Tuesday, September 28, 2010

Dream Cast for Shiver by Maggie Stiefvater

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.

Monday, September 27, 2010

Cover Revealed! Forever by Maggie Stiefvater

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.

Saturday, September 25, 2010

Book Review: Matched by Ally Condie

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.

Thursday, September 23, 2010

Book Review: Killer by Sara Shepard

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!

Tuesday, September 21, 2010

In My Mailbox (5)

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:

  • 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)

Friday, September 17, 2010

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

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

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!

Wednesday, September 15, 2010

Book Review: Wicked by Sara Shepard

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.

Saturday, September 11, 2010

Book Review: Love You To Death by Crissy Calhoun

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

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.

Friday, September 10, 2010

Winner of The Intern ebook is...

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!

Thursday, September 9, 2010

100 Followers Contest Winner!

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!

Wednesday, September 8, 2010

Book Review: Two Way Street by Lauren Barnholdt

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)

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!

Sunday, September 5, 2010

Book Review: Unbelievable by Sara Shepard

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

Friday, September 3, 2010

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

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!

Thursday, September 2, 2010

Guest Post + Giveaway: Jess C Scott

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

Wednesday, September 1, 2010

In My Mailbox (4)

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.