Elena's Book Cafe

I've Been Gone...

2011-07-26T09:17:00.000-07:00

I'm back! At least for a while. A huge thanks to all of my followers for following and not unfollowing me. I haven't been blogging for two months! I've had a lot going on and i've been extremely busy. I'm gonna try to post more during the remainder of my summer.

Some books on my radar to read soon are:

Anna and the French Kiss by Stephanie Perkins
Fixing Delilah by Sarah Ockler
Twisted (The new Pretty Little Liars book!!!) by Sara Shepard

Waiting On Wednesday (21)

2011-05-25T06:00:00.000-07:00

Waiting on Wednesday is a weekly meme hosted by Jill at Breaking the Spine that spotlights upcoming releases that we're eagerly anticipating.

Title: Deadly Little Voices (Touch #4)
Author: Laurie Faria Stolarz
Release Date: December 6, 2011

Can't wait for this book! The first three were really good!

Summary: High school junior Camelia thought her powers of psychometry only gave her the ability to sense the future through touch. But now she’s started to hear voices. Mean voices. Berating her, telling her how ugly she is, and that she’d be better off dead. It’s a troubling development that has Camelia terrified for her mental stability, especially since her deranged aunt with a suicidal history just moved into the family house. More torturing, ex-boyfriend Ben, who has similar psychometric abilities, has been spending more time with their classmate Alejandra, even as her own feelings for Adam grow stronger. Still, the bond between Camelia and Ben is palpable.

With the line between right and wrong fraying, Camelia turns to pottery to get a grasp on her emotions. She begins sculpting a beautiful figure skater, only to receive frightening premonitions that someone’s in danger. But who is the victim? And how can Camelia help them when she is on the brink of losing her own sanity?

Waiting On Wednesday (20)

2011-05-18T06:00:00.000-07:00

Waiting on Wednesday is a weekly meme hosted by Jill at Breaking the Spine that spotlights upcoming releases that we're eagerly anticipating.

Title: Awaken
Author: Katie Kacvinsky
Release Date: May 23, 2011

This looks really good! And it comes out in a few days! I love dystopian books.

Summary: Maddie lives in a world where everything is done on the computer. Whether it’s to go to school or on a date, people don’t venture out of their home. There’s really no need. For the most part, Maddie’s okay with the solitary, digital life—until she meets Justin. Justin likes being with people. He enjoys the physical closeness of face-to-face interactions. People aren’t meant to be alone, he tells her.

Suddenly, Maddie feels something awakening inside her—a feeling that maybe there is a different, better way to live. But with society and her parents telling her otherwise, Maddie is going to have to learn to stand up for herself if she wants to change the path her life is taking.

In this not-so-brave new world, two young people struggle to carve out their own space.

Waiting On Wednesday (19)

2011-05-11T06:02:00.000-07:00

Waiting on Wednesday is a weekly meme hosted by Jill at Breaking the Spine that spotlights upcoming releases that we're eagerly anticipating.

Title: Ripple
Author: Mandy Hubbard
Release Date: July 21, 2011

I loved Mandy Hubbard's book, You Wish. This book will hopefully be just as good! It looks awesome!

Summary: Lexi is cursed with a dark secret. Each day she goes to school like a normal teenager, and each night she must swim, or the pain will be unbearable. She is a siren - a deadly mermaid destined to lure men to their watery deaths. After a terrible tragedy, Lexi shut herself off from the world, vowing to protect the ones she loves. But she soon finds herself caught between a new boy at school who may have the power to melt her icy exterior, and a handsome water spirit who says he can break Lexi's curse if she gives up everything else. Lexi is faced with the hardest decision she’s ever had to make: the life she's always longed for - or the love she can't live without?

Waiting On Wednesday (18)

2011-05-04T06:00:00.000-07:00

Waiting on Wednesday is a weekly meme hosted by Jill at Breaking the Spine that spotlights upcoming releases that we're eagerly anticipating.

Title: Epic Fail
Author: Claire LaZebnik
Release Date: August 2, 2011

This looks like a fun and entertaining book!

Summary: At Coral Tree Prep in Los Angeles, who your parents are can make or break you. Case in point:

• As the son of Hollywood royalty, Derek Edwards is pretty much prince of the school—not that he deigns to acknowledge many of his loyal subjects.

• As the daughter of the new principal, new-girl-on-campus Elise Benton isn’t exactly on everyone’s must-sit-next-to-at-lunch list.

When Elise’s beautiful sister catches the eye of the prince’s best friend, Elise gets to spend a lot of time with Derek, making her the envy of every girl. Except she refuses to fall for any of his rare smiles and instead warms up to his enemy, the surprisingly charming social outcast Webster Grant. But in this hilarious tale of fitting in and flirting, not all snubs are undeserved, not all celebrity brats are bratty, and pride and prejudice can get in the way of true love for only so long.

Waiting On Wednesday (17)

2011-04-27T06:00:00.000-07:00

Waiting on Wednesday is a weekly meme hosted by Jill at Breaking the Spine that spotlights upcoming releases that we're eagerly anticipating.

Title: The Day Before
Author: Lisa Schroeder
Release Date: June 28, 2011

Summary: Sometimes there's no turning back.

Amber's life is spinning out of control. All she wants is to turn up the volume on her iPod until all of the demands of her family and friends fade away. So she sneaks off to the beach to spend a day by herself.

Then Amber meets Cade. Their attraction is instant, and Amber can tell that he's also looking for an escape. Together they decide to share a perfect day: no pasts, no fears, no regrets.

The more time that Amber spends with Cade, the more she's drawn to him. And the more she's troubled by his darkness. Because Cade's not just living in the now--he's living each moment like it's his last.

Waiting On Wednesday (16)

2011-04-20T06:00:00.000-07:00

Waiting on Wednesday is a weekly meme hosted by Jill at Breaking the Spine that spotlights upcoming releases that we're eagerly anticipating.

Title: Crossed
Author: Ally Condie
Release Date: November 1, 2011

I am so glad there is a sequel to Matched! I wasn't really satisfied with the ending of the previous book, so hopefully this book will quench my thirst!

Summary: In search of a future that may not exist and faced with the decision of who to share it with, Cassia journeys to the Outer Provinces in pursuit of Ky — taken by the Society to his certain death — only to find that he has escaped, leaving a series of clues in his wake.

Cassia’s quest leads her to question much of what she holds dear, even as she finds glimmers of a different life across the border. But as Cassia nears resolve and certainty about her future with Ky, an invitation for rebellion, an unexpected betrayal, and a surprise visit from Xander — who may hold the key to the uprising and, still, to Cassia’s heart — change the game once again. Nothing is as expected on the edge of Society, where crosses and double crosses make the path more twisted than ever.

Waiting On Wednesday (15)

2011-04-13T06:00:00.000-07:00

Waiting on Wednesday is a weekly meme hosted by Jill at Breaking the Spine that spotlights upcoming releases that we're eagerly anticipating.

Title: Forbidden
Author: Tabitha Suzuma
Release Date: June 28, 2011

Siblings falling in love with each other...it's weird! Such a strange story...so unique that it looks interesting!

Summary: Seventeen-year-old Lochan and sixteen-year-old Maya have always felt more like friends than siblings. Together they have stepped in for their alcoholic, wayward mother to take care of their three younger siblings. As defacto parents to the little ones, Lochan and Maya have had to grow up fast. And the stress of their lives—and the way they understand each other so completely—has also also brought them closer than two siblings would ordinarily be. So close, in fact, that they have fallen in love. Their clandestine romance quickly blooms into deep, desperate love. They know their relationship is wrong and cannot possibly continue. And yet, they cannot stop what feels so incredibly right. As the novel careens toward an explosive and shocking finale, only one thing is certain: a love this devastating has no happy ending.

Book Review: I Am Number Four

2011-04-10T15:30:00.000-07:00

Title: I Am Number Four
Author: Pittacus Lore
Pages: 448
Publisher: Harper Collins
Source: Book DepositorySummary: Nine of us came here. We look like you. We talk like you. We live among you. But we are not you. We can do things you dream of doing. We have powers you dream of having. We are stronger and faster than anything you have ever seen. We are the superheroes you worship in movies and comic books—but we are real.

Our plan was to grow, and train, and become strong, and become one, and fight them. But they found us and started hunting us first. Now all of us are running. Spending our lives in shadows, in places where no one would look, blending in. we have lived among you without you knowing.

But they know.
They caught Number One in Malaysia.
Number Two in England.
And Number Three in Kenya.
They killed them all.

I am Number Four.

I am next.

Review: This book was really good! It had a lot of suspenseful moments, which kept me entertained! I really liked the plot. Aliens coming to Earth in form of human teenagers. It wasn't entirely sci-fi, which I liked. I usually don't like reading sci-fi, but this book was worth it!

John Smith is one of nine teenage aliens who came to Earth. They came to Earth to get away from the Mogadorians (the evil aliens) who took over their planet, Lorien. He struggled to fit in at his new school. I liked John's character because he seemed very 'down to earth' (ha ha, no pun intended!). He got picked on the moment he walked into his school. He made some friends, including Sam, a boy who doesn't really fit in either, and Sara, a girl whom he falls in love with. The Mogadoriens are looking for John, so he has to be careful to not let them find him.

There was a lot of suspenseful moments so I couldn't put this book down! I had to know what was gonna happen to John, Sara, and Sam.

I really liked all the characters! Their different personalities made the book interesting. I'm not a huge fan of John and Sara's relationship, it was cute, but a little too predictable. Besides that, this book was very entertaining! The plot was very different from every other book I've read.

I also loved the movie! It is totally worth reading the book then seeing it in theaters. I would definitely recommend this book to everyone. It is sci-fi and romance! Loved it!

Waiting On Wednesday (14)

2011-04-06T06:00:00.000-07:00

Waiting on Wednesday is a weekly meme hosted by Jill at Breaking the Spine that spotlights upcoming releases that we're eagerly anticipating.

Title: The Beginning Of After
Author: Jennifer Castle
Release Date: September 6, 2011

This book looks very good. I can tell it will be part sad/part romance, which is interesting. Any thoughts?

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

Waiting On Wednesday (13)

2011-03-30T06:15:00.000-07:00

Waiting on Wednesday is a weekly meme hosted by Jill at Breaking the Spine that spotlights upcoming releases that we're eagerly anticipating.

Title: Supernaturally
Author: Kiersten White
Release Date: August 30, 2011

This is the sequel to the amazing book Paranormalcy! I loved that book and I am super excited to read this one!

Summary: A lot has changed in the six months since Evie escaped from the International Paranormal Containment Agency with her shape-shifter boyfriend, Lend. She finally has the blissfully normal life she’s always dreamed of, including:
1) A real live high school
2) A perfectly ordinary after-school job
3) Her very own locker (and by the way, rusted metal is every bit as awesome as she imagined)

But Evie’s not-so-normal past keeps creeping up on her...and things get pretty complicated when you factor in:
1) A centuries-old, seriously decaying vampire stalker
2) A crazy faerie ex-boyfriend who is the perpetual bearer of really bad news
3) A major battle brewing between the faerie courts where the prize in question happens to be...Evie herself.

So much for normal.

Waiting On Wednesday (12)

2011-03-23T06:15:00.000-07:00

Waiting on Wednesday is a weekly meme hosted by Jill at Breaking the Spine that spotlights upcoming releases that we're eagerly anticipating.

Title: Beauty Queens
Author: Libba Bray

Release Date: May 1st, 2011

I have to read this. It looks so funny!

Summary: Teen beauty queens. A "Lost"-like island. Mysteries and dangers. No access to email. And the spirit of fierce, feral competition that lives underground in girls, a savage brutality that can only be revealed by a journey into the heart of non-exfoliated darkness. Oh, the horror, the horror! Only funnier. With evening gowns. And a body count

Waiting On Wednesday (11)

2011-03-16T06:15:00.000-07:00

Waiting on Wednesday is a weekly meme hosted by Jill at Breaking the Spine that spotlights upcoming releases that we're eagerly anticipating.

Title: Forgotten
Author: Cat Patrick
Release Date: June 7th, 2011
Goodreads Link

This looks really good and mysterious. It reminds me of the movie 50 First Dates, where she has memory loss and has to relive the same day over and over. Any thoughts on this book?

Summary: Each night when 16 year-old London Lane goes to sleep, her whole world disappears. In the morning, all that's left is a note telling her about a day she can't remember. The whole scenario doesn't exactly make high school or dating that hot guy whose name she can't seem to recall any easier. But when London starts experiencing disturbing visions she can't make sense of, she realizes it's time to learn a little more about the past she keeps forgetting-before it destroys her future.

Waiting On Wednesday (10)

2011-03-09T06:15:00.000-08:00

Waiting on Wednesday is a weekly meme hosted by Jill at Breaking the Spine that spotlights upcoming releases that we're eagerly anticipating.

Title: The Power Of Six (Lorien Legacies #2)
Author: Pittacus Lore
Release Date: September 1st, 2011

Aaah!! The sequel to I Am Number Four!! I am so excited. I loved the first book and I can't wait to read this one. It's gonna be so good!

Summary: They caught Number One in Malaysia.

Number Two in England.

And Number Three in Kenya.

They tried to catch Number Four in Ohio and failed.

I am Number Seven. One of six still alive.

And I'm ready to fight.

Waiting On Wednesday (9)

2011-03-02T06:15:00.000-08:00

Waiting on Wednesday is a weekly meme hosted by Jill at Breaking the Spine that spotlights upcoming releases that we're eagerly anticipating.

Title: Vicious Little Darlings
Author: Katherine Easer
Release Date: June 1st, 2011

This book has been compared to Pretty Little Liars, which I loved! I couldn't get enough of PLL, maybe this will quench my thirst! Isn't the cover pretty too?

Summary: Sarah Weaver wasn't looking forward to starting at an all-girls school. But that was before she met Maddy. Maddy and her best friend, Agnes, are fun and rich and interesting—and for some reason, they seem to really like Sarah. Before long, Maddy and Agnes have moved Sarah into a big house off campus, where they cook together, buy each other presents, and share each other's secrets. So why does Sarah feel like something's bizarrely wrong? As more and more cracks start to show in Maddy's and Agnes's perfect veneers, Sarah notices some strange and disturbing things: Maddy's compulsive lying, Agnes's obsession with Maddy, and the deterioration of their friendship. And just when Sarah begins to question her own sanity, things turns deadly.

Book Review: The Water Wars by Cameron Stratcher

2011-02-26T08:54:00.001-08:00

Title: The Water Wars
Author: Cameron Stratcher
Pages: 240
Publisher: Sourcebooks Fire
Source: ARC from Publisher

Summary:Would you risk everything for someone you just met?

What if he had a secret worth killing for?

Welcome to a future where water is more precious than oil or gold...

Hundreds of millions of people have already died, and millions more will soon fall-victims of disease, hunger, and dehydration. It is a time of drought and war. The rivers have dried up, the polar caps have melted, and drinkable water is now in the hands of the powerful few. There are fines for wasting it and prison sentences for exceeding the quotas.

But Kai didn't seem to care about any of this. He stood in the open road drinking water from a plastic cup, then spilled the remaining drops into the dirt. He didn't go to school, and he traveled with armed guards. Kai claimed he knew a secret-something the government is keeping from us...

And then he was gone. Vanished in the middle of the night. Was he kidnapped? Did he flee? Is he alive or dead? There are no clues, only questions. And no one can guess the lengths to which they will go to keep him silent. We have to find him-and the truth-before it is too late for all of us.

Review: This book made me thirsty! All the talk of the drought and savoring their last drop of water made my mouth dry. It was really well written. I think the romance between Kai and Vera could have been brought out more. They barely just met then they liked each other, but they never really showed it.

I've gotta say, I love the cover! It's very unique, simple, and yet speaks so many words!

Set in a dystopian world, Vera and her family were struggling to get by. The government controls their water supply so they have to conserve as much water as they can. Her mother is sick and needs water. When Vera meets Kai, a mysterious new boy, her life changes. He drinks water like he has an unlimited amount. Until one day he disappears. As Vera tries to rescue him, her and her brother get captured by water pirates. Vera has to rescue Kai and save herself.

Vera was a pretty relatable character. She had never had a boyfriend before Kai, so everything was new to her. I didn't really think her character was very interesting, though. Her character was a little dull.

Parts of this book were really intense, while others were a bit slow. I gave this book 3 coffee cups. It was worth the read, but I didn't love it.

General Update!

2011-02-18T17:00:00.000-08:00

I haven't written a post in over a week! I've been so busy lately. Loaded with homework from school and lots of reading! Here's a general update on what I've been up to:

I finished The Water Wars by Cameron Stratcher (review coming soon!)

I am halfway through I Am Number Four by Pittacus Lore. So far it is really good! If you haven't read it, do it! I really want to see the movie but I'm going to finish the book first. Dianna Agron and Alex Pettyfer make the cutest couple! I think they fit the roles perfectly.

I won an Across The Universe (by Beth Revis) water bottle from Beth Revis's contest! I was super excited when I got it. It's pretty cool! It looks like this --->

After I finish I Am Number Four, I am going to read Legacy by Kate Kaynak (book 3 in one of my favorite series!)

Thanks for checking my blog and following!

Waiting On Wednesday (8)

2011-02-09T06:00:00.000-08:00

Waiting on Wednesday is a weekly meme hosted by Jill at Breaking the Spine that spotlights upcoming releases that we're eagerly anticipating.

Title: Divergent

Author: Veronica Roth

Release Date: May 3rd, 2011

This book looks really good! I really like dystopian books. I've seen some great reviews for this!

Summary:
In Beatrice Prior’s dystopian Chicago world, society is divided into five factions, each dedicated to the cultivation of a particular virtue—Candor (the honest), Abnegation (the selfless), Dauntless (the brave), Amity (the peaceful), and Erudite (the intelligent). On an appointed day of every year, all sixteen-year-olds must select the faction to which they will devote the rest of their lives. For Beatrice, the decision is between staying with her family and being who she really is—she can’t have both. So she makes a choice that surprises everyone, including herself.

During the highly competitive initiation that follows, Beatrice renames herself Tris and struggles alongside her fellow initiates to live out the choice they have made. Together they must undergo extreme physical tests of endurance and intense psychological simulations, some with devastating consequences. As initiation transforms them all, Tris must determine who her friends really are—and where, exactly, a romance with a sometimes fascinating, sometimes exasperating boy fits into the life she's chosen. But Tris also has a secret, one she's kept hidden from everyone because she's been warned it can mean death. And as she discovers unrest and growing conflict that threaten to unravel her seemingly perfect society, she also learns that her secret might help her save those she loves . . . or it might destroy her.

Interview with Alex Flinn!

2011-02-01T05:00:00.000-08:00

I got to interview the lovely Alex Flinn, who is the author of Beastly, A Kiss In Time and Cloaked. Her book, Beastly, has been turned into a movie starring Alex Pettyfer and Vanessa Hudgens. She is one of my favorite authors!

See my review of Cloaked here.

1. Tell me a little bit about yourself.
I'm a former opera singer, former lawyer, current writer. I live in Miami with my husband and two kids.

2. Are you writing any more modern fairy tales?
Yes, but I am superstitious about sharing my works in progress until my editor confirms that it's a go.

3. Tell us briefly about your book, Cloaked. What was your inspiration?
Cloaked is the story of Johnny, a poor kid who works in a shoe repair shop at a posh South Beach hotel. When Princess Victoriana, a Paris Hilton-ish royal, stays at the hotel, she asks him for help finding her brother, who has been turned into a from and set loose in the Florida Keys (a chain of islands near Miami). Yearning for adventure, Johnny sets off with the help of a magical cloak and his friend, Meg, to find the prince. Along the way, he fights giants, meets talking animals, and must confront a dangerous witch.

When I talked to teens about Beastly, I realized that many of them were unfamiliar with fairy tales, other than from Disney movies. Like they'd make comments about how Beastly was, "based on my favorite movie" or ask if I was going to adapt any other Disney movies into books. I realized it was a lot different than when I was a kid, because now, with DVDs you can watch these movies over and over, whereas when I was a kid, you might see the Disney movie ONCE and then you'd have to READ the fairy tale if you wanted to experience it again.

Anyway, I started thinking about stories that hadn't been made into Disney movies, stories like The Elves and the Shoemaker, The Six Swans, and The Firebird. Were these stories completely unknown to modern kids? I thought it would be fun to write a story that incorporated these tales. I conceived it as a picaresque tale, where the hero would have to confront various types of adventures.

4. What do you think about the movie for Beastly? Did you have an opinion on the actors, screenplay, etc.?
I haven't seen the whole film. I've read the script and seen parts of it. I'm pleased with the casting. Alex Pettyfer is exactly how I pictured Kyle. Mary-Kate Olsen is a great Kendra, and I was really impressed with Vanessa Hudgens acting when I visited the set. I get a lot of letters from teens who are concerned that Vanessa doesn't have red hair. To me, this is a minor detail. I think she'll be good in the role. I was way more concerned about the script, which is great.

5. If you were stranded on a desert island, what are three things you would bring?
Food, water, and a boat! Other than that, maybe the compete works of the Bronte sisters.

Thanks so much Alex for this interview!

You can find Alex here:

Her website

Her blog

Goodreads

Book Review: Cloaked by Alex Flinn

2011-01-30T12:55:00.000-08:00

Title: Cloaked
Author: Alex Flinn
Pages: 337
Publisher: Harperteen
Source: ARC from publisher

Summary: Johnny’s not your average hero. But a little magic changes everything. There isn’t a fairy godmother or any of that. It all starts with a curse. And a frognapping. And one hot-looking princess. And before Johnny knows it, he is on a mission in the Everglades, with only a flock of swans and a talking fox named Joe to help guide him against the forces of an evil witch.

Review: This was a pretty entertaining book. I am a fan of Alex Flinn's books, so this book didn't disappoint much.

Johnny works at a shop repairing shoes. He doesn't make much, so he is poor. When Princess Victoriana shows up offering him a reward for finding her long lost brother (who had turned into a frog), Johnny accepts the offer and goes on a search. A bit into the journey, Johnny's best friend, Meg, comes and helps him. Along the way they encounter a talking fox, swans, and an evil witch trying to stop them in their tracks.

Before Johnny leaves for his journey, the princess gives him a magical cloak. The cloak can transport him anywhere he wants to go. The thing is, he has to be specific about where he wants to go. Otherwise he might end up in the middle of the road. This makes me wish that I had a magical cloak!

I wan't a huge fan of this book. Don't get me wrong, It was still pretty good. It was just too fantasy for me. I like a little bit of fantasy, like Alex Flinn's other books Beastly and A Kiss In Time. The good thing, is that it was written well, so it wasn't hard to follow.

If you like fantasy, then I would recommend reading this book. I thought the romance was super cute. I gave this book three and a half coffee cups. It was a decent book.

Book Review: Babe In Boyland by Jody Gehrman

2011-01-27T17:04:00.000-08:00

Title: Babe in Boyland
Author: Jody Gehrman
Pages: 304
Publisher: Dial
Source: ARC from Publisher
Release Date: February 17, 2011

Summary: When high school junior Natalie--or Dr. Aphrodite, as she calls herself when writing the relationship column for her school paper--is accused of knowing nothing about guys and giving girls bad relationship advice, she decides to investigate what guys really think and want. But the guys in her class won't give her straight or serious answers. The only solution? Disguising herself as a guy and spending a week at Underwood Academy, the private all-boy boarding school in town. There she learns a lot about guys and girls in ways she never expected--especially when she falls for her dreamy roommate, Emilio. How can she show him she likes him without blowing her cover

Review: This book was really good! It made me laugh. It was so funny at times!

Natalie was trying to get an inside scoop on boys and how they think for her school newspaper, but she couldn't get any information out of the guys when they knew her as a girl. So she decided to go undercover--as a boy--to an all boys school. Calling herself "Nat" and chopping her hair off, she was able to convince the boys that she was one of them.

This reminded me a lot of the movie She's The Man. But it was also a bit different.

There was some tender moments between Natalie (as Nat) and her roommate Emilio. I found myself cheering for them saying in my head "kiss him! kiss him!" then I remembered that Emilio didn't know that she was a girl, and that would be quite awkward.

I always thought it would be fun to pretend to be a guy for a while. But I don't think I could do it for more than a day! Natalie held out for an entire week. It wasn't very easy. She had lots of troubles and made many mistakes. She even had to put some of her friendships on the line to keep her cover.

I gave this book four coffee cups. It was really good. I enjoyed reading it. I would recommend reading this book. It's a fun, interesting book with some romance.

Unearthly Fantasy Cast

2011-01-24T06:00:00.000-08:00

In honor of the book Unearthly by Cynthia Hand, I decided to make a partial cast list (just the main two male characters) for it. The main character's love interests, Tucker and Christian.

Tucker could be played by Garret Hedlund. Didn't he just look gorgeous in Tron? (I haven't seen it yet, but I have seen the previews!) He could totally be a rough, country boy (like in Country Strong!)

For Christian, I was thinking Adam Gregory. He's got the rich, popular, sweet, perfect boyfriend look to him I think.

Another guy I thought could be Christian is Christian Cooke. Such a cutie.
So, what do you think of my choices? If you haven't read Unearthly yet, I would highly recommend reading it. It was really good!! And by the way, I am definitely Team Tucker!

In My Mailbox (8)

2011-01-23T16:41:00.000-08:00

It's been a while since i've made an IMM post, sadly. So, here it is!

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

The idea behind IMM was not only to put new books on your radar but to also encourage blogger interaction. IMM explores the weekly contents of my mailbox & books bought. And sometimes other fun goodies.

Anyone can participate in IMM and you are not limited to only sharing books that arrive via your mailbox. You can also share books that you've bought or books that you've gotten at the library.

From the Library I got:

Virals by Kathy Reichs
The Body Finder by Kimberly Derting
Dash and Lily's Book of Dares by Rachel Cohn David Levithan
The Sky Is Everywhere by Jandy Nelson

Bought from Barnes and Noble:

Echoes by Melinda Metz
Bright Young Things by Anna Godbersen (so excited to read it! I've been waiting for a while!)

From Publisher for review:

The Water Wars by Cameron Stratcher

Won from Melina from Reading Vacation (thanks so much!)

Across the Universe by Beth Revis (eep! So glad i won it! I've heard it's so good!)

Currently I am reading Cloaked by Alex Flinn.

And last but not least for review: Babe In Boyland by Jody Gehrman

Thats about it! I'd love to know your opinions on these books. What's in your mailbox?

Book Review: Unearthly by Cynthia Hand

2011-01-21T11:33:00.000-08:00

Title: Unearthly
Author: Cynthia Hand
Pages: 435
Publisher: Harperteen
Source: ARC from publisher

Summary: 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?

Review: Wow. Amazing book! I don't know if there are words to describe it! It is one of my new favorites.

I am absolutely in love with Tucker! He's sweet, caring, and very, very attractive. Such a gentleman! He's more of a rough, country boy. At first, he is a bit of a jerk to Clara. But that was only because he liked her. When Clara was left alone with Tucker becuase all her friends were leaving town, she had nothing to do but fall for him. I mean, how could she not?

Christian, on the other hand, is adorable. He's kind, and has a thing for Clara. When Clara first met him, he had a girlfriend and he was popular. But he was also drop dead gorgeous. She never thought she'd have a chance with him until little miss popular (his girlfriend) broke up with him.

The thing is, Clara has a purpose. She has visions of a boy and a fire and she doesn't know what it means. All she knows it that she needs to save him. That boy, is Christian. Clara is part angel, so she has to learn how to use her abilities.

I really like Clara's character. She was easy to relate to. I wish I could be in her situation! Two guys, two best friends and super powers!

This book was so good, it kept me up reading. It was so cute! At times I it made me laugh and sigh. The romance was so sweet. I am Team Tucker! I gave this book five coffee cups for sure!

Giveaway Winner!!

2011-01-18T18:13:00.000-08:00

And the winner is.....

Brooke!

She won an ARC of Wither by Lauren DeStefano and some awesome swag!

Thanks everyone for entering and look for more giveaways in the future!

Dreaming of Books Giveaway Hop

2011-01-14T00:01:00.000-08:00

This is my first blog hop! This is part of the Dreaming of Books giveaway hop hosted by Martha's Bookshelf and I Am A Reader, Not a Writer. I am giving away an ARC of Wither by Lauren DeStefano. I haven't read this book yet, but I plan on reading it soon! It looks so good!

Here's the link to Wither on Goodreads You can win:
ARC of Wither by Lauren DeStefano
Some awesome swag!

Giveaway rules:

You must be at least 13 years old
Please only fill out the form ONCE.
You can have a total of 4 entries (all on the one form).
US only!!
Ends January 17 at Midnight

Enter Here

Dont forget to enter all these amazing giveaways!

Waiting On Wednesday (7)

2011-01-11T16:42:00.000-08:00

Waiting on Wednesday is a weekly meme hosted by Jill at Breaking the Spine that spotlights upcoming releases that we're eagerly anticipating.

Title: Forever (Wolves of Mercy Falls)
Author: Maggie Stiefvater
Release Date: July 12th, 2011

I can't wait to read this book! I hope that is is better than the first two books. I love the cover. It's red! My favorite color. I'm excited!

Summary: The thrilling conclusion to #1 bestselling Shiver trilogy from Maggie Stievater

In Maggie Stiefvater's SHIVER, Grace and Sam found each other. In LINGER, they fought to be together. Now, in FOREVER, the stakes are even higher than before. Wolves are being hunted. Lives are being threatened. And love is harder and harder to hold on to as death comes closing in.

Book Review: Mockingjay by Suzanne Collins

2011-01-08T12:36:00.000-08:00

Title: Mockingjay (The Hunger Games #3)
Author: Suzanne Collins
Pages: 398
Publisher: Scholastic Press
Source: Borrowed from a friend
Summary: My name is Katniss Everdeen. Why am I not dead? I should be dead.

Katniss Everdeen, girl on fire, has survived, even though her home has been destroyed. Gale has escaped. Katniss's family is safe. Peeta has been captured by the Capitol. District 13 really does exist. There are rebels. There are new leaders. A revolution is unfolding.

It is by design that Katniss was rescued from the arena in the cruel and haunting Quarter Quell, and it is by design that she has long been part of the revolution without knowing it. District 13 has come out of the shadows and is plotting to overthrow the Capitol. Everyone, it seems, has had a hand in the carefully laid plans -- except Katniss.

The success of the rebellion hinges on Katniss's willingness to be a pawn, to accept responsibility for countless lives, and to change the course of the future of Panem. To do this, she must put aside her feelings of anger and distrust. She must become the rebels' Mockingjay -- no matter what the personal cost.

Review:
I feel like i'm the last person to read Mockingjay! I wish I would've read it earlier. It was amazing! I admit, I did put it down for a few months after I read about 75 pages. I had a lot of other books to read and the beginning was pretty slow. When I picked it up again, I couldn't believe I had put it down. It was so good! Once I got through the beginning I couldn't put it down.

This is the third book in the Hunger Games series. I don't think this book was a good as the first two but it was still pretty awesome! I liked the action in the first two better since they were in the arena fighting for their lives. This book still had a lot of action in it though. And deaths. So many deaths. It was so sad but I just knew they were coming. Without all the deaths the book wouldn't have been as good. They gave Katniss a reason to stay fighting.

I love the plot! Katniss is rebelling against the capitol along with Gale. In the previous book, Peeta was captured. Katniss tries to save him and take over the capitol. I can not express how much I absolutely adored the ending! I wasn't expecting it at all.

If you haven't read The Hunger Games series yet, you really need to! There's romance, action, violence (eh, kinda gross at first but you get used to it). I would totally recommend reading Mockingjay. I loved it!

Win a NOOK!

2011-01-07T16:18:00.000-08:00

Over at Bookalicious you can win a NOOK! I was really excited when I heard about it. Here's a link to Barnes and Noble's NOOK: http://bklc.us/2y

Book Review: The Lying Game by Sara Shepard

2010-12-25T17:00:00.000-08:00

Title: The Lying Game
Author: Sara Shepard
Pages: 307
Publisher: Harperteen
Source: ARC from publisher
Summary: Foster kid Emma Paxton has only just discovered Sutton Mercer, the wealthy twin sister she never knew she had, when Sutton drops off the face of the earth, asking Emma to cover for her at home, school, and with her friends—just for a few days. At first Emma enjoys trying on her sister’s fabulous life: her fiercely loyal friends, her adoring boyfriend, her close-knit family. But as Emma is drawn deeper into Sutton’s world she finds the friends are not so fabulous, the boyfriend is not who she wants to be with, and the family is clinging to long-buried secrets and a veneer of functionality. And worst of all, Sutton may not be coming back. In fact, someone may have made sure she never could…and that someone knows Emma is not who she claims to be. Emma will need all her wits to survive The Lying Game

Review: I loved Sara Shepard's series Pretty Little Liars so I decided to read this book. It was really good! I loved it.

Emma tries to meet her twin sister that she never knew she had. While waiting for her twin, Sutton, Emma meets Sutton's friends and family. The problem is that everyone thinks Emma IS Sutton! She never met Sutton because Sutton is dead. Emma gets a note that says "play along or you're next." Emma decides to play along and pretend to be Sutton. She realizes that Sutton has a pretty crazy life. Along the way, she tries to figure out what happened to Sutton and save herself from being the next victim.

When Emma first stepped into Sutton's life, she met a boy named Ethan. Ethan was surprised that Emma (as Sutton) was talking to him. They soon became good friends. I really liked this part in the book. Emma was able to talk to somebody who wasn't already part of Sutton's life.

This book was filled with drama, mystery, and suspense. I finished this book quickly! I was very curious to find out what happened to Sutton and what was going to happen to Emma. The end was such a cliffhanger. I can't wait for the sequel! I really want to see how Emma works this out.

I would recommend this book to fans of Pretty Little Liars and anyone who wants a great, suspenseful read. I gave this book five coffee cups! Read this book!

Waiting On Wednesday (6)

2010-12-22T06:30:00.000-08:00

Waiting on Wednesday is a weekly meme hosted by Jill at Breaking the Spine that spotlights upcoming releases that we're eagerly anticipating.

Title: Babe In Boyland
Author: Jody Gehrman
Release Date: February 17th, 2011

This book looks very interesting and funny. It reminds me of the movie "She's the Man" which is one of my favorite movies! Babe in Boyland looks great!

Summary: Natalie, a seventeen-year-old former drama club member who now writes a relationship column for her school newspaper, decides to go undercover as a student at an all-boys boarding school so that she can figure out what guys are really like.

Book Review: Crazy by Han Nolan

2010-12-18T19:30:00.000-08:00

Title: Crazy
Author: Han Nolan
Pages: 352
Publisher: Harcourt Children's Books
Source: Good Golly Miss Holly's ARC Tour

Summary: Fifteen-year-old Jason has fallen upon bad times—his mother has died and his father has succumbed to mental illness. As he tries to hold his crazy father and their crumbling home together, Jason relies on a host of imaginary friends for guidance as he stumbles along trying not to draw attention to his father’s deteriorating condition.

Review: I thought this book was pretty good. It was very different from most books i've read. The main character, Jason, his mom died and his dad has gone crazy. Living at home with his mentally unstable father is really hard for Jason. All he cares about is his father and he never wants to leave him alone. With the help of some friends, Pete, Haze, and Shelby, he deals with his father and starts a new life.

I really liked the characters in this book. Jason has imaginary characters that he talks to in his head. At first I thought that was a little annoying, but as I continued to read this book they started to fit in. He has different people who he talks to in his head: Crazy Glue, Sexy Lady, Aunt Bee, and Fat Bald Guy with a Moustache. Jason talks to these imaginary characters to keep him sane. I found it a little hard to relate to Jason since I have never had any family issues like he had.

There wasn't a lot of romance in this book, but there was some. Jason and Shelby liked each other from the beginning but wouldn't admit it to each other. Their romance growed throughout the book. I loved the very last part of the book. So cute!

I gave this book three and a half coffee cups. I would recommend reading this book if you like realistic fiction/drama books. At parts, this book was gripping. Other parts, it was just okay. Overall, this was a pretty good book.

2011 Challenge: A to Z Challenge

2010-12-18T08:07:00.000-08:00

Whoo! I'm signing up for another challenge. It is the A to Z challenge.

How does this reading challenge work? Choose the option that works best for you...

Authors -- Read alphabetically by author. Commit to 26 books.
Titles -- Read alphabetically by title. Commit to 26 books.
Authors & Titles -- Commit to reading 52 books

I think I am going to go with titles. That seems a little easier. I will post my reviews here so check back to see how far I've gotten! To sign up go here.

Waiting On Wednesday (5)

2010-12-15T06:17:00.000-08:00

Waiting on Wednesday is a weekly meme hosted by Jill at Breaking the Spine that spotlights upcoming releases that we're eagerly anticipating.

Title: Legacy (Ganzfield #3)
Author: Kate Kaynak
Release Date: January 28, 2011

Can't wait for this book! I absolutely loved the first two books in the Ganzfield series. I have no doubt this book is going to be just as amazing, if not more!

Summary: Maddie has more problems than the average seventeen-year-old:

A psychotic killer with superpowers wants her dead.

A serious medical issue makes a "normal" life impossible for her.

And she's about to be introduced to Trevor's grandparents.

Guess which one freaks her out the most? The Ganzfield series continues in this third installment.

Free eBook: Laura Kreitzer's Phantom Universe

2010-12-06T06:00:00.000-08:00

Obsidian Mountain Publishing is offering a free *unedited* digital copy of Laura Kreitzer's Phantom Universe (Summer Chronicles, #1) on January 1st, 2011. The official release date is February 15, 2011. Anyone can sign up for a copy, you don't have to be an official blogger. Here is the form: http://bit.ly/dMefGg The rules are simple: read, review, and post it on at least two websites listed on the form.

Summary: Sold into slavery to pirates at the young age of four, Summer learns to survive the rough seas of subterfuge and thieves through silence. When the boat she’s lived on most of her life is destroyed, Summer finds herself washed up on the shore of a new world, a phantom universe full of the bizarre and extraordinary. She meets Gage, the one boy who understands the girl with no speech. But when their lives are put on the line, will Summer finally call out? Or will all be lost in the fathomless depth of silence?

Find it on Goodreads

Book Review: Adversary by Kate Kaynak

2010-12-04T14:50:00.000-08:00

Title: Adversary (Ganzfield #2)
Author: Kate Kaynak
Pages: 238
Publisher: Spencer Hill Press
Source: Recieved from author

Summary: Things are more dangerous than they seem at Ganzfield, and not everyone will survive. Does Maddie have what it takes?
See what happens next in the sequel to Minder.

Review: It was amazing! I was pulled in from the very beginning. This book is never dull, and it is fast paced. I love all the characters, especially maddie and Trevor. Their romance is so cute! I loved how they developed a special "connection". It made it seem like they were meant to be together. This book had lots of action and a surprising ending!

In this book, the characters didn't stay at Ganzfield. In fact, most the book they weren't even at Ganzfield. Some of the students (Maddie and her friends) got together and went to save their friends and encountered an unfriendly foe.

I loved the first book, Minder, but this book was even better! More action and plot changing, this book kept me wanting more. If you haven't read this series, DO IT! You won't be disappointed. Kate Kaynak is a great author. She knows how to keep readers entertained.

I would definetely recommend reading this book. This is one of my favorite series. You never know what's going to happen in each book. It's great! I can't wait for Legacy. So excited!

Book Review: Jessica's Guide To Dating On The Dark Side by Beth Fantaskey

2010-11-23T15:01:00.000-08:00

Title: Jessica's Guide to Dating on the Dark Side
Author: Beth Fantaskey
Pages: 351
Publisher: Harcourt
Source: Library

Summary: The undead can really screw up your senior year ...

Marrying a vampire definitely doesn’t fit into Jessica Packwood’s senior year “get-a-life” plan. But then a bizarre (and incredibly hot) new exchange student named Lucius Vladescu shows up, claiming that Jessica is a Romanian vampire princess by birth—and he’s her long-lost fiancé. Armed with newfound confidence and a copy of Growing Up Undead: A Teen Vampire’s Guide to Dating, Health, and Emotions, Jessica makes a dramatic transition from average American teenager to glam European vampire princess. But when a devious cheerleader sets her sights on Lucius, Jess finds herself fighting to win back her wayward prince, stop a global vampire war—and save Lucius’s soul from eternal destruction.

Review: I really liked this book! It was different than most vampire love story books I have read. That is a good thing! At first, before I read the book, I thought this would be a cute romance book. When I read it, I was a little disappointed since Lucius and Jessica didn't get together throughout the book (not saying they didn't ever get together..). This book made me laugh and almost cry. I felt Jessica's pain and joy.

I really liked Jessica's character. She is wise, unlike other girls, such as her friend Mindy. Jessica didn't drool over Lucius and want to be his girlfriend from the beginning. He was a stranger who just came and told her that she was his long lost fiance. She had to get to know him more before she showed interest in him.

I thought Jessica and Lucius's romance was kinda cute, but also a but annoying. If Lucius really loves her then he should have shown it. He should have treated her better.

Overall, I enjoyed reading this book. It wasn't the best romance but it was still a really good story. I think author Beth Fantaskey did a great job! I want to read her other book, Jekel Loves Hyde. I recommend reading this book if you like any kind of paranormal/ya books. This book was really good. I gave it four coffee cups.

2011 Debut Author Challenge

2010-11-22T13:34:00.000-08:00

Next year is coming so fast! I am excited. 2011! I am going to do the 2011 Debut Author Challenge hosted by The Story Siren. Many of the books I chose were already on my to read list, so this is less of a challenge for me!

More details about this challenge are at her blog.

These are the books I plan to read:

Unearthly by Cynthia Hand

The Iron Witch by Karen Mahooney

Wither by Lauren DeStefano

Across The Universe by Beth Revis

Haven by Kristi Cook

Popular by Alissa Grosso

Timeless by Alexandra Monir

Entangled by Cat Clarke

Entwined by Heather Dixon

Liar Society by Lisa and Laura Roecker

Bad Taste In Boys by Carrie Harris

Starcrossed by Josephine Angelini

All these books look really interesting and I'm excited to read them! Join the challenge with me!

My Thoughts on Harry Potter

2010-11-20T08:55:00.001-08:00

I wanted to dedicate this short blog post about Harry Potter. I have seen all the movies (except Deathly Hallows which i'm going to see today!) . I am not totally crazy about them, but they are entertaining.

So here's my thought that I feel strongly about.

Harry Potter and Hermione should have been together! They would be the cutest couple. Ron and Hermione? Not so much. I think I would like Harry Potter better if Harry and Hermione got together. They have been best friends since they were children and they care about each other! I never thought Ron and Hermione are a cute couple, nor Harry and Ginny.

Harry ended up with the wrong girl. Does anyone agree with me?

In My Mailbox (7)

2010-11-14T11:59:00.000-08:00

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

The idea behind IMM was not only to put new books on your radar but to also encourage blogger interaction. IMM explores the weekly contents of my mailbox & books bought. And sometimes other fun goodies.

Anyone can participate in IMM and you are not limited to only sharing books that arrive via your mailbox. You can also share books that you've bought or books that you've gotten at the library

In my mailbox I got:

I Am Number Four by Pittacus Lore (thanks to Emilie at Emilie's book world!)
Unearthly by Cynthia Hand
Adversary by Kate Kaynak
Pegasus by Robin McKinley (ARC tour)
Crazy by Han Nolan (ARC tour)

Book Review: The Ivy by Lauren Kunze and Rina Oliver

2010-11-06T20:57:00.000-07:00

Title: The Ivy
Authors: Lauren Kunze and Rina Oliver
Pages: 320
Publisher: Greenwillow Books
Source: Library

Summary: Freshman year at Harvard--glamorous parties, blossoming friendships, steamy romances, and scandalous secrets. Skip the campus tour and get right to the good stuff: classes are for scoping guys (and their Facebook profiles), not taking notes. The library is for study dates (the medieval history stacks get a lot of action), not studying. And success is a 4.0 GPA... plus getting into the most exclusive parties. How will Callie--a California girl with brains, beauty, and big dreams--and her three roommates survive?

Review: I'll admit, I've never heard of this book before my friend picked it up. When I read the summary, I thought this might be a good book. She wasn't reading it at the time, so I decided to read it. As it turns out, I was hooked. I really liked it. Most books i've read are somewhat paranormal, but this is just about a girl who goes to Harvard and has many different experiences. It was really interesting.

It was Callie's freshman year at Harvard University. She didn't know anybody going there, so she wasn't sure what to expect. As it turns out, she makes some friends. I thought her roomate, Mimi, who is French, was really funny. From her ex, Evan, to the boy she hates, she finally finds the right boy. Or does she? This book ended with, well not really a cliff hanger, but I wanted more! The story continues in the sequel (which i'm excited to read).

I liked the main character, Callie. She was easy to relate to. If I knew her in real life, I think she would be easy to get along with. She seemed pretty down to earth.

The thing I was disappointed in was that there was a lot of mature content in this book. I would recommend this book to older teens. Besides that, I really liked it. I'm excited for the sequel. I gave this book four coffee cups.

Book Blogger Hop (11)

2010-11-04T22:16:00.000-07:00

The book blogger hop is hosted by Crazy-For-Books.

This week's question: What are your feelings on losing followers? Have you ever stopped following a blog?

My Answer: I would hate to lose followers, but it is their choice. They don't have to follow my blog and I know that. I don't take it personally. I have not stopped following a blog. I haven't yet found a reason to. I love being in connection with other bloggers!

Happy Friday! Join the hop with me!

YA Love Triangle Week! Team Xander!

2010-11-04T10:00:00.000-07:00

This is my post for the YA Love Triangle Week over at Down The Rabbit Hole. If you haven't seen it yet, here it is.

I am team Xander, or team best friend. When Cassia was matched with Xander a spark was set off. They both were extremely happy to know that the person they’ve known forever was to be their match. Xander is a blonde-haired, blue eyed boy. He loves Cassia for who she is and he wouldn’t change anything. He respects her and stands up for her. Little does he know it, Cassia goes behind his back and hangs out with Ky. She grows to love Ky and when Xander finds out, he is heartbroken. He loved her so much. Imagine if the boy/girl that you love goes behind your back and starts a relationship with someone else. How would you feel? Rejected, heartbroken, and utterly stunned. That is how Xander felt. If Cassia chose Xander and never fell in love with Ky, they could have a great relationship and grow old together. They would raise a family and talk about the day they were matched together. True love!

This song reminds me of Cassia and Xander after they got matched (before Ky). It is Lucky by Jason Mraz and Colbie Caillat.

This is the same song, but the Glee version sung by Chord Overstreet (who I think would be a great Xander!) and Dianna Agron. I personally like this version better.

Couldn't you see Cassia and Xander singing this with each other? It's so cute!

Along comes Ky and their sweet little love story is ruined. This song by Lifehouse reminds me of Cassia and Xander after Xander finds out about Ky. It is called "It Is What It Is".

Imagine Xander. Blonde hair, blue eyes, and the cutest smile.
Some actors that I think could portray Xander are:

Chord Overstreet

Sterling Knight

Chuck Hittinger

This is why I think you should be team Xander!

Waiting On Wednesday (4)

2010-11-03T16:10:00.000-07:00

Waiting on Wednesday is a weekly meme hosted by Jill at Breaking the Spine that spotlights upcoming releases that we're eagerly anticipating.

I loved Sara Shepard's Pretty Little Liars series! When I saw this I got really excited! It looks like it will be really good if not better than PLL!

Title: The Lying Game
Author: Sara Shepard
Release Date: December 7, 2010

Summary:
Foster kid Emma Paxton has only just discovered Sutton Mercer, the wealthy twin sister she never knew she had, when Sutton drops off the face of the earth, asking Emma to cover for her at home, school, and with her friends—just for a few days. At first Emma enjoys trying on her sister’s fabulous life: her fiercely loyal friends, her adoring boyfriend, her close-knit family. But as Emma is drawn deeper into Sutton’s world she finds the friends are not so fabulous, the boyfriend is not who she wants to be with, and the family is clinging to long-buried secrets and a veneer of functionality. And worst of all, Sutton may not be coming back. In fact, someone may have made sure she never could…and that someone knows Emma is not who she claims to be. Emma will need all her wits to survive The Lying Game.

Can't wait for it to come out! So excited!

10 Days of Halloween Wrap-up!

2010-10-31T11:44:00.000-07:00

Sadly, we have come to the end of our 10 days of Halloween. I hope you all enjoyed reading the interviews and guest posts.

If you haven't already, don't forget to enter these amazing giveaways on my blog and Book Infinity's!

10 Days of Halloween Multiple Choice Giveaway - INTERNATIONAL! - Ends TODAY.

Tyger Tyger ARC Giveaway - US ONLY - Ends TODAY.

Romeo & Juliet & Vampires Prize Pack - US ONLY - Ends 11/1, TOMORROW.

Jessica's Guide to Dating on the Dark Side Giveaway - US ONLY - Ends 11/2/10

The Strangers Outside Ebook Giveaway - INTERNATIONAL - Ends 11/5/10

Over at Book Infinity's blog:

Infinite Days Giveaway - INTERNATIONAL - Ends TODAY!

Rot and Ruin Giveaway - US ONLY - Ends 11/2/10

Thanks so much for participating! I had a lot of fun interviewing these authors and hosting giveaways. I hope we'll be able to do this again next year. If you want to read the interviews and guest post I have them listed here.

Author Interview with Adam Selzer!

2010-10-31T06:00:00.000-07:00

Today for the last day of the 10 days of Halloween, we welcome Adam Selzer (author of I Kissed a Zombie and I liked It).

1. Tell us a little bit about yourself
I live in Chicago, where I write books by day and work as a historian / ghost tour guide by night. I've never seen a ghost, but I've seen some weird stuff and uncovered some fantastic stories that never made the history books before. I have not given up my childhood dream of buying a van and painting it to look like The Mystery Machine.

2. What is your book, I Kissed A Zombie and I Liked It about?
It's my attempt to do the most realistic paranormal romance possible. There's nothing really paranormal in it - zombies were created scientifically to work as slave labor in a box box discount chain store stockrooms, and the vampires (whose powers come from protein mutation, not a deal with the devil or whatever) came out of hiding to stand up for undead rights. Now there are zombies and vampires in the world, and people just sort of live with it. But vampire teenagers tend to be jerks who mope around, acting all emo. Instead of PSAs telling girls not to use drugs, there are now PSAs telling girls not to become vampires just because their boyfriend is one. The only girl who doesn't like vampires is Alley, who falls for a guy who she thinks is a goth, but turns out to be a zombie (one who just hadn't decomposed enough it to be obvious). Falling for a dead guy forces her to take a hard look at herself and her values.

3. If you were stranded on a desert island, what are three things that you would bring?
Something shiny that would make the natives think I'm a god, a copy of Tristram Shandy (which would take me years to understand, so it'd be long-term entertainment) and, if at all possible, a raft.

4. Are you currently working on any books? If so, what is it?
Yes! For a long time I've wanted to take all the songs from a famous musical and build a new story around them. My next book is a follow-up to ZOMBIE, and is about a girl who is told by her "fairy godmofo" that if she doesn't get a vampire to kiss her at homecoming, she'll die (unlike all the girls who only THINK they'll just die if they don't get kissed at the dance). It's called EXTRAORDINARY, and it could be staged as a musical using songs from THE MUSIC MAN. Look for a book trailer soon! It'll be followed by a non-zombie book called TANGLED UP IN BLUE (or possibly DEBBIE DOES DETENTION) about a girl who gets over a crush by embarking on a "holy quest" with a couple of misfits who've invented their own religion. I also have a couple of cool Chicago history books coming out (and strangely enough, Rahm Emmanuel came into the coffee shop while I was typing that).

6. How would you survive a zombie attack? Or would you?
Rush to the nearest 7-11 and order up the biggest slushee I can get, so I can get a serious case of brain freeze. Zombies don't want frozen brains.

Thanks Adam for your time!

Author Interview with Brenna Yovanoff!

2010-10-30T07:43:00.000-07:00

In honor of the 10 days of Halloween (ending tomorrow) we have young adult author Brenna Yovanoff (author of The Replacement) here! Welcome!

1. Tell us a little bit about yourself.
I really like dresses, and I have lots and lots of wild yellow hair. I'm like a very small lion. Wearing a dress.

2. Can you tell us about your book, The Replacement?
The Replacement is a dark, contemporary changeling story that is not-quite-horror. It's creepy, but with a heart of gold.

3. What inspired you to write this book?
I don't know that any one thing inspired me. It was an idea I'd been tossing around for a long time and one day, I just felt like the time had come to write it.

4. Can you relate to any of the characters in your book? How?
I think I relate most to Roswell. I've always been the kind of person who just goes along and kind of expects the world to be pretty weird. I have a hard time thinking of anything I've learned that I've found particularly shocking, and that's totally how Roswell operates.

5. Are you currently working on any books?
Right now, I'm working on a love story about demons. There are monsters and kisses and true love—it gets messy.

6. How would you survive a zombie attack? Or would you?
I am so glad you asked! I would totally survive a zombie attack because I am small and quick and have a long history of climbing things I'm not supposed to climb. I would wear my steel-toed construction boots and cut off all my hair so it wouldn't get caught on things. Also, my transformation would remind me that this is my new life. My weapons of choice would be my awesome all-purpose kitchen knife, and a crow bar, and a .22 rifle. I realize these aren't the most powerful weapons, but like I said, I'm very small. Also, I was raised in the middle of nowhere. In a tent. I know how to rough it.

Thanks for your time Brenna! I appreciate it.

Giveaway: Ebook of The Strangers Outside

2010-10-29T21:29:00.000-07:00

Thanks to author Vanessa Morgan, you have the opportunity to win her ebook of The Strangers Outside! Enter below.
Summary: Two sisters, Jennifer and Louise, return to their remote holiday cabin after a day at the seaside. But little do they know they’re being surrounded. Soon after their arrival, the girls will come face to face with THE STRANGERS OUTSIDE. When the assailants make their intentions known, things take a shockingly terrible turn and an intense battle for survival will begin.

This is a short story, only 24 pages long. But trust me, it's great!

Official Rules
1. Open Internationally!
2. You can get extra entries by doing various things.
3. This contest ends November 5th.
4. When the contest ends ONE winner will be chosen by random.org
5. The winner will be contacted via e-mail, and will be sent the ebook
6. This is NOT a comment contest. Enter the form below.

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Thanks for entering! Good luck!

Author Interview with Vanessa Morgan!

2010-10-28T21:38:00.000-07:00

Today for the 10 days of Halloween we have author Vanessa Morgan here for an interview! Welcome!

1. Tell us a little bit about yourself.
I’m a lucky 35-year-old girl who turned her passion for the horror genre into a fulltime activity. Drowned Sorrow and The Strangers Outside are my first books; new novels as well as movies are in development. Apart from writing, I’m also passionate about animals, good food, tea, movies, city trips and my cat.

2. When did you first start writing?
I began writing fiction about ten years ago. Before that I was mainly into journalism.

3. What inspired you to write your book The Strangers Outside?
A little over a year ago, my little sister Jennifer asked me to use her as a main character in my next book. I already had a vague idea for a story with a foreboding atmosphere and dark figures showing up at different places. I thought she was perfect for the story and so the Jennifer in The Strangers Outside not just resembles my sister, she IS my sister. Even the dialogue is based on things she actually told me. To blur the line between reality and fiction even more, I used a real house and setting in Belgium.

4. What are your thoughts about it being turned into a movie?
It’s exciting because it’s a whole new experience for me, especially because I had the chance to visit the movie set. If you’re interested in knowing more about the film, I’ve posted photos of the filming locations on my blog at http://vanessa-morgan.blogspot.com/2010/08/strangers-outside-filming-locations.html and another set of photos of the film shoot at http://vanessa-morgan.blogspot.com/2010/09/behind-scenes-of-strangers-outside.html. Also, it’s funny to see how the story changes along the road. If you’ve read the book and think you’ve figured everything out, then you’re in for a big surprise with the film.

5. If you could have any super/paranormal power, what would it be?
I’d like to have all of them: being invisible, reading people’s minds, talking with the dead… But I can only choose one, right? Then it’ll be talking with animals. I have a very special relationship with the animals in my life and I know that there’s so much more to them then what I currently know. Oh, and I’d like to be able to cure people and animals miraculously. Who wouldn’t?

6. How would you survive a zombie attack, or would you?
In zombie movies, the courageous people who fight back almost always get eaten, so I’ll probably barricade myself into my apartment with my cat. And if my cat were to turn into a zombie, we’d live happily ever after.

Thanks for your time! Check back tomorrow for a giveaway of The Strangers Outside!

Giveaway! Jessica's Guide to Dating on the Dark Side

2010-10-27T06:00:00.000-07:00

Thanks to author Beth Fantaskey, I am giving away a copy of Jessica's Guide to Dating on the Dark Side plus some pins featuring cover art of Jessica's Guide and her other book Jekel Loves Hyde. It's a great giveaway! You should enter it!

Official Rules:

1. Open to US only.
2. You can get extra entries by doing various things.
3. This contest ends November 2nd.
4. When the contest ends ONE winner will be chosen by random.org
5. The winner will be contacted via e-mail, and will be given 48 hours to respond. Otherwise, a new winner will be drawn .
6. This is NOT a comment contest. Enter the form below.

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Thanks for entering! Good luck!

Guest Post: Beth Fantaskey

2010-10-27T05:00:00.000-07:00

Today, for the 5th day of the 10 days of Halloween we welcome young adult author Beth Fantaskey! She wrote the book Jessica's Guide to Dating on the Dark Side. I am honored to have her on my blog. Here is her guest post:

Happy Halloween, everybody! I love handing out treats, so I’ve prepared this little “snack” for fans of Jessica’s Guide to Dating on the Dark Side who are waiting for the sequel, Jessica Rules the Dark Side, to come out fall 2011. This “bonus chapter” – written from Mindy Stankowicz’s point of view – takes place between Jess and Lucius’s summer wedding (read the story at bethfantaskey.com) and the beginning of full sequel, which starts in December of that same year.
Have a fun, safe holiday – hopefully filled with vampires, ghosts and other good stuff!
Beth

October 31, 2010 – Lebanon County, Pennsylvania
“Mindy Sue, get the door now! If we get egg on our windows, you’ll be scraping it off tomorrow!”

“I’m going already,” I hollered up to my mom, who had dumped the whole “trick or treat” thing off on me while she took a nice shower. I mean, I understood that she’d worked late and deserved a bath, but I had stuff to do, too. I was already bombing Foundations of Renaissance Culture at Lebanon Valley Community College, and I had a quiz the next day on Botticelli, who might have been a painter or some kind of pasta, for all I knew.

The doorbell rang again.

“Mindy Sue...”

“I got it! I swear!” I slammed my textbook about Italian art shut and got up off the couch, grabbing the bowl of miniature Three Musketeers and Snickers – which I’d eaten half of already – while I schlepped to the door.

How had I ever liked this holiday?

It sucked.

It had sucked ever since my best friend, Jess Packwood – now Princess Antanasia Dragomir Vladescu – had gone to the Woodrow Wilson High School fall carnival with Jake Zinn, leaving me a million miles behind, socially. Jess got kissed that night, and totally made Lucius Vladescu jealous, too, while I’d sat home – like I was still doing, a whole year later.

What’s Halloween like in a Romanian castle?

Vampires HAD to celebrate.

Is Jess dancing at some big party with her hot prince?

I hauled open the door a little harder than I meant to, and a bunch of kids in costumes screamed, “Trick or treat!” so loud I almost dropped the candy all over the porch.
“Jeez, have some manners already,” I told them, ‘cause they pounced on the bowl the second I held it low enough for their little hands to reach inside. It was like a riot for that chocolate, and I started worrying they wouldn’t leave any for me. “One each, okay?”

Then I felt kinda bad when the world’s cutest werewolf looked up at me, his paw full of candy, and said, “Thanks, lady. Snickers is my favorite.”
I mean, I didn’t like being called “lady,” but who can resist a six-year-old in a furry wig?
“Yeah, I like ‘em, too,” I said. “You’re welcome.”

When they hopped off the porch, I saw there was hardly anything left to give out, so I turned off the light, even though it wasn’t even eight o’clock. And I turned off the lights inside, too, so it would look like nobody was home downstairs, at least, ‘cause I did not want to be scraping egg off windows the next day.

Then I sat down on the couch in the dark, put the bowl on my lap, and unwrapped the last Snickers, popping it in my mouth. I chewed real slow, trying to make it last, and even though I didn’t want to, I wondered, What do surf bum vampires who live on beaches do on Halloween? How do THEY celebrate...?

All of a sudden, the doorbell rang again, and I kinda froze up, ‘cause it should of been pretty clear that the Stankowicz house was closed for business. For a second, I didn’t even chew. I guess I figured if I didn’t move, the kids would go away and I could eat the last Musketeers, too.
But nope, the bell rang again – twice in a row, fast.

“Probably a VAMPIRE,” I mumbled. “They NEVER give up.” And I almost choked on a peanut when I suddenly thought, What if it’s a BEATNIK bloodsucker? ‘Cause it could be. Not that I want that...

Not even waiting for mom to yell at me, I popped off the couch, calling, “Coming!”
And when I hauled open the door, there was a vampire on my doorstep, and I wasn’t sure if I felt relieved or maybe a teeny bit... disappointed that it was just a kid in a costume. I should’ve felt totally treated, but it also kinda felt like I’d been hit by a big, raw egg.

I dropped the last of the candy into the mini-Dracula’s plastic pumpkin and watched him skip off into the night.

Would I ever stop feeling that way?

Thanks for the post! I appreciate it! Check back later for a great giveaway of Jessica's Guide to Dating on the Dark Side!

Author Interview with Stacey Kade!

2010-10-26T05:00:00.000-07:00

Today is the 5th day of the 10 days of Halloween. Young adult author Stacey Kade is joining us today! Welcome!

1. Tell us a little bit about yourself
Oh, boy, I'm terrible at this! :) My characters are far more interesting than I am. Uh, let's see...The Ghost and the Goth is my first YA novel. I've been writing for about ten years or so. When I'm not reading or writing, I'm probably obsessing over one of my many favorite television shows--I'm a pop culture junkie! I'm married and we have three retired racing greyhounds.

2. What is your book, The Ghost and the Goth about?
Alona Dare is the most popular girl in school until she dies. Run over by a bus! :) Then she's stuck in between life and death and can't seem to move on. The only person who can see or hear her is Will Killian, this outcast-type, weird kid, someone she would have never spoken to when she was alive. But he has his own problems--a principal who wants him kicked out and a psychiatrist who wants to lock him up.

The two of them have to figure out way to help each other. :)

3. What inspired you to write this book?
You know, I'm not sure except that one day I just heard a phrase floating through my head, "Staring up at the undercarriage of a bus is no way to spend your afterlife." And it all started from there.

4. How would you survive a zombie attack? Or would you?

Hmm. Normally, I would say that I didn't like my chances, but I've been brushing up on my zombie survival skills. I've watched Zombieland several times this year and taken the lessons to heart.

The question is, how much advance warning do I have and is my goal to hunker down and stay safe or to get the heck out of zombie-Dodge? Once I had that information, I could probably formulate a decent survival plan. Would have to learn how to shoot. Have never done that before! :)

5. If you could have one super/paranormal power what would it be and why?
I'd love to be able to heal people just by touch, like Max on Roswell. Though, I'm pretty sure a gift like that usually comes with a pretty steep price, so I'm not sure that I'd really want any supernatural power at all! :)

Thanks Stacey for your time! Check back later this week for some awesome giveaways!

Romeo & Juliet & Vampires Prize Pack Giveaway!

2010-10-24T13:30:00.001-07:00

Thanks to author Claudia Gabel, I have a fantastic giveaway! Enter to win a signed copy of Romeo & Juliet & Vampires along with a "Vampire" chocolate bar, red lipstick and nail polish. Doesn't that sound awesome?! I wish I could enter! Now all of you have the chance to win this.
Official Rules
1. Open to US only.
2. You can get extra entries by doing various things.
3. This contest ends November 1st.
4. When the contest ends ONE winner will be chosen by random.org
5. The winner will be contacted via e-mail, and will be given 48 hours to respond. Otherwise, a new winner will be drawn .
6. This is NOT a comment contest. Enter the form below.

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Thanks again Claudia for this amazing giveaway!! Good luck everyone!

Author Interview with Claudia Gabel!

2010-10-24T06:00:00.000-07:00

Welcome to the 10 days of Halloween day 3! Today we welcome Claudia Gabel (Author of Romeo and Juliet and Vampires) to my blog. I am excited to be featuring an interview with her.

1. Tell us a little bit about yourself
When I was in second grade, my teacher read A Wrinkle in Time aloud in class-- that’s the moment I fell in love with books. I loved going on this adventure in my mind and how fun it was to use my imagination. I remember telling myself then that I wanted to be a writer, and throughout my childhood, I wrote stories in Mead notebooks and gave them to my friends to read. When I grew up, I began pursuing a career as a book editor and helping other writers get published. However, I always hoped that I’d see one of my own novels on bookstore shelves. In June 2007, my hopes turned into reality! My teen fiction series, In or Out, was published by Scholastic/Point. I’m also a Senior Editor with Katherine Tegen Books, and a creative writing instructor with MediaBistro.com.

2. What is your book, Romeo & Juliet & Vampires about?
Set in Transylvania in 1462, ROMEO & JULIET & VAMPIRES is a mash-up novel based on Shakespeare's play, featuring a new version of the love story between Juliet Capulet, the daughter of two notorious vampires, and Romeo Montague, who was born into a family of vampire slayers. Most of the book stays true to the tragic romance we’ve all grown up with, but there are definitely a few surprises in store for readers.

3. What inspired you to write this book?
Honestly, I had a lot of difficulty reading Shakespeare when I was first introduced to his writing in high school. I loved to read, and not being able to understand his plays really broke my heart. I must confess: I relied on lots of SparkNotes back then. But when the mash-up trend started getting popular, I found myself thinking of how much it would have helped me to have some fun, interesting takes on the classics to read along with the originals. Hopefully teens who dip into this book at home won’t be as intimidated by Shakespeare’s work when they are reading it in the classroom.

4. Can you relate to any of the characters in Romeo & Juliet & Vampires?
I actually related to Romeo the most. Even though he was born into a family of vampire-slayers, he is more of a lover than a fighter (at least at first). He has so much love in his heart and it’s totally unconditional and knows no boundaries. I’m just as much of a romantic as he is.

5. Can you tell us a little bit about what you are working on now and what we should expect from you next?
My WIP is taking over my life right now because it involves so much research! The book is a supernatural mystery that’s rooted in American spiritualism, and I’m hoping that the story will be so rich, I’ll be about to turn into a series. I don’t want to say too much more because I’m still fine-tuning the concept, but it’s something that I’m very excited about!

6. How would you survive a zombie attack? Or would you?
I think I might be able to outrun a zombie, but that’s probably about it. My fighting skills are pretty lackluster. I’d give myself a couple of days of survival, but that might be optimistic of me!

7. If you could have one super/paranormal power what would it be and why?
I would love to be able to time travel. I know, it’s such a geeky choice, but I’d love to see how humans lived in the past and how we evolve in the future!

Thank you for your time Claudia! We appreciate it! I encourage all of you to pick up a copy of Romeo & Juliet & Vampires!

Check my blog later for a great giveaway of Romeo & Juliet & Vampires!

Tyger Tyger ARC Giveaway!

2010-10-23T08:58:00.000-07:00

Win an ARC of Tyger Tyger by Kersten Hamilton!

Official Rules
1. Open to US only.

2. You can get extra entries by doing various things.
3. This contest ends October 31.
4. When the contest ends ONE winner will be chosen by random.org
5. The winner will be contacted via e-mail, and will be given 48 hours to respond. Otherwise, a new winner will be drawn .
6. This is NOT a comment contest. Enter the form below.

CONTEST CLOSED

Thanks for entering! Good luck! If you haven't already entered check out my other giveaway!

Book Review: Tyger Tyger by Kersten Hamilton

2010-10-23T08:36:00.000-07:00

Title: Tyger Tyger (Goblin Wars #1)
Author: Kersten Hamilton
Pages: 322
Publisher: Clarion Books
Source: ebook from Netgalley/ARC from publisher

Summary: Teagan Wylltson's best friend, Abby, dreams that horrifying creatures--goblins, shape-shifters, and beings of unearthly beauty but terrible cruelty--are hunting Teagan. Abby is always coming up with crazy stuff, though, so Teagan isn't worried. Her life isn't in danger. In fact, it's perfect. She's on track for a college scholarship. She has a great job. She's focused on school, work, and her future. No boys, no heartaches, no problems.

Until Finn Mac Cumhaill arrives. Finn's a bit on the unearthly beautiful side himself. He has a killer accent and a knee-weakening smile. And either he's crazy or he's been haunting Abby's dreams, because he's talking about goblins, too . . . and about being The Mac Cumhaill, born to fight all goblin-kind. Finn knows a thing or two about fighting. Which is a very good thing, because this time, Abby's right.

The goblins are coming.

Review: When I saw this book, I thought it looked interesting. I've never read a book that had goblins in it before. I decided to read it. I usually don't like total fantasy books but this book was pretty good. In this book, there are lots of goblins. Only Finn, Teagan, and Aiden can see them. To everyone else, they either are invisible or they look like humans. When the goblins come, Finn shows up to protect Teagan and her family.

I really liked the main girl, Teagan. She wasn't annoying like some characters are. She wasn't selfish and she cares a lot about other people. She is also very protective of her younger brother, Aiden. I also liked Aiden a lot, too. He is a young boy about five years old. He has a lot more confidence than most young boys. He was pretty tough and the goblins didn't scare him much. He still had the innocence of a little boy.

Some parts of this book were a little slow. I thought the romance between Finn and Teagan could have been brought out a little more. Besides that, it was a really interesting book. Some parts were really funny.

I would recommend reading this book if you like fantasy or action books. Kersten Hamilton is a great new YA author. I gave this book four coffee cups. It was a pretty good book!

Author Interview with Kersten Hamilton

2010-10-23T05:00:00.000-07:00

Today we welcome author Kersten Hamilton (author of Tyger Tyger) to my blog. This is day two of the days of Halloween hosted by my blog and Book Infinity. I had the opportunity to interview Kersten Hamilton.

1. Tell us a little bit about yourself.

I was born in a trailer in the mountains of southern New Mexico. I escaped electrocution when a typhoon blew power lines down over yet another trailer in a swamp in Washington state, and drowning when a station wagon spun out of control and onto thin lake ice in Alaska. Most of the bullets missed, and none of the incidents with bears, snakes, wolves, and angry moose were fatal.
I went to school as little as possible, and read as much as I liked, and raised goats.

I have worked as a woodcutter, a horse wrangler, and a wilderness guide, as well as other, more boring things. Right now my life is relatively tame, but I do enjoy hunting dinosaurs in the Ojito wilderness now and then.

2. What is your book, Tyger Tyger about?

Goblins. And literature. And best friends. And true love.

A blogger friend of mine named Pat Esden, summarized it nicely: “Tyger Tyger is fast paced adventure with a backbone of myth and heart of romance.”

3. Goblins aren't very popular in YA books. Why did you choose goblins for your book?

When I was a child, a goblin crept out of the dark and slipped her paw into my hand. The creature’s name was Lina, and I met her in a book by George MacDonald.

Lina was a dog–like creature with green eyes lit by amber fire, and a huge mouth with icicle–like teeth. Curdie, the hero of the story, could feel the real hand of any creature inside its flesh glove, and when Lina put her paw in his hand “a shudder, as of terrified delight, ran through him…instead of the paw of a dog, such as it seemed to his eyes, he clasped in his great mining fist the soft, neat little hand of a child! The green eyes stared at him with their yellow light, and the mouth was turned up toward him with its constant half grin; but here was the child's hand!”

When I read those lines I felt it. Lina was a small part of George MacDonald’s book. After I met her, I knew that when I grew up I wanted to write a book full of that kind of goblin creature.

But the book took several years to grow into its present form.

Tyger Tyger actually started out as a picture book called Loveleaves and Woodwender. Once I started expanding it into a novel I realized that it had roots reaching back into stories and poems I loved as a child.

One was Tam Lin, the story of girl who must muster all her courage to save her love who has been taken by the Sidhe.

Another was The Lords of the Grey and White Castles, a fairytale by Francis Brown, Ireland’s blind storyteller: http://www.finnvalley.ie/people/francesbrown/ The Lords of the White and Grey Castles is the story of two children- a girl and a boy- who must travel to the goblin realm to save a loved one who has been stolen by the goblin king.

Ginny Greenteeth, a goblin in my novel, has more than a smidgen of Monro’s goblin from Overheard on a Saltmarsh in her: http://www.sheerpoetry.co.uk/junior/junior-poetry-library/in-the-classroom-part-one/overheard-on-a-saltmarsh

4. Can you relate to any of the characters in Tyger Tyger?

I can’t conjure characters from thin air. I use little chips of my own soul to animate the good guys, so I relate to each of them at some level. The bad characters are a different story, of course. Ms. Skinner moves and breathes with the stolen soul of an evil dogcatcher.

5. Are you currently working on any books? If so, what is it?

I just finished book two of The Goblin Wars, In the Forests of the Night, and then I wrote a very young picture book, Big Bus. Now, I hope to finish a young MG steampunk novel before In the Forests of the Night comes back for copy edits.

6. How would you survive a zombie attack? Or would you?

I would. In fact, I have been training since I was a small child to survive the coming Zombie Apocalypse. I never walk into a room without scanning it for potential weapons. Are their blunt objects which can be used for battle? An iron poker by the fireplace? A fire extinguisher, perhaps?

Bring it, zombies. This writer’s ready and willing to rumble.

Thank you for your time Kersten! I encourage everyone to pick up a copy of Tyger Tyger when it comes out on November 15 or pre-order it today! Come back to my blog later today for a giveaway of Tyger Tyger!

Giveaway! Kickin off the 10 days of Halloween!

2010-10-22T05:00:00.000-07:00

Today is the start of our 10 days of Halloween! This ends on October 31. To kick it off, my blog and Ava from Book Infinity are having a giveaway! Enter on my blog.

There will be 2 winners. Each winner will get to choose 1 book out of the following:

I Kissed A Zombie and I Liked It by Adam Selzer
Infinite Days by Rebecca Maizel
Jessica's Guide to Dating on The Dark Side by Beth Fantaskey
Rot and Ruin by Jonathan Maberry
The Replacement by Brenna Yovanoff
Tyger Tyger by Kersten Hamilton
Romeo and Juliet and Vampires by Claudia Gabel
The Ghost and the Goth by Stacey Kade (not pictured above)

Official Rules
1. Open Internationally! (Everywhere that the Book Depository ships to. Check here if your not sure.)
2. You can get extra entries by doing various things.
3. This contest ends October 31.
4. Contest ends TWO winners will be chosen by random.org
5. The winner will be contacted via e-mail, and will be given 48 hours to respond. Otherwise, a new winner will be drawn .
6. This is NOT a comment contest. Enter the form below.

CONTEST CLOSED

Thanks for entering! Be sure to check back here throughout the week, there will be more giveaways and other awesome surprises!

Book Review: Minder by Kate Kaynak

2010-10-21T21:16:00.000-07:00

Title: Minder (Ganzfield #1)
Author: Kate Kaynak
Pages: 250
Publisher: Spencer Hill Press
Source: ARC recieved from author
Summary: Sixteen-year-old Maddie Dunn is special, but she needs to figure out how to use her new abilities before somebody else gets hurt. Ganzfield is a secret training facility full of people like her, but it's not exactly a nurturing place. Every social interaction carries the threat of mind-control. A stray thought can burn a building to the ground. And people's nightmares don't always stay in their own heads. But it's still better than New Jersey--especially once she meets the man of her dreams...

Review: This book was absolutely amazing! It definitely recieved five coffee cups. This book was never slow, it always kept moving. Mind reading and romance? Totally. The main girl, Maddie Dunn finds out she has the power to read minds and even fry somebody else's brain so they die. She freaks out since she never knew she could do that before. When a man by the name of Dr. Williamson finds Maddie, he offers to take her to Ganzfield. Ganzfield is a school for people with powers. The people there are mind readers (telepaths), healers, sparks (they can control fire), charms (they control people and make them do what they want) and a telekinetic (moves things with his mind).

I thought this book was really awesome. The author Kate Kaynak did a really great job with the characters and giving them all their own unique personalities. The romance between Maddie and Trevor was very cute. They both loved and cared for each other but they were not too overprotective of each other.

Another thing I really liked about this book is the action. If you think this is just another paranormal romance with not much of a plot, think again. This book is pretty intense at parts. The ending was really good. I liked it a lot. I can't wait to read the second book in the series, Adversary.

There was some mature content, though. I gave this book five coffee cups. I would definitely recommend anyone to read this book. There will be a lot more books in this series. I am very excited to read them! I love this book!

Book Blogger Hop (10)

2010-10-14T22:27:00.001-07:00

Crazy-For-Books is hosting the Book Blogger Hop. I know I haven't had many posts this week, I have been pretty busy.

This week's question is: When you read a book that you just can't get into, do you stick it out and keep reading or move onto your next title?

My Answer: Most of the time I will stick it out and keep reading the book. If I read the first 50 or so pages and just hate the book, then I will put it down. There are so many more books to read that are better!

Join the hop with me!

Have a happy Friday!

Halloween Read-a-thon!

2010-10-14T22:13:00.000-07:00

I am participating in the Halloween read-a-thon hosted by Young Adult Books Reviewed. It starts tomorrow and ends on Sunday. Basically a read-a-thon is where you read as much as you can in the scheduled dates. This read-a-thon is to read paranormal/Halloween themed books. You can set a goal for yourself if you want. Join me! This will be fun. I've never done a read-a-thon before so I am excited to do it!

Books I will be reading are Beautiful Creatures by Kami Garcia and Margaret Stohl, Mockingjay by Suzanne Collins, Strange Angels by Lili St. Crow, and Everlasting by Angie Frazier.

I'm not an extremely fast reader so I doubt I will finish all of these but my goal is to try to finish most of these books. Let's see how it turns out!

Book Review: You Wish by Mandy Hubbard

2010-10-12T16:46:00.000-07:00

Title: You Wish
Author: Mandy Hubbard
Pages: 272
Publisher: Razorbill
Source: Bought from Borders
Summary: What if all your wishes really came true?

Kayla McHenry is having the worst sweet sixteenth birthday ever! Her dad left, her grades dropped, and her BFF is dating the boy Kayla’s secretly loved for years. Blowing out her candles, Kayla thinks: I wish my birthday wishes actually came true. Because they never freakin’ do.

Kayla wakes the next day to a life-sized, bright pink My Little Pony outside her window. The following day, a year’s supply of gumballs arrives. Then, an oddly plastic-looking boy shows up in a convertible and starts following her around everywhere! As the ghosts of Kayla’s wishes-past appear, they take her on a wild ride . . . but they MUST STOP. Because when she was fifteen? She wished Ben Mackenzie would kiss her. And Ben is her best friend’s boyfriend.

Review: When I read the summary, I knew I would love it! It looked like a fun book. As it turns out, It was just as I thought it would be. Amazing! It was hilarious. I was laughing out loud. My favorite wish to come true is Ken coming to life. As in Barbie and Ken. I won't say much about that because it is more funny if you read it yourself.

This book had a really good ending. It was a little sad, but mostly it made me really happy. Every day Kayla would wake up and she would have another wish come true. I was eager to find out what wish would come true every day. As soon as I found out what the wish was, I was laughing. Every wish was really funny. There was never any slow parts in this book. I read it pretty quickly since it was very entertaining.

I liked how I was able to relate to the main girl, Kayla. She is down to earth and deals with everyday problems that every teen goes through. She seems like an easy person to get along with. She doesn't care what others think of her.

I can imagine if all my wishes came true. Lets see... my build-a-bear would come to life and be my best friend. My twin doll would come to life and be my best friend. A boy that I had a crush on when I was 11 would start talking to me. That's all I can remember. I'm sure I've had many strange wishes that would be embarrasing and/or hilarious if they came true now!

This book got the honor of five coffee cups. I would recommend reading this book to anyone. It was SO funny! I loved it!

Whoo! I got Delirium!!

2010-10-11T17:39:00.000-07:00

I am so excited! I wanted to share this with you! I got an ARC of Delirium by Lauren Oliver! I am so happy. As soon as I saw this in my mailbox I was ecstatic! I just absolutely adore this cover! I know, I'm using way too many adjectives. But I am just so happy!

Here's the summary from Goodreads: Before scientists found the cure, people thought love was a good thing. They didn’t understand that once love -the deliria- blooms in your blood, there is no escaping its hold. Things are different now. Scientists are able to eradicate love, and the governments demands that all citizens receive the cure upon turning eighteen. Lena Holway has always looked forward to the day when she’ll be cured. A life without love is a life without pain: safe, measured, predictable, and happy.

But with ninety-five days left until her treatment, Lena does the unthinkable: She falls in love.

In My Mailbox (6)

2010-10-10T07:00:00.000-07:00

From the library I got:

Beautiful Creatures by Kami Garcia and Margaret Stohl
Hex Hall by Rachel Hawkins
I Kissed a Zombie and I Liked It by Adam Selzer
City Of Bones by Cassandra Clare

In my mailbox I got:

Minder by Kate Kaynak

Bought from Borders:

Nevermore by Kelly Creagh

What's in your mailbox?

Book Review: Wanted by Sara Shepard

2010-10-08T13:43:00.000-07:00

Title: Wanted (Pretty Little Liars #8)

Author: Sara Shepard

Pages: 261

Publisher: Harperteen

Source: Library

Summary: In Rosewood, majestic estates sprawl for acres, and Tiffany toggle bracelets dangle from every girl's wrist. But not all that glitters is gold, and the town harbors secrets darker than anyone could imagine—like the truth about what really happened the night Alison DiLaurentis went missing. . . .

Back in middle school, Ali plucked Emily, Hanna, Aria, and Spencer from obscurity and turned them into the beautiful, popular girls everyone wanted to be. Ali was the best friend they ever had. But she also made them do terrible things and taunted them with their worst secrets. Now, three years later, all their questions about Ali have finally been answered and they can put this awful chapter of their lives behind them. Or so they think.

Not every story has a happy ending, especially when four pretty little liars have done so many wicked things. In the dramatic conclusion of Sara Shepard's bestselling Pretty Little Liars series, Emily, Hanna, Aria, and Spencer could get everything they've ever wanted—unless A has one more horrifying twist in store.

Review: This is the final book in the Pretty Little Liars series. I was so happy to find out all the answers! It was so shocking. I never would have guessed.

A new character was introduced which added to the plot a little. Out of all the characters, I think Aria is my favorite. She is a little more mature than the other girls. At the beginning of the series, she had to deal with some family issues. By the end of the series, she resolved her family's conflicts and overall became a more respectable person. She finally fell in love with somebody her own age.

This book was filled with suspense. I finished it very quickly because I was eager to find out the answers to all my questions. This is my favorite series that I have ever read.

I gave this book five stars. It was a really great ending to the series. All my questions were answered and I finally found out who "A" really is. I recommend this book if you like mysteries and don't mind some mature content and language.

Book Blogger Hop (9) and Follow Friday (6)

2010-10-07T21:00:00.000-07:00

Crazy-For-Books is hosting the Book Blogger Hop.

This week's question: What's your favorite beverage while reading or blogging, if any? Is it tea, coffee, water, a glass of wine, or something else?

My answer: In the morning, I prefer to drink coffee. If you've seen my blog, you know about how I rate books 1-5 coffee cups. I love coffee! The rest of the day I usually just drink water.

Follow Friday is hosted by Parajunkee's View.

To join the fun and make now book blogger friends, just follow these simple rules:

1. Follow the Follow My Book Blog Friday Host { Parajunkee.com } and any one else you want to follow on the list
2. Follow our Featured Bloggers - http://seducedbybooks.blogspot.com/
3. Put your Blog name & URL in the Linky thing.
4. Grab the button up there and place it in a post, this post is for people to find a place to say hi in your comments
5. Follow Follow Follow as many as you can
6. If someone comments and says they are following you, be a dear and follow back. Spread the Love...and the followers
7. If you want to show the link list, just follow the link below the entries and copy and paste it within your post!
8. If your new to the follow friday hop, comment and let me know, so I can stop by and check out your blog!

Happy friday!!

Win an ARC of Matched by Ally Condie!!

2010-10-07T08:38:00.000-07:00

Win an ARC of Matched by Ally Condie! Plus some swag!

This contest is USA only, sorry.

OFFICIAL RULES:

1. You must be a follower to enter this contest.
2. You may enter up to 11 times with extra entries. Do not fill out the form more than once!
4. "Extra Entries" means promoting this contest. You can tweet, put this contest in in your sidebar, or write a blog post about it.
5. THIS IS NOT A COMMENT CONTEST. Fill out the form below.

This contest ends on October 23!

Thank you all for participating!
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Book Review: Heartless by Sara Shepard

2010-10-07T06:30:00.000-07:00

Title: Heartless (Pretty Little Liars #7)

Author: Sara Shepard

Pages: 274

Publisher: Harperteen

Source: Library

Summary: Hanna, Aria, Emily, and Spencer have been telling some outrageous tales; only, the proof always seems to go missing. The friends insist they’re telling the truth, but all of Rosewood thinks they’re just out for attention—and nobody likes a girl who cries wolf. So when the big bad killer comes after them, will anyone believe the girls. . . or will they be the next to disappear?

Review: This is the second to last, seventh book in the Pretty Little Liars series. If you haven't read my previous reviews, start with the first one, here. This series hasn't disappointed me. Even after seven books, I am still hooked.

In this series, four girls are being stalked by a mysterious person who calls themself "A". Throughout reading these books I am dying to know who "A" is. I really like how this book kept me in suspense. New things happened in this book. New relationships were formed, and characters have changed a bit. This was one of my favorite books in the series.

The ending of this book was very shocking! As soon as I finished this book, I picked up the last book, Wanted. I can't wait to find out all the answers! I would recommend reading this series if you don't mind mature content and language. I gave this book four coffee cups. I really like this series!

Buy this book from Amazon:

Waiting On Wednesday (3)

2010-10-06T07:00:00.000-07:00

Waiting on Wednesday is a weekly meme hosted by Jill at Breaking the Spine that spotlights upcoming releases that we're eagerly anticipating.

This is a book that I recently found and it looks very interesting! I love dystopian books.

Title: Wither (Chemical Garden #1)
Author: Lauren DeStefano
Release Date: March 22, 2011

Summary:
What if you knew exactly when you would die?

Thanks to modern science, every human being has become a ticking genetic time bomb—males only live to age twenty-five, and females only live to age twenty. In this bleak landscape, young girls are kidnapped and forced into polygamous marriages to keep the population from dying out.

When sixteen-year-old Rhine Ellery is taken by the Gatherers to become a bride, she enters a world of wealth and privilege. Despite her husband Linden's genuine love for her, and a tenuous trust among her sister wives, Rhine has one purpose: to escape—to find her twin brother and go home.

But Rhine has more to contend with than losing her freedom. Linden's eccentric father is bent on finding an antidote to the genetic virus that is getting closer to taking his son, even if it means collecting corpses in order to test his experiments. With the help of Gabriel, a servant she trusts, Rhine attempts to break free, in the limted time she has left.

I'm excited to read this!

Book Review: The Strangers Outside by Vanessa Morgan

2010-10-04T06:00:00.000-07:00

Title: The Strangers Outside

Author: Vanessa Morgan

Pages: 24

Source: eBook given to me by the author

Summary: Two sisters, Jennifer and Louise, return to their remote holiday cabin after a day at the seaside. But little do they know they’re being surrounded. Soon after their arrival, the girls will come face to face with THE STRANGERS OUTSIDE. When the assailants make their intentions known, things take a shockingly terrible turn and an intense battle for survival will begin.

Review: This was a really great scary story. It was very short, but very entertaining. I was in suspense the whole time I was reading it. It was well written.

This book is going to be turned into a film. I am excited to watch it. It kinda reminds me of the movie The Strangers starring Liv Tyler. In that movie, two people go to their friends house and soon become stalked by strangers in masks. It is similar to this book. In this book, two sisters go to their cabin and become stalked by people dressed like monks.

After reading this book, I can now tell it to my friends as a scary story. I can't usually think of any scary stories to tell around a campfire, now I have one. Thanks Vanessa!

I gave this book five stars. It has been a while since I've read a scary story that had kept me in suspense. I recommend reading this book if you like scary stories or thrillers. The cover of this book suits the book perfectly. It's creepy and it shows what happens in the book.

Book Review: Twenty Boy Summer by Sarah Ockler

2010-10-03T16:16:00.000-07:00

Title: Twenty Boy Summer
Author: Sarah Ockler
Pages: 290
Publisher: Little, Brown Books

Source: Library

Summary: "Don't worry, Anna. I'll tell her, okay? Just let me think about the best way to do it."
"Okay."
"Promise me? Promise you won't say anything?"
"Don't worry." I laughed. "It's our secret, right?"

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

Review: On the front cover (of my edition) there is a quote. The quote is by Jo Knowles (author of Lessons from a Dead Girl) it is: "Breaks your heart and puts it back together again". That is exactly what this book did to me.

On her fifteenth birthday, the main girl, Anna, starts secretly dating her best friend's brother Matt. Before they tell her best friend, Frankie, Matt suddenly dies. About a year later, Frankie's parents invite Anna on a vacation with them to California. On the trip, Frankie and Anna make a deal to meet twenty boys in hopes of finding Anna a summer romance. What Frankie doesn't know is that Anna was dating her brother. Anna was too afraid to tell her since the three of them had been best friends for a long time.

When I read the summary, I overlooked the fact that Matt died. As I read the book, his death shocked me. I was in tears. I didn't think that the book was going to get better. Suprisingly, the book got much better. As the characters in this book got happy and less depressed about Matt dying, I got more happy and less depressed.

This was a really good romance novel. I can't exactly relate to the main character, Anna. I've never had someone close to me die. I can imagine it would be horrible.

I liked this book a lot. There were so many cute parts. There was some mature content and a little bit of language. I gave this book four coffee cups. Great book!

10 Days of Halloween Coming Soon!

2010-10-01T17:22:00.000-07:00

I am co-hosting a week of Author Interviews, Guest Posts, and giveaways!! The host of 10 days of Halloween is Ava from Book Infinity! This will take place from October 22 to October 31 . This will be horror/thriller/paranormal themed. Starting Oct. 22, check back every day for a new post or giveaway. We will be giving away books from the featured authors. Both our blogs will be doing this. This will be a lot of fun and I hope everybody comes back to check it out! Come on, don't pass up free books!

Featuring (but not limited to) these authors:

Brenna Yovanoff - Author of The Replacement

Beth Fantaskey - Author of Jessica's Guide to Dating on the Dark Side and Jekel Loves Hyde

Kersten Hamilton - Author of Tyger Tyger

Adam Selzer - Author of I Kissed a Zombie and I Liked It

These authors are subject to change.

I hope you enjoy this!

Dream Cast for Shiver by Maggie Stiefvater

2010-09-28T06:00:00.000-07:00

I came across this video while on Youtube. I did not make this video. All credit goes to artsygirl32111. I absolutely LOVE the actors/actresses that were picked for the parts. I agree with mostly all of them!

I only had a few disagreements. Some of my opinions would be:

Steven R. McQueen to play Sam (although in the video Logan Lerman looks like a great Sam - especially in the picture with him and the guitar!) He is on The Vampire Diaries.

Scott Patterson to play Beck. (He is on Gilmore Girls, The Event)

I would also rather have Emma Roberts play Rachel. (She is on Nancy Drew, Valentine's Day)

I also think that Lucy Hale should play Isabel. (She is on Pretty Little Liars)

That's about it! Let me know your thoughts.

Cover Revealed! Forever by Maggie Stiefvater

2010-09-27T15:55:00.000-07:00

Maggie Stiefvater released the cover of her new book Forever (the sequel to Shiver and Linger!) It is the last book in the trilogy The Wolves Of Mercy Falls. Whoo! I love it!

I totally guessed that the cover was going to be red! Awesome cover! I am so excited. It will be released next year. I don't know if I can wait that long! If you haven't already read Shiver, you really should.

You can pre-order a copy of this book here: http://www.fountainbookstore.com/autograph-maggie.

Maggie is also hosting a huge giveaway (win Shiver, Linger, and more amazing swag!) at her blog.

Book Review: Matched by Ally Condie

2010-09-25T17:04:00.000-07:00

Title: Matched
Author: Ally Condie
Pages: 384
Publisher: Dutton Juvenile
Source: ARC recieved from publisher

Summary: In the Society, Officials decide. Who you love. Where you work. When you die.

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

Review: I know there's a big hype for this book. I was so excited that I got a copy! The cover looked very interesting and the summary looked awesome too! Before I read this book I had high expectations for it. This book didn't really live up to my expectations, though. Don't get me wrong, I really liked it. I just thought it could have been a little better. I didn't really like the romance. I think she chose the wrong guy.

The main character, Cassia, had to choose between two boys: Xander and Ky. Xander is her best friend that she has known forever. She gets matched with him. "Matched" means that someone is chosen for you that you are intended to marry. Ky is a boy who Cassia doesn't know very well but his face flashed on the screen for a moment when it should've been Xander's face. I don't agree with who Cassia chose to be with. I think she would have been better off with the other boy.

In a way this book kinda reminds me of the book The Giver by Lois Lowry. The city they are in is futuristic where their lives are controlled and they are always monitored. A similar part in both books are that when someone reaches a certain age (really old), then they are, as The Giver puts it, "released". That means that they are forced to die. I think that part in this book was really sad. Knowing the day that someone really close to me is going to die would be really depressing.

This book was really clean! There was no mature content or language at all. I would recommend this book to anybody who likes dystopian (futuristic) romance books. Ally Condie is a great writer! I gave this book 4 coffee cups. I really liked it.

Book Review: Killer by Sara Shepard

2010-09-23T06:00:00.000-07:00

Title: Killer (Pretty Little Liars #6)
Author: Sara Shepard
Pages: 352
Publisher: Harperteen
Source: Library
Summary: In picture-perfect Rosewood, Pennsylvania, ash-blond highlights gleam in the winter sun and frozen lakes sparkle like Swarovski crystals. But pictures often lie— and so do Rosewood's four prettiest girls.
Hanna, Aria, Spencer, and Emily have been lying ever since they became friends with beautiful Alison DiLaurentis. Ali made them do terrible things—things they had to keep secret for years. And even though Ali was killed at the end of seventh grade, their bad-girl ways didn't die with her.
Hanna's on a mission to corrupt Rosewood's youth, starting with a very attractive sophomore. Aria's snooping into her boyfriend's past. Spencer's stealing— from her family. And Emily is getting used to her new boyfriend.

Review: This is the sixth book in the Pretty Little Liars series. Since I've talked about these books plenty of times (see my previous reviews), I decided in this review to talk a little bit about the t.v. show. Although the description of the characters in the book are different from what they look like in the t.v. show, I still really like the actors/actresses that were cast. My favorite character is Spencer (who is played by Troian Bellisario). I think that Troian Bellisario as a really great actress and portrays the part of Spencer very well. In the book, Spencer is supposed to be blonde, but I think a dark haired Spencer is much better.

I also think that the guys were cast well. Ian Harding who plays Ezra Fitz is great for a young teacher who falls in love with Aria. Toby, who is played by Keegan Allen, was cast well also. Toby is supposed to be cute and mysterious, also a little creepy looking. I think Keegan Allen fits that role almost perfectly.

As for the book, Killer, I enjoyed reading it. It was a fun read. Only two more books left in this series! Unfortunately I have to wait a while for the last book to come in at the library. There was some mature content and language in this book. I gave this book 4 coffee cups. I really enjoy reading this series!

In My Mailbox (5)

2010-09-21T16:24:00.000-07:00

From the library I got:

Flawless (Pretty Little Liars #7) by Sara Shepard
Wintergirls by Laurie Halse Anderson
Strange Angels by Lili St. Crow
Betrayals (Strange Angels #2) by Lili St. Crow
Airhead by Meg Cabot

In My Mailbox I got:

Matched by Ally Condie (ARC)

Book Blogger Hop (8) and Follow Friday (5)

2010-09-17T15:01:00.000-07:00

The book blogger hop is hosted by Crazy-For-Books.

This week's question: In honor of Book Blogger Appreciation Week, let's take time this week to honor our favorite book bloggers and why we love them!

My answer: It is very hard to choose favorite book blogs. I love way too many!! Here are a few book blogs that I like:

On My Nightstand

Eating Y.A. Books

IB Book Blogging

Follow Friday is hosted by Parajunkee's View.

To join the fun and make now book blogger friends, just follow these simple rules:

1. Follow the Follow My Book Blog Friday Host { Parajunkee.com } and any one else you want to follow on the list
2. Follow our Featured Bloggers - http://baileysbookreviews.blogspot.com
3. Put your Blog name & URL in the Linky thing.
4. Grab the button up there and place it in a post, this post is for people to find a place to say hi in your comments
5. Follow Follow Follow as many as you can
6. If someone comments and says they are following you, be a dear and follow back. Spread the Love...and the followers
7. If you want to show the link list, just follow the link below the entries and copy and paste it within your post!
8. If your new to the follow friday hop, comment and let me know, so I can stop by and check out your blog!

Book Review: Wicked by Sara Shepard

2010-09-15T06:30:00.000-07:00

Title: Wicked (Pretty Little Liars #5)

Author: Sara Shepard

Pages: 310

Publisher: Harperteen

Source: Bought from a used book store

Summary: In idyllic Rosewood, Pennsylvania, where Burberry earmuffs keep diamond-studded ears warm, four very pretty girls have done some very wicked things. . . .

High school juniors Hanna, Spencer, Emily, and Aria have paid dearly for their sins. A stalker named "A" terrorized them for months and revealed their darkest secrets. But now that A's true identity has been revealed, the girls can finally go back to their pretty little lives.

Only, once a pretty little liar, always a pretty little liar—and these girls just can't help but be bad. Hanna will do anything to be Rosewood's queen bee. Spencer starts stealing . . . from her parents. Emily can't stop thinking about her new boyfriend. And Aria approves a little too strongly of her mom's taste in men.

As the secrets get darker and the scandals juicier, the consequences turn deadly. After all, girls who forget the past are condemned to repeat it. And in Rosewood, someone is always watching. . . .

Review: I really like this series. Every book is filled with suspense and drama. In this book, new relationships are formed, and new enemies are made. There is always a big shocker at the end of these books. I am very glad that all the rest of the books in this series are out now. I don't think I would be able to wait for each book. I haven't yet read another series that has 8 books in its series without the books droning on and getting boring. Pretty Little Liars is not like that at all. Each book has something new and suspenseful in it. There is some language and mature content. This is a really great series. I recommend reading these books. I rated this book 4 stars.

Book Review: Love You To Death by Crissy Calhoun

2010-09-11T17:52:00.000-07:00

Title: Love You To Death: An Unofficial Companion to the Vampire Diaries
Author: Crissy Calhoun
Pages: 211
Publisher: ECW Press
Source: Recieved from Publisher
Summary: Taking devoted fans deep into the heart of Mystic Falls, the fictional setting of the CW hit series The Vampire Diaries, this guide will satisfy the curiosity of the series’ many loyal viewers. Garnering huge ratings for the network week after week, The Vampire Diaries’ mix of horror, romance, drama, and self-aware humor has won it a growing and devoted fan base in its very first season. A complete episode guide and biographical portraits of the cast and veteran writer/producer Kevin Williamson, whose credits include Dawson’s Creek and the Scream movies, make this an essential resource for fans. The story behind the creation of the show, information about the bestselling book series by L. J. Smith that first introduced Elena and the Salvatore brothers, and the rich veins of history and mythology that run through the scripts are explored in this essential companion to this new audience favorite.

Review: It was really interesting learning things about the Vampire Diaries tv show that I wouldn't have known if I didn't read this book.Out of all the actor/actresses biographies, I found Ian Somerhalder's bio the most interesting. He is one of my favorite actors. He always is very convincing and he makes the best facial expressions. What I learned about him is that before auditioning for The Vampire Diaries he was very nervous and he didn't think he would get the part. I would have though that he was very confident and sure of himself.

Inside this book there are 8 pages of pictures (in color!) of either scenes from the tv show or pictures of the cast. There is an episode guide which has a lot of information about each episode. My favorite part of the episode guide is the "Foggy Moments" section. Its explains the moments in the episode that are confusing for the viewer, continuity errors, and inconsistincies. Something interesting that I learned is how they make fake blood. They use edible corn syrup, food coloring, salt, and peppermint extract to make it more palatable. A batch of blood lasts two to three months. I gave this book five coffee cups! This is a must-read if you are a fan of the Vampire Diaries.

Book Review: Stolen by Lucy Christopher

2010-09-11T16:39:00.000-07:00

Title: Stolen: A Letter to My Captor

Author: Lucy Christopher

Pages: 301

Publisher: Chicken House

Source: Library

Summary: Sixteen year old Gemma is kidnapped from Bangkok airport and taken to the Australian Outback. This wild and desolate landscape becomes almost a character in the book, so vividly is it described. Ty, her captor, is no stereotype. He is young, fit and completely gorgeous. This new life in the wilderness has been years in the planning. He loves only her, wants only her. Under the hot glare of the Australian sun, cut off from the world outside, can the force of his love make Gemma love him back? The story takes the form of a letter, written by Gemma to Ty, reflecting on those strange and disturbing months in the outback. Months when the lines between love and obsession, and love and dependency, blur until they don't exist - almost.

Review: This book was very interesting. It was unlike any book I have ever read! I liked how it was told in first person, from Gemma's view. When referring to Ty, the author used "you". "You saw me before I saw you". When Ty takes Gemma to the Australian outback, the author uses a lot of description when referring to the landscape. That helped me visualize the story better. While reading this book, I put myself in Gemma's shoes. What would I do? I probably would have done most of the same things that she did. I liked the character Ty. He is troubled, but he is honest and he shows his love for Gemma. I liked how this book had a bit of suspense. That kept me reading the book to see what would happen next. I thought the love story was really cute. Ty loved Gemma from the beginning and it took a while for Gemma to see that she loved him too. Gemma was resistant at first because she was kidnapped by a complete stranger.

This book was a little slow, but I still enjoyed reading it. The thing I didn't like about it was the end. There is some language and mature content. I would recommend reading this book to anybody who likes strange romance. By strange I mean not your ordinary romance.

Winner of The Intern ebook is...

2010-09-10T14:51:00.000-07:00

Carrie from In The Hammock!! Congrats! You won The Intern by Jess C Scott eBook. I sent it to your email. Thanks everyone who entered!

100 Followers Contest Winner!

2010-09-09T05:11:00.000-07:00

The winner of my 1oo followers Flipped contest is...

Autumn!

Congrats! I just sent you an email.

*If I don't hear back from you within 48 hours I will select a new winner*

Don't forget to enter my other giveaway! It ends today!

Win an ebook of The Intern by Jess C Scott! - International

Book Review: Two Way Street by Lauren Barnholdt

2010-09-08T15:49:00.000-07:00

Title: Two Way Street
Author: Lauren Barnholdt

Pages: 288

Publisher: Simon Pulse

Source: Library

Summary: There are two sides to every breakup.

This is Jordan and Courtney, totally in love. Sure, they were an unlikely high school couple. But they clicked; it worked. They're even going to the same college, and driving cross-country together for orientation.

Then Jordan dumps Courtney -- for a girl he met on the Internet.

It's too late to change plans, so the road trip is on. Courtney's heartbroken, but figures she can tough it out for a few days. La la la -- this is Courtney pretending not to care.

But in a strange twist, Jordan cares. A lot.

Turns out, he's got a secret or two that he's not telling Courtney. And it has everything to do with why they broke up, why they can't get back together, and how, in spite of it all, this couple is destined for each other.

Review: In this book, the main girl, Courtney, is forced to go on a road trip with her ex, Jordan. Some parts were funny (as you can imagine, two people who hate each other going on a road trip!). There was a bit of character transformation, especially Jordan. I liked how the book ended, but I thought it was pretty predictable. I decided to read this book since I enjoyed Lauren Barnholdt's book, One Night That Changes Everything. I think this book was very realistic. I can see real teenagers going through the same scenario.

I hate giving books low ratings, but for this book I had to. The content really disappointed me. There was too much language and mature content. This book just wasn't as good as Lauren Barnholdt's other books (that I've read so far). It also wasn't very entertaining. I find it hard to relate to the characters in this book.

I wouldn't recommend reading this book because of the content. If you really don't mind a ton of language, then you could give this book a try. I gave this book 2 coffee cups.

Waiting On Wednesday (2)

2010-09-08T06:30:00.000-07:00

Waiting on Wednesday is a weekly meme hosted by Jill at Breaking the Spine that spotlights upcoming releases that we're eagerly anticipating.

I am waiting for Unearthly by Cynthia Hand.

Release Date: January 4, 2011
Summary:

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 it 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 deciet, love and duty, good and evil. When the fire from her vision finally ignites, will Clara be ready to face her destiny?

This book looks interesting. I'm excited to read it!

Book Review: Unbelievable by Sara Shepard

2010-09-05T13:02:00.000-07:00

Title: Unbelievable (Pretty Little Liars #4)

Author: Sara Shepard

Pages: 352

Publisher: Harperteen

Source: Library
Summary: Behind Rosewood's grand façades, where the air smells like apples and Chanel No. 5 and infinity pools sparkle in landscaped backyards, nothing is as it seems. It was here, back in seventh grade, that five best friends shared everything—Seven jeans, MAC makeup, and their deepest, darkest secrets. For Aria, Spencer, Hanna, and Emily, it was a dream come true . . . until Alison, the most beautiful of them all, suddenly vanished.

With A's threats turning dangerous and Ali's killer still on the loose, the girls must uncover the truth—about A, about Ali, and about what happened to Hanna—before they become A's next victims. But as they unravel Rosewood's mysteries and secrets, will it bring an end to the horror . . . or is this just the beginning?

Review: If you've been following the tv show, this book picks up right where the latest episode ends. This is the 4th book in the Pretty Little Liars series by Sara Shepard. If you've read any of my previous reviews of the Pretty Little Liars books you would know that I have been enjoying this series. Packed with suspense, mystery, and drama, Pretty Little Liars is a series you don't want to skip. I've been following the TV show and after the last episode I was extremely curious to find out what happens next. So, I decided to pick up the books. Unfortunately, somebody spoiled the ending of this book for me, but I still have 4 more books in the series to read in which I am clueless about the endings. There is some language and mature content. If you don't mind that, then I would recommend reading this series. I gave this book 4 coffee cups. Great series!

--Challenge--

I also want to say that since I'm reading all the Pretty Little Liars books, I decided to sign up for a challenge over at Trisha's Book Blog. The challenge is to read all the Pretty Little Liars books by December 31, 2010.

Check out the challenge here:
http://trishasbookshelf.blogspot.com/2009/09/pretty-little-liars-challenge.html

Book Blogger Hop (7) and Follow Friday (4)

2010-09-03T05:11:00.000-07:00

Crazy-For-Books is hosting the Book Blogger Hop.

This week's question: Do you judge a book by its cover?

My answer: I actually do. If I see a book and it's cover looks interesting, I am pulled in and I will most likely want to read it. There are so many books with awesome covers!

Follow Friday is hosted by Parajunkee's View.

To join the fun and make now book blogger friends, just follow these simple rules:

1. Follow the Follow My Book Blog Friday Host { Parajunkee.com } and any one else you want to follow on the list
2. Follow our Featured Bloggers - http://candacesreadingblog.blogspot.com
3. Put your Blog name & URL in the Linky thing.
4. Grab the button up there and place it in a post, this post is for people to find a place to say hi in your comments
5. Follow Follow Follow as many as you can
6. If someone comments and says they are following you, be a dear and follow back. Spread the Love...and the followers
7. If you want to show the link list, just follow the link below the entries and copy and paste it within your post!
8. If your new to the follow friday hop, comment and let me know, so I can stop by and check out your blog!

Happy Friday!

Guest Post + Giveaway: Jess C Scott

2010-09-02T19:45:00.000-07:00

Why Journaling is Good--Guest Post by Jess C Scott

BOOK SUMMARY: A 17-year-old intern must choose between trusting an irresistibly suave dance instructor—or her instincts. SINS07 is a series featuring lighthearted tales that explore each of the seven sins in order, beginning with lust.

My most recent publication is a YA novel titled, 1: The Intern, part of a SINS07 “seven deadly sins” series. While the tone and presentation differ quite greatly from my debut blog/IM novel (the blog novel is more alternative / more info on it @ www.eyeleash.wordpress.com), both books cover the subject of lust.

I remember journaling a lot, throughout my teenage years (I’ll turn 24 this September). I still do. Here’s an excerpt from my handwritten journal/diary (I’m not saying when this happened, exactly!):

“...but he was so daring/discreet at the same time!! He said ‘(before you go) may I / can I have a kiss (here?—pointing/showing his cheek)’...it was all a blur...so I asked ‘whyyy?’ quite coyly, he said ‘coz I hv been so nice to you’...‘tt’s true’ (LOL! I sounded quite “statement” I think)...I thought 2 myself: how hot/wet can this kiss be? then I thought boring as it is, guess I’ll keep it neutral, which I did...slightly shaven cheek......very careful non-sloppy kiss...& tt is my 1st kiss 2 a guy. I STILL HAVEN’T BEEN KISSED.”

This type of “journal writing” probably isn't what a school teacher would accept for an English composition/essay/assignment. What it shows, however, is freedom in a person’s exploration of their honest thoughts and feelings (which, one could argue, is more important than scoring an A on every single paper).

Some people loathe writing that’s done in text message style—but you can’t really deny the fact that it is a form of communication, in this day and age. Text messaging, to me, is just another language. I text messaged all the way throughout my high school years, and it never affected my grades (I always applied “the rules of proper English,” when it came to academic work).

I find that journaling freely has always allowed me to “capture the moment” better. I tend to experience things quite intensely—journaling played (and continues to play) a huge part in my own personal journey of self-discovery.

When you start to know yourself, and what you want / where you’d like to go / who you’d like to be in life…it gives you a very real and stable kind of inner self-confidence. This isn’t the type of self-confidence that comes in the form of a checklist in a glossy magazine article. It’s all you. It’s also amazing to see how different you are (in some ways) as a person, when you look back at past journal entries.

So the next time you think/feel like you just HAVE to journal—follow your instincts. You might be able to find just what you’re looking for, through journaling / taking a look at your deepest thoughts and needs/wants/desires.

P.S. My latest (private, handwritten) journal entry includes “what I want to say to (a guy on Facebook),” and a couple of ideas for future book projects.

P.P.S. The “guy on Facebook” = the same guy in the handwritten journal excerpt above.
---------------
Author Bio:

Jess identifies herself as an author/artist/non-conformist. Her literary work has appeared in a diverse range of publications, such as Word Riot, ITCH Magazine, and The Battered Suitcase. She is currently working on the SINS07 series, as well as an urban fantasy project featuring cyberpunk elves. Her novella, The Devilin Fey, hit #1 in Amazon’s “Hot New Releases in Bargain Books” in July 2010.

Website: www.jesscscott.com
SINS07: www.sins07.wordpress.com
Facebook: www.facebook.com/jesscscott
Twitter: www.twitter.com/jesscscott
_________________________________
CONTEST CLOSED 9/9/10

In My Mailbox (4)

2010-09-01T18:40:00.000-07:00

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

The idea behind IMM was not only to put new books on your radar but to also encourage blogger interaction. IMM explores the weekly contents of my mailbox & books bought. And sometimes other fun goodies.

Anyone can participate in IMM and you are not limited to only sharing books that arrive via your mailbox. You can also share books that you've bought or books that you've gotten at the library.

So, this week I won a contest from All-Consuming Books! I won:

Infinite Days by Rebecca Maizel

From the library I got:

Unbelievable (Pretty Little Liars #4) by Sara Shepard

In my mailbox I recieved:

Cloaked by Alex Flinn (ARC)
Love You To Death: An Unoffical Guide to The Vampire Diaries by Crissy Calhoun

And don't forget! My contest for Flipped ends 9/8! Enter here.

Book Review: Paranormalcy by Kiersten White

2010-08-30T19:36:00.000-07:00

Title: Paranormalcy

Author: Kiersten White

Pages: 320

Publisher: Harperteen

Source: ARC recieved from publisher

Summary: Weird as it is working for the International Paranormal Containment Agency, Evie's always thought of herself as normal. Sure, her best friend is a mermaid, her ex-boyfriend is a faerie, she’s falling for a shape-shifter, and she’s the only person who can see through paranormals' glamours, but still. Normal.

Only now paranormals are dying, and Evie's dreams are filled with haunting voices and mysterious prophecies. She soon realizes that there may be a link between her abilities and the sudden rash of deaths. Not only that, but she may very well be at the center of a dark faerie prophecy promising destruction to all paranormal creatures.

Review: Paranormalcy was amazing! I loved reading this book. Everything about it pulled me in; the cover, the summary, and the fact that it is a paranormal romance! I really liked the main character, Evie, because she has a great attitude and she cares a lot about other people. In this book, there were a lot of paranormals (ex. werewolfs, vampires, etc.). Each of these paranormals wore a mask, called glamours. Evie had the ability to see beyond their glamours and see what they really look like. I though that was really interesting. Evie works for the International Paranormal Containment Agency, where she tracks down paranormals and brings them back to the agency so they can control them. This book was filled with suspense, romance, and action. I really liked that this book had NO swearing or mature content. I would recommend this book to anyone who likes paranormal romance. Even if you don't particularly like paranormal romance, this isn't your typical, girl meets boy, falls in love story. There is so much more going on in this book besides the romance. I gave this book 5 coffee cups. I'm glad I read this book. It was great!

Book Blogger Hop (6) and Follow Friday (3)

2010-08-27T07:40:00.001-07:00

It's Friday again! Crazy-For-Books is hosting this book blogger hop.

This week's question: Do you use a rating system for your reviews? And if so, what is it and why?

My Answer: Yes, I do use a rating system. I rate books from 5 coffee cups to 1 coffee cups. 5 being "Loved this book!" to 1 being "Hated this book!".
Friday Follow is hosted by Parajunkee's View.

To join the fun and make now book blogger friends, just follow these simple rules:

1. Follow the Follow My Book Blog Friday Host { Parajunkee.com } and any one else you want to follow on the list
2. Follow our Featured Bloggers - http://bookge3k.blogspot.com/
3. Put your Blog name & URL in the Linky thing.
4. Grab the button up there and place it in a post, this post is for people to find a place to say hi in your comments
5. Follow Follow Follow as many as you can
6. If someone comments and says they are following you, be a dear and follow back. Spread the Love...and the followers
7. If you want to show the link list, just follow the link below the entries and copy and paste it within your post!
8. If your new to the follow friday hop, comment and let me know, so I can stop by and check out your blog!

Book Review: Perfect by Sara Shepard

2010-08-26T07:27:00.000-07:00

Title: Perfect (Pretty Little Liars #3)
Author: Sara Shepard
Pages: 320
Publisher: HarperTeen
Source: Library
Summary: In a town where gossip thrives like the ivy that clings to its mansions, where mysteries lie behind manicured hedges and skeletons hide in every walk-in closet, four perfect-looking girls aren't nearly as perfect as they seem.

Three years ago, Spencer, Aria, Emily, Hanna, and their best friend Alison were the girls at Rosewood Day School. They clicked through the halls in their Miu Miu flats, tanned in their matching Pucci bikinis, and laughed behind their freshly manicured fingernails. They were the girls everyone loved but secretly hated—especially Alison.

So when Alison mysteriously vanished one night, Spencer, Aria, Emily, and Hanna's grief was tinged with . . . relief. And when Alison's body was later discovered in her own backyard, the girls were forced to unearth some ugly memories of their old friend, too. Could there be more to Alison's death than anyone realizes?

Now someone named A, someone who seems to know everything, is pointing the finger at one of them for Ali's murder. As their secrets get darker and their scandals turn deadly, A is poised to ruin their perfect little lives forever.

Review: This book didn't disappoint me. It was filled with suspense and shocking twists. It's hard to write a long review for this book without writing spoilers so I'll keep it short. There was some language and a bit of mature content. I would recommend this book to anyone who doesn't mind the language and mature content. Pretty Little Liars is a great series so far. I really want to find out who is behind Alison's murder and who "A" is. I am looking forward to reading the next book, Unbelievable. If you haven't started this series, you are missing out!

100+ Followers Giveaway!

2010-08-25T10:55:00.000-07:00

I reached 100 followers! Thanks so much! I am giving away the book Flipped by Wendelin Van Draanen (Soon to be a Major Motion Picture).

Summary (from Goodreads): Juli Baker devoutly believes in three things: the sanctity of trees (especially her beloved sycamore), the wholesomeness of the eggs she collects from her backyard flock of chickens, and that someday she will kiss Bryce Loski. Ever since she saw Bryce's baby blues back in second grade, Juli has been smitten. Unfortunately, Bryce has never felt the same. Frankly, he thinks Juli Baker is a little weird--after all, what kind of freak raises chickens and sits in trees for fun? Then, in eighth grade, everything changes. Bryce begins to see that Juli's unusual interests and pride in her family are, well, kind of cool. And Juli starts to think that maybe Bryce's brilliant blue eyes are as empty as the rest of Bryce seems to be. After all, what kind of jerk doesn't care about other people's feelings about chickens and trees? With Flipped, mystery author Wendelin Van Draanen has taken a break from her Sammy Keyes series, and the result is flipping fantastic. Bryce and Juli's rants and raves about each other ring so true that teen readers will quickly identify with at least one of these hilarious feuding egos, if not both. A perfect introduction to the adolescent war between the sexes.
*Note that it has been used, so don't expect it to be in perfect shape

OFFICIAL RULES:

1. You must be a follower to enter this contest.
2. You may enter up to 10 times for old followers, 9 times for new followers. Do not fill out the form more than once!
4. "Extra Entries" means promoting this contest. You can tweet, put this contest in in your sidebar, or write a blog post about it.
5. Fill out the form below.

This contest ends on September 8th!

Thank you all for participating!
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One Lovely Blog Award!

2010-08-25T07:30:00.000-07:00

I just recieved the One Lovely Blog Award from The Bookish Snob! I feel so honored!

There are a few rules with the giving and passing of the award and here they are ...

1. Accept the award, post it on your blog together with the name of the person who has granted the award and his or her blog link.
2. Pass the award to 15 other blogs that you’ve newly discovered.
3. Remember to contact the bloggers to let them know they have been chosen for this award.

Here are the 15 blogs I am giving it to:

1. After The Fall
2. An Abundance of Books
3. Eating Y.A. Books
4. Epic Book Nerd
5. I Swim For Oceans
6. I'd So Rather Be Reading
7. IB Book Blogging
8. Lost In Y.A. Wonderland
9. Only Sexy Books Allowed
10. Pure Imagination
11. Sophistikated Reviews
12. That Chick That Reads
13. The Book Girl
14. Tricia's Book Blog
15. The Teen Bibliophile

Thanks again The Bookish Snob!

Book Review: The Julian Game by Adele Griffin

2010-08-24T16:26:00.000-07:00

Title: The Julian Game
Author: Adele Griffin
Pages: 208
Publisher: Putnam Juvenile
Source: ARC given to me by the author
Summary: All new girl Raye Archer wants is a way into the in crowd, so when ice-queen Ella Parker picks her to get back at her ex, the gorgeous Julian Kilgarry, Raye is more than game. Even if it means creating a fake Facebook identity so she can learn enough about Julian to sabotage him. It's a fun and dangerous thrill at first, but Raye hadn't counted on falling for Julian herself and igniting Ella's rage. As Raye works to reconcile the temptress Elizabeth with her real-life self, Ella serves up her own revenge, creating an online smear campaign of nasty rumors and trashy photographs. Suddenly notorious, Raye has to find a way out of the web of deceit that she's helped to build, and back to the relationships that matter.

Review: When I saw this book, I was interested in reading it. The cover looked interesting, and when I read the summary, I was pulled in. It sounded like an entertaining book. I was disappointed. I had to force myself to finish it. I don't think that the characters weren't built up very well and there was not a big climax at all. There were some unrealistic situations, but I did like how the book ended. I really wanted to like this book, but it just didn't work out. I really like the cover. It is really intriguing and made me want to read the book. It fits in the story very well. There was a little bit of language and mature content. This wouldn't be the first book I recommend. I gave this book two and half coffee cups.

Possible giveaway??? Need your opinion.

2010-08-23T08:12:00.000-07:00

Would anyone be interested in a giveaway of Flipped by Wendelin Van Draanen? It will soon be a Major Motion Picture. I wasn't sure whether to do a contest for it because I didn't know how many people would enter. Let me know either by commenting or taking my poll (to the left.) This giveaway would only be for USA, sorry.

In My Mailbox (3)

2010-08-22T16:11:00.000-07:00

Paranormalcy by Kiersten White (Sooooo excited to get this one. Wasn't expecting it!)
The Julian Game by Adele Griffin

And from the library, I got:

Twenty Boy Summer by Sarah Ockler
Stolen by Lucy Christopher
Perfect (Pretty Little Liars #3) by Sara Shepard
Everlasting by Angie Frazier

Thanks for reading my blog!

My Dream Cast for The Luxe Series

2010-08-21T13:38:00.000-07:00

I really like The Luxe series by Anna Godbersen so I decided to make my dream cast. I wish they would make these books into a movie.

Elizabeth: Dianna Agron
What she's in: Glee, Guest actress on Heroes

Diana: Rachel McAdams
What she's in: The Notebook, The Time Traveler's Wife, Mean Girls

Henry: Channing Tatum
What he's in: Dear John, Step Up, GI Joe: Rise Of The Cobra

Penelope: Michelle Trachtenburg
What she's in: Ice Princess, Mercy, 17 Again

Teddy: Garrett Hedlund
What he's in: Eragon

Lina/Carolina Broud: Talulah Riley
What she's in: Pride and Prejudice

Will: Orlando Bloom
What he's in: Pirates of the Caribbean, Lord of the Rings

Isabella Schoonmaker: Elizabeth Banks
What she's in: The Uninvited, Scrubs

William Schoonmaker: Michael Nouri
What he's in: The Proposal, All My Children

Claire Broud: Gemma Arterton
What she's in: Tess of the D'urbervilles, Prince of Persia

Grayson Hayes: Ryan Reynolds
What he's in: The Proposal

Tristan: Ed Speelers
What he's in: Eragon

Buck: Sean Astin
What he's in: Lord of the Rings, 50 first dates

Mr. Carey Lewis Longhorn: David Lawrence
What he's in: Heroes

Leland Bouchard: Simon Woods
What he's in: The Proposal, Penelope

That's it! Comment and let me know what you think.

Book Blogger Hop (5) and Follow Friday! (2)

2010-08-20T07:22:00.001-07:00

Crazy-For-Books is hosting this book blogger hop.

This week's question: How many blogs do you follow?

My Answer: I follow 160 blogs (but I bet that will change by the end of the day!).

Follow Friday is hosted by Parajunkee's View.

To join the fun and make now book blogger friends, just follow these simple rules:

1. Follow the Follow My Book Blog Friday Host { Parajunkee.com } and any one else you want to follow on the list
2. Follow our Featured Bloggers - http://edgyinspirational.blogspot.com/
3. Put your Blog name & URL in the Linky thing.
4. Grab the button up there and place it in a post, this post is for people to find a place to say hi in your comments
5. Follow Follow Follow as many as you can
6. If someone comments and says they are following you, be a dear and follow back. Spread the Love...and the followers
7. If you want to show the link list, just follow the link below the entries and copy and paste it within your post!
8. If your new to the follow friday hop, comment and let me know, so I can stop by and check out your blog!

Happy Friday!

Book Review: And Cafe Con Leche by Evie Alexis

2010-08-20T07:00:00.000-07:00

Title: And Cafe Con Leche
Author: Evie Alexis
Pages: 238
Publisher: eTreasures Publishing
Source: eBook recieved from author Evie Alexis

Summary: As a teenager growing up in New York City, Isabela Castillo's protective parents try to keep her sheltered from her environment while allowing her twin brother to get away with things she only dreams of doing.

While her Mama stresses the importance of maintaining their Puerto Rican heritage, Isabela has other, more rebellious plans. As graduation looms on the horizon, she enters a controversial alliance with the strangest senior male in Preston High. Will her newfound friendship cause her to lose sight of her heritage? Will the family survive Isabela's transition to independence?

Review: I really enjoyed reading this book. In the beginning of this book, the main character, Isabela, doesn't have a good relationship with her brother, JR. They fight and get into arguements all the time. I can't exactly relate to that, because I don't have any brothers. Throughout the book, their relationship gets better and they appreciate each other more. There was some romance in this book, too. She meets a boy, Marcus, and they start dating. I think their relationship is very cute and realistic. He mostly keeps to himself and doesn't have many friends. When he and Isabela are dating, he tells her that he has had a crush on her for a couple years. I thought that was really cute. There was a little bit of language and a little bit of mature content. Besides that, I thought the book was really entertaining. Being a multicultural novel, Isabela's parents spoke to her in spanish sometimes. Since I don't know much Spanish, some of the time I didn't understand what she was saying. As for the rest of the book it was about 99% English. I gave this book 4 coffee cups. I would recommend this book to anyone. I enjoyed this read. Look for it soon on eTreasures Publishing.
*this book isn't on Goodreads, so if you are looking for it, check out Evie Alexis's blog, http://eviealexisofficialsite.blogspot.com/