The Book Blogger

Deadly Little Voices by Laurie Faria Stolarz

2011-12-20T22:22:00.000-08:00

Deadly Little Voices by Laurie Faria Stolarz

Release Date: December 6, 2011
Publisher: Hyperion
Pages: 352
Overall:

Camelia Hammond thought her powers of psychometry gave her only the ability to sense the future through touch. But now she has started to hear voices. Cruel voices. Berating her, telling her how ugly she is, that she has no talent, and that she'd be better off dead. Camelia is terrified for her mental stability, especially since her deranged aunt, who has a suicidal history, has just moved into the house. As if all of that weren't torturing enough, Camelia's ex-boyfriend, Ben, for whom she still harbors feelings and who has similar psychometric abilities, has started seeing someone else. Even her closest friends, Kimmie and Wes, are not sure how to handle her erratic behavior.

With the line between reality and dream consistently blurred, Camelia turns to pottery to get a grip on her emotions. She begins sculpting a figure skater, only to receive frightening premonitions that someone's in danger. But who is the intended victim? And how can Camelia help that person when she is on the brink of losing her own sanity?

Deadly Little Voices is the fourth book in the Touch Series by Laurie Faria Stolarz, and just as I expected, it did not disappoint! I purchased and finished the book in a couple of hours! When that happens, you know it's a good read. I could never recommend this series enough to friends and fellow reviewers. If you haven't had the pleasure of picking up the first in this series and reading it, then what are you waiting for? You won't be disappointed.

Camelia, the main character throughout the series, has a special ability--one that has put her in dangerous situations on more than one occasion. This so-called ability is known as psychometry, or the ability to sense the future through the touch. She is an avid sculptor and it's through her works of art that she sees clues to the future. In this book, she starts to create things that lead her to believe a girl from her school is in trouble. As if trying to convince this girl that she's in trouble isn't enough, Camelia is also hearing voices that degrade her so harshly, and she's seeing things that aren't there.

She finds herself wondering constantly if she's going crazy like her aunt--who just so happened to move in with her family. At times like these, she falls back on her support system: her two friends: Kimmie and Wes. If things were different, she'd also look to her main love interest, Ben, for help as well, but because of things that happened in the last book, the two aren't exactly on speaking terms. Enter: Adam. (Actually, Adam was introduced as a new character in the last book, but I'm just catching any of you who haven't read the series up to date without spoiling anything!) He's another love interest of Camelia's and he's always there for her. He should be the guy she wants more than anything, but her thoughts keep going back to Ben, especially when he seems to know something she doesn't.

Whoa, did this book throw a fast one on me. I really like Stolarz's books for that reason. She likes to write in a little mystery into each book of the Touch series, and the outcome always ends up being something I didn't expect. The ending has such a twist, and we get to read something about Ben (who I'm rooting for by the way) that helps give more understanding to his complex character. I wish he was in this book more. He's probably my favorite character, because what girl doesn't love a girl with a little mystery?

I'm really excited for the next book. It's too bad that this one only came out this month! Now I'll probably have to wait another year! Definitely worth it, though.

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Where She Went by Gayle Forman

2011-04-21T19:39:00.000-07:00

Where She Went by Gayle Forman

Release Date: April 2011
Publisher: Penguin Group
Pages: 208
Overall:

Where She Went is the perfect read, filled with romance, emotion, and music. Gayle Forman's book, the sequel to the highly praised If I Stay, is much more than a mass marketed teen love story and will lure you in immediately with it's angsty point of view and suspense of what'll come to be with the two characters in the end.

The sequel begins a while after the last one left off. In the first book of the series, Mia and Adam, the two main characters, are in a hospital. Mia, after being in a coma, wakes up to a promise. A promise Adam swore he'd keep if she lived. And she did. But it might not have been for the better, because in the period of time skipped between the two books, Mia has gone off to Juilliard and Adam is about to tour the world with his uprising band. The two have gone their separate ways with no real reason.

If I Stay was told from Mia's point of view, however Where She Went is told from Adam's perspective. I usually hate it when authors feel the need to switch point of views between books, but in this case, it was a crazy good idea! It gave insight as to how Adam was feeling, and helped develop a connection to is character. It brought depth and real, raw emotion to the story and showed the characters as realistically as possible.

Right from the beginning of the novel, you can tell Adam has his issues with how he's living his life. It seems like he's living for other people, not for himself. He doesn't show his true feelings, pulls himself away from others, and surprisingly doesn't want the rock star life he's been given. And there's a reason for all of this: Mia. He's distraught from her pulling away from him with no explanation. Though he'd pushed those feelings away in the back of his mind, she still lingers and is the true reason behind all of his troubles. But then she enters his life again spontaneously, and all is thrown into a bundle of chaos. With this once in a lifetime chance, the two spend the night together in New York talking, exploring Mia's favorite secret locations, and even, yes, reconnecting. And thank god their reunion was plausible! I can't tell you how many books I've read where the characters see each other again and boom, they're back together, nothing is awkward and all negative feelings vanish. This book wasn't anything like that. Like I said before, it was realistic! And I enjoyed every sentence of it.

Where She Went is a wonderful and appealing novel written by a talented author. I thoroughly enjoyed it and recommend the series to anyone looking for a fresh, and realistic read. I'll definitely be reading this one again. In fact, I'm thinking about skimming through my favorite parts right after I finish this!

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Just Read a Book + Joined a Book Club!

2011-04-13T20:06:00.001-07:00

Since I sadly don't have a finished review for you guys yet, I'll attempt to entertain you all with an update on how things are going with my relationship with books.

I just finished reading Where She Went by Gayle Forman, which is the sequel to If I Stay. If I Stay was a book I read last year, and remembered loving. I got out of the reading habit and haven't been keeping up with new releases lately due to school, but when I heard the sequel had released, I went out and bought it.

I read it in four hours!!!

So I'll have a review up for that soon. If you want, you can go check out my review for If I Stay here. I HIGHLY recommend it, because it's different, and I enjoyed it. A lot, obviously.

As for other book related updates, I joined a book club at my school called TLC(The Literary Circle). We're going to be reading Tithe by Holly Black, which I haven't had the pleasure of reading yet. I feel so bad! I've seen reviews and news about Holly Black's series, but never had the impulse to actually pick any of her books up for a good read. Looks like I'll finally have the joy of doing so.

Bye for now!

Any new book news from any of you?

I'm Back!!!

2010-12-05T12:30:00.000-08:00

Wow.

That was the longest hiatus ever...what was it...almost a year?

Hmph. I sure have missed a lot haven't I? Well, I'm hoping to get back into reading again. Thanks for sticking around and waiting for me to return :) Look forward to new book reviews. Some should be coming in soon.

Hourglass by Claudia Gray

2010-01-04T13:45:00.000-08:00

Well, since I was on vacation over Christmas break, I had NO TIME to read AT ALL! It was horrid. You have no idea how boring it was without my books. So, to make up for it, here is a review of the next book in the Evernight Series.

Hourglass by Claudia Gray

Release Date: March 2010
Publisher: Harper Teen
Pages:
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So many things happen in this book, it's almost hard to keep up! The twists and turns are intense and make you want to jump up and down some times. The changes in this book assure that there will be some very big problems in the next book, and the cliff hanger you're left with will make you want to get your hands on Afterlife as fast as you can.

What I love about this book is that it surprised me. I wasn't expecting the events of Bianca and Lucas' lives to unravel the way that it did. Claudia Gray pulled a fast one on me, and I'm happy she did! Usually it's easy to predict where the author is going to take the story next, and with this one, I was completely wrong. So, be prepared for a big twist (or twists) at the end.

The romance was still there of course, and I felt it was what held the story, and the characters, together. If the romance was excluded, I don't think Bianca and Lucas would be able to keep going as they did. The both of them would even say thay were doing what they were doing for...love. And disappointingly, in this book, I didn't feel like their romance was as strong as it was in the previous books, but maybe it was just me.

Another thing that I didn't like was that the story seemed disjointed and chunky in some parts. Like, a part in the story, or a scene, wouldn't end smoothly, and the next would start too suddenly. Parts just didn't fit. Also, it seemed that every moment, something tragic was happening. I mean, I can handle one big twist at the end, but two or three? It gets to be too much after a while. Thankfully, it wasn't too hard to ignore the things that were bugging me, and replace them with the exciting aspects because I really like this series, and I really liked this book as well.

Astonishing, suspenseful, and creative, Hourglass will shock you. It has definitely surpassed anything I've read by Claudia Gray. The ending of the third book in the series will leave you gasping for more. I'm eagerly awaiting the release of Afterlife.

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A Match Made in High School by Kristin Walker

2009-12-13T11:29:00.000-08:00

A Match Made in High School by Kristin Walker

Release Date: February 2010
Publisher: Razorbill
Pages: 288
Overall:

When a mandatory course forces Fiona to “try the knot” with super-jock Todd Harding, she’s convinced life could not possibly get any worse. Until moments later, when her long-time crush is paired with her arch-enemy (otherwise known as Todd’s obscenely hot, slightly sadistic girlfriend). But that’s nothing compared to her best friend’s fate – a year with the very shy, very goofy, very big Johnny Mercer.

A series of hilarious pranks and misunderstandings leave Fiona wondering: is there something her supposed “best friend” hasn’t told her? Could there be more to Johnny Mercer than a deep voice and an awesome music collection? And perhaps most intriguing of all, is it possible that Todd Harding could actually have a heart – and a brain – beneath his pretty-boy exterior?

Who knows what might happen once you begin a match made in high school…

The first thing I noticed about this book was that it was easy to read, and moved at a fast pace. Before I knew it, I was half way through the book enjoying every word. A Match Made in High School is an easily likable book, it'll make you laugh numerous times and keep you interested until the end.

Fiona, the main character, has a huge crush on Gabe. She's liked him since they were little and he showed her an act of kindness, but what she doesn't seem to realize is that people change. The book begins with Fiona getting up for her first day of her senior year. Everything starts on a bad note, until of course, she crosses paths with Gabe and vows to touch him at least once this year. But that doesn't go too well, because the school day starts with an assembly, and during that assembly, she learns that in order to pass every senior must be married to another during the whole year. Fiona is paired with Todd Harding, a stuck-up popular boy, while Gabe is paired with Todd's girlfriend, Amanda, who just so happens to be a cheerleader.

Along with that, while Fiona is trying to survive her senior year, her best friend, Marcie, is changing back and forth before her eyes. Plus, Johnny, the guy her best friend is "married" to is starting to have eyes for her. Man, there were so many juicy things in this book! I couldn't help but adore it! But while the book was enjoyable, there were some downfalls. First off, I was completely confused by Fiona and Todd's relationship. They never really seemed to like each other, but it was hinted that they did, which was odd. Another thing was that Fiona didn't have romantic feelings toward Johnny until the end and she changed her mind so quickly that it wasn't believable.

So many amusing things went on in this novel. The witty banter, and war of pranks between Fiona and Todd were hilarious. While the novel was initially light-hearted, deeper occurrences went on and tugged at my heart repeatedly. A Match Made in Heaven was a cute novel, and many teens will love it.

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Waiting on Wednesday (25)

2009-12-09T12:13:00.000-08:00

In Bonn, Germany of 1770, a man who would later in his lifetime come to be known as one of the most recognizable composers of all time, was born to Louis van Beethoven and Maria Magdalena Keverich. What was his name? Beethoven. Since his birth, the prodigy has composed many symphonic pieces that have been played by many famous musicians and orchestras. Not only are his pieces known worldwide, but they have even been incorporated in other pieces of art. Though Ludwig van Beethoven was oftenly described as a half crazy mad man, he was undoubtedly a classical music legend and no one could deny his wondrous talent.

The best possible choice for this would have to be...

Spirit Bound by Richelle Mead

Release Date: May 18, 2010
Publisher: Razorbill

Dimitri gave Rose the ultimate choice. But she chose wrong…

After a long and heartbreaking journey to Dimitri’s birthplace in Siberia, Rose Hathaway has finally returned to St. Vladimir’s—and to her best friend, Lissa. It is nearly graduation, and the girls can’t wait for their real lives beyond the Academy’s iron gates to begin. But Rose’s heart still aches for Dimitri, and she knows he’s out there, somewhere.

She failed to kill him when she had the chance. And now her worst fears are about to come true— Dimitri has tasted her blood, and now he is hunting her. Only this time, he won’t rest until Rose joins him…forever.

I would do a lot of bad things to get my hands on this book...illegal things. Haha, what are you waiting on this week?

Rules of Attraction Cover!

2009-12-08T17:36:00.000-08:00

Last year, when I read Simone Elkeles' Perfect Chemistry, I knew that I'd love any other book by her. I was so captivated by it, and desperately wanted to read more. So, I'm excited to present the cover and synopsis of her next book, Rules of Attraction:

New sparks will fly in the sequel to Simone Elkeles’s breakout book Perfect Chemistry

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

Isn't it gorgeous!! I love it, and think it's so beautiful!

In My Mailbox (25)

2009-12-06T20:58:00.001-08:00

Hmm, what did I get this week? Absolutely nothing! Hopefully you had a better outcome :) So, what did you get?

The Body Finder by Kimberly Derting

2009-12-04T20:03:00.000-08:00

The Body Finder by Kimberly Derting

Release Date: March 2010
Publisher: Harper Teen
Pages: 336
Overall:

Violet Ambrose can find the dead. Or at least, those who have been murdered. She can sense the echoes they leave behind...and the imprints they leave on their killers. As if that weren't enough to deal with during her junior year, she also has a sudden inexplicable, and consuming crush on her best frined since childhood, Jay Heaton.

Now a serial killer has begun terrorizing Violet's small town...and she realizes she might be the only person who can stop him.

Filled with suspense, a gripping romance, and deadly consequences, The Body Finder is an impressive debut novel that's impossible to put down.

Violet, the main character, has a spectacular ability. She can sense death, whether it be a certain taste in her mouth or an aura that only she can see. This plays an important role in the novel, because now she must use her special ability to help catch a killer that preys on young teenage girls. But when it gets dangerous, the people around her are reluctant to let her get involved, especially when the killer might be after her as well. Oh, the suspense! I loved this aspect of the book. The Body Finder not only was intruiging, but was also engaging. I did not want to put this book down until I knew who the killer was!

Throughout The Body Finder, I felt sympathetic for Violet, because not only does she have to deal with the complications and frights of having to help catch a predator, but she also has to deal with what almost every other girl has to: a love interest. She has developed feelings for her best friend, Jay, who has seemed to attract the attention of every other girl in school since his summer transformation. And, I must say, I loved this! In my opinion, nothing is better than a friendship developing into love. I just melt thinking about it.

The only thing that slightly annoyed me was how Violet acted at times. Even thought she knew she was in danger, she acted carelessly. It made me want to yell something about common sense at her, because I don't think she had much. She would have had a lot less issues if she thought out her actions.

With that minor negative pushed aside, this book was something else! I was surprised at how much I was enveloped in it. The Body Finder is a thrilling romance that will appeal to almost anyone!

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Author Interview: Kami Garcia & Margaret Stohl

2009-12-01T16:32:00.000-08:00

Author Interview: Authors of Beautiful Creatures, Kami Garcia and Margaret Stohl, were kind enough to let me interview them for their upcoming release of their first book, which is amazing by the way.

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If you weren't an author, what career do you think you would be pursuing?

Margie: I would probably go back to making videogames, college counseling, or teaching English. I would not go back to selling clothes at French Connection, scooping tuna fish or washing dishes.

Kami: I would continue teaching. I’m a Reading Specialist, and I love teaching children to read and to LOVE reading. I would not go back to waiting tables, in a sports bar in Georgetown, or singing “Happy Birthday” to customers at an unspeakable chain restaurant.

How do you two write together? Did Kami write one chapter and Margie the next?

Margie: We outline like crazy, in three colors, then pass everything back and forth, writing over and under each other so many times that we sometimes don’t even know who wrote what.

Kami: We should also mention that we change the outline a hundred times, and don’t follow it all most of the time. The only thing we stick to is overall plot.

What inspired the both of you to set Beautiful Creatures in the South?

Margie: Kami’s family is from a small town in the South, and mine is from a small town in the west. We really wanted to write our way into a small town, and we felt like the South in the US is a place where magic can still happen.

Kami: The South is so magical and unique. And we knew we wanted to write a real Southern Gothic – epic and spooky and supernatural.

In my opinion, all of the characters in Beautiful Creatures have pretty interesting names. How did you name your characters? Was it an easy process?

Margie: Most of the names are either names from Kami’s massive, extended Southern family, or are common names in the South. We also used French Creole names when we needed them, as well as some names from my own family trees.

Kami: Aside from the French Creole names, we did a lot of borrowing from our own family trees. My cousin, Haywood Early, is my family’s genealogist and he sent me family trees. Margie knows her own like the back of her hand.

Do you have any favorite young adult authors/books of your own?

Margie: There are so many good YA books out there right now! I love all the different sub genres within our corner of the library. FIRE and GRACELING are breathtaking; I’m a huge fan of Kristin Cashore, Cassandra Clare, and Robin McKinley. Also love Ann Dee Ellis’ realistic fiction, EVERYTHING IS FINE.

Kami: I’m pretty blown away by the authors in our genre, and Margie’s list. I’m also a huge Melissa Marr, Holly Black, and Kelley Armstrong fangirl. I loved THE DEMON’S LEXICON by Sarah Rees Brennan – talk about unexpected endings! I am dying to read Carrie Ryan’s sequel to THE FOREST OF HANDS AND TEETH, THE DEAD-TOSSED WAVES (hint) and I just finished LIPS TOUCH by Laini Taylor, which was inane!

Is there any time or place that you prefer to write? If so, why?

Margie: Not counting my bed: the airplane, the Santa Monica Library, the Park City library, and at the BAU Institute Arts Residence in Otranto, Puglia, Italy. I like to write when I travel; I feel most inspired when I am a fish out of water!

Kami: The comfy chair, in our office, and my bed are top of the list. But I actually wrote most of my share of BC sitting on the floor of my son’s bedroom at night. He had just switched over to his “big boy” bed, and he was constantly climbing out to wander around. SO I sat on the floor and typed in the dark. Why? You write when you can, where you can.

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You can keep up with Kami Garcia & Margaret Stohl at www.BeautifulCreaturestheBook.com.

Visit Little, Brown’s Beautiful Creatures website at www.SomeLovesAreCursed.com.

Freaky cool cover!

2009-11-29T10:38:00.000-08:00

Yup, you guessed it! This is the cover for Daniel Waters' new novel from the Generation Dead series, Passing Strange! Isn't it wonderful! I love all of the colors...and the fact that one of the twins looks alive and the other dead is interesting.

What do you think?

In My Mailbox (24)

2009-11-28T22:21:00.000-08:00

This week I got...

Tangled by Carolyn Mackler

Before I Fall by Lauren Oliver

Vampire Academy: Signature Edition by Richelle Mead

Betrayal by Gillian Shields

I loved what I got this week and can't wait to start reading! What did you get? Remember to include links :D

Viola in Reel Life by Adriana Trigiani

2009-11-28T13:09:00.000-08:00

Viola in Reel Life by Adriana Trigiani

Release Date: September 2009
Publisher: Harper Teen
Pages: 288
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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.

Viola is a fourteen-year-old with a passion for film. She believes that she gets it from her parents, who are currently in Afghanistan filming themselves. So, in the meantime, she is dropped off at an academy that her mom attended when she was younger. As you can guess, she hates it, but not after long, she doesn't find it to be so aggravating.

As the story develops Viola begins to find her place at Prefect Academy, and realizes that there is more out there than just the busy streets of New York. When she finally stops fighting to get back home, she starts enjoying her year at the academy. She and her roomates become great friends, and she even gets her first boyfriend! But, even though her life at the academy starts looking up, she still has a dilemma. Her best guy friend from home is acting weird, and all of the sudden, she thinks she's seeing a ghost! As you can tell, this story is not too far from being realistic, and I enjoyed the truth of it. I could really imagine a fourteen year old girl living Viola's life at a boarding school. It was great to read.

The only thing that bothered me was that her best friend, Andrew, wasn't in the story as much, but of course, he was on the other side of the country. Hopefully there will be a next book so their friendship can blossom into something more, because that's the kind of vibe I got from this book.

Viola in Reel Life is an entertaining read. A lot of teens will enjoy it because they can relate to the issues she is going through. I can't wait for more from the author!

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Shadowland by Alyson Noel

2009-11-26T11:23:00.000-08:00

Shadowland by Alyson Noel

Release Date: 11/17/09
Publishers: St. Martin's Griffin
Pages: 339
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Ever and Damen have traveled through countless past lives—and fought off the world's darkest enemies—so they could be together forever. But just as their long-awaited destiny is finally within reach, a powerful curse falls upon Damen...one that could destroy everything. Now a single touch of their hands or a soft brush of their lips could mean sudden death—plunging Damen into a bleak afterlife in the Shadowland, an eternal abyss for lost souls. Desperate to break the curse and save Damen, Ever immerses herself in magick—and gets help from an unexpected source...Jude Knight.

Although she and Jude have only just met, he feels startlingly familiar. Despite her fierce loyalty to Damen, Ever is drawn to Jude, a green-eyed golden boy with magical talents and a mysterious past. She's always believed Damen to be her soul mate and one true love—and she still believes it to be true. But as Damen pulls away to save them from the darkness inhabiting his soul, Ever's connection with Jude grows stronger—and tests her love for Damen like never before...

In Shadowland, Ever is in a tough spot. She can't do what she wants to do most. She can't kiss her beautiful soulmate Damen, or even touch him for that matter, in the fear of their DNA mixing. Because if that were to ever happen, he would die, despite him being immortal. And leaving Ever alone is what he wants to prevent from happening.

While I thought the book was going to be fully about Ever and Damen trying to find the cure to their problem, it wasn't, because there were so many more things occuring. Things that took too much attention away from the both of them, making it ever harder to focus on the fact that they can't touch each other without clothing or energy between them. Like the twins for instance. Due to special circumstances, they must now live with Damen for an unknown amount of time. Or Ever's new job, the one that her aunt told her she needed to have. Or her young, green-eyed boss, Jude, someone she feels connected to even though they've just met. Their biggest threat, though, is Roman, the very reason they can't be truly together.

So many twists and turns were in Shadowland, and I almost couldn't keep up! I have never been more unexpectedly surprised by an author. Noel knows exactly how to keep me enthralled in her books. I can only imagine what she has instore for Dark Flame, the next in the series.

Shadowland is purely mesmerizing. A book with a little bit of everything in it— romance, suspense, friendship, and immortality—all meshed together to create a mind-blowing combination. Only the next book in the series will satisfy my need to know what will happen next. I simply cannot wait!

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Waiting on Wednesday (23)

2009-11-25T09:32:00.000-08:00

This week, I'm waiting for something that I've been excited about since the release of the author's last book. The book is...

Winter Longing by Tricia Mills

Release Date: Summer 2010

Publisher: Razorbill

Pages: 256

A plane crash in Alaska takes Winter's first love away forever...

When Winter's boyfriend is killed in a plane crash in the Alaskan wilderness, she's robbed of the future she'd only just allowed herself to believe might be hers. Winter and Spencer had been destined for one another. After his death, Spencer's presence continues to haunt her.

But when her next-door neighbor becomes an unlikely friend, Winter beings to accept all that she can't change. Can she open herself to a new future...and a possible new love?

Sounds amazing, right? And the cover is beautiful! I am seriously craving this book so badly! What are you waiting for this week?

Liar by Justine Larbalestier

2009-11-23T16:31:00.000-08:00

Liar by Justine Larbalestier

Release Date: September 2009
Publisher: Bloomsbury USA
Pages: 384
Overall:

Micah will freely admit that she’s a compulsive liar, but that may be the one honest thing she’ll ever tell you. Over the years she’s duped her classmates, her teachers, and even her parents, and she’s always managed to stay one step ahead of her lies. That is, until her boyfriend dies under brutal circumstances and her dishonesty begins to catch up with her. But is it possible to tell the truth when lying comes as naturally as breathing? Taking readers deep into the psyche of a young woman who will say just about anything to convince them—and herself—that she’s finally come clean, Liar is a bone-chilling thriller that will have readers see-sawing between truths and lies right up to the end. Honestly.

Micah is a liar, and she doesn't just tell little white lies. Oh no, she tells huge lies. Ones that change her life, and those of others. Throughout the whole book, she says she's telling the truth, but as you keep reading, you learn that she started telling her story with a lie, and you realize that she might have even ended it with one. And I love that Justine Larbalestier didn't make the character believable, because that left you thinking at the end, wondering whether or not the book was mostly a lie.

The whole book is really easy to read, easy flowing. I not once wanted to put it down, because it never got boring. Every individual section was interesting to read, even when the story seemed to change dramatically with each part. You see, the book is divided into three parts. Each part has its own job almost. Part One is about Micah telling the truth and beginning with how her life of lying started. Part Two is about a secret of hers, one big secret, so I won't get into that and spoil it for you. Finally, Part Three is the dead honest truth, or atleast that's what she says it is. Micah lets loose and tells the truth, unmasking some of the lies she previously told you.

Micah is probably one of my favorite characters. She's a liar, speaks before thinking, and acts unspeakably, and yet, I found her to be one of the most compelling characters I've ever read about. I thought she felt real, and not sugar-coated. And though she told an amazing amount of lies, I wanted to trust her even though I felt like I couldn't.

Liar is a truly gripping and interesting book, it's almost impossible to sum up in words. I was moved by it in ways I couldn't imagine. I'll definitely be reading it over and over again. It'll never get old.

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As You Wish Contest Winners

2009-11-22T16:07:00.000-08:00

The following have won hardcover copies of As You Wish by Jackson Pearce:

Ali
Isa
pepsivanilla

Congrats! And I hope you enjoy :)

In My Mailbox (23)

2009-11-21T23:07:00.000-08:00

Hey everybody :) I got some really good ones this week from Barnes and Noble. So, read on...

Shadowland by Alyson Noel
I really like this series, and was so surprised when I opened the book. Wonder why? Cause I'm in it! Well, my quote is! It's on the first page at the bottom. I'm sooooooo happy about it, and was so happy when I saw it :)

Ever and Damen have traveled through countless past lives—and fought off the world's darkest enemies—so they could be together forever. But just as their long-awaited destiny is finally within reach, a powerful curse falls upon Damen...one that could destroy everything. Now a single touch of their hands or a soft brush of their lips could mean sudden death—plunging Damen into a bleak afterlife in the Shadowland, an eternal abyss for lost souls. Desperate to break the curse and save Damen, Ever immerses herself in magick—and gets help from an unexpected source...Jude Knight.

Although she and Jude have only just met, he feels startlingly familiar. Despite her fierce loyalty to Damen, Ever is drawn to Jude, a green-eyed golden boy with magical talents and a mysterious past. She's always believed Damen to be her soul mate and one true love—and she still believes it to be true. But as Damen pulls away to save them from the darkness inhabiting his soul, Ever's connection with Jude grows stronger—and tests her love for Damen like never before...

Hourglass by Claudia Gray

(I have already read this and am currently writing a review,

so maybe after I send out all of the books I need to, I'll host a contest for it)

Star-crossed lovers Lucas and Bianca are on the run, pursued not only by Black Cross vampire hunters but also by the powerful vampires of Evernight, when Bianca learns that her destiny is tied to that of the wraiths.

Deadly Little Lies by Laurie Faria Stolarz

(Review here. I bought the purty hardcover.)

Last fall, sixteen-year-old Camelia fell for Ben, a new boy at school who had a very mysterious gift – psychometry, the ability to sense the future through touch. But just as Camelia and Ben's romance began to heat up, he abruptly left town. Brokenhearted, Camelia has spent the last few months studying everything she can about psychometry and experiencing strange brushes with premonition. Camelia wonders if Ben's abilities have somehow been transferred to her.

Ben returns to school, but he remains aloof, and Camelia can't get close enough to share her secret with him. Camelia makes the painful decision to let him go and move on. Adam, the hot new guy at Knead, seems good for her in ways Ben wasn't. But when Camelia and Adam start dating, a surprising love triangle results. A chilling sequence of events uncovers secrets from Ben’s past – and Adam's. Someone is lying, and it's up to Camelia to figure out who – before it's too late.

What did you receive this week?

Radiant Shadows Cover and Synopsis!!

2009-11-21T10:51:00.000-08:00

Title says all. I present to you, previously posted on Melissa Marr's livejournal, the cover and synopsis of her upcoming book, Radiant Shadows.

Hunger for nourishment.
Hunger for touch.
Hunger to belong.

Half-human and half-faery, Ani is driven by her hungers.

Those same appetites also attract powerful enemies and uncertain allies, including Devlin. He was created as an assassin and is brother to the faeries’ coolly logical High Queen and to her chaotic twin, the embodiment of War. Devlin wants to keep Ani safe from his sisters, knowing that if he fails, he will be the instrument of Ani’s death.

Ani isn’t one to be guarded while others fight battles for her, though. She has the courage to protect herself and the ability to alter Devlin’s plans—and his life. The two are drawn together, each with reason to fear the other and to fear for one another. But as they grow closer, a larger threat imperils the whole of Faerie. Will saving the faery realm mean losing each other?

Alluring romance, heart-stopping danger, and sinister intrigue combine in Melissa Marr’s next volume of Melissa Marr’s New York Times bestselling Wicked Lovely series.

Beautiful, isn't it? Melissa has seriously been blessed to have so many gorgeous covers. I love the vivid colors, and if I were to see this on a book shelf, I'd definitely want to read it.

Waiting on Wednesday (22)

2009-11-18T17:05:00.000-08:00

I haven't done one of these in such a long time, so I skipped the weeks I went without posting one and just added them so, confusingly, this week is number 22. And what am I waiting for? This lovely little shocker:

...grace...

This is the story of a boy who used to be a wolf and a girl who was becoming one.

Just a few months ago, it was Sam who was the mythical creature. His was the disease we couldn't cure. His was the good-bye that meant the most. He had the body that was a mystery, too strange and wonderful and terrifying to comprehend.

But now it is spring. With the heat, the remaining wolves will soon be falling out of their wolf pelts and back into their human bodies. Sam stays Sam, and Cole stays Cole, and it's only me who's not firmly in my own skin.
Yep, Linger by Maggie Stiefvater. Who wouldn't want this book? I read Shiver and was completely blown away by the book's amazingness! I can't wait for Linger!

In My Mailbox (22)

2009-11-15T10:57:00.000-08:00

I finally get to update you with what I've gotten over the past, what, month? I haven't been able to read as often as I used to because of my beginning high school, but thankfully, the work load has been slightly minimized. So, hurray! for that. Here is what I found in my mailbox.

DupliKate by Cherry Cheva - review:

Splendor - Anna Godbersen

The Morganville Vampires (Glass Houses and the Dead Girls' Dance) by Rachel Caine

Marked by P.C. and Kristin Cast

The Mark by Jen Nadol

Sing Me To Sleep by Angela Morrison (I absolutely love the cover!)

Ballad by Maggie Stiefvater

Lock and Key by Sarah Dessen

The Girl with the Mermaid Hair by Delia Ephron

I've already started some of them, and I'm so excited to devour all of them! What did you get?

Hush, Hush by Becca Fitzpatrick

2009-11-01T13:48:00.000-08:00

Hush, Hush by Becca Fitzpatrick

Release Date: 10/13/09
Publisher: Simon & Schuster
Pages: 391
Overall:

For Nora Grey, romance was not part of the plan. She's never been particularly attracted to the boys at her school, no matter how much her best friend, Vee, pushes them at her. Not until Patch came along. With his easy smile and eyes that seem to see inside her, Nora is drawn to him against her better judgment.

But after a series of terrifying encounters, Nora's not sure who to trust. Patch seems to be everywhere she is, and to know more about her than her closest friends. She can't decide whether she should fall into his arms or run and hide. And when she tries to seek some answers, she finds herself near a truth that is way more unsettling than anything Patch makes her feel.

For Nora is right in the middle of an ancient battle between the immortal and those that have fallen - and, when it comes to choosing sides, the wrong choice will cost her life.

The first thing I want to say is that the cover did the book justice. I was initially intruiged by this book because of the cover, and once I read the summary I knew I needed to read it! And after finishing it, I'm so happy that I did. It was something else...definitely a spectacular debut novel from Becca Fitzpatrick.

Characters are a main part to the story and Becca wrote her characters in wonderfully. They were compelling and entertaining. It was a pleasure to read about Nora, Patch, and Vee. With Nora's logical thinking, Vee's free will, and Patch's witty comments, it's not surprising that I loved this book.

Hush, Hush wasn't too big on the romance and probably would've been less interesting if it was. Sure, there were cute scenes that I loved reading and I enjoyed the moments of conversation between Patch and Nora, but it wasn't as important as everything else that was going on. I loved that, because in some novels, I feel like the romance is the only thing that's keeping me reading and interested. And I'm happy that I can say that I would've kept reading Hush, Hush with or without the romance.

Riveting, mysterious, and addicting, Hush, Hush is one of the best books I've read this year. I can only imagine what will come next.

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Author Interview: Laurie Faria Stolarz

2009-10-11T12:37:00.000-07:00

I had the pleasure of interviewing Laurie Faria Stolarz, author of the Touch series, and the Blue is for Nightmares series. I just recently read Deadly Little Lies, the second novel in the Touch series, and adored it! To read my review click here. Most of my questions are revolving around the Touch series, so heads up on that! So, without futher ado...

How did you come up with the idea for the Touch series?

I definitely wanted to do another series – I like growing my characters over a series of books. For the first novel, Deadly Little Secret, I wanted to write a story where the main character has to struggle with the idea of falling in love with someone who could potentially be dangerous. I tinkered with this concept in the first three books of my Blue is for Nightmares Series [(Blue is for Nightmares (Llewellyn 2003), White is for Magic (Llewellyn 2004), and Silver is for Secrets (Llewellyn 2005), as well as in Bleed (Hyperion 2006)]. In Bleed, in particular, there’s a young male character who was convicted for the murder of his girlfriend. His next relationship consists of pen pal letters he exchanges with a young girl while he’s in prison. Without giving too much away, the relationship is briefly pursued once he is released, but I wanted to bring this concept to another level.

Additionally, I wanted to continue experimenting with the supernatural (which I also use in my Blue is for Nightmares Series as well as in Project 17), showing how we all have our own inner senses and intuition, and how with work we can tap into those senses and make them stronger.

I started researching different types of supernatural powers and discovered the power of psychometry (the ability to sense things through touch). The concept fascinated me, and so I wanted to bring it out in a character, showing how sometimes even the most extraordinary powers can also be a curse.

How many books are you planning to write for the Touch series?
So far there will be five books.

How did the idea of pottery come up as a hobby for Camelia's character?
I love pottery myself, and feel that the art of pottery lends itself well to touch. There are all sorts of textures with pottery, depending on what it is you’re sculpting – from hard metals to wood. Camelia’s pottery is very much a part of her life, but she’d been trying for so long to create pieces that fit some artificial ideal. As Camelia begins to grow and gain more confidence in herself, she’s able to let go of those expectations, create more meaningful pieces, and become more aware of her own inner senses.

Has becoming an author changed your life in any way? If so, how?
I’m able to work at home, which is a huge advantage. I have two small children, and this time at home with them is invaluable. I feel very grateful to have a flexible schedule. Being an author also enables me to connect with young people at schools, libraries, and bookstore events. I love meeting my readers and inspiring young people to pursue their dreams. I always pledge the importance of perseverance, and share my path to publication.

Have you always wanted to become an author?
Yes, but I never imagined that I could. This really is a dream come true for me. As a child, I was making up stories before I could even write them down. I’d tell them to whomever was willing to listen, often passing them off as truth to elicit more of a dramatic effect. Then, when I could write, I’d create scripts for my dolls and make them act out the storylines. Telling stories – and then later writing them down – has always been a part of who I am.

What can we see in the future coming from you?
Deadly Little Game is the third book in the Touch Series and will be released in the fall of 2010. I’m also working on the third book in the Amanda Project (www.theamandaproject.com). That should be out around winter 2010.

Deadly Little Lies by Laurie Faria Stolarz

2009-10-03T08:11:00.000-07:00

Deadly Little Lies by Laurie Faria Stolarz
Release Date: November 2009
Publisher: Hyperion
Pages: 282
Overall:

Last fall, sixteen-year-old Camelia fell for Ben, a new boy at school who had a very mysterious gift – psychometry, the ability to sense the future through touch. But just as Camelia and Ben's romance began to heat up, he abruptly left town. Brokenhearted, Camelia has spent the last few months studying everything she can about psychometry and experiencing strange brushes with premonition. Camelia wonders if Ben's abilities have somehow been transferred to her.

Ben returns to school, but he remains aloof, and Camelia can't get close enough to share her secret with him. Camelia makes the painful decision to let him go and move on. Adam, the hot new guy at Knead, seems good for her in ways Ben wasn't. But when Camelia and Adam start dating, a surprising love triangle results. A chilling sequence of events uncovers secrets from Ben’s past – and Adam's. Someone is lying, and it's up to Camelia to figure out who – before it's too late.

Since this is my second time reading one of Stolarz's books, I was pretty acquainted with her type of writing. Yet, she continues to amaze me with her use of adjectives and creative writing style--descriptive, but not too detailed. The tale was alluring. I couldn't get enough.

The writing was unbelievable--as was the plot line. Stolarz adds her own special touch to the often used love triangle, throwing secretive pasts and mysterious lies into play. I was captivated throughout. The characters were prominently unique and stayed true to themselves, which is always important to the story. The plot itself was spectacular and moved along quite quickly. After reading one page, I couldn't get to the next one fast enough. It was purely stunning. I enjoyed every minute of reading this book.

However, the most attracting addition to the novel, for me, was the romance. I loved the romance. Camelia's ever-changing emotion toward Ben was riveting to read about. In this book, their relationship could easily be compared to a rollercoaster. One minute, they're cherishing what is supposed to be their last moments together and the next, they're giving in, cracking under the pressure of their hardly ignorable love. It nearly drove me insane. And when Camelia finally let Ben go and moved on to another guy, Adam, she began to have this feeling in her gut that told her that there might be something he’s keeping from her. This problematic triangle sure was a nail-biter, and I loved it.

A breath-taking book--filled with suspenseful whispers, romantic confusion, and lingering touch. Deadly Little Lies is simply stunning. I'm anxiously awaiting the next in the Touch series, Deadly Little Game.

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Catching Fire By Suzanne Collins

2009-09-25T13:27:00.000-07:00

Catching Fire by Suzanne Collins

Release Date: September 1, 2009
Publisher: Scholastic
Pages: 391
Overall:

Against all odds, Katniss Everdeen has won the annual Hunger Games with fellow district tribute Peeta Mellark. But it was a victory won by defiance of the Capitol and their harsh rules. Katniss and Peeta should be happy. After all, they have just won for themselves and their families a life of safety and plenty. But there are rumors of rebellion among the subjects, and Katniss and Peeta, to their horror, are the faces of that rebellion. The Capitol is angry. The Capitol wants revenge.

When I read Hunger Games a couple months ago, I was immediately amazed by the book's riveting plot, detailed writing, and ability to keep me attentive sentence by sentence. Now, after reading Catching Fire, I am certain that I am obsessing over this series, and that I'll be reading it over and over!

Catching Fire starts a couple months after Hunger Games ended and Katniss has a lot of things ahead of her. When arriving at her home one day, she is surprised to find President Snow waiting for her. She knows that for whatever reason he is in her home it is not good. Her thoughts are proven when he gives her a talk about the so-called rebellion she is leading. As the book goes on more things following the rebellion take place. Uprisings, and harsh enforcements of the law. But this is nothing compared to the Quarter Quell, 75th Hunger Games, especially since Katniss and Peeta must survive the arena once more.

Katniss Everdeen is a wonderful main character. She's strong, capable of doing many things, and can take care of herself. She isn't wimpy or whiny if she's put in a difficult situation. She's quick and willing to take risks. She's probably one of my favorite heroines. Peeta is an enjoyable character as well. It's mentioned in Catching Fire, by Gale, that it is hard to hate him, and I agree with that. He's thoughtful and good-hearted. We haven't read too much on Gale even combining his sections the two books, but I already like him. I honestly have never felt such a connection to any fictional characters before reading Suzanne Collins' books.

In this book, the love triangle only becomes more confusing when Gale confesses his feelings to Katniss and they share a kiss. And because so many things have happened to her recently, she doesn't know what she is feeling, so she leaves him without a certain answer. And then there's Peeta, the boy with the bread, who is willing to put his life on the line for her. I have no idea who she will end up with in the third and final book, and I also don't have a preferred choice, Gale or Peeta. I have come to like the both of them a lot.

Catching Fire was thrilling. It was filled with the same action from the first book, romance, and twists that I never would have expected. You won't want to miss reading this!

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Blog Tour: Malinda Lo

2009-09-23T13:30:00.000-07:00

This is the first time I have participated in a blog tour, and I am so glad I was able to do this for a wonderful and new author, Malinda Lo. I just finished reading Ash, and it is ah-mazing. Definitely unique.

I'll have the review up soon, and then you can see why I think it's worth reading. As a part of the tour, I was able to ask Malinda some questions. They are below along with some extra enjoyable things to read and view that have to do with Ash. The next stop on this blog tour will be over at Books By Their Cover.

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What do you want your readers to take away from your book?

Generally, I hope that readers can escape from the world a bit while they’re reading Ash. I want it to be a fun and absorbing experience. I also hope that the book brings home the idea that falling in love with someone of the same sex is totally natural.

Which of your characters do you relate to the most?

In Ash, I relate to all of them in different ways, even the stepmother. Like Ash, I love to read, but unlike her, I think I would never have gone off wandering in the woods alone. That would have freaked me out. I understand the stepmother’s motivations for her actions, and actually I don’t dislike her. I relate to Kaisa in that I am also very direct in my personal relationships, but I am so not as cool as her! I relate to Sidhean a lot, too, but I can’t quite put my finger on why. He feels very connected to me for some reason, even though I swear I’m not an ancient fairy with a mean streak!

Are there any authors that have inspired you to write?

My all-time children’s/YA favorites include Robin McKinley (Beauty, The Blue Sword, The Hero and the Crown) and Madeleine L’Engle (A Ring of Endless Light is my favorite of hers). More recently I’ve been inspired by Philip Pullman (His Dark Materials trilogy) and Kristin Cashore (Graceling and Fire).

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For more on Ash, check these sites out:

http://www.malindalo.com/ash/authors-note/
http://www.malindalo.com/ash/faq/
http://www.afterellen.com/print/2009/4/youngadultfiction
http://www.afterellen.com/notesandqueeries/04-20-09

Upcoming Contest Winners

2009-09-20T10:45:00.000-07:00

This is a new updated post to fix my complete mistake! It's been a long time since I posted the Upcoming Contest post and I seemed to have forgotten that I said there would be THREE winners, instead of one like I posted the other day. I'm so sorry for forgetting that! And because a follower told me of my mistake, she will win one of the three books.

So, here are the three winners.

throuthehaze won Darklight
ColleenFL won The Body Finder
Book Junkie won Ghost Huntress: The Guidance

Again, I apologize for my mistake. Congrats to the three winners.

In My Mailbox (21)

2009-09-19T22:47:00.000-07:00

I feel so bad for posting reviews but completely skipping over my IMM posts! In fact, I still feel lazy... So, I'll just be posting the books I have received and purchased over the span of two weeks that I didn't post in a boring list. I'll try to jazz it up with some funky colors, though. Here we go...

Catching Fire by Suzanne Collins
Liar by Justine Larbalestier
Girl in the Arena by Lise Haines
Romeo and Juliet by William Shakespeare (w/ an awesome new cover published under Harper Teen!)
Wuthering Heights by Emily Bronte (also w/ a new cover under Harper Teen!)
Love, Meg by C. Leigh Purtill
Secret Society by Tom Dolby
Viola in Reel Life by Adriana Trigiana
The Dashwood Sisters' Secrets of Love by Rosie Rushton

I can't wait to start losing myself in the alternate world that is reading! What did you get this week?

As You Wish Contest

2009-09-15T17:41:00.000-07:00

If you haven't read As You Wish by Jackson Pearce yet, then you have no idea what you're missing. The novel was amazing, full of new and entertaining material, and it added a new perspective to the young adult genre. To read my review and decide whether or not you want to enter this contest, go here.

Much thanks to Harper Teen for supplying three copies of As You Wish by Jackson Pearce that I can give away. They are finished copies and will seriously blow your mind. The book is wonderful.

So, to enter, comment below. Like all my other contests, entering is very hard and may cause you to lose your eye sight or a couple taste buds. Yup, it's pretty serious. So, comment with caution. :]

For all of you overachievers wanting extra entries, read the following...

+2 for following
+1 for reposting this somewhere (link must be provided)

Only open to the U.S. and no P.O. Boxes. This contest ends Oct. 1st, so you have plenty of time.

The time is now. Amaze yourself with As You Wish. Go.

Crazy Beautiful by Lauren Baratz-Logsted

2009-09-15T17:13:00.000-07:00

Crazy Beautiful by Lauren Baratz-Logsted

Release Date: September 7, 2009
Publisher: Houghton Mifflin Harcourt
Pages: 208
Overall:

In an explosion of his own making, Lucius blew his arms off. Now he has hooks. He chose hooks because they were cheaper. He chose hooks because he wouldn’t outgrow them so quickly. He chose hooks so that everyone would know he was different, so he would scare even himself.

Then he meets Aurora. The hooks don’t scare her. They don’t keep her away. In fact, they don’t make any difference at all to her.

But to Lucius, they mean everything. They remind him of the beast he is inside. Perhaps Aurora is his Beauty, destined to set his soul free from its suffering.

Or maybe she’s just a girl who needs love just like he does.

It took a while for the pace of the novel to speed up, and until then I was really bored and forced myself to get through it. Thankfully, the novel did get more interesting as time went on. And after that turning point, I found myself enjoying the novel a lot more.

In most cases, I love reading novels that alternate between the two main characters, but with Crazy Beautiful it just didn't work. There were also a lot of things that didn't need to be in the novel. I thought some parts were just written to fill more pages, and the novel isn't long to being with. I was expecting so much more. The novel didn't even fit the summary until half way through the book and I felt mislead.

The writing wasn't anything spectacular either. And, honestly, I think this book was really anticlimactic for me. I was expecting so much more. But maybe it was just me that wasn't impressed by this book, because I've read some good reviews, so if you want to venture out and buy it, go on ahead. You might enjoy it.

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Upcoming Releases Contest Winner

2009-09-15T04:52:00.000-07:00

Before I announce the winner of my most recent contest, I wanted to thank everyone who has followed me! I reached 300 a while ago, but didn't have anywhere to post it until now! I have another contest coming up, so watch out for that, and also, I have some more reviews coming this week and I have my mind set with posting at least three reviews per week.

So, without further ado, the contest winner is:

throuthehaze

Congrats, and thanks to all who entered. Remember to keep visiting the site to check for updates on contests, reviews, and such.

Pretty Dead by Francesca Lia Block

2009-09-14T17:26:00.000-07:00

Pretty Dead by Francesca Lia Block

Release Date: August 25, 2009
Publisher: Harper Teen
Pages: 195
Overall:

Charlotte Emerson seems to have the perfect existence. She is enviably beautiful and lives alone in a mansion full of treasures and beautiful clothes, perched atop the cliffs of the Pacific Palisades. But Charlotte has been lonely and dead for almost a century. Now she might get a second chance at life.

I am so glad that I read this Francesca Lia Block book before any other of hers, because now I am majorly impressed and will go into reading her previous work optimistically.

Pretty Dead was a lot more than I thought it would be. The book itself isn't very long, and usually that's a put down for me. However, this book didn't need to be long to be entertaining and skillfully created. The writing was probably one of my favorite aspects. It was detailed, , and just plain beautiful.

The intricate and delicate love in this novel was a new thing to me. Most vampire novels consist of a female or male entering a new environment and catching the eye of the vampire, but in this novel, it was completely different. The main character, Charlotte, did have to move a lot, but that was to explore and for necessary purposes regarding her ageless body. The process in this novel was almost reversed. Instead of the main character becoming or developing vampire powers, she begins to lose them.

It's quite interesting to read about her previous years and experiences as well. I just about loved everything in this book! I'm so joyed to have read such an enticing book! I recommend this to everyone, if you love vampires or not.

Pretty Dead is a beautiful story about regret, loss, love and hope for a better life.

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Blood Promise by Richelle Mead

2009-09-13T12:41:00.000-07:00

Blood Promise by Richelle Mead

Release Date: August 25, 2009
Publisher: Penguin/Razorbill Books
Pages: 512
Overall:

Rose Hathaway's life will never be the same.

The recent attack on St. Vladimir's Academy devastated the entire Moroi world. Many are dead. And, for the few victims carried off by Strigoi, their fates are even worse. A rare tattoo now adorns Rose's neck, a mark that says she's killed far too many Strigoi to count. But only one victim matters . . . Dimitri Belikov. Rose must now choose one of two very different paths: honoring her life's vow to protect Lissa—her best friend and the last surviving Dragomir princess—or, dropping out of the Academy to strike out on her own and hunt down the man she loves. She'll have to go to the ends of the earth to find Dimitri and keep the promise he begged her to make. But the question is, when the time comes, will he want to be saved?

Now, with everything at stake—and worlds away from St. Vladimir's and her unguarded, vulnerable, and newly rebellious best friend—can Rose find the strength to destroy Dimitri? Or, will she sacrifice herself for a chance at eternal love?

Though I didn't receive this book for review, I wanted to share my thoughts on it anyway. Why? Because Richelle Mead is my favorite author and her writing is just so amazing! The witty remarks she comes up with for her characters, the unexpected twists, and the deep emotional thrill that I always feel while reading her novels all show her true talent.

In Shadow Kiss, we were left with a huge cliffhanger. Someone that was truly important to the story died, and the effects after that were major. Now, in Blood Promise, it seems that even more eventful things are occuring.

The writing was just as wonderful as the previous in the series and the plot was just to die for. There were so many twists I was not expecting! Rose met some new characters and made new friends. I only hope that we'll see more of these new people in the next two books.

The main thing that I loved in the whole series was the romance. Particularly Rose and Dimitri. Their relationship in this book was hard to read about, because it wasn't really true. And those of you who have read the book know why. Rose was almost under a spell when she was with him, and shattered under his touch, making it impossible to counteract his actions. I did however enjoy the little romance between Adrian and Rose at the end. I have a feeling that they'll get closer in the next book :)

Blood Promise was thrilling. I am very anxious to read Spirit Bound! I have to know what happens next.

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Hold Still by Nina LaCour

2009-09-09T20:41:00.000-07:00

Hold Still by Nina LaCour

Release Date: October 20, 2009
Publisher: Dutton Books
Pages: 240
Overall:

An arresting story about starting over after a friend’s suicide, froma breakthrough new voice in YA fiction

Dear Caitlin, there are so many things that i want so badly to tell you but i just can’t.

Devastating, hopeful, hopeless, playful . . . in words and illustrations, Ingrid left behind a painful farewell in her journal for Caitlin. Now Caitlin is left alone, by loss and by choice, struggling to find renewed hope in the wake of her best friend’s suicide. With the help of family and newfound friends, Caitlin will encounter first love, broaden her horizons, and start to realize that true friendship didn’t die with Ingrid. And the journal which once seemed only to chronicle Ingrid’s descent into depression, becomes the tool by which Caitlin once again reaches out to all those who loved Ingrid—and Caitlin herself

Hold Still is a heart-wrenching novel about the struggles a girl must go through after her best friend's suicide.

Caitlin was a mesmerizing character. Her pain and depression bled through the pages and meshed with my own thoughts. The writing was so wonderfully done that I felt her pain like it was my own. She was so connected to Ingrid, her friend that committed suicide, that when she died, part of Caitlin left with her. Ingrid's death left Caitlin feeling broken, exposed, and the farthest thing from being whole. Ingrid was a great character as well. Though she was only seen through Caitlin's memories and her journal entries, you could tell that she was great at hiding her true emotions. While Caitlin had known about some of the depressing and unspeakable things Ingrid was going through, she didn't know how bad they were and to what extent. However, I honestly thought that even if Ingrid had let Caitlin, or anyone else, into this side of her life, they wouldn't be able to help her. She was deeply dug into a pile of negative thoughts and emotions. It was hard to read about some times, but that's what had my interest; it was true and not many authors choose to write so adventurously.

The other characters were crafted intricately as well. They were all not as they would seem to the outside world. Dylan, Caitlin's new friend, was a lesbian. Taylor, a guy that Caitlin begins to develop a connection with, is popular, but interested in Caitlin's thoughts, even though she's drifting on the edges of the social crowd. Jayson, Taylor's friend and the object of Ingrid's affection, was also very different. So, not only in this novel does the story mention suicide and depression, but it also brings different people from different groups together.

Nina LaCour really did a magnificant job with symbolism. At one point on the novel, an old theater is mentioned. It actually becomes a big part in the book and I liked that it was. But what becomes of it is what I liked most, it was like the starting point of a new beginning.

Hold Still is a devastating journey of love, loss, and new beginnings. An impressing debut from Nina LaCour. She will surely make an impact with her fresh, new voice.

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Undead Much by Stacey Jay

2009-09-07T06:55:00.000-07:00

Undead Much by Stacey Jay
Release Date: January 21, 2010
Publisher: Razorbill
Pages: 320
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A few months ago I was a normal girl with a normal life. But that was before my power to Settle the Undead returned and someone tried to kill me with zombies.

Now I work magic and practice kicking butt while trying to find time for pom squad and my boyfriend, Ethan, and trying NOT to think about how freaky my life has become. It can be tough. Still…things could be worse…

Oh yeah, right:
1. Feral new super-strong zombies. Check.
2. Undead psychic hottie predicting a zombie apocolypse. Check.
3. Earth-shattering secrets that could land me in Settler prison for life. Check.
4. Cheerleader vs. pom squad turf war threatening the end of the half time as we know it. Check.

I’m going to need therapy (and a cookie) if I live through the week. Unfortunately I’m learning that’s not something Zombie Queens can take for granted.

A lot of things happen in this book. Relationships are questioned, innocent characters are being blamed for crimes, family secrets are let out in the open, and zombies' butts are kicked! Undead Much carries on with Megan's story--her problems, her relationships, and her zombies.

The romance was probably the thing I liked most from this book. I'm a sucker for romance. In this novel, Ethan and Megan are undergoing a lot of difficulties in their relationship. For starters, the pressure of taking
their relationship to the "next level" is starting to weigh down on Megan's shoulders, and she can't help but second guessing herself and their relationship all together. And then there's Cliff, the dead zombie who can't seem to be put to rest. He's a problem all on his own, making Megan think things she shouldn't be thinking about non-boyfriends.

While the rest of the novel was up to standards, at the beginnning I was worried about the novel's pace. It was really slow. But as I got deeper into the story it sped up and made my reading experience a whole lot more pleasurable.

Undead Much kicks zombie butt! Readers who were blown away with the first one will love this one just as much, if not more. So many things are in store for Megan and the Settlers.

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Confessions of a First Daughter by Cassidy Calloway

2009-08-31T19:08:00.000-07:00

Confessions of a First Daughter by Cassidy Calloway

Release Date: 9/1/2009
Publisher: Harper Teen
Pages: 224
Overall:

Morgan is so over being first daughter.

Morgan Abbott has no social life and no privacy, and her one major talent is screwing things up. Unfortunately for Morgan, every mistake makes front page headlines—because her mom is the president of the United States. To top it all off, she's been assigned a brainiac secret service agent who's barely older than she is and won't let her out of his sight (never mind that he's kind of cute). Torture!

But when her mom has to slip away on secret business and needs a decoy to cover for her, Morgan is the only one who can help. With a bit of makeup, a little ingenuity, and a lot of family resemblance, Morgan soon has everyone calling her "Madam President." Can she pull it off? Or will she mess everything up . . . again?

Confessions of a First Daughter is a cute story about a girl named Morgan. She wants to have a normal life and doesn't want to have to worry about her wrong-doings being plastered all over magazine covers and shown on tv. But that won't happen, because she's the first female president's daughter.

I thought this book was really interesting! It was exciting to explore life through Morgan's eyes. As the president's daughter, she has a lot to deal with--acting maturely, dressing formally, and keeping her grades up. I felt sympathetic toward her several times throughout the novel.

The characters were not very well developed, but were still appealing. Take Hannah for instance, she was Morgan's best friend, she had an amusing attitude and did wonders with her cosmetics. She was a very charismatic character. Then there's Max. He was probably my favorite. His job at the White House was to guard and protect Morgan, even though he was only a couple years older, and as the story goes on, they develop a friendly relationship that over time became a little more romantic. Except there was a problem: He couldn't get distracted and couldn't slip up.

The story was compelling throughout, but was very nail-biting in the second half of the book, because so many important things took place and the characters had to be extra cautious. So, the events were great, but the ending wasn't to my liking. It wasn't what I thought it would be. It was plain and too fast.

Cassidy Calloway has me impressed! I can't wait for more from her.

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In My Mailbox (19)

2009-08-29T14:41:00.000-07:00

Update: Again, my apologies for not posting my IMM post last week. So, this post will include last weeks books as well.

Blood Promise by Richelle Mead

Hourglass by Claudia Gray

(Both of these are must-haves!)

Forget-Her-Nots by Amy Brecount-White

Bad Apple by Laura Ruby

Ash by Malinda Lo

Soulstice by Simon Holt

I'm super excited to read all of these! What did you get this week?

Waiting on Wednesday (18)

2009-08-26T14:38:00.000-07:00

Update: Hey, I know it's been a while, but what can I say? I just started high school on a huge college-like campus and have to run back and forth to different buildings in under eight minutes. Yeah. So, without further ado, here is my wonderful waiting of wednesday post. And let me say: I AM SUPER EXCITED ABOUT THIS BOOK! So excited that I want to scream :)

City of Fallen Angels by Cassandra Clare
Release Date: March 2011
Publisher: Simon and Schuster

(No Cover Yet)

Love, blood, betrayal and revenge — the stakes are higher than ever in City of Fallen Angels. Simon Lewis is having some trouble adjusting to his new life as a vampire, especially now that he hardly sees his best friend Clary, who is caught up in training to be a Shadowhunter—and spending time with her new boyfriend Jace. Not to mention that Simon doesn't quite know how to handle the pressure of not-quite-dating two girls at once. What's a daylight-loving vampire to do? Simon decides he needs a break and heads out of the city—only to discover that sinister events are following him. Realizing that the war they thought they'd won might not yet be over, Simon has to call on his Shadowhunter friends to save the day — if they can put their own splintering relationships on hold long enough to rise to the challenge.

Sounds amazing, right? What are you waiting for this week?

Shadowland Cover + Summary

2009-08-20T22:08:00.000-07:00

Shadowland by Alyson Noel!
Release Date: November 24, 2009

At the start of this breathtaking novel, Damen and Ever travel to Summerland in search of an antidote to reverse a powerful poison. But instead of the cure they seek, they find something far more sinister: the truth about their existence and the fate lying in wait of an immortal’s soul.

Now, with Damen fighting to save them from the Shadowland, Ever turns to magick, hoping to break Damen’s curse. Along the way Ever encounters the mysterious Jude, finding herself drawn to him in a way that will test her love for Damen like never before . . .

Oh my goodness. This is gorgeous! Does anyone else want to jump around in circles screaming like a fangirl with me? Jump away...

Waiting On Wednesday (17)

2009-08-19T15:53:00.000-07:00

The Dark Divine by Bree Dispain

A prodigal son
A dangerous love
A deadly secret . . .

I stood back and watched his movements. Daniel had that way about him that could shut me down in an instant. . . . I kicked the gravel a couple of times and worked up my courage again. “Tell me . . . I mean . . . why did you come back? Why now, after all this time?”

Grace Divine, daughter of the local pastor, always knew something terrible happened the night Daniel Kalbi disappeared—the night she found her brother Jude collapsed on the porch, covered in blood. But she has no idea what a truly monstrous secret that night really held. And when Daniel returns three years later, Grace can no longer deny her attraction to him, despite promising Jude she’ll stay away.

As Grace gets closer to Daniel, her actions stir the ancient evil Daniel unleashed that horrific night. Grace must discover the truth behind Jude and Daniel's dark secret . . . and the cure that can save the ones she loves. But she may have to lay down the ultimate sacrifice to do it—her soul.

How could you not want to read this?!

DupliKate by Cherry Cheva

2009-08-17T22:36:00.000-07:00

DupliKate by Cherry Cheva

Release Date: September 29, 2009
Publisher: Harper Teen
Pages: 256
Overall:

Kate is your typical stressed senior. She's determined to get into Yale sot hat she and her boyfriend Paul will attend college together. But that doesn't leave much time for Kate, amidst SAT prep, favors for recommendation-writing teachers, and a personal statement that's got Kate blocked. So when she falls asleep in front of her computer which is frozen on a lame simulation game, she's shocked to wake up to a duplicate version of herself named Rina. Could this be the way for Kate to achieve her goals? Or is Rina a wake-up call for Kate?

DupliKate is a novel about an over-scheduled teenager trying to get through high school and into a great college.

The two guys in Kate's life are Paul, her boyfriend, and Jake, the guy she used to be close friends with until Paul convinced her that spending time with him wouldn't get into a good college. When I met Paul, I really enjoyed reading about how sweet he was toward Kate and liked his overall attitude, but when I read that he had pulled her away from Jake, I started to stray away from him and began to find Jake's witty comebacks more entertaining.

Throughout the book, Kate is fully dedicated to Paul, her school work, and getting in Yale, but her thoughts and life change drastically when someone enters her life: a computer-generated copy of herself. At first, she comes to enjoy having a double, because Rina (her double's name; Kate and Rina are both short for Katrina) takes care of several things that Kate doesn't have the energy or time for. I kept thinking while reading about this that it was a bad idea, and soon enough, Kate thought so too, because she wasn't living her life; her boyfriend was going on dates with Rina, her friends were hanging out with her, and her assignments were written by her double, as well. I felt sorry for Kate, and agreed with the decision she made in the end. I supported it all the way and was glad that she got her happy ending.

I really liked the fact that book was about finding yourself. As I was reading about all of things Kate had to put herself through to get into the same college as her boyfriend, Paul, I thought that she was one of those girls that could handle a lot of pressure. But as the story went on, I noticed that she wasn't. And that all of the things that were on her schedule were wearing her out. I immediately felt for her and wanted her to settle things out when she found herself again.

While the novel was brilliantly written and hilariously funny, I was bored at some points toward the end. Kate's thought just seemed to drag on and I wasn't interested in hearing her think about something she had already thought about multiple times. Thankfully, that little boring patch wasn't hard to read through or long enough that it ruined the whole book for me. I got over it in no time.

DupliKate really made me think about my future. It was a great novel to read when you're just entering or already in high school. It was a light read, but one that will make you think.

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As You Wish by Jackson Pearce

2009-08-17T18:31:00.000-07:00

As You Wish by Jackson Pearce

Release Date: August 25, 2009
Publisher: Harper Teen
Pages: 304
Overall:

Ever since Viola's boyfriend broke up with her, she has spent her days silently wishing—to have someone love her again and, more importantly, to belong again—until one day she inadvertently summons a young genie out of his world and into her own. He will remain until she makes three wishes.

Jinn is anxious to return home, but Viola is terrified of wishing, afraid she will not wish for the right thing, the thing that will make her truly happy. As the two spend time together, the lines between master and servant begin to blur, and soon Jinn can't deny that he's falling for Viola. But it's only after Viola makes her first wish that she realizes she's in love with Jinn as well . . . and that if she wishes twice more, he will disappear from her life—and her world—forever.

Jackson Pearce spins a magical tale about star-crossed lovers, what it means to belong . . . and how important it is to be careful what you wish for.

I was blown away. Seriously. Jackson Pearce has written an amazing debut novel. I'm already a fan. The story is new, original, surpring, and shocking. I read it in one sitting.

The story is told from both of the main characters' points of views, Viola and Jinn, so you get an understanding of the differences between their worlds and thoughts. Most of my favorite novels are with alternating views. It's amazing to watch their relationship grow from both sides and to watch as their hidden longing for one another becomes undeniable as it slowly coaxes its way out of them.

The romance in this novel was genius. I'm convinced that Jackson Pearce thrives in this topic, because occurences that I only wished (pun intended) would happen actually did, things that most authors wouldn't dare to write. It's like she personally asked me what I wanted, and I was surprised by that!

Jinn, Viola, and Lawrence are astounding characters. They were developed fantastically and were very pleasurable to read about. They're the kind of people I'd love to have in my life. They had such wonderful characteristics and opinions. There was a special connection between all of them and it shined radiantly through the pages. I especially liked the unique relationship between Viola and Lawrence. I so badly wanted Lawrence to have mutual feelings toward Viola, but at the same time, didn't want him to change. Plus Jinn was irresistable :)

Overall, an alluring romance of intrigue, longing, and desperation. As You Wish is brilliant; an impressive debut! I loved it.

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More on the cover: I like the cover on the advance reading copy more than the final cover. It's simpler and the colors go together better than the final.

Upcoming Releases Contest!

2009-08-16T21:52:00.000-07:00

Hello people of the blogger world and friends,

I'm feeling super happy right now, so I wanted to spread the joy and hold a contest! Or, rather, a giveaway. I'm deciding to give away three extra copies of ARCs that I have to three different people. So, one person gets one book. Make sure you understand this. So, to make sure that we're clear, you have the chance of winning one of three books! Here are the three lovely books:

Darklight by Lesley Livingston

The Body Finder by Kimberly Derting

Ghost Huntress: The Guidance by Marley Gibson

Exciting right? I know! Okay, to win something just do the following. But, be cautious and be prepared because what you have to do to be entered is very complicated and you just might not make it out alive. Okay, you have to: comment. Wow! That's so hard. :]

However, for extra entries, do the following:

follow me (for 2 extra entries)
repost this somewhere: twitter, facebook, your blog. must post link (for one extra entry)
comment on this random review: DupliKate, it has nothing to do with this contest. (for one extra entry)

So, that's it! The rest is up to YOU! Oh yeah, and it's only open to the U.S. and ENDS SEPTEMBER 10th!

Bite Me by Melissa Francis

2009-08-16T17:25:00.001-07:00

Bite Me by Melissa Francis

Release Date: July 28, 2009

Publisher: Harper Teen

Pages: 304

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AJ Ashe isn't a typical seventeen-year-old vampire (as if there is such a thing as ‘typical!’) Her ex-boyfriend is now her stepbrother. Her two BFFs are in a huge fight and AJ’s caught in the middle. She's totally framed for cheating on a Lit test. And now, apparently, the fate of humankind lies in her little undead hands. Like that's fair. What ever happened to the good old days when all a vampire girl had to worry about was the occasional zit and hiding her fetish for necks?

Bite Me is a wonderful debut from an author I'll be keeping my eye on, Melissa Francis. The witty dialogue and compelling plot she has produced prove that she knows what she's doing.

This novel was some-what a part of the romance genre. I liked the coupling in the novel, but didn't like the situation of it. AJ and her ex are just recently step-siblings and are still in love with each other. At first, the sibling factor added a new twist and I thought that maybe something would happen, like their parents' relationship failing, and they would reunite. The outcome of their relationship disappointed me, but didn't. I'm left wondering what will happen in the next book, Love Sucks; it already sounds promising considering the word 'love' in the title.

The action in the novel was suspenseful, and I gobbled it up. The big and evil event that AJ must live through is nail-biting. I was shocked at what was happening while I was reading it. I had suspected two people to be guilty of the set-ups fixated around AJ, but was proven wrong. It was one of the characters I least expected! Rarely is it that I cannot guess the endings of books. It was a delight to be surprised.

While the writing wasn't anything wondrous, I was still consumed by the story. As I said, I'll be waiting for the release of Love Sucks.

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In My Mailbox (17)

2009-08-15T17:10:00.000-07:00

Hey! I had such an amazing week full of books! I can't wait to start reading! This week I received several books. Here they are:

The Snowball Effect by Holly Nicole Hoxter

The Life of Glass by Jillian Cantor

Hold Still by Nina LaCour

Darklight by Lesley Livingston

The Body Finder by Kimberly Derting (two copies)

Goth Girl Rising by Barry Lyga

Duplikate by Cherry Cheva

Candor by Pam Bachorz

Bite Me by Melissa Francis

Confessions of a First Daughter by Cassidy Calloway

I can't wait to read these! I've actually finished a few already! What did you get? Leave me links!

Devoured by Amanda Marrone

2009-08-14T19:59:00.000-07:00

Devoured by Amanda Marrone

Release Date: September 22, 2009
Publishers: Simon Pulse
Pages: 304
Overall:

Megan’s twin sister Remy died in an accident nine years ago, and she’s been haunting her ever since. Knowing how crazy that sounds, Megan keeps this secret to herself and tries to lead a normal life. But when she takes a summer job at Land of Enchantment to keep an eye on her new boyfriend and his lovesick best friend, Samantha, she meets fellow employee Luke who can see Remy, too. Things get even twistier because Megan’s new friend Ari is sporting a massive crush on Luke, who seems to be developing a massive crush on Megan…making for a love triangle that’s positively possessed.

Megan wants to keep her distance from Luke, but when Remy’s visions get crazy violent; she knows she needs his help. Because someone’s definitely in danger...the only question is who?

When I first started reading the novel and started reading the some-what prologue, I was immediately bummed. The prologue just wasn't doing it for me. But as I kept reading and got into the first chapter, I was hooked right away. It was enticing in so many ways and kept my anticipation to read more high. I enjoyed the overall novel tremendously.

The characters were a confusing aspect to me. I liked them, but I didn't. They were relatable and had many different characteristics that were good and bad and they felt real at many moments. However, most characters weren't developed at all; only the main characters. Some didn't even seem to have a reason, and I didn't like that.

The incorporation of Snow White did wonders for the story. It played a big part in the novel and many of the original parts from the tale were threaded through Devoured to make the book a lot more exciting. The magic mirror, for instance, was key to the story in the end, and the bad apples were fused with the tricky and mysterious clues that Megan's dead ghost-twin-sister, Remy, told.

While I was enthusiastic about most of the novel, I was very disappointed with the ending. It happened way too quickly. The climax of the novel occured in the later half of the book, and it seemed that almost right after that, it ended. I even turned back to reread the ending, and still, it didn't satisfy me completely.

Devoured definitely surpassed any of Amanda Marrone's previous novels. I encourage anyone looking for an interesting and unique read to pick this up in September.

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New Layout!

2009-08-14T16:16:00.001-07:00

Welcome to the newly designed, The Book Blogger! I think it looks amazing, don't you! All credits of the design go to Denise Belk from Simply Vamptastic Book Reviews.

She's so spectacular that she's willing to make four more bloggers layouts for free. I mean, come on, look at my blog one more time. I'll wait. Okay. You'd be crazy not to accept, right? Yeah, you would. So hurry up and email her here. (If you want a character like the one on my blog or on hers, you'll have to provide that yourself, though.)

And to be fair: first come, first serve. Isn't that what you've been taught? :D Also watch out for more things to be added to the site, including new contests and more reviews!

Never Cry Werewolf by Heather Davis

2009-08-13T08:56:00.000-07:00

Never Cry Werewolf by Heather Davis
Release Date: September 1, 2009
Publisher: Harper Teen
Pages: 214
Overall:

"Moonlight can totally change your life.
And it all starts so simply.
You. Him. The moon. You’re toast."

Okay, so maybe Shelby has made a few mistakes with boys lately (how was she supposed to know Wes had “borrowed” that Porsche?). But her step-mother totally overreacts when she catches Shelby in a post-curfew kiss with a hot senior. Suddenly Shelby’s summer plans are on the shelf, and she’s being packed off to brat camp. It’s good-bye, prom dress; hello, hiking boots.

Things start looking up, though, when Shelby meets fellow camper (and son of a rock star) Austin Bridges, III. But soon she realizes there’s more to Austin than crush material—his family has a dark secret, and he wants Shelby’s help guarding it. Shelby knows that she really shouldn’t be getting tangled up with another bad boy…but who is she to turn her back on a guy in need, especially such a good looking one? One thing’s for sure, that pesky full moon is about to get her into trouble all over again.

The characters were probably my favorite aspect of this novel. Witty, mysterious and entertaining. They made the story hilarious and interesting. The writing, however, wasn't descriptive or amazing. It was just plain. The pace of the novel was fast, and I was really appreciative of that, because the writing didn't really do wonders for me and if the pace were slow, I'd be bored.

The relationship between Shelby and her dad was a pleasure and I was really anxious to read about their heart-to-heart conversation...only it never came. I really wish I saw at least some of Shelby and her dad after camp. I didn't really think their situation was brought to end and it bummed me out that I didn't get the see the final conversation between the two.

I also thought that the novel was rushed. The relationship between Austin and Shelby wasn't explained deep enough for me to believe that Shelby liked him as much as she said she did. Though I wish there was more time between the two, time that would actually be spent talking about real things, not about Austin's being a werewolf, I actually enjoyed the romance. It was all happy feelings, and I don't want to take away from that.

Never Cry Werewolf is at least a pleasurable read. I'm hoping I'll like The Clearing by Heather Davis more.

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Sleepless Winner

2009-08-12T15:49:00.000-07:00

Finally I am posting this! The winner of Sleepless by Thomas Fahy is...*drumroll please*

Alexa!

If you didn't win, I'd recommend checking back here next week on Monday. I should have a new contest up by then :) Please email me!

Waiting on Wednesday (16)

2009-08-11T21:43:00.000-07:00

This week I'm waiting for a special book written by one of my favorite authors: Cyn Balog. It's her upcoming novel, Sleepless. The cover is beautiful and I'm willing to bet that the writing will be the same.

Eron DeMarchelle spent seventeen years on earth before his death in 1908. Now, he’s part of another world that invisibly coexists with earth. He is what humans call in their bedtime stories a “Sandman,” and his only purpose is to seduce them to sleep night after night. This dull, meaningless existence wears on him until he falls for the one girl he cannot seduce, a human named Julia. He conspires with his oldest friend, the princess Chimere, to find a way to be with the object of his affection forever. But even the most carefully made plans sometimes have unexpected consequences . . .

I'm intrigued. I just have to wait so long! It will be in stores next summer (Summer 2010). What are you waiting for? Post links in the comments please!

Immortal by Gillian Shields

2009-08-10T18:33:00.000-07:00

Immortal by Gillian Shields
Release Date: August 4, 2009
Publisher: Harper Teen
Pages: 360
Overall:

Wyldcliffe Abbey School for Young Ladies, housed in a Gothic mansion on the bleak northern moors, is elite, expensive, and unwelcoming. When Evie Johnson is torn away from her home by the sea to become the newest scholarship student, she is more isolated than she could have dreamed. Strict teachers, snobbish students, and the oppressive atmosphere of Wyldcliffe leave Evie drowning in loneliness.

Evie's only lifeline is Sebastian, a rebellious, mocking, dangerously attractive young man she meets by chance. As Evie's feelings for Sebastian grow with each secret meeting, she starts to fear that he is hiding something about his past. And she is haunted by glimpses of a strange, ghostly girl—a girl who is so eerily like Evie, she could be a sister. Evie is slowly drawn into a tangled web of past and present that she cannot control. And as the extraordinary, elemental forces of Wyldcliffe rise up like the mighty sea, Evie is faced with an astounding truth about Sebastian, and her own incredible fate.

The characters weren't developed at all. Sure, Sebastian was intriguing, Helen was mysterious, Sarah was friendly, and Evie was interesting, but I wanted more!

I liked the writing very much at first. It was descriptive and easily understandable unlike some novels that are overflowing with long words that hardly anyone knows. But as I progressed in reading the novel, I was getting bored and the writing went downhill. And not long after that, the only thing that I found interesting in the novel were the journal entries in the novel written by a character from the past.

The summary of the Immortal got me really excited about the book, but overall, I was honestly disappointed. I was expecting a lot more and thought I would be able to finish the whole book without problem. That, however, was not the case. I ended up having to force myself to get through the book and couldn't get into it no matter how much I wanted to.

If you don't really pay much attention to the quality of the writing or you don't lose interest in novels very easily, I would recommend this.

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In My Mailbox (15)

2009-08-08T08:40:00.000-07:00

This week, in my mailbox, I received for review:

Immortal by Gillian Shields

As You Wish by Jackson Pearce

Pretty Dead by Francesca Lia Block

Darklight by Lesley Livingston

I'm SUPER SUPER excited about Darklight! What did you get? I want to see what you got this week! Post it below :)

Give Up the Ghost by Megan Crewe

2009-08-05T22:10:00.001-07:00

Give Up the Ghost by Megan Crewe
Release Date: September 15, 2009
Publisher: Henry Holt
Pages: 241
Overall:

Cass McKenna much prefers the company of ghosts over "breathers." Ghosts are uncomplicated and dependable, and they know the dirt on everybody... and Cass loves dirt. She's on a mission to expose the dirty secrets of the poseurs in her school.

But when the vice president of the student council discovers her secret, Cass's whole scheme hangs in the balance. Tim wants her to help him contact his recently deceased mother, and Cass reluctantly agrees.

As Cass becomes increasingly entwined in Tim's life, she's surprised to realize he's not so bad--and he needs help more desperately than anyone else suspects. Maybe it's time to give the living another chance...

I actually enjoyed Give Up the Ghost a lot more than I thought I would. It was entertaining and I would highly recommend it to anyone looking for a great read.

One thing I really liked about this novel was that it was different, unique. It wasn't your normal young adult ghost story--nothing was scary, ghosts didn't pop up and say boo!, and no one fell in love. And the fact that the book wasn't all those things made the novel a lot more enjoyable. The characters were amazing, as well. They were incredibly written--each with a different personality and opinion.

However, I was disappointed with the ending, because I didn't think anything was tied up. There were question left unanswered--would Cass try to make more friends? Would Tim recover? Would Paige move on? I didn't like that I was left with so many questions. So, maybe there will be a sequel? I hope so, because the ending didn't satisfy me. It just seemed like there was more to tell.

Give Up the Ghost is a wonderful debut--with ghosts and friendship, how could you go wrong? Megan Crewe has impressed me with this one. I wonder what she'll write next.

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Waiting on Wednesday (15)

2009-08-04T19:33:00.000-07:00

The Life of Glass by Jillian Cantor
Release Date: February 9, 2010
Publisher: Harper Teen

Before he died, Melissa’s father told her about stars. He told her that the brightest stars weren’t always the most beautiful—that if people took the time to look at the smaller stars, if they looked with a telescope at the true essence of the star, they would find real beauty. But even though Melissa knows that beauty isn’t only skin deep, the people around her don’t seem to feel that way. There’s her gorgeous sister Ashley who will barely acknowledge Melissa at school, there's her best friend Ryan, who may be falling in love with the sophisticated Courtney, and there’s Melissa’s mother who’s dating someone new, someone who Melissa knows will never be able to replace her father.

To make sure she doesn’t lose her father completely, Melissa spends her time trying to piece together the last of his secrets and completing a journal her father began—one about love and relationships and the remarkable ways people find one another. But when tragedy strikes, Melissa has to start living and loving in the present, as she realizes that being beautiful on the outside doesn't mean you can't be beautiful on the inside.

Eyes Like Stars by Lisa Mantchev

2009-08-03T19:33:00.000-07:00

Eyes Like Stars by Lisa Mantchev
Release Date: July 2009
Publisher: Feiwel & Friends
Pages: 368
Overall:

All her world's a stage. Bertie Shakespeare Smith is not an actress, yet she lives in a theater. She's not an orphan, but she has no parents. She knows every part, but she has no lines of her own. That is, until now.

Enter Stage Right.
NATE. Dashing pirate. Will do anything to protect Bertie.
COBWEB, MOTH, MUSTARD SEED, and PEASEBLOSSOM. Four tiny and incredibly annoying fairies. BERTIE'S sidekicks.
ARIEL. Seductive air spirit and Bertie's weakness. The symbol of impending doom.
BERTIE. Our heroine.

Welcome to the Theatre Illuminata, where the actors of every play ever written can be found behind the curtain. They were born to play their parts, and are bound to the Theatre by The Book--an ancient and magical tome of scripts. Bertie is not one of them, but they are her family--and she is about to lose them all and the only home she has ever known.

Open Curtain

Eyes Like Stars is magnificant! It's content will make you ecstatic and will positively shock you. From the saucy characters to the brilliant plot--it's all, just, magnificant. There isn't a better word!

Beatrice, with the help of her friends, must convince the managers of the theater that she belongs with them, instead of the place beyond Théâtre Illuminata's doors. Peaseblossom, Moth, Cobweb, and Mustardseed, the fairy foursome that help Beatrice throughout the story, are wonderful characters. Whenever I found myself laughing while reading the book, it was always because of their dialogue--mostly involving sassy sayings and silly remarks. These secondary characters are hilariously played out. Beatrice was also a great main characters. She was hard-headed, strong-willed, and overall entertaining.

The only minor problem I had with the novel was it's pace. It was slow at some times and that made the novel a little less enjoyable. Other than that, it was up to high standards.

Eyes Like Stars is enchanting. A blue-haired trouble maker, quirky fairies, loyal pirates, demanding managers, and mysterious figures all come together to create the adventurous tale. You won't want to miss it. And I cannot wait for more of Bertie's adventure.

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Meridian by Amber Kizer

2009-07-29T16:16:00.000-07:00

Meridian by Amber Kizer
Release Date: August 11, 2009
Publisher: Delacorte Press
Pages: 320
Overall:

Sixteen-year-old Meridian has been surrounded by death ever since she can remember. As a child, insects, mice, and salamanders would burrow into her bedclothes and die. At her elementary school, she was blamed for a classmate’s tragic accident. And on her sixteenth birthday, a car crashes in front of her family home—and Meridian’s body explodes in pain.

Before she can fully recover, Meridian is told that she’s a danger to her family and hustled off to her great-aunt’s house in Revelation, Colorado. It’s there that she learns that she is a Fenestra—the half-angel, half-human link between the living and the dead. But Meridian and her sworn protector and love, Tens, face great danger from the Aternocti, a band of dark forces who capture vulnerable souls on the brink of death and cause chaos.

I loved the characters! They were all well developed and a pleasure to read about. Each contributed to the novel in a different way. The main character, Meridian, had to be my favorite of them all. She was relatable and definitely had my sympathy when she was forced to leave her family behind. She was also strong-willed and a great listener. Tens was fantastic too! He was sarcastic--which I love--and hilarious, which is good too. He was almost the exact opposite of Meridian and they balanced each other out perfectly. The romance between the two was refreshing.

The novel was surprisingly fast-paced and the plot was just genius. I thought the duty of a Fenestra was awesome--helping the dead move on to Heaven. It sounded like a cool job, but kind of scary.

One thing I found distasteful was the lack of explanation in some parts. I found myself confused every once once in a while. Another thing was that I actually got bored. Even though that was a rarity, it was still present, and it lessened my interest in the novel.

Meridian was an exciting read and kept me on my toes for the majority of the time. I'm anxious to see what Amber Kizer will write next.

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Waiting On Wednesday (14)

2009-07-29T12:25:00.000-07:00

After falling in love with Carrie Ryan's writing, and enjoying The Forest of Hands and Teeth, how could I not want The Dead-Tossed Waves? It's at the top of my wish list!

The Dead-Tossed Waves by Carrie Ryan
Release Date: March 9, 2010
Publishers: Delacorte Books for Young Readers

Gabry lives a quiet life. As safe a life as is possible in a town trapped between a forest and the ocean, in a world teeming with the dead, who constantly hunger for those still living. She’s content on her side of the Barrier, happy to let her friends dream of the Dark City up the coast while she watches from the top of her lighthouse. But there are threats the Barrier cannot hold back. Threats like the secrets Gabry’s mother thought she left behind when she escaped from the Sisterhood and the Forest of Hands and Teeth. Like the cult of religious zealots who worship the dead. Like the stranger from the forest who seems to know Gabry. And suddenly, everything is changing. One reckless moment, and half of Gabry’s generation is dead, the other half imprisoned. Now Gabry only knows one thing: she must face the forest of her mother’s past in order to save herself and the one she loves.

Contest Winners!

2009-07-27T16:51:00.000-07:00

The following have won a paperback copy of Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows + a Collector's Pin:

Ann Diana Dinh
Kim from Book Butterfly
Courtney
Catherine
Shooting Stars Mag

So send me your mailing address and I'll have them sent right away! Congrats! And don't forget to enter my other contest for a chance to win Sleepless by Thomas Fahy here.

Lipstick Apology by Jennifer Jabaley

2009-07-26T20:54:00.000-07:00

Lipstick Apology by Jennifer Jabaley
Release Date: August 6, 2009
Publisher: Razorbill
Pages: 285
Overall:

Four Little Words Written in Lipstick...
mean Emily must say goodbye to everything she knows. Emily Carson has always been a good girl. So when she throws a party the night her parents leave for vacation, she's sure she'll get busted. What Emily doesn't know is that her parents will never return. That their plane will go down. And the only thing left amidst the wreckage will be a tray table with the words: Emily please forgive me scrawled in lipstick—her mother's last words.

Now it's fall in New York City and Emily's trying to pick up the pieces of her shattered life. Her public tragedy captures the attention of more than just the media—and soon two very different boys at her new school are pursuing her: the cute, popular Owen and the quirky chemistry partner slash pastry-baker-by-night, Anthony. But even with such delicious distractions, Emily can't let go of her mother's mysterious apology. Does she have the courage to face the truth?

With help of a whole new kind of family—one that includes a make-up artist to the stars, a teen model, and a wacky hairdresser—Emily must choose between the boy who makes her forget it all, and the one who encourages her to remember, and ultimately, heal.

Sometimes goodbye is just the beginning

My most favorite thing about this book were the characters. All of them were written superbly and felt real, because the issues they went through were relatable. I especially liked Trent, Emily's aunt's best friend, also a hair stylist. He was just hilarious! I found myself laughing out loud at some of his quirky comments. Jolie, Emily's aunt, was a great character because she was such an amateur at being a motherly figure and it was nice to read about her learning to be one. It was also entertaining to read about her trying to cook turkey. I could go on, but I'll just say that I really loved the characters.

The romance was a little dry, and wasn't all too unique in my opinion. I thought it was easily predictable and I didn't feel any connection between Emily and Owen. To me, it seemed only superficial. And I only felt a small spark between Emily and Anthony. I just wish that the novel included more dialogue between these characters. Then maybe it would've felt more real.

Creativity was not a problem in this novel, however. The plot itself was very creative, the part involving her mother's last words especially. The true reason for her mom's message was mind-boggling and completely shocking. This made the novel that much more enjoyable.

Lipstick Apology was a read full of many different emotions--happiness, sadness, anger, and much more. I was amazed by its context.

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In My Mailbox (14)

2009-07-25T22:07:00.000-07:00

Undead Much? by Stacey Jay

A few months ago I was a normal girl with a normal life. But that was before my power to Settle the Undead returned and someone tried to kill me with zombies.

Now I work magic and practice kicking butt while trying to find time for pom squad and my boyfriend, Ethan, and trying NOT to think about how freaky my life has become. It can be tough. Still…things could be worse…

Oh yeah, right:

1. Feral new super-strong zombies. Check.
2. Undead psychic hottie predicting a zombie apocolypse. Check.
3. Earth-shattering secrets that could land me in Settler prison for life. Check.
4. Cheerleader vs. pom squad turf war threatening the end of the half time as we know it. Check.

I’m going to need therapy (and a cookie) if I live through the week. Unfortunately I’m learning that’s not something Zombie Queens can take for granted.

I'm super excited about this one! So what did you get?

Shiver by Maggie Stiefvater

2009-07-24T10:58:00.000-07:00

Shiver by Maggie Stiefvater
Release Date: August 1, 2009
Publisher: Scholastic Press
Pages: 400
Overall:

For years, Grace has watched the wolves in the woods behind her house. One yellow-eyed wolf — her wolf — is a haunting presence she can't seem to live without.

Meanwhile, Sam has lived two lives: In winter, the frozen woods, the protection of the pack, and the silent company of a fearless girl. In summer, a few precious months of being human...until the cold makes him shift back again.

Now, Grace meets a yellow-eyed boy whose familiarity takes her breath away. It's her wolf. It has to be. But as winter nears and the temperature drops, Sam must fight to stay human — or risk losing himself, and Grace, forever.

The first thing that caught me in this book was the lyrical writing. I've come to know that Maggie likes to incorporate music, or something music-related, in her writing--in this case, it was lyrics, ones that would pop up in Sam's head. And, like her writing, the lyrics she created were enchanting and fit the characters' situations perfectly.

The creativity of the novel was refreshing. Instead of the moon being the reason for changing from a wolf to a human or vice versa, in this novel, it was the temperature. I found this to be very creative and original.

Grace and Sam fit perfectly together, like yin and yang. Their relationship, even before Sam transformed back to his human self, was special and unique. I found it amazing that Grace fell in love with him, without even knowing his voice, only by seeking his eyes and finding his scent. And I so badly wanted them to have a happy ending, after all they had been through to get to this point, them being together. The outcome of their relationship was different than I expected, but nonetheless, satisfactory.

Shiver is a chilling tale of romance between a girl and her wolf. You won't want the story to end. Maggie Stiefvater has once again proven her amazing skill, the ablility to lure you in with her addicting words and catchy lyrics.

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Sleepless by Thomas Fahy

2009-07-23T10:37:00.000-07:00

Sleepless by Thomas Fahy
Release Date: August , 2009
Publisher: Simon & Schuster
Pages: 209
Overall: 2/5

Emma Montgomery has been having trouble sleeping. Whenever she closes her eyes, all she can see are the horrible nightmares...nightmares of gruesome murder. And she's not alone. All of the students of Dr. Beecher's secret society have been having terrible dreams and sleepwalking. Now, as their classmates start turning up dead, Emma and her friends race against the clock to keep themselves awake and find out what is causing them to kill in their sleep -before the next victim dies.

In all honesty, I think Sleepless was anticlimactic. Not necessatily all disappointing, but definitely not as good as I expected; it was a lot different than I thought it would be. I found more negatives in the book than positives, so that really shocked me as well.

First of all, the characters were a disappointment to me. I didn't think they were relatable at all, and they weren't distinct, meaning they changed a lot and never really stood out in my mind. I actually confused quite a few of the characters. I was about half-way through the book until I actually knew for sure who everyone was. The plot, I thought, was everywhere, and it didn't really pertain to the summary very well. The overall novel just didn't stand out for me. It was okay.

Something I did like, however, were the flashbacks that the characters would have about once a chapter, as well as their dreams, the nightmares. I found all of the dreams interesting and the details were great to read about. They created many pictures in my mind, and I found that enjoyable. The writing was also highly appreciated, and the pace was also fast, so at least the book didn't move along slowly.

While the overall book wasn't too exciting and I not once got spooked, it was at the most pleasurable. Hopefully you might find it more enjoyable than I did.

Ratings:

Writing: 2/5
Plot: 1/5
Characters: 1/5
Ending: 2/5
Cover: 2/5

If you want to win an ARC of Sleepless, go here. Maybe we'll have different opinions on the book, you never know.

Waiting on Wednesday (14)

2009-07-22T09:51:00.000-07:00

OPEN YOUR EYES.

Janie thought she knew what her future held. And she thought she'd made her peace with it. But she can't handle dragging Cabel down with her.

She knows he will stay with her, despite what she sees in his dreams. He's amazing. And she's a train wreck. Janie sees only one way to give him the life he deserves--she has to disappear. And it's going to kill them both.

Then a stranger enters her life--and everything unravels. The future Janie once faced now has an ominous twist, and her choices are more dire than she'd ever thought possible. She alone must decide between the lesser of two evils. And time is running out...

Sounds amazing, right? I think so too :) What are you waiting for on this fine Wednesday?

New Layout!

2009-07-19T22:38:00.001-07:00

Welcome to the newly designed The Book Blogger! Do you like it? I hope you do, because I love it! It took a lot of tutorials to do this, but, after some tiring eyes and typed out fingers, it's done.

How It Ends by Laura Weiss

2009-07-19T17:17:00.000-07:00

All Hanna's wanted since sophomore year is Seth. She's gone out with other guys, even gained a rep for being a flirt, all the while hoping cool, guitar-playing Seth will choose her. Then she gets him – but their relationship is hurtful, stormy and critical, not at all what Hanna thinks a perfect love should be.

Bewildered by Seth's treatment of her and in need of understanding, Hanna decides to fulfill her school's community service requirement by spending time with Helen, her terminally ill neighbor, who she's turned to for comfort and wisdom throughout her life. But illness has changed Helen into someone Hanna hardly knows, and her home is not the refuge it once was.

Feeling more alone than ever, Hanna gets drawn into an audio book the older woman is listening to, a fierce, unsettling love story of passion, sacrifice and devotion. Hanna's fascinated by the idea that such all-encompassing love can truly exist, and without even realizing it, the story begins to change her.

Until the day when the story becomes all too real...and Hanna's world is spun off its axis by its shattering irrevocable conclusion.

HOW IT ENDS is an unbelievably unsettling and satisfying read. Some parts will make you want to smile, others frown. I've never read anything like it.

I really enjoyed reading the first chapter, because, instead of having the novel begin in the present, it went back into the past and introduced Helen ("Gran") and Hanna. It explained how they met, and what they did over the years to develop the tight bond between them, and it also mentioned how their bond shriveled a little as Hanna got older.

Because the novel is told from both Hanna and Helen's point of view, it helps you to understand what each of the characters are going though and what they're experiencing.

The characters in this novel are wonderfully crafted. They're bold and unforgettable. Each of them played a great role in the story and weren't there just to move the plot forward. And I liked that they were all important, because so many books I've read have had extra characters that were just there for the main character's benefit.

HOW IT ENDS will definitely be on my mind for a while. It's a really moving story. A great novel from Laura Weiss.

Ratings:

Writing: 4/5
Plot: 3/5
Character: 3/5
Cover: 4/5
Overall: 3/5

In My Mailbox (13)

2009-07-18T18:59:00.003-07:00

First off, THANKYOUTHANKYOUTHANKYOU Cathy from Blue Willow Bookshop!!! All 70 books this week in my mailbox are from her! Okay, now, let's get on with it :) There are far too many books to post pictures for all of them, so, I'm just posting a boring old list.

Ruined: A Ghost Story by Paula Morris
Love is Hell by Melissa Marr, Scott Westerfeld, Justine Larbalestier, Gabrielle Zevin, Laurie Faria Stolarz
Be Mine by Sabrina James
Wild Things by Clay Carmichael
Strange Angels by Lili St. Crow
Ruined: A Ghost Story by Paula Morris (second copy)
Radiant Darkness by Emily Whitman
The Deep by Helen Dunmore
The Season by Sarah MacLean
Shimmer by Dallas Reed
Lips Touch Three Times by Laini Taylor
How to Say Goodbye in Robot by Natalie Standiford
Meridian by Amber Kizer
Ghost Huntress: The Guidance by Marley Gibson
The Everafter by Amy Huntley
The Amanda Project: Book One: The Invisible I by Stella Lennon
The Fetch by Laura Whitcomb
Lipstick Apology by Jennifer Jabaley
The Comeback by Marlene Perez

Girl in the Arena by Lise Haines
The Princess and the Bear by Mette Ivie Harrison
Bad Girls Don't Die by Katie Alender
Daughters of the Sea: Hannah by Kathryn Lasky
Sophmore Switch by Abby McDonald
Prada & Prejudice by Mandy Hubbard
The Reluctant Heiress by Eva Ibbotson
Kissing Booth by Lexie Hill
Ten Things I Hate About Me by Randa Abdel-Fattah
Jars of Glass by Brad Barkley & Heather Hepler
If the Witness Lied by Caroline B. Cooney

A Match Made in High School Heaven by Kristin Walker
The Stolen One by Suzanne Crowley
The Stolen One by Suzanne Crowley (second copy)
The Sweet Life of Stella Madison by Lara M. Zeises
The September Sisters by Jillian Cantor
Crowned by Julie Linker
The Forest of Hands and Teeth by Carrie Ryan
Tempo Change by Barbara Hall
Need by Carrie Jones
Wondrous Strange by Lesley Livingston
Absolutely Maybe by Lisa Yee
Say the Word by Jeannine Garsee
Marcelo in the Real World by Francisco X. Stork
Riding the Universe by Gaby Triana
Purge by Sarah Darer Littman
The King's Rose by Alisa M. Libby
The Geek Girl's Guide to Cheerleading by Charity Tahmaseb & Darcy Vance
Once Dead, Twice Shy by Kim Harrison
Chasing Boys by Karen Tayleur
The Awakening by Kelley Armstrong
A Map of the Known World by Lisa Ann Sandell
TMI by Sarah Quigley
Distant Waves by Suzanne Weyn
Look Both Ways by Jacquelyn Mitchard
Heartbreak River by Tricia Mills
Everything is Fine by Ann Dee Ellis
Heartsinger by Karlijn Stoffels
Twenty Boy Summer by Sarah Ockler
Kisses and Lies by Lauren Henderson
Never Cry Werewolf by Heather Davis
Wherever Nina Lies by Lynn Weingarten
Touch by Francine Prose
Love You Hate You Miss You by Elizabeth Scott
The Anatomy of Wings by Karen Foxlee
The Treasure Map of Boys by E. Lockart
The School for Dangerous Girls by Eliot Schrefer
Prophecy of the Sisters by Michelle Zink
Shiver by Maggie Stiefvater
Stupid Cupid by Rhonda Stapleton
Dirty Little Lies by Laurie Faria Stolarz

The one I am most excited for is Dirty Little Lies by Laurie Faria Stolarz! I don't even know where to start. What book would you read first? And, what did you get this week?

Win Sleepless by Thomas Fahy

2009-07-16T15:52:00.000-07:00

To win an ARC of Sleepless by Thomas Fahy, just comment below. You can comment as many times as you want.

+1 for posting this anywhere (link must be provided.)

+2 for following

ENDS August 1st!! Open ONLY to US!! No PO Boxes!!

Coffeehouse Angel by Suzanne Selfors

2009-07-13T11:00:00.000-07:00

When Katrina spots a homeless guy sleeping in the alley behind her grandmother's coffee shop, she leaves him a cup of coffee, a bag of chocolate-covered coffee beans, and some pastries to tide him over, never expecting this random act of kindness to turn her life upside down. The adorable vagrant, Malcolm, is actually a guardian angel on a break between missions, and now he won't leave until he can reward Katrina's selflessness by fulfilling her deepest desire. Fame and fortune seem like the obvious requests, but after two botched wishes, Malcolm knows Katrina is hiding something from him. But how can she tell him the truth, when her heart's desire has become Malcolm himself?

COFFEEHOUSE ANGEL is a novel that sucks you in immediately. It gets right to the point, and I love that. The writing moves the novel along quickly, making it really easy to comprehend.

The angel incorporation is not new, but definitely original and it's not like any other book I've read about angels.

The characters in this novel are phenomenal. It's almost impossible not to love Katrina, the main character. She's calm under pressure(most of the time), easily likable and very relatable. She's probably one of my favorite characters out of all the books I've read. The relationships Katrina has with the people around her are very special and different. It's fun to read about them as well and interesting to see how the different characters interact.

I loved the ending. It was sweet and happy. In some books, happy endings make the book disappointing or unfulfilled, but in COFFEEHOUSE ANGEL, it was perfect, because I wanted everyone to be happy after all the complications they've been through.

COFFEEHOUSE ANGEL is hilarious, happy, sad and satisfying all at the same time. The story is enticing. You wont want to put it down.

Ratings:

Writing: 4/5
Plot: 3/5
Characters: 5/5
Cover: 4/5
Overall: 5/5

In My Mailbox (12)

2009-07-11T12:39:00.000-07:00

I love getting books in the mail or from the store. I mean who doesn't? Well, this week has been just great. I got to get books that I've been wanting for a long time! I love all these new releases! Anyone else? In my mailbox this week...

Eyes Like Stars by Lisa Mantchev

(HB/Feiwel & Friends/July 7, 2009)

All her world's a stage. Bertie Shakespeare Smith is not an actress, yet she lives in a theater. She's not an orphan, but she has no parents. She knows every part, but she has no lines of her own. That is, until now.

Enter Stage Right.

NATE. Dashing pirate. Will do anything to protect Bertie.

COBWEB, MOTH, MUSTARD SEED, and PEASEBLOSSOM. Four tiny and incredibly annoying fairies. BERTIE'S sidekicks.
ARIEL. Seductive air spirit and Bertie's weakness. The symbol of impending doom.

BERTIE. Our heroine.

Welcome to the Theatre Illuminata, where the actors of every play ever written can be found behind the curtain. They were born to play their parts, and are bound to the Theatre by The Book--an ancient and magical tome of scripts. Bertie is not one of them, but they are her family--and she is about to lose them all and the only home she has ever known.

Open Curtain

Blue Moon by Alyson Noel

(SB/St. Martin's Press/July 7, 2009)

Eager to learn everything she can about her new abilities as an Immortal, Ever turns to her beloved Damen to show her the way. But just as her powers are increasing, Damen’s are waning.

In an attempt to save him, Ever travels to the magical dimension of Summerland, where she learns the secrets of Damen’s tortured past; a past which he has always kept hidden from her. But in her quest to cure Damen, Ever discovers an ancient text that details the workings of time. Now Ever must choose between turning back the past and saving her family from the accident that claimed their lives—or staying in the present and saving Damen, who grows sicker every day...

Fairy Tale by Cyn Balog (ARC has Fairy Lust on it!)
(ARC/Random House Children's Books/June 23, 2009)

A captivating and witty dark fantasy that will have girls lusting after it.

Morgan Sparks has always known that she and her boyfriend, Cam, are made for each other. But when Cam’s cousin Pip comes to stay with the family, Cam seems depressed. Finally Cam confesses to Morgan what’s going on: Cam is a fairy. The night he was born, fairies came down and switched him with a healthy human boy. Nobody expected Cam to live, and nobody expected his biological brother, heir to the fairy throne, to die. But both things happened, and now the fairies want Cam back to take his rightful place as Fairy King.

Even as Cam physically changes, becoming more miserable each day, he and Morgan pledge to fool the fairies and stay together forever. But by the time Cam has to decide once and for all what to do, Morgan’s no longer sure what’s best for everyone, or whether her and Cam’s love can weather an uncertain future.

Hush, Hush by Becca Fitzpatrick (signed!)
(ARC/Simon & Schuster Children's Publishing/October 13, 2009/)

For Nora Grey, romance was not part of the plan. She's never been particularly attracted to the boys at her school, no matter how much her best friend, Vee, pushes them at her. Not until Patch came along.

With his easy smile and eyes that seem to see inside her, Nora is drawn to him against her better judgment.

But after a series of terrifying encounters, Nora's not sure who to trust. Patch seems to be everywhere she is, and to know more about her than her closest friends. She can't decide whether she should fall into his arms or run and hide. And when she tries to seek some answers, she finds herself near a truth that is way more unsettling than anything Patch makes her feel.

For Nora is right in the middle of an ancient battle between the immortal and those that have fallen - and, when it comes to choosing sides, the wrong choice will cost her life.

Sleepless by Thomas Fahy
(ARC/Simon & Schuster Children's Publishing/August 11, 2009)

Emma Montgomery has been having trouble sleeping. Whenever she closes her eyes, all she can see are the horrible nightmares...nightmares of gruesome murder. And she's not alone. All of the students of Dr. Beecher's secret society have been having terrible dreams and sleepwalking. Now, as their classmates start turning up dead, Emma and her friends race against the clock to keep themselves awake and find out what is causing them to kill in their sleep -before the next victim dies.

I got a great bundle this week! Since I already have a copy of Sleepless, I'll be giving it away in a contest soon, so watch out for that! What did everyone else get?

Blue Moon by Alyson Noel

2009-07-11T10:18:00.000-07:00

Eager to learn everything she can about her new abilities as an Immortal, Ever turns to her beloved Damen to show her the way. But just as her powers are increasing, Damen’s are waning.

In an attempt to save him, Ever travels to the magical dimension of Summerland, where she learns the secrets of Damen’s tortured past; a past which he has always kept hidden from her. But in her quest to cure Damen, Ever discovers an ancient text that details the workings of time. Now Ever must choose between turning back the past and saving her family from the accident that claimed their lives—or staying in the present and saving Damen, who grows sicker every day...

BLUE MOON is a wonderfully written sequel full of love, hate, anger, and sadness all-in-one. One of the best books I've read this year.

The hilariously entertaining characters are all back, with a new character on the loose. While Ever and Damen themselves and their friends add little sparks to each of the pages in which they are mentioned, this new character doesn't. He irks me, and his hidden agenda is not really surprising but very threatening.

Just like EVERMORE, BLUE MOON's pace is rather fast, and it just makes me love the books even more, because it keeps the suspense high and the urge to read further imminent.

The writing is probably one of the best things about book - the whole series - because it's so well done and crafted beautifully! Whenever I read this series, I always sort of just drift off into it's contents.

With immortal lovers, trustworthy friends, betraying furtune tellers, and freaky identical twins, what more could you ask for? BLUE MOON has me begging for SHADOWLAND! I can't wait for the next in the series.

Ratings:

Writing: 5/5
Plot: 5/5
Characters: 5/5
Cover: 5/5
Overall: 5/5

Switch by Carol Snow

2009-07-09T12:25:00.000-07:00

Claire Martin has some serious body issues.

Not much happens in Claire's sleepy beach town, but that's okay. All she wants is to hang out with her best friend, make the high school swim team, and convince Nate, the guy of her dreams, to stop calling her "Dude." And, oh—she'd really, really like to stay in her own skin.

Ever since Claire hit her teens, electrical storms have been making her switch bodies. Usually she's back to her old self in no time. But when something goes terribly wrong, she finds herself stuck as another girl. And not just any girl, but the icy beauty who has caught Nate's eye.

Suddenly Claire goes from being Miss Average to Miss Gorgeous—the model-thin blonde that every girl wants to look like and every guy wants to date. Will she ever figure out how to get back to her old life? More importantly, will she want to?

Reading about Claire's previous body switching was interesting, because it brought things together, and informatively showed how things happened. Like the relationship between Claire and Beanie, Claire's best friend. The whole body switching thing in general was pretty cool to read about. You'd think it'd be great to be someone else for a day, but this novel proves that it isn't.

Another thing that I liked that this novel showed was that, things aren't always as they seem. Larissa, the girl that Claire switches bodies with for the most of the book, is a beautiful, blonde girl. When Claire was herself, Larissa seemed to be full of herself and snobby, but when Claire was in Larissa's body, she saw how hard her life was. She was always ordered around like a maid, and all she really wanted to do was see her father. I quickly had more respect for Larissa's character.

The characters were fun and very likable. Beanie, has to be my favorite character. She's witty and relatable, her weakness, though, is that she is easily put down. I think she made the book a lot more interesting, even though she didn't play such a big role. Nate, Claire's object of admiration, annoyed me a little because he didn't seem to be genuine all the time. He was sort of confusing to me.

The only disappointment that I had with SWITCH is that I wanted more! The ending was left open, and sometimes that's perfect, but in this case, it wasn't. I wish more was told. Other than that? Very entertaining.

SWITCH is an easy and enticing read. Almost immediately I was drawn in by its story. If you haven't read it already, I recommend it.

Ratings:

Writing: 4/5
Plot: 3/5
Character: 3/5
Cover: 2/5
Overall: 3/5

Waiting on Wednesday (13)

2009-07-08T20:21:00.000-07:00

Sixteen year-old Cassie Renfield has seen the mark since forever: a glow around certain people as if a candle were held behind their back. The one time she pointed it out taught her not to do it again, so Cassie has kept quiet, considering its rare appearances odd, but insignificant. Until the day she watches a man die. Mining her memories, Cassie realizes she can see a person's imminent death. Not how or where, only when: today. Cassie searches her past, her philosophy lessons, even her new boyfriend for answers, always careful to hide her secret. How does the mark work? Why her? Most importantly, if you know today is someone's last, should you tell?

Ooh! Just reading the synopsis gives me chills! I can't wait to dive into this one :) What are you waiting for?

Contest Winners!

2009-07-07T10:46:00.000-07:00

All of my contests are over :( Except for my HP one, so go enter that here. Here are the following winners for my recent contests.

~THE OPTIMISTIC PESSIMIST ~ wins a copy of WINGS!
Eli wins a copy of THE AWAKENING!
Tina wins a copy of STARGAZER!
Okibi_insanity wins a signed copy of REVELATIONS.
Debbie's World of Books win a signed copy of OH.MY.GODS.

Congrats to all my winners!!! If you didn't win this time, enter next time :)

In My Mailbox (11)

2009-07-05T10:02:00.000-07:00

In my mailbox this week...

MERIDIAN by Amber Kizer
COFFEEHOUSE ANGEL by Suzanne Selfors

So, what did you get???

Sea Change by Aimee Friedman

2009-07-02T11:12:00.000-07:00

16-year-old Miranda Merchant is great at science...and not so great with boys. After major drama with her boyfriend and (now ex) best friend, she's happy to spend the summer on small, mysterious Selkie Island, helping her mother sort out her late grandmother's estate.

There, Miranda finds new friends and an island with a mysterious, mystical history, presenting her with facts her logical, scientific mind can't make sense of. She also meets Leo, who challenges everything she thought she knew about boys, friendship...and reality.

Is Leo hiding something? Or is he something that she never could have imagined?

SEA CHANGE is a novel that I was waiting for a long time, full of excitement and interest. When I finally got it, I dove into the story, hoping for a happy love story...however, that's not exactly what I got, and that surprised me, but did not disappoint.

Miranda Merchant, granddaughter of the owner of The Mariner, a vacation house on Selkie Island, is a great character. Her curiosity made the story interesting and kept the plot moving. Her lack of being able to really fit in made the story believable and made her character more relatable.

Following Miranda and reading about her thoughts about her mother's sudden change in interests and the mysterious boy from Fisherman's Village made the novel incredibly interesting. The developing romance between Miranda and Leo was the perfect addition to the novel. And the secrets Leo carried with him only made you want to learn more about him.

While I did enjoy the overall presence of the novel, there were still some disappointments. The beginning of the novel moved slowly for me, as did some other portions of the novel and that put me down a little bit. Other than that, I really liked it.

SEA CHANGE is not your average love story. And it doesn't end the way you'd expect it to, but still, it's a fun and interesting read.

Ratings:

Writing: 3/5
Plot: 3/5
Characters: 2/5
Cover: 5/5
Overall: 3/5

Win Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows!

2009-07-01T15:23:00.000-07:00

In celebration and honor of the Harry Potter series, and the new movie that will be coming out soon, I'm giving away 5(count em') paperback copies of HARRY POTTER AND THE DEATHLY HALLOWS. So there will be five winners in all! To learn more about the series click here.

Not only will all winners receive a paperback copy of the book, all winners will also get a Gold Collector's Edition Pin!!

+2 for following

+3 for reposting this somewhere(must link)

ONLY OPEN TO US & NO P.O. BOXES!!! ENDS JULY 23rd!!!

Good Luck :D

Goddess Boot Camp by Tera Lynn Childs

2009-07-01T13:21:00.000-07:00

Phoebe, who recently discovered she's a descendant of Nike (the goddess, not the shoe), is finding that supernatural powers come with a crazy learning curve. Her stepfather, headmaster of the Academy for descendants of the Greek gods, has enrolled her at Dynamotheos Development Camp—aka Goddess Boot Camp—with a bunch of ten-year-olds for the summer. Embarrassing as that is, hopefully it'll help her gain control over her powers in time to pass the test of the gods, continue training hard enough to qualify for the Pythian Games, and enjoy her godly boyfriend, Griffin, all while avoiding the ultimate mistake of accidentally misusing powers

Going into GODDESS BOOT CAMP, I felt pretty optimistic, because I had enjoyed the first in the series. In this novel, Pheobe, the main character, has already found out that she is a descendant of the Goddess Nike. And unlike the other students at her school, she hasn't been training or learning how to control her powers her whole life, so things are pretty complicated for her.

The original characters from the first novel are reintroduced in the second, Pheobe, Nicole, Troy, Griffin... This second time around, I truly felt like I knew the characters, which is good. And I still love Griffin, terribly. One of the conflicts involving Griffin in this novel made me question him a little bit, but in the end, my feelings never changed towards him. I did, however, come to like Stella, Pheobe's stepsister, and Adara, Griffin's ex-girlfriend.

The only minor disappointment I had was that it got a little boring at some points and I felt like skipping parts, but I didn't, and stuck it out. In the end, I'm glad I didn't skip sections, because they were important later in the story and it would've been confusing if I were to do so.

All in all, GODDESS BOOT CAMP was satisfying. I do have to say, though, that I think I liked the prequel better.

Ratings:

Writing: 2/5
Plot: 2/5
Characters: 3/5
Cover: 2/5
Overall: 3/5

Don't forget to enter my contest for a chance to win a signed copy of the first novel in the OH.MY.GODS. series: here.

Waiting on Wednesday (12)

2009-06-30T22:57:00.000-07:00

I know a lot of people wants this, so I might just be stating the obvious, but...

An ancient prophecy divides two sisters-

One good...

One evil...

Who will prevail?

Twin sisters Lia and Alice Milthorpe have just become orphans. They have also become enemies. As they discover their roles in a prophecy that has turned generations of sisters against each other, the girls find themselves entangled in a mystery that involves a tattoo-like mark, their parents' deaths, a boy, a book, and a lifetime of secrets.

Lia and Alice don't know whom they can trust.

They just know they can't trust each other.

What are you waiting for?

Winner of ARC of Hunger!

2009-06-29T22:53:00.000-07:00

Just so I don't announce this too late, the winner of an ARC of Michael Grant's HUNGER is:

Cassandra from Happy Book Lovers!!

Congrats Cassandra! Email me to claim your prize: thebookblogger@hotmail.com

Hiatus for the Weekend

2009-06-27T20:39:00.000-07:00

Um, I have some bad news. Earlier today, I was in a car accident. My dad & I were driving and the other car...hit us and so my blog is going to be, as the title says, on hiatus for the weekend, or maybe longer if I'm not feeling up for it.

I have a huge lump on my leg due to muscle clotting(?) and I'm energetic right now, but I'm told I'll feel horrible in the morning. So, I'm just telling everyone that I might not be posting for a couple of days.

Funny thing is, my dad and I were having such a great time. I got my new Regina Spektor CD and another CD as well...and...well getting in a car accident is not fun, especially when you don't remember getting hit.

But anyway, we're fine and hopefully I'll be able to post soon! Thanks!

Fairy Tale by Cyn Balog

2009-06-25T12:50:00.001-07:00

If I had to describe FAIRY TALE in one word, I'd probably say amazing or unbelievable or stunning, because that's what I'm constantly thinking about it.

FAIRY TALE is about Morgan and Cam. They've been best friends and in love with each other their whole lives. Then, almost suddenly, everything changes. Cam is distant and losing his energy. When Morgan has just about had enough, because she loves him too much and wants to help him get through whatever his problem is, he tells her. Or shows her is more like it.

Cameron shows Morgan his wings, and tells her that he is a fairy and will leave this world, on their sixteenth birthday, to go to Otherworld, a place that is full of fairies, a place that he is bound to rule now that his brother has died.

Desperate not to lose each other, they band together and try to find ways to "cheat the system," with the help of Pip, a human that has lived in Otherworld his whole life. The whole tale is addicting and astonishing. It will leave you satisfied, but not.

Honestly, from the first page, I was hooked. The catchy flow of the writing lured me in like that. If I didn't have to, I would have never put it down once. And when I did, my mind would somehow makes its way back to the book.

One of the things that I think makes FAIRY TALE so special is that the roles are switched. In most fairy books, it's the female, or the narrator, that is undergoing the process of becoming a fairy. I love that Cyn made Cam, the male, a fairy, because the changes in him would be different than that of a female. Cam's body is weakening and he's losing height. So basically his masculinity level is lowering constantly. And the fact that Morgan sticks by Cam's side through the whole novel, even when her feelings are drifting elsewhere, shows how much they love each other and it's devastating to watch their relationship hanging by a thread.

As you can probably tell by my long, long review, I am in love with this book. I don't think I've ever been as emotionally attached to any characters as I am to Morgan, Cam, and Pip. This book has made me laugh, cry, smile, and frown. Yes, it's that well put together.

FAIRY TALE is an enchanting love story that you won't want to miss. It's about making the best of things and beginning a new chapter in life, even if someone you love isn't with you physically, they'll always be in your heart and soul.

Ratings:

Writing: 5/5
Plot: 5/5
Characters: 5/5
Cover: 5/5
Overall: 5/5

I love FAIRY TALE so much that I'm giving it an award that is exclusive to my blog. If I think a book is too amazing for words or perhaps bewitching, I'll grant the book and the author with the Bewitching Book Award. Instead of posting this on every book that I think deserves it, I'll post the following icon.

Congrats to Cyn Balog and FAIRY TALE! You have bewitched me!

Strange Angels by Lili St. Crow

2009-06-24T17:37:00.001-07:00

Dru Anderson has been “strange” for as long as she can remember. She travels from town to town with her father, hunting the things that go bump in the night and eat the unwary. It’s a weird life, but a good one–until it all explodes and a zombie busts into her new house.

Alone, terrified, and trapped in an icy town, Dru’s going to need every inch of her wit and training to stay alive. Can she trust the boy who is just a little too adult–and just happens to get bit by a werwulf? Or the strange blue-eyed boy who tells her she’s heir to a long-forgotten power? Can she even trust her own instincts?

Because Dru is not the first in her family to be killed by the darkness of the Real World. The monsters have decided to hunt back–and now Dru has to figure out who to trust, who to fight, and when to run. And not incidentally, she has to figure out how she’s going to get out of this alive.

And she has to do it by sundown, or it’s all over…

STRANGE ANGELS is actually very unexpected. After reading the back cover, I thought that it'd be a quick read that I'd enjoy overwhelmingly. Not that I didn't enjoy it, because I did, I just didn't like everything about it.

I went into reading STRANGE ANGELS with a positive attitude. I'd read other reviews saying that they really liked it and that I should read it. I came out with a slightly positive, more confused outlook.

In my opinion, it was the writing that brought the novel down. For me, it was that I thought that it was over detailed and would repeat things over and over. The technique is a good one, but I think it was just overused.

As for the positives, I do have to say that I really like Dru. She's a tough chick with a plan, and will do anything to succeed pretty much. Graves was a pretty awesome character as well, and he handled everything like a normal guy would. His reaction to the Real World is believable, and so many novels lack that detail. Believability.

While I didn't like everything, I still enjoyed it and am actually looking forward to the sequel, THE BETRAYALS, out in November.

Ratings:

Writing: 2/5
Plot: 2/5
Characters: 3/5
Cover: 5/5
Overall: 3/5

Win a SIGNED copy of Oh.My.Gods. by Tera Lynn Childs

2009-06-24T13:15:00.001-07:00

Want to win a signed copy of Tera Lynn Childs' first novel OH.MY.GODS.? Well, just post a comment below!

+1 for commenting on my review here.
+2 for following
+3 for reposting this somewhere (link must be included)

ENDS July 5th!! OPEN TO ONLY US!

GO!

Oh.My.Gods. by Tera Lynn Childs

2009-06-24T13:14:00.001-07:00

When Phoebe's mom returns from Greece with a new husband and plans to move to an island in the Aegean Sea, Phoebe's well-plotted senior year becomes ancient history. Now, instead of enjoying a triumphant track season and planning for college with her best friends, Phoebe is trying to keep her head above water at the überexclusive Academy. If it isn't hard enough being the new kid in school, Phoebe's classmates are all descendents of the Greek gods! When you're running against teammates with superpowers, dealing with a stepsister from Hades, and nursing a crush on a boy who is quite literally a god, the drama takes on mythic proportions!

At first, I was a little reluctant about reading this, because while reading the beginning I got easily bored. But as I read on and on, the story consumed me! I was excited to read more about Pheobe and her new friends.

I really enjoyed Pheobe's new friends as well. Nicole, the one with the bubbly personality, doesn't care what everyone else thinks of her and that's a great characteristic. Then there's Troy, the boy who likes her more than a friend at first, but just ends up becoming her really good buddy. I really like Nicole and Troy's personalities, it's fun to read about their interaction.

Last, but not least: Griffin Blake. Yes, you must say his last name as well. The first glimpse you get of Griffin makes him seem like some nice guy, but as the story goes on and we see his other side, and he comes off as this condescending, rude person who thinks he's everything. And I learned to hate him for that, until his true side starts coming out and blossoming. After his transformation, I adore him too much for my own good. He really is a wonderful character to watch.

The only thing that came off as a disappointment was the predictability. Maybe it's just me, but I knew what was going to happen pretty much the whole time, and that threw me off a little. Especially the ending, to me it was obvious what was going to happen.

The books itself is a fun and surprisingly fast read. I read it in one sitting and found myself attached to the characters in no time at all. I recommend this to readers who want to read something that will be sure to entertain them.

Ratings:

Writing: 2/5
Plot: 2/5
Character: 4/5
Cover: 2/5
Overall: 3/5

Waiting on Wednesday (11)

2009-06-23T21:50:00.000-07:00

Seventeen-year-old Colt has been sneaking out at night to meet Julia, a girl from an upper-class neighborhood unlike his own. They’ve never told anyone else about their relationship: not their family or friends, and especially not Julia’s boyfriend. When Julia dies suddenly, Colt tries to cope with her death while pretending that he never even knew her. He discovers a journal Julia left behind. But Colt is not prepared for the truths he discovers about their intense relationship, nor to pay the price for the secrets he’s kept.

I want this so much! What are you waiting for on this fine Wednesday?

In My Mailbox (10)

2009-06-20T16:55:00.000-07:00

This week I got...

SEA CHANGE by Aimee Friedman
L.A. Candy by Lauren Conrad
GORGEOUS by Rachel Vail
OH.MY.GODS. by Tera Lynn Childs (signed)
GODDESS BOOT CAMP by Tera Lynn Childs (signed)

What did everyone else get?

Heavenly by Jennifer Laurens

2009-06-20T14:36:00.000-07:00

I met someone who changed everything. Matthias. My autistic sister's guardian angel. Honest. Inspiring. Funny. Hot. And immortal. That was the problem. What could I do?

I did what any other girl would do-I fell in love with him.

Zoe's sister darts in front of cars. Her brother's a pothead. Her parents are so overwhelmed; they don't see Zoe lost in her broken life. Zoe escapes the only way she knows how: partying.

Matthias, a guardian sent from Heaven, watches over Zoe's autistic sister. After Zoe is convinced he's legit, angel and lost girl come together in a love that changes destiny.

But Heaven on Earth can't last forever.

What Zoe discovers changes her world in ways she never thought possible. Matthias is a guardian angel, and he isn't the only one. Guardian angels walk the earth, unseen to those that aren't open to seeing, and protect their chosen. And in her messed up life, she finds herself develop an unspoken attraction to her sister's angel, Matthias.

The romance in this book is refreshing. I loved reading the scenes in which Zoe and Matthias were interacting. The connection always seemed to be there.

Another thing I loved a lot in this book are the characters. No one seems to be one-sided. Zoe may seem like she has everything under control, but turns to alcohol when feeling like she has to get away. And Luke, her brother, is caught up in drugs. I have to say that I liked the characters a lot. They were unique and detailed. The situation with Abria is also a great addition to the novel. I don't think I've ever read a book where the main character's little sister has autism.

The only problem I found with the novel was the lack of shock or reaction. Like when Zoe discovered what Matthias really is, she doesn't have much of a reaction. So the believability there was lacking just a little. Other than that, everything else was enjoyable.

HEAVENLY is satisfying in a way that only exists in the presence of a guardian angel. I can't wait to read more of the sequel, PENITENCE, especially after reading the ending to HEAVENLY. Readers wont be disappointed with this one.

Ratings:

Writing: 3/5
Plot: 4/5
Character: 4/5
Cover: 1/5
Overall: 3/5

Winner of Kiss of Life!

2009-06-20T14:07:00.000-07:00

The results are in! The winner of a signed copy of Daniel Waters' KISS OF LIFE is...

Ashley from Book Obsession!

Thanks to everyone that entered! Don't forget to enter my other contests for a chance to win something :]

What do you think of this?

2009-06-18T00:53:00.000-07:00

This has come to my attention and I want your opinions on it. Just watch the video. I've posted the links that Maureen Johnson talks to you about in the video below.

Fox News: http://tinyurl.com/ndvbgk

WFTV Orlando: http://www.wftv.com/news/19716133/detail.html

I, for one, agree with everything that Maureen has to say, and I don't think that the mothers have any right to decide what other people get to read. If they don't like the material, then they should just keep their kids away from it. And when she mentioned her fifteen year old not being introduced to that kind of material, I was like...are you serious? Because I know what goes on in high school, and what people say...Eh, I'm just ranting here. And, again, what are your thoughts?

The Van Alen Legacy by Melissa de la Cruz

2009-06-17T22:53:00.001-07:00

I am once again impressed by Melissa's skills! THE VAN ALEN LEGACY just might be my favorite of the series!

Since there is no synopsis up on the web, I'll just explain a couple of things. After the death of Sky's grandfather, the Committee is lost. With Jack and Mimi Force's father gone, they have no one to lead. And when Bliss' father steps forward, everyone is happy with the decision, but when a note from an anonymous sender pops up, regretful thinking prevents him from landing the position.

I like to think of THE VAN ALEN LEGACY as the turning point in the series, even though the next book in the series hasn't been released yet. So many things change and happen that it's hard not the think of it as the turning point. Ties are broken, friendships are put first, and shockers are sure to surprise.

Romance is one of my favorite things about this series. I've given up on choosing sides. Jack or Oliver? I love them both! I was hoping that this book would confirm who Schuyler chooses, and thankfully it does! The decision she made isn't disappointing, but will surely cause trouble in the future. I'm anxious to see what will happen next.

THE VAN ALEN LEGACY is full of twists and turns, unexpected romances, and unbelievable details. I can't wait at all for MISGUIDED ANGEL,the next in the series.

Ratings:

Writing: 3/5
Plot: 3/5
Characters: 3/5
Cover: 5/5
Overall: 3.5/5

Waiting on Wednesday (10)

2009-06-16T23:23:00.000-07:00

I'm so excited about this book! It's even a companion novel to another book that I've read that was a amazing...

CHASING BROOKLYN by Lisa Schroeder

Brooklyn can’t sleep.

Her boyfriend, Lucca died a year ago, and now their friend Gabe has died of an overdose. Every time she closes her eyes, Gabe's ghost is there, waiting for her. She has no idea what he wants or why it isn't Lucca chasing her through her dreams.

Nico can’t stop. He’s always running, trying so hard not to feel the pain of missing Lucca. But when he begins receiving messages from his dead brother, telling him to help Brooklyn, emotions come crashing to the surface.

As the nightmares escalate and the messages become relentless, Brooklyn and Nico will discover just how deeply they need each other and what it truly means to move on.

I cannot wait for this one! It sounds so wonderful, and I'm so excited! CHASING BROOKLYN will be in stores on January 5, 2010.

Hate List by Jennifer Brown

2009-06-16T00:41:00.001-07:00

Five months ago, Valerie Leftman’s boyfriend, Nick, opened fire on their school cafeteria. Shot trying to stop him, Valerie inadvertently saves the life of a classmate, but is implicated in the shootings because of the list she helped create. A list of people and things they hated. The list her boyfriend used to pick his targets.

Now, after a summer of seclusion, Val is forced to confront her guilt as she returns to school to complete her senior year. Haunted by the memory of the boyfriend she still loves and navigating rocky relationships with her family, former friends and the girl whose life she saved, Val must come to grips with the tragedy that took place and her role in it, in order to make amends and move on with her life.

HATE LIST is a novel that I knew I'd like just after reading the synopsis. I was expecting the plot to be carried out nicely, the writing to be catchy, and the characters to be distinct. But what I wasn't expecting was the novel to be so much more!

The plot, for one, is original and unique. The book discusses topics that are serious and difficult to come by. However, the novel demands to be read further. The plot was fulfilled entirely, showcasing Jennifer Brown's talent. Though the plot did play a big role in the accomplishment of the skillfully crafted book, the writing also kept the novel moving at a comfortable pace.

Valerie is an amazing character, unlike any other I've read about. Her constant questioning about her life, Nick, and her future only makes me appreciate her more. She repeatedly wonders why she didn't see this other side of her boyfriend, the side that possessed him to kill the people whose names were on the Hate List, and why no one else sees the side that she saw, the side that loved Shakespeare and the side that she loved. Her confusion finally comes to a closure in the end, reassuring her acceptance.

Brown has grasped the true voice of an accused and lost teenager that has come to question everything they thought they knew. I felt as though I was reading a nonfiction novel, because everything seemed so vivid and real, like reading about someone's life. The newspaper articles, used in the novel to explain the victims' deaths and their family's reaction, also added to the realistic feel of the fictional novel.

HATE LIST is an incredible and incisive debut novel; it will shock readers. Jennifer Brown has definitely caught my attention with this one. I'll be anxiously waiting to hear about what she'll write next.

Ratings:

Writing: 5/5
Plot: 5/5
Character: 5/5
Cover: 5/5
Overall: 5/5

Revelations Giveaway!

2009-06-14T18:01:00.000-07:00

To win a SIGNED copy of Melissa de la Cruz's latest novel, REVELATIONS, just post a comment here! For extra entries, see below:

+1 if you comment on my review of Revelations here.
+2 for following
+3 for blogging/twittering/etc. about this contest(must post a link for is to count.)

ENDS July 3rd!!! OPEN TO US ONLY!

GO!

Author Signing: Melissa de la Cruz

2009-06-14T11:24:00.000-07:00

If any of you have read my previous posts, you know that Melissa da la Cruz had a signing at Blue Willow Bookshop on Friday.

My friend and I attended the signing, and had so much fun! There were so many people there! Melissa was introduced, and so was another author, Tera Lynn Childs. Then, Melissa started talking about her series and read a little bit from her upcoming book, THE VAN ALEN LEGACY.

After that, she answered a few questions like:

When you were writing about Schuyler, was there a certain person you had in mind?

She answered by saying that not many people like the answer to this question, but that's just who she imagined the character to look like. She said Mary-Kate Olsen (when she was in good health, and really pretty.)

If you could choose a cast roles for your characters, who would the actors/actresses be?

She said that the CW had actually considered BLUE BLOODS for a TV series, but that didn't work out, sadly. However, she did say that they had an ideal Schuyler and Mimi. For Schuyler they wanted Kristen Stewart (I hate this choice) and for Mimi they wanted Amanda Seyfried.

How many books are going to be in the series?

Melissa said that she imagined about ten books for the series, but that she didn't want to keep the series going if there was nothing else to tell.

After a couple more questions, we lined up and she started to sign our books. I was standing right behind Tera Lynn Childs (author of OH.MY.GODS and GODDESS BOOT CAMP) but was too scared to introduce myself.

When it came to be my turn, I introduced myself and we chatted for a couple of minutes, then we took a picture after she signed my books! It was really fun :D Here is a picture of Melissa de la Cruz and I.

I even got an extra copy of REVELATIONS signed! So I'll have that contest up either later today, or tomorrow!

In My Mailbox (9)

2009-06-13T17:31:00.000-07:00

Well, I was planning on posting a video this week, but due to my lack of technical abilities, I decided against it. So, here's the usual. Enjoy. This week I got:

SLEEPLESS by Thomas Fahy
LIPSTICK APOLOGY by Jennifer Jabaley

SHADOWED SUMMER by Saundra Mitchell
DEVOURED by Amanda Marrone

Looks like I'll be having fun! What did everyone else get?