A Blog about Nothing

Don’t Breathe a Word Blog Tour- Character Interview w/ Creed + Giveaway

2012-01-11T05:00:00.000-06:00

I’ve been sooooo excited about this book since Holly first announced it, I read her debut novel TELL ME A SECRET and fell in love with her writing that I was thrilled to get an early copy of DON’T BREATHE A WORD and let me tell you that it was everything that I expected, I loved it just as much as her first novel. You can read my very gushy review of this very realistic novel here.

Creed was my favorite character from the novel, he overshadowed everyone else with his personality and won me over completely from the first moment he met Joy, so I was pretty excited to get him for an interview. I hope you enjoy it and don’t forget to check out the rest of the stops in the tour!

Thanks so much to Cynthia for hosting me, and welcome to the DON’T BREATHE A WORD blog tour!

Don’t Breathe a Word is the story of Joy, a girl who flees her suburban life because of a life-threatening secret and finds herself on the streets of Seattle. A homeless boy called Creed has offered his help, if only she can get to him before it’s too late—the last thing she expects is to fall in love. Creed dreams of making it in the music industry, and he is a kind of protector for two street teens who wouldn’t survive without him. But Creed has secrets of his own…

Cynthia has asked Creed to answer a few questions for you today:

If you could go back to the time before you left home, would you have done it all over again? Or would you have tried to find another alternative? It’s hard to know, because things happen for a reason. Everything would have been different for May and Santos, but then I would have been there for my mom. I wish I could find a way to help everyone, but in the end they have to help themselves.

Where does the nickname “Creed” come from? It’s about the same thing as my music—meaning and truth and conviction. Justice is important to me. It’s about who I am.

What is one thing that you missed the most (besides your family) when you ran away? I missed riding Callisto into the ocean. I dream about it all the time.

You’re a musician, what type of music or is there a specific song that you like to think about or listen to when you’re feeling down or need some inspiration? Hey Marseilles, Hold the Morning. It reminds me of Triste…and of Joy. Hey Marseille is a Seattle band and I really like their stuff. Here’s their playlist, Hold the Morning is Track 8:

If you were to come across another teenager that was thinking of running away, what type of advice would you give them?
I’ve seen things on the streets that I wouldn’t wish on anyone, and I’ve met people there I consider family. People I love. The streets are not the answer. Finding someone to trust, someone to help, is the answer.

****

If you are a teen who is thinking of running away, or you know someone at risk and looking for help, please call the National Runaway Switchboard at 1-800-RUNAWAY. It’s anonymous, confidential, and free.

Thank you, Cynthia, for inviting me to your blog! Check out the rest of the DBAW tour for chances to win books and swag, the Words Have Power video contest, and more. I hope readers love Don’t Breathe a Word!

For the Giveaway:

Please READ and FOLLOW the instructions on the FORM. The winners are picked randomly by THE TEEN BOOK SCENE.

US/Canada copies will be mailed from Holly and the copies will be signed.

Giveaway ends at midnight on Saturday January 14th.

FILL OUT THE FORM HERE

Happy New Year!!

2011-12-31T14:28:00.001-06:00

I know we still have a few hours for the new year to begin but I wanted to wish you all a very Happy New Year, I hope that all of your wishes and resolutions for 2012 come true.

This has been a great bookish year for me, I had the chance to go to ALA in New Orleans back in June, and to TLA in Austin in April. Both were so much fun and amazing to experience.

I met wonderful authors that I loved at the Teen Book Con in Houston and got to know a few local bloggers that have become very special friends to me.

It’s been an amazing year for books, both from debut authors and from authors that I already loved, I got the chance to read some books that have been unforgettable.

So I’m really thankful for many things this year, including you guys, my followers. There’s been times when I thought about quitting because it’s become overwhelming since I went back to work but then I would get a meaningful comment from one of you and that would make it all worth it. I loved sharing my passion for books and reading with you guys this year which is my second year of blogging, and I hope to be able to do it for many more.

So I’m hoping for many more years of awesome books and to discover some new great debut authors in 2012.

Don’t Breathe a Word by Holly Cupala

2011-12-30T06:00:00.000-06:00

Don’t Breathe a Word by Holly Cupala

Publisher: Harper Teen

Release Date: January 3, 2012

Source: Publisher

Joy Delamere is suffocating.

From asthma, from her parents, and from her boyfriend, Asher, who is smothering her from the inside out. She can take his cruel words, his tender words . . . until the night they go too far.

To escape, Joy sacrifices her suburban life to find the one who offered his help, a homeless boy called Creed. He introduces her to a world of fierce loyalty, to its rules of survival, and to love—a world she won’t easily let go.

Set against the backdrop of the streets of Seattle, Holly Cupala’s powerful new novel explores the subtleties of abuse, the secrets we keep, and the ways to redemption. But above all, it is an unflinching story about the extraordinary lengths one girl will go to discover her own strength.(From HarperTeen)

Like in Tell Me a Secret, the writing in this novel is just as gripping and intense. I fell in love with Holly’s writing in her first novel and couldn’t wait for this one to get another taste of it. Don’t Breathe a Word is one of those novels that pulls you right in from the very beginning. The writing alone, gorgeous and descriptive becomes addictive, and the rawness of the emotions seep through the pages that it feels as if they are drawing you into the story.

I loved that Holly was very realistic in her writing, she’s not afraid of showing you the darkness in her stories, the deep ugly side of an emotionally abusive relationship or what’s really like living in the streets. Joy finds out soon enough that it’s not as easy as she thought it would be, she witnesses the terrors and fears of the streets, the things that Creed and his friends have to endure to survive, and Holly does not sugarcoat it but she also doesn’t write it in a way that will make you want to stop reading. I loved seeing the changes in Joy as the story goes along, how the horrible experiences she lives through made deep changes in her and make her a stronger person.

I loved the mystery of all these characters, they ran away for a reason, each one has something to hide, they’re all different and struggling with some really heavy things that they’re not willing to share with Joy so the book keeps you guessing and looking forward to the time when they’ll eventually open up. Holly can write some pretty amazing contemporary novels, unforgettable ones, that touch on heavy subjects that need to be told and will suck you into its beautifully written pages filled with exposed emotions and realistic characters that won’t let you go until the very end, and even then you’re still left thinking about it long after.

Check out the rest of the blog tour for this amazing book here:

Why We Broke Up by Daniel Handler

2011-12-28T06:00:00.000-06:00

Why We Broke Up by Daniel Handler, Illustrated by Maira Kalman

Publisher: Little, Brown

Released on December 27, 2011

Source: Publisher

I'm telling you why we broke up, Ed. I'm writing it in this letter, the whole truth of why it happened. Min Green and Ed Slaterton are breaking up, so Min is writing Ed a letter and giving him a box. Inside the box is why they broke up. Two bottle caps, a movie ticket, a folded note, a box of matches, a protractor, books, a toy truck, a pair of ugly earrings, a comb from a motel room, and every other item collected over the course of a giddy, intimate, heartbreaking relationship. Item after item is illustrated and accounted for, and then the box, like a girlfriend, will be dumped.(From Hachette Book Group)

This book was quite interesting, I really liked the way it was written and how we see the story unravel until the infuriating ending. It was like getting into a relationship. It starts off with Min on her way to dumping a box of stuff at her exboyfriend’s house, while she’s doing this she’s telling the story of their relationship. Writing it all down for him, the little signs she missed, the things she loved about him, her feelings at the times she spent with him during the fast moving romance that ended tragically.

I really enjoyed the moments of suspense, the little snippets of things that she kept hinting at while writing the letter to Ed, how she keeps you suspicious the whole time about what he did that was so horrible that broke up their relationship. It was really frustrating because I was desperate to find out. We get to know Min deeply, her passions and how her and Ed are so different but something about her caught his attention and seemed like it was changing him, how he tried to please her and do the many things that she loved just to make her happy. I started liking his character at times, seeing the changes in him from a popular self absorbed jerk to someone that didn’t care what other people said about them. It was sweet, and I just couldn’t help but hope that he wouldn’t do something stupid to break Min’s heart.

Like I said this one just pulled me into this couple’s relationship, I felt like I was living it with Min. I was pissed at the times when he was an idiot, sad and suspicious at others but also smiling at the good moments. And I loved that in every chapter (which by the way begins with an illustration of an item that Min is giving back to Ed) she’s constantly comparing something about them to an old movie because she’s obsessed with films, I thought that was fun and it actually made me quite curious about all these classic films she kept describing. You eventually start to figure out, closer to the ending, the BIG reason why they broke up and it was infuriating. I was in tears and so disappointed. I wanted to hit someone with this book which weights about fifteen pounds (seriously, it’s really heavy!) I wanted more at the end, maybe to see something from Ed’s pov, I’m not sure, I felt hopeful for Min but I was still left sad and heartbroken, maybe I just wanted to slap someone. This to me was unexpectedly great, I was very into it even though I knew the big heartbreak was coming, I didn’t want to accept how it would end even when I had my suspicions. I didn’t think I would like it as much as I did because I wasn’t’ sure how the pictures would work with the story but it was really well done. I really recommend it if you don’t mind the F word thrown in a lot throughout the novel. It was a fast read, fun, infuriating and heartbreaking but it had me glued to the pages until the end.

Top Ten Favorite Books of 2011!!

2011-12-27T00:00:00.000-06:00

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Top Ten Tuesday is a list feature that was created by The Broke and the Bookish. Each week they give you a different question or topic where you can answer by listing your top ten choices.

This week’s topic is: Top Ten Favorite Books I Read in 2011. Believe it or not it was hard for me to pick just ten books for my favorites this year, I’ve read so many that were so amazing and left such a deep memorable impression on me that it was a hard choice to make.

The Scorpio Races by Maggie Stiefvater- This was a wonderful stand alone novel, I loved it because you get that beautiful writing from Maggie with her own unique magical spin on the water horses mythology. Such a great book!

Hourglass by Myra McEntire- Definitely a favorite this year! I couldn’t get enough of this one and I thought it was pretty amazing. I loved the unpredictability of it, the science Myra added to it, the two hot boys that made it hard to pick one over the other and the main character who was so much fun getting to know.

Sloppy Firsts by Megan McCafferty- This one was amazing to me, I wish I would’ve read it sooner. I loved that it felt like Jessica was talking to me the whole time, the whole thing was full of angst but really hilarious. I couldn’t put this one down.

Where She Went by Gayle Forman- One word: ADAM…. *Sigh* I thought If I Stay was pretty amazing but this one blew me away. So many tears, so much heartbreak, so much hope… it brought every kind of emotion out on me. Loved it.

Between Shades of Gray by Ruta Sepetys- This was an emotional and painful book but it was such a moving story that is one of those you wish everyone would read.

The Near Witch by Victoria Schwab- This book is filled with beautiful writing, it feels like you’re reading a poem. Victoria’s writing is vivid and lyrical and the folklore she adds to the story was magical. I loved this and highly recommend it!!

Daughter of Smoke and Bone by Laini Taylor- This one was pretty fantastic, I loved that Laini took my imagination to places I couldn’t have dreamed of. Loved the details and the world she created.

Jellicoe Road by Melina Marchetta- I don’t have the right words for this one, just that I loved it and Melina’s writing was just incredible.

Thirteen Reasons Why by Jay Asher- I don’t know why I waited so long to read this one. It was so emotional and thought provoking, it’s another one of those type of books you wish everyone would read.

Lola and The Boy Next Door by Stephanie Perkins- This was just pure awesome, I loooooove Stephanie Perkins, I had no idea I would love this one even more than Anna but I did. I loved every bit of it and never wanted it to end.

Book Birthdays!!

2011-12-26T09:01:00.001-06:00

Happy Book Birthdays to the authors of this week’s new releases!! Which one are you looking forward to the most? Have you read any that you recommend?

Tuesday December 27th:

Every Other Day by Jennifer Lynn Barnes

Why We Broke Up by Daniel Handler

Kiss Crush Collide by Christina Meredith

Love and Leftovers by Sarah Tregay

Blood Sun (Danger Zone) by David Gilman

Magic of the Moonlight: A Full Moon Novel by Ellen Schreiber

The Secret Sisterhood of Heartbreakers by Lynn Weingarten

The Amanda Project: Book 3: Shattered by Amanda Valentino

Replication: The Jason Experiment by Jill Williamson

Merry Christmas!!!

2011-12-24T18:00:00.000-06:00

I’m wishing all of you that celebrate it, a very Merry Christmas and to everyone Happy Holidays. I’m hoping you all get lots of awesome bookish gifts this year and that you get to spend this wonderful season with your loved ones.

Unearthly by Cynthia Hand

2011-12-22T06:00:00.000-06:00

Unearthly by Cynthia Hand

Publisher: HarperTeen

Published on January 4, 2011

In the beginning, there's a boy standing in the trees . . . .

Clara Gardner has recently learned that she's part angel. Having angel blood run through her veins not only makes her smarter, stronger, and faster than humans (a word, she realizes, that no longer applies to her), but it means she has a purpose, something she was put on this earth to do. Figuring out what that is, though, isn't easy.

Her visions of a raging forest fire and an alluring stranger lead her to a new school in a new town. When she meets Christian, who turns out to be the boy of her dreams (literally), everything seems to fall into place—and out of place at the same time. Because there's another guy, Tucker, who appeals to Clara's less angelic side.

As Clara tries to find her way in a world she no longer understands, she encounters unseen dangers and choices she never thought she'd have to make—between honesty and deceit, love and duty, good and evil. When the fire from her vision finally ignites, will Clara be ready to face her destiny?(from HarperTeen)

Why didn’t anybody lock me in a closet with this book until I finished it a long time ago???!! I actually preordered this book so I’ve had it on my tbr pile for almost a year and I can’t believe that I didn’t read it sooner, this is one of those that made me want to kick myself for putting off for so long, what was I thinking???!!.

I was afraid of reading this one, I had already given two other angel books a chance earlier this year which unfortunately I ended up not being able to finish, so I was afraid of that happening to this one too. Of course that wasn’t the case and I’m soooooo freaking glad for that. Unearthly didn’t have the insta-love or unexplainable obsessive attraction, the romance took time in this one, it was subtle and not freaking crazy obsessive which drives me nuts sometimes in novels and have made me put down a couple of books this year. This was one pretty engrossing novel on angels, it was original and fun, and the mythology alone was fascinating to me. I loved that the angel-bloods (people who descend from angels) are not perfect, they are flawed, they don’t have much free will on their purpose without terrible consequences, they don’t really have everything handed to them even with all the amazing powers they inherited. And I was happy to see that Clara was awkward, she wasn’t the new girl that immediately gains popularity and everyone wants to hang out with, which made her much more likable and relatable.

Besides Clara’s purpose there’s much more to the story, there’s plenty of characters that make the story complete, all very different, some very mysterious and suspicious. I definitely wanted to know more about Clara’s mom, she’s definitely hiding a lot in the story and it kept bringing up the questions in me, which unfortunately didn’t get answered yet, but definitely makes you wonder about her a lot. Honestly this one kept me on my toes, I had my predictions of things which were proven wrong and not wanting to put it down. It’s definitely a page-turner, one with a complicated plot that you wouldn’t know what you would do if you were in Clara’s shoes. Cynthia Hand has written a pretty impressive debut novel that made me fall in love with angel books again, one I should’ve read a long time ago.

Waiting on Wednesday- All These Lives

2011-12-21T00:00:00.000-06:00

Waiting on Wednesday is a weekly event hosted by Jill from Breaking the Spine that spotlights upcoming books we are eagerly anticipating.

All These Lives by Sarah Wylie

Publisher: Farrar, Straus & Giroux

Release Date: June 5, 2012

Sixteen-year-old Dani is convinced she has nine lives. As a child she twice walked away from situations where she should have died. But Dani’s twin, Jena, isn’t so lucky. She has cancer and might not even be able to keep her one life. Dani’s father is in denial. Her mother is trying to hold it together and prove everything’s normal. And Jena is wasting away.
To cope, Dani sets out to rid herself of all her extra lives. Maybe they’ll be released into the universe and someone who wants to live more than she does will get one. Someone like Jena. But just when Dani finds herself at the breaking point, she’s faced with a startling realization. Maybe she doesn’t have nine lives after all. Maybe she really only ever had one. (From Goodreads)

I have a bit of an obsession with book covers that have water, ocean or characters just floating around. I don’t know why, I just think they’re cool and I love them. This one of course caught my eye and then I read the synopsis which makes it sound like it’s going to be heartbreaking, so of course I had to add it to my list. I do love a great emotional novel every now and then and I’m really curious about this one. I can’t wait, plus it’s a 2012 debut author novel.

Top Ten Books I hope Santa Brings Me!!

2011-12-20T00:00:00.000-06:00

This week’s topic is: Top Ten Books I hope Santa Brings Me.

I have a so many books that I’ve missed this year and still haven’t been able to buy because of my budget, and I’m hoping that this Christmas my family will get me some bookish gifts or at least a GC to go and get them myself. These are the books I’ve been wanting for quite a while--

Forbidden by Tabitha Suzuma- I’ve heard so many great things about this one and I’m dying to read it even though I’m quite a bit freaked out by the topic. Eeek!

A Monster Calls by Patrick Ness- Have you read the synopsis of this one? It sounds pretty amazing to me and I’ve also read great positive reviews about it. I’m seriously getting this one after all the holidays are over.

Shift by Jeri Smith-Ready- I know I’m lame and probably the only one that still hasn’t read this one.

Catching Jordan by Miranda Kenneally- My book soulmate Lena loved this one so I know it’s one I’ll end up loving too cause we have very similar taste in books. =)

Silence by Becca Fitzpatrick- ACK!!! I know and I dare call myself a fan. I still don’t even own it, honestly I’m a bit afraid of what might happen in this one. I didn’t read any reviews for it but one of my closest blogger friends didn’t love it but I just need to get it and see what happens next in the series.

The Revenant by Sonia Gensler- I love the sound of this one, it’s different and it’s been on my list for quite a while.

Trial by Fire by Jennifer Lynn Barnes- I read Raised by Wolves last year and really liked it but I completely missed the date this one came out.

Wither by Lauren DeStefano- I’ve heard mixed things about this one but the synopsis sounds really good to me and I’ve been curious about it for a while. I’m hoping to get it and read it soon before the sequel comes out.

Some Girls Are by Courtney Summers – I love contemporary novel and I’ve heard great things about this author’s writing. I have her other novel Fall for Anything but I really want to read this one first, I’ve heard this is a good one.

The Death Cure by James Dashner- I can’t believe I keep forgetting about this one. It’s one amazing series and I’m soooo curious to see how it ends, but I’m always very hesitant to finish a series I loved.

Saving June by Hannah Harrington

2011-12-16T06:00:00.000-06:00

Saving June by Hanna Harrington

Publisher: Harlequin Teen

Released on: November 22, 2011

Source: NetGalley

Everyone's sorry. But no one can explain why.
Harper Scott's older sister, June, took her own life a week before high school graduation, leaving Harper devastated. So when her divorcing parents decide to split up June's ashes, Harper steals the urn and takes off cross-country with her best friend, Laney, to the one place June always dreamed of going—California.
Enter Jake Tolan, a boy with a bad attitude, a classic-rock obsession…and an unknown connection to June. When he insists on joining them, Harper's just desperate enough to let him. With his alternately charming and infuriating demeanor and his belief that music can see you through anything, he might be exactly what Harper needs. Except…Jake's keeping a secret that has the power to turn her life upside down—again.(From Harlequin)

I expected a lot of tears when I started reading Saving June. It’s begins in a pretty sorrowful way, the first chapter alone it’s heartbreaking. It’s definitely a story about grieving and coping with the loss of a loved one, in this case Harper’s sister June, but there was a lot more to it than that.

There’s a deep sadness in the background of the story, it’s always there, no matter how many amazing things Harper gets to see and the fun stuff she experiences through the road trip to California, all along you know the purpose of the trip and you can’t keep it out of your mind, it’s like a blanket covering and suffocating, like a big weight on the shoulders, and you feel the same emotions Harper feels after the fun is over, the weightiness comes back filled with sadness and anger.

Harper is definitely a favorite female character, I loved her no bullshit attitude, her defensive and protective personality which made me smile proudly several times while reading this novel. I said at the beginning that this wasn’t a terribly emotional novel because during the road trip there’s a lot of unforgettable moments, laughter and the opportunity to get to know these characters deeply. The writing is real and personal, it draws you into the story and feel as if you’re riding right along Harper and her friends, which were all damaged and intriguing characters but somehow fit together perfectly. Music plays a big part of the story which I loved, it fits perfectly in between and I was happy to see that the author listed the playlists at the end of the novel. This is one of those books that I really wanted to take my time reading, it was a bittersweet story that I didn’t want to see come to an end, I didn’t want to say goodbye to these characters. There’s something about this story that touches you emotionally in different ways, and it’s one that will leave you thinking about it long after you read it because Harper’s journey is an unforgettable one.

Lemniscate Blog Tour- Excerpt

2011-12-15T06:00:00.000-06:00

I’m excited to be a part of the Lemniscate Blog Tour hosted by the awesome Mundie Moms. Lemniscate by Jennifer Murgia is the second novel in her Angel Star series which came out earlier this year in March. Make sure you check out the rest of the stops here for giveaways, interviews, and other fun stuff! Now here’s an excerpt from Lemniscate:

It had been raining for three days straight. I rolled onto my side to face the window towards the bit of light flowing behind the thin skin of my eyelids and few excited for a moment, thinking today the sun might finally made an appearance. I should have known better. Under normal circumstances I would have been more than happy to cinch my covers in closer, keeping the warmth in as long as possible, thawing my flannel-wrapped arm after mercilessly sending it out into the open to slam the snooze button. But not today.

I opened my eyes to Gareth standing at the glass, his skin reflecting back a pale glimmer against the dry side of the window. My warm light on the bleakest of Monday mornings was tracing the crooked lines of water with his fingers, seemingly deep in thought.

"Writing love notes on my window?" I mused out loud, stretching my cramped legs toward the bottom of my quilted bed. I propped myself up onto my elbow as he turned around, his striking blue eyes reminded me of his perfection.

Each day I'm astounded to find him here with me.

My angel. My guardian. My boyfriend.

-Lemniscate, page 1

And check out the awesome Be an Angel, Give a Book contest hosted by Jennifer Murgia. I think this is a great idea:

About the book:

For Teagan, these last few months have been heaven on earth - especially now that Garreth, her boyfriend and guardian angel, is earthbound. But perhaps Garreth is becoming a little more human than either of them expected.

Now, Teagan must realize that her world is once again about to shift, as she questions the faith she held in others against those once considered enemies.In this continuation of Angel Star, Lemniscate will draw you even deeper into the world of dark and light as Teagan realizes the angel who could possibly save them all is the one angel she feared the most.(from goodreads)

Buy it from:

Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Indiebound

Waiting on Wednesday- The Immortal Rules

2011-12-14T00:00:00.000-06:00

Waiting on Wednesday is a weekly event hosted by Jill from Breaking the Spine that spotlights upcoming books that we are eagerly anticipating.

The Immortal Rules by Julie Kagawa

Publisher: Harlequin Teen

Release Date: April 24th 2012

You will kill. The only question is when.
In the dark days since the insidious Red Lung virus decimated the human population, vampires have risen to rule the crumbling cities and suburbs. Uncontested Princes hold sway over diminished ranks of humans: their "pets." In exchange for their labor, loyalty and of course, their blood, these pets are registered, given food and shelter, permitted to survive.
Unregistered humans cling to fringes, scavenging for survival. Allison Sekemoto and her fellow Unregistereds are hunted, not only by vampires, but by rabids, the unholy result of Red Lung-infected vampires feeding on unwary humans. One night, Allie is attacked by a pack of rabids, saved by an unlikely hero...and turned vampire.
Uncomfortable in her undead skin, Allie falls in with a ragtag crew of humans seeking a cure, or cures: for Rabidism and for Vampirism. She's passing for human...for now. But the hunger is growing and will not be denied. Not for friendship—not even for love.(from Goodreads)

I CANNOT WAIT for this book!!! Seriously!! I looooooved Julie Kagawa’s Iron Fey series and was sad to see it come to an end but knowing that we’re getting more from her makes me feel so much better. This one sounds original, creepy and exciting, plus the cover is pretty awesome too. I loved the spin Julie added to the faeries and cannot wait to see what she has in store for us with vampires. This one sounds different, creepy and exciting, plus the cover is pretty awesome too. I’m really excited for this one and dying for it to be April already.

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

2011-12-08T06:00:00.000-06:00

Publisher: Poppy

Release Date: January 2, 2012

Source: Publisher

Who would have guessed that four minutes could change everything?
Today should be one of the worst days of seventeen-year-old Hadley Sullivan's life. She's stuck at JFK, late to her father's second wedding, which is taking place in London and involves a soon to be step-mother that Hadley's never even met. Then she meets the perfect boy in the airport's cramped waiting area. His name is Oliver, he's British, and he's in seat 18C. Hadley's in 18A.
Twists of fate and quirks of timing play out in this thoughtful novel about family connections, second chances and first loves. Set over a 24-hour-period, Hadley and Oliver's story will make you believe that true love finds you when you're least expecting it.(from Hachette Book Group)

I LOVED this book so much. I know it may seem like I say this often, but seriously there’s only been a few this year that are really memorable and this one’s definitely one of them. I was in a reading funk and nothing was really calling to me until my friend Jennifer suggested this one to me, and I thank her for that because it worked. I was just about twenty pages in when I realized how much I was falling in love with this story and had no doubt I would love it till the end, and let me tell you that I was right.

The writing was just so easy flowing and fast that I didn’t want to put it down. This is a great contemp novel that will have readers believe in love at first sight, even for a skeptical like me who doesn't even like insta-love in her novels. This one worked perfectly, it’s not cheesy, the scenes with Hadley and Oliver didn’t feel forced or as if they were moving too fast. It was realistic and relatable, and don’t let the length of the novel fool you, I felt every emotion while reading it, from the happy curiosity when we begin to know Oliver (who I always pictured as Jim Sturgess)to the anger about her parent’s divorce and her father’s wedding. I still disliked the father until the end but other than that, I loved everything else about this novel.

The characters are not flat, the plot is not just plain and simple. I felt connected to Hadley, I could understand her resentment and feelings of abandonment, and even got teary eyed at one point. This one came very close to home for me, I think that’s why I couldn’t forgive the father so easily but the blooming romance made up for it. I loved the scenes with Oliver and Hadley and never wanted them to end, they were two people going through some really difficult times in their lives that fate seemed to have brought together and ended up changing their lives a bit, it was sweet and romantic, and the ending was perfect, it reminded me of how I felt at the end of Sixteen Candles, giddy *sigh*. If you need something to get you in a better mood, something light but original, then I highly recommend this one. Actually I recommend this one to everyone, it’s sooo good, read it!!

Enter to win an ARC:

Book Birthdays!!

2011-12-06T06:00:00.000-06:00

Soooo much awesome is being released this week. I know I’m not the only one that has been eagerly waiting over a year for The Clockwork Prince…and it’s finally here!!! ACK!!!! I’m also very excited for Shattered Souls a debut novel from one of our locals here in Houston. I really want to read The Probability of Miracles which sounds amazing and Illuminated. Which one are you looking forward to? Have you read any of these that you would recommend?

Happy book birthdays to the authors of this week’s new releases!!

Yesterday December 5th:

Winter Town by Stephen Emond

Witch & Wizard: The Fire by James Patterson

Today December 6th:

Clockwork Prince (Infernal Devices) by Cassandra Clare

Deadly Little Voices (A Touch Novel) (Touch Novels) by Laurie Faria Stolarz

Fix Me by Rune Michaels

Melody Burning by Whitley Strieber

Pretty Little Liars #10: Ruthless by Sara Shepard

Shattered Dreams: A Midnight Dragonfly Novel by Ellie James

Struck: Stupid Cupid; Flirting with Disaster; Pucker Up by Rhonda Stapleton Surrender (Haunting Emma) by Lee Nichols

Winging It: The Dragon Diaries by Deborah Cooke

Thursday December 8th:

Illuminated by Erica Orloff

The Probability of Miracles by Wendy Wunder

Shattered Souls by Mary Lindsey

Debut Author Challenge 2012

2011-12-05T06:00:00.000-06:00

This is my third year signing up for the Debut Author Challenge hosted by the wonderful Kristi from The Story Siren. This is my favorite challenge because I loooove debut authors, I love supporting them any way I can, and finding new favorites by reading their debuts. I’ve had several favorites in the last two years, they’ve become those type of authors that I swear I will buy anything they write because they’re just that great!! I probably wouldn’t have found them if it hadn’t been for this challenge. I highly encourage anyone to sign up, you don’t have to have a blog to do it, and you will discover many great new writers in 2012, there’s over 600 people signed up already!! This year Kristi and a few others organized a traveling debut author tour which people can sign up for to be in a list to read upcoming debut novels in 2012.

So here’s my list so far of Debut Author Novels I’m planning on reading this year:

Everneath by Brodi Ashton

Incarnate by Jodi Meadows

Ditched:A Love Story by Robin Mellom

Cinder by Marissa Meyer

Fracture by Megan Miranda

The Catastrophic History of You and Me by Jess Rothenberg

Love and Leftovers by Sarah Tregay

Someone Else’s Life by Katie Dale

Scarlet by A.C. Caughen

This One Time with Julia by David Lampson

Under the Never Sky by Veronica Rossi

Born Wicked by Jessica Spotswood

Illuminate by Aimee Agresti

Croak by Gina Damico

Where it Began by Ann Redisch Stampler

Above by Leah Bobet

The Selection by Kiera Cass

Unraveling by Elizabeth Norris

Breaking Beautiful by Jennifer Shaw Wolf

Struck by Jennifer Bosworth

Shadow and Bone by Leigh Bardugo

Something Strange and Deadly by Susan Dennard

Level Two by Lenore Appelhans

What’s Left of Me by Kat Zhang

The Courier’s Daughter by C.J. Redwine

The New Normal by Trish Doller

That’s 26 books so far, and I’m sure this list will change as the year goes along and I discover some more new ones to add to the list. I can’t wait for 2012, it looks like it’s going to be another amazing year for debut authors!!

2011’s List.

The Iron Knight by Julie Kagawa

2011-11-29T06:00:00.000-06:00

The Iron Knight by Julie Kagawa

Publisher: Harlequin Teen

Released on October 25, 2011

http://www.theironfey.com/

To cold faery prince Ash, love was a weakness for mortals and fools. His own love had died a horrible death, killing any gentler feelings the Winter prince might have had. Or so he thought.
Then Meghan Chase—a half human, half fey slip of a girl—smashed through his barricades, binding him to her irrevocably with his oath to be her knight. And when all of Faery nearly fell to the Iron fey, she severed their bond to save his life. Meghan is now the Iron Queen, ruler of a realm where no Winter or Summer fey can survive.
With the unwelcome company of his archrival, Summer Court prankster Puck, and the infuriating cait sith Grimalkin, Ash begins a journey he is bound to see through to its end—a quest to find a way to honor his vow to stand by Meghan's side.
To survive in the Iron Realm, Ash must have a soul and a mortal body. But the tests he must face to earn these things are impossible. And along the way Ash learns something that changes everything. A truth that challenges his darkest beliefs and shows him that, sometimes, it takes more than courage to make the ultimate sacrifice.(from Harlequin Teen)

I did not want to see this series come to an end, it has become one of my favorites. Julie really knows how to pull the reader’s imagination beyond the limit, to places you never knew you could picture in your mind. Since the ending of The Iron Queen I was eagerly anticipating this book but then at the same time not wanting to rush to finish it.

The Iron Knight begins with Ash starting on his quest to fulfill his promise to Meghan and find a way to be together again and survive in the Iron realm. There is quite a bit of brooding from Ash in the beginning of the novel, the first fifty pages at least, but with the help of Puck’s great sense of humor it goes by pretty quickly and once Ash’s whole group comes together things begin to get a lot better, darker and exciting. I was thrilled to get to a deeper look into Ash’s personality, you really get to know him well in this novel, his fears, his inner thoughts and all those little things that he thinks about when he’s got that quiet thoughtful look. I also loved that we get to know a lot about his past, the stuff that he always kept hidden, and his friendship with Puck. It was definitely fun to read.

The additional characters made this story very interesting, they got me all worked up every now and then bringing up feelings of anger, frustration and jealousy, definitely lots of jealousy. This book felt totally different for me, even though it’s part of the same series it was a whole new adventure, creepier and darker, with great details that let your imagination roam wild. That’s what I loved about it the most, it keeps you interested the whole way through because like with the others you never know what kind of horrible situations Julie will make her characters go through next. The ending was everything that I hoped for, I wouldn’t have changed a thing. It left me perfectly satisfied, elated. I didn’t want to let it go and I could definitely take a few more books from this series, even one that’s all about Puck’s future adventures(because I’m TEAM ASH!!). I loved the spin that Julie added to the fey mythology in this series and I’m eagerly looking forward to see what she’ll do with the vampires next.

Book Birthdays!!

2011-11-29T00:00:00.000-06:00

Happy book birthdays to the authors of this week’s new releases!!

Tuesday, November 29th:

Legend by Marie Lu

Kiss of Frost (Mythos Academy) by Jennifer Estep

The Merchant's Daughter by Melanie Dickerson

Untraceable (The Nature of Grace Series) by S. R. Johannes

Thursday December 1st:

Catching Jordan by Miranda Kenneally

Never Eighteen Blog Tour- Interview w/ Book Line Answers + Giveaway!

2011-11-25T06:00:00.000-06:00

I was excited to have the opportunity to interview Megan Bostic on the blog today. Her debut novel Never Eighteen comes out January 17th 2012. This short interview is a little different, I made up some questions and she answered with lines from her novel. Don’t forget to enter to win a giveaway of an ARC of Never Eighteen.

I have the feeling that Never Eighteen will be a very emotional read. What inspired
you to write an emotional contemporary story?

“I was being selfish. I’m searching for meaning.”

Can you name three places that you would love to stop by if you were on a road trip?

“…the museums, homes to history, art, and glass.”

What are two things that you just can’t live without?

“…coffee and books.”

What would you like readers to take from your book after reading it?

“You have a chance to live and breathe. Take it. You never know when that life, that breath, is going to be snatched away.”

How does it feel to finally be closer to having your book out in the world?

“I’m scared, but I try to hide it.”

If you had the chance to go back and change something from your teenage years what would that have been?

“…enjoying one of the very important teen rituals, getting drunk.”

Thank you Megan for the interview, I was looking forward to seeing what the answers would be. Thanks to The {Teen} Book Scene for having me as part of the blog tour, check out the rest of the posts here.

Now for the Giveaway:

Giveaway has ended. Winner is:

~~BEE~~

*winner has been emailed and has 48 hours to contact me or new winner will be chosen*

New Winner:

Susan Light

Waiting on Wednesday- Bitterblue

2011-11-23T06:00:00.000-06:00

Waiting on Wednesday is a weekly event hosted by Jill from Breaking the Spine that spotlights upcoming books we are eagerly anticipating.

Bitterblue by Kristin Cashore

Publisher: Dial

Release Date: May 1, 2012

Bitterblue is a companion book to both Graceling and Fire and takes place in the seven kingdoms eight years after Graceling. This third book will tie all three books together in some way. Bitterblue is the sixteen-year-old protagonist, and Katsa, Po, Giddon, Helda, and other characters from Graceling will be part of the fabric of the book.(from Goodreads)

I know I’m not the only one that has been anticipating news about the release of this third book for quite a while. Kristin Cashore has been teasing us for years about this one, since Fire came out a couple of years ago. I know I have been eagerly waiting for it. I love this series, it’s one of my favorites, so beautifully written and with amazing characters. May cannot come soon enough!!! I can’t wait to read more about Bitterblue and my favorite characters from the other two books. And if you haven’t read Graceling or Fire yet, you’re missing out!!

Top Ten Authors I would LOVE to invite over for Thanksgiving!!

2011-11-22T06:00:00.000-06:00

This week’s topic is: Top Ten Authors I'd Love To Have At My Thanksgiving Feast.

1. Gayle Forman & 2. Lisa Schroeder - These two Authors are very special to me. They were the very first ones that introduced me to contemporary YA, before reading their beautiful books I used to read nothing but Paranormal. I love their writing and I’m thankful for their amazing books that made me fall in love with a new genre.

3. Kristin Cashore- I LOVE this lady’s writing!!1 I loved her books and would love to one day get to meet her, it would be a dream if she could ever sit at my table during Thanksgiving. I would love to talk to her about her talent for world building and her beautiful descriptive writing that made me fall in love with her books.

4. Myra McEntire, 5. Victoria Schwab & 6. Rachel Hawkins- I don’t know if you follow this wonderful authors on twitter or not but if not you’re missing out, not only do I love their books but their personalities too. They are hilarious, always make me laugh, I love their honesty and that they speak their mind no matter what. They would make wonderful company for Thanksgiving, so much fun stuff to talk about.

7. Julie Kagawa- The Iron Fey Series is one of my favorites and I still have soooo many questions about it, I probably wouldn’t even give her a chance to eat with all the Ash talking I would be doing.

8. JK Rowling- Of course this amazing writer has to be on this list, she would be on any that included authors. Meeting her would be a dream come true, it would be amazing, I would probably freeze right on the spot and maybe even pee my pants that’s how much I love her. I would definitely thank her eventually for creating such a wonderful world that I didn’t want to let go and see come to an end.

9. Stephanie Perkins- If you read my blog then you know how much I looooooved Lola and the Boy Next Door, I talk about it constantly. Stephanie Perkins has easily become one of my top favorite authors, she would be on any list for me. I love her characters, her settings, Cricket…. *sigh*

10. David Levithan- I love everything that he writes, I love his characters that are so different and so unique. His writing that makes it so easy for me to connect with them, his stories that are funny and sometimes heartbreaking but very original.

Book Birthdays!!

2011-11-21T06:00:00.000-06:00

Not many new releases this week but some pretty good ones. I’m reading Saving June and it’s really good so far. I also highly recommend you add The Future of Us to your list if you haven’t yet, I loved that book.

Happy book birthdays to the authors of this week’s new releases!!!

Monday November 21st:

The Future of Us by Jay Asher (My Review)

Tuesday November 22nd:

Belle's Song by K.M. Grant

In the Forests of the Night: The Goblin Wars, Book Two by Kersten Hamilton

Saving June by Hannah Harrington

Soul Screamers Volume One: My Soul to Lose\My Soul to Take\My Soul to Save: 1 (Harlequin Teen) by Rachel Vincent

Unleashed (Wolf Spring Chronicles) by Nancy Holder

Never Eighteen by Megan Bostic

2011-11-17T06:00:00.000-06:00

Never Eighteen by Megan Bostic

Publisher: HMH Children’s Books

Release Date: January 17, 2012

Source: Publisher

Austin Parker is on a journey to bring truth, beauty, and meaning to his life.

Austin Parker is never going to see his eighteenth birthday. At the rate he’s going, he probably won’t even see the end of the year. The doctors say his chances of surviving are slim to none even with treatment, so he’s decided it’s time to let go.

But before he goes, Austin wants to mend the broken fences in his life. So with the help of his best friend, Kaylee, Austin visits every person in his life who touched him in a special way. He journeys to places he’s loved and those he’s never seen. And what starts as a way to say goodbye turns into a personal journey that brings love, acceptance, and meaning to Austin’s life.(From HMH Books)

Never Eighteen is a very fast read that throws you right into the middle of Austin’s plans from the very beginning. The story moves very quickly, Austin is on a mission to try to change or make a mark on the lives of his friends and family before he dies. I went into this book, thinking and expecting to be very emotional, we know just from the synopsis that Austin is about to die and you’re expecting a lot of sad scenes and heartbreaking moments, but that’s not what I got, Austin begins his plans with a positive attitude which made the story enjoyable and a lot less intense. He tries to talk sense into people that mean something to him but at the same time he’s also trying to get too many things done, like seeing his favorite places, trying out new teenage experiences and splurging on a nice dinner with his best friend.

I love the message that this book carries, trying to live your life to the fullest and not waste it on the harmful things of self destruction, because not everyone has that chance. I loved that Austin tried, that on his last days he wanted to do something good and took advantage of every moment he had left and enjoyed it.But, I didn’t feel as connected to him as I thought I would. I really wanted to feel emotional because it’s not a happy story, but I just couldn’t. I think everything just happened too quickly, Austin goes from one person to the next and it all feels like a blur. I didn’t feel like I really got to know him or Kaylee. There’s also a lot of dialogue through the novel and not many opportunities to get into Austin’s head or feel his deep emotions. All you get are little snippets and bits of his life and his friends.

I wanted to love the book, I wanted to love the characters and feel something as I was reading it but I didn’t really feel it. Also I had a hard time picturing Austin, there’s no description of what he looked like until the end and that’s one thing I like to do while reading a book, picturing the characters in my mind, otherwise it makes it even harder for me to connect with them. I liked it don’t get me wrong, it’s a good story but it goes by too fast to touch you emotionally or leave you thinking about it afterwards maybe if it was a little bit longer it would’ve had more details, it felt more like a short story to me. I got to say that the ending did make me tear up, that’s when all the thoughts and emotions I was waiting for started showing up. It was heartbreaking. Of course these are only my opinions, there are many people that loved it, overall I enjoyed it but I just wanted to feel a little more.

Waiting on Wednesday- Starters

2011-11-16T00:00:00.000-06:00

Waiting on Wednesday is a weekly event hosted by Jill from Breaking the Spine that spotlights upcoming books that we are eagerly anticipating.

Starters by Lissa Price

Publisher: Delacorte Books for Young Readers

Release Date: March 13, 2012

The first in a futuristic thriller series featuring a society where youth is coveted at an impossible price, and one girl's ability to bring it all crumbling down.(From Goodreads)

I know that little description of the book doesn’t really give much away but the cover is what drew me to the book and made me want to add it to my list, it’s kind of creepy but I’m fascinated by it. I love all the white except for that blue eye and the title, and what’s with the quote “be somebody…else” are teenagers being raised to be used for the organs and body parts? The background on the cover makes me think that there might be some sort of cyborgs or robots involved. Plus it’s a 2012 Debut Author Novel!! Can’t wait to find out more!

Book Birthdays!!

2011-11-15T06:26:00.001-06:00

This week’s new releases we have a little bit of everything. Some paranormal, contemporary, a couple of dystopians and even a time lapse novel. I’m looking forward to reading The Space Between, I read The Replacement by Brenna Yovanoff and really liked it, it was pretty creepy. The Pledge is also one I’ve been looking forward to reading, I love Kimberly’s Body Finder series and want to see her take on a dystopian. One that I highly recommend is Shatter Me, a debut author novel you won’t regret reading this year, full of action, fast paced and lots of steamy kissing scenes. I love those!

Happy Book Birthdays to the authors of this week’s new releases!!

Yesterday Monday November 14th:

The Space Between by Brenna Yovanoff

Today, Tuesday November 15th:

The Pledge by Kimberly Derting

Shatter Me by Tahereh Mafi (My Review)

Dancergirl by Carol M. Tanzman

Falling for Henry by Beverley Brenna

Wherever You Go by Heather Davis

Lightbringer by K.D. McEntire

The Pledge Blog Tour-Guest Post by Kimberly Derting

2011-11-14T00:00:00.000-06:00

I’m excited to have on the blog today, Kimberly Derting author of The Body Finder series and her upcoming dystopian novel The Pledge. She’s here to talk about the darkness in her books, like The Body Finder, if you’ve read it then you know that there are some very creepy and chilling moments in the first two books and if you still haven’t, then you’re missing out on a great series, I highly recommend them.

Please welcome Kimberly Derting!!

I’m not sure I ever set out to write anything creepy, but it’s sort of that adage “Write what you know.” And apparently, what I know is dark and creepy.

Um, yeah...let me explain. I grew up in a time when there wasn’t really a YA selection, so I went from reading Charlotte’s Web (or really any books with talking animals) to reading what my mom had laying around the house...and what she was reading were these really dark and twisted books. I was introduced to horror at an entirely inappropriate age, reading books like The Shining (which is arguable the best book ever!) at like 13-years-old.

So it makes sense that I prefer books with a disturbing side, whether they’re horror or thrillers or even books about the Holocaust. I like stories with secrets and layers that make you want to turn away in disgust, but that keep you glued to the pages anyway. I grew up reading Stephen King and John Saul (Punish the Sinners and When the Wind Blows), and moved on to books like Silence of the Lambs with one of the greatest villains ever (Hannibal Lector). I loved The Passage by Justin Cronin and Jurassic Park by Michael Crichton and Night by Elie Weisel.

Obviously some of that disturbing subject matter was bound to find its way into my writing too. I might not have mutant vampires like in The Passage, or a zombie apocalypse like in The Forest of Hands and Teeth or World War Z, but that doesn’t mean I don’t absorb every bit of what I read.

When I was writing The Body Finder, I worried that the scenes from the serial killer’s POV would be too disturbing for YA, so there were far fewer of them in the first draft. When I got the note from my editor saying, “we want more of these!”, I was thrilled. I loved writing those scenes, and they were entirely too easy for me to write. (And, yes, I realize that makes me sound all kinds of sick and twisted!)

Thanks to Kimberly Derting and The Teen {Book} Scene for the opportunity to be a part of the tour, visit the rest of the tour stops here:

About The Pledge:

In the violent country of Ludania, the classes are strictly divided by the language they speak. The smallest transgression, like looking a member of a higher class in the eye while they are speaking their native tongue, results in immediate execution. Seventeen-year-old Charlaina has always been able to understand the languages of all classes, and she's spent her life trying to hide her secret. The only place she can really be free is the drug-fueled underground clubs where people go to shake off the oppressive rules of the world they live in. It's there that she meets a beautiful and mysterious boy named Max who speaks a language she's never heard before . . . and her secret is almost exposed.

Charlie is intensely attracted to Max, even though she can't be sure where his real loyalties lie. As the emergency drills give way to real crisis and the violence escalates, it becomes clear that Charlie is the key to something much bigger: her country's only chance for freedom from the terrible power of a deadly regime.

Published by Margaret K. McElderry

Release Date: November 15, 2011

Buy the book:

Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Indiebound

The Future of Us by Jay Asher & Carolyn Mackler

2011-11-10T19:00:00.000-06:00

The Future of Us by Jay Asher & Carolyn Mackler

Publisher: Razorbill

Release Date: November 21, 2011

It's 1996, and Josh and Emma have been neighbors their whole lives. They've been best friends almost as long - at least, up until last November, when Josh did something that changed everything. Things have been weird between them ever since, but when Josh's family gets a free AOL CD in the mail,his mom makes him bring it over so that Emma can install it on her new computer. When they sign on, they're automatically logged onto their Facebook pages. But Facebook hasn't been invented yet. And they're looking at themselves fifteen years in the future.
By refreshing their pages, they learn that making different decisions now will affect the outcome of their lives later. And as they grapple with the ups and downs of what their futures hold, they're forced to confront what they're doing right - and wrong - in the present. (from Penguin)

Ahhh this book!!! I loved it from the beginning. Just from that very first page and its mention of color monitors and AOL CD ROMS it was already bringing back so many memories. I was laughing at how things seemed to be so amazing then, and what people thought about the internet in the 90's and how different and advanced it all seems now, that those things are now considered ancient.

I think the reason why I loved this book so much is because I felt I connected to these characters and understood them because I was around the same age as them when the story takes place. Just the music mentioned throughout the book made me stop and reminisce of old times, I kept trying to play those songs in my head. I want to make a playlist of this book, just with the amount of artist and songs that are mentioned in this book, there were plenty and it just made me want to go listen to some 90’s tunes.

The concept was genius! It was so much fun seeing these kids discover their future selves in Facebook before it even existed, their reaction to it was hilarious and sooo realistic. They kept obsessing over their futures and making changes to affect it if they weren’t pleased with it. I think anybody in their shoes would’ve done the same thing. These characters, mainly Emma become so obsessive over it that she begins to forget how to enjoy her life and everything going on around her in the present. Emma is the type of girl that keeps her guard up and doesn’t let anyone close enough because of fear of getting hurt. It was nice to see her slowly begin to realize why her life is the way it is in the future. I loved seeing her finally opening up and letting someone in. I love seeing growth and change in characters through the stories and this one has two great ones. I loved both of them, they were likable and easy to relate to. I highly recommend this one, it was such a great read that even if you weren’t raised in the nineties I’m sure you’ll enjoy it.

Waiting on Wednesday- Faery Tales and Nightmares

2011-11-09T00:00:00.000-06:00

Waiting on Wednesday is a weekly event hosted by Jill from Breaking the Spine that spotlights upcoming books that we are eagerly anticipating.

Faery Tales and Nightmares by Melissa Marr

Publisher: HarperCollins

Release Date: February 21, 2012

Faery Tales and Nightmares is a collection of short stories.
Current Table of Contents:
"Where Nightmares Walk"
"Winter's Kiss" (Fairy Tales)
"Transition" (Vampires)
"Love Struck" (Selchies)
"Stopping Time" (WL World)
"Old Habits" (WL World)
"The Art of Waiting"
"Flesh for Comfort"
"The Sleeping Girl and the Sumer King" (WL World-ish, the short story that started the series)
"Cotton Candy Skies" (WL World)
"Unexpected Family" (WL World)
"Merely Mortal" (WL World)

(from Goodreads)

I looooove Melissa Marr’s Wicked Lovely series, it’s one of my favorites and I highly recommend it if you haven’t read it. I didn’t know how much I would end up loving faerie books when I started reading that series, it was one of my firsts. So much action, tension, romance, lots of twists and heartbreak, this series has everything. I’m dying to find out more from that world. Can’t wait to read about “The Sleeping Girl and the Summer King” ACK!!!! And I love that the cover has the same font and vines around it as in the WL series.

Book Birthdays!!

2011-11-08T06:08:00.001-06:00

I haven’t read any of these except for Beautiful Creatures and Beautiful Darkness, I still need to get the last one. Prized is the second book in a series, I heard that the first one Birthmarked was really good. I’m curious about Don’t Expect Magic, sounds like a fun one.

Happy book birthdays to the authors of this week’s new releases!!

Today, Tuesday November 8th:

The Beautiful Creatures Collection by Kami Garcia

Don't Expect Magic by Kathy McCullough

Faking Faith by Josie Bloss

Finding Somewhere by Joseph Monninger

Fetching by Kiera Stewart

Inheritance (The Inheritance Cycle) by Christopher Paolini

Little Women and Me by Lauren Baratz-Logsted

Past Continuous by K. Ryer Breese

Prized (Birthmarked Trilogy) by Caragh M. O'Brien

The Sharp Time by Mary O'Connell

The Vampire Diaries: Stefan's Diaries #4: The Ripper by L. J. Smith

Between the Sea and Sky by Jaclyn Dolamore

2011-11-07T06:00:00.000-06:00

Between the Sea and Sky by Jaclyn Dolamore

Publisher: Bloomsbury USA Childrens

Released on: October 25, 2011

She comes from the oceans;
he comes from the skies.
They'll find love somewhere in between

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

Can you believe that I’ve never read a book that had mermaids or sirens? I know there’s many out there but for some reason I’ve never gave one a chance, I don’t know why, I love the mythology and have always been fascinated by it but up until now I hadn't gotten my hands on one and I’m glad it was Between the Sea and Sky that introduced me to the magical world of mermaids.

It was a lovely story with lots of great mythology and world building. I think the world building was my favorite part, in this story the mermaids can walk on land but not without pain, unless they are sirens and are willing to give up their magical belts to humans. And yes, humans know and associate with mermaids, they are not hunted but are sometimes desired. Not only do we have mermaids but we also get “winged people” and their description is not like angels at all, they are described very differently but richly detailed that makes it easy to picture them, they’re just another race of people living in the same world. I also liked that the story, going by the type of clothing they wear sounds like it takes place sometime in the late 1800s or early 1900s, which I thought was very fitting for it.

Between the Sea and Sky is not a fast paced story at all, it keeps a pretty steady pace throughout, but it was captivating to me. Its rich details, beautiful setting and eloquent writing kept me wanting to continue reading it, and that was enough for me, the writing flows effortlessly which could make it a fast and enjoyable read for some. Between the Sea and Sky was the story of a mermaid girl that goes in search of her sister but in the process she discovers that there are other things, other choices that she wants out of life besides living as a siren. It’s the sweet story of a young woman finding herself and learning to make her own decisions, as hard and life changing as they may be. If you want something that you can sit back and let your imagination explore a fantasy world that’s out of the ordinary then I recommend this one.

Book Birthdays!!

2011-11-01T06:00:00.000-05:00

Lots of books from a series are being released this week. I personally enjoy reading The Morganville Vampire series, even though I’m one behind. They’re always a lot of fun to read and have many twists in them. I’ve heard Touch is a very good one, was highly recommend it by one of my blogger friends, you can check out her review here. Which one are you looking forward to? Have you read any of these that you would recommend?

Happy Book Birthday to the authors of this week’s new releases!!

Today November 1st:

Crossed (Matched) by Ally Condie

Dark Eden by Patrick Carman (My Review)

Dark Inside by Jeyn Roberts

Darker Still: A Novel of Magic Most Foul by Leanna Renee Hieber

First Day on Earth by Cecil Castellucci

Last Breath: The Morganville Vampires by Rachel Caine

Liar's Moon by Elizabeth C. Bunce

Reckoning: A Strange Angels Novel by Lili St. Crow

Touch (A Denazen Novel, Book 1) by Jus Accardo

Shatter Me by Tahereh Mafi

2011-10-31T06:00:00.000-05:00

Shatter Me by Tahereh Mafi

Publisher: Harper Teen

Release Date: November 15, 2011

"You can't touch me," I whisper.

I'm lying, is what I don't tell him.

He can touch me, is what I'll never tell him.

But things happen when people touch me.

Strange things.

Bad things.

No one knows why Juliette's touch is fatal, but The Reestablishment has plans for her. Plans to use her as a weapon.

But Juliette has plans of her own.

After a lifetime without freedom, she's finally discovering a strength to fight back for the very first time—and to find a future with the one boy she thought she'd lost forever. (from HarperCollins)

Shatter Me is one of those books that will have you holding your breath plenty of times while you read it, not only because of the fast paced and engrossing plot but also because of the maaaaaany sexy toe-curling makeout scenes that Tahereh added to the novel. I looove sexy makeout scenes and as much kissing as possible in my books so I was pleased to see many in this one, and if you like those too you won’t be disappointed with Shatter Me, they’re slow and the eye bulging kind that you want them to keep going and going.

I was very excited to read Shatter Me. I kept hearing so many great things about it that I went into the book with pretty high expectations, let me tell you that I really really liked it a whole lot, but there were a few minor things that I didn’t enjoy. I loved that it starts off at a pretty fast paced and it pretty much keeps it up through the whole novel, so there’s not really a dull moment while reading it. Tahereh adds a lot of awesome kick ass action and when Juliette got angry she became pretty fierce which I loved to see. I love a great fierce heroine and was hoping Juliette would keep getting pissed through the whole novel and cause some damage. There was also the writing, I was caught by surprise at the beginning of the novel, I wasn’t expecting beautiful writing that felt poetic and I loved that about it. I loved Tahereh’s emotional and passionate writing through this novel, it felt very expressive to me and I was devouring it all, it made the book a very fast read.

Also the guys, and wooohoooo there’s many to choose from, even the bad guy was hot and not only that, but he had a little something that even though he was evil to the core and a torturous bastard there was just something about him that made me unable to hate him. I kind of grew a bit of fictional crush on the bad guy, how does that happen? I think this is the only time that’s ever happened. You have to read it to know, I don’t want to spoil the surprise of the many hot guys in this one but they all have totally different personalities and are very unique in their own way. The only few minor things that I didn’t enjoy about this novel was the many confessions of love, those got me rolling my eyes a few times, I do love sweet romance but the relationship between Adam and Juliette to me felt more like lust than love, I don’t mind the steamy makeout scenes, trust me I love them! But, there was just something missing with these two, maybe it just happened a little bit too fast for me.

I love dystopian novels and what I love about them is getting to know how and why the world changed, but in Shatter Me it’s not thoroughly explained and we don’t really experience it except for a few glimpses and mentions of how it is, but what was hard for me to grasp was that the dramatic changes happened within the three years that Juliette had been disconnected from the world. Especially during one scene when she mistakes some high tech food-making machine for a microwave, it was just a bit too far fetched for me. But other than that I thoroughly enjoyed it and the ending does not leave you at an intense moment which was good, it actually leaves you smiling and definitely wanting more. I’m really looking forward to the next one, and hoping to find out more about this world and its exciting characters that we get to meet towards the end.

In my Mailbox

2011-10-30T09:09:00.001-05:00

In my Mailbox is a weekly meme hosted by Kristi from The Story Siren.

First of all, sorry about the awful picture, my hands shake a lot and I’m really bad at taking pictures so it’s a little bit blurry. I was so excited to receive most of these in an awesome package this week from Harper Collins, it was a huge unexpected surprise and I’m really looking forward to reading some of these.

For Review:

Everneath by Brodi Ashton

Lovetorn by Kavita Daswani

The Secret Sisterhood of Heartbreakers by Lynn Weingarten

Bewitching by Alex Flinn

Kiss Crush Collide by Christina Meredith

Forbidden by Syrie James & Ryan M. James

Love and Leftovers by Sarah Tregay

Black Boy White School by Brian F. Walker

Hallowed by Cynthia Hand

The Iron Knight by Julie Kagawa (Thanks to Harlequin Teen & Meryl L. Moss Media)

Waiting on Wednesday- Partials

2011-10-26T06:24:00.001-05:00

Waiting on Wednesday is a weekly event hosted by Jill from Breaking the Spine that spotlights upcoming books that we are eagerly anticipating.

Partials by Dan Wells

Publisher: Balzer + Bray

Release Date: February 28, 2012

The human race is all but extinct after a war with Partials—engineered organic beings identical to humans—has decimated the population. Reduced to tens of thousands by RM, a weaponized virus to which only a fraction of humanity is immune, the survivors in North America have huddled together on Long Island while the Partials have mysteriously retreated. The threat of the Partials is still imminent, but worse, no baby has been born immune to RM in more than a decade. Our time is running out.
Kira, a sixteen-year-old medic in training, is on the front lines of this battle, seeing RM ravage the community while mandatory pregnancy laws threaten to launch what’s left of humanity into civil war, and she’s not content to stand by and watch. But as she makes a desperate decision to save the last of her race, she will discover that the survival of humans and Partials alike rests in her attempts to uncover the connections between them—connections that humanity has forgotten, or perhaps never even knew were there.

Dan Wells, acclaimed author of I Am Not a Serial Killer, takes readers on a pulse-pounding journey into a world where the very concept of what it means to be human is in question—one where our humanity is both our greatest liability and our only hope for survival.(from HarperCollins)

This one sounds really interesting to me, there’s all kinds of things going on. A dystopian with engineered organic beings that look like humans, a virus and some sort of mandatory pregnancy laws?! Sounds like one that will be hard to put down.

Book Birthdays!!

2011-10-25T00:00:00.000-05:00

Some really awesome new releases today, I think Au Revoir, Crazy European Chick sounds like a lot of fun. I looooove The Iron Fey series by Julie Kagawa so I highly recommend you pick up the series if you haven’t yet, The Iron Knight the fourth installment in the series comes out today, Woot!!! The Giver has been one of my favorite books for years and I’m dying to see what this illustrated edition looks like. Which one are you looking forward to reading the most?

Happy Book Birthdays to the authors of this week’s new releases!!

Tuesday October 25th-

Amplified by Tara Kelly

Au Revoir, Crazy European Chick by Joe Schreiber

Between the Sea and Sky by Jaclyn Dolamore

Crave by Melissa Darnell

Destined (House of Night Novels) by P. C. Cast

The Iron Knight by Julie Kagawa

The Poison Diaries: Nightshade by Maryrose Wood

The Vampire Diaries: The Hunters: Phantom by L. J. Smith

Scored by Lauren McLaughlin

You Are My Only by Beth Kephart

The Giver (illustrated; gift edition) by Lois Lowry

Thursday October 27th:

Hunted by Cheryl Rainfield

The Scorpio Races by Maggie Stiefvater

2011-10-24T06:00:00.000-05:00

The Scorpio Races by Maggie Stiefvater

Publisher: Scholastic

Released on October 18, 2011

It happens at the start of every November: the Scorpio Races. Riders attempt to keep hold of their water horses long enough to make it to the finish line. Some riders live. Others die.

At age nineteen, Sean Kendrick is the returning champion. He is a young man of few words, and if he has any fears, he keeps them buried deep, where no one else can see them.

Puck Connolly is different. She never meant to ride in the Scorpio Races. But fate hasn’t given her much of a chance. So she enters the competition — the first girl ever to do so. She is in no way prepared for what is going to happen.

Once again Maggie has gotten me to fall in love with one of her stories, characters and even animals. This one to me felt different than her other novels, the writing is not as lyrical as in the Shiver series but still beautiful, richly detailed and easy flowing that the reader has absolutely no problem picturing any of the beauty described in this island and its people.

I was fascinated by the spin on the water horses mythology, Maggie as always adds her own magic to the old myths and changes up a few things with well developed plots and characters that are not just two dimensional but that even the minor ones will have a great meaning to the story and a great influence to the main ones, they are all so well developed that they feel like family to you by the end. She makes it easy to fall in love with them and form a connection with them and the water horses that are seen as monsters.

I loved the slowly blooming romance, you don’t get a lot of kisses in this one but you definitely don’t miss that, seeing the characters fall in love slowly was enough for me, the stolen glances and fluttering stomachs definitely had me with dreamy eyes while reading and a huge smile on my face that I would stop reading and close my eyes for a minute to picture the scenes in my mind and sigh. I loved that Puck was such a strong independent young woman and that she didn’t let the men that were racing discourage her from her goal and change her mind, she made me so proud even though I had no hand in creating her but I loved her and was proud of her strength and courage, she was inspiring. And there is absolutely no way you can’t fall in love with Sean Kendrick, he could melt anybody’s heart, I loved the way he would care for his horses, the way he could hide his feelings from the world and how he lets go towards the end and opens up to only a few. This story is about so much more than horses and races that are exhilarating as you read them, it’s about a strange island and its fascinating people and superstitions, love, bravery and loyalty. Of course Maggie succeeded at making me cry once again, she has such a way in getting those emotions out of you that you are so invested into the story by the end without even realizing it until you find yourself crying and I love her for it, I can’t wait to see what else she’ll write next!

Waiting on Wednesday- Where It Began

2011-10-19T00:00:00.000-05:00

Waiting on Wednesday is a weekly event hosted by Jill from Breaking the Spine that spotlights upcoming books that we are eagerly anticipating.

Where It Began by Ann Redisch Stampler

Publisher: Simon Pulse

Release Date: March 6, 2012

Gabby Gardiner wakes up in a hospital bed looking like a cautionary ad for drunk driving and lacking a single memory of the accident that landed her there. What she can remember, in frank and sardonic detail, is the year leading up to the accident.

As she takes us through her transformation from invisible girl to on-trend Girl Who Dates Billy Nash (aka Most Desirable Boy Ever), she is left wondering: Why is Billy suddenly distancing himself from her? What do her classmates know that Gabby herself does not? Who exactly was in the car that night? And why is Gabby left alone to take the fall?

Putting the pieces together will take every ounce of Gabby's strength. As she peels back the layers of her life, she begins to realize that her climb up the status ladder has been as intoxicating as it has been morally complex...and that nothing about her life is what she has imagined it to be.(From Goodreads)

I love a good contemp with a bit of mystery in it and this one sounds great. I want to know what happened in that car crash and the secrets that her classmates are keeping from Gabby and why are they not telling her the truth? Sounds intriguing, I’m really looking forward to this 2012 YA debut author novel.

Book Birthdays!!

2011-10-18T05:00:00.000-05:00

It seems that time just keeps slipping by and there’s just not enough to read all the books on my list that I want. Some of these I’ve been really looking forward to reading and some I’ve heard really great things about. Which one are you looking forward to the most?

Happy Book Birthdays to the authors of all these new releases!!

Today October 18th:

Virtuosity by Jessica Martinez

Swear by Nina Malkin

Dearly, Departed by Lia Habel

How to Save a Life by Sara Zarr

The Scorpio Races by Maggie Stiefvater

Beautiful Chaos (Beautiful Creatures, Book 3) by Kami Garcia

Tomorrow October 19th:

On the Fringe by Courtney King Walker

Dark Eden by Patrick Carman

2011-10-17T06:00:00.000-05:00

Dark Eden by Patrick Carman

Publisher: Katherine Tegen Books

Release Date: November 1st 2011

Source: Publisher

Fifteen-year-old Will Besting is sent by his doctor to Fort Eden, an institution meant to help patients suffering from crippling phobias. Once there, Will and six other teenagers take turns in mysterious fear chambers and confront their worst nightmares—with the help of the group facilitator, Rainsford, an enigmatic guide. When the patients emerge from the chamber, they feel emboldened by the previous night's experiences. But each person soon discovers strange, unexplained aches and pains. . . . What is really happening to the seven teens trapped in this dark Eden?(from HarperCollins)

From the beginning of the book you get immediately interested in the story that Will is telling, you get to see everything from his point of view and what might seem a little bit confusing about what's going on at first gets cleared up and explained very soon. We have a group of kids that have been sent to this institution to get cured of their fears and phobias, which becomes a little weird when they are suddenly sent out in the middle of nowhere to a place in the woods where they have to come face to face with their worst fears.

This novel at first reminded me a bit about Lost (the TV show) there was just so much mystery going on, what seemed to be impossible kept happening, and there were so many secrets that Will kept trying to figure out. Everything happens very fast in this story, from one person getting cured to the next and we get to see what their fears are, which is sort of what you're waiting to find out the whole time while reading the book, but I unfortunately could not feel any connection with any of them. We see everything through Will's eyes so I didn't really connect with any of the other characters, we only get a few glimpses of them and you don't really get to know them really well, you get a chapter for each and their fears and that's it. You only get to know Will a little bit and not even that much, you get to see what he's really like through flashbacks of his life and his relationship with his brother, and all the while you're wondering the whole time what his fear might be which is in part what kept me reading. What I did like to see was that you get some backstory of why these character’s have those fears and where they started.

This novel was definitely eerie from the beginning, and the way these kids seemed to be getting cured was way creepy which kept me wanting to read more to see what this was all about and how it all happened. Once I found out the truth about Will and his fear it made reading about all the other stuff a bit worth it, cause it was definitely unpredictable, I had no clue what it was until it was revealed. Afterwards the book takes a different turn into the paranormal that I didn't see coming and I'm one of those that love unexpected endings and resolutions but this one seemed a bit off to me, the whole system gets explained in less than three chapters at the end and it just felt too rushed for me. Even though it was shocking I still felt a little bit like it was just taking the easy way out, I'm not sure how to explain it but I was not pleased, maybe if there would've been a few more chapters of explanation or growing into that ending I think I would've liked it a lot more, but it just seemed rushed and that paranormal aspect was not explained enough. I was a little disappointed in it, I would've preferred if it hadn't been revealed at all, but that's just my opinion. I'm sure there are people that will enjoy this one a lot more than I did but to me the ending left me undecided about it.

In My Mailbox

2011-10-09T09:43:00.001-05:00

In My Mailbox is a weekly meme hosted by Kristi from The Story Siren.

I’m always meaning to do IMM posts but I’m really bad at it, I keep thinking during the week that I’m going to make an IMM post this weekend but then Sunday rolls around and I’m already too late or I’m out doing something with no time to get on the pc. But this weekend I have a little time and I actually remembered before Sunday was over. I’m feeling productive today. =)

This week I got a signed copy of Hourglass by Myra McEntire and a CD with the Hourglass playlist that I’ve won from Myra on her blog a while ago. I was sooo excited to get it, I looooved this book!!

I also received Under the Never Sky by Veronica Rossi, thanks so much to Harper Teen. I’m really looking forward to reading this one!

Review- Sloppy Firsts by Megan McCafferty

2011-10-06T05:00:00.000-05:00

Sloppy Firsts by Megan McCafferty

Publisher: Three Rivers Press

Published on August 28, 2001

When her best friend, Hope Weaver, moves away from Pineville, New Jersey, hyperobservant sixteen-year-old Jessica Darling is devastated. A fish out of water at school and a stranger at home, Jessica feels more lost than ever now that the only person with whom she could really communicate has gone. How is she supposed to deal with the boy- and shopping-crazy girls at school, her dad’s obsession with her track meets, her mother salivating over big sister Bethany’s lavish wedding, and her nonexistent love life?
A fresh, funny, utterly compelling fiction debut by first-time novelist Megan McCafferty, Sloppy Firsts is an insightful, true-to-life look at Jessica’s predicament as she embarks on another year of teenage torment--from the dark days of Hope’s departure through her months as a type-A personality turned insomniac to her completely mixed-up feelings about Marcus Flutie, the intelligent and mysterious “Dreg” who works his way into her heart. Like a John Hughes for the twenty-first century, Megan McCafferty taps into the inherent humor and drama of the teen experience. This poignant, hilarious novel is sure to appeal to readers who are still going through it, as well as those who are grateful that they don’t have to go back and grow up all over again.(from Random House)

I am so lame!! I first heard about this book earlier this year before Megan McCafferty’s YA debut novel Bumped came out. Everyone and their mothers were reading it and they raved about it, people were recommending it and squeeing all over the place about the awesomeness that this series was. I didn’t want to believe it, first because it was suppose to be an “adult” novel and I really don’t read anything but YA and also because I just didn’t want to be dissappointed by the hype. Of course now I want to kick myself in the butt for not listening sooner and jumped on the wagon at the beginning of the year, because this book will go down as one of my top favorite contemps ever right alongside my Lola and Anna!! So thanks to my uber-awesome friend Lena for getting it for me because it was incredible, much more than I expected from the very beginning. And why is this not considered YA? This book is so YA and everything I would’ve wanted to read when I was a teen.

I loved Jessica’s voice, she was a very realistic teenage girl full of angst and confusion, low self esteem and a bit of loneliness. I felt like she was talking to me while reading the entries from her journal, she was very expressive, observant and sarcastic but also very smart. I was laughing my ass off from the very first chapter, this book was so hilarious and I immediately fell in love with its main character, I wanted her to be my best friend and felt so connected to her that I kept saying “I’ve done that!” or “I love that too!!” over and over while reading this novel. And hello!!! She loves all my favorite movies with Molly Ringwald from the 80’s!! She was probably one of the most likable and relatable female character’s that I’ve ever read. Because I was a teen during the time that this book takes place I knew everything pop culture related that the novel mentions, and even if you don’t you can still very easily relate to Jessica, it’s pretty much what lots of us have gone through as teenagers. I love that she wasn’t just a girl with brains but also a smart ass with hilarious comebacks and inner bickerings and rants that have you laughing the whole way through the novel.

Then we meet Marcus Flutie and at first glance (or read) I didn’t really understand what the fascination was all about but pretty soon I figured it out. He’s not your good hearted guy playing to be the bad boy, he IS the bad boy, he’s not a fake sensitive soul. He does really have a bad reputation for a reason and he lives up to it, but he does win the reader’s heart in a way that makes you wish he was in every page, you feel the same butterflies in your stomach and the same loss for words that Jessica feels when he appears on the pages. Obviously this review does not do this book justice, all I wanted to say was that it was amazing and squee all over the place right after I read it, also wishing that I had read this when I was in high school myself and going through the same situations that Jessica was going through, it’s one of those that you wished you had read a long time ago. It’s never too late to read it though, it brought back so many wonderful and hilarious memories from my teen years, I loved it and at the end I couldn’t stop thinking of that crazy ending that I had to run to the bookstore the next day during my lunch time and get the second one, it’s one of those that you’ll need to have the second one already or you won’t be able to think of anything else. Highly recommend it, hilarious, realistic, and well rounded characters, some that you will love and a few that you’ll hate but definitely amazing!

Tune in Tuesdays- Soundtrack Edition!!

2011-10-04T00:00:00.000-05:00

So Ginger from GReads had another awesome theme idea for Tune In Tuesdays. Soundtrack Edition for the month of October. Woot!!! I personally love soundtracks, you get introduced to new bands and I think the music really matters in a movie or TV show, it really makes it and you immediately notice if it’s good or bad and when it’s bad it makes the show much less appealing, at least in my opinion it does.

I love a good soundtrack and when I heard of this new theme for Tune in Tuesdays one song came to mind, one that I loooove and I’ve been wanting to share for a while. I love The Strokes, they’re one of my all time favorite bands and I could literally listen to their stuff everyday. This song in particular I love not only because it’s from The Strokes but also because it’s from one of my favorite movies… Marie Antoinette (2006) with Kirsten Dunst, written and directed by Sofia Coppola, soundtrack produced by Brian Reitzell. I loved this movie!! I’m a huge fan of European history, and movies based on it, so this one being so colorful and with pretty amazing music became one of my favorites. Another reason why this song came to mind was because of Lola and The Boy Next Door, I know, I know you’re tired of hearing me talk about Lola and my love for it but Marie Antoinette is a big part of the book and while I read it, this song and the movie kept popping in my mind that I just had to listen to it over and over again.. So here it is, hope you like it!

Book Birthdays!

2011-10-03T20:03:00.001-05:00

So much awesome this week. I can’t wait to read some of these, I’ve heard great things about A.S. King’s writing and I’m dying to find out what happens next between Patch and Nora. So many great new releases, which one are you looking forward to reading the most?

Happy Book Birthdays to the authors of all these new releases!

Monday October 3rd:

Everybody Sees the Ants by A.S. King

Tuesday October 4th:

The Apothecary by Maile Meloy

Carrier of the Mark by Leigh Fallon

Eve by Anna Carey

Liesl & Po by Lauren Oliver

Past Perfect by Leila Sales

Silence by Becca Fitzpatrick

Variant by Robison Wells

There You'll Find Me by Jenny B. Jones

Saturday October 8th:

Mercy Lily by Lisa Albert

Winners of The Banned Book Week Giveaway!

2011-10-03T06:26:00.001-05:00

Thanks to everyone who entered the giveaway for Banned Book Week and for spreading the word. I pick the winners using Random.org and the winners are:

#65 MILU

#135 ANNA

#186 NIKKI OZ

*WINNERS HAVE BEEN EMAILED AND HAVE 48 HOURS TO EMAIL BACK OR NEW WINNERS WILL BE CHOSEN*

Interview w/ Kiki Hamilton + Giveaway!!

2011-09-30T00:00:00.000-05:00

I’m so excited to have Kiki Hamilton on the blog today!! She’s the author of The Faerie Ring, her debut YA novel, and one of my favorite people. Always so sweet and nice, please welcome her on the blog and show her some love!

Hi Kiki thanks so much for the interview, I’m really excited to read The Faerie Ring soon. I love Faerie books and a historical one, even better!!!

Hi Cynthia! Thanks so much for having me over and for being part of the blog tour!!

1. I read that JK Rowling inspired you to write, I’m a huge fan of Harry Potter too. What was it about her stories that made you want to write something magical like The Faerie Ring?

You said it: MAGIC. I love the idea of unlimited possibilities. Of possessing powers beyond the five sense that all humans have. I also love the idea of unseen worlds intersecting with our own and the ramifications when different motivations and desires collide.

2. I loved the cover of the book, it’s definitely a favorite. Do you think the cover fits the story perfectly and is it even better than you imagined?

I do LOVE the cover and yes, it fits the story perfectly! There are things on that cover that someone picking it up the first time won’t recognize as important, but later as you read, you can flip back and go ‘oh yeah, I didn’t notice that before.’ Those are my favorite kinds of covers.

I was lucky that my editor, Susan Chang, asked for my input on the cover. I gave a pretty comprehensive list of things that I thought were important and the styles that I preferred and bless those guys at Tor Teen – they did every single thing I asked for!!! Seth Lerner, the Art Director, and Susan put together the perfect cover! I am SO grateful!

3. There are lots of faerie books out there but they all have something new and different in them, a new spin that the authors have created. How is The Faerie Ring different from all the others?

I hadn’t read a faerie story set in Victorian London before I wrote THE FAERIE RING. That was actually why I wrote the story – it was something I wanted to read. I think the fact that the story is interwoven with real people from the past give it a bit of a new twist.

4. If you were a faerie what kind would you be?

I sort of feel like I should plead the fifth on this one….ahem…but I think that I’d like to be a powerful faerie. Sometimes the lines between good and evil are a bit blurry so I’d like to be strong enough to choose the path I take.

5. What are three things you couldn’t live without, that you would take with you into the faerie realms?

My iphone? Hmmmm – I wonder if I’d get cell service there….. anyway, definitely a knife with an iron blade, the knowledge of the way to get back to this world and if I could, I’d take Rieker with me.

Thanks again for being part of the blog tour and for featuring me on your site!!

Thanks to Mundie Moms, Kiki Hamilton and Tor Teen for the opportunity to take a part in the tour. Make sure you check out the rest of the tour stops here.

Now you can enter to win a brand new final copy of The Faerie Ring. This one is US only since I have to ship it myself, one entry per person. Ends October 7th at midnight. ------Giveaway has ENDED------

Congrats to:

Rachel L.

*winner has been emailed and has 48 hours to reply or new winner will be chosen*

Book Birthdays!

2011-09-27T05:00:00.000-05:00

This week is epic with so many amazing new releases, there are so many books coming out that I probably missed a few. Two of my favorite books of the year are coming out this week, the amazing Lola and the Boy Next Door and Daughter of Smoke and Bone!!!!

Check out this week’s new releases, lots of debut authors this week. Happy Book Birthdays to all of these authors!!

Today September 27th:

Abarat: Absolute Midnight by Clive Barker

Ashfall by Mike Mullin

A Beautiful Dark by Jocelyn Davies

Blood: Book One of the Mercian Trilogy by K. J. Wignall

Daughter of Smoke and Bone by Laini Taylor

The Faerie Ring by Kiki Hamilton

If I Die by Rachel Vincent

Lost In Time (A Blue Bloods Novel) by Melissa De La Cruz

The Mephisto Covenant by Trinity Faegen

My Beating Teenage Heart by C. K. Kelly Martin

Shifting by Bethany Wiggins

The Unbecoming of Mara Dyer by Michelle Hodkin

Unforgettable by Loretta Ellsworth

The Vision by Jen Nadol

A Monster Calls by Patrick Ness

Thursday September 29th:

Lola and the Boy Next Door by Stephanie Perkins

The Name of the Star by Maureen Johnson

Check out this amazing trailer for A Monster Calls by Patrick Ness, I’ve been hearing so many great things about his writing and about this book and the trailer makes me that much more curious to read it.

Review- Ashes by Ilsa J. Bick

2011-09-26T06:00:00.000-05:00

Ashes by Ilsa J. Bick

Publisher: Egmont USA

Released on September 6, 2011

It could happen tomorrow . . .

An electromagnetic pulse flashes across the sky, destroying every electronic device, wiping out every computerized system, and killing billions.
Alex hiked into the woods to say good-bye to her dead parents and her personal demons. Now desperate to find out what happened after the pulse crushes her to the ground, Alex meets up with Tom—a young soldier—and Ellie, a girl whose grandfather was killed by the EMP.
For this improvised family and the others who are spared, it’s now a question of who can be trusted and who is no longer human.
Author Ilsa J. Bick crafts a terrifying and thrilling novel about a world that could be ours at any moment, where those left standing must learn what it means not just to survive, but to live amidst the devastation.(From Egmont USA)

Ashes was not at all what I expected when I started reading it. I was looking forward to reading another creepy zombie book but Ashes was not just about zombies, it didn’t even have as many zombie encounters as I initially thought it would, but it was still definitely creepy.

There is a bit of gore when the zombies do appear in the pages, it’s chilling and scary, and changes the whole feeling of the book. They appear out of nowhere and you just know from the words of the main character that something terrible is about to happen, you can feel it and might even get goosebumps. Also Ilsa Bick has a way with chilling foreshadowing endings at the end of each chapter that leaves you with a feeling of dread that something unfortunate will be happening soon. It makes it very difficult to put the book down. What I loved the most about this novel was that the zombies don’t overpower the plot of the story, there are only a few glimpses and scenes with them and they are spaced out through the story. Also the zombies in this one seem to have a bit of intelligence, they’re not just crazy brainless cannibals. I always love to see each author’s spin in the zombies they create and this one was quite interesting.

The novel focuses on the changes that the EMPs caused on the world and how fast it all happened and how people cope with a worldwide traumatic event that changed their lives. I really liked that it felt realistic, that made me think that this actually could happen, it wasn’t some far fetched theory. These people were living their lives just like everyday and all of a sudden there’s chaos everywhere, just in a matter of minutes, it was insane and I was freakishly intrigued by it all and wanting to know more about it. The good thing is that Ilsa does explain the science and the reasons behind most of the changes, the how's and the why’s.

I was glad to see that Alex wasn’t some damsel in distress, she’s actually very smart and familiar with all types of survival skills, she even knew how to handle gun. Her bond with Tom and Ellie was hopeful and heartwarming, in a time when the world has become unsafe but also painful to read about and not wanting to love these characters because you have no way of knowing if they will survive or stay together. There’s a lot of twists in this book that I didn’t see coming at all, a couple that I was not a fan of, but since they are unexpected I won’t say what they were since it would be very spoilery, but it definitely changes the course that the story was taking. The ending was shocking,I did not see that one coming and it left me with my mouth open, seriously I’m not kidding!!! It just makes the wait for the sequel feel like torture because you’ll definitely want the next one right away. This isn’t just a zombie book, that’s just a miniscule part of the story, it’s about the will to keep going, the rights and wrongs, survival and love, so if you can overlook a couple of gory scenes and focus on the characters and the rest of the plot then I highly recommend it. I myself cannot wait for the next one!

Banned Book Week Giveaway!!

2011-09-24T00:00:00.000-05:00

The Banned Book Week Hop is being hosted by Jen from I Read Banned Books and Kathy at I’m a Reader Not a Writer.

I wanted to participate in this giveaway hop because of its topic, I hate the fact that people have the power to banned books from a large group of people without taking into consideration how those people might feel about that. I understand that some parents are concerned about what their children might be reading and if they think their kids are too young or they don’t approve of the topic. But how about you don’t judge the book by its cover and synopsis and read it? Maybe you’ll find that the book is not damaging like you initially thought, but helpful, what about having a discussion about it with your teen and maybe create a bond over books. I wished my parents would’ve done that with me when I was a kid.

I hate that some people think that if the book is based on a difficult topic it must be bad or give a wrong impression to your child, or make them start copying what the characters in the books are doing, seriously?!! Teens are NOT stupid! Don’t take away a book from a school, library or school district just because of a small group of people disapprove. Don’t take away the opportunity for a teenager to find something in a certain book that will help them heal, that will give them understanding and help them speak out, that will help them realize that there are other kids out there going through the same things, that they are not alone... Some of these books are relatable to many teens and a lot of these I wished that I could have read when I was in high school. They would’ve been a HUGE help in my life when I was going through an eating disorder and helped me found a better way to release my stress and emotional turmoil instead of cutting myself. Yes, I went through that too, not even my parents know about that one. It’s very frustrating to me when I hear through the internet that another book has been banned or challenged, so this is why I want to play at least a small part in this week and get some of these amazing books out there. There are many that you wouldn’t believe are in the banned list or have been challenged, I seriously rolled my eyes when I read some of these titles and the reasons why. Check it out for yourself on the links below.

http://www.abffe.com/KR2R.pdf

ALA’s TOP 100 Banned Books List

http://www.bannedbooksweek.org/about

ILA.org

A Few of my favorites that have been banned or challenged:

So in celebration of Banned Book Week I’m giving away THREE books, there will be THREE WINNERS and each winner will get a book of their choice from the lists of banned or challenged books, if you don’t know of any just click on the links above, there’s plenty of choices. The ILA website is my favorite cause it’s organized by year. This giveaway is INTERNATIONAL since it will either be ordered by The Book Depository or Amazon.

Interview with Jessica Lee Anderson

2011-09-17T06:00:00.000-05:00

I’m thrilled to have another Texas author on the blog this week. Jessica Lee Anderson is the author of the newly released Calli , which by the way got a Reader’s Choice Nomination on YALSA for realistic fiction. Congrats to Jessica for that nomination!! =D

What was it that you loved about Children’s literature in college that inspired you to write for kids and teens?

When I took my first children’s literature course, I fell back in love with the books from my youth and was introduced to many new gems. I found books for kids and teens to be especially engaging and well-written. As part of the course, the writing professor assigned us some writing projects, and well, the rest is history.

Do you find yourself lucky to live in a part of Texas that has a great community of authors? How do you support each other and cheer each other up when you’re struggling with your writing?

Austin is a fun, funky city home to wonderful independent book stores like BookPeople and The Book Spot, plus there are supportive organizations like The Writers League of Texas and Austin SCBWI that host meetings and conferences. I’ve formed close friendships with talented writers and a group of us get together at a café we’ve dubbed #ThePlace—we offer each other ideas, critiques, or a shoulder to cry on. I DO consider myself lucky!

If you could write a novel with any author (dead or alive) who would you pick?

John Green—I admire his writing, sense of humor, and Nerdfighting abilities.

What inspired Calli’s story and writing about good intentions going terribly wrong? Did you add any of your personal experiences in the story?

I read THE WINDOW by Michael Dorris a long time ago, and this story made me think about what life as a foster child is like as well as their family members. When my husband and I considered becoming foster parents years later, the story of CALLI started to take shape. While most of the story is fictionalized, I wove some personal experiences throughout.

If there was anything you could change or add in Calli what would it be?

My dedication and acknowledgements are missing in the final book, so I would love to add these in! I’m sure there are many things I would like to change or add, but my previous publications have taught me that you’ve got to let it go and put your creative energy into your next manuscript.

Can you describe Calli in one sentence?

Calli decides to retaliate after her foster sister, Cherish, kisses Dub and steals stuff, but things spiral out of control and Calli has to deal with the consequences.

Which fictional world from a book would you love to live in?

I just read SWIM THE FLY by Don Calame, and I wish that my teen self could’ve hung out with Matt, Coop, and Sean—I’d never stop laughing!

About Calli:

Fifteen-year-old Calli has just about everything she could want in life—two loving moms, a good-looking boyfriend, and a best friend who has always been there for support. An only child, Calli is excited when her parents announce that they want to be foster parents. Unfortunately, being a foster sister to Cherish is not at all what Calli expected. First Cherish steals Calli’s boyfriend, then begins to pit Calli’s moms against one another, and she even steals Calli’s iPod. Tired of being pushed around and determined to get even, Calli steals one of Cherish’s necklaces. But this plan for revenge goes horribly awry, and Cherish ends up in juvenile detention.
Isolating herself from her moms, her boyfriend, and even her best friend, Calli wrestles with her guilt and tries to figure out a way to undo the damage she’s caused. When her moms are asked to take on another foster child, Calli sees an opportunity to make amends for her past mistakes.
Funny, moving, and emotionally rich, Calli is a portrait of an endearing young woman caught between adolescence and adulthood, striving to do the right thing even when all of her options seem wrong.

Find Calli on:

Goodreads

Amazon.com

Barnes & Noble

Indiebound

Shattered Souls Blog Tour- Lenzi’s Book Picks!

2011-09-15T05:00:00.000-05:00

I’m thrilled to have local author Mary Lindsey on the blog today to talk about… what else??? Books!!! She’s sharing Lenzi’s book picks, the main character of her upcoming debut YA novel which I’m reeeeally looking forward to reading! Welcome Mary Lindsey and lets get to know a bit more about Lenzi.

Before her dad became so ill, Lenzi was an avid reader. She grew up on Magic Treehouse, followed by Animorphs and Deltora Quest, then the Harry Potter series.

When she entered high school, Lenzi enjoyed Stephen King and Edgar Allan Poe, but since she’s started hearing voices in her head, scary stories are out of the question. Life is terrifying enough as it is with bogeymen talking to her.

On here nightstand, Lenzi has a small collection of the storybooks her father used to read her. Since his death, she hasn’t opened them, but likes having them near. In the stack is a Winnie the Pooh collection, Go, Dog, Go, and her Dad’s favorite, Where the Wild Things Are.

Awesome picks! I love that she’s read Harry Potter and I went through a phase in high school where all I wanted to read was Stephen King. I can’t wait to get to know more about Lenzi’s visions. Thanks Mary Lindsey for stopping by the blog today.

About Shattered Souls:

Lenzi hears voices and has visions - gravestones, floods, a boy with steel gray eyes. Her boyfriend, Zak, can't help, and everything keeps getting louder and more intense. Then Lenzi meets Alden, the boy from her dreams, who reveals that she's a reincarnated Speaker - someone who can talk to and help lost souls - and that he has been her Protector for centuries.
Now Lenzi must choose between her life with Zak and the life she is destined to lead with Alden. But time is running out: a malevolent spirit is out to destroy Lenzi, and he will kill her if she doesn't make a decision soon.

Find Shattered Souls on:

Goodreads I Amazon I Penguin I Barnes & Noble

Visit the rest of the stops on the Shattered Blog Tour by clicking the banner below.

Review-Daughter of Smoke and Bone

2011-09-14T06:00:00.000-05:00

Daughter of Smoke and Bone by Laini Taylor

Publisher: Little,Brown

Release Date: September 27, 2011

Source: Publisher

Around the world, black handprints are appearing on doorways, scorched there by winged strangers who have crept through a slit in the sky.
In a dark and dusty shop, a devil's supply of human teeth grown dangerously low.
And in the tangled lanes of Prague, a young art student is about to be caught up in a brutal otherworldly war.
Meet Karou. She fills her sketchbooks with monsters that may or may not be real; she's prone to disappearing on mysterious "errands"; she speaks many languages--not all of them human; and her bright blue hair actually grows out of her head that color. Who is she? That is the question that haunts her, and she's about to find out.
When one of the strangers--beautiful, haunted Akiva--fixes his fire-colored eyes on her in an alley in Marrakesh, the result is blood and starlight, secrets unveiled, and a star-crossed love whose roots drink deep of a violent past. But will Karou live to regret learning the truth about herself?(From Little, Brown)

I was sort of terrified of reading this book because of all the hype I’ve been hearing in the last few weeks, so much praise makes me nervous because sometimes I can be one of those in the minority that ends up not liking the book. I was thrilled to find out that that wasn’t the case with this one. This book was perfection to me, there was not one thing that I didn’t like and nothing that I would’ve changed about it.

Laini Taylor plays with your mind on this one and sends it roaming to unimaginable wild places that you’ve never dreamed of. I loved the mythology, it was vibrant and beautiful. Creative story telling that is woven perfectly with rich details that makes it quite easy to picture, as unbelievable as it may seem, because trust me this is not your usual take on angels and supernatural beings.

If there was one thing I would pick that I loved the most about this novel was that everything is explained by the end, it does not leave you with a whole bunch of unanswered questions. You really don’t know what to expect the whole way through and all along are dying to find out the secrets that are kept hidden from Karou and what makes her so different. Laini has woven everything perfectly into the story that when everything is revealed by the end it all makes perfect sense . I loved the unpredictability of it, the way that I wasn’t able to tell what was going to happen next or figure out the secrets before they were told.

The romance is not insta-love, it was more like a hate on first sight with a dangerous attraction that may or may not end up badly, it’s definitely slow building and I was pleased to find out that there wasn’t a love triangle in sight. I LOVED most of the characters surrounding Karou, they were all so different from the norm, so out of the ordinary and quite interesting, they keep you engrossed in the book wanting to find out more about each and every one of them. Karou also wasn’t just a smart and kick-ass heroine but hilarious, sarcastic and fiercely loyal. I loved that from the beginning she had me laughing with her smart comebacks and inner thoughts, she was one of those female heroines that you would love to have as a best friend even with all the mystery surrounding her, you can’t help but love her and root for her happiness.

The story of course is not all love and butterflies, there’s lots of darkness in it and heartbreak, I loved the uniqueness of it, how it captivated me from the beginning and made me hold my breath several times while reading it. Don’t hesitate to get this one peeps, even if you think you might be tired of Angel books, there’s way more to it than that. Beautiful writing with a magical and creative plot and well rounded characters makes Daughter of Smoke and Bones so much more then what I expect it. Highly recommended!

Book Birthdays!

2011-09-13T07:03:00.001-05:00

Obviously September will be full of awesomeness. It seems like every week we have a ton of great new releases. So many ranging from contemporary to paranormal, fantasy and dystopian, a little bit for everyone.

Happy Book Birthdays to the authors of this week’s new releases!!

Today, Tuesday September 13th:

After Obsession by Carrie Jones

All the Earth Thrown to the Sky by Joe R. Lansdale

Blood Wounds by Susan Beth Pfeffer

Burnout by Adrienne Maria Vrettos

Calli by Jessica Lee Anderson

Circle Nine by Anne Heltzel

Dark Mirror by M.J. Putney

Dreamland by Alyson Noël

Drink, Slay, Love by Sarah Beth Durst

Every You, Every Me by David Levithan

Fateful by Claudia Gray

Frost by Marianna Baer

Glow (Sky Chasers) by Amy Kathleen Ryan

Going Underground by Susan Vaught

The Isle of Blood (Monstrumologist) by Rick Yancey

Modelland by Tyra Banks

The Night Circus by Erin Morgenstern

Perfect by Ellen Hopkins

A Plague Year by Edward Bloor

So Silver Bright (Theatre Illuminata) by Lisa Mantchev

Wisdom's Kiss by Catherine Gilbert Murdock

You Have Seven Messages by Stewart Lewis

You Against Me by Jenny Downham

Thursday September 15th:

As I Wake by Elizabeth Scott

Away (The Line, Book 2) by Teri Hall

Wolf Mark by Joseph Bruchac

The Unwanteds Blog Tour- Video Interview plus a HUGE Giveaway!

2011-09-12T00:00:00.000-05:00

I’m soooo excited to be a part of The Unwanteds Blog Tour hosted by Kismet Book Touring and pleased to have Lisa McMann answer a question about her new book here on the blog on video! I was lucky to have the opportunity to meet her earlier this year and she was one of the nicest and sweetest author’s ever. I LOVE her Wake trilogy and I’m looking forward to reading this new magical story of The Unwanteds pretty soon. Take a look at the video and don’t forget to scroll down to enter the huge giveaway for 20 copies of The Unwanteds for your classroom or book club.

About Lisa McMann - website, facebook, twitter

About The Unwanteds:

Every year in Quill, thirteen-year-olds are sorted into categories: the strong, intelligent Wanteds go to university, and the artistic Unwanteds are sent to their deaths.
Thirteen-year-old Alex tries his hardest to be stoic when his fate is announced as Unwanted, even while leaving behind his twin, Aaron, a Wanted. Upon arrival at the destination where he expected to be eliminated, however, Alex discovers a stunning secret—behind the mirage of the “death farm” there is instead a place called Artime.
In Artime, each child is taught to cultivate their creative abilities and learn how to use them magically, weaving spells through paintbrushes and musical instruments. Everything Alex has ever known changes before his eyes, and it’s a wondrous transformation.
But it’s a rare, unique occurrence for twins to be separated between Wanted and Unwanted, and as Alex and Aaron’s bond stretches across their separation, a threat arises for the survival of Artime that will pit brother against brother in an ultimate, magical battle.

The Unwanteds on - goodreads, amazon, B&N, Indie Bound, Books-A-Million, Powell's

Are you Unwanted?

Gather entries to be entered to win the grand prize book club class pack (up to 20 books!) by explaining which camp you’d be in: Wanted or Unwanted:

leave a comment +1entries
provide a picture of you that shows what you'd be (be creative) +2 entries
provide a video and tell us what you would be! +5 entries

Link can be provided in the comments of this post, on the Kismet Book Touring Facebook page or on Lisa's Facebook page. Open US/Canada. Contestants under 18 years of age must have parental consent to enter.

Check out the rest of the tour stops:

Winner of the Lola giveaway!

2011-09-10T11:50:00.001-05:00

Thanks to all of those that entered the giveaway of a pre-order of Lola and the Boy Next Door and many many thanks to all of those that tweeted about the giveaway even though it wasn’t required. You’re all awesome!

I picked the winner using Random.org:

#13 Katieb

*winner has 48 hours to email me back or new winner will be chosen*

TGIF- Books that I would LOVE to see made into a movie/TV series!

2011-09-09T06:55:00.001-05:00

TGIF is a weekly feature hosted by Ginger from GReads! Each week she has a different question for her followers. If you would like to participate and link up, visit her blog. Today’s question is:

Books to Television: Which books would you love to see made in to a tv series? or movie?

I’ve always loved this question, even though I’ve had a problem with quite a few books being made into bad movies or tv shows that take a completely different approach from the actual book and they pretty much just used the title and names of the characters and make up their own story. I still like to see them come alive as a movie or tv show, it always thrills me despite of the crazy casting choices they make sometimes. I find it easy to be able to separate the book from the movies or tv shows and most of the time I end up loving the movie regardless of its differences.

So you might be tired of hearing me talking about this book that first came to mind when I read this question, but I can’t help it, all I kept thinking while reading it was how I would love to see it be made into a movie…

Yes!!! You guessed right.. Lola and The Boy Next Door, I could go on about my love for this book forever but I won’t talk your ear off about it anymore just that I would looooove to see it be made into a movie, and a good one please! I picture a young Zoey Deschanel playing Lola, and I really have a hard time finding the perfect Cricket other than the guy on the cover.

A series that I would love to see become a tv show would be The Morganville Vampires series by Rachel Caine. I know we already have a vampire series on tv but this one is also several books and it would more fitting as a series in my opinion. These are a fun, fast paced, super twisty books about a Texas college town that’s been run by vampire for several years but the outside world doesn’t know about them. There’s lots of hot swoony guys in this one, lots of humor and a very smart heroine who most of the times uses her brain to save the day one way or another. I think that would be a fun one to watch.

What do you think? Which books would you love to see get made into a movie or a TV series?

Review- Shut Out by Kody Keplinger

2011-09-08T06:00:00.000-05:00

Shut Out by Kody Keplinger

Publisher: Poppy

Released on September 5, 2011

Source: Publisher

I was a big fan of The DUFF by Kody Keplinger because she didn’t sugarcoat the sexuality and everything else that goes on in a teenager’s life nowadays, so I was extremely excited to read Shut Out when I had the chance and was happy to find out that she kept true to that same voice and writing that she introduced us to in The DUFF, a realistic portrayal of teens and sex.

In Shut Out we have Lissa and the team player’s girlfriends form a pact that they will withhold any type of sexual activity from their boyfriends until they come to their senses and decide to stop the rivalry that’s been going on for years at their school between the football players and the soccer team. I loved the idea of this one, it was fun and definitely entertaining to see the boys squirm and beg for what they obviously can’t leave without, as many of us know. I loved that it was just so easy to read about it without feeling uncomfortable, I know some books can be pretty graphic about sex but Kody’s writing in Shut Out was so easy flowing and natural that it didn’t bother me at all. It did take me quite a while to get into the main character at the beginning of the book, I couldn’t really understand why she was being so bossy and so uptight about the whole rivalry thing, I thought it was just high school pranks and I didn’t really think her boyfriend Randy was that bad. Of course that was until Randy showed his true colors when he left her to go play a prank on some soccer players after sharing an intimate moment. That was when my claws came out, and I knew this guy was a jerk. really started to understand where Lissa was coming from and why she felt like she came second to him, I was definitely on her side and wanted to see these girls win.

I really liked that we begin to see the changes on both the guys and the girls. The girls learning to value themselves a lot more, being more open and honest about their sexuality despite the double standards and what other people might say or think of them. I looooved seeing the way the guys kept trying to get their girlfriends back, it was both hilarious and charming, they stopped taking them for granted, became more romantic and realized the absurdity of the whole rivalry thing. I love that Kody is writing about things that many teens go through and is pretty open about sex in her books but also wraps up her novels with great messages on personal value and being true to yourself and what you want, not what other people expect. Of course there’s plenty of talk about sex and lots of language so I wouldn’t recommend it to younger teens, but to older ones and adults this is a fun real contemp that many can relate to and some will definitely appreciate.

Waiting on Wednesday- A Million Suns

2011-09-07T00:00:00.000-05:00

Waiting on Wednesday is a weekly event hosted by Jill from Breaking the Spine that spotlights upcoming books that we are eagerly anticipating.

A Million Suns by Beth Revis

Published by Razorbill

Release Date: January 10, 2012

When Elder learns harrowing news about the space ship Godspeed, he and Amy must work together to unlock a puzzle that was set in motion hundreds of years earlier, all the while dealing with the romance that’s growing between them and the chaos that threatens to tear them apart. It all boils down to one mind-bending conclusion: They have to get off this ship.(from Goodreads)

I looooooved Across the Universe, my review of it was very gushy and it left me wanting the second one right away. Even though the ending would have made it a great stand alone novel I was glad that we were going to get another one. I loved the world that Beth Revis created, it was deeply engrossing and I couldn’t get enough of it. I am dying for January to arrive so I can find out what happens next.

Review- A Need So Beautiful

2011-09-06T06:00:00.000-05:00

A Need so Beautiful by Suzanne Young

Publisher: Balzer & Bray

Released on June 21, 2011

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

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

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

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

I knew I wanted to read this book since before it was released, I've heard it was wonderful and was highly recommended that I was finally glad to be able to squeeze it in between my review pile. I wasn’t really sure what to expect just from reading the synopsis but I was pleasantly surprised to find out that it was about some supernatural beings called The Forgotten, which gives the impression that they’re some sort of angels, but Suzanne Young spun her own original twist into this mythology which became fascinating to read about.

I love the purpose of The Forgotten even though it’s unfair to them because they really don’t come to earth knowing about it, they actually don’t remember anything of their past before the moment that they appear in human form as if out of nowhere and then it seems as they will inevitably disappear from the memories of their loved ones. Charlotte was such a vibrant teenager that just wanted a normal life but the need that called her to prevent certain people to make the wrong choices was unbearable, she couldn’t fight it and as the reader you begin to connect with her and really feel the hatred and the unfairness of it all, hoping that she will be able to stay and be a normal teenager with a wonderful boyfriend just like she had planned.

I became so angry for poor Charlotte, when the book became emotional all of a sudden and people started to forget little things about her and what they’ve done with her it was heartbreaking. I wanted there to be a solution so she could continue living her life with her adoptive family and foster siblings that she had grown to love so much. I was not warned that this book would get me so connected to its characters and emotions that I was going to end up being a sobbing mess close to the end. I was not expecting to become so emotionally invested in Charlotte’s world and to be hoping for her to find a way out but also to make the right choice. Charlotte had really no choice, it was either stay and become something horrible or leave Harlin, her wonderfully and supportive boyfriend who loved her unconditionally and be forgotten by everyone. I don’t know what I would’ve done in her place, it was heart wrenching and while she was at the verge of deciding I was sobbing like crazy, snot and everything, not a pretty picture when you’re trying to read a book while sitting in the break room at work.

I loved this one a lot more than I expected to. The side characters, Charlotte’s mother who loved to help others and was warm and giving, her best friend who added a lot of humor to the story but was also very understanding and never judging of Charlotte. Harlin, he was not only swooning but a wonderful, supporting and protective boyfriend, worrying constantly about her that you could really see the love he had for her in the descriptions of his acts as you read the book and how caring he was of her. Even though I hated that Charlotte didn’t have a choice and pretty much no free will, I loved that these aren’t your typical angels. The mythology that Suzanne created was really creative and rich, I loved that when they’re gone they give out love and hope to those they helped, it was such a selfless and beautiful act to go through with it. The ending was definitely a great twist that I didn’t see coming but definitely left me hopeful and dying for the next one, I cannot wait.

Book Birthdays!

2011-09-05T10:37:00.001-05:00

Wow, this week is full of awesome new releases. There’s so much I want to get. Lots of paranormal and a few contemporary, lots of debut YA novels and some sequels and firsts in a series. Which one are you most excited about?

Happy Book Birthdays to the authors of this week’s new releases!

Today Monday 9/5:

How to Rock Braces and Glasses by Meg Haston

The Shattering by Karen Healey

Shut Out by Kody Keplinger

Tuesday 9/6:

All These Things I've Done (Birthright) by Gabrielle Zevin

Ashes by Ilsa J. Bick

The Beginning of After by Jennifer Castle

Dear Bully: Seventy Authors Tell Their Stories by Megan Kelley Hall

The Fallen 3: End of Days by Thomas E. Sniegoski

The Hidden (The Hollow, Book 3) by Jessica Verday

Isle of Night: The Watchers by Veronica Wolff

Vanish: A Firelight Novel by Sophie Jordan

Sweet Venom by Tera Lynn Childs

Thursday 9/8:

Witch Eyes by Scott Tracey

Bloodborn (An Other Novel) by Karen Kincy

Damage by Anya Parrish

Pure Red by Danielle Joseph

Stay with Me by Paul Griffin

Skyship Academy: The Pearl Wars by Nick James

Lola and the Boy Next Door in pictures!

2011-09-02T06:00:00.000-05:00

I decided to do this review a little bit differently, I loved this book so much that it’s easily my favorite one of the year. For some reason while reading Lola and the Boy Next Door I felt as if I was watching it all played in my mind like a movie, the book is very visual. Nice beautifully detailed descriptions of everything, feelings, scenarios and settings, it was very easy to picture and very easy to connect with. The characters, the amazing supportive parents that I loved, everything played a really important part in this story that made this novel perfectly complete.

Then there’s Lola, just her alone makes this story so lively and colorful, she’s nothing like I’ve read before. She’s a girl that doesn’t seem to care what people say about the way she dresses, in costume and wigs, how she loves to express herself and her originality. She doesn’t want to be like everyone else. she’s fabulous and I loved reading about her attention to every little detail to her outfits and how passionate she was about it.

Deep down though, she’s super sensitive. She’s gone through the experience of that first love, the awkwardness and the butterflies in your stomach. The fact that you’re not really sure what’s happening but you know that there is something. While you read Lola you know that she has been hurt in the past but you don’t know how or why, but there’s the feeling that she gives off that it’s something that made it very hard to forgive and forget. You don’t get to find out about the heartbreak that Lola went through and why she can’t stand the neighbors next door until a little bit deeper into the story but there’s so much going on in the novel that the past, even though it’s a big part the story, doesn’t take the whole focus of the book.

Which brings me to the boys… there’s two in this story but for some reason, to me it didn’t seem like a love triangle. There’s the musician type, he seems like a laid back kind of guy but there’s a bit of a darkness in him, and he’s much more experienced than Lola. I won’t be going into much detail about him so as not to give away spoilers but then there’s Cricket…. He’s something else entirely, he’s not only hot and tall but he’s incredibly smart, a dreamer that loves to create inventions that are whimsical and steampunk-like but might not have much of a purpose. He’s the guy you want to bring home, the good guy that gets along with the parents, he’s shy and it takes him a while to get him to open up but he’s a keeper. I loved him and he had me swooning throughout this book from the first time he appeared in the pages.

Now if you had been waiting for Lola since you read Anna then let me tell you that you won’t be disappointed. With the brand new amazing set of characters that we get in this one we also get to see two of our favorite ones and there’s plenty more than I expected, with lots of detail, not just little glimpses here and there. I loved the cameos in this one, it was a huge surprised and every time those characters kept popping up I had a huge smile plastered on my face. It was an overload of awesome!

Stephanie Perkins has set the bar so high up for beautiful, relatable, sometimes hilarious but also emotional contemporary novels with great romance, swooning characters and original unique heroines with quirkiness and flaws that are easy to connect with. You’ll easily fall in love with Lola, I loved every minute of it and didn’t want it to come to an end, I love that little something that Stephanie adds to her books, it’s different like a secret ingredient to a recipe that you can taste but can’t quite describe. They’re original and passionate. I loved Anna but Lola was even more amazing to me and at the end even though I wanted to keep the book held tightly to my chest and read it all over again I also felt the need to share it with my friends. This is one of the books that you can easily reread over and over again, one that will leave you ruined from picking anything else up for a couple of days. Loved!

Now that I talked all I could about how much I loved this book you can enter to win a pre-order of it. Just fill out the form. One entry per person please. This one’s INTERNATIONAL since it will come either from Amazon or The Book Depository.

Shut Out Blog Tour- Tens List w/ Kody Keplinger

2011-08-31T18:23:00.001-05:00

Kody Keplinger the awesome author of Shut Out which releases next Monday September 5th is on the blog today to give us her top ten reasons on why she thinks YOU should read Shut Out. I can honestly say that I definitely agree with these, especially #3.. Loooooove Cash! Please welcome Kody Keplinger to the blog!

Tens List: Reasons to Read Shut Out

So I was asked to make a list of top ten reasons to read Shut Out. In a very particular order, here they are!

10. The Cover – Let’s be honest, that cover is pretty hot. It’s hard not to stare at it!

9. Chloe Nelson – Chloe is Lissa’s best friend, and she’s a feisty one. She was by far the most fun character to write, and I think she’s probably the most fun to read, too. You should read the book even if only for some fun Chloe one-liners!

8. Slumber Parties – Everybody loves a good slumber party, and Shut Out is full of them. Complete with gossip and brownies. Don’t you like brownies? I know you do.

7. N*Sync – I can’t explain this one without giving away a spoiler, but just trust me when I say that N*Sync gets involved, and we all love N*Sync, even if we won’t admit it.

6. Sexy Boys - There are a slew of football and soccer players in Shut Out. Some are loveable, some are not, but all are pretty hot.

5. Girl Talk - I mentioned slumber parties, but that’s not the only time when these girls get together. These girls (Lissa, Chloe, and Co) talk a lot and about everything, including the things they are a little scared to talk about. Sometimes its funny, sometimes it’s serious. No subject is left untouched. You should be in on their conversations!

4. The Romance - Kisses in the library, some intense sexual tension, and a few stars in the sky on a hot summer night. If you like a little romance in your YA, you’ll probably enjoy Shut Out.

3. Cash Sterling - He’s a soccer player, he reads books, he’s devoted to his family, and he’s very cute. He’d love you if you read the book. He told me so.

2. SHIRTLESS Sexy Boys - Yes, this is different from just sexy boys. Because it is important to know that sometimes, they take their shirts off! And these are hot boys. Just saying.

1. Girl Power – Because Shut Out is all about girls asking questions about sexuality and standing up to society, there is a lot of girl power here. And I don’t know about you, but I love girl power stories. So if you enjoy stories about flawed, realistic girls coming into their own and fighting the stereotypes placed on them – well, this is SO the book for you!!!

And that’s my list! Was it enough to entice you? If not, I still have those brownies . . .

Thank you Kody!! If you want to check out the next stops on the blog tour you can click on the banner above or visit The {Teen} Book Scene!!

About the book:

Most high school sports teams have rivalries with other schools. At Hamilton High, it's a civil war: the football team versus the soccer team. And for her part, Lissa is sick of it. Her quarterback boyfriend, Randy, is always ditching her to go pick a fight with the soccer team or to prank their locker room. And on three separate occasions Randy's car has been egged while he and Lissa were inside, making out. She is done competing with a bunch of sweaty boys for her own boyfriend's attention.
Lissa decides to end the rivalry once and for all: she and the other players' girlfriends go on a hookup strike. The boys won't get any action from them until the football and soccer teams make peace. What they don't count on is a new sort of rivalry: an impossible girls-against-boys showdown that hinges on who will cave to their libidos first. And Lissa never sees her own sexual tension with the leader of the boys, Cash Sterling, coming.
Inspired by Aristophanes' play Lysistrata, critically acclaimed author of The Duff (Designated Ugly Fat Friend) Kody Keplinger adds her own trademark humor in this fresh take on modern teenage romance, rivalry and sexuality.(from Goodreads)

Waiting on Wednesday- Cinder

2011-08-31T00:00:00.000-05:00

Waiting on Wednesday is a weekly event hosted by Jill from Breaking the Spine that spotlights upcoming books that we are eagerly anticipating.

Cinder by Marissa Meyer

Publisher: Feiwel & Friends

Release Date: January 3, 2012

Humans and androids crowd the raucous streets of New Beijing. A deadly plague ravages the population. From space, a ruthless lunar people watch, waiting to make their move. No one knows that Earth’s fate hinges on one girl. . . .
Cinder, a gifted mechanic, is a cyborg. She’s a second-class citizen with a mysterious past, reviled by her stepmother and blamed for her stepsister’s illness. But when her life becomes intertwined with the handsome Prince Kai’s, she suddenly finds herself at the center of an intergalactic struggle, and a forbidden attraction. Caught between duty and freedom, loyalty and betrayal, she must uncover secrets about her past in order to protect her world’s future.
In this thrilling debut young adult novel, the first of a quartet, Marissa Meyer introduces readers to an unforgettable heroine and a masterfully crafted new world that’s enthralling.(From Goodreads)

oooooh oooh!!! I am soo looking forward to this one, I just love that cover and the idea of cyborgs. It’s also a very original twist to the Cinderella story, I’m loving the sci-fi additions to it and even though I’m not big on sci-fi I have a feeling I’ll like this one.

Tune in Tuesdays- 90’s Edition

2011-08-30T07:00:00.000-05:00

Tune in Tuesday is a weekly feature hosted by Ginger from GReads that showcases music both new and old. If you want to participate visit GReads and link up!

I’ve been so out of the loop lately since I started my new job that I didn’t even know that Ginger was doing the 90’s edition of Tune in Tuesdays otherwise I would’ve participated from the beginning of the month. I looooove 90’s music, my teens years and some of my best memories took place in the 90’s. So the music from that decade brings back wild memories.

This one was actually released in the album Affirmation by Savage Garden at the end of the decade in 1999 and a year before the band broke up. I hadn’t heard it in a while until my husband posted it on my facebook page and texted me to let me know that this song made him think of me. Yeah,, he can be pretty cheesy and romantic sometimes. =D

Book Birthdays!!

2011-08-30T06:00:00.000-05:00

A whole lot of new releases this week, many sequels and a couple of debut author novels. I haven’t read any of these but I’m curious about The Jewel and the Key, hadn’t heard of it until now but the synopsis sounds good. I heard really great things of Anna Dressed in Blood which I’ll be reading soon. I’m itching to get Rot and Ruin now that Dust and Decay is out, I’m needing a good zombie fix and I love the covers. Which one are you looking forward to reading? Have you read any of these that you would highly recommend?

Happy Book Birthdays to the author’s of this weeks new releases!!

Yesterday August 29th:

The Jewel and the Key by Louise Spiegler

Today August 30th:

Anna Dressed in Blood by Kendare Blake

Damned (Crusade Trilogy) by Nancy Holder

Dust & Decay by Jonathan Maberry

The Fox Inheritance (Jenna Fox Chronicles) by Mary E. Pearson

Fury by Elizabeth Miles

The Gray Wolf Throne (A Seven Realms Novel) by Cinda Williams Chima

Hades (Halo 2) by Alexandra Adornetto

LIE by Caroline Bock

Witchlanders by Lena Coakley

Soul Thief: A Demon Trappers Novel by Jana Oliver

Twisted (Harlequin Teen) by Gena Showalter

The Unwanteds by Lisa McMann

Wildwood: The Wildwood Chronicles, Book I by Colin Meloy

Thursday September 1st:

The Eleventh Plague by Jeff Hirsch

The Predicteds by Christine Seifert

Torrent: A Novel (River of Time Series) by Lisa T. Bergren

Review- Every You, Every Me

2011-08-29T06:00:00.000-05:00

Every You, Every Me by David Levithan

Publisher: Knopf Books for Young Readers

Release Date: September 13, 2011

Source: Publisher

In this high school-set psychological tale, a tormented teen named Evan starts to discover a series of unnerving photographs—some of which feature him. Someone is stalking him . . . messing with him . . . threatening him. Worse, ever since his best friend Ariel has been gone, he's been unable to sleep, spending night after night torturing himself for his role in her absence. And as crazy as it sounds, Evan's starting to believe it's Ariel that's behind all of this, punishing him. But the more Evan starts to unravel the mystery, the more his paranoia and insomnia amplify, and the more he starts to unravel himself. Creatively told with black-and-white photos interspersed between the text so the reader can see the photos that are so unnerving to Evan, Every You, Every Me is a one-of-a-kind departure from a one-of-a-kind author.(from Random House)

I was thrilled to get to read a new David Levithan book, I’ve become such a huge fan of his that his books have become like a drug to me. I was so curious to see what this new novel with the darker and mysterious concept was going to be like and if I would love it just as much.

In this novel we get to see everything from Evan’s point of view, the story starts with mystery right away when Evan finds the first picture on his way home, from then on he starts getting several pictures, taunting him with the places where he and his friend Ariel had been. Along with the pictures he begins to get threats that the photographer knew what he had done to his friend. It makes the story go in a totally unexpected way, and all along while reading you really don’t know what happened to Ariel, all you know is that she’s no longer there and that Evan misses her like crazy. There’s also a feeling of guilt that you get from Evan when we get little flashbacks of conversations between him and Ariel. It was definitely a thrilling mystery that kept me flipping the pages like crazy intrigued to find out more and get to the bottom of it all.

In Every You, Every Me you get those well rounded emotional characters that Levithan knows how to write so well. I loved Evan even at the times when I wasn’t really sure if he was crazy or not, or if my suspicions on who was leaving these pictures were true. He was an antisocial boy who had just lost his one and only friend, someone he was extremely close to so he was lonely and sensitive, I just wanted to grab him and give him a hug. Every You, Every Me was definitely different, darker and haunting, it’s not like anything I’ve read by David Levithan before, and the pictures added to the story made it much more eerie and engrossing. I loved that at the end in the acknowledgements we get to see how the author an the photographer worked together in this book, David was given random pictures and he would come up with a part of the novel to relate to them, I thought that was pretty awesome. I can honestly say that David Levithan is such a versatile author that can write pretty much anything and I would love it, he takes risks that end up being something out of the ordinary but relatable and beautifully written.

In My Mailbox

2011-08-28T00:00:00.000-05:00

In my Mailbox is a weekly meme hosted by Kristi from The Story Siren.

I’m trying to stay away from ordering and buying books this month cause I’m saving money for the Austin Teen Book Festival where I know I’ll be buying quite a few. So this last two weeks I haven’t gone to a Borders Sale or order awesomeness online, but I did receive this pretty in the mail this week. Thanks to Macmillan for sending me All These Things I’ve Done by Gabrielle Zevin. I’ve been looking forward to reading this one ever since I read the synopsis that chocolate and caffeine were illegal, the horror!! I would die without those two things… and that cover makes me just want to pluck that chocolate heart right off it and eat it.

*Also if you’re anywhere near Texas and are a fan of Gabrielle Zevin she will be attending the Austin Teen Book Festival on October 1st.*