very little water between them. When they finally reach an island that seems abandoned, Robie hopes they’ll be found quickly. But she’s not sure she was even on the flight manifest. Her parents must be looking for her…aren’t they?

I love this cover so much! It's creepy and scary and just awesome!

**********************************************

Title:Something Like Normal

Author: Trish Dollar

Publisher: Bloomsbury
Release Date: June 19, 2012

When Travis Stephenson returns home from Afghanistan, his parents are on the brink of divorce, his brother has stolen his girlfriend and his car, and nightmares of his best friend getting killed keep him completely spooked. But when he runs into Harper Gray, a girl who despises him for trashing her reputation with a middle school lie, life actually starts looking up. As Travis and Harper see more of each other, he starts falling for her and a way through the family meltdown, the post-traumatic stress, and the possibility of an interesting future begins to emerge.

His sense of humor, sense of his own strength, and incredible sense of honor make Travis an irresistible and eminently lovable hero in this fantastic and timely debut novel.

I love the sounds of this one. And it's from a boy's POV!

**********************************************

Title:Reunited

Author: Hilary Weisman Graham

Publisher: Simon & Schuster Books For Young Readers
Release Date: June 12, 2012

1 Concert 2,000 Miles 3 Ex-Best Friends

Alice, Summer, and Tiernan are ex-best friends.

Back in middle school, the three girls were inseparable. They were also the number one fans of the rock band Level3.

But when the band broke up, so did their friendship. Summer ran with the popular crowd, Tiernan was a rebellious wild-child, and Alice spent high school with her nose buried in books.

Now, just as the girls are about to graduate, Level3 announces a one-time-only reunion show.

Even though the concert’s 2000 miles away, Alice buys three tickets on impulse. And as it turns out, Summer and Tiernan have their own reasons for wanting to get out of town. Good thing Alice’s graduation gift (a pea-green 1976 VW camper van know as the Pea Pod) is just the vehicle to get them there.

But on the long drive cross-country, the girls hit more than a few bumps in the road. Will their friendship get an encore or is the show really over?

I love road trips and this one sounds really good!

**********************************************

Title:Illuminate

Author: Aimee Agresti

Publisher: Houghton Mifflin Harcourt
Release Date: March 6th, 2012

Haven Terra is a brainy, shy high school outcast. But everything begins to change when she turns sixteen. Along with her best friend Dante and their quiet and brilliant classmate Lance, she is awarded a prestigious internship in the big city— Chicago—and is sent to live and work at a swanky and stylish hotel under the watchful eyes of a group of gorgeous and shockingly young-looking strangers: powerful and alluring hotel owner Aurelia Brown; her second-in-command, the dashing Lucian Grove; and their stunning but aloof staff of glamazons called The Outfit.

As Haven begins falling for Lucian, she discovers that these beautiful people are not quite what they seem. With the help of a mysterious book, she uncovers a network of secret passageways from the hotel’s jazz-age past that leads her to the heart of the evil agenda of Aurelia and company: they’re in the business of buying souls. Will they succeed in wooing Haven to join them in their recruitment efforts, or will she be able to thwart this devilish set’s plans to take the souls of her classmates on prom night at the hotel?

Love this cover. Sounds super good. Need I say more?

**********************************************

Title:Masque of the Red Death

Author: Bethany Griffin

Publisher: HarperCollins Children's Books
Release Date: April 24,2012

Everything is in ruins.

A devastating plague has decimated the population. And those who are left live in fear of catching it as the city crumbles to pieces around them.

So what does Araby Worth have to live for?

Nights in the Debauchery Club, beautiful dresses, glittery make-up . . . and tantalizing ways to forget it all.

But in the depths of the club—in the depths of her own despair—Araby will find more than oblivion. She will find Will, the terribly handsome proprietor of the club. And Elliott, the wickedly smart aristocrat. Neither boy is what he seems. Both have secrets. Everyone does.

And Araby may find something not just to live for, but to fight for—no matter what it costs her.

I LOVE the cover! So creepy and pretty and awesome! PLUS, its Edgar Allan Poe. You can't get past creepy with him!

WHAT ARE YOU WAITING ON?

Review: Illuminated by Erica Orloff

2011-12-20T19:26:00.000-05:00

Title: Illuminated
Author: Erica Orloff
Release Date: December 8, 2011
Publisher: Speak

Source: Won via Goodreads

An epic romance full of mysteries that transcend time—fans of Romeo and Juliet and The Time Traveler’s Wife will rejoice!

Some loves are not made to last . . . Like Romeo and Juliet, Heloise and Abelard were doomed from the start, and their romance was destined to pass into history. Yet when sixteen-year-old Callie Martin discovers a diary hidden within an antique book, their story—and hers—takes on another life. For the diary leads Callie to the brilliant and handsome August, who is just as mysterious as the secret the diary hides. Their attraction is undeniable. As the two hunt down the truth behind the diary—and that of Heloise and Abelard’s ancient romance—their romance becomes all-consuming. But Callie knows it can’t last . . . love never does. Will their love that burns as bright as a shooting star flame out, or will these star-crossed lovers be able to defy history?

Review: From the moment I saw the cover for Illuminated, I knew I wanted to read it! The premise sounded good too and I was happy that it didn’t give everything away. Illuminated is the story of two teens who meet after Callie’s uncle acquires a rare palimpest (people wrote on these thousands of years ago when paper didn't exist, usually made of papyrus or vellum) to fix up.

The book itself is really small so you know that the book is going to go either really fast or really slow. The plot focuses a lot on our protagonist Callie, her uncle and others (including August, a very attractive boy with whom Callie feels a deep connection) trying to restore the rare palimpest. When it is revealed that there is a story written between the margins, Callie and August instantly begin to research and find out who Abelard and Heloise were and what happened to their star crossed lovers, very much like Romeo and Juliet.

Callie was an interesting character. She never knew her mother and her life with her father is far from perfect and these two facts influence her thoughts and actions throughout this book. She wants to get along with her father but she also wishes that he would see her for who she is. She finds solace though, in hanging out with her uncle Harry, Gabe, his boyfriend and all the history that surrounds them. She is instantly intrigued by the palimpest that her uncle finds and wants to know what happened to the two people it speaks of. When she meets August for the first time, the two of them have connection. They begin to see more and more of each other when they realized that they to know who Abelard and Heloise.

This was a short book and for the longest time, I couldn’t tell if this book is geared towards young adults or middle grades but it felt like a middle grade read to me. The romance between Callie and August was fast and instant, it was really worked with the story but still irked me a little. There wasn’t enough character development and again, the plot only skimmed the surface. The extent of the history and places talked about in this book was enough for me to over right all the other things. It had a great background and the story of Abelard and Heloise was so wonderful. I like history even more than I did before! Overall, though, I enjoyed this book and hope to read more from this author.

Overall: 4/5
Cover Comments: 5/5—I love the golden color and the burst of light and how the two models come together. I can’t figure out who they are supposed to be and I like that!

Top Ten Tuesday {22}

2011-12-20T12:04:00.000-05:00

Top Ten Tuesday is a weekly feature hosted over at The Broke and the Bookish!
This week:

Top Ten Books I Hope Santa Will Bring:
1) Shatter Me by Tahereh Mafi: Not the biggest fan of the cover and I'm not sure how I'm going to like it, but I want it still.

2) Clockwork Angel by Cassandra Clare: I love this series more then the Mortal Instruments and I'm a little shocked to see that I don't have a copy of this book!

3) Clockwork Prince by Cassandra Clare: See above.

4) The Hunger Games Collector's Edition by Suzanne Collins: I have a paperback copy and I've been meaning to get a hardback of this book BUT then I saw the collector's edition and I knew I had to have it! Please Santa?

5) Daughter of Smoke & Bone by Laini Taylor: Love the cover and it sounds like something I will love so I can't wait to get a copy!

6) Forever by Maggie Stiefvater: I actually want to get a signed copy of this one so it matches my signed copies of Shiver and Linger.

7) Ten Things We Did by Sarah Mlynowski: It sounds really good and I've heard nothing but good things about this book.

8) The Survival Kit by Donna Freitas: Sounds super good and I can't wait to read it!

9) Texas Gothic by Rosemary Clement-Moore: I want this one so badly! Ghosts, hot cowboys and witches!

10) Virtuosity by Jessica Martinez: I remember playing the violin back in middle school and I've not seen many books with teen prodigies so this one sounds awesome! It's one I know I'll love so it'll be worth it!

Discussion: The Goodreads Ratings Thing

2011-12-19T13:19:00.000-05:00

I’ve been debating on whether or not I should post about this or not. It’s been something that has really, really been bugging me and I’ve finally decided to post it.

This is all about the ratings on Goodreads. Now, before I say anything else, I love Goodreads. I really, really love it! I can find the newest books on there and its awesome to have it all in one place.

The thing about ratings that bugging me would be the fact that you can rate books that have not even come out. Actually, you can rate a book that doesn’t even have a cover or description on it. THAT is what is so iffy about it.I think its rude to the author when people rate their book a 2 or something when the book doesn’t even have a cover or a description or isn’t even out. I just don’t get how people rate the book? So here’s my break down:

1) Covers: I’m a cover judge, yes, but that’s not the only thing I go by. Some covers are so awesome that I pick the book up for that reason alone. Other times, the cover isn’t so awesome but I like something else about the story. So if you don’t like the cover, maybe the book might be good. When a book hasn’t even come out, don’t judge it!

2) Authors: There are some authors whose books haven’t been my favorite and just because they have a new book coming out, it doesn’t mean that I’m going to rate the book a 1 or a 2 or something. I’ll put it on my "To Read" pile. AFTER I read the book, then I'll give it a rating!

3) Descriptions: Okay, this one is a little weird. I'll say that if you don't like the description of the book, just leave it alone. Maybe the author might change your mind? I have read a few books who's descriptions didn't sound really good but the books were pretty awesome. Sometimes, the descriptions don't do the book any justice.

What do all of you think about this? Am I the only one who feels bad for authors and the books?

In My Mailbox (50)

2011-12-11T01:04:00.000-05:00

From the Library:

Rules of Attraction by Simone Elkeles

For Review:

Fracture by Megan Miranda
Two Moon Princess by Carmen Ferreiro-Esteban

The Merchant's Daughter by Melanie Dickerson
My Very UnFairy Tale Life by Anna Staniszewski
**Thanks Publishers and NetGalley**

Purchased:

None

Won:

None

Lots of e-books this week! I actually like reading on my Nook, which I never thought I would!

Hosted by The Story Siren

WHAT DID YOU GET IN YOUR MAILBOX?

Cover Reveal: The Immortal Rules by Julie Kagawa

2011-12-09T21:49:00.001-05:00

Here is the long awaited cover:

In the dark days since the insidious Red Lung virus decimated the human population, vampires have risen to rule the crumbling cities and suburbs. Uncontested Princes hold sway over diminished ranks of humans: their "pets." In exchange for their labor, loyalty and of course, their blood, these pets are registered, given food and shelter, permitted to survive.

Unregistered humans cling to fringes, scavenging for survival. Allison Sekemoto and her fellow Unregistereds are hunted, not only by vampires, but by rabids, the unholy result of Red Lung-infected vampires feeding on unwary humans. One night, Allie is attacked by a pack of rabids, saved by an unlikely hero...and turned vampire.

Uncomfortable in her undead skin, Allie falls in with a ragtag crew of humans seeking a cure, or cures: for Rabidism and for Vampirism. She's passing for human...for now. But the hunger is growing and will not be denied. Not for friendship—not even for love.

Thoughts: I think I might be one of the few people who isn't as impressed with this cover as other are. It all just looks so...unoriginal. Pretty, yes. Creepy, yes. Eye catching, yes.But it's so much like all the other covers out there that if it hadn't been for the fact that I love Julie Kagawa's writing, I wouldn't necessarily pick it up. For instance, the borders for Julie's The Iron Fey really set them apart form all the faces on book covers. I was hoping for something different in this cover.

What about you?What do you think of it?

"Waiting On" Wednesday (67)

2011-12-07T17:41:00.000-05:00

"Waiting On" Wednesday is a weekly event hosted by Breaking the Spine that spotlights upcoming releases that we're eagerly anticipating.

Title: Once: Before Midnight; Golden; Wild Orchid
Author: Cameron Dokey
Publisher: Simon Pulse
Release Date: February 7, 2012

In this value-priced bind-up of three beloved retellings, readers will journey to faraway fairy tale lands. Before Midnight revisits Cinderella’s story in France, Golden puts a new spin on Rapunzel’s romance, and Wild Orchid reimagines the Chinese tale of Mulan. With so much real-life drama in today’s busy world, Once allows readers to escape into whimsical realms where every story has a happily ever after.

I love fairy tales and this sounds soo good! And that cover! The green is sooo..gorgeous!

**********************************************

Title:Drowning Instinct

Author: Isla J. Bank

Publisher: Lerner Publishing Group
Release Date: January 28, 2012

There are stories where the girl gets her prince, and they live happily ever after. (This is not one of those stories.)

Jenna Lord's first sixteen years were not exactly a fairytale. Her father is a controlling psycho and her mother is a drunk. She used to count on her older brother—until he shipped off to Afghanistan. And then, of course, there was the time she almost died in a fire.

There are stories where the monster gets the girl, and we all shed tears for his innocent victim. (This is not one of those stories either.)

Mitch Anderson is many things: A dedicated teacher and coach. A caring husband. A man with a certain...magnetism.

And there are stories where it's hard to be sure who's a prince and who's a monster, who is a victim and who should live happily ever after. (These are the most interesting stories of all.)

Drowning Instinct is a novel of pain, deception, desperation, and love against the odds—and the rules.

The synopsis is the thing that caught my attention! It sounds superb!

**********************************************

Title: The Alchemy of Forever (Incarnation #1)
Author: Avery Williams
Publisher: Simon & Schuster Books For Young Readers
Release Date: January 3, 2012

Seraphina’s first love made her immortal…her second might get her killed.

Incarnation is a new series that introduces a fresh mythology perfect for fans of bestselling series like The Immortals by Alyson Noel and Beautiful Creatures by Kami Garcia and Margaret Stohl.

After spending six hundred years on earth, Seraphina Ames has seen it all. Eternal life provides her with the world’s riches, but at a very high price: innocent lives. Centuries ago, her boyfriend, Cyrus, discovered a method of alchemy that allows them to swap bodies with other humans, jumping from one vessel to the next, taking the human’s life in the process. No longer able to bear the guilt of what she’s done, Sera escapes from Cyrus and vows to never kill again.

Then sixteen-year-old Kailey Morgan gets into a horrific car accident right in front of her, and Sera accidentally takes over her body. For the first time, Sera finds herself enjoying the life of the person she’s inhabiting—and falls for the human boy who lives next door. But Cyrus will stop at nothing until she’s his again, and every moment she stays, she’s putting herself and the people she’s grown to care for in great danger. Will Sera have to give up the one thing that’s eluded her for centuries: true love?

I have been waiting for this book for like ever! I love the cover and Kristin says that it goes with the book really well so I can't wait to see how it represents the book and characters. AND PO!!!!

**********************************************

Title: The Hunt

Author: Andrew Fakuda

Publisher: St. Martin's Griffin

Release Date: May 8, 2012

In a world where humans have been eaten to near extinction, seventeen-year-old Gene has only managed to survive by painstakingly concealing his true species. If the bloodthirsty creatures surrounding him knew what he really was—a human—he would be devoured swiftly and terribly. When Gene is chosen to participate in the government-sponsored hunt for the last remaining humans, it thrusts him into the fight of his life—and into the path of a human girl who makes him feel things he never thought possible. Now, he must learn the art of the hunt and elude his fellow hunters whose suspicions about his true human nature are growing. But most importantly, Gene and the girl he loves must find a way to forge a life together in a brutal world that’s bent on their destruction.

That cover and the synopsis! The second I saw it at La Femme Readers, I knew I had to read it!

WHAT ARE YOU WAITING ON?

Top Ten Tuesday {21}

2011-12-06T21:23:00.000-05:00

Top Ten Tuesday is a weekly feature hosted over at The Broke and the Bookish!
This week:

Top Ten Childhood Favorites:

1) The Harry Potter Series by J. K. Rowling: No comments.

2) The Nancy Drew Series: Began my love for mysteries!

3) The Boxcar Children Series: As said in #2, I loved mysteries and I needed more and more. So when I found these books, I had to read them!

4) The Dear America Series: I am a history nerd. So much so that after I read my first Dear America at the age of 8, I’ve wanted to study History when I was older. Even today, I plan on having history as my minor in college. Does that tell you anything?

5) Where the Red Fern Grows by Wilson Rawls: I LOVE THIS BOOK! I cried like a baby when I first read this book. It’s so sad and heartwarming all at once!

6) Charlotte's Web by E.B. White: Guys, come on now!

7) Roald Dahl: Matlida. James and the Giant Peach.Need I say more?

8) Dr. Seuss: I have read.EVERY.SINGLE.ONE.OF.HIS.BOOKS. Quirky, funny, weird, and such a great way to actually learn to read!

9) Because of Winn-Dixie by Kate DiCamillo: My brother recently got this book from the library and I remembered when I first read it and how much I loved it!

10) The Giver Trilogy by Lois Lowery: LOVED these books. My very first introduction to the dystopian genera at the age of…seven…or six…one of those.

Yes, I did read A LOT ever since I was six years old. Yes, I did read Big Kids Books when the Big Kids didn't think I could read chapter books!

Review: Family Affairs (Secrets of My Hollywood Life #2) by Jen Calonita

2011-12-05T17:17:00.000-05:00

Title: Family Affairs
Series: Secrets of My Hollywood Life #3
Author: Jen Calonita
Release Date: May 1, 2008
Publisher: Little, Brown Young Readers
Source: Library

The filming for sure-to-be-blockbuster movie Pretty Young Assassins has wrapped, and teen movie star Kaitlin Burke returns to life on the set of primetime drama Family Affair. After ten seasons of filming the hit favorite TV show, Kaitlin would have thought that she could see any curveballs coming, but with a plotting new actress on set, all bets are off. The new diva, Alexis, makes even Kaitlin's long-time nemesis Skye seem like a puppy in comparison.

Can Kaitlin keep her sane boyfriend, her insane job, and her composure in the face of this new star power?

Review: I am addicted to these books! There is just something about them that makes me want to read the next one right after I finish the latest one. Just like the other two, this one was funny, quick and cute!

The plot for this one was like the first one, where one of the people is trying to sabotage or hurt Kaitlin, but they are different. In this one, a new cast mate is not only trying to hurt Kaitlin’s life but she’s trying to get others cast off the show as well. I loved that we got to see more of Kaitlin’s life and the fact that these books really, really show what the life of a star is like. When Sky and Kaitlin actually work together to save their jobs, they both learn something about the other that they never knew before.

Kaitlin is a really fun person to read about. Somehow, she manages to be an actress but be a teenager too. I like that while some people are trying to be adults, she’s very much a normal teenager. I also love the supporting characters, from her super cute and adorable boyfriend Austin, to her best friend and the other people in her life.

Overall, it was another cute read and I really enjoyed it! Kaitlin's a fun, quirky girl to read about and you laugh at her worries and shenanigans. I’ve already begun the next book!

Overall: 4/5
Cover Comments: 5/5—Another cute cover! I love the simplicity of them so much!

In My Mailbox (49)

2011-12-04T02:21:00.000-05:00

From the Library:

None

For Review:

Catching Jordan by Miranda Kenneally
If I Tell by Janet Gurtler
**Thanks NetGalley and Publisher**

Purchased:

The Luxe by Anna Godbersen **Paperback**
Rumors (The Luxe #2) by Anna Godbersen **Paperback**

Envy (The Luxe #3) by Anna Godbersen **Paperback**
Splendor (The Luxe #3) by Anna Godbersen **Hardback**
So happy! Got all of these 4 for $5 at my library!

Won:

Moonglass by Jessi Kirby **Personalized and Signed**

**Thanks Jessi and Lisa of A Life Bound By Books**

Hosted by The Story Siren

WHAT DID YOU GET IN YOUR MAILBOX?

Review: Catching Jordan by Miranda Kenneally

2011-12-03T14:27:00.000-05:00

Title: Catching Jordan
Author: Miranda Kenneally
Release Date: December 1, 2011
Publisher: Sourcebook Fire
Source: NetGalley

What girl doesn't want to be surrounded by gorgeous jocks day in and day out? Jordan Woods isn't just surrounded by hot guys, though - she leads them as the captain and quarterback on her high school football team. They all see her as one of the guys, and that's just fine. As long as she gets her athletic scholarship to a powerhouse university. But now there's a new guy in town who threatens her starring position on the team... and has her suddenly wishing to be seen as more than just a teammate.

Review:I’ve read a lot of rave reviews of this book. A LOT of them. So many, that I was actually scared to read this book. I would have been so upset if this book didn’t live up to all that hype! I’m happy to report that I enjoyed this book a lot!

Let’s start with the characters. I loved Jordan. So much! First of all, she’s such a different teenage girl! While most girls are worried about their make up or the latest gossip or boyfriends, Jordan is focused on playing football and getting into a good school for football. Jordan doesn’t know how to handle liking a guy and dating along with sports and I thought that it was so brutally honest. I could tell you most of the things she talks about and mentions are things going on at my school. Sure I’ve never played football but I could understand what she was going through!

Jordan's dad was really annoying and to me, he was mean. I can understand that he worries for his daughter yes, but maybe some support would be good! It did change near the end and I was happy about that! JJ, Carter and Henry and the rest of the guys on the team love Jordan so much! I have to say that while I liked Ty a lot, Henry was the right pick!

I loved Miranda's writing style and I think this is what captured Jordan's character so well! I got a sense of Jordan's anger towards her dad and her confusion with her relationship with Henry and Ty. I would have loved more descriptions and just more! I think the feelings could have been more focused on without being overbearing.

Overall, this was a very enjoyable book to read! While this book is a lot more about relationships and realizing that sometimes there's more to life than meets the eye, football does play a huge role it in! I can’t wait to read more from Miranda!

Overall: 4/5
Cover Comments: 5/5—It's actually a really good cover! It's got the field, the guy and the girl holding hands. In a cover like this, you expect the guy to have the helmet, but it's the girl who's holding it!

Review: Lola and the Boy Next Door by Stephanie Perkins

2011-12-01T20:30:00.000-05:00

Title: Lola and the Boy Next Door
Author: Stephanie Perkins
Release Date: September 29, 1022
Publisher: Dutton
Source: Gifted (sister!)

In this companion novel to Anna and the French Kiss, two teens discover that true love may be closer than they think.

Budding designer Lola Nolan doesn't believe in fashion . . . she believes in costume. The more expressive the outfit—more sparkly, more fun, more wild—the better. But even though Lola's style is outrageous, she's a devoted daughter and friend with some big plans for the future. And everything is pretty perfect (right down to her hot rocker boyfriend) until the dreaded Bell twins, Calliope and Cricket, return to the neighborhood.

When Cricket—a gifted inventor—steps out from his twin sister's shadow and back into Lola's life, she must finally reconcile a lifetime of feelings for the boy next door.

**I APOLOGIZE FOR THIS LONG REVIEW!**

Review: Anna and the French Kiss, Stephanie Perkins’ debut novel became one of all favorite books ever! I was a little worried about this novel since not a lot of sophomore books turn out as good as the first book. I’m mad at myself for even thinking that Lola and the Boy Next Door wouldn’t be as good as ANNA.

I’m going to talk about something that I loved a lot in LOLA: Lola’s two dads are not only really great loving parents but they are actually part of her life! They influence her decisions and she respects them and they have a great relationship. I loved Andy and Nathan. PLUS, they’re gay dads; not a lot of those in YA books!

Lola. What can I say about this girl? She’s really independent and unique and doesn’t wear the same outfit twice; she always looks different. She’s okay with being different and not always fitting in. She’s got Max, her boyfriend and Lindsey, her best friend at her side! I didn’t connect to her right away like I did with Anna and that’s probably because the conflict of liking Cricket but dating Max led her to make so bad decisions. But I loved her for always being her and for realizing the mistakes she made.

Cricket. Oh, guys, I’ve realized I’ve got a thing for smart, sometimes clumsy, romantic, and funny guys who also invent things. AKA Cricket Bell. I.LOVED.THIS.BOY. From the second he came onto the page, I knew I was going to love him. He was such a genuine good guy who realized that he’d hurt Lola and wanted to start over with her. And you know, he happens to live in the same dorm with another hot guy…He’s American with a British accent? Um, Etienne St. Clair anyone? Anna and St. Clair are back in this book and are good friends with Lola. I love that they’re actually in the book and not just mentioned in it!

Now I know all of you are wondering if I liked it better than ANNA and I have to say: I consider Anna and the French Kiss and Lola and the Boy Next Door to be siblings. Like with any sibling, it is never okay to compare them. Each person is their own self and comparing them is wrong. That's what I think of this. While they are companion novels, ANNA and LOLA are two different novels. They had different plot arcs that yes, had some similar features but ,for instance, Anna didn't dress up like Lola does. Lola didn't got to school in Paris! So now, I don't think LOLA was better than ANNA. I enjoyed both of them at the same level. They are both at the #1 spot on my list of favorite books!

Overall, Stephanie Perkins has written yet another funny, cute, unique, realistic, romantic book that I read in about 4 hours! I loved her characters and her ability to tell such good stories! I'm a little mad since Isla and the Happily Ever After comes out next year.NEXT YEAR! It's too far away!

Overall: 5/5
Cover Comments: 5/5—It's Lola and Cricket! He's *kinda* smiling down at her!

"Waiting On" Wednesday (66)

2011-11-30T16:52:00.000-05:00

"Waiting On" Wednesday is a weekly event hosted by Breaking the Spine that spotlights upcoming releases that we're eagerly anticipating.

Title: Vessel
Author: Sarah Beth Durst
Publisher: Margaret K. McElderry Books
Release Date: September 11, 2012

In a desert land where serpents made of unbreakable glass fly through the sky and wolves made of only sand hunt within storms, Liyana is destined to be a vessel, to sacrifice herself so that her clan's goddess can inhabit her body... but her goddess never comes.

I LOVE Sarah Beth Durst! Serpents made of glass? Wolves made of Sand? I NEED THIS NOW!AND that fierce cover!

**********************************************

Title:The Savage Grace (TDD #3)

Author: Bree Despain

Publisher: Egmont USA
Release Date: March 13, 2012

A troubled soul. An impossible choice. A final battle.

Wrestling with the werewolf curse pulsing deep inside of her, Grace Divine was finally able to find her brother, but it nearly cost her everything.

With her boyfriend, Daniel, stuck in wolf form and Sirhan's death approaching, time is running out for Grace to stop Caleb Kalbi and his gang of demons. If she fails, her family and hometown will perish. Everything rests on Grace's shoulders.

The final installment in The Dark Divine trilogy brings Daniel and Grace's love story to a breathtaking conclusion.

I love these books and the ending for the last book killed me! I can't wait to read this one!

WHAT ARE YOU WAITING ON?

2012 Stand Alone Reading Challenge

2011-11-30T16:17:00.001-05:00

Hafsah of IceyBooks and Britta from I Like These Books are hosting the 2012 Stand Alone Reading

Challenge.

So what's the challenge? To read 15 standalone YA books in 2012!

What books count towards the 2012 Standalone Reading Challenge? Any Young Adult standalone book that is released between December 27, 2011 and December 31, 2012. Any format (paperback, hardcover, e-book, ARC) counts, but they must be read during the time period mentioned above.

Go HERE to sign up at Hafsah's blog or at Britta's blog HERE.

I'm not going to include a list because I never know what books I can get my hands on so I'll update it as the time goes on!

Top Ten Tuesday {20}

2011-11-29T21:52:00.000-05:00

Top Ten Tuesday is a weekly feature hosted over at The Broke and the Bookish!
This week:

Top Ten Books On My TBR List For Winter:

1) The Unbecoming of Mara Dyer by Michele Hodkin: Um. Yeah, do I need to explain this?

2) Inheritance by Christopher Paolini: The ending to a series I've loved since I first read it!

3) Anna Dressed In Blood by Kendare Blake: I love this cover and I've been meaning to get to it!

4) The Future of Us by Jay Asher & Carolyn Mackler: I need to get my hands on this no matter what!

5) Shatter Me by Tahereh Mafi: I'm a little worried about this one since I've read mixed reviews but it still sounds pretty darn awesome!

6) Clockwork Prince by Cassandra Clare: No explanation needed, right?

7) Pandemonium by Lauren Oliver: Delirium's ending killed me and I need to know WHAT HAPPENS NEXT!

8) The Return of the Native by Thomas Hardy: Summer reading for AP English 4! I have to read this one!

9) Wuthering Heights by Emily Bronte:Summer reading for AP English 4! I have to read this one!

10) and I can't come up with another one!

I want to know something: When you read a post like this, do you prefer it to be a list list this with no picutres or would you prefer I include pictures?

Review: Anna and the French Kiss by Stephanie Perkins

2011-11-28T20:54:00.000-05:00

Title: Anna and the French Kiss
Author: Stephanie Perkins
Release Date: December 2, 2010
Publisher: Dutton
Source: Gifted (RAK)

Anna was looking forward to her senior year in Atlanta, where she has a great job, a loyal best friend, and a crush on the verge of becoming more. So she's less than thrilled about being shipped off to boarding school in Paris—until she meets Étienne St. Clair. Smart, charming, beautiful, Étienne has it all . . . including a serious girlfriend.

But in the City of Light, wishes have a way of coming true. Will a year of romantic near-misses end with their long-awaited French kiss? Stephanie Perkins keeps the romantic tension crackling and the attraction high in a debut guaranteed to make toes tingle and hearts melt.

Review: I’ve read this book many, many times yet I’ve never reviewed it. I could never find the words to actually sum up how much I loved this book. Recently (like a few days ago) I read Stephanie Perkin’s sophomore novel and I thought it would be right for me review this one as well.

Anna Oliphant was such an awesome protagonist. I could connect with this girl instantly and her snakiness made me laugh from the very beginning of the book! She wasn’t perfect but rather she had flaws that she wasn’t afraid to deal with. She did things I would have done and didn’t always deal with issues in the best way possible, something a lot of us can compare with! Seeing Paris from her eyes was just so much fun! Anna was also someone I could been myself being friends with and I really, really wanted her to be real!

The plot in an essence seems so over done: the whole going to boarding school in another country but not with Stephanie Perkins. She really made Paris and the school and the secondary characters come alive and it really was an original idea. The reason why Anna goes, though, to me was the most perfect because she wasn’t a bad kid whose parents thought she needed a life lesson. I love Meredith, Rashmi (yay for diversity!) and Josh…and Etienne St. Clair. Like the rest of this book and characters, they are very realistic. Etienne St. Clair was a history lover, short, awkward, sweet and a whole bunch of other things all rolled into one.

Stephanie Perkins has written a magical, funny, sweet, awkward and awesome debut. She’s a great writer who really knows how tell a good story and knows how the inside of a girl’s mind works when it comes to the question: Does he like me or not?

Overall: 5/5
Cover Comments: 2/5—I don't like this cover! Why can't I see the guy????It's just...BUT I do like the Eiffel Tower in the background!

2012 YA Contemporary Challenge!

2011-11-27T15:16:00.000-05:00

Angela of Reading Angel and Katie of Katie's Book Blog are hosting the 2012 YA Contemporary Challenge! I love contemporary and I can't wait to get started this challenge!

Levels:

Level 1: 5+ books

Level 2: 10+ books

Level 3: 15+ books

Rules:You can read any contemporary YA novel that is published between January 1, 2012 and December 30, 2012 but you must read them in 2012! (All formats accepted: paperback, ARC, e-book)

SO sign up HERE at Angela's blog or HERE at Katie's!

In My Mailbox (48): Unbecoming, Nook, and Contemp Edition

2011-11-27T01:43:00.000-05:00

THIS IS TWO WEEKS WORTH
From the Library:

Secrets of My Hollywood Life: On Location by JenCalonita (read and reviewed)

Secrets of My Hollywood Life: Family Affairs byJen Calonita

Secrets of My Hollywood Life: Paparazzi Princessby Jen Calonita

(I'm addicted to this series!)

For Review:

None

Purchased:
None

Gifted (by my big sis):

The Unbecoming of Mara Dyer by Michele Hodkin (OMG. Reading it now and loving it!)
Lola and the Boy Next Door by Stephanie Perkins (OMG. I.LOVED.IT.READ.IT.IN.ONE.DAY)

Won:

A NOOK COLOR WITH AN IF I DIE SKIN AND ALL OF RACHEL VINCENT'S SOUL SCREAMERS EBOOKS INCLUDING THE NOVELLAS!!!!!!!!!

Sorry for the rather interesting pictures! I got an iPad 2 and I used the camera and Picnik to fix them up!

Hosted by The Story Siren

WHAT DID YOU GET IN YOUR MAILBOX?

#JustContemporary: What I Want to See More of In YA

2011-11-26T11:41:00.001-05:00

YA is such a great genre for books. As a teen, this is the main genre of books I read and review. While YA is awesome, I’m always in store for some new things. That said, I see a lot of overdone topics and I want to see more of other things as well. Why can’t the guy have two girls instead of the girl with two guys? Why can’t a character be of another race? So, here are a few things I want to see more of in YA books:

1) Male Protagonists: I don’t think anyone can truly understand a boy (and I’m sure boys say the same thing about girls) so it would be nice to read a book from the POV of a guy. I know how a girl reacts to her parents’ divorce so now I want to know how a guy reacts. How does he feel when someone he loved dies? How is peer pressure affecting a guy? I want to know more about boys and their thoughts!

2) LGBT Characters: Teens are gay or lesbian or bisexual so why can’t we get more characters that are? I want to see how an LGBT characters handles themselves and their views on the world.

3) Diversity: I want a Japanese character or an Indian character or a Colombian character to tell me about his or her life and how she lives it. I want to learn more about the culture and heritage of the Japanese people. I want there to be diversity in YA. There are so many different types of people in the world so let’s get to know them better. As an Indian and Asian, I don’t see enough of this in YA. Do I mind that the character is Caucasian? No, I don’t. But I’d love to see more diversity.

4) International Settings: Anna and the French Kiss is the first example that comes to mind when I think about (I just remembered Die for Me by Amy Plum as well) books with international settings. Not only is Paris awesome, I’d love to go to a boarding school there. Stephanie Perkins describes Paris beautifully and the school Anna attends sounds awesome as well. Let’s get out of America and go around the world to new places, meeting new people and seeing new cultures.

5) Parent/Child relationship that isn’t horrible: Against the contrary, not all teens hate their parents. Not all teens have a bad relationship with their parents. SO let’s not make it where it seems that all teens hate their parents and want nothing to do with them. It’s not true people!

6) Mysteries: As a young kid, I loved reading Nancy Drew books and the Hardy Boys books and I’ve noticed that there aren’t that many mystery books out there. Furthermore, I want a good mystery book to read. I want something that actually keeps me guessing and doesn’t give anything away in the first half of the book. I want to be surprised when the mystery is solved. The Agency books by Y.S. Lee are some of the best mysteries books I’ve read in a few years; something that isn’t Nancy Drew. Also, as a bonus, it’s a mix with historical fiction!

7) A Good Best Friend: WHY ARE ALL THESE BEST FRIENDS SO HORRIBLE? I’ve read numerous books where the best friend sucks. Yes, I’ve seen people like that but my besties aren’t like one of them at all. I want more best friends to not be bit**** and back stabbers. I want caring and trust worthy best friends.

8) A Good Love Interest AND the Good Guy Wins: There are so many flat, horrible love interests out there. Why is it that the bad boy always gets the girl? Yes, I understand that they are swoon worthy and wonderful but guys, there are some really great good guys out there too and THEY deserve to get the girl just as much as the other guy. I want the love interest to have flaws; no more perfect, absolutely gorgeous guys please. I want him (her) to be realistic. Why can’t he like history or not be the quarterback. Let him (her) be a science geek or a theater person. Let the love interest be real.

What about you? What do you want to see more of in YA??

Review: Shade (Shade #1) by Jeri Smith Ready

2011-11-25T18:49:00.001-05:00

Title: Shade
Series: Shade #1
Author: Jeri Smith Ready
Release Date: May 4, 2010
Publisher: Simon Pulse

Source: Library

Love ties them together. Death can't tear them apart.

Best. Birthday. Ever. At least, it was supposed to be. With Logan's band playing a critical gig and Aura's plans for an intimate after-party, Aura knows it will be the most memorable night of her boyfriend's life. She never thought it would be his last.

Logan's sudden death leaves Aura devastated. He's gone.

Well, sort of.

Like everyone born after the Shift, Aura can see and hear ghosts. This mysterious ability has always been annoying, and Aura had wanted nothing more than to figure out why the Shift happened so she can undo it. But not with Logan's violet-hued spirit still hanging around. Because dead Logan is almost as real as ever. Almost.

It doesn't help that Aura's new friend Zachary is so understanding—and so very alive. His support means more to Aura than she cares to admit.

As Aura's relationships with the dead and the living grow ever complicated, so do her feelings for Logan and Zachary. Each holds a piece of Aura's heart...and clues to the secret of the Shift.

Review:To say that I loved this book is an understatement. To say that I want a Zachary in real life is an understatement. I’d heard numerous good things about this book and it looked good but I never picked it up. I was bored one day and I decided to read it. Now I’m mad because I didn’t read this book sooner!

This book has such a unique idea. 16 and ¾ years ago, after the Shift, all the babies born are able to see ghosts. Seriously, that is the coolest thing about the plot! Not only does our protagonist see ghosts but she’s not the only one who can which makes this even more fun to read about! There is so much great world building in this book! Jeri Smith Ready moves the plot along in the best pace possible and doesn’t confuse you at all. ALSO the mystery involving the Shift and Aura and Zachary kept me wondering what the heck was going to happen next!

Aura is a very independent, confident girl who can see ghosts. After her boyfriend Logan dies on his birthday, she begins to see his ghost. It creates lots of problems for Aura since Logan is a ghost and obviously, she still loves him. Things get even more complicated for her when Zachary comes into the picture. Scottish with a killer awesome accent, Zach is a nice guy who genuinely cares about Aura. When she begins to fall for Zach, she wonders if she’s being unfaithful to Logan, who as a ghost can see what Aura does. The relationships are very complicated but they are very realistic as well.

Jeri Smith Ready includes lots of music that is really important to our characters and lots and lots of mystery, danger, suspense, and of course, romance! Shade is a great read for lovers of paranormal that is totally addicting. If you haven’t read this one yet, go and read it now!

Overall: 5/5
Cover Comments: 5/5—Goes really well with the story! I love the purple whispy smoke!

Happy Thanksgiving!

2011-11-24T10:53:00.001-05:00

Happy Thanksgiving to all my US readers, bloggers, and people!

I'm so thankful for my family and my freinds and everyone I know in real life and who have help make me who I am today.

I'm so thankful for all of the blogging friends I've made during these years! You're always there no matter what!

Thanks to all of you readers who are still with me and I hope you continue to be with me!

Books For Kids Charity

2011-11-23T15:55:00.000-05:00

Farrah and Britney of I Eat Words are two very awesome women! Not only are they amazing book bloggers but they are also involved in a charity (THAT THEY STARTED!) that I think it super awesome!

Why Books for Kids? (from I Eat Words)

Many hospitals, like Phoenix Children's Hospital and Scottish Rite Children's Hospital (in Dallas, TX) strictly run off of brand new book donations from book donators. It's hard for these hospitals to keep an abundant supply of brand new, up and coming and inspirational books. This is where YOUR donations come in. 100% of the money you donate goes to buying books for these sick children. They have to be brand new because the hospitals do not want to expose children to used material. Books for Kids accepts brand new book donations or money donations in our PayPal account. The best part? We film the entire process, right up to donating to these hospitals so you can really see where your donation is helping.

Doesn't that sound awesome!? I don't know what my childhood would have been like without books and the thought of giving a book to a sick child and get them to smile and be excited about reading, well, I'm all for that! Don't we want to, as book bloggers and other wise, to get people to read? Here's what YOU can do:

We're asking ALL bloggers, authors, publishers, etc. to film a 30 second or less video of themselves saying a one-liner about Books for Kids, like "I support Books for Kids" (or something WAY more creative than that). These clips will be combined into a giant promotional awareness video for Books for Kids! In your clip, it will also have your name and blog site (or name and book title, if you're an author!) so people know who's supporting BFK. :)

This is a reminder post! We're asking everyone to please film a clip and get it in before December 1st. If you don't feel comfortable on film but want to be in the video, email me at farraheatswords@gmail.com with your name, website, and one-sentence line of why you support BFK and I'll add it in!

If you're a part of nerdfighteria, this charity is going to be a part of John and Hank Green's Project for Awesome, which launches in December!

ALL you have to do is send in a sentence saying something as simple as "I support Books for Kids!" OR you can even send them a brand new book! I think since Thanksgiving in tomorrow, it would be really nice to share something we all love with kids who need it: BOOKS!

GO HERE TO FIND OUT MORE!

"Waiting On" Wednesday (65)

2011-11-23T15:15:00.000-05:00

"Waiting On" Wednesday is a weekly event hosted by Breaking the Spine that spotlights upcoming releases that we're eagerly anticipating.

Title: Grave Mercy: His Fair Assassin Book 1
Author: Robin LaFevers
Publisher: Houghton Mifflin Harcourt
Release Date: March 7, 2012

Seventeen-year-old Ismae escapes from the brutality of an arranged marriage into the sanctuary of the convent of St. Mortain, where the sisters still serve the gods of old. Here she learns that the god of Death Himself has blessed her with dangerous gifts—and a violent destiny. If she chooses to stay at the convent, she will be trained as an assassin and serve as a handmaiden to Death. To claim her new life, she must destroy the lives of others.

Ismae’s most important assignment takes her straight into the high court of Brittany—where she finds herself woefully under prepared—not only for the deadly games of intrigue and treason, but for the impossible choices she must make. For how can she deliver Death’s vengeance upon a target who, against her will, has stolen her heart?

History. Assassins. Death.Britain. The Cover. Oh my, yes please!

**********************************************

Title:Survive

Author: Alex Morel

Publisher: Candlewick Press
Release Date: August 12, 2012

Jane runs away from Life House, a facility for kids with mental health disorders and addictions. She boards a plane to Montclair, New Jersey, though her destination does not matter—she doesn’t plan to be alive when the plane lands. Jane has planned the perfect suicide: she’ll fall asleep on the plane and never wake up. As she’s reaching for her pills in the cabin’s bathroom, the plane hits turbulence. Another jolt, and the engine’s down. The plane crashes into the mountains of Montana, and Jane and a boy named Paul are the only two survivors.

What starts out as a death mission quickly becomes a fight for life.

The cover. The synopsis. Need I say more?

WHAT ARE YOU WAITING ON?

Top Ten Tuesday {19}

2011-11-22T18:37:00.000-05:00

Top Ten Tuesday is a weekly feature hosted over at The Broke and the Bookish!
This week:

Top Ten Authors I'd Love To Have At My Thanksgiving Feast:
1) J. K. Rowling: Guys, seriously, do you have to ask? But of course, I won't really be able to talk to her because...she's J.K. Rowling!

2) Maureen Johnson: Her blog and tweets are fun to read and she seems to be a funny person!

3) John Green: I love his vlogs (and Hank! He should bring Hank too!) and I think he and Maureen Johnson together would be really awesome (not to mention entertaining and hilarious!)

4) Jane Austen: First, there was no time limit on this! And again, do I need to explain?

5) Sarah Dessen: The Queen of YA Contemporary!

6) Meg Cabot: Dude, I LOVE her writing and speaking to her would be super awesome!

7) Suzanne Collins: No explanation needed, right?

8) Lauren Oliver: One of my all time fave authors ever!

9) Rick Riordan: I ALMOST met him in person! He makes mythology SO MUCH FUN and I'd love to pick at his brain, asking him a zillion questions about his books and stuff.

10) Stephanie Meyer: I was a little surprised that I inluded her here but then I realized that Twilight, no matter how I feel about it now, was a big part of my young teenage years. I would love to have her at my table and to discuss the books with her.

Review: Last Sacrifice (VA #6) by Richelle Mead

2011-11-21T09:32:00.002-05:00

Title: Last Sacrifice
Series: Vampire Academy #6
Author: Richelle Mead
Release Date: December 7, 2010
Publisher: Penguin USA
Source: Bought

It all comes down to now.

Murder. Love. Jealousy. And the ultimate sacrifice.

The Queen is dead and the Moroi world will never be the same. Now, with Rose awaiting wrongful execution and Lissa in a deadly struggle for the royal throne, the girls find themselves forced to rely upon enemies and to question those they thought they could trust...

But what if true freedom means sacrificing the most important thing of all?

Each other.

Review:Though I read this series quiet late and after many of my friends had, I decided to read it...and I fell in love with the first book. And I read the next four books, expecting awesome, amazing, fantastic books and that's what I got. And then this book came out.

It broke my heart to read this. I read this book in about a week, savoring every last moment with Rose and Dimitri and Lissa and Christian and Adrian. Sure I could go back and read the rest of the books BUT it would never be like read them for the first time.

The Plot: OH.MY.GOD. There were so many twists and turns and surprises that I was literally at the edge of my seat THE ENTIRE TIME I READ THIS. So many things happened that I wasn't expecting and I knew that Richelle Mead would tell one heck of a story and did she ever. So many things were explained. So, so many revelations and it's so freaking awesome!

The Characters: I love Rose so much! She's back to all her glory but for the...well, I dunno, third? fourth? time we see the sensitive side of Rose. The side where she is not only kick ass awesome but vulnerable also. Lissa is so much stronger than I ever gave her credit for. She’s so freaking awesome in this book and the way she takes her place in society was just so great. I’m glad things worked out for her. Dimitri and Adrian and the other boys that I’ve grown to love were also back and even though things worked out for one of the main guys, man did I feel for the other one. You know the one who had his heart broken? The other supporting new and old characters are back and some play a much bigger role than ever and other add to the suspense and the intrigue and answer a lot of our burning questions.

Overall, I loved this book. So, so, so much. I actually teared up when I closed this book. I really, really need to get Bloodlines so I can continue my adventure in this world. Please don’t be put off by the fact that there are vampires in this book. Believe me, I feel ya BUT this is one of my all time favorite series and there is so much more going on in these books than vampires. In a way, it’s like the vampires actually take a back seat in this series! It’s a must read for all of you who like a good, fulfilling read.

Overall: 5/5
Cover Comments: 5/5—Love how they continued the whole faces on the covers. I think that this model actually conveys what is going on really well. She's got something in her eyes that reminds me of Rose.

Review: On Location by Jen Calonita

2011-11-20T00:19:00.009-05:00

Title: On Location
Series: Secrets of My Hollywood Life #2
Author: Jen Calonita
Release Date: May 1, 2007
Publisher: Little, Brown Young Readers

Source: Library

It seems like the summer of dreams come true for Hollywood princess Kaitlin Burke: the media loves her (again), super-cute and funny Austin Meyers is finally her boyfriend, and she's starring in a movie by her all-time favorite director Hutch Adams. What could be sweeter? But life on set is not as perfect as the makeup and costumes. And with an old love and a scheming new publicist on the scene, it's about to get a whole lot messier.

Review: I love the first book in this series, Secrets of My Hollywood Life and I couldn’t wait to read the rest of the books in this series! On Location, book two, was just as fun, cute and a quick read!

Kaitlin is back in this second installment and her life is going great. She’s got a great boyfriend, the media loves her and she’s about to being working on a movie by her favorite director; life couldn’t be better. But this is Kaitlin, a big star and she’s in Hollywood. There is always something going on in Hollywood. And soon, the plot thickens when a slimy ex comes into the picture and everything goes downhill from there. The plot did seem repetitive but I can understand that the same things can happen over and over again.

Kaitlin was a great protagonist once again and there was a lot more character building in this book than there was in the first book. I really did feel for her though, since she seemed to always get the bad end of the stick and everyone was after her. But then again, if everything wasn’t against her and she didn’t prevail, we wouldn’t have such a good story!

While the writing wasn’t absolutely exceptional, it was very entertaining and I highly enjoyed reading about Kaitlin’s new adventure. I’m currently read book three and I’m liking it too!

Overall: 4/5
Cover Comments: 5/5—I love how these are such simple diary covers!

Discussion: Reviews and Re-Reads and Ratings

2011-11-19T13:36:00.000-05:00

On many occasions, I will read a book, love it and write a raving review of it. For a long time, that’s what I think of the book. Then I re-read the book and I begin to think otherwise. My opinion of this book changes. Not my opinion for every single book of course, just some of them.

I have read so many reviews where I go “that’s what I thought” or I read the review and I realize that I thought that but didn’t write it on my review. Then I begin thinking if I’m an easy grader which doesn’t go with the fact that my reviews are honest. I’ve raved about certain books I’ve read at the time I read it and then later, I’m thinking to myself “Really? I liked this book that much?”

I’ve thought about changing that review but I know it’s not right to do that. BUT I’m always honest with my reviews and when I change my mind about it, it seems…wrong? I’m not sure how to put this but here are two things that I want to talk about and why I feel this way:

1) Ratings: I like ratings. I use them because they help me summarize my thoughts on a novel but I’m not sure if it’s right to use them, ya know? Sometimes a 5 star book changes to a 3 or lower star book during the re-read and that just makes it all the harder to talk about that book later on.

2) Raving: I rave about books I love. I talk about them. I tell others to read them. So it feels weird when I re-read a book I raved about months (or weeks or days) ago and I don’t like it as much. I don’t know why I raved about it so much. And then a person will ask about that certain book because they heard from someone else that I loved it a whole lot, I have no idea what to say to them!

SO this goes to the topic of using ratings systems. Should I remove my numerical grading system? As NaNoWriMo comes closer, I’ve gotten a better sense of this. No one book is written the same so is it fair to judge them all on the same scale, for every single book?

What do you all think?

"Waiting On" Wednesday (64)

2011-11-16T18:58:00.000-05:00

"Waiting On" Wednesday is a weekly event hosted by Breaking the Spine that spotlights upcoming releases that we're eagerly anticipating.

Title: Endlessly (Paranormalcy #3)
Author: Kiersten White
Publisher: HarperTeen
Release Date: July 24, 2012

The third book in the Paranormalcy trilogy.

The final chapter of Evie's adventures. Old friends, new ones, all wrapped up in impossible decisions. And some ball gowns. Because what's a life of normal and paranormal drama without a ball gown or two?

I think Kiersten White has some of the most gorgeous covers out there!

**********************************************

Title:The Selection

Author: Kiera Cross

Publisher: HarperTeen
Release Date: April 24, 2012

For thirty-five girls, the Selection is the chance of a lifetime. The opportunity to escape the life laid out for them since birth. To be swept up in a world of glittering gowns and priceless jewels. To live in the palace and compete for the heart of the gorgeous Prince Maxon.

But for America Singer, being Selected is a nightmare. It means turning her back on her secret love with Aspen, who is a caste below her. Leaving her home to enter a fierce competition for a crown she doesn't want. Living in a palace that is constantly threatened by violent rebel attacks.

Then America meets Prince Maxon. Gradually, she starts to question all the plans she's made for herself- and realizes that the life she's always dreamed of may not compare to a future she never imagined.

Love the cover. Love the summary. I can't wait to read it!

WHAT ARE YOU WAITING ON?

Review: Where the Truth Lies by Jessica Warman

2011-11-15T18:04:00.003-05:00

Title: Where the Truth Lies
Author: Jessica Warman
Release Date: Walker Books for Young Readers
Publisher: September 28, 2010
Source: Library

On the surface, Emily Meckler leads the perfect life. She has three best friends, two loving parents, and the ideal setup at the Connecticut prep school where her father is the headmaster. But Emily also suffers from devastating nightmares about fire and water, and nobody knows why. Then the enigmatic Del Sugar enters her life, and Emily is immediately swept away—but her passionate relationship with Del is just the first of many things that aren't quite what they seem in Emily's life. As the lies she's been told start to unravel, Emily must set out to discover the truth regarding her nightmare; on a journey that will lead her to question everything she thought she knew about love, family, and her own idyllic past.

This companion novel to Warman's critically acclaimed Breathless proves that sometimes the biggest lies are told to the people you love the most.

Review: I’m not sure about this book. I wasn’t going to write this review at first but then I thought, why not. Here’s why:

The plot: While I was completely engrossed in Emily’s story, I still do not feel that I was connected to her. Some of her actions and decisions really, really bugged me to the point where I just wanted to slap her and get her to stop! Her relationship with Del Sugar, for me, was not well developed and happened really suddenly. I have to say that it didn’t even feel like a relationship to be, but rather an obsession. There was SO much going on in this book and while I kept guessing at what was going to happen and all, I got a little frustrated by it all. BUT I like have surprises and twists and turns and they kept me at the edge of my seat!

The characters: To me, it was like Emily was the only one who changed and not for the better either. She was the good girl in the beginning of the story and began to rebel after she met Del Sugar. This would have been nice…if it hadn’t been so annoying. Ethan, Stephanie, and her other friends were just kind of there. I did like Rene a lot and I liked how their friendship became stronger and more prominent.

The writing: This book is so beautifully written that in the end, it was the reason I finished and enjoyed this book as much as I did. It really kept the book and the plot going and it brought out the emotions of the characters and the feel of the school and the fields.

Overall, I enjoyed this book for some of the plot and mainly for the writing, I’m still not sure exactly how I feel about this book. I do love the cover and it does go really well with the book….

Overall: 3/5
Cover Comments: 5/5—I love it! I love how it's tilted and the school in the background and the field!

Review: Love Story by Jennifer Echols

2011-11-15T17:59:00.006-05:00

Title: Love Story
Author: Jennifer Echols
Release Date: July 19, 2011
Publisher: MTV Books
Source: Owned

She’s writing about him. he’s writing about her. And everybody is reading between the lines..

For Erin Blackwell, majoring in creative writing at the New York City college of her dreams is more than a chance to fulfill her ambitions–it’s her ticket away from the tragic memories that shadow her family’s racehorse farm in Kentucky. But when she refuses to major in business and take over the farm herself someday, her grandmother gives Erin’s college tuition and promised inheritance to their maddeningly handsome stable boy, Hunter Allen. Now Erin has to win an internship and work late nights at a coffee shop to make her own dreams a reality. She should despise Hunter . . . so why does he sneak into her thoughts as the hero of her latest writing assignment?

Then, on the day she’s sharing that assignment with her class, Hunter walks in. He’s joining her class. And after he reads about himself in her story, her private fantasies about him must be painfully clear. She only hopes to persuade him not to reveal her secret to everyone else. But Hunter devises his own creative revenge, writing sexy stories that drive the whole class wild with curiosity and fill Erin’s heart with longing. Now she’s not just imagining what might have been. She’s writing a whole new ending for her romance with Hunter . . . except this story could come true.

Review: I’d never read anything by Jennifer Echols before so I was excited to read this book. I’d read plenty of reviews around the blogosphere so I knew what I was going to get. Everyone loved her and her books and her writing and now I can see why. Love story is a very sexy, realistic and just plain awesome.

This book is different from a lot of YA’s since its set in college and no in high school which I loved a lot. They were different from high schoolers, obviously, but they were still young people and it really showed through in this book, and it was awesome. It’s also set in NYC and anything in NYC is awesome. The book is set up even more perfectly by having our main characters in a creative writing class!

I absolutely loved the stories that Hunter and Erin wrote for their creative writing class. They really brought out what our characters where thinking and who they were. Hunter and Erin used their stories to communicate with each other and I thought that this was a nice mix up. Erin was a great protagonist to read about and from her POV. She was a young, fiery, independent woman who didn’t want to be seen as weak but she didn’t want to always be tough. She was actually really easy to relate to. Jennifer Echols put in a lot of twists that really made me not want to put this book down!

The only thing about this book was the fact that Erin doesn’t want her creative writing professor to find out that Hunter is the stable boy in her story but we never understand why it was such a bad thing for her professor to find out. Overall, though, it was a fun, had a lot of sexytimz, and a quick read.

Overall: 4/5
Cover Comments: 5/5—I like it as far as covers go and I think that it actually does go with the book.

Top Ten Tuesday {19}

2011-11-15T17:12:00.000-05:00

Top Ten Tuesday is a weekly feature hosted over at The Broke and the Bookish!
This week:

Top Ten Books That Have Been On My Shelf For The Longest But I've Never Read:

1. Courtney Summer’s Books: I’ve got all three of them on my shelf but I have yet to read them. I’ve heard they are amazing though!

2. Shiver Trilogy by Maggie Stiefvater: No idea why I haven’t read these books.

3. The Extraordinary Secrets of April, May, and June by Robin Benway: Another book I have had on my shelf for goodness knows how long!

4. Forgive My Fins by Tera Lynn Childs: I actually won the second book some time ago and I was excited to read it…until I realized I still hadn’t read the first book…no idea why.

5. The Demon's Lexicon by Sarah Rees Brennan: I've had it on my shelf for a long time but I haven't read it.

6. The Host by Stephenie Meyer: I got this because I'd heard that it was actually really good but I still have not read it.

7. Losing Faith by Denise Jaden: I got this one when it came out

8. The Iron Daughter by Julie Kagawa: Yeah, I know, I STILL have not read this one....

9. Nightshade by Andrea Cremer: I've heard that it's such a good book and the cover is super gorgeous but I haven't read it!

10. Sisters Red by Jackson Pearce: Love the cover, heard it's good, but I haven't read it...

Review: Wither (Chemical Garden Trilogy #1 )by Lauren DeStefano

2011-11-14T18:10:00.005-05:00

Title: Wither
Series: The Chemical Garden Trilogy #1
Author: Lauren DeStefano
Release Date: March 22, 2011
Publisher: Simon & Schuster Children's Publishing

Source: Library

By age sixteen, Rhine Ellery has four years left to live. She can thank modern science for this genetic time bomb. A botched effort to create a perfect race has left all males with a lifespan of 25 years, and females with a lifespan of 20 years. Geneticists are seeking a miracle antidote to restore the human race, desperate orphans crowd the population, crime and poverty have skyrocketed, and young girls are being kidnapped and sold as polygamous brides to bear more children.

When Rhine is kidnapped and sold as a bride, she vows to do all she can to escape. Her husband, Linden, is hopelessly in love with her, and Rhine can’t bring herself to hate him as much as she’d like to. He opens her to a magical world of wealth and illusion she never thought existed, and it almost makes it possible to ignore the clock ticking away her short life. But Rhine quickly learns that not everything in her new husband’s strange world is what it seems. Her father-in-law, an eccentric doctor bent on finding the antidote, is hoarding corpses in the basement. Her fellow sister wives are to be trusted one day and feared the next, and Rhine is desperate to communicate to her twin brother that she is safe and alive. Will Rhine be able to escape–before her time runs out?

Review: Before reading this book, I’d read plenty of mixed reviews to mix up my thoughts. Did I want to read this book? What if I read it and I didn’t like it? That would be a waste of my time. What if I didn’t read it but I would have loved it? I finally decided to give it a try and I’m glad I did! I’m going to say that I absolutely loved it because I didn’t but I enjoyed reading it a lot.

Any other day polygamy would not be my choice of subject to read about but I did in this book and I enjoyed it. I liked reading this book and reading more about this world and what was happening in it. I have to give it to Lauren for not making polygamy the absolute main focus of this plot. To me, the main focus was on our protagonist Rhine and her feelings of where she currently was and what was happening to her. The plot moved a bit too slowly at times and some things seemed a bit repetitive and that really pulled me away. BUT the main thing that bugged me about this book was this: the world’s population is dying out. Guys live till 25 and girls till 20. YET, even after this fact, you kill a van full of young girls because they don’t meet the status quo? HOW does that make any sense to anyone? I get that you want the best traits for the new generation but really? Kill all those girls?

I think there are two things this book is, in my opinion, going to be known for: the gorgeous cover and the equally gorgeous, lyrical writing of Lauren DeStefano. I just loved, loved the feel and sounding of the words together. This book really, really came alive with her descriptions but the best part was that the descriptions weren’t overdone. They were just right! The feel of this entire novel is just so palpable. The emotions and the descriptions were just so darn real! Rhine in turn was an amazing protagonist! She’s a strong, fierce girl who knows what she wants but she’s human too.

There wasn’t a lot of romance in this book and usually I like a book to have a certain amount and I felt that this book didn’t necessarily have enough. Rhine’s relationship with Linden and Gabriel wasn’t developed enough to my liking but I hope that in the next book, it will get better.

Overall, I enjoyed this book a lot but some aspects didn’t work for me. I will read Fever when it comes out but I don’t think it will be right away. I think people should really give this book a try!

Overall: 4/5
Cover Comments: 5/5—GEORGOUS! I LOVE THIS COVER SO MUCH. It’s got so much symbolism to the book and it fits the book perfectly!

THE HUNGER GAMES TRAILER

2011-11-14T18:10:00.002-05:00

THE ONE WE HAVE ALL BEEN WAITING FOR:

INSERT INSANE FAN GIRL SCREAMING HERE

THIS.LOOKS.AMAZING.

Review: Secrets of My Hollywood Life by Jen Calonita

2011-11-13T18:09:00.004-05:00

Title: Secrets of My Hollywood Life
Author: Jen Calonita
Release Date: May 1, 2007
Publisher: Little, Brown Young Readers

Source: Library

Being a Hollywood princess isn't always a fairy tale.

What if your picture was taped inside teenage boys' lockers across America, your closets were bursting with never-worn designer clothing, and the tabloids constantly asked whether you were losing your "good girl" status?

It's a glamorous life, but 16-year-old Kaitlin Burke, co-star of one of the hottest shows on TV, is exhausted from the pressures of her fame. So she decides to spend two months undercover as an ordinary high school student. But could it be that real life high school is just as harsh as cutthroat Hollywood?

Juicy Hollywood secrets appear throughout. Combining the vicarious star-studded glamour of the New York Times bestselling A-List with the innocence of The Princess Diaries, this is an engrossing look behind the velvet ropes of stardom.

Review: I’d seen this book at my school’s library many, many time but I never picked it up. Last week, I had needed something to read and I had about five minutes to pick something out. I got this book off the shelf, not knowing what to expect at all but I got a surprise: I really enjoyed reading this book. I didn’t love it but I liked it enough!

There are a lot of chick lit books like this out there but I think the one thing that really stood out for me was the fact that it was more honest than the rest. Kaitlin Burke tells us all the glory times and all the horrible times that come with being such a big star. Though this topic is super cliché, I still enjoyed reading about it and I think that this book had a lot more focus on everything in Kaitlin’s life, not just the romance part. Though this topic is super cliché, I still enjoyed reading about it and I think that this book had a lot more focus on everything in Kaitlin’s life, not just the romance part. Though this topic is super cliché, I still enjoyed reading about it and I think that this book had a lot more focus on everything in Kaitlin’s life, not just the romance part.

Kaitlin was a great protagonist but I would have liked to have gotten more descriptions and just more…about who she is and how she felt about certain things. I was still a little disappointed in her lack of development but I understand that this is just the first book in the series so I can’t wait to read more!

Overall, it was a quick, sweet chick lit book that is an enjoyable read. You do fall in love with Kaitlin and her banter and you root for her when her rival does something really mean. It’s a book that has gotten me interested enough to check out the other books in this series!

Overall: 4/5
Cover Comments: 5/5—So cute; it's a diary and fits in really well with the whole theme for the novel.

In My Mailbox (47)

2011-11-13T17:32:00.000-05:00

From the Library:

Paper Towns by John Green

Secrets of my Hollywood Life by Jen Calonita

Where the Truth Lies by Jessica Warman

For Review:

None

Purchased:
None

Won:

All These Things I’ve Done by Gabrielle Zevin SIGNED ARC

My Life Undecided by Jessica Brody SIGNED ARC
SWAG
**Thanks Katie**

Hosted by The Story Siren

WHAT DID YOU GET IN YOUR MAILBOX?

A Want So Wicked Cover and Contest

2011-11-12T20:05:00.001-05:00

Here is the cover for A WANT SO WICKED by Suzanne Young, the sequel to A NEED SO BEAUTIFUL.

and the synopsis:

Elise is a normal seventeen-year-old girl until the day she wakes up in a desert park, with no idea who she is.

After that episode, her life takes a bizarre turn. She’s experiencing unexpected flashes of insight into people’s lives—people she’s never met before. Strangers frighten her with warnings about the approaching Shadows. And although Elise has never had a boyfriend, she suddenly finds herself torn between two handsome but very different young men: Abe, the charming bad boy whose affect on her both seduces and frightens her, and the mysterious Harlin, who’s new to town but with whom Elise feels an urgent, elemental connection—almost as if they are soul mates.

Now Elise begins to question everything about her life. Why do these guys both want her so desperately? What are the Shadows? Why does the name Charlotte inspire a terrifying familiarity? And who is Elise, really?

I have not read A NEED SO BEAUTIFUL but I've heard that it's really good! But the cover guys, oh the gorgeous covers! Go to NOVEL NOVICE to enter the contest!

Review: Five Flavors of Dumb by Antony John

2011-11-12T19:03:00.004-05:00

Title: Five Flavors of Dumb
Author: Antony John
Release Date: November 11, 2010
Publisher: Dial
Source: Library

The Challenge: Piper has one month to get the rock band Dumb a paying gig.

The Deal: If she does it, Piper will become the band's manager and get her share of the profits.

The Catch: How can Piper possibly manage one egomaniacal pretty boy, one talentless piece of eye candy, one crush, one silent rocker, and one angry girl? And how can she do it when she's deaf?

Piper can't hear Dumb's music, but with growing self-confidence, a budding romance, and a new understanding of the decision her family made to buy a cochlear implant for her deaf baby sister, she discovers her own inner rock star and what it truly means to be a flavor of Dumb.

Review: I’d only heard one or two things about this book before I decided I wanted to read it. When I saw it at my library at school, I decided to give it a chance. And holy cow was this book good! I read it in two days!

Piper’s having a sucky year. First he best friend moves away and then her parents use her college fund to help her younger sister out. Then she opens her big mouth and becomes the manager of Dumb, her only way of getting into her choice of college. What starts as something just for money turns out to be so much more. Piper begins to discover that there are things about herself and the people around her that she doesn’t know of. Antony John, in my opinion, wrote a novel that had a great mix of Piper and her family and Dumb and everything surrounding the music business. How Piper dealt with being deaf and being the manger of a rock band and how her family dealt with it were a great way for me to see what kind of person Piper was.

Piper herself was a very strong girl. She is deaf, yes, but she’s never let it stop her. She’s put this large wall around herself so she doesn’t get hurt but she knows how her parents feel about her being a manager, especially her dad, with whom she has a rather bad relationship. She stands for herself though and I think that as the story progressed, Piper became a better person.

Overall, I loved this book a lot! Piper was an excellent protagonist and Antony John did a great job of writing from the POV of a girl who’s deaf but knows how to defy everyone in her way so she can reach her dreams.

Overall: 5/5
Cover Comments: 5/5—While I like the fact that it works really well with the story, there is just something about it that really irks me….