Happy Book Lovers

Review: First Date

2012-01-19T07:29:00.000-05:00

read on NetGalley

The orphaned daughter of missionaries, Addy is quite content to stay in the shadows and never draw attention to herself. But when she's selected for a reality TV show to try to become the President son's prom date-a show she didn't audition for-she's suddenly in America's spotlight.

The lights, the make-up, the competitions, and the blogs discussing every move she makes all make Addy incredibly uncomfortable. But through her time at The Mansion, Addy comes to realize that first impressions aren't always right, that hiding out may not be what God had planned for her life, and that her faith should affect everything she does. It may just be that her selection wasn't random at all and that she's on this show "for such a time as this."

This book has an adorable premise, but frankly, didn't live up to my expectations. It seemed like such a cute idea, though not necessarily original (reminding me of American Idol, beauty pageants, and Meg Cabot's All-American Girl). But I was willing to give it a shot. I read the whole thing in about four hours. The language was so simplistic, almost like it was written for a second-grader to read. I literally flew through the book. But some of the content was about the contestants back-stabbing each other, and the religious content seemed too complex for the younger reading level. I'm really not sure for which level this book is actually intended. Because nothing romantic happened at all, other thank a few casual glances and a smile every now and then.

I was also annoyed with the religious references. I'm Catholic, and I go to church, and I believe in God, but every other page referenced Addy thinking about God's plan, and how she wasn't sure if He was right. This would have been fine, except I was thrown into her life. This could work, but I had no idea she was Christian up until the second page when she started questioning her faith and everything happened at once. I would have liked a little lead-in explaining this. I also thought her parents' backstory was highly unnecessary. While I understand it was supposed to be a big factor in Addy's religious beliefs and a tear-jearker for the story, it was so abrupt and very fake-y. I did not like how unreal the whole thing seemed. I also didn't understand why Addy was afraid to tell her friend on the show that she was a Christian. Sure, some religions might not get along, but in America, today, in this modern world, it's a rare chance that someone will isolate you for being a Christian. Very VERY unlikely. I was just really annoyed that she thought telling her friend was such a big deal, when it really didn't need to be.

This could have been a really cute preteen book, but in my opinion, didn't quite make it. It seemed like I was reading a first draft instead of a ready-to-be-published novel.

Blog Tour: Fracture

2012-01-11T15:04:00.002-05:00

Eleven minutes passed before Delaney Maxwell was pulled from the icy waters of a Maine lake by her best friend Decker Phillips. By then her heart had stopped beating. Her brain had stopped working. She was dead. And yet she somehow defied medical precedent to come back seemingly fine

-despite the scans that showed significant brain damage. Everyone wants Delaney to be all right, but she knows she's far from normal. Pulled by strange sensations she can't control or explain, Delaney finds herself drawn to the dying. Is her altered brain now predicting death, or causing it?

Then Delaney meets Troy Varga, who recently emerged from a coma with similar abilities. At first she's reassured to find someone who understands the strangeness of her new existence, but Delaney soon discovers that Troy's motives aren't quite what she thought. Is their gift a miracle, a freak of nature-or something much more frightening?

I was very excited to hear that I would be reviewing this for the blog tour today in anticipation for the release of this book, and I started reading it as soon as I got it. Despite many mixed reviews, I give Fracture a huge thumbs-up. It's hard to get me hooked on a book from the beginning, but this book managed to do just that. It was so fast-paced from the first page that it literally grabs the reader and pulls him into the story, instead of gradually easing. I loved the simplicity of their lives before Delaney got stuck in the lake: they were average high school teens. Nothing super crazy, which was a nice change from some of my recent YA reads.

I had a hard time with Delaney's male interests though. I think the plot would have been more interesting had all three males been riveting and wonderful men. However, I only really liked one. In fact, I hated the other two, which didn't make it difficult or fun for me as a reader in that aspect. However, I did like the introduction of Troy and the slight supernatural "gift" he and Delaney shared. This turned the story in a completely different direction than I was expecting. However, I still didn't think he was a likeable character at all. I was particularly bothered by his introduction to Delaney at the beginning of the book — he stalked her and stared at her until she asked him his name. I just thought this was a bit unnecessary. And the other male interest should have just not been there. But I see the reason after the end of the book.

Decker is Delaney's best friend, who, coincidentally, I loved. It was interesting seeing both his and Delaney's thoughts and feelings of guilt. Decker pulled her out of the lake, but not until 11 minutes had passed. In his defense, he was held back by friends, but he still felt guilty for not saving her sooner. I really loved the parallels between their stories and their different sides. There were a few characters I didn't really understand why they were even there (Tara, e.g.), but that was a minor thing I got past pretty quickly.

The writing was very good, for the most part. It was simple, yet got the story moving and flowing well. The writing seemed to improve as the story went on, becoming more descriptive and metaphorical, which really worked with the story line in a good way. This was a very worthwhile read for me, and though I didn't like a few things about it, it was good overall and I can't wait to see what Megan Miranda has in store next!

Review and Blog Tour: Switched by Amanda Hocking

2012-01-08T10:18:00.000-05:00

So the new thing is self-publishing books for e-readers, and that's just what Amanda Hocking did. She got noticed — a lot — and now her Trylle series is coming out in print. The first appears on shelves on January 24, and I've got a review of it below!

When Wendy Everly was six-years-old, her mother was convinced she was a monster and tried to kill her. It isn't until eleven years later that Wendy finds out her mother might've been telling the truth. With the help of Finn Holmes, Wendy finds herself in a world she never knew existed - and it's one she's not sure if she wants to be a part of.

So basically (I promise this isn't a spoiler, it appears in about the second chapter of the book, but if you don't want any information, then skip this part) at the beginning, Wendy meets Finn. Wendy has been moved to a bunch of different schools because she's a "trouble child," and gets in fights and is expelled — a lot. She lives with her aunt Maggie and her brother Matt, who both love her dearly and move around with her. At the most recent school, Wendy notices this creepy kid named Finn oddly staring at her, so she confronts him. And basically two days later (this is the not-so-spoiler part of the book, but if you really don't want to know, stop reading now!), she finds out she's a troll. Yeah, weird, I know. She doesn't believe it at first, naturally, but soon finds herself in Finn's world, full of trolls, mansklig, and plenty of other strange-sounding words and people. This is when the story really begins. From here, we follow Wendy's tale of trying to fit in with the world, as she learns a big surprise about her real family (you know, the troll one) and her heritage.

I am so excited to read the second book of this series. I was engrossed in this world, even though it was a little weird for me at the beginning. Yes, I, probably like everyone else, thought, trolls? They're short, and ugly, and gross, and hairy, and this is WEIRD. But Hocking makes up for that, and through Finn, explains the other side of the story, though I still think the fact that they're trolls is extremely weird.

Surprisingly, not too much action actually takes place in this book. It's mostly description of Wendy's new world and the setup for what's to come in the next two books. But I wasn't even bored. Hocking did an excellent job of providing description and background throughout the book, instead of just cramming it all in the first couple of pages and moving on. The story feels very well-thought out, and I could tell a lot of work went into writing and understanding this created world. I very much enjoyed that, because I wasn't confused at all when reading it. The characters were also extremely well-developed — another aspect I was very pleased with. At first, when Finn just popped into Wendy's life, I was a little leaning towards the annoyed side (you know, in a YA book, boy meets girl and 6 minutes later, they're madly in love connected by a strong feeling they have). But after the whole Trylle explanation, it makes more sense why he was stalking her, and after that, I thought the characters were described rather nicely.

Towards the end, there was a bit of action that happened, though I can't really say much because that's a huge spoiler. But even this more exciting bit at the end was very well-written, though the very ending was a little predictable. Still, this isn't even a bad thing, because it will make for an excellent start to the second book. Again, I cannot wait to read it.

And now, I've seen two covers: want to comment below and tell me which one you like better? (personally, I like the red one, despite my tendencies to hate people on the covers of books!)

Here's the second cover (the first is back up top)

And actually I just found a third, so for good measure here's that one:

I kind of like this last one!

Review: Uncommon Criminals

2011-12-29T01:12:00.000-05:00

Katarina Bishop has worn a lot of labels in her short life: Friend. Niece. Daughter. Thief. But for the last two months she's simply been known as the girl who ran the crew that robbed the greatest museum in the world. That's why Kat isn't surprised when she's asked to steal the infamous Cleopatra Emerald so it can be returned to its rightful owners. There are only three problems. First, the gem hasn't been seen in public in thirty years. Second, since the fall of the Egyptian empire and the suicide of Cleopatra, no one who holds the emerald keeps it for long — and in Kat's world, history almost always repeats itself. But it's the third problem that make Kat's crew the most nervous, and that is... the emerald is cursed. Kat might be in way over her head, but she's not going down without a fight. After all, she has her best friend — the gorgeous Hale — and the rest of her crew with her as they chase the Cleopatra around the globe, dodging curses and realizing that the same tricks and cons her family has used for centuries are useless this time. Which means, this time, Katarina Bishop is making up her own rules.

Ally Carter wowed me again. I sped through this book in less than 48 hours. I was absolutely blown away about midway through the book. I cannot say anything, really, because it would give away the awesome-ness that was this plot. It was just so unpredictable. Every time I turned the page, I encountered a new problem I had not seen coming. And Katarina, as always, is a fabulous character. I love that she is stubborn and doesn't always see the obvious, even though that makes me want to smack her. However, that is the brilliancy of her. And I love her crew (especially Hale) and the fact that they are all just as cunning and witty as Katarina.

Of course, I did have a teeny problem. All of these heists are incredibly well-thought, and the reality, though slim, is pretty good. The books have a very realistic quality about them, which is what I like so much. However, a curse? Really? I was so upset to read that in the premise. But, the book actually didn't mention the curse enough to be considered the biggest problem for Kat and her crew. In fact, I was really confused after I finished the book because the curse was only mentioned casually when someone tripped on the sidewalk. So that was fine, really, because I didn't like the premise of the curse anyway. But I was confused at why it was presumed to be the biggest problem for them.

There's really not much more to say, other than this was an awesome read. I really really enjoyed it, and it was a lovely one to read over the holidays, as I could zip through it quickly and get lost in it, and I was able to avoid doing laundry for a day or so. Really highly recommended!

Review: The Beginning of After

2011-12-19T21:34:00.001-05:00

DON'T FORGET TO ENTER THE CONTEST FOR AFTERTASTE HERE!!!

Sixteen-year-old Laurel's world changes instantly when her parents and brother are killed in a terrible car accident. Behind the wheel is the father of her bad-boy neighbor, David Kaufman, whose mother is also killed. In the aftermath of the tragedy, Laurel navigates a new reality in which she and her best friend grow apart, boys may or may not be approaching her out of pity, overpowering memories lurk everywhere, and Mr. Kaufman is comatose but still very much alive. Through it all there is DAvid, who swoops in and out of Laurel's life and to whom she finds herself attracted against her better judgement. She will forever be connected to him by their mutual loss — a connection that will change them both in unexpected ways.

I was really excited to read this one, but after the fact I think I didn't know what to expect. Meaning, I had an idea of what I wanted the book to be, but it turned out completely different. And in a good way. I've read a lot of reviews of this one, and some kind of make me mad. This isn't really a grief story in any way, other than the fact that Laurel loses her family. It is about her life continuing, and the fact that life doesn't stop, no matter what happens. It says so right in the title. This is what happens after. And I think that's where people got confused. They wanted it to be a grief story, just like I did. But it was such a well-written after-the-fact story.

I loved Laurel and David, cliche as it is to do a good-girl, bad-boy premise. But they were both such lovely characters, developed really well. They also had good dialogue back and forth, and I loved that a dog kept the two together even though they were far apart at times. I hated Joe. Joe was a guy Laurel had liked at school, and he finally asked her out to prom. However, I felt the whole time he had asked her out of pity, and then he didn't put any effort forth in continuing a relationship. He only did things when drunk or when Laurel acted first (anything at all, not just romantic-y stuff. texting. calling. everything. he drove me nuts. man up!). And I really didn't like Laurel's best friend, either, though I understand her purpose and her hidden storyline.
One thing that really drove me crazy (alert to ALL AUTHORS) was the texting. PEOPLE DON'T REALLY TEXT IN COMPLETE ABBREVIATIONS. I use full sentences and punctuation. And I didn't know what half of the words were in their texts. And honestly, they were unnecessary. Description could have done the job better. They were a huge disruption to the story and frankly, I hated them. And I hate to see texts in books anyway. It's just annoying.

Moving on. I loved the progression of this book. It didn't dwell on too much of one particular time period, but it focused when it needed to. I never got tired of reading description and happenings in the narration. It was all done very well. I also loved the animal focus in this book, giving Laurel a new purpose and something to focus on. This was a very real and believable aspect because this could actually happen. Laurel's Nana didn't really like the whole animal thing (not sure why...), but I did and thought it added great depth to the overall effect of the story.

Overall, it was a pretty good one, once people get it out of their heads that this is a grief story. Remember, it's a story about life moving on no matter what, and how Laurel manages the "after."

DON'T FORGET TO ENTER THE CONTEST FOR AFTERTASTE HERE!!!

FREE BOOK!

2011-11-30T23:17:00.002-05:00

That's right! It's time for another one! You can have a chance to win your very own copy of Aftertaste by Meredith Mileti! You can read the synopsis from Goodreads down below.

You will have until DECEMBER 20 to enter this contest, just use the form below. Sorry international folks, it's for US residents only. If you have someone to mail it to with a US address, that's fine! I just can't afford to ship internationally right now!

Also, you must be a follower to enter!! It doesn't matter new or old, but you need to follow!

Thanks! And tell all your friends! This is a fantastic book!

Mira Rinaldi lives life at a rolling boil. Co-owner of Grappa, a chic New York City trattoria, she has an enviable apartment, a brand-new baby, and a frenzied schedule befitting her success. Everything changes the night she catches her husband, Jake, "wielding his whisk" with Grappa's new waitress. Mira's fiery response earns her a court-ordered stint in anger management and the beginning of legal and personal predicaments as she battles to save her restaurant and pick up the pieces of her life. Mira falls back on family and friends in Pittsburgh as she struggles to find a recipe for happiness. But the heat is really on when some surprising developments in New York present her with a high stakes opportunity to win back what she thought she had lost forever. For Mira, cooking isn't just about delicious flavours and textures, but about the pleasure found in filling others' needs. And the time has come to decide where her own fulfilment lies - even if the answers are unexpected.

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In My Mailbox (9)

2011-11-28T19:55:00.000-05:00

It's that time again! These are all the books I've received in the past while, since I kind of post these whenever I can. As always, IMM is hosted by The Story Siren. And all the books will be linked to Goodreads.

For Review

1. Virtuosity by Jessica Martinez

2. Water Balloon by Audrey Vernick

3. Everybody Sees the Ants by A. S. King

4. Hound Dog True by Linda Urban

5. Article 5 by Kristen Simmons

6. Rush by Jeremy Iverson

7. Forbidden by Syrie James

8. The Sisters by Nancy Jensen

9. The Space Between by Brenna Yovanoff

10. Tankborn by Karen Sandler

From Trading:

1. Possessions by Nancy Holder

Bought (from Goodwill for 25 cents each!):

1. The Reader by Bernhard Schlink

2. The Other Side of the Story by Marian Keyes

DON'T FORGET TO CHECK OUT MY SWAPPING BOOKS PAGE!

Review: Between the Sea and Sky by Jaclyn Dolamore

2011-11-27T17:08:00.001-05:00

For as long as Esmerine can remember, she has longed to join her older sister, Dosinia, as a siren--the highest calling a mermaid can have. When Dosinia runs away to the mainland, Esmerine is sent to retrieve her. Using magic to transform her tail into legs, she makes her way unsteadily to the capital city. There she comes upon a friend she hasn't seen since childhood--a dashing young man named Alander, who belongs to a winged race of people. As Esmerine and Alander band together to search for Dosinia, they rekindle a friendship . . . and ignite the emotions for a love so great, it cannot be bound by sea, land, or air.

This book sounded so interesting, and I loved the idea of a winged boy being childhood friends with a mermaid. And the beginning was lovely, and it had a few nice descriptions of the mermaid life. However, this is about as much as I liked in this book. I was under the impression that this was a YA novel, but to me, the dialogue and the language seemed very juvenile. I wish this would have been at a higher reading level. However, if it was directed at middle grade, then there were some issues with men gaping at women's chests all the time that weren't necessary at all. And the magic siren belt? You're not fooling anyone — it's a chastity belt. So as long as Esmerine doesn't give that up, she's fine. Because of this, there was no urgency to the book at all. She had no deadline for finding her sister or any real danger threat anywhere that I kept looking for.

It also did not hold my attention well at all. I wasn't interested in the overly simple plot. It seemed that humans and mermaids knew about each other, but the way mermaids traipsed into the world was a little pretentious, and they expected everyone to take care of them, so I can see why the humans weren't very kind and sort of took advantage of the fact that they were all stupid. I was just really disappointed in this book.

I also haven't read Magic Under Glass, which I heard was lovely. Also I just found out that this book might have been based off of one of the characters from the other book, and that it might have made more sense if I read the other one...? Not sure if this is right. In any case, there was no indication that I needed to read anything else, so if that was the case, I'm a little mad that I was bored and confused because I hadn't read the other one when given no indication that I needed to. Overall, just boredness and wishing I picked up something else.

DON'T FORGET TO CHECK OUT MY PAGE FOR TRADING BOOKS!

Review: Delcroix Academy — The Candidates

2011-10-17T21:04:00.001-04:00

Dancia Lewis is far from popular. And that's not just because of her average grades or her less-than-glamorous wardrobe. In fact, Dancia's mediocrity is a welcome cover for her secret: whenever she sees a person threatening someone she cares about, things just...happen. Cars skid. Structures collapse. Usually someone gets hurt. So Dancia does everything possible to avoid getting close to people, believing this way she can suppress her powers and keep them hidden. But when recruiters from the prestigious Delcroix Academy offer her a full scholarship, Dancia's days of living under the radar may be over. Only, Delcroix is a school for diplomats' kids and child geniuses — not B students with uncontrollable telekinetic tendencies. So why are they treating Dancia like she's special? Even the hottest guy on campus seems to be going out of his way to make her feel welcome. And then there's her mysterious new friend Jack, who can't stay out of trouble. He suspects something dangerous is going on at the academy and wants Dancia to help him figure out what. Dancia isn't convinced. She hopes that maybe the recruiters know more about her 'gift' than they're letting on. Maybe they can help her undertand how to use it...but not even Dancia could have imagined what awaits her behind the gates of Delcroix Academy.

I received this book a long time ago and grabbed it for my pile that came to school with me because the premise sounded so good. And it was pretty fascinating. I really loved the basic concept. I'm loving the different supernatural turns in books now — super sick of vampires, werewolves, etc. So the fact that Dancia was pseudo-telekinetic was pretty cool. I wanted a little more explanation of where her power came from, since there really wasn't any at all, but maybe that will be resolved in the second book. After all, Dancia only really explores her power after she gets to Delcroix, (and because of spoilers, I won't say anything else) but she can't really know that much yet, I don't believe.

I loved the friends that Dancia made at Delcroix. They were Hennie and Esther, and I absolutely adored them. I was back and forth on how I felt about Jack. He really cares for Dancia, and wants her friendship and her trust so badly. However, he is very paranoid about being followed, and at times, it was a little excessive how paranoid he was. But overall, I really liked his character. Though he did something at the end that was really hypocritical and just pissed me off, quite frankly. I'm also not quite sure how I feel about Cam, who is the hottest boy in school mentioned in the summary. That's what I really liked about this book. It still has me guessing, wanting to read the next one to figure out how I really feel about all these people.

The only person I feel sure about is Dancia herself. While confused and trying to figure everything out, she was kind of annoying. She was mean to her friends and to Jack. Yes, sometimes she just wanted to be left alone, but I still didn't really like that. She also stereotyped a lot of people when she first got to the school, and later on, they turned out to be perfectly nice to her. Yes, it really can be attributed to the fact that her whole life, she's been avoiding relationships. But still, it just made me sad.

This was a relatively good book. It made me want to read the second one. After finishing this, I read several mixed reviews of the novel, and I was really surprised to learn that people seriously didn't like it. I did not think that at all. This was definitely a worthwhile read, and I read it in about 2 days. So it is also very easy to get through if you're looking for a quick read.

DON'T FORGET TO CHECK OUT MY BOOK SWAP PAGE TO TRADE BOOKS!

Unrelated News about HARRY POTTER

2011-10-14T00:35:00.000-04:00

So this has nothing to do with reviewing, but it is definitely Harry Potter related, and I'm definitely extremely excited for this! I'm studying abroad next semester (flying out on January 5) in England, just near a town called Grantham — it's about an hour north of London.

Tonight I just purchased tickets for exactly six months from today to tour the official Harry Potter sets (yes, the ones they LITERALLY used in the films) at the Warner Bros. studio in Leavesden, which is right outside of London. Yes, I get to see the actual sets!

I cannot begin to express how excited I am for this trip. I'm probably going to hyperventilate when the time actually comes to go there!

(For anyone that's interested, I'm also going to do a separate blog of my overseas adventures, and I'll definitely update things on here and post a link, in case anyone wants to see what I'm up to!)

Click here to see the Warner Bros. home page and see what the touring business is all about!

Review: Haunted by Joy Preble

2011-10-13T10:18:00.005-04:00

THIS IS A REVIEW OF HAUNTED, THE SECOND BOOK IN THE SERIES. IF YOU HAVEN'T READ THE FIRST ONE, DO NOT READ THIS REVIEW!

Anne is trying her best to live a normal life, but she's still got some power sparking inside her. She's hearing and seeing things that she tries her best to ignore-like being haunted by a Russian sea nymph that claims the princess Anastasia is still alive.

That's when Ethan Kozninsky-he of the stunning blue eyes, thick brown hair, and former immortal status-returns. Anne soon realizes that everything she's been trying to forget might be impossible to bury.

I was a little disappointed with Dreaming Anastasia, which is the first in the series. Not enough was explained for me to fully understand how the magic worked, why Anne was chosen, and different things like that. I feel like Haunted should have just been attached with the first book. There is so much that is explained in this sequel that had to do with the first book, I feel like if you haven't read the first one, you'd be awfully confused as to why some bits were important. Often, there were bits of the story mentioned that had nothing to do with Anne's current problem, but they focused on what happened in the first book. So this was great for me, because it cleared up TONS of questions I had at the end of the first book, but bad for those who didn't want to read the first one.

I was still a little frustrated about the whole teenage-girl-attached-to-her-cell-phone aura about Anne last book, but that was a little better in this one. She seemed to have grown up quite a bit, after all that happened previously, which I really liked. The character development was so much better. I also loved the way Tess grew up. She became a much more developed character with a bigger part to play in this book, and that led to us seeing more of her, of which I definitely approved. Ethan was about the same, which kind of disappointed me, though he wasn't afraid anymore to exhibit his true feelings for Anne. But he was really the same character at the beginning of the book as he was at the end.

And, of course, Ethan has a rival this time around. When he gets back from Europe at the beginning of the book, Anne now has a new boyfriend named Ben. I understand the purpose of Ben — to make Ethan jealous and make Anne realize she actually loved Ethan! That's not new stuff. However, I really just thought he was rather unnecessary. And there were random inserts about Anne thinking about having sex with him, and how he always felt her up. I mean, this could have been okay had it been a really steamy scene, but they were in a pool house where Ben worked as a lifeguard. I just thought that WHOLE bit was really out of place and strange.

As far as what happened, there was a lot more action going on than in the first novel, but it didn't start until about halfway through. The first half was kind of like the Ethan vs. Ben show. Then the action started. Once it did, it was truly interesting. A rusalka (Russian mermaid) has been appearing to Anne over and over again, saying she needs help. Well, obviously Baba Yaga has something to do with it, so there is a reappearance to her forest, and flashbacks back to the whole Anastasia debacle. This is when it starts to answer some questions from the first book, but if you haven't read that, you'll just be really confused.

I was more impressed with Preble's style in this book — it developed immensely and created a much better story. There were still a few things I didn't like, but for the most part, this book cleared up any issues I was having with the first, and it was a bit more entertaining to read just because everything was developed much better!

Don't forget to keep checking back for my interview with Joy Preble!

In My Mailbox (8)

2011-10-10T21:44:00.001-04:00

Finally! I've got the chance to do another one of these! This is my stack from about the last two and a half weeks. School is absolutely crazy, so I try and post these when I can. All the links take you to Goodreads! This originally is from The Story Siren!

Don't forget to check out my Swap Books page! Trade with me! I update with my newest stock quite often, so keep checking back!

1. The Apothecary by Maile Meloy

2. How to Rock Braces and Glasses by Meg Haston

3. Leisl and Po by Lauren Oliver

4. Dark of the Moon by Tracy Barrett

5. The September Queen by Gillian Bagwell

6. Slide by Jill Hathaway

7. Ruling Passion by Alyxandra Harvey (when you open this book,

the whole thing is printed upside down!!)

8. The Eleventh Plague by Jeff Hirsch

9. Going Underground by Susan Vaught

10. This Dark Endeavor by Kenneth Oppel

1. Dark Eden by Patrick Carman

2. Death Sentence: Escape from Furnace by Alexander Gordon Smith

3. Everneath by Brodi Ashton

4. Sweet Venom by Tera Lynn Childs

5. Anna Dressed in Blood by Kendare Blake

6. Burnout by Adrienne Maria Vrettos

7. Dearly, Departed by Lia Habel

8. Hades by Alexandra Adornetto

Review: Dreaming Anastasia by Joy Preble

2011-10-09T00:50:00.004-04:00

Anastasia Romanov thought she would never feel more alone than when the gunfire started and her family began to fall around her. Surely the bullets would come for her next. But they didn't. Instead, two gnarled old hands reached for her. When she wakes up she discovers that she is in the ancient hut of the witch Baba Yaga, and that some things are worse than being dead.

In modern-day Chicago, Anne doesn't know much about Russian history. She is more concerned about getting into a good college—until the dreams start. She is somewhere else. She is someone else. And she is sharing a small room with a very old woman. The vivid dreams startle her, but not until a handsome stranger offers to explain them does she realize her life is going to change forever. She is the only one who can save Anastasia. But, Anastasia is having her own dreams…

I really love the mystery behind the whole Anastasia Romanov deal (they solved it, but still... in case some people don't know the true story I won't ruin the mystery here), and I think that's such a fascinating bit of history.

As far as the book goes, I was really surprised to see that there were a lot of people out there that weren't too crazy about this. I really enjoyed it. Yes, it's not been my favorite, but I still really liked reading this. I had never read a book based on the Anastasia mystery, so I really loved that. I also loved the characters, though I was a little perplexed by why Anna was so obsessed with her cell phone. Ethan was lovely as well, and he was really genuinely concerned about saving people, which I loved. He was honest and truthful, and a very steady character. I'm interested to see where things go in the second novel, as I'm not quite sure how it's going to continue (which is super duper exciting!).

The whole magic theme was interesting, and I loved that the whole story was more than just running from bad guys. However, the magic was totally unexplained. I wanted to know more about how it got to be in those people, why it worked that way, and why Anna inherited it. There were just a lot of unanswered questions that I would've liked to have known the answers to. Periodically throughout the book were letters written from Anastasia to members of her family. I loved getting her perspective on things, and they were one of the most interesting parts about the book, but the font was so difficult to read, which really disappointed me. They added so much of the mystery into the plot, giving us information only she would know, but it took me twenty minutes to read three pages because the font was just too hard to read.

For the most part, it was really well done, and I don't see why so many people have given it the thumbs down. Even the historical bits are not boring, and it sums things up nicely so you don't have to have an extensive knowledge of the Bolsheviks or Russia or anything that happened really during that time period. There's not much more to say about it other than that I would recommend it, it's a great book that's worth your time. Not perfect, but I still really liked it, and I'm excited to see how everything pans out in the second novel, Haunted.

Don't forget to check out my first author interview EVER with Joy Preble, author of above mentioned book! It will be coming soon! Keep watching!!

Blog Tour: After Obsession by Carrie Jones and Steven E. Wedel

2011-09-17T16:59:00.000-04:00

Welcome to the blog tour for After Obsession! For this, I've just posted a review at the bottom, and here are some interview questions found in the back of the book that were highly entertaining to read!

Artistically speaking, what did each of you contribute to this book? How is it different than the usual novel you write?
STEVE: Well, the most obvious answer is that the book is written in alternating points of view between Carrie's character, Aimee, and my character, Alan. Carrie's writing is very much character driven and very feminine. She sees a lot of detail that I tend to gloss over. I'd say this novel is much richer in detail and tone than anything I've done previously and I blame Carrie for that.
CARRIE: it is much quicker, much more plot-driven, and has a lot more testosterone in it. Steve puts a really man energy into his chapters and he's so good at dialogue and flow. I was really lucky to write with him.
After Obsession features a girl in Maine and a boy who comes from Oklahoma. Are there other elements in the novel that mirror your lives or your relationships to your Okie or Mainiac collaborator?
CARRIE: Well, Steve is tall. Alan is tall. Steve is less politically correct than I am. Alan is like that too. Aimee and I both try to eat healthy and we both paint...
STEVE: Alan and Aimee learn a lot about each other, and that was true for me and Carrie as we worked together. I learned a lot about living in a small Maine town. Can you believe they really don't have football in most Maine high schools? I know I worked in several details gleaned from my life as a high school teacher.

Aimee has good grades, great friends, and a hot boyfriend. But she also has secrets. Like the violent dreams that are almost prophetic. Or the real reason behind her mom's death. Alan is new in town. Rugged, sexy, with a hint of Southern charm, he and Aimee connect immediately. Bye-bye boyfriend. But Alan has his own secrets. His Native American heritage gives him mystical, unlikely abilities. Not the kind of thing you show off in the cafeteria. But it's not Aimee or Alan who's in trouble. It's Courtney — Alan's cousin and Aimee's best friend. She's consumed by a strange demon. Alan says there are four stages: Invitation, then Infestation, Obsession, and finally, Possession. Aimee and Alan must figure out what to do, and quickly. Because once the demon takes full possession, there's no saving Courtney — or anyone else.

This book was fairly interesting. It held my attention all the way through. It wasn't boring or unentertaining. But there wasn't really anything that grabbed me that made this book extraordinary. The characters were interesting enough, and I really liked Alan. However, his Native American background bothered me a little. I had no issues with the fact that he was Native American. I was very pro-that, and I LOVE the long hair thing. But the fact that he got all of his information from the internet was a little sketch for me, and I didn't like that there was no story on why his father wasn't there, or why his mother hated the fact that he wanted to practice Native American traditions. I also had an issue with how quickly Alan and Aimee fell in love. Way too fast. One look and it was happening. I was just really frustrated with that.

But I did like Aimee, and I loved her story. I loved that she had the dreams that came true, and it was all explained really well. I even liked Alan a lot, I just wish things about him were explained more because I think he could be equally interesting. There were so many open-ended things about his past that I really wanted answered but weren't.

Again, it was a little captivating, and it did hold my attention well through the end. As the book went on, it seemed to get better. Most of the things I didn't like about it were in the first half. And the demon that possesses Courtney also wasn't explained too well. It never really resolved why it was there, or how it got there, or why it possessed Courtney, and the others it did before her. I was just left wondering about a lot of things. Overall, it was pretty good, but just a one-time quick read, nothing more than that.

Review: The Carrier of the Mark by Leigh Fallon

2011-09-12T23:59:00.000-04:00

From the moment she sets foot at her new school in Ireland, Megan is inexplicable drawn to the darkly handsome Adam DeRis. But Megan soon discovers that her feelings for Adam are tied to a supernatural fate that was sealed long ago — and that the passion and power that unites them could be their ultimate destruction.

This is an incredibly short summary from the back of the book, so I'll try and give a little bit more information about what's going on here. Meg moves with her father to Ireland because he's been job-hopping ever since Meg's mom died. Meg actually starts to settle in in Ireland, something she hasn't done in a while. She makes friends, a lovely girl named Caitlin, who's got a whole love-mess of her own, and a few other pretty interesting but minor characters. Then, Meg is attracted to (obviously) the stunning brooding boy in the corner (Adam) that every girl has tried to obtain, but without any luck. He's apparently too good for everyone. Until Meg gets there, that is. The magical part is more interesting. Without giving too much away, it has something to do with the elements of the earth (earth, fire, water, and wind). There's also a top-secret society involved and of course, people trying to hurt Meg and Adam.

That's more of an idea of what goes on. I'll start with a tiny problem I had. I hated that within three days, Meg knew that she wanted to spend the rest of her life with Adam. She hadn't even talked to him yet. They were so clingy it made me sick. I don't really care if there was some force that pushed the bond; it was too soon and too fast. It was just SO unbelievably unreal, there was just no way it could've possibly happened like that.

Now, that's pretty much all I didn't like; the rest of the book was so interesting and unique. The whole paranormal deal with the elements of the earth — that's new. And I loved it. It was such a unique perspective on everything, and it was so original. In addition, there was a sufficient amount of explanation that went behind the magical forces that it totally made sense, and I wasn't left clueless. However, the information was spread out well, leaving just enough out that it was super suspenseful.

Aine, Adam's sister, was one of my favorite characters. I loved her spirit about everything, and she seemed truly genuine. The author seems to have put so much work into her character, which was lovely to see. I also fell in love with her...magical issues...(so I don't give too much away), which is another reason I think I felt so attached to her. She was humorous as well, behaving just like a sister should when her brother would take Meg out. I also loved Rian, Adam's older brother. He was supposed to be really intimidating, which he was, but there is so much backstory to his personality that drew me in. I'd be much more attached to him than to Adam. Generally, all the characters were extremely well-written. The only issue I had was with the extreme cliche-ness that was the love line. It just happened way too fast. Overall though, I really enjoyed this book! And LOVED that it was set in Ireland! I'M GOING THERE IN ABOUT 4 MONTHS!

And this book also gets about 1000 cool points for a badass cover.

Review: Mockingjay by Suzanne Collins

2011-08-28T13:18:00.000-04:00

WARNING: THIS WILL CONTAIN SPOILERS IF YOU HAVEN'T READ THE FIRST TWO BOOKS IN THE SERIES. SO IF YOU DON'T WANT TO KNOW WHAT HAPPENED EARLIER, DO NOT READ THIS!

Katniss Everdeen, girl on fire, has survived, even though her home has been destroyed. Gale has escaped. Katniss's family is safe. Peeta has been captured by the Capitol. District 13 really does exist. There are rebels. There are new leaders. A revolution is unfolding. It is by design that Katniss was rescued from the arena in the cruel and haunting Quarter Quell, and it is by design that she has long been part of the revolution without knowing it. District 13 has come out of the shadows and is plotting to overthrow the Capitol. Everyone, it seems, has had a hand in the carefully laid plans — except Katniss. The success of the rebellion hinges on Katniss's willingness to be a pawn, to accept responsibility for countless lives, and to change the course of the future of Panem. To do this, she must put aside her feelings of anger and distrust. She must become the rebels' Mockingjay — no matter what the personal cost.

I'm really not sure how I feel about this book. I loved loved LOVED the first two. This one, somehow disappointed me. I was expecting a climactic adventure again, and I don't really think there was one. Obviously, overthrowing the Capitol would be a hard thing to do, but after the exciting-ness that was The Hunger Games, I was just a little sad.

Maybe it was because Peeta was MIA for most of this novel. I wasn't really sure if I liked Peeta or Gale more, but I suppose I was leaning more towards Peeta. Gale, to me, didn't really seem to care genuinely about Katniss. He did, but he didn't care about other people and things she cared about, which made me angry. So I suppose I do like Peeta more (though I'm really not sure I liked the ending at all — it seems to me it's like Harry Potter's epilogue — it really could have just done without).

Katniss really just made me angry in this book as well. In the previous books, she was just spunky, and she just had a fiery personality. Now, she was just stupid. She put people's lives on the line so she could be the hero, and frankly, it just pissed me off. And she not only didn't really like Peeta, but she was genuinely mean to him at times. I understand that she's been through a lot, but her character took a huge turn for the worse in my opinion. She just became mean, short with people, and very very unpredictable. And I'm really unhappy about the ending. I'm not sure the epilogue even needed to be there. It was kind of nice at the end of the book to be left with a strong new start. Instead, I flipped the page, and the epilogue stared me in the face. Ugh. I just really did not like it.

This is still one of the best series I've read in FOREVER, but this last book just made me sad. The best, by far, is the first in the series.

Review: The Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins

2011-08-17T22:50:00.000-04:00

In the ruins of a place once known as North America lies the nation of Panem, a shining Capitol surrounded by twelve outlying districts. The Capitol is harsh and cruel and keeps the districts in line by forcing them all to send one boy and one girl between the ages of twelve and eighteen to participate in the annual Hunger Games, a fight to the death on live TV. Sixteen-year-old Katniss Everdeen regards it as a death sentence when she steps forward to take her sister's place in the Games. But Katniss has been close to dead before — and survival, for her, is second nature. Without really meaning to, she becomes a contender. But if she is to win, she will have to start making choices that weigh survival against humanity and life against love.

I have NO CLUE what took me so long to get to these books. I've been on the waiting list at the library for months because, as I'm studying abroad soon, I've been cheap and trying to avoid spending a ton of money. However, once I finished this book, I caved and bought the series. I could not wait months to read the second and third. These were that good. I finished the whole series in the course of about two and a half days. I really don't even know where to begin.

If you follow this at all, you know I adore realistic science future books. Anything up that realm. And this, to me, was sort of a cross between Scott Westerfeld's Uglies series and James Patterson's Maximum Ride. The government was obviously the bad guy, and everyone's rooting for the society. Katniss was a lovely character. I loved her attitude, her unwillingness to conform, and the fact that she put up a fight. I loved the whole archery aspect, too. I think that's by far one of the coolest weapons and trades Katniss could have had, so I really enjoyed that part of it. She wasn't really the brightest of girls, but I suppose it was on purpose that she was clueless about social aspects of the novel. I don't really want to give too much away, but it drove me insane how aloof she was to feelings of a certain individual.

The men were even more lovely. I couldn't decide who I loved more, Peeta or Gale. Peeta was the son of a baker in Katniss's district, and he was her fellow competitor in the Hunger Games. He genuinely cared about the well-being of people, and Katniss especially, which made him so lovable. Gale, on the other hand, was Katniss's childhood friend. They used to sneak under the fence that surrounds the district to hunt for their families, and they spent so much time together. Gale was the adorable boy next door. He cared so much for his family and Katniss's, I wanted him to succeed no matter what. It is a challenge for me to decide who I love more. I still don't know.

The plot was phenomenal. Nothing was ever boring, and I never got tired of reading. EVER. I really have no complaints about the plot. The Hunger Games were held in arenas that the Capitol built specifically for that year's Hunger Games. The design of the arenas was unreal. I was so impressed with the detail and the imagination that went into planning them, especially the arena in Catching Fire (book #2). I was blown away by how intricate everything was. In addition, everything about how the Capitol ran was unbelievably detailed. Everything fir together so well. I have no questions in regards to how anything in this world works. It was just so well-written, it is insane.

And I want to say how ecstatic I am to see the movies, and how incredibly sad I am I'll be in Europe for the release. I'll just have to find a theater over there somewhere. Hopefully they'll show it!

And I'm very happy about one Peeta Mellark:

Review: Intertwined by Gena Showalter

2011-08-15T22:31:00.002-04:00

Most sixteen-year-olds have friends. Aden Stone has four human souls living inside him. One can time-travel. One can raise the dead. One can tell the future. And one can possess another human. With no other family and a life spent in and out of institutions, Aden and the souls have become friends. But now they're causing him all kinds of trouble. Like, he'll blink and suddenly he's younger Aden, reliving the past. One wrong move, and he'll change the future. Or he'll walk past a total stranger and know how and when she's going to die. He's so over it. All he wants is peace. And then he meets a girl who quiets the voices. Well, as long as he's near her. Why? Mary Ann Gray is his total opposite. He's a total loner; she has friends. He doesn't care what anyone thinks; she tries to make everyone happy. And while he attracts the paranormal, she repels it. For her sake, he should stay away. But it's too late. Somehow, they share an inexplicable bond of friendship. A bond about to be tested by a werewolf shape-shifter who wants Mary Ann for his own, and a vampire princess Aden can't resist. Two romances, both forbidden. Still, the four will enter a dark underworld of intrigue and danger — but not everyone will come out alive.

I'm still not really sure how I feel about this book. It started out fairly well — the whole idea that the souls are inside Aden was new. This was a paranormal feature that hadn't been used a thousand times. How disappointed I was when vampires and werewolves entered the picture. I really don't hate the whole vampire thing too much. I'm just tired of it. I feel now, writing about vampires and werewolves show no creativity because everyone else on the planet is writing about them too. I'm just really sick of it. But I stuck with the book because I liked Aden enough, and I liked his problems, just not the vampire.

The whole storyline was a rather mediocre one. Not much really happened, as far as I'm concerned. It was a lot of talking about things rather than doing things, and not much exciting-ness happened until the very tail end of the book. That, really, is the only part that made me want to read the second one. I have it checked out from the library, but I finally got my hands on The Hunger Games, so frankly, I'm not sure I'll read the second one. I've only got 6 days until I move back to school.

I liked Mary Ann's character, and her father as well. There's a bit of an interesting plot turn midway through the novel that really interested me in her father, and Mary Ann as well. But I really can't reveal any of that because that would give away the only real bit of action that happened. I heard so many good things about this book that I was really excited to see it on the shelf at the library, but I was just disappointed. And I'm not sure there's much else to say about it. It was just rather boring, unfortunately.

Review: Ruby Red by Kerstin Gier

2011-08-11T21:32:00.001-04:00

Sixteen-year-old Gwen lives with her extended — and rather eccentric — family in an exclusive London neighborhood. In spite of her ancestors' peculiar history, she's had a relatively normal life so far. The time-traveling gene that runs like a secret thread through the female half of the family is supposed to have skipped over Gwen, so she hasn't been introduced to "the mysteries," and can spend her time hanging out with her best friend, Lesley, watching movies, and talking about boys. It comes as an unwelcome surprise then when she starts taking sudden, uncontrolled leaps into the past. She's totally unprepared for time travel, not to mention all that comes with it: fancy clothes, archaic manners, a mysterious secret society, and Gideon, her time-traveling counterpart. He's obnoxious, a know-it-all, and possibly the best-looking guy she's seen in any century...

I knew absolutely nothing about this book before I read it, I just remembered people all over the internet being in love with it. I certainly saw why. I finished this book in a little under 14 hours. I was obsessed. First, I want to give a shout-out to the author on an excellent book (and soon-to-be trilogy that I cannot wait for). Second, I want to give a shout-out to the translator. I went to get on the author's website and found that she's German! (I think). The english translation was so phenomenal, I had no clue it was even translated. That shows truly good writing, so I just wanted to mention that. Now, on to the fantasticness that was Ruby Red.

I loved all the characters I was supposed to, and I hated all the ones that we were supposed to hate. Gwen's cousin Charlotte was pissed when she found out it was really Gwen that carried the gene (I'm not spoiling anything, this was in the first chapter — and SUPER obvious). I loved that I hated Charlotte so much. Gwen's character was lovely as well, and she was one of those heroic female characters that doesn't listen to the men and picks up a weapon and fights. I loved that about this novel. I also really liked how certain things were kept secretive. It wasn't too much, but there are definitely some things that better be answered in the next two books, because I'm waiting (not so patiently) and wondering (a lot).

The whole time-traveling phenomenon was done so extraordinarily well. It wasn't just magic and that was it. There was a scientific explanation behind it, and I understood every step of how the time-traveling gene worked and was passed all the way down the family line to Gwen. I was so enthralled by the style of the writing. Everything just flowed together seamlessly, and I loved every second of it.

I also loved the character Gideon. I don't want to say too much for fear of giving away things, but I loved that it didn't really work out perfectly the way most romance things do, and there are still several things that intrigue me about him. I definitely want some questions answered about him and his relationship with other people in the future novels.

If you haven't gotten the idea, this has been, BY FAR, my favorite book of the summer. Hands down. So really, go pick up a copy — STAT.

DON'T FORGET TO ENTER TO WIN A COPY OF JESSI KIRBY'S MOONGLASS HERE!!! ENDING VERY SOON!!!

Review: Leviathan by Scott Westerfeld

2011-08-08T22:39:00.001-04:00

It is the cusp of World War I, and all the European powers are arming up. The Austro-Hungarians and Germans have their Clankers, steam-driven iron machines loaded with guns and ammunition. The British Darwinists employ fabricated animals as their weaponry. Their Leviathan is a whale airship, and the most masterful beast in the British fleet. Aleksander Ferdinand, prince of the Austro-Hungarian Empire, is on the run. His own people have turned on him. His title is worthless. All he has is a battle-torn Stormwalker and a loyal crew of men. Deryn Sharp is a commoner, a girl disguised as a boy in the British Air Service. She's a brilliant airman. But her secret is in constant danger of being discovered. With the Great War brewing, Alek's and Deryn's paths cross in the most unexpected way, taking them both aboard the Leviathan on a fantastical, around-the-world adventure. One that will change both their lives forever.

I was ecstatic when I found this at the library, as I'm a GIANT Westerfeld fan. However, maybe I was expecting this to live up to the greatness that was the Midnighters series and the Uglies series. It just didn't do anything for me. The premise I liked. It was a fantasy about World War I, with mythical half-breeds that the Darwinists created. However, it took me until about 75 pages in to figure this much out. I do not read the little blurb before I start, and now that I've read it, it makes much more sense. But Westerfeld dives right in, expecting the reader to know these things (also what a Clanker is — that one took me a while, too). I did not like that there were so many expectations of the reader.

I liked the characters Deryn and Alek. They were brave and full of life, but I feel like they were still very much children. Overall, this seemed like a book written towards the younger audience, which I was not expecting. The language was much more simplistic than Westerfeld's other writing, and I got so sick of the phrases "Barking spiders!" and "Blisters!" They were overused and frankly, just got incredibly annoying.

As far as the storyline goes, it was decent. It was interesting enough that animals were really airships, but I got confused as to which animals were doing what to help keep the ship afloat. Then the crossover between Alek's escape and Deryn's adventure was good, but there was still entirely too much confusion. I'm still not sure about a lot of different things, like the mysterious eggs that were aboard the Leviathan. Questions were never answered, and I understand that there is a second novel to finish up this story. However, even at the end of most first books in series, there is always some sort of ending note. It felt as though Westerfeld wrote one giant novel, and just split it down the middle. And the sad thing is, I'm really not attached enough to any of the characters to make me want to read the second one. It just wasn't that good. :(

DON'T FORGET TO ENTER TO WIN A COPY OF JESSI KIRBY'S MOONGLASS HERE!!!

In My Mailbox (7)

2011-08-06T11:03:00.001-04:00

I'm officially done with summer camp, so here's what I've gotten since the last time I posted! And from here on out it's going to be a weekly thing! All of my links below go to the Goodreads page for them! And, as always, IMM is a weekly meme hosted by The Story Siren.

1. Juliet Immortal by Stacey Jay

2. Between by Jessica Warman

3. Small Town Sinners by Melissa Walker

4. Haunting Violet by Alyxandra Harvey

5. Michael Vey: The Prisoner of Cell 25 by Richard Paul Evans

6. Forgotten by Cat Patrick

7. The Chaos by Rachel Ward

8. Dreams of Significant Girls by Cristina Garcia

9. A Small Hotel by Robert Olen Butler

10. The Night Circus by Erin Morgenstern

11. Gypsy Wedding by Kate Lace

DON'T FORGET TO ENTER THE GIVEAWAY TO WIN JESSI KIRBY'S MOONGLASS HERE!

Review: Overbite by Meg Cabot

2011-08-02T21:18:00.000-04:00

This book is the sequel to Insatiable, and my review may contain spoilers if you haven't read the first one, so here's my review of Insatiable!

Meena Harper has a special gift, but it’s only now that anyone’s ever appreciated it. The Palatine Guard—a powerful secret demon-hunting unit of the Vatican—has hired her to work at their new branch in Lower Manhattan. With Meena’s ability to predict how everyone she meets will die, the Palatine finally has a chance against the undead. Sure, her ex-boyfriend was Lucien Antonescu, son of Dracula, the prince of darkness. But that was before he (and their relationship) went up in flames. Now Meena’s sworn off vampires for good . . . at least until she can prove her theory that just because they’ve lost their souls doesn’t mean demons have lost the ability to love. Meena knows convincing her co-workers—including her partner, Über-demon-hunter Alaric Wulf—that vampires can be redeemed won’t be easy . . . especially when a deadly new threat seems to be endangering not just lives of the Palatine, but Meena’s friends and family as well. But Meena isn’t the Palatine’s only hope. Father Henrique—aka Padre Caliente—New York City’s youngest, most charming priest, has also been assigned to the case. So why doesn’t Meena—or Alaric—trust him? As she begins unraveling the truth, Meena finds her loyalties tested, her true feelings laid bare . . . and temptations she never even imagined existed impossible to resist. This time, Meena may finally have bitten off more than she can chew.

This was a bit of a let down after Insatiable. I absolutely loved the first book. It was witty and humorous instead of being deathly serious the entire time. Overbite seemed to think that it was supposed to be very very serious, and all of Meena's sarcasm and character seemed to just flatten out. I was really sad about that. I was also upset that Alaric and Meena seemed to spend most of the book apart, though from the ending, it seemed like they should have been together for the whole book and more.

Don't get me wrong, I'll still read more if there are more. And I hope there are. The ending just seemed rush and there was really no set up for the way the book ended. It all happened in about 4 pages, and I was left saying "...That's it?" But I was still interested in the romance, the plot, and the different aspects of the story. But I really didn't love it like I did Insatiable, and I was incredibly excited to find Overbite at my library as it was just released, but it didn't live up to my expectations. A solid four stars for just being pretty good, but it missed out on the last one for having such a crap ending that made me really really sad -- not about things that happened, but about how little that happened.

DON'T FORGET TO ENTER THE GIVEAWAY FOR JESSI KIRBY'S MOONGLASS HERE!!!

Review: Bones of Faerie by Janni Lee Simner

2011-07-29T09:28:00.000-04:00

The war between humanity and Faerie devastated both sides. Or so fifteen-year-old Liza has been told. Nothing has been seen or heard from Faerie since, and Liza's world bears the scars of its encounter with magic. Corn resists being harvested; dandelions have thorns. Trees move with sinister intention, and the town Liza calls home is surrounded by a forest that threatens to harm all those who wander into it. Still, Liza feels safe. Her father is strong and has protected their town by laying down strict rules. Among them: Any trace of magic must be destroyed, no matter where it is found. Then Liza's sister is born with faerie-pale hair, clear as glass, and Liza's father leaves the baby on a hillside to die. When her mother disappears into the forest and Liza herself discovers she has the faerie ability to See — into the past, into the future — she has no choice but to flee. Liza's quest will take her into Faerie and back again, and what she finds along the way may be the key to healing both worlds.

I could not get interested in this book. The premise seems interesting enough, but Simner plants you in the book so that you feel like you missed the prequel. This did not feel like the first book at all, and I found myself asking so many questions. I couldn't figure out where the magic came from, why there was a great war between humans and faeries, or why magic was so dangerous. In addition, I couldn't figure out why magic was only thought deadly by some towns and not others. I was left asking too many questions to focus on the actual plot of the book, which wasn't even super great to begin with.

I felt like this story should be geared more towards the 10 - 12 age group. It did not seem like older teens should be reading it at all, really. The writing was very simplistic, and I flew through the story, even as disinterested as I was. There was never a dull moment, but this, to me, was a bad thing. Every page I flipped Liza was being attacked by one thing or another. It was exhausting. And also very unlikely, even with the feud between the worlds.

I was just so confused through the whole book, it seems difficult to review. I really just did not like this, and I know others did after reading lots of reviews, but I couldn't get into it, which frustrated me. Seems like an interesting concept for a story, but I did not enjoy the way it was told.

DON'T FORGET TO ENTER THE GIVEAWAY TO WIN A HARDCOVER COPY OF JESSI KIRBY'S MOONGLASS HERE!!!

Review: What Happened to Goodbye by Sarah Dessen

2011-07-26T21:51:00.000-04:00

Another town? Another new school? Mclean really doesn't mind. In fact, she welcomes the chance to try on a new persona. Ever since her parents' bitter divorce, she and her father have been on the move, leaving the unhappy past behind them. And each move has brought a fresh opportunity for Mclean to reinvent herself. Perky rah-rah girl. Drama mama. All-round joiner. But here in Lakeview, for the first time she's putting down roots, making friends, and just trying to be someone she hasn't been in a long time: herself. Dave has something to do with it. He's the most real person Mclean's ever met, and he thinks he's fallen in love with the real Mclean. Mclean doesn't even know who that is anymore, but she wants to find out -- before it's time to move on again.

I always enjoy Sarah Dessen's books. So this was pretty much a given that I'd say I at least liked it. And I did. Though, going back and reading the little synopsis that's in the front of the book, I'd say that it doesn't really explain the novel. To begin with, Dave falling in love with Mclean isn't really mentioned until the last eighth of the book. I never read these before I start a book because I want to go in with a fresh slate, and frankly, I'm glad I didn't.

However, though the story didn't really match up with the synopsis, I did really enjoy it. Mclean was an interesting enough character, though the whole moving-around-a-lot thing has been done a lot. The aspect of the story that I really liked was that her dad was a chef, so he moved to different restaurants. I loved the restaurant called Luna Blu and all its workers. Those characters, in my opinion, made the story better. I also loved how a few mentions of people from Along for the Ride made it in. I love when authors tie in characters all over the place. It makes me happy!

I also really liked how the friends Mclean made gathered at the restaurant to help out on a community service project one of the cooks volunteered for to keep their parking lot. It seemed like a really interesting way to kind of hold the whole story together, and it was a centrally located meeting place.

Mclean was an okay character, but she did annoy me in some ways. I didn't like how she changed personas. It's really not that easy to just change who you truly are, and I don't think she could have fully done so. In addition, she had different social network pages for all the different "people" she'd been, and I didn't like how big of a deal it was when her friends found out. This truly was not a big deal to me. They knew she moved all over the place, and they knew that she was probably going to move again, so I don't understand why they freaked out when they saw the different pages.
Nonetheless, I still liked this book regardless of a few weird details. A pretty fun summer read over all!

DON'T FORGET TO ENTER THE GIVEAWAY FOR A HARDCOVER COPY OF JESSI KIRBY'S MOONGLASS HERE!!!

In My Mailbox (6)

2011-07-22T23:44:00.001-04:00

This IMM is being done since I've been at camp. So the following are everything I've gotten since my last IMM post. And, as always, IMM is a weekly meme hosted by The Story Siren! All the titles are linked to Goodreads!

1. Texas Gothic by Rosemary Clement-Moore

2. In the Arms of Stone Angels by Jordan Dane

3. Little Black Dress by Susan McBride

4. Fury by Elizabeth Miles

5. Prized by Caragh O'Brien

6. Never Knowing by Chevy Stevens

7. And Then Things Fall Apart by Arlaina Tibensky

8. Putting Makeup on Dead People by Jen Violi

It was a wonderful period of time as far as books go, and I think I'm the most excited to read And Then Things Fall Apart (it was a surprise, and I LOVE surprises!)

DON'T FORGET TO ENTER THE GIVEAWAY FOR A HARDCOVER COPY OF JESSI KIRBY'S MOONGLASS HERE!!!!

Review: Imaginary Girls by Nova Ren Suma

2011-07-22T22:49:00.000-04:00

Chloe's older sister, Ruby, is the girl everyone looks to and longs for, who can't be captured or caged. After a night with Ruby's friends goes horribly wrong and Chloe discovers a dead body floating in the reservoir, Chloe is sent away — away from home, away from Ruby. But Ruby will do anything to get her sister back, and when Chloe returns home at last, she finds a precarious and deadly balance waiting for her. As Chloe flirts with the truth that Ruby has hidden deeply away, the fragile line between life and death is redrawn by the complex bonds of sisterhood.

I wanted to like this book. I really did. Even before I wrote this I read tons of reviews and saw way more good ones than bad ones. I love the cover. It is truly mesmerizing. That is the only thing that is captivating about this book. Ruby and Chloe had an odd relationship. I've never had a sister, so I don't know how that works, but it still seemed very odd that even as a free-thinking teenager Chloe still did absolutely EVERYTHING her sister told her to do. She never talked back, she never questioned, she just did. I hated that. I wanted Chloe to develop as a character. Even towards the end, she continued to listen to her sister. It just baffled me.

I hated Ruby. Absolutely HATED her. I thought she was a horrible person, not caring for anyone but Chloe, seemingly. And she didn't even act like she liked her own sister at certain points, which really bothered me. This story started out as a contemporary-mystery sort of novel, but turned to a paranormal one halfway through, as we were introduced to an underwater city and people that should be dead but weren't. And Ruby was at the heart of it. My problem with this part was that there wasn't enough told about ANY of the above situations. I had no idea why Ruby possessed this power or where she got it or how it worked. I had no idea what the underwater city of Olive truly was or why they needed people that were supposed to be dead but weren't or why it was so special really. And I began to figure a few things out by the last chapter, but it definitely was NOT enough. I was just thoroughly frustrated that I was left to figure out or guess at so much in this book. It seemed as though nothing was explained, and no one developed throughout the story, and nothing really changed.

I was upset that this week at camp, on my very limited time away from the kids, I wasted it on a novel I was really hoping was going to blow all others out of the way. I was mistaken.

DON'T FORGET TO ENTER THE GIVEAWAY FOR JESSI KIRBY'S MOONGLASS HERE!!!

Review: Hush, Hush by Becca Fitzpatrick

2011-07-22T21:49:00.001-04:00

When Nora and Patch are forced together as lab partners, Nora would rather fall to her death than put up with his elusive answers to her questions, his teasing, and his infuriatingly handsome face and hypnotizing eyes. It seems Patch was put on earth just to drive her crazy. But before long, Nora's defenses start to break down as her curiosity about Patch heats up. Why does he always seem to be wherever she is and know exactly what she's thinking? How does he know what to say to both attract and repulse her? And what is up with those V-shaped scars on his chiseled back? As their connection grows stronger, Nota's own life becomes increasingly fragile. Nora needs to decide: Is Patch the one who wants to do her harm or the one who will keep her safe? Has she fallen for one of the fallen?

I really like it when a book immediately grasps my attention and doesn't let go until I flip the back cover shut. Unfortunately, this did not do that. It took me about 150 pages to begin to like the book and care what happened to the characters. The reason, I think, why it took me so long was because the author didn't let the reader know what was going on at all. I'm all for some suspense, but up until three-quarters of the way through the book, I had no idea what kind of paranormal workings existed within this world. It was very odd being kept in the dark for so long, and I did not like it. However, by the end, the author had me guessing at who was dangerous and who was not. I honestly had no clue whatsoever who to trust, which was a major advantage for this book.

As far as I was concerned about the characters...I really wasn't. I didn't really care for Patch. He was supposed to be a rebel sort of fellow and have some sex appeal draw to him, but he was really just an ass to Nora through the whole book. Not even one that was a teensy bit kind to her. I really just hated his manor for communicating and generally being around Nora. As for Nora, she did not make very good decisions. She was the character in the horror movie that goes into the haunted house alone at night, or the one that doesn't wake the others and investigates the loud noise alone. She was really quite stupid, and she didn't make actual human decisions, simply staying a character in a story. I suppose this is fine, but I love when the characters come to life, and these really did not.

Not a great book, but if you're really REALLY into paranormal stuff and don't mind characters that are only so-so, you could like it. The last 80 pages or so were entertaining. Other than that, it really wasn't worth my time.

DON'T FORGET TO ENTER THE GIVEAWAY FOR JESSI KIRBY'S MOONGLASS HERE!!!

Review: Matched by Ally Condie

2011-07-14T21:55:00.001-04:00

In the Society, Officials decide. Who you love, where you work, when you die.
Cassia has always trusted their choices. It's hardly any price to pay for a long life, the perfect job, the ideal mate. So when her best friend appears on the Matching scream, Cassia knows with complete certainty that he is the one...until she sees another face flash for an instant before the screen fades to black. Now Cassia is faced with impossible choices: between Xander and Ky, between the only life she's known and a path no on else has ever dared to follow — between perfection and passion.

I got this from the library two days ago and could not put it down since. It was brilliantly written, reminding me of a James Patterson novel. The chapters ended in such a way that I couldn't stop. I needed to find out what happened next, so I kept reading. I also LOVE novels set in the near future. They freak me out because our society could end up similar to the one created in the story, and that fascinates me. I loved that every tiny detail was clearly thought out and planned, creating an entire world with no questions about how anything worked. The Society had saved lists of "Hundred Things" to eliminate being swarmed by pop culture. They saved a hundred poems, books, movies, songs, etc. This was terrifying and captivating all at once, which again, I absolutely loved.

Another part of the story I loved was how rebellious Cassia was. Of course, this is what made the whole novel move forward, and what the whole book was centered around. However, she wanted to follow her heart and rebel and find out more about Ky. My problem was that I liked Xander better! It was nothing personal against Ky, I truly liked him, but in stories, I always pull for the best friend connection, and I absolutely loved Xander. I also really like Cassia's family, though things happened among the family that shook me up, but again, that was all part of the novel, and I do understand that I was supposed to hate the Society and the Officials leading it.

Overall, this was a fantastic book. I really enjoyed it, and it was an excellent futuristic scientific novel, but it still had the hint of normal fiction. (Reminded me a LOT of Scott Westerfeld's Uglies series — another LOVE)

DON'T FORGET TO ENTER THE GIVEAWAY TO WIN A COPY OF MOONGLASS BY JESSI KIRBY HERE!

Review: The Six Rules of Maybe by Deb Caletti

2011-07-13T19:44:00.002-04:00

Scarlet spends most of her time worrying about other people. Some are her friends, others are practically strangers, and then there are the ones no one else even notices. Trying to fix their lives comes naturally to her. And pushing her own needs to the side is part of the deal. So when her older sister comes home unexpectedly married and pregnant, Scarlet has a new person to worry about. But all of her good intentions are shattered when the unthinkable happens: She falls for her sister's husband. For the first time in a long time, Scarlet's not fixing a problem, she's at the center of one. And ignoring her feelings doesn't seem to be an option...

I received this book a while ago, and I was hesitant to begin it because the last book I read by Caletti did not impress me. This book changed my opinion of her writing entirely. It was an odd sort of writing. The first thing I noticed about it was that it was choppy, and Scarlet's thoughts seemed random and quick. But the strange thing was, it worked. The words flowed so well together, I could not put this down because there was never a good stopping place. I love books like that. Everything just fit and I could not stop reading.

I hated Juliet, Scarlet's sister. But I suppose I was supposed to hate her. She had the perfect husband who was willing to give her anything, and she ignored him. However, I did not like the fact that Scarlet began to have feelings for Hayden, the husband. There was a perfect other boy she could have liked, and I'm not sure why she chose to fall for Hayden, though he was an extremely lovable person. Though I suppose this is how I was supposed to feel, and Caletti did an excellent job at making me want to hit Juliet in the face and give Hayden a big hug because he's such a sweet person.

My favorite character, however, was Zeus. This was Hayden's dog. For some reason, there was so much character in this dog. And one line from the book really stuck out to me that Hayden said:
"'I'm positive that the world is made up of those who apologize to dogs and those that don't.'"
I loved this line, and from then on, I was in love with the idiotic dog called Zeus. Probably because I had an idiotic dog who was large but thought he was small — he died about three weeks ago of liver cancer. Zeus just reminded me so much of my dog, and that's why I believe I fell in love with him.

As far as the rest of the story goes, there wasn't really a giant climactic point or a giant problem to solve, but miraculously, it still seamlessly flowed together, and I still really enjoyed it. This was definitely a summer read as well since it took place on a tiny beach island and consisted of summer season stuff!

DON'T FORGET TO ENTER MY GIVEAWAY OF JESSI KIRBY'S MOONGLASS HERE!

Contest: Moonglass by Jessi Kirby

2011-07-11T10:21:00.004-04:00

Ready to win a hardcover copy of Moonglass by Jessi Kirby? Well I've got one to give away! Basic contest, just use the entry form below! Must live in the US or have a US shipping address (sorry! I don't ship internationally!) and the contest ends on August 10!

Read my review of Moonglass!

Good luck!

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In My Mailbox (5)

2011-07-10T20:50:00.000-04:00

Once again, I'm really going to try and keep up with my mailbox haul. It's a bit more difficult being at camp this summer, so I might do these on Saturday until August.

As far as the stash this week —
It was a rather slow one, but nonetheless, lovely books came to me! I cannot wait to get started reading these.

And, as always, IMM is a weekly meme hosted by The Story Siren.

1. Paradise Rules by Jimmy Gleacher

2. The Lost Crown by Sarah Miller

Review: Along for the Ride by Sarah Dessen

2011-07-09T21:07:00.000-04:00

Riding a bike is only one of the many things Auden's missed out on. Even before her parents' divorce, she was cast in the role of little adult, never making waves, focusing on academics to please her demanding mother. That was when she stopped sleeping at night. Now she's spending the summer before college in the tiny beach town of Colby, with her father and his new wife and baby. A job in a trendy boutique introduces her to the world of girls, their friendships, conversations, and romances. And then there's Eli, an intriguing loner. A former star on a bike circuit and a fellow insomniac, Eli introduces Auden to the nocturnal world of Colby. Together they embark on a quest: for Auden, to experience the carefree teenage life she's been denied; for Eli, to put a tragic episode behind him. Combine two lonely people with a charming beach town and an endless supply of long summer nights, and just about anything can happen.

After reading several mediocre books, I was frustrated and knew I could count on Sarah Dessen to make me happy about reading summer books again. As always, she did no disappoint. I really related to Auden very well, because I had a very similar high school experience. So from the very beginning, I felt closer to Auden and was actually interested in her well-being (though I DO know how to ride a bike). I also loved that she developed throughout the course of the book, like a true character should. She was definitely a different person by the end of the novel. I also loved her relationship with Thisbe, her new baby sister. Heidi, Auden's father's new wife, was having trouble keeping Thisbe calm. Auden started to learn to love her new family additions and really grew in that sense as well.

I also like Eli, though not as much as some of Dessen's other male protagonists. The tragedy behind his personality was kind of cool, but not so intensely gripping that it defined his character. I loved that he was an insomniac. That was the part of his character that I truly enjoyed. It seemed that he was adventurous and he was interested in making Auden's life experiences better. The fact that he rode bikes was also really intriguing, but I would have liked it if it were explained more in detail. The few mentions of jumping and doing tricks on bikes often weren't even associated with Eli, as I was hoping they were.

There was also a great sense of surprise to Auden in the novel. She made assumptions about people and the summer in general, but soon found out that things were not always as they seem. Some parts also surprised me, but not so much that I was utterly shocked. As far as the novel goes in general, I really enjoyed it, which is probably why I made it through in about a day and a half! A lovely summer read!

Review: Whirligig by Paul Fleischman

2011-07-08T00:27:00.000-04:00

Brent Bishop is sent on a journey of repentance — a cross-country trip building whirligigs. His wind toys are found by people in need: a Maine schoolgirl yearning for her first love, a Miami street-sweeper desperate for peace and quiet, a kid in Washington who just wants to play baseball, and a San Diego teenager dealing with loss. Brent's whirligigs bring hope to others, but will they be able to heal the wounds deep inside himself?

If I was grading this book on the cover, it would receive top marks, no questions asked. I absolutely love the cover. It is stunning, and it says so much about the book. Sadly, the book did not live up to what the cover seems to say about the novel. Before I began, I imagined that I would connect deeply with Brent, understanding the point of his cross-country journey of discovery and repentance. I also thought I would be intrigued by the side stories that accompanied Brent's whirligigs.

However, I was disappointed. While the idea for the story seemed solid and like a good place to start, I did not like Brent at all, which made reading the novel pretty difficult. There wasn't enough depth to him for me to really get to know him, which bothered me. I couldn't understand why he had done the things he did to end up on the journey in the first place. I also didn't understand why he built the whirligigs he did, though the author hinted that Brent gave it a lot of thought. However, the reader wasn't able to see this thought. That was the real issue I believe. It seemed that Brent had great intentions and meaning behind everything he did, but it wasn't ever conveyed, leaving me very confused about some of the decisions he made.

In addition, the smaller stories about the people that found the whirligigs were disappointing as well. They also lacked depth, but the thing that really bothered me was that they were out of order. Now, maybe this was on purpose, but I wanted the stories to follow Brent's story of that particular place he built the whirligig. It was very confusing having to figure out that Brent was in Washington, but now we're talking about a girl in Maine, and we haven't even seen Brent build this whirligig yet. This was a problem because we then did not know the meaning behind that particular whirligig or why it was there or what Brent went through to put it there (an example of the lack of conveying ideas to the reader).

While I thought this could have been a brilliant story, this did nothing for me, and I found it very hard tot read even though it's a very small book at 133 pages. Not my favorite, sadly.

Review: Leaving Unknown by Kerry Reichs

2011-07-06T15:07:00.000-04:00

Sweetlips, Tennessee...Toad Suck, Arkansas...Okay, Oklahoma...Truth or Consequences, New Mexico...
Maeve Connelly's epic road trip is taking her through every colorfully named tiny town in America on her way to the far less imaginatively named Los Angeles, California. With her foulmouthed cockatiel, Oliver, her only companion, Maeve's heading way off the beaten track with little money and a load of painful baggage she wants to leave behind. But when her beloved rattletrap, "Elsie," breaks down outs Unknown, Arizona, she finds herself taking a much longer rest stop than she'd anticipated.

The only mechanic in the vicinity is on an indefinite walkabout, so Maeve's in for the long haul — and she'll need to find two jobs to pay for Elsie's eventual repair. But she's starting to feel strangely at home among the quirky denizens of Unknown — especially around her new bookstore owner boss — so Maeve is seriously considering saying goodbye to Hollywood for good...if she can keep her past troubles from coming to light.

Though my first impression of this book was that there was really no plot, I was still strangely interested in the book and what happened to its characters. Maeve was a unique woman. She was very dramatic, and at times this annoyed me. About midway through the book, the plot took a very unexpected twist, but I was irked by Maeve's reaction. While it was a big revelation and a huge surprise, she still reacted in a way that was way too overdone.

In a way, almost all of the characters were this way. I liked them, but they all were too...something. Too dramatic and too over-the-top. In Unknown, Maeve begins to work at a bookstore run by a man named Noah. I enjoyed his character and the subtleness about him. However, when anything starts to take a turn for the worse, Noah becomes just like Maeve and has a very unnecessary dramatic reaction.

As far as the storyline itself, I enjoyed it. It was a getting-to-know-oneself journey, and I thought it fit Maeve very well. She needed the journey, but I just didn't like the way her character reacted to situations. Overall, this was a mediocre book. Not exceptional, but not terrible either.

Review: Here, Home, Hope by Kaira Rouda

2011-06-11T22:21:00.000-04:00

Kelly Mills Johnson is a 39-year-old wife and mother stuck in the rut of her suburban life. A happy but routine relationship with her lawyer husband, two uber-successful businesswomen for best friends to envy, and an all-around predictable existence as a mom of two who's lost her passion collide — motivating Kelly to devise an ambitious and oftentimes humorous midlife makeover plan. Is Kelly brave enough to take the painful but necessary steps toward her own reinvention before it's too late? With hilarity, endearing gusto, and charm, Kelly begins diving into new projects (armed with Post-it notes and Things to Change list), revisiting old memories, and rediscovering passions. Whether she is taking care of the anorexic teenager dumped on her doorstep, making amends with an old high school friend, or trying to avoid the boozy advances of her divorced neighbor, Kelly's insistence and panache at moving her life in a new direction and finding the perfect blend of home and career is both inspiring and entertaining. As the realities of her midlife crisis come crashing down, Kelly works to repair the damages she's inflicted; realizes how deeply her husband, Patrick, truly understands and loves her; and ultimately grows into a woman empowered by her own reinvention.

I'm going to start off by saying how proud I felt of Kelly by the end of the novel. This shows that I really got attached to her (and her friends), and she truly grew as a character. I was so upset when Kelly was wrestling with whether she wanted to attempt to start her own business or be the uppity cliche suburban mother that has to be perfect in every way. I was truly proud of her. Her character seemed so realistic. She had doubts, fears, and thoughts that were all expressed perfectly through Rouda's writing. I absolutely loved being able to see inside Kelly's head.

However, I was a little bit taken aback by the fact that Kelly so willingly trusted someone she hadn't previously. Without giving too much away, she had never liked her best friend's husband, and after a shocking twist, by the end she seems to make amends quickly, of which I was not too fond. Though, Kelly did seem to be a person that loved for people to love her, I still don't feel like she could have changed her mind so readily about this person.

I adored Mel, the anorexic teenager, who was literally dumped into Kelly's hands for the summer while her parents sorted out issues (there's lots more than simply a few issues, but I can't reveal anything!). They developed a close relationship, and though Mel, like any ordinary teenager, screwed up sometimes, I still truly loved her.

As far as the storyline, halfway through, I found myself thinking that there wasn't much plot. There wasn't really a climax leading up to any sort of predictable event. It seemed to be the day-to-day life of a rich middle-aged woman living in the suburbs. However, even though there wasn't really an obvious plot line, so many little biographies emerged about all the characters in the book, I still couldn't put it down. It's difficult to explain that a book with no one plot still flowed together perfectly, and it still kept me very very interested.

To sum up, this was an excellent book. Something I'm not usually reading, but I found that I really had trouble putting this book down. It actually made me think about my life. Kelly and all her giant decisions and life progressions truly make the reader contemplate instead of just read and absorb and finish the book. I really loved this! It also makes a lovely summer book, perfect with a glass of lemonade or something summer-y!

Review: Viola in the Spotlight by Adriana Trigiani

2011-06-04T09:51:00.000-04:00

This is the sequel to Viola in Reel Life. If you want the review for that one, click here! Otherwise, keep reading!

Viola is finally where she belongs — back home in Brooklyn, where there are no khakis or sherbet-colored sweaters and people actually think her yellow flats are cool. With two whole months of nothing to do but hang with her two best friends, Andrew and Caitlin, this is going to be the best break ever! But her BFFAA, Andrew, has started acting weird around her, and a new boyfriend has her friend Caitlin ditching her very chance she gets. When Viola's roommates from Prefect Academy show up for a visit, she starts to wonder — is Brooklyn where she wants to stay? When a tragic event shakes everyone's world, Viola realizes it's not where she belongs that matters — it's who she's with that really counts.

This was as lovely as it's prequel. I still love all the characters, and Marisol is my favorite still. The characters were all wonderful. However, I was a little (only a teeny bit) sad about the plot. There really didn't seem to be much climax towards anything until about the last 50 pages. It was still interesting, but it was just the events of Viola's life and who she was texting that day. Once I got to the end, however, I was taken back by what happened, and I was completely surprised.

I'm keeping this review very short. Basically, it's a good one to read, and I wanted to know what happened to Viola after her first year at Prefect, so if you've read the first, give this one a go too!

(The reason for the brevity is because I'm working at summer camp! And we have VERY limited time with the real world...i.e. computers, cell phones, you name it... but I can still read and I have a break every once in a while to keep doing this!)

Review: Viola in Reel Life by Adriana Trigiani

2011-05-27T23:07:00.000-04:00

Three reasons why Viola Chesterton knows she'll never survive her first year at boarding school:
   — she has to leave behind her best friend, Andrew
   — ... and replace him with three new roommates who, disturbingly, actually seem to like it there
   — "There" is South Bend, Indiana, which feels about as far away from her hometown of Brooklyn, New York, as you can get

Viola in Reel Life by Adriana Trigiani

I've had this book for quite a while, and honestly, I'm not sure why I didn't pick it up until now. I just received the sequel for review, so I decided to pull it off the to-be-read pile and begin. For starters, I love the cover. It's pretty difficult to get me to like a cover, because I hate when people's faces are on the front. I like to imagine the characters for myself, and I don't need a picture of them on the front before I've even read the book, thank you very much. This, however, was lovely. It showed just enough about the character about which I was getting ready to learn, including the lovely camera on the side of the book, which I did notice before I started.

Once moving into the novel, we learn that Viola is an aspiring filmmaker. She carries her camera everywhere, and she keeps her own video diaries and plans on documenting the horror that is Prefect Academy in Indiana (I was a little sad that Indiana was portrayed so sadly, but South Bend is North, I'm on the South side, and it's like a totally different country, so it was okay) to send to Andrew back in Brooklyn. Turns out, cliche proving itself to be true, she actually likes the school a little bit, and her roommates become her really great friends. I loved one of them in particular. Marisol was her Mexican roommate from Virginia, and she seemed like a truly genuine person, and she always seemed to pull Viola out of her selfish self and get her to think about how awesome her life is.

In general, the plot line was predictable but fun. The kicker with the plot is that when Viola films some of the grounds of the school, she catches a glimpse of a lady dressed in red. Later, while researching, she finds out more, and thinks that this lady is a ghost that haunts the academy's grounds (I won't say why because that might give some of it away). After Viola meets a boy from the neighboring boys' academy, she learns about a film contest in the Midwest and uses the footage of the Lady in Red to develop her very first short film.

It's a really light read, and I'm excited to read the next one! So hopefully that won't disappoint! (especially since I really kind of like her friend from home, Andrew) I'm interested to see what develops! As always, happy reading!

Review: Heist Society by Ally Carter

2011-05-26T23:46:00.000-04:00

Heist Society by Ally Carter

When Katarina Bishop was three, her parents took her to the Louvre ... to case it. For her seventh birthday, Katarina and her Uncle Eddie traveled to Austria ... to steal the crown jewels. When Kat turned fifteen, she planned a con of her own — scamming her way into the best boarding school in the country, determined to leave the family business behind. Unfortunately, leaving "the life" for a normal life proves harder than she'd expected. Soon, Kat's friend and former co-conspirator, Hale, appears out of nowhere to bring her back into the world she tried so hard to escape. But he has good reason: a powerful mobster's priceless art collection has been stolen and he wants it returned. Only a master thief could have pulled off this job, and Kat's father isn't just on the suspect list,he is the list. Caught between Interpol and a far more deadly enemy, Kat's dad needs her help. For Kat there is only one solution: track down the paintings and steal them back. So what if it's a spectacularly impossible job? She's got two weeks, a teenage crew, and, hopefully just enough talent to pull off the biggest heist in her family's (very crooked) history — and with any luck, steal her life back along the way.

This was such a fun book! I've always loved Carter's books — teenage spy school? AWESOME! So I was very excited to see this at the library; I was practically jumping up and down. Carter did not disappoint. The story begins as interesting as the rest of the book — Katarina is getting pulled out of boarding school by her former friend and co-conspirator Hale to help clear her father's name. After all, the family had a reputation to uphold. The relationship between Katarina and Hale was perfect — they weren't lovey-dovey or too bickery of friends. There was just enough spark there that made me want to see where this was going. In addition, there is a rival for Kat's heart.

I absolutely loved that this story was about art (rather, the stealing of it). It's focus on real paintings in real museums was fascinating, and it definitely made me want to visit the Henley. I was also pleased with the pacing behind the story. It moved quickly, but still kept the readers informed of everything that was going on, especially with the evil character whose artwork was stolen. The kicker is that he takes a strange liking to Katarina, and he seems to think that she is an excellent thief and may want to work with her again in the future (there IS a book numero dos!). In addition, there's definitely a big question left open to be continued, and I MUST find a copy of the second book soon, otherwise I might die of anticipation.

There is so much that goes on in this book, it's impossible to say how much I loved it all! Basically, the point is, GO READ IT!

Blog Tour: Tempest Rising by Tracy Deebs

2011-05-23T21:38:00.001-04:00

Welcome to the Tempest Rising blog tour for May! This book actually came out May 10, right in time for everyone to read it for the summer! So let's dive right in to the review!

Tempest Rising by Tracy Deebs

Tempest Maguire wants nothing more than to surf the killer waves at her California coastline home; continue her steady relationship with her boyfriend, Mark; and take care of her brothers and surfer dad. But Tempest's mom, gone since Tempest was eleven, abandoned the family for a reason: to return to the sea where she had been born. Yes, Tempest is half mermaid, and as her seventeenth birthday approaches, she will also have to decide whether to remain on land or give herself to the ocean. Even though Tempest loves her life and family, the pull of the water is becoming increasingly insistent. So too is her attraction to Kai, a mysterious and gorgeous surfer whose uncanny abilities hint at an otherworldly identity as well. And when Tempest does finally enter the fantastical underwater world, full of mermaids, sea witches, and even her mother, she finds that a larger destiny awaits her — one that hangs the entire ocean's population in the balance.

This was an interesting book — I've always been a fan of paranormal books about these sea (as opposed to those oh-so-original vampires), and I've fallen in love with several selkies (see Seven Tears Into the Sea — it's an older book from the 90s, but absolutely FANTASTIC), so I was okay with reading this one.

It started off rather slowly, and I was having a hard time getting into it. However, as I got to know the characters, I became more and more intrigued in this (resulting in today's sunburn from sitting outside reading too long). Tempest was unique because she didn't like to be taken care of, which I really liked about her. She didn't want people groveling or pretending like she was royalty, and she didn't always want the affection of her boyfriend, Mark. I actually grew sad about this. While Kai was a foreign exotic beauty that I really loved, I also found myself feeling bad for Mark. Tempest kept the mermaid deal a secret from her boyfriend, which clearly frustrated him, and he was such a sweet guy and he shows a lot of care for Tempest. I just found it incredibly sad sometimes that she was so independent and weary of this whole mermaid thing.

Of course, Kai was lovely. Enough said. Pretty much anyone could fall in love with him, mermaid or not. And if you read it, with my previous opinions, you'll soon find out why I really liked him.

As far as the actual story, it had nice pacing, though I did get tired of Tempest fighting against the sea, going to school, then at night going back outside, only to struggle with the sea more. It became tiring, but once she finally entered the world (for entirely different circumstances), it definitely picked up. Once she was underwater, I was fascinated by the events taking place. My only issue is that the ending didn't wrap a lot of things up for me. I sincerely hope there will be another one because I still have a lot of questions and I'm not sure the book was entirely finished, so let's all hope there will be a second one. If there is, then the ending was a perfect cliffhanger, enough to make me want to read the next one. If not, well, I'm really sad we won't be seeing more of Kai :)

A lovely summer read, I know we're all looking for those as summer actually sets in along with boredom, which is the perfect time to grab a book and read outside! (Just don't get engrossed and then sunburnt!)

Review: Moonglass by Jessi Kirby

2011-05-18T23:47:00.000-04:00

(Before I actually get down to it, can I just say how much I love this cover? It's GLITTERY! And Cassie LOVES glitter and sparkly things. So major bonus points for a lovely cover — also, it's purple! my favorite!)

Moonglass by Jessi Kirby

When Anna was little, she and her mother walked the beach together every day looking for sea glass. But one night her mother walked into the ocean and never came out, leaving Anna with only memories — and a collection of ocean-tumbled glass. Ten years later Anna's father has accepted a job transfer, and Anna's life is again swept up in a tide she can't control. Despite her reluctance to move, Anna is slowly won over by the beachfront cottage, the gorgeous lifeguards, and early morning runs along the shore. But her new home is a place that holds long-buried history. It's where her parents fell in love, where strangers seem to know more about her family's past than she does, and where she finds that the red piece of sea glass she wears around her neck has a history all its own. As Anna combs the beach for bits of glass scattered in the sand, she discovers that there may be more to her mother's life and death than she and her father have been able to acknowledge. The sea glass in Anna's collection proves that time can smooth rough edges — but what about when the jagged hurt of loss remains as sharp as ever?

This was a very captivating summer read. I always love fun beach stories during the summer season, and this book did not disappoint. It even had a darker side to it — Anna's mother's suicide. But Anna struggled internally with this event throughout the whole book, and it was a really interesting storyline that kept me interested. Anna was a truly lovely character, and I enjoyed the side of her that likes to run. She joins the new school's cross country team because (well really because her new friend Ashley talks her into it) she likes to run — it allows her the opportunity to get away from things.

However, past Anna, I was a bit disappointed with some of the character developments. Jillian, a girl on the cross country team, seemed to get along with Anna well, and they had a lot in common. Jillian understood what Anna was going through, but we see very little of her through the novel, and I was highly disappointed about that, since I really liked her. I also wanted to know more about Tyler, one of the cute lifeguards on the beach. There wasn't enough to him, and I felt like there could have been so much that was done with his character, I just felt a little confused as to why he wasn't much more than a cute beach guy.

Overall though, I really did enjoy the book. The pacing was good, quick enough to not get boring, but it still developed in some heavy important areas. I also liked seeing glimpses of Anna's memories. They added so much to the story, and helped clear up things that, in the beginning, I thought were highly confusing and didn't make any sense at all. It's a wonderful debut novel, and a nice quick read if you're looking for that fun summer story!

Review: Betrayal by Lee Nichols

2011-05-15T17:48:00.000-04:00

This is the second installment in Lee Nichols' "Haunting Emma" series, and I have reviewed the first one here. If you haven't read any of this series, head on over to the review of the first one, because the next several paragraphs will make absolutely no sense to you!

Emma Vaile is the most powerful ghostkeeper in centuries. Which is great when she's battling the wraith-master Neos and terrible when she's flirting with fellow ghostkeeper (and soul mate) Bennet Stern. When ghostkeepers fall in love, the weaker one loses all power, and that's not something Bennet can handle. Heartbroken and alone after Bennet disappears, Emma tries to lose herself in school. But when two new ghostkeepers arrive — one a snarky teen boy, the other a British scholar — Emma throws herself back into training to battle Neos. After all, she's not the kind of girl who pines for a boy forever. But as the team grows stronger, they are threatened by one of their own. One Emma never suspected...

Review:
Lee Nichols has done it again. I finished the first book in about 4 hours time, and this one wasn't any different. She kept me captivated up until the very end. I think one of the reasons I felt compelled to keep reading was that every chapter (much like a James Patterson book) ended with some sort of suspense, and I found myself saying, "Just one more chapter, then I'll sleep." Not the case.

I always really liked Bennet, but their relationship seemed almost too perfect to me, which made me a little angry. Since Bennet disappears in the first bit of this book, it made things more complicated, and a problem developed later on in the book that made me (certainly not Emma) quite a bit happier. I'm not a sucker for things that work out perfectly, and it was just the conflict I was looking for, again, making this a really excellent story.

The other thing I love about this series is the actual element of mystery. There's always something that I want to know more about, that leaves me hanging, because it doesn't answer enough. This is a good thing. I love being kept in suspense, and Nichols is starting to make me angry because I simply can't wait until the third comes out (there HAS to be a third, otherwise, I have a LOT of questions).

The newcomer characters — LOVED THEM. I fell in love immediately with Lukas, the teen who immediately warmed up to Emma and Natalie, and his sarcastic side was adorable. Simon was another brilliant character, even though he was shy, I really took a liking to him. (We also see a return of the Rake, whom I adore. Too bad he's a ghost...)

If you haven't gotten the idea, this series is genuinely lovely, and I cannot wait to read the next installment!!!

Review: Secret Society by Tom Dolby

2011-05-10T10:21:00.000-04:00

Once you get in... you can never get out.
Do you ever wonder how some people have it all? The best schools, the hottest parties, the priciest clothes, the easiest jobs? Maybe it's not because they work hard or get a lucky break every once in a while. Maybe it's because they're part of a secret group. A secret society.

Review:
I've had this for a while and I just hadn't gotten around to reading it until just now. It had such an interesting premise, and I really loved this book a lot. The story switches perspectives, which I always enjoy, as long as it's not too many characters. And it wasn't. It revolved around four main teens in New York City: Phoebe, Lauren, Nick, and Patch. The first three, right in the beginning, get initiated into the Society, which is a group that helps people succeed. Patch is Nick's best friend, but he does not get invited. He, however, knows Nick did, and he wants to see what this legend is all about. After all, that's what the Society is: a group that pretends it does not exist. Members are not allowed to talk about it, and they are sworn to secrecy.

On top of the interesting beginning, the prologue brings up an entirely new twist on the whole story: a dead body. One is found on Thanksgiving day, and he has an ankh tattoo on the back of his neck — the same tattoo all members of the Society have.

It's a lot to take in all at the beginning, but it starts before and goes through everything slowly. Not too slowly, though, otherwise this reader would be very bored. It keeps a wonderful pacing throughout the book, and it kept me intrigued enough to begin the second book, The Trust, right away. I also really liked the development of the different characters, though I'm still left with many questions about each of them, Patch in particular. His family history was described but not explained, and his mother, kept in a mental institution, had the same ankh tattoo on the back of her neck as everyone in the Society did. And we were left with nothing else into that matter.

It's hard to do a thorough review as I haven't finished the second book, so I'm not sure yet as to how Dolby plans on answering all these really interesting plot lines. All I can really say is that the protagonists are fascinating, and the antagonists are lovely villains, and it's really fun to watch the kids try and overcome these evil masterminds. I did really enjoy this first installment, so we'll see how things go as I finish up the second one.

KEEP AN EYE OUT FOR AN AUTHOR INTERVIEW WITH JOY PREBLE, AUTHOR OF DREAMING ANASTASIA AND HAUNTED, AS WELL AS MY REVIEWS FOR THOSE! THEY'LL BE COMING SOON!

Review: Love Story by Jennifer Echols

2011-05-08T01:54:00.000-04:00

Just like to say a happy Derby weekend! (Though since I've been at university I'm realizing not everyone in the world knows what that is — one of the biggest horse races in the world. Now you know)
In honor of that, I read a book recently that I was very excited to receive, and I read the back, and BEHOLD! It's about a girl from Louisville! Home sweet home! Turns out I really liked it! (Also, it's signed, so I'd like to say thanks to Mrs. Echols and all the folks behind that!)

Love Story by Jennifer Echols

(From the back of the book)
Erin Blackwell is headed to college in New York City to study creative writing. Her grandmother has other plans: she approves of the college, but she wants Erin to major in business and then come back home to Kentucky to run the family's famous racehorse farm. But Erin won't agree. Studying in New York and writing her way into a career as a novelist is her escape from the farm and the tragedy that happened there. So Erin's grandmother decides Erin should experience life as a starving artist. She takes Erin's inheritance and college tuition, and gives it all to Hunter Allen.

Hunter has lived on the farm for years. He's Erin's age, and he's the romantic dream of every girl in her high school. But Erin gives him a wide berth since he was involved in the family tragedy. She's furious that he conned her grandmother into giving him Erin's birthright and sending him to Erin's college. At least she's free of him in her writing class. So she pens a story that has haunted her lately, in which the horse farm heiress starts a forbidden affair with the lowly stable boy. Unfortunately for her, the day she's sharing this story with her classmates, Hunter walks in. He's switching to her class. And after reading about himself in Erin's story, he writes his own sexy assignments that lure Erin into dangerous fantasies about what could have been between them...and what might be.

Review:
I absolutely loved this story. I needed something very fun right after getting home from my first year at university, and this was the perfect choice. I loved how the stories were built into the main story, so there were several different things developing very quickly in the story: the relationship between Hunter and Erin and the relationship between their stories. Their stories were a lot of fun to read; it was almost as if they bickered back and forth, making it quite comical, though they were very unrealistic stories for a college creative writing class (I took one — we wrote no romance whatsoever. Strictly prohibited). However, it was still a joy when the words would become italicized and I could read another fun steamy story from one of the characters' minds.

I loved Erin's roommates at college, Summer and Jordis. They had small appearances, but I thought they certainly had a lot of character for relatively small roles in the story. The only character I had a problem with was Erin's grandmother. I understand we're meant to not like her, but it's unlikely that a grandmother with that much money would simply cut her granddaughter off completely and force her to work while she's at school, and pay for everything on her own. There are a lot of students that have to pay themselves, but the two were on good terms until just before the story begins, which is why I have such a hard time believing that.

It also took some unexpected turns towards the end, which I am always a fan of. I love being surprised, and I loathe reading predictable books. Books like these are always relatively predictable, but it had several surprises for me that made me enjoy this book that much more. I highly recommend this, especially as a kick-off-to-summer book. I know everyone will be stopping school soon, and this was perfect to sit outside and read in the sun!

The Mark by Jen Nadol

2010-10-15T09:31:00.000-04:00

Sixteen-year-old Cassie Renfield has always seen the mark -- a light flow reminiscent of candlelight -- but it's not until she follows a man to his death that she understands what it means. Cassie can see when a person is marked for death. She doesn't know how or where, only when: today. when the mark appears on Cassie's grandmother, she tries and fails to change her fate. The mark seems utterly useless, but Cassie can't ignore it. Desperate for answers, she searched her memories, her summer philosophy course, even her new boyfriend, Lucas, for any clue that might explain her ability. when she convinces Lucas of her power, he encourages her to test fate each time the mark appears. Cassie's not entirely sure she should use the mark like this, but with each occurrence, she finds answers she needs -- answers she never expected.

3 stars...

This book began quite well. The character Cassie seemed to have issues with herself and her "problem." In a seemingly normal world, she was able to see who would die soon, and she was learning to cope with this issue. With the death of her grandmother, Cassie became sullen and reserved, and she was shipped to live with a relative whom she barely knew, in a town she used to belong to. There, she met a boy. Typical girl meets boy story. This is where the novel began to go south. Their relationship developed intensely quickly, and I am always disappointed by the spiraling relationships. They are unrealistic, especially for young teens, and one cannot actually get to know a person through one cup of coffee. In addition to the social topics plummeting, the paranormal problem Cassie has is explained to easily. In such a realistic and solid world, the reasoning given behind Cassie's ability was completely insane and unbelievable. Yes, this is a supernatural gift she possesses, but under the premise of such a consistent world we know, the cause of this gift should not have been what it was.

Without giving away much else, I am able to say that this is a "read-once-do-not-repeat" story. However, if you're pressed for time, pick something else to begin with.

Peace out.

Review: Where the Truth Lies by Jessica Warman

2010-10-12T21:58:00.002-04:00

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 below the surface, Emily is suffering from devastating nightmares about either fire or water, and nobody knows why. When the enigmatic Del Sugar enters her life, 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. And as the lies she's been told start to unravel, Emily must set out to discover the truth regarding her nightmares; a journey that will lead her to question everything she once thought she knew about love, family, and her own idyllic past.

5 stars...

This book blew me away. I assumed it would be another cheesy romace-boarding school-prep story. It sort of was. But Warman took it to a whole new level. Emily's nightmares were described with enough terror that made them real and psychological issues. In addition, the relationships Emily forged with people on campus were wonderfully realistic. I adored two of her friends that were twins and Warman's ability to add bickering and love into the same sentence. I was only a teeny bit disappointed with a plot twist. It seemed to unrealistic and unmanageable, and I wasn't convinced for a second that the situation could actually happen, but overall, I was very impressed. This was a book that I couldn't really put down and finished in nearly one sitting.

And did I mention how much I adore the cover? I love the girl's clothing. The colors blend perfectly with the scene around her, and her face is hidden, allowing me to create my own image of her in my imagination, which is why I LOVE covers without the characters.

It's CONTEST TIME!: Hush [by Eishes Chayil] review and giveaway!

2010-09-16T01:05:00.000-04:00

Thanks to the generous publishers at Bloomsbury, I have one copy of Eishes Chayil's book Hush to giveaway! First, the contest rules, and a review will follow. It's a great book, so make sure you enter!

To enter, you must:

1. Be a US resident (or have a US shipping address)

2. Provide your email (without it, you will not win!)

3. Be a follower of my blog!

Simple and easy! Contest will end on October 31! So tell your friends!

To earn extra entries, you can post on your blog, sidebar, tweet, whatever, just leave a link and I'll add 3 entries for each thing you've done!

And now for the review:

Hush by Eishes Chayil

Inside the closed community of Borough Park, home to many Chassidic groups, the rules of life are very clear, determined to the last detail by an ancient script written thousands of years before - and abuse has never been a part of it. But when young Gittel witnesses the abuse her best friend Devory has been suffering at the hands of Devory's own family member, the adults in the community try to persuade Gittel, and themselves, that nothing happened. And even when the fallout reveals an unimaginable horror, the community continues forward as if it had never occurred. Now a teenager, Gittel's guilt over her silence forces her to question her own innocence, her memories of the past, and everything she was raised to believe in.

This book immediately took me by surprise in its opening page. It was a haunting tale of misery and longing to do what is right. Gittel's character was thoughtful in the way a teenager would be, but she was clearly traumatized by what she had witnessed. Chayil expertly demonstrated the life in a religious society like this one, not taking a side, but presenting the facts of what it was. In addition, Gittel's periodical letters to Devory were a wonderful addition, allowing the reader to see her innermost thoughts about her questioning innocence.

One of my favorite characters was Kathy, the woman who lived in Gittel's attic. She proved to be a true friend to Gittel, and assisted her whenever she needed help. I loved the eccentricity of her character, and Chayil illustrated her beautifully.

I know I don't like to read giant reviews, and I could gush about the details forever, but this was a truly great novel.

Now you better go enter the contest before it's too late!

MIA

2010-08-12T10:46:00.001-04:00

Sorry, gang. I will be MIA for a few more days (hence the fact that no reviews have been posted) because I am packing and moving to University of Evansville for my first year at college!

Just a heads up!

Reviews will come whenever I can get a handle on classes (18 hours...yikes) and newspaper, etc.

See you then!

And Then Everything Unraveled / And Then I Found Out The Truth

2010-08-02T23:19:00.000-04:00

I am doing this series of two as a joint post. The books were written by Jennifer Sturman.

And Then Everything Unraveled

And Then I found Out the Truth

When Delia Truesdale's mother, T.K., goes missing, everyone thinks she's dead. Well, everyone except Delia, who knows T.K.'s way too organized to simply disappear. But Delia is s

till shipped off to New York City to live with her two aunts - one a downtown bohemian, the other an uptown ice queen. She also has to deal with a snooty new school and trying not to fall for the wrong guy. Oh, and finding

her mother. As she delves deeper into a tangle of conspiracies and lies, Delia begins to suspect that the wrong guy may be the right guy ... and that some secrets - especially the dangerous ones - were never meant to be unraveled.

The characters in this book were outstanding. Plain and simple. Charley, the bohemian aunt, was a delight with her secret love of 80's classics and ice cream for dinner. Patience, the other aunt, was very consistently uptight, and I was impressed with my ease to like her even though she was the strict one. Although I had a slight issue with a boy being named Quinn, I enjoyed his personality even more the farther I read in the books. I liked Delia, but she was just too normal of a main character for me to be able to love her and sympathize with her. Her genius friend Natalie, though highly unbelievable, proved to be funny by appearing whenever Delia needed an expert hacker the most.

While I enjoyed each character's distinct personality, I was not so fond of the plot. It was a good one; not too stereotypical but not too original. The only problem I encountered was the book split. This could have easily been one novel, without the boring beginning bit of the sequel explaining what happened in the first book. It was an unnecessary split, but did not cause so much distress as to make me hate the book.

I did enjoy the comedic feel of it. Even though Delia's mother went missing, her aunt Charley still finds time to be in an independent film and Delia worries about acting out Romeo and Juliet. It had a great feel and was the perfect light summer read.

In My Mailbox (7/12 - 7/27)

2010-07-27T15:14:00.000-04:00

It's been a few weeks since I've done an IMM post, so I'll just update from the last one until today! It was started at the Story Siren!

One Season of Sunshine by Julia London

Adopted as an infant, Jane Aaron longs to know the identity of her birth mother and why she gave her up. Her only clue is the name of the small Texas town where she was born, so she's come to Cedar Springs for answers. Handsome ad excutive Asher Price lost his wife, the beautiful, mysterious Susanna, in a terrible car crash eighteen months ago. when he hires Jane as the nanny for his two children, sparks fly. Jane finds herself falling in love with both Asher and his children, but begins to suspect that Susanna was not the perfect mother and wife the family portrays her to have been. As Jane gets closer to finding out the truth about both her own and Susanna's past, devastating secrets begin to emerge that may be more than anyone can bear. Will the truth bring Jane and Asher closer together or tear them apart forever?

The Candidates by Inara Scott

Dancia Lewis is far from popular. And that's not just because of her average grades of her less-than-glamorous wardrobe. In fact, Dancia's mediocrity is a welcome cover for her secret: whenever she sees a person threatening someone she cares about, things just happen. Cars skid. Structures collapse. Usually someone gets hurt.

So Dancia does everything possible to avoid getting close to people, believing this way she can suppress her powers and keep them hidden. But when recruiters from the prestigious Delcroix Academy offer her a full scholarship, Dancia's days of living under the radar may be over. Only, Delcroix is a school for diplomats' kids and child geniuses - not B students with uncontrollable telekinetic tendencies. So why are they treating Dancia like she's special? Even the hottest guy on campus seems to be going out of his way to make her feel welcome. And then there's her mysterious new friend Jack, who can't stay out of trouble. He suspects something dangerous is going on at the academy and wants Dancia to help him figure out what. Dancia isn't convinced. She hopes that maybe the recruiters know more about her "gift" than they're letting on. Maybe they can help her understand how to use it... But not even Dancia could have imagined what awaits her behind the gates of Delcroix Academy.

Moon Over Manifest by Clare Vanderpool

Abilene Tucker feels abandoned. Her father has put her on a train, sending her off to live with an old friend for the summer while he works a railroad job. Armed with only a few possessions and her list of universals, Abilene jumps off the train in Manifest, Kansas, aiming to learn about the boy her father once was. Having heard stories about Manifest, Abilene is disappointed to find that it's just a dried-up, worn-out old town. But her disappointment

quickly turns to excitement when she discovers a hidden cigar box full of mementos, including some old letters that mention a spy known as the Rattler. These mysterious letters send Abilene and her new friends, Lettie and Ruthanne, on an honest-to-goodness spy hunt, even though they are warned to "Leave Well Enough Alone." Abilene throws all caution aside when she heads down the mysterious Path to Perdition to pay a debt to the reclusive Miss Sadie, a diviner who only tells stories from the past. It seems that manifest's history is full of colorful and shadowy characters - and long-held secrets. The more Abilene hears, the more determined she is to learn just what role her father played in that history. And as Manifest's secrets are laid bare one by one, Abilene begins to weave her own story into the fabric of the town.

Resurrection in May by Lisa Samson (from Booksneeze)

Lovely and winsome May Seymour graduated from college with the world at her feet - and no idea what to do with it. A spontaneous mission trip to Africa brought a great surprise - love - and a strong sense of purpose. But in loving others there, she encountered a severe tragedy that left her deeply wounded. She comes to heal at the farm of Claudius Borne - a sweet, kind old man who understands plants and animals far better than people. And his farm becomes May's home. There on the farm, May renews a friendship with an old college flame named Eli whose path has taken unexpected turns too. As May tries to convince Eli to grab hold of life once again, he begins to pull May back from her sheltered existence. Like old Claudius's farm in Spring, May begins to blossom back into life. But no resurrection ever comes without sacrifice - and this sacrifice will forever transform May.

Songs for a Teenage Nomad by Kim Culbertson (pub. date: oct. 2010)

After living in twelve places in eight years, Calle Smith finds herself in Andreas Bay, California, at the start of ninth grade. Another new home, another new school... Calle knows better than to put down roots. Her song journal keeps her moving to her own soundtrack, bouncing through a world best kept at a distance. Yet before she knows it, friends creep in - as does an unlikely boy with a secret. Calle is torn over what may be her first chance at love. With all that she's hiding, and all that she wants, can

she find something lasting beyond music? And will she ever discover why she andher mother have been running in the first place?

Emma and the Vampires by [Jane Austen] and Wayne Josephson (pub. date: 10 aug. 2010)

Picture the Dead by Adele Griffin and Lisa Brown

After losing her parents and her brother, falling in love with Will was Jennie Lovell's last opportunity for happiness. But then she lost him too. As Jennie tries to mend the pieces of her broken life, she feels an eerie presence from something otherworldly... something that won't let her leave her past behind.

The Julian Game by Adele Griffin (pub. date: aug. 2010)

All new girl Raye Archer wants is a way into the in crowd, so when ice queen Ella Parker picks her to get back at her ex, the gorgeous Julian Kilgarry, Raye is more than game. Even if it means using a fake online identity as sexy blue-wigged "Elizabeth" to reel Julian in, the secretly sabotage him. While a fun and dangerous thrill at first, Raye hadn't counted on falling for Julian herself - and igniting Ella's rage. Now with real life Julian interested in her, Raye has to reconcile the temptress he fell for with her real-life self. Meanwhile, Ella is serving up her own online revenge against the traitorous Raye. Suddenly notorious, Raye has to find a way to get out of the web of deceit that she's helped to build, and get back to the relationships that matter.

That's the end for now! The next post will most likely be another weird schedule, as I'm running around trying to get everything ready for my first year of college!!!

Jane (ARC review)

2010-07-26T22:00:00.000-04:00

Jane by April Lindner (pub date: oct. 2010)

Forced to drop out of an esteemed East Coast college after the sudden death of her parents, Jane Moore takes a job as a nanny at Thornfield Park, the estate of Mico Rathburn, a world-famous rock star on the brink of a huge comeback. Practical and independent, Jane reluctantly becomes entranced by her magnetic and brooding employer and finds herself in the midst of a forbidden romance. But there's a mystery at Thornfield, and Jane's much-envied relationship with Nico is tested by a torturous secret from his past.

Lindner began with a relatively original idea. Although modernizing classics has become ever-popular, she chose to remake Jane Eyre into a romance for a rock star. I was thrilled that this wasn't another teen vampire romance novel, and I applaud Lindner for her creativity. In addition, I have not read the original Jane Eyre (I know, tragic), but I suspect if it ended the same way this novel did I wouldn't like it very much.

This was a typical tale about an ordinary girl who meets a fantastic man (seemingly much older, which I did have a slight problem with. I had a very hard time believing the two fell in love, but I suppose it could happen). Their love is forbidden, although it didn't seem too dangerous or secretive to me. The deadly secret from Nico's past that would come back to haunt him was enchanting. I was impressed with the way Lindner kept the whole story a secret until the right time to reveal the story presented itself. She had me guessing the whole way through the novel.

I fell in love with Maddy, Nico's daughter, whom Jane was originally hired to take care of. She took her to school, played with her, and fed her every day. Maddy was a delightful character who was portrayed well. She was a young girl who knew her power, and was manipulative over her father's small willpower. She demanded gifts, but in a way that wasn't "bossy child" and more "child who misses her father, but still wants her souvenir." She also was a normal girl that liked to play dress up and going to play dates with her friends.

Lindner did an excellent job of writing this story, and I truly enjoyed reading it. The only problem I had with it could potentially by Charlotte Bronte's fault. I have no idea. So I suppose next on my list shall be Jane Eyre.

CONTEST for The Eternal Ones by Kirsten Miller

2010-07-13T11:51:00.000-04:00

It's time for another contest! This one is for an ARC of The Eternal Ones by Kirsten Miller! This is only open to US residents, sorry! Shipping costs a lot of money! If you have a US shipping address then that's fine, as well. Here's what the back of the book says:

Haven Moore has always lived in the tiny town of Snope City, Tennessee. But

for as long as she can remember, Haven has experienced visions of a past life as a girl named Constance,whose love for a boy called Ethan ended in a fiery tragedy. One day, the sight of notorious playboy Iain Morrow on television brings Haven to her knees. Haven flees to NYC to find Iain and there, she is swept up in an epic love affair that feels both deeply fated and terribly dangerous. Is Iain her beloved Ethan? Or is he her murderer in a past life? Haven asks the members of the powerful and mysterious Ouroboros Society to help her unlock the mysteries of reincarnation and discover the secrets hidden in her past lives, and loves, before all is lost and the cycle begins again. But what is the Ouroboros Society? And how can Haven know who to trust?

Now, how to enter the contest. Simply comment below with a name and email (you must have an email listed so I have a way to contact you if you win!). To earn extra entries:

+2 if you put me on your blogroll

+2 if you post this on a sidebar or tweet (leave a link)

+5 if you post as a separate page on your blog (leave a link)

+2 if you follow or become a follower

Let me know which ones you do!

Good luck! Contest ends on JULY 31st!

In My Mailbox (7/5 - 7/11)

2010-07-11T19:43:00.001-04:00

In My Mailbox was started at the Story Siren! This was a good week for me and I got a giant package from Bloomsbury (thank you SO MUCH!) and I hope to be reading these soon! Although I am falling behind a great deal as I'm working a lot now during the summer. Enjoy!

Cold Magic by Kate Elliot (pub. date: 10 sept 2010)

An Ice-bound world is on the brink of an industrial revolution. Factories are springing up across the country and technology

is changing the very foundation of the world. But the old ways do not die easy. Magical forces still dominate the world, and the cold mages who have ruled will not go quietly. Catherine Hassi Barahal is a child of that revolution. As university she studies the new technologies that are changing her world, and dreams of becoming an explorer like her father. But all of that will change when the cold mages come for her.

Cate of the Lost Colony by Lisa Klein (pub. date: oct 2010)

Lady Catherine is one of Queen Elizabeth's favorite court maidens-- until her forbidden romance with Sir Walter Raleigh is discovered. In a bitter twist of irony, the jealous queen banishes Cate to Raleigh's colony of Roanoke, in the New World. Raleigh pledges to come for Cate when he sails for the settlement with supplies, but as the months stretch out, Cate begins to doubt his promise and his love. Instead it is Manteo, a Croatoan Indian, whom the colonists-- and Cate-- increasingly turn to. Yet even as Cate's longings for England and Raleigh begin to fad and she discovers a new love in Manteo, Raleigh will finally set sail for the New World.

Jane by April Lindner (pub. date: 11 oct 2010)

Forced to drop out of an esteemed East Coast college after the sudden death of her parents, Jane Moore takes a job as a nanny at Thornfield Park, the estate of Nico Rathburn, a world-famous rock star on the brink of a huge comeback. Practical and independent, Jane reluctantly becomes entranced by her magnetic and brooding employer and finds herself in the midst of a forbidden romance. But there's a mystery at Thornfield, and Jane's much-envied relationship with Nico is tested by a torturous secret from his past.

Past World by Ian Beck

PastWorld is the greatest theme park ever devised. It's London - the real London - transformed into a living, breathing recreation of the Victorian era. To Eve, a lifelong resident of PastWorld, horse-drawn carriages and gas lamps are modern technology. Eve doesn't even know she's living in a simulation - until she is forced to flee the only home she's ever known and to confront the truth about the city and herself. To Caleb, a tourist visiting PastWorld, the theme park is the perfect antidote to the stifling conformity and regulation of 2048. The gritty wildness of the past is thrilling - until he finds himself at the scene of a murder, holding the knife, and suddenly becomes a fugitive from an antiquated justice system. And in the midst of it all, in the thick London fog, a dark and deadly figure prowls, claiming vic

tim after victim. He's the Fantom, a creature both of the past and of the future, in whose dark purpose Caleb and Eve will find their destinies combined.

Secondhand Charm by Julie Berry (pub. date oct 2010)

In a secluded village, magic sparkles on the edges of the forest. There, a young girl named Evie possesses unusually strong powers as a healer. And a gypsy's charms - no more than trinkets when worn by others - are remarkably potent when Evie ties them around her neck. Her talents, and charms, have not escaped the notice of the shy stonemason's son. But Evie wants more than a quiet village and the boy-next-door. When the prince's entourage arrives one day, and his footman has fallen ill, Evie might just get her chance after all... But this young girl's destiny is no mere romantic fairy tale. Her fate, and the journey she is about to embark upon, will take her far from her tiny village, uncovering serpentine powers and a legacy she never dreamed possible.

The Sweetness of Salt by Cecilia Galante

Julia just graduated as her high school valedictorian and has a full ride to college in the fall. But when her troubled older sister, Sophie, shows up at the graduation ceremony determined to unload a long-buried family secret, Julia's carefully constructed plans come to a screeching halt. Instead of starting her prestigious summer internship, Julia follows Sophie back to Vermont, where her sister plans to open a bakery - and is struggling to come to terms with some painful secrets of her own. What follows is a season of revelations; some heartwarming, some heartbreaking, and all slowly pointing Julia toward a new understanding of herself, the nature of love, and why sadness is sometimes needed to bring out the sweetness in life.

Sprout by Dale Peck

Sprout Bradford has a secret. It's not what you think - he'll tell you he's gay. He'll tell you about his dad's drinking and his mother's death. The green fingerprints everywhere tell you when he last dyed his hair. But no one is prepared to talk about what happens when Sprout's very personal choices have a profound effect on the lives around him - even as he tried his hardest to simply observe his world.

Low Red Moon by Ivy Devlin (pub. date: sept 2010)

The only thing Avery Hood can remember about the night her parents died is that she saw silver - deadly silver, moving inhumanely fast. As much as she wants to remember who killed them, she can't, and there's nothing left to do but try to piece her life back together. Then Avery meets the new boy in school - Ben, mysterious and beautiful, with whom she feels a connection like nothing she's ever experienced. Ben is a werewolf, but Avery trusts him - at first. Then she sees that sometimes his eyes flash an inhuman silver. And she learns that she's not the only one who can't remember the night her parents died.

Overall, a great week! Some obviously don't have pictures because the cover isn't final yet, but hopefully I can get some up soon!

Insatiable

2010-07-11T19:31:00.001-04:00

Sick of hearing about vampires? So is Meena Harper. But her bosses are making her write about them anyway, even though Meena doesn't believe in them. Not that Meena isn't familiar with the supernatural. See, Meena Harper knows how you're going to die. (Not that you're going to believe her. No one ever does.) But not even Meena's precognition can prepare her for what happens when she meets-- then makes the mistake of falling in love with-- Lucien Antonescu, a modern-day prince with a bit of a dark side. It's a dark side a lot of people, like an ancient society of vampire hunters, would prefer to see him dead for. The problem is, Lucien's already dead. Maybe that's why he's the first guy Meena's ever met whom she could see herself having a future with. See, while Meena's always been able to see everyone else's future, she's never been able to look into her own. and while Lucien seems like everything Meena has ever dreamed of in a boyfriend, he might turn out to be more like a nightmare. Now might be a good time for Meena to start learning to predict her own future...If she even has one.

5 stars...

I also could not be more sick of vampire novels. I strongly dislike Twilight and I am highly disappointed in the lack of creativity from authors to be able to think of anything else to write about. However, this was a Meg Cabot novel, and it showed up unexpectedly in my mailbox about three weeks ago. Meg Cabot is fabulous, as everyone knows. She proved it once again in Insatiable. Her characters are well-developed and true. They all have a personality that clearly shows in each detail about them. I was also concerned that Meena would fall in love with the vampire and live happily ever after. I won't give away the ending, but the camaraderie between characters kept my interest well and was not the typical guy-gets-girl story, which I am always pleased with. It was also left very well. It could stand alone as a novel or be followed by others, which I would love to see in the near future (here's a hint Meg!). I was extremely pleased with this novel and literally couldn't put it down once I picked it up. Highly recommended to Meg Cabot fans and everyone else. So get out there and buy it!

In My Mailbox (6/28 - 7/4)

2010-07-02T15:34:00.000-04:00

This has been yet another fantastic week for books. The whole month of June has brought me nearly an entire library. In My Mailbox was started at the Story Siren. Also be looking for a contest VERY soon! I got duplicates of a book this week!

The Eternal Ones by Kirsten Miller

THERE WILL BE A CONTEST FOR AN ARC OF THIS EXTREMELY SOON! WATCH FOR IT!

Haven Moore has always lived in the tiny town of Snope City, Tennessee. But

for as long as she can remember, Haven has experienced visions of a past life as a girl named Constance,

whose love for a boy called Ethan ended in a fiery tragedy. One day, the sight of notorious playboy Iain Morrow on television brings Haven to her knees. Haven flees to NYC to find Iain and there, she is swept up in an epic love affair that feels both deeply fated and terribly dangerous. Is

Iain her beloved Ethan? Or is he her murderer in a past life? Haven asks the members of the powerful and mysterious Ouroboros Society to help her unlock the mysteries of reincarnation and discover the secrets hidden in her past lives, and loves, before all is lost and the cycle begins again. But what is the Ouroboros Society? And how can Haven know who to trust?

Other books I received for review include:

Fallout by Ellen Hopkins

Tyger Tyger by Kersten Hamilton

Wicked Girls by Stephanie Hemphill

Virals by Kathy Reichs

Nice and Mean by Jessica Leader

The Replacement by Brenna Yovanoff

Split by Swati Avasthi

The Red Umbrella by Christina Diaz Gonzalez

I also bought Queen of Babble in the Big City by Meg Cabot today at work (I work at Border's, by the way. So I end up spending all of my paycheck at work, but I get a hefty discount).

Immortal Beloved

2010-06-30T22:47:00.000-04:00

Nastasya has spent the last century living as a spoiled party girl, numbing herself to forget the violent and fatal tragedy that robbed her of her birthright--and her entire family. She feels nothing and truly cares for no one, until one night, when she witnesses her best friend, a dark immortal, torture a human. and her world is ripped apart. She flees her "friends" and seeks refuge at River's Edge, where wayward immortals are rehabilitated. There she meets a gorgeous, undeniably sexy immortal (aka Viking god), who seems inexplicably linked to her past. Nastasya finally begins to deal, to actually care about life, and to feel safe. But when she discovers the dark immortals are after her, she suspects that danger may be closer than she ever imagined.

4.5 stars...

Towards the beginning of this novel I was a bit confused as to the significance of Nastasya's friends, and I still am not quite sure how they tied in to the story, but I was drawn into the main plot of River's Edge. I was pleased with the attention to detail but quick movement through each main event that took place throughout the story. At no point did the story drag on or become boring, and I always was kept interested and in tune. I know this is the start of a series, but I was disappointed with the seemingly dangerous friends of hers at the beginning. They were explained well enough, but with the rising action at River's Edge, they seemed to be forgotten and weren't given anymore pages to come back and find Nastasya. That is my single complaint, but I know it will be wrapped up in later books. I did enjoy the connection between Reyn and Nastasya. It seemed real and love/hate, which always makes for a fun relationship. Simple ones where they fall in love all too quickly bore me, so the bantering between the two of them was especially fun to see unfold. I was extremely pleased with how this novel was written and can't wait for more!

In My Mailbox (6/21 - 6/27)

2010-06-26T09:32:00.000-04:00

In My Mailbox was started at the Story Siren!

Island Sting by Bonnie J. Doerr

Kenzie trades New York streets of Key pollution cleanup, and now instead of hailing cabs, she's tracking down a poacher of endangered Key deer. Her new home does have some benefits- mainly Angelo, and island native, who teams up with her to nab the culprit. But will they both survive when the killer turns from stalking deer to hunting humans?

Folly by Marthe Jocelyn

When Mary Finn falls into the arms of handsome Caden Tucker, their frolic changes the course of her life. Shat possesses her? She's been a girl of common sense until now. Mary's tale alternates with that of young James Nelligan, a new boy in an enormous foundling home. Three fates intertwine in this moving and fascinating story about life-changing moments.

Hunger by Jackie Morse Kessler

Lisabeth Lewis has a black steed, a set of scales, and a new job: she's been appointed Famine. How will an anorexic seventeen-year-old girl from the suburbs fare as one of the Four Horsemen of the Apocalypse? Traveling the world on her steed gives LIsa freedom from her trouble at home-- her constant battle with hunger and her stuggle to hide it from the people who care about her. But being Famine forces her to go places hwere hunger is a painful part of everyday life, and to face the horrifying effect of her phenomenal power. Can Lisa find a way to harness that power--and the courage to fight her own inner demons?

Summer in Paris by Michele Ashman Bell

Kenzie Williams has it all: wealth, friends, popularity, talent. But when her father declares bankruptcy, her whole New York City would turns upside down. Her parents' solution, while they sort though their problems, is to send Kenzie to live out the summer with her relatives in Paris... Idaho! Feeling like she's been sentenced to three months in Hickville Prison, Kenzie arrives in Idaho feeling like a square peg with name-brand clothes, crammed into a round, horribly podunk hole. Leaving everything she loves behind, Kenzie is forced to get up at the crack of dawn, do chores, and hang out with her cousin's loser friends. She feels like she's about to die...until she meets Adam White, the town outcast, who has been accused of killing his best friend and is being blamed for some trouble that's been happening around town. Not only is Adam the best looking guy she's ever met, he's also the most fascinating, and Kenzie is determined to get to know him better and discover his secret.

Spin by Catherine McKenzie

Kate Sandford has just landed an interview at her favorite music magazine, The Line. It's the chance of a lifetime. So what does she do? Goes out to celebrate--and shows up still drunk at the interview. No surprise, she doesn't get the job, but the folks at The Line think she m

ight be perfect for another assignment for their sister gossip rag. All Kate has to do is follow "It Girl" Amber Sheppard into rehab. If she can get the inside scoop on Amber (and complete the thirty-day program without getting kicked out), they'll reconsider her for the job at The Line. Kate takes the assignment. But things become complicated when real friendships develop, a cute celebrity handler named Henry gets involved, and Kate begins to realize she may be in rehab for a reason. She has to make a decision--is publishing the article and winning the job worth the price she'll have to pay?

Three Rivers Rising by Jame Richards

Sixteen-year-old Celestia vacations with her family at the elite resort at Lake Conemaugh, a shimmering Allegheny Mountain reservoir held

in place by an earthen dam. Tired of the superficial cheer and sly judgements of the society crowd, she much prefers to swim and fish with Peter, the hotel's hired boy. It's a friendship she must keep secret--her parents would never approve--and when companionship turns to romance, it's a love that could get Celestia disowned. These affairs of the heart become all the more wrenching on a single, tragic day in May 1889. After d

ays of heavy rain, the dam fails, unleashing twenty million tons of water onto Johnstown, Pennsylvania, in the valley below--the town where Peter lives with his father.

The Queen's Daughter

2010-06-26T09:19:00.001-04:00

Joan's mother, Queen Eleanor of Aquitaine, is the most beautiful woman in the world. Her father is Henry II, the king of England and a renowned military leader. Joan loves them both-- so what is she to do when she's forced to choose between them? As her parents' arguments grow ever more vicious, Joan begins to feel like a political pawn. When her parents marry her off to the king of Sicily, Joan finds herself stuck with a man ten years her senior. She doesn't love her husband, and she can't quite forget her childhood crush, the handsome Lord Raymond. As Joan grows up, she begins to understand that her parents world-view is warped by their political ambitions, and that hers, in turn, has been warped by theirs. Is it too late to figure out whom to trust? And more importantly, whom to love?

4 stars...
Although the book's beginning did not start off well, I did enjoy it by the end. I suppose I was expecting something different, but there was much more to this novel that I originally thought there would be. The plot revolved around the kingdom and war heavily, which I wasn't expecting. I got used to it, however, by the end. I believed part two and three were considerably better because Joan had grown older. The story lines became more developed as did her character. I was also impressed with the amount of research that must have been done about every kingdom and community, in addition to the knowledge of all the rulers and their successors. Joan did not always get a choice, which was a highly accurate account of a young girl from the middle ages, and I wasn't expecting quite a bit of the ending. Another character I liked was King William. Even though he was too kind and sweet to be a good king, his development was nice and he became a respectable man. The book's beginning was not that great, but it was worth the read!

In My Mailbox (6/14 - 6/20)

2010-06-19T10:56:00.000-04:00

This was a very good week as far as books go, and I've even finished one I got two days ago (which will be linked to my review!) In My Mailbox was started at the Story Siren.

Deception by Lee Nichols When Emma Vaile's parents disappear on a mysterious business trip, her life begins to unravel. The eerie visions she had as a child return, her best friend abandons her, and a new friend notifies social services that she is living alone. Enter Bennett Stern, her older brother's best friend and Emma's knight in J. Crew armor. Bennett whisks Emma away to New England to live in his family's museum-like mansion and attend Thatcher, an old-fashioned private school. Emma makes friends with the popular legacy crowd quickly and spends her free time crushing on Bennett. But the haunting visions are only getting worse. Emma has memories of Thatcher she can't explain--it's as if she's returning home to a place she's never been. Bennett finally confides that he and Emma are ghostkeepers, people who can communicate with ghosts. He's been keeping Emma close to protect her, but now Bennett needs her help tracking an other-worldly murderer.
(I've already read this one and it was wonderful! Go to my review!)

The Dark Days of Hamburger Halpin by Josh Berk
It was a dark, gloomy class field trip. Because it was in a coal mine. Somewhere the star quarterback swore as he tumbled to the bottom of a mine shaft. Probably. Will Halpin could only guess about the cursing. Because he's deaf, y'see? But here's the thing about murder: even if it's silent, it's still deadly. Being hefty, deaf, and the new guy in school isn't an easy ticket to popularity. at Carbon High, Will is put in the corner in every class. True, it's to help him read lips. And true,most treat him like a houseplant. But Will doesn't intend to stay stuck in any corner. And houseplants are privy to a lot of dirt. So when he teams up with the second least popular guy to figure out what happened in that mine, Will discovers that the suspects are many and not so usual. Was it the too-sexy-for-calculus math teacher? The crackpot bus driver? The sad prom queen? That scuzzy guy who talks to his fingers?

And Then Everything Unraveled by Jennifer Sturman
Delia Truesdale has no idea her life's about to change forever. She's too busy enjoying the California summer. Her Internet tycoon mother, T.K. Truesdale, is out of town, and that means Delia can spend all her time at the beach, surfing. That is, until everything unravels. Her mother suddenly goes missing, and everyone thinks she's dead -- except Delia, who knows T.K.'s way too organized to simply disappear. But Delia's still sent to New York to live with her two aunts -- a downtown bohemian and an uptown ice queen. And in case that's not bad enough, she also has to deal with a snooty new school and trying not to fall for the wrong guy. Oh, and finding her mother. As she delves deeper into the tangle of conspiracies and lies surrounding T.K.'s disappearance, Delia begins to suspect that the wrong guy might be the right buy... and that some secrets -- especially the dangerous ones -- were never meant to be unraveled.
I also received the sequel to this, And Then I Found Out the Truth. I plan to have both reviews up soon!

Lifted by Wendy Toliver
Poppy Browne had never stolen anything in her life before moving to Pleasant Acres and meeting Mary Jane and Whitney. But when Poppy walks out of the mall with her two new friends and her first pair of stolen jeans, she's hooked. Before long, Poppy is lifting whenever she gets the urge -- it's never about the merchandise, it's always about the thrill. But when her secret gets out, the girls in Poppy's clique turn on one another. As she watches her life collapse around her, Poppy must decided where her loyalties lie... and how far she'll go to protect herself.

The Queen's Daughter by Susan Coventry
Joan's mother, Queen Eleanor of Aquitaine, is the most beautiful woman in the world. Her father is Henry II, the king of England and a renowned military leader. Joan loves them both-- so what is she to do when she's forced to choose between them? As her parents' arguments grow ever more vicious, Joan begins to feel like a political pawn. When her parents marry her off to the king of Sicily, Joan finds herself stuck with a man ten years her senior. She doesn't love her husband, and she can't quite forget her childhood crush, the handsome Lord Raymond. As Joan grows up, she begins to understand that her parents world-view is warped by their political ambitions, and that hers, in turn, has been warped by theirs. Is it too late to figure out whom to trust? And more importantly, whom to love?

Deception

2010-06-18T16:17:00.000-04:00

When Emma Vaile's parents disappear on a mysterious business trip, her life begins to unravel. The eerie visions she had as a child return, her best friend abandons her, and a new friend notifies social services that she is living alone. Enter Bennett Stern, her older brother's best friend and Emma's knight in J. Crew armor. Bennett whisks Emma away to New England to live in his family's museum-like mansion and attend Thatcher, an old-fashioned private school. Emma makes friends with the popular legacy crowd quickly and spends her free time crushing on Bennett. But the haunting visions are only getting worse. Emma has memories of Thatcher she can't explain--it's as if she's returning home to a place she's never been. Bennett finally confides that he and Emma are ghostkeepers, people who can communicate with ghosts. He's been keeping Emma close to protect her, but now Bennett needs her help tracking an other-worldly murderer.

5 stars...
I received this book for review this morning in the mail. It is now 4:23 and I'm finished with it, if that gives any indication as to how much I enjoyed it. Now I'm just disappointed the next one doesn't come out for ages. The story was a strange one, and I was not entirely sure which characters were good and which ones were evil, which always makes for an interesting novel. I like being kept in the dark about significant plot secrets and love for the author to reveal those much later in the novel. Deception had that exact suspense factor. It kept me intrigued but did not reveal too much of the ending until it actually hit you in the face. By the end, I was shocked, and I couldn't stop. Before I knew it, the book was finished. Emma and Bennett's relationship was one I truly loved, as well. In addition, I stand by my belief that the best stories don't always end completely perfectly. This is one of the best and most captivating novels I've read in a long while, and I absolutely cannot wait for the second one. Because there most certainly will be a second one.

The Astonshing Adventures of Fanboy and Goth Girl

2010-06-17T09:18:00.000-04:00

Fanboy has never had it good, but lately his sophomore year is turning out to be its own special hell. The bullies have made him their favorite target, his best (and only) friend seems headed for the dark side (sports and the popular kids), and his pregnant mother and the step-fascist are eagerly awaiting the birth of the alien life form known as Fanboy's new little brother or sister. Fanboy, though, has a secret: a graphic novel he's been working on without telling anyone, a graphic novel he is convinced will lead to publication, fame, and--most important--a way out of the crappy little town he lives in and away from all the people who make it hell for him. When Fanboy meets Kyra, a.k.a. Goth Girl, he finds an outrageous, cynical girl who shares his love of comics as well as his hatred for jocks and bullies. Fanboy can't resist someone who actually seems to understand him, and soon he finds himself willing to heed her advice--to ignore or crush anyone who stands in his way. But Kyra has secrets, too. And they could lead Fanboy to his dreams... or down a path into his own darkness.

3 stars... Read once. Do not repeat. This novel didn't blow me away. It didn't really even entertain me. I did finish the novel, so I suppose the plot was good enough to keep me reading. The real problem I had was with the main character. Fanboy (who apparently doesn't have a name until Kyra christens him this) was a very whiny fifteen-year-old. He complained about jocks, bullies, Kyra, the most popular girl in school, Bendis (the most famous comic author), and everything else I can possibly think of. He couldn't stand when Cal, his only friend, couldn't come to a convention with him because of a sports team commitment. Even when Cal finally drug him to a party, all Fanboy thought about was what great material it would be for his graphic novel. However, I did enjoy that it wasn't a typical read. I don't come across many adventures about comic books. And the cover is one of the best I have ever seen, being a blue metallic. I will probably read the sequel Goth Girl Rising because I am interested in the storyline, but if Fanboy doesn't grow up I might just have to quit reading it.

House Rules

2010-06-14T08:00:00.000-04:00

Jacob Hunt is a teenage boy with Asperger's syndrome. He's hopeless at reading social cues or expressing himself well to others, and like many kids with AS, Jacob has a special focus on one subject--in his case, forensic analysis. He's always showing up at crime scenes, thanks to the police scanner he keeps in his room, and telling the cops what they need to do... and usually he's right. But then his town is rocked by a terrible murder and, for a change, the police come to Jacob with questions. All of the hallmark behaviors of Asperger's-not looking someone in the eye, stimulatory tics and twitches, flat affect--can look a lot like guilt to law enforcement personnel. Suddenly, Jacob and his family, who only want to fit in, feel the spotlight shining directly on them. For his mother, Emma, it's a brutal reminder of the intolerance and misunderstanding that always threaten her family. For his brother, Theo, it's another indication of why nothing is normal because of Jacob. And over this small family the soul-searing question looms: Did Jacob commit murder?

... 4 stars
Jodi Picoult astounds me with her ability to craft novels centered around character development when there are so many characters. The chapters rotate between Jacob, Emma, Theo, the lawyer, a police officer, and Jacob's father. It is clear an extensive amount of research was done to ensure Jacob's thoughts and behaviors lined up with traits of Asperger's. I was engulfed in the world of the characters, and the plot was just as gripping as the people themselves. Picoult uses vivid descriptors and imagery to describe elaborate crime scenes and the tiniest of details. However, I was able to predict the result of the crime well before the truth was revealed. Even with the well-developed plot and characters, I was disappointed with the lack of a surprising ending. In addition, the novel did not really end. It seemed as though she got bored writing and wanted to start a new novel. The ending is the only thing that keeps this book from 5 stars. The rest of it is so good, however, it is well worth the read. If you enjoy crime and mystery novels with a hint of romance, this novel is for you.

In My Mailbox (6/7 - 6/13)

2010-06-13T14:19:00.000-04:00

This is only the second In My Mailbox post I've ever done, but I'm going to attempt to keep up. Now that high school is finished I actually have time to spend here! In My Mailbox was started at the Story Siren!

Immortal Beloved by Cate Tiernan (thanks little, brown & co!)
(Sept. 2010)
Nastasya has spent the last century living as a spoiled party girl, numbing herself to forget the violent and fatal tragedy that robbed her of her birthright--and her entire family. She feels nothing and truly cares for no one, until one night, when she witnesses her best friend, a dark immortal, torture a human. and her world is ripped apart. She flees her "friends" and seeks refuge at River's Edge, where wayward immortals are rehabilitated. There she meets a gorgeous, undeniably sexy immortal (aka Viking god), who seems inexplicably linked to her past. Nastasya finally begins to deal, to actually care about life, and to feel safe. But when she discovers the dark immortals are after her, she suspects that danger may be closer than she ever imagined.

Half Way Home by Hugh Howey

We were sent out among the stars, five hundred of us, to be raised in vats and grown into dutiful colonists. Our mission, like so many thousands of others, was a coin-flip. Heads, and our planet is habitable. We emerge, fully-formed, and conquer a planet, extracting its resources, bending it to our will. Tails, however, and our planet isn't worth settling. My fellow colonists and I are treated to a chemical bath; we're given a baptism of fire as our mission is aborted, and we along with it. These are the odds. Heads or tails. Only, fate is never so simple. Our colony did something unique. Something no one ever planned for. It landed, like a coin on its edge, and it remained there, balancing and teetering, poised on this planet, our home halfway between anything. A mere fraction of us survived what happened next. Those of us who did were born fifteen years premature, and with only half our training complete. We stumbled out into a world full of possibility, but also of danger. Now we're in a constant fight for our lives. We struggle to feed ourselves. We struggle to solve the mystery of our new home. Even worse, we struggle to survive each other. We have no idea what we were expected to find here. We don't know what our forefathers had in mind when they sent us among the stars. It's impossible to guess what could have been, or should have been. All we can tell you is what happened.

Insatiable by Meg Cabot

Sick of hearing about vampires? So is Meena Harper. But her bosses are making her write about them anyway, even though Meena doesn't believe in them. Not that Meena isn't familiar with the supernatural. See, Meena Harper knows how you're going to die. (Not that you're going to believe her. No one ever does.) But not even Meena's precognition can prepare her for what happens when she meets-- then makes the mistake of falling in love with-- Lucien Antonescu, a modern-day prince with a bit of a dark side. It's a dark side a lot of people, like an ancient society of vampire hunters, would prefer to see him dead for. The problem is, Lucien's already dead. Maybe that's why he's the first guy Meena's ever met whom she could see herself having a future with. See, while Meena's always been able to see everyone else's future, she's never been able to look into her own. and while Lucien seems like everything Meena has ever dreamed of in a boyfriend, he might turn out to be more like a nightmare. Now might be a good time for Meena to start learning to predict her own future...If she even has one.

Candor

2010-04-07T18:54:00.000-04:00

Stepford makes the perfect wife, but Candor teens are changed for life. Everything is perfect in the town of Candor, Florida. Teens respect their elders, do their chores, and enjoy homework...because they're controlled by subliminal messages. Only Oscar, the son of the town's founder, knows how to get kids out--for a price. But when Nia moves into town, Oscar is smitten. He can't stand to see her changed. Now he must decide to help Nia escape Candor and lose her forever, or keep her close and risk exposure...

This had been sitting in my to-be-read pile since last year, and I finally got around to picking it up. I was immensely glad I did. It might have been because I found myself fascinated with psychological behaviors and disorders, but I truly enjoyed this book. From the beginning, it did not have the premise of a normal young adult book. Its plot developed a gripping tale revolving around Oscar, the model-boy for the perfect teen. He completes his homework on time, gets perfect grades, and is friendly to everyone. His father is sending subliminal messages through music that plays all over town to force kids to follow these rules. Only Oscar knows how the system works, and only Oscar can save teens that move to this town. What I liked most about this novel was that it was twisted in a way that did not reveal the ending. While the characters normally draw me in, it was the plot that grabbed hold of me. I couldn't put this book down, and I am a sucker for books with un-perfect endings.

Fang by James Patterson

2010-02-03T18:39:00.000-05:00

WARNING! IF YOU HAVEN'T READ ANY OF THE MAXIMUM RIDE SERIES, THERE WILL BE SPOILERS IN THIS REVIEW. IF YOU'RE LOOKING TO SEE IF YOU WANT TO READ THEM, DO IT! GREAT SERIES!

Fang will be the first to die.

For years, Max has been desperately on the run from evil forces trying to prevent her from her destiny to save the world--but nothing has ever rocked her world like this horrifying prophetic message. Fang is Max's best friend, her soul mate, her partner in leading her flock of winged children. A life without Fang is a life unimaginable.

Max's desperate desire to protect Fang brings the two closer than ever. But their world is turned upside down yet again when another winged boy, the beautiful Dylan, is introduced into the flock. Raised in a lab, like the flock, he exists for only one reason: He was created to be Max's perfect other half.

Now a battle of science against soul and perfection versus passion unfolds, twists, and turns...and meanwhile, the apocalypse is coming.

I have been a fan of the Maximum Ride series since its debut a while back. However, recently I have been mildly disappointed. Fang, while not the worst, could have been far better. Beginning with the positive points, I'd say I was pleased with the conflict. However, the conflict was not as it seems. Back in previous books, the smallest of the flock, Angel, had become a serious threat to Max with her mind-reading and devious personality. Angel, once again, seemed to be the main focus of fight in this novel, not the new addition. Rather, I felt badly for Dylan, and I really enjoyed his fresh character because of his honesty and naivety. Another enemy was the obvious Jeb, who raised the flock from their test tubes. Although he claims he is helping the flock, Max seems to think otherwise. His constant ability to locate the group of kids has always helped the story line, because what would a book be without conflict? On the contrary, I disliked the relationship between Fang and Max. I enjoy the small gestures and the secret romance, but in the beginning of the novel, all was focused on the two and their love. I began to get bored. I wanted my kick-ass action back, and for the first fourth of the book, it was MIA. While later on I realized this romance was key to the plot, I still feel it could have been lessened to a degree. On the whole, I still enjoyed the new addition to the series. Of course I had problems with it, but I would still recommend it, along with the rest of the series, to anyone.

CONTEST!

2010-01-02T23:09:00.000-05:00

It's finally here! It's your turn to win a copy of Taken by Storm by Angela Morrison. And not only that, but it is SIGNED!

Synopsis:

Seventeen-year-old Leesie Hunt has rules: No making out. No sex. And definitely no falling for a non-Mormon. She pours all her passion into poetry, thoughts of escaping her tiny town and getting into her dream school, BYU. Then Michael Walden arrives in Tekoa and everything changes. He is a free diver, which means he can hold his breath for minutes at a time. This is how he survived the storm that took his parents' lives, and the world as he knew it. Leesie and Michael couldn't be more different: his dreams are tied to the depths of the ocean and hers to salvation above. Yet they are drawn to each other, even when jealousy, unbearable rules, and haunting memories threaten to tear them apart. Every time Michael goes diving, Leesie is afraid he'll never come back up. He is drowning in tragedy and she knows it's up to her to save him. Somehow. But when temptation becomes too strong to resist, who is going to save her?

This book sounds fantastic, though I haven't read it yet. I definitely plan to before the contest ends, though.

This contest is in honor of her new book, Sing Me to Sleep, which I reviewed recently. to enter, all you have to do is answer the following question:

What is your favorite song and why??

MAKE SURE TO LEAVE YOUR EMAIL OR A WAY TO CONTACT YOU, OTHERWISE YOU WILL NOT BE ABLE TO WIN.

To get extra entries:
+5 blog post (leave a link)
+2 sidebar (leave a link)
+2 comment on my review of Sing Me to Sleep here. (And leave a real comment. Not, "HEY! great review!")

+2 for being/becoming a follwer

Preferably put all these entries in the same comment! Thanks.

The contest will run for a while, so make sure you let others know! It ends on March 4, 2010, on the release date of Sing Me to Sleep.

Sing Me to Sleep

2009-12-29T20:23:00.001-05:00

Beth has always been "The Beast" - that's what everyone at school calls her because of her awkward height, facial scars, and thick glasses. Who could love a best? Beth's only friend is geeky, golden-haired Scott. That is, until she is selected to be her choir's soprano soloist, and recevies the makeover of a lifetime. Suddenly, everyone wants a piece of Beth. Things only get better when her choir travels to Switzerland and Beth meets the mysterious Derek. They have an incredible whirlwind affair that makes Beth realize, for the first time, she too can find love. She's no longer The Beast. In Derek's eyes, she's a beauty. But then Scott makes a heartbreaking confession to Beth that leaves her completely torn. Should she stand by sweet, steady Scott or follow the dangerous, passionate feelings she has for Derek? And there's an even bigger problem: Derek's got a secret...one that could shatter everything.

This book took me completely by surprise. On the surface it seemed like it would be another summer-fling story, but the girl learns she really loves her friend back home. This was not the case. Angela Morrison created a story so deep it was hard to pull out of. I thoroughly enjoyed the choir atmosphere, being involved in three different choirs myself. Music was described perfectly, how it takes hold of a person and transports them to another universe to unite with the world.

I'll admit I was taken aback by the sudden twists in the plot. I thought I knew how the book would end, but I was mistaken. It was a good mistake, and I am extremely glad I was wrong. Although I was disappointed Beth's character changed from Beast to Beauty rather quickly, I was blown away by the characterization of Derek. He was easily one of the deepest and most fantastically written characters I have seen in a while.

Sing Me to Sleep is set to be released March 4, 2010

Going Bovine + Upcoming Contest

2009-12-27T00:55:00.000-05:00

All sixteen-year-old Cameron wants is to get through high school- and life in general- with a minimum effort. It's not a lot to ask. But that's before he's given some bad news: he's sick and he's going to die. Which totally sucks.
Hope arrives in the winged form of Dulcie, a loopy punk angel/possible hallucination with a bad sugar habit. She tells Cam there is a cure- if he's willing to search for it. With the help of Gonzo, a death-obsessed, video-gaming dwarf, and a yard gnome who just might be the Viking god Balder, Cam sets off on the mother of all road trips through a twisted America of smoothie-drinking happiness cults, parallel-universe-hopping physicists, mythic New Orleans jazz musicians, whacked-out television game shows, snow-globe vigilantes, and disenfranchised, fame-hungry teens into the heart of what matters most.

I was surprised from the start. I knew it was going to be good (after all, it's Libba Bray we're talking about), but it was so different from a Great and Terrible Beauty. Cameron suffers from mad cow disease, and Dulcie, the cute and caffinated angel helps him to find the cure before he dies. Subtle hints of nothing in the beginning turned out to be plot twisters and key concepts at the end of the novel, and something as simple as snowglobes can change the world. Everything in this novel is based around small coincidences that chain together, ultimately altering the course of someone's life.

Each character was so intricately developed. Dulcie became a loved friend, and I began to feel as though I knew her, predicting when she would pop up and disappear again throughout the story. It wasn't in a "this story is predictable" sort of way, but a "I know this person so well" sort of way. And Balder, the talking yard gnome was easily the funniest character of the story. Bray did an excellent job of mixing humor with Norse god myths. In addition, the mix of time travel and other dimensions always adds a nice touch to any novel.

I was quickly pulled into Cameron's strange world of talking objects, fire giants, and Dr. X, the man who has the cure. Once again, Bray has done well. Below is a quote from the back of the book I rather enjoyed:

"Saving the world. That's impossible. Insane. Still. A cure. I could be cured. That's what she said. And some little atoms come awake inside me, swirling into a question I can't shake: "Why the hell not?" I could have a chance. And a chance is better than nothing."

As for the upcoming contest, I am currently reading Sing Me to Sleep by Angela Morrison. In honor of its release date, and thanks to Angela, I have a signed copy of her book, Taken by Storm to give away. Keep your eyes out for the contest soon. I'll post it with my review of both of these books within the next week or so!

Sea Change

2009-11-29T14:15:00.000-05:00

I stopped walking, my flats sinking into the sand. Behind the boy there was nothing but fog, and I realized how alone I was.

"You lost?" the boy called, waving one arm at me.

"Not at all," I replied defensively, squaring my shoulders. "I was just exploring."

He came closer. "It's not a great idea to go exploring by yourself on Siren Beach," he said.

"Why?" I demanded, suddenly annoyed that this boy had appeared out of nowhere. He swept his gaze over my face. What was he thinking?

Sea Change started out as the typical summer novel with the headstrong girl and the mysterious boy falling in love. But through Friedman's descriptive and captivating style, she entwines the story into a deeper and darker tale than the jolly one it seems to be. I adored the development of each character individually, even though they were predictable. The mystery of the story was intriguing, and though I knew the ending, Friedman left it open. She never stated many things, allowing the reader to come to his own conclusion about different aspects of the novel (a wonderful thing, but seen so rarely). In addition, cheesy references to Shakespeare and Thoreau made it all the better (as well as some Einstein appearances). Myths were brought to life and I loved every bit of it.

Twenty Boy Summer

2009-11-23T22:57:00.000-05:00

According to Anna's best friend, Frankie, twenty day sin Zanzibar Bay is the perfect opportunity to have a summer fling, and if they meet one boy every day, there's a pretty good chance Anna will find her first summer romance. Anna lightheartedly agrees to the game, but there's something she hasn't told Frankie-- she's already had her romance, and it was with Frankie's older brother, Matt, just before his tragic death one year ago.

I had seen this being read all summer long, and finally, while skimming the shelves for Agatha Christie biographies and literary criticisms, decided to pick it up, assuming it would be a fun summer-fluff book. It was the farthest thing from unmeaningful fluff.

It was still a typical summer vacation novel, but reinvented. It demonstrated the hardships of losing a brother and a friend. The characters weren't original either, but their interactions made them original. Twenty Boy Summer pleasantly surprised me with a balance of lightheartedness and tragedy. Without even realizing it, I became strangely attached to the characters, and even now, I don't know why. The fact that there wasn't anything special about might be the reason it was special. The overwhelming cloud of grief that surrounded Anna for that year surrounded me, and I felt the pain Sarah Ockler was writing on the page. I did not expect that.

I am pleased and surprised to say I did love this book. It gave me a nice break from analyzing literary devices in British Literature, but at the same time, pulled me in to a familiar world that I haven't visited in a while.

F My Life

2009-10-13T22:31:00.000-04:00

First: This isn't the type of book I normally review. Lately, I have been really into non-fiction. Here is my favorite find:

F My Life: It's Funny, It's True, Except When It Happens to You

I devoured this. Consumed it. During AP Biology's metabolism lesson I read about other people's disastrous lives, scouring my way through chapters titled, "Shit Out of Luck" and "Moments of Shame." I chose to ignore synthetic division in Calculus and decided I'd rather read about FML moments that really happen. It truly made by day better.

I loved that it was real. You know that it's not made up. I can't explain how hard I laughed. Out loud. After a Constitutional Government test, which the whole class wasn't finished with yet. The chapters plunged deeper and deeper into self-loathing as the book progressed, my favorite section being "The Banes of Our Existence," at the tail end of the book, and includes only the worst FML moments.

"Today, a child sitting next to me on the bus pointed at me and asked, 'Mommy, if it's not a man, and it's not a woman, what is it then?' FML"

"Today, I was walking through Borders bookstore with my girlfriend when we passed a stand selling Girl Scout cookies. I saw a box of Samoas, my favorite, so I pointed at them and shouted, 'YEAH!' My girlfriend looked shocked. Behind the box of cookies was a nine-year-old scout bending over, with her bottom pointed at me. FML"

Entries like this make me love myself, and the mediocrity of the life I live. This should be a required read.

If I Stay

2009-10-09T10:28:00.000-04:00

...5 stars

Choices. Seventeen-year-old Mia is faced with some tough ones. Stay true to her first love - music- even if it means losing her boyfriend and leaving behind her family and friends?

Then, one February morning Mia goes for a drive with her family, and in an instant, everything changes. Suddenly, all the choices are gone, except one. And it's the only one that matters.

Wow. Can I start by saying this book surprised me? The details in the anecdotes were gripping, and Gayle Forman did a fantastic job weaving the characters lives together, so they all wound up in the same place. I didn't expect to feel so attached, and when I found myself crying, I didn't realize it was for Mia. Forman was able to craft the story so carefully, that without using any fantastic or outstanding sentences, she still managed to weave it through the reader's life.

And the tie to music was uncanny. Music changed my life, just as it has for Mia, and Forman must feel the same way. The descriptions of how her life was complete and totally intertwined with song was genius, something everyone should notice and try to understand, because music does that. It grabs you by the hand and takes you to a world you've never been to before, but you want to stay there forever.

This book was surpirsingly wonderful.

Traveling to Teens: Slept Away by Julie Kraut

2009-10-02T16:32:00.000-04:00

This is my first ever Traveling to Teens post! Today shall be a grand review of Slept Away by Julie Kraut.

...4.5 stars

Laney Parker is a city girl through and through. For her, summertime means stepping out of her itchy gray school uniform and into a season of tanning at rooftop swimming pools, brunching at sidewalk cafes, and-- as soon as her parents leave for the Hamptons-- partying at her classmates' apartments.

But this summer Laney's mother has other plans for her. It's called Camp Timber Trails, and rustic doesn't even begin to describe the unair-conditioned log cabin nightmare. Lany is way out of her element--the in crowd is anything but cool, popularity seems to be determined by swimming skills, and the activities seem more like boot camp than summer camp.

Splattered with tie-dye fallout, stripped of her cell, and going through Diet Coke withdrawal, Laney is barely hanging on. Being declared the biggest loser in teh bunk is one thing, but when she realizes that her summer crush is untouchably uncrushable in the real world, she has to start asking herself some serious questions. Can camp cool possibly translate to cool cool? Summer camp just might turn this city girl's world upside-down.

The thing I loved most about this book was its simplicity. There was the typical storyline, but Kraut didn't try to make it anything but, giving the story a sweet and innocent edge to it. The subtle details were enough to get the point across without being overkill. The elegancy of the non-elegant was really what made this story.

Your average unlikely-friend-but-outer-geek character was, of course, mentioned in the form of bunkmate Sylvie, who sarcastically helped Laney make it through a dance reheatsal. The mean clique was led by Hayden, a girl with a vengence. In addition, two unlikely superhero guys showed up, making it more cliche, yet entertaining because Kraut didn't try to make it fancy. It was what it was, and that's that."

This made me yearn for summer again, sitting in class looking aimlessly out. Not in a particular direction, but just out.

Sincere Apology

2009-09-17T22:59:00.000-04:00

I do apologize. I have not been able to read hardly any books at all. The Mill on the Floss (probably the worst book I've read...it rivals Huck Finn) took up my life. I'm now on Alice's Adventures in Wonderland for my next AP assignment, and meanwhile I've snagged a role in each of our school's upcoming productions...so alas, I am far too busy to post here, though I am almost finished with If I Stay. It is fabby so far, but I will be gone this weekend on the A Cappella choir retreat, where we sing all day and night, and when we're not rehearsing, we're singing karaoke or musical theatre songs.

Phew. I'm overwhelmed.

Winner of Castration Celebration!

2009-09-01T22:23:00.000-04:00

Drumroll please...

Erica from the Book Cellar!

I shall be sending you an email right away (now, rather) and have it shipped as soon as AP English stops hogging my life!

Last Day to Enter My Contest!

2009-08-26T22:36:00.001-04:00

Just a teeny reminder to enter before midnight Friday!!!!!

The Dangerous Days of Daniel X

2009-08-17T21:45:00.001-04:00

...3.5 stars

Daniel has the X Factor.

It's True: Daniel X is strong enough to fight anything in the world. Well, almost anything...except his problematic interest in two beautiful, fascinating girls- who know that Daniel is special.

Extraordinarily special.

Not many guys you meet have had their parents brutally murdered by something literally out of this world. Not many have a host of deadly criminals hunting them to the ends of the earth.And none of them are extraterrestrials. Except Daniel. He's the only one who might be able to eliminate every last intergalactic evil on the List of Alien Outlaws on Terra Firma. Because the greatest power of all isn't to be part spider and part man, or to cast magic spells - the ultimate gift is the power to create.

This was another that was judged before I actually started reading it...being as I loved Maximum Ride until the fourth book. I was kind of expecting mediocre. And that's really what I got.

No, it wasn't terrible. The story line was interesting, and Patterson kept it suspenseful, but there was so much going on at times, it felt sporradic and disorganized. There wasn't much explaining in the beginning, so I was left dazed and confused for a while on my own, then was disheartened when characters were mentioned but not elaborated on. Families, which seemed important, became not important, and nothing seemed to make too much sense.

That being said, I DID like how Patterson, once again, created a different world in our own familiar one. He is talented at doing just that. However, it seems like he has lost his passion for writing and merely continues for the sake of fans. This feels like a short review, but not much else can be continued without giving some strange off-topic story line away...

And chapters trailed off as I just did...

In My Mailbox (8/15/09)

2009-08-15T20:37:00.001-04:00

...Originated at the Story Siren
All summaries from amazon.com

What can I say? My In My Mailboxes have been extremely inconsistent so far, so I'm just updating with some of the ones I've gotten since the last time I posted, which was in June. So, these were ones I got back in June, and can't wait to read!

1. Viola in Reel Life ARC by Adriana Trigiani

I'm marooned.
Abandoned.
Left to rot in boarding school . . .
Viola doesn't want to go to boarding school, but somehow she ends up at an all-girls school in South Bend, Indiana, far, far away from her home in Brooklyn, New York. Now Viola is stuck for a whole year in the sherbet-colored sweater capital of the world.
Ick.
There's no way Viola's going to survive the year—especially since she has to replace her best friend Andrew with three new roommates who, disturbingly, actually seem to like it there. She resorts to viewing the world (and hiding) behind the lens of her video camera.
Boarding school, though, and her roommates and even the Midwest are nothing like she thought they would be, and soon Viola realizes she may be in for the most incredible year of her life.
But first she has to put the camera down and let the world in.

2. The Astonishing Adventures of Fanboy and Goth Girl by Barry Lyga (signed!)

"I'm a computer geek, a comic book geek, a study geek.

Even in the Fast-Track classes, I'm apart."

Fifteen-year-old Fanboy is miserable at school, where he is bullied, and at home, with his pregnant mother and her husband, the "step-fascist." His only relief is the late hours spent creating his own comic book.

Then he receives an instant message from Kyra, an enigmatic Goth who seems to be the only witness to the violence he endures, and the two form a cagey, charged friendship.

3. The Treasure Map of Boys ARC by E. Lockhart

Ruby is back at Tate Prep, and it’s her thirty-seventh week in the state of Noboyfriend. Her panic attacks are bad, her love life is even worse, and what’s more: Noel is writing her notes, Jackson is giving her frogs, Gideon is helping her cook, and Finn is making her brownies.

Rumors are flying, and Ruby’s already-sucky reputation is heading downhill. Not only that, she’s also: running a bake sale, learning the secrets of heavymetal therapy, encountering some seriously smelly feet, defending the rights of pygmy goats, and bodyguarding Noel from unwanted advances.

In this companion novel to The Boyfriend List and The Boy Book, Ruby struggles to secure some sort of mental health, to understand what constitutes a real friendship, and to find true love—if such a thing exists.

4. Just One Wish ARC by Jannette Rallsion

17-year-old Annika tries desperately to get TV-star Steve Raleigh, of Teen Robin Hood fame, to visit her six-year-old brother, Jeremy, before the brain-tumor surgery that may or may not save his life. Despite the circumstances, madcap adventures abound: Annika’s attempts to infiltrate the Burbank studio set during the filming of the show, disguised as an animal handler with a huge snake, are predictable but delightful. Her initial reaction to Steve is distaste and disgust—which means that soon enough they are a romantic item. However, what drives this story is not their romance, but rather Annika’s love for her little brother and the courage she displays as she tries to save him.

5. Swoon by Nina Malkin

Swoon, Connecticut, stands proudly on its heritage and the good behavior of its Lilly Pulitzer–clad inhabitants, so semi-psychic New York transplant Candice (Dice) sticks out like a sore thumb. On the autumnal equinox, Dice’s sweet and gentle cousin Penelope suddenly changes into a dangerous vixen, and only Dice is able to see that she has been possessed. Dice knows she must exorcise Sinclair, the ghost of a handsome young man from the colonial era, but she has fallen deeply in love with the appropriately nicknamed Sin. Finally, Dice follows Sin’s directions for an exorcism, which frees Penelope from his hold and releases Sin into his own physical form. The golem-like Sin finally reveals his goal: to exact revenge on the descendants of those who unjustly hung him for the murder of his fiancée.

6. Secret Society ARC by Tom Dolby

Secrets, secrets are no fun. Secrets, secrets hurt someone. . . .

An eccentric new girl. A brooding socialite. The scion of one of New York's wealthiest families. A promising filmmaker.

As students at the exclusive Chadwick School, Phoebe, Lauren, Nick, and Patch already live in a world most teenagers only dream about.

They didn't ask to be Society members. But when three of them receive a mysterious text message promising success and fame beyond belief, they say yes to everything—even to the harrowing initiation ceremony in a gritty warehouse downtown and to the ankh-shaped tattoo they're forced to get on the nape of their necks. Once they're part of the Society, things begin falling into place for them. Week after week, their ambitions are fulfilled. It's all perfect—until a body is found in Central Park with no distinguishing marks except for an ankh-shaped tattoo.

And finally, I received The Adoration of Jenna Fox SIGNED by Mary Pearson! I was the lucky winner of the 250-follower contest on facebook a few weeks back and I was jumping around the house when I realized I won!

Anyone else?

Senior Year!

2009-08-14T22:19:00.000-04:00

Well, my first "week" is done. Am I sad?

Not one little bit.

My first official day was Thursday, though I was there on Wednesday. My school is currently going through a hefty bit of renovations (meaning the tearing down of every single wall and building it from scratch), and the choir room was just now being finished. So, as a kind person (eh) I helped set up risers and practice rooms and theory desks on Wed.

It was okay, though I'm dropping Spanish IV. I can't stand the teacher, and the very first day, she began talking and automatically my eyelids shut. Then I was yelled at for being disrespectful, though she doesn't know how to say that in English, so she sort of stammered for a bit, then gave up. I'm going to pick up interior design instead. Other classes this year include AP Biology, AP English, Constitutional Government, Honors Economics, Musical Theatre and Dance Performance, A Cappella Choir, and Calculus. (Originally I was signed up for an easy senior year, study hall included. What happened?)

Therefore, I may be reading less than I was over the summer (although the Fountainhead took up most of my life anyway...AP English read, and also Survival of the Sickest for Bio, highly recommended by the way). Reviews will probably be less constant, kind of whenever I can get them up.

Meanwhile, in all the construction, they shut off the theatre kids' back hall that we use to get to class and beat the lunch rush. Now, instead of being first to lunch and on time, we are ALL late to third period. And lunch...they built the cafe smaller than it was before. Why? Good question. So I ate an apple today... a sad apple that had a weird brown spot when I bit into it, so I pitched it.

But it's okay, Thursday, after throwing away my apple, headed back to English to take my Fountainhead test, which I utterly failed. Then, I realized it's impossible for me to go to my locker at all during the school day. So, as it's not like I took to much time eating my apple, I have to go during our tiny 25 minute lunch period. There are also no working clocks anywhere in the school, except the watches teachers wear. So they know when we're late, but we don't.

Cheers.

Don't forget about my contest!

Naomi and Ely's No Kiss List

2009-08-02T00:27:00.000-04:00

...5 stars

Naomi loves Ely.

And she's also in love with him.

Ely loves Naomi.

But he prefers to be in love with boys.

Naomi and Ely have been inseperable since childhood- partially because they've grown up across the hall from each other in the same Manhattan apartment building, and also because they're best friends. Soul mates. Or are they? Just to be safe, they've created a No Kiss List- their list of people who are absolutely off-kissing-limits for both of them. The No Kiss List protects their friendship and ensures that nothing will rock the foundation of Naomi and Ely: the institution.

Until Ely kisses Naomi's boyfriend. And a fateful piece of gum in the wrong place at the wrong time changes everything. Soon a rift of universal proportions threatens to destroy their friendship, and it remains to be seen whether Naomi and Ely can find their way toward new soul-mate prospects...and back to one another.

I began this book with the idea that I would love it just as much as I loved Nick and Nora's Infinite Playlist. We all do it; get our hopes up only to be shoved back into the mud.

This was not the case.

Immediately I was drawn to how the book sucked me in. The characters, even minor ones, were left open for imagination, but in a way that made me love them. Most often, I feel like throwing rocks at undeveloped characters, but I wanted to hug these. Furthermore, I loved how absolutely laugh-my-ass-off some of these parts were while ripping out my heart at the same time. I felt as though my best friend hated me, and cried right along with Naomi.

Rachel Cohn and David Levithan did not disappoint, and expect to see Are We There Yet? in the near future...

First Fabby Contest! (Certainly Not the Last)

2009-07-29T15:53:00.000-04:00

It's taken me a while, but I'm finally having it! I'm giving away one hardback copy of Castration Celebration by Jake Wizner (I do love theatre!). Below is a summary and the rules: Did you know that in Imperial China, eunuchs had their testicles, penis, and scrotum removed?

Olivia does. She's done the research- after walking in on her dad fooling around with one of his grad students. On her way to an arts summer camp at Yale University, she's decided to write a musical called Castration Celebration.

Max, on the other hand, is a big fan of the penis- intact. As an actor, he always has the right line, especially for the ladies. He's going to camp to hone his skills, bot acting and otherwise. And when Olivia and Max meet... oh, the drama! Olivia and Max have their roles down pat. Before camp is over, they'll perform Olivia's musical onstage and in real life- though the ending may turn out differently than either expects.

I haven't had a chance to read this yet, but I love how raunchy it sounds! I adore theatre (it is my life, rehearsals from right after school until just before midnight- seriously) and this sounds wonderfully risque and boisterous.

The Contest: Open to US residents only To Enter:

+1 = Comment below, leaving name and email (or some way to contact you)

+1 = become a follower / are a follower

+2 = post this on your blog somewhere (sidebar is fine, must leave a link)
+2 = put me on your blogroll

Contest ends on August 28.

The Miles Between

2009-07-20T14:44:00.000-04:00

5 stars...
Destiny Faraday makes a point of keeping a distance from her classmates at Hedgebrook Academy. Routine and predictability help her stick to her number-one rule: Don't get attached. But one day, with the crumpling of a calendar page and an odd encounter with a mysterious stranger, routine and predictability are turned on end.

Unexpectedly finding a car at their disposal, Destiny and three of her classmates embark on an unauthorized road trip, searching for one fair day- a day where the good guy wins and everything adds up to something just and right.

Honestly, I was surprised. From the first word on the back of the book, "Destiny," I thought this was going to be a hokey novel meant for twelve-year-olds. The character's name was Destiny! But by the time I hit Chapter 11, I knew this was going to be an astonishing novel.

The main character was so different than anything I had ever come across, striking my attention the most. She avoided people mainly because she didn't want to lose them, yet she noticed amazingly tiny details about everyone she went to school with. it was remarkable how detailed the descriptions were, noting how many times a girl twirled her fork before she ate spaghetti and a boy who dialed a phone number twice before actually calling. I love details. I love tiny descriptions that don't really matter, but in the same sense, they totally do.

My favorite part was how unexpectedly the heaviness loomed over me. I wasn't aware of its presence at first, then it all hit at once, and I found myself sobbing. Hands down to Pearson, that doesn't often happen (others are HP Deathly Hallows and The Sweet Far Thing). A few corny lines here and there, but overall was surprisingly wonderful, and it was nice to read one of those hidden marvels for a change.

Review: Eyes Like Stars by Lisa Mantchev

2009-07-18T23:18:00.001-04:00

Long story kept super short:
Disney was fun. But real fun is books. Everyone knows it. I missed reading and writing. I barely had time to read at all, though I finished Eyes Like Stars on the plane!

5 stars...
All her world's a stage.

Seventeen-year-old Beatrice (Bertie) Shakespeare Smith has spent her whole life within the walls of the Theatre Illuminata, a majestic and magical playhouse with thousands of players at the ready. Bertie was a foundling, discovered at the theater door, but management has now wearied of harboring the irreverent, unrestrained, occasionally downright destructive young woman she has become. She must prove-in four days-that she can make an invaluable contribution to the theater or be forever banished.

Mantchev seamlessly blends the chaotic with the traditional plays of the theatre, like molding Hamlet into an Egyptian setting, and morphing Bertie from a child into a cannon-firing tango-dancing girl ready to ward off the Stage Manager. She also expertly created a world in which I would die to live in, with sets constantly changing on stage to fit moods and topics of characters and their conversations.

It also held my interest, changing topics quickly but fluidly, so as not to confuse one too badly. I was lost at first, as there was minimal explaining that the players couldn't actually leave the theater, but once I found that out, I couldn't put the book down.

I also fell in love with the vividly striking Ariel, who played the villain for a while, always trying to manipulate Bertie into falling madly in love with him. I sure was. I adored his personality, and I felt as though when he stared at Bertie, his eyes penetrated me. It was eerie.

Temporary Hiatus

2009-07-09T21:38:00.000-04:00

So in case you haven't noticed, I've been a bit busy. I'm writing this miniscule paragraph to let you know I'm not dead. I just got back from a sort of in-community mission trip, and leaving tomorrow morning for Disney World with my theatre department at school!

I'll be back soon! I promise!

City of Bones

2009-07-02T12:24:00.000-04:00

Going to a party can often change your life. You may find someone to fall in love with, someone to fall out of love with, what you don't usually expect is to discover something which puts everything you thought you knew about yourself in doubt. When Clary finds herself at Pandemonium, it's just another night, another night of teenage fights with her mother, of wrestling with the mating habits of your peers, that is until Clary witnesses a murder. But this is no ordinary murder, the corpse vanishes and it appears that only Clary can see the killers...

Clare created an unimaginable world, yet at the same time made it so touchable. I had the same eerie feeling when reading Scott Westerfeld's books; that feeling that somewhere in the world, this could really happen. I read this in little over twenty-four hours, and am currently dying as the library doesn't have the second copy in.

One of the most memorable traits was how flawed the characters were. It was, of course, in a good way, allowing them to change allegiances freely. This, in turn, made the plot totally unpredictable, and I will be the first to admit I was shocked by the ending. I also loved Alex (is it Alec? I can't remember...whoops!). I loved him. He was one of those not-mentioned-a-whole-lot people that I fell in love with, despite his petty love life. I also loved how recent issues were brought into the novel (I won't give it away), making the entire thing seem so much more realistic, contributing to that creepy-factor I mentioned earlier.

Again, I'm dying to read the second, but some goon at my library just won't turn it in. I wish I could yell at him to hurry up! A definite 5 stars from me!

P.S. This is the UK cover. Found it when looking for the other. I think I like this one better. It's more...I'm-gonna-go-kick-demon-butt sort of cover.