The Book Obsession

Between Here and Forever by Elizabeth Scott

2011-09-06T17:02:00.000-07:00

Title: Between Here and Forever
Author: Elizabeth Scott
Release Date: May 24, 2011
Publisher: Simon Pulse
Pages: 250 pages
Links: amazon/ goodreads/ website
Source: publisher for review

Summary: Abby accepted that she can’t measure up to her beautiful, magnetic sister Tess a long time ago, and knows exactly what she is: Second best. Invisible.
Until the accident.
Now Tess is in a coma, and Abby’s life is on hold. It may have been hard living with Tess, but it's nothing compared to living without her.
She's got a plan to bring Tess back though, involving the gorgeous and mysterious Eli, but then Abby learns something about Tess, something that was always there, but that she’d never seen. Abby is about to find out that truth isn't always what you think it is, and that life holds more than she ever thought it could...

My Thoughts: I was looking through my reviews on the site and I realized that I had not done a review for Elizabeth Scott's newest novel. I just HAD to let my thoughts out on this novel because it honestly touched me. This book is yet another flawless novel and I'm actually happy I waited to review it because it's the type of book that you think about later and appreciate even more after you finish it.

Abby is one of my favorite characters in YA literature but it's not because of what she said...it is because of what she didn't and the unhidden meanings that she brings. Now I admit that while reading the novel she annoyed me to no end because she couldn't see how beautiful she really was. But then I realized that she was living in the shadow of her sister, Tess, for so long that's how she honestly felt. I found that so heart-breaking that a young girl could not see her own beauty. Eli was a well written character that did a great job at making Abby see her true colors.

The plot was not very original but was done in such a way that made it stand out from all the other similar novels. While I was able to guess the ending, Scott executed it in a way that I still wanted to read more. She made her characters believable and put so much emotion and feeling into her books.

To be honest I finished this novel in one sitting. I started it saying I'd only read 50 pages before going to bed and the next thing I knew I only had 50 pages left to go. I devoured it in 4 hours which is not normal for me. Please if you haven't checked this one out, please do. If you haven't read Elizabeth Scott go now and do it! Amazing read, 5 stars.

Rating: 5/5 stars
happy reading!

Between by Jessica Warman

2011-09-04T09:23:00.000-07:00

Title: Between
Author: Jessica Warman
Release Date: August 2, 2011
Publisher: Walker
Pages: 447 pages
Links: amazon/goodreads/ website
Source: publisher for review

Summary: Elizabeth Valchar—pretty, popular, and perfect—wakes up the morning after her eighteenth birthday party on her family’s yacht, where she’d been celebrating with her six closest friends. A persistent thumping noise has roused her. When she goes to investigate, what she finds will change everything she thought she knew about her life, her friends, and what lies in between. As Liz begins to unravel the circumstances surrounding her birthday night, she will find that no one around her, least of all Liz herself, was perfect—or innocent. Critically acclaimed author Jessica Warman brings readers along on a roller-coaster ride of a mystery, one that is also a heartbreaking character study, a touching romance, and ultimately a hopeful tale of redemption, love, and letting go. (summary from website)

My Thoughts: This was my first Jessica Warman book and to be honest I was a bit hesitant because the premise sounded very similar to other novels I'd read: dead girl stuck in between heaven and earth having unfinished buisness. However to my suprise this novel was so much more.

Somehow I was interested from the first paragraph. I needed to know what would happen to Liz and I needed to know it now. Warman did a great job a reeling the reader in and making suspense out of any situation which was a good thing. I cannot remember the last time a book made my heart race and have my mouth hanging wide open. Literally. I am a fan of Law and Order, CSI, etc. So this novel was enjoyable because I felt like I was watching an episode of one of these shows. The plot wasn't very fast paced since this is a rather thick book but that was okay. There was never a time when I was bored with the novel or the characters. I felt like my mind was working out a mystery ever page I read.

Jessica Warman's character were very memorable which is hard to find in YA literature lately. Liz started out very shallow and vain. But I still found her likable because I was waiting for her to develop. By the end of the novel she learned to love and to forgive and ultimately realize that possessions aren't the most important things in the world. Her love for Richie was so strong that I felt it while I was reading. I felt horrible that it didn't get to its full potential because her life was cut short. Alex was the perfect best friend character. It was nice to see him and Liz come together and be friends despite their backgrounds. It was also great to read about shallow characters that deep inside have a heart and their own issues going on.

There is only one thing stopping me from giving this novel a 5 star rating. I guessed who the "killer" was in the first 100 or so pages. This is a thick novel so it was pretty soon that I realized who was guilty of murder. But it was still very enjoyable to read and Warman still threw in a huge twist to the story that I did not see coming which still made the novel fun for me to read.

Overall this was a really good book! One of my favorites of the year. I will definitely be checking out her other novels very, very soon. This book is available now so please go out and buy it! You will not be disappointed.

Rating: 5 stars
Happy Reading!

Winner of Haunting Violet!

2011-07-24T06:09:00.001-07:00

Good morning all! Thanks for everyone who entered the contest and for all the suggestions given by everyone. It's good to know that some people are still here. :]

But anyways as for the winner...*drumroll*

The winner is..... Donnas!

Congrats! I will be sending an email shortly.
Keep a look out for the next giveaway coming soon.

Happy Reading

Bitter End by Jennifer Brown

2011-07-23T08:30:00.000-07:00

Title: Bitter End
Author: Jennifer Brown
Release Date: May 10, 2011
Publisher: Little Brown Books for Young Readers
Pages: 359
Links: amazon/ goodreads/ website
Source: Library

Summary:
When Alex falls for the charming new boy at school, Cole, a handsome, funny, sports star who adores her, she can't believe she's finally found her soul mate - someone who truly understands her and loves her for who she really is.
At first, Alex is blissfully happy. Sure, Cole seems a little jealous of her relationship with her best friends, Zack and Bethany, but what guy would want his girlfriend spending all of her time with another boy? But as the months pass, Alex can no longer ignore Cole's small put-downs, pinches, or increasingly violent threats. As Alex struggles to come to terms with the sweet boyfriend she fell in love with and the boyfriend whose "love" she no longer recognizes, she is forced to choose - between her "true love" and herself.

My Thoughts:

I am a big fan of Jennifer Brown's writing so when I saw her new novel had finally hit the shelves of my library I snatched it up right away. I was curious how she would handle an abusive relationship: if it would be realistic or fall short and seem staged. Thankfully she nailed it just like I knew she would. Jennifer Brown delivered a novel full of raw emotion laced with fear and pain which honestly had me hooked. It was was scary to see how a beautiful girl with so much support from friends and others around her could still fall because of love. That's what made the novel real to me that Brown that this could truly happen to anybody.

I think the characters really made up the novel and filled it with the love and emotion that took it over the top. Alex's boss, Georgia, was the perfect character. She shined through as the mother figure Alex never had. I looved her and felt her pain as she watched Alex but could do nothing about the issues until Alex came to her. If I had to sum up Zack and Bethany in one word it would be hilarious. These characters showed the "free" side of Alex and everytime she was with them you still felt hope for her to get out of the situation. They cared so much for Alex and you could see that they're emotions were true and they would stop at nothing to help her.

I could see how Jennifer Brown made Cole sweet and loveable in the beginning but I just could not fall for him or feel any type of sympathy. It wasn't because of the way he was written it was because I knew what he would become, that he would end up hurting Alex. Jennifer Brown did an AMAZING job at starting with little hints of abuse she built up to it perfectly making it feel natural not forced. I kept having to throw the book down because I felt for Alex and it was too much for me that she didn't see the truth behind Cole. I was terrified by the end of the novel and the reading experience for me was just perfect.

Please, please, pleeeeeease pick this up now. It could be the one thing that saves you or someone you know. Not only that but it's a great read!

Rating: 4.5 out of 5 stars
Happy Reading!

Interview with Jennifer Brown

2011-07-23T05:40:00.000-07:00

Today I am super excited to welcome Jennifer Brown back a second time on the blog for an interview! This time she is here to talk about her new novel, Bitter End, which talks about a teenage girl going through an abusive relationship. The novel is amazing and a review will be up later today. So let's get started!

Q: I think it's great that you decided to shed light on the horrors of domestic violence. What was your inspiration for writing a novel about abusive relationships?

A: Actually, it was my former editor, T.S. Ferguson's, idea to write a book about teen dating violence. I had just finished Hate List and was looking for the topic for my next novel, and he asked if I'd be willing to try this one out. Of course, I was excited about the project, because I think teen dating violence is an important topic, and it fit well with the types of stories that I write.

Q: Did you want your readers to fall in love with Cole like Alex did? Or did you want your reader to be an outsider looking in?

A: I think when it comes to domestic violence, a lot of people are full of tough talk without really knowing what it's like to be in an abusive situation. There really is so much complexity to it and it's easy to say, "I would just get out," or, "I would never let someone hit me," but the truth is you never know exactly what you would or wouldn't do when your heart is involved. So, yeah it was important to me for readers to see the romantic, sweet and wonderful side of Cole as well, and maybe fall in love with him just a little bit. Because then, hopefully, Alex's actions and reactions made a little more sense. She was in love because he had a real loveable side. And it's hard to leave someone you love, even when you know you should.

Q: What do you hope your readers, especially young girls, take from reading Bitter End?

A: Well, anyways, first and foremost I hope they enjoy the story. Reading should be about entertainment and I always hope to succeed there. But if a reader were to see herself (or himself; abuse is not always male or female) in the story and it were to inspire her to leave her bad situation, that would be a very good thing as well. I hope that readers clearly hear the message that love shouldn't hurt, it shouldn't leave bruises, and it shouldn't make you feel bad about yourself. If it is doing those things, then it isn't love, it isn't healthy, and you need to get out.

Q: Are there any other novels in the works? Please say yes!

A: Yes! In fact, I'm just finishing up copyedits on my third novel, which is called Perfect Escape, and is about a girl who runs away with her older brother in an attempt to "cure him" of his OCD. It will come out next summer.

Q: Give a shoutout, comments, anything!

A: Thank you so much for hosting me this was fun!

Thanks again Jennifer for participating it was great to have you back on the blog! Please check out both of her books, Hate List and Bitter End, which are available in stores now.

Happy Reading!

Haunting Violet ~ Review and Giveaway!

2011-07-01T08:59:00.000-07:00

Title: Haunting Violet
Author: Alyxandra Harvey
Release Date: June 21, 2011
Pages: 352 pages
Publisher: Walker Childrens
Links: amazon/ goodreads/ website
Source: from publisher for blog tour

Watch book trailer HERE.
Watch an interview with Alyx HERE.

Summary:

Violet Willoughby doesn't believe in ghosts. But they believe in her. After spending years participating in her mother's elaborate ruse as a fraudulent medium, Violet is about as skeptical as they come in all matters supernatural. Now that she is being visited by a persistent ghost, one who suffered a violent death, Violet can no longer ignore her unique ability. She must figure out what this ghost is trying to communicate, and quickly because the killer is still on the loose.
Afraid of ruining her chance to escape her mother's scheming through an advantageous marriage, Violet must keep her ability secret. The only person who can help her is Colin, a friend she's known since childhood, and whom she has grown to love. He understands the true Violet, but helping her on this path means they might never be together. Can Violet find a way to help this ghost without ruining her own chance at a future free of lies? (summary from goodreads)

My thoughts:
I've never read a novel by Alyxandra Harvey so I was not sure on what to expect. I thought the premise was interesting and I really enjoyed that the novel was set in England in the late 1800s. Unfortunately, I felt something was missing in the beginning and it was a bit too slow for me. I felt no emotional connection towards any of the characters, it was just a book I was reading and that's it. However, I could feel that these characters were strong and they were going to fight to solve the mystery no matter what. Violet was strong just for dealing with her horrible mother who was abusive at times. Her and Cal's connection was strong but that is the only emotion
I felt in the first half of the novel. If I were to rate the first half of the novel I would give it 2 stars.

But the second half of the novel blew me away! There was suspense, action, and thrill. I finished the last half of the book in one sitting because I couldn't put it down. I found myself so captivated by the direction of the story. As well as Harvey throwing in something that I did not see coming. I love when an author can surprise me. Also, somehow at the end of the novel Violet became a real and relatable character.

One thing that Alyxandra Harvey did well throughout the novel was describe setting and events. Whenever Rowena's ghost would appear the descriptions left me with chills. I felt as if I could perfectly picture Lord Jasper's manor in my head. This is an important element to a novel that Harvey delivered very well.

Overall I would definitely give this book a try. The ending is very well worth it. Harvey showed that she could write about something other than vampires and do it very well. I'm going to be picking up her Drake Cronicles series very soon. Check this one out it's on bookshelves now!

Rating: 3.5/5 stars
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Want to win the ARC of Haunting Violet??

Rules:
* Leave a comment with your email address
* +1 for linkage to this contest
* +1 for suggestions on how to revive this blog from the dead!

Contest ends July 22nd
U.S. residents only

Happy Reading!

IMM ~ March 27th

2011-03-27T14:25:00.000-07:00

In My Mailbox is hosted by Kristi of The Story Siren and was inspired by Alea of Pop Culture Junkie. Haven't done one in a while so I thought I would share the books I got.

For Review:

* Blood and Flowers by Penny Blubaugh

* Instructions for a Broken Heart by Kim Culbertson

Library:

*Falling Under by Gwen Hayes

*Chime by Franny Billingsley

*Wither by Lauren DeStefano

*Haven by Kristi Cook

*The Iron Thron by Caitlin Kittredge

Happy Reading!

What did you get in your Mailbox?

Mad Love by Suzanne Selfors

2011-03-24T15:33:00.000-07:00

Title: Mad Love

Author: Suzanne Selfors

Release Date: January 4, 2011

Pages: 336

Publisher: Walker Books for Young Readers

Links: amazon/ goodreads/ website

Source: received for review

Watch the book trailer HERE.

Summary:

When you're the daughter of the bestselling Queen of Romance, life should be pretty good. But 16-year-old Alice Amorous has been living a lie ever since her mother was secretly hospitalized for mental illness. After putting on a brave front for months, time is running out. The next book is overdue, and the Queen can't write it. Alice needs a story for her mother - and she needs one fast.

That's when she meets Errol, a strange boy who claims to be Cupid, who insists that Alice write about the greatest love story in history: his tragic relationship with Psyche. As Alice begins to hear Errol's voice in her head and see things she can't explain, she must face the truth - that she's either inherited her mother's madness, or Errol is really the god of love.

Summary from goodreads

My Thoughts:

If you remember I reviewed another one of Selfors' novels, Coffeehouse Angel, when it was first released and loved it. It was no different with Mad Love. Suzanne Selfors' novels are so unique and original. It was refreshing to read paranormal and not realize I was reading it. The plot was interesting and the characters were hilarious. I could see this novel being made into the next chick flick and being a great hit.

What really made this novel was the characters and how they seemed to come to life and jump off the pages. Our main character, Alice, was so entertaining! She was quirky, stubborn, and the dialogue she had inside her own head was hilarious! The only problem I had with her was that she would not accept Errol's help! Her stubborness annoyed me to no end because she needed a story and one was riht under her nose. Other than that she was the perfect narrator. I understand Errol is supposed to be attractive because he is cupid but I couldn't help but find him so creepy. I'm sad I couldn't picture him as being attractive. But I had no problem find Tony to be a cutie. I love his character and how he was referred to as "Skateboard Guy" for a good portion of the book. The characters were really fun and bumped this novel up for me.

The plot was good and it progressed at a nice even pace. I never found myself bored. In fact, I couldn't turn the pages fast enough at some point. The ending kept me to the edge of myseat while having the cute stuff a romance novel should. This novel is romance but with some paranormal so that you don't feel suffocated by it.

Overall please pick this one up even though Valentine's Day as passed. Reading this will put you right back in that lovey dovey mood. Suzanne Selfors is a truly talented author who I will be watching even closer now for more wonderful reads. Pick this one up if you're in the mood for a light, fun read.

Rating: 4.5/5 stars

Happy Reading

New Year...New Blog?

2011-03-24T15:28:00.001-07:00

I understand this is probably the 100th time I've claimed I'll re-start blogging but I will really try this time. To prove it here's a sort of re-introduction.

My name is Lizzie and I am a 17 year old high school student who has a love for reading. I started this blog two and a half years ago to express my love for YA. I could not expect the love and support to come from the blogging community. Hopefully you all haven't left me yet!

Expect a BUNCH of review to come sooon!

Happy Reading

Winner of Low Red Moon!

2010-12-30T19:48:00.000-08:00

Yes I know the winner was supposed to be announced months ago but it's here now!
The winner issssss.....

Donnas!

Congrats and thanks to all who entered...there is still time to win bookmarks so checkout the sidebar for that contest.
Also please don't forget to challenge me for 2011! Post is below

Happy Reading

2011 Challenges? / Feedback

2010-12-29T20:29:00.000-08:00

Many of my fellow bloggers have been posting about what challenges they are doing for the year 2011. I thought I would be a little different and have YOU challenge ME.
Crazy right? I have no idea what I've gotten myself into.

Possible options:
How many books I read
What kind of books: genre, author, etc..

Please keep it in Ya since this is a YA book blog.
Please leave challenges before the New Year!

Also! Leave comments with suggestions on things you want to see posted next year. more reviews? more interviews? more contests? more memes?
All comments are highly appreciated!

Happy Reading

Clockwork Angel by Cassandra Clare

2010-12-28T15:45:00.000-08:00

Title: Clockwork Angel
Author: Cassandra Clare
Release Date: August 31, 2010
Pages: 479 pages
Publisher: McElderry, Simon and Schuster
Links: amazon/ goodreads/ website
Source: purchased

Watch the Clockwork Angel trailer HERE.

Summary: When sixteen-year-old Tessa Gray crosses the ocean to find her brother, her destination is England, the time is the reign of Queen Victoria, and something terrifying is waiting for her in London's Downworld, where vampires, warlocks, and other supernatural folk stalk the gas lit streets.Only the Shadowhunters, warriors dedicated to ridding the world of demons, keep order amidst the chaos.
Kidnapped by the mysterious Dark Sisters, members of a secret organization called the Pandemonium Club, Tessa soon learns that she herself is a Downworlder with a rare ability: the power to transform, at will, into another person. What's more, the Magister, the shadowy figure who runs the Club, will stop at nothing to claim Tessa's power for his own.
Friendless and hunted, Tessa takes refuge with the Shadowhunters of the London Institute, who swear to find her brother if she will use her power to help them. She soon finds herself fascinated by -and torn between- two best friends: James whose fragile beauty hides a deadly secret, and blue-eyed Will, whose caustic wit and violate moods keeps everyone at arms length...everyone that is, but Tessa. As their search draws them deep into the heart of an arcane plot that threatens to destroy the Shadowhunters, Tessa realizes that she may need to choose between saving her brother and helping her new friends save the world...and that love may be the most dangerous magic of all [inside flap]

My Thoughts: In Clockwork Angel, Cassandra Clare brings back the world we know and love from The Mortal Instrument series except it takes place 200 years before then. We are introduced to a character, Tessa Gray, who is on her way from New York to London where she will be joining her brother. The catch is: her brother has gone missing and she is abducted by the Dark Sisters who train her to use her power of transforming. This may sound similar to The Mortal Instruments Series but as it continues on it becomes a series all on its own that is a true piece of art.

I connected with Tessa right from the beginning because she is a book lover as I am. She is also very educated and is not afraid to ask questions. Also she did not believe in Downworlders and Shadowhunters right away which was a pleasant surprise. Most females in YA are told that vampire exist and they treat it as if they knew it all along. I also found Tessa to be very strong and confident. I grew very found of all the people in the Institute except for one. He is the one reason I will not say that this series is better than The Mortal Instruments. Will. He is the biggest jerk I have read about in my life. Will is cocky and rude and just every negative adjective you can give to a person. At first I was comparing him to Jace but as the novel progressed he made Jace look like a saint. Sure I can take some bad moods and acting like an ass just a bit but that was ridiculous. No wonder half the house hated him.

One thing I praise Cassandra Clare for is creating these horrific clockwork monsters. They were completely terrifying and descripted so well. I got perfect images in my head of these creatures an got chills every time they came around. One big thing I would like to mention was that i have never been so shocked in my life by an ending. The last 100 pages I had to put the book down because I was sitting there saying to myself, "Did that really just happen??? I had no idea that was coming!" I have not been so surprised in years but a novel! And it wasn't just once but about four times! What a fantastic reading experience!

If you loved Clare's first series stop reading this review and go get Clockwork Angel, NOW!

Rating: 5/5 Stars ~ Flawless
Happy Holidays and Happy Reading!

Merry Christmas/ Two Year Blogoversary! (Contest)

2010-12-25T08:02:00.000-08:00

Merry Christmas everyone! Have a safe and blessed holiday! Thank you to all my followers and for sticking around through my absence. Let's have a fun year in 2011!

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Since it's my two year blogoversary, I have something little for you guys to say thank you for your support. I have nine (9) bookmarks which are signed by Angela Morrison, author of Sing Me to Sleep and the Taken By Storm series. So if you're interested please leave a comment with your email address and for plus one tell me what you got for Christmas ! =]

Contest ends Jan 1st, 2011

Happy Reading and Happy Holidays!

Fire by Kristin Cashore

2010-12-24T06:16:00.000-08:00

Title: Fire
Author: Kristin Cashore
Release Date: October 5, 2009
Publisher: Dial
Pages: 461 pages, US hardcover
Links: amazon/ goodreads/ website
Source: Publisher for an honest review

To see a trailer for Fire click here.

Summary: It is not a peaceful time in the Dells. Young King Nash clings to the throne, while rebel lords, in the north and south, build armies to unsear him. War is coming. The mountains and forests are filled with spies and thieves. This is where Fire lives, a girl whose startling appearance is impossibly irresistible and who can control the minds of everyone around her. Everyone...except Prince Brigan.

My Thoughts:
Fire is a companion novel to Cashore's first novel, Graceling, which I adored if you've seen my review. So finally being able to get around to Fire was something I was highly anticipating. I had very high expectations for Fire and they were definitely met. Cashore's writing has captured me once again and taken me for a fun ride.

In the world Cashore created, there are little to no Graces yet which took me a while to get used to. Our main character, Fire, is the last Monster to be in human form. All the other monsters are in the shape of animals. This concept took a long time to establish itself in my head. I would be reading and all of a sudden be confused because the term was not properly explained in my opinion. Due to that, it took me a while to get through the beginning. But once I understood, this book was absolutely amazing.

I loved Fire as a character. She was independent, stubborn, and incredibly strong. Yes others have called her promiscuous due to casual sex with her best friend, a man who loves her but she will never love, but I think it makes her character. It's who Fire is: no serious emotions for anyone. As I said before independent. Speaking of the other characters, I honestly loved them all. They each held a place in my heart and really added another level to this book. Archer was such a sweet guy with a big heart. After a while I saw him as Fire did, a best friend and a brother. Now onto Prince Brigan, I have so much love for this character! Every time he was mentioned in the book I felt my heart swoon! He was sweet yet arrogant, funny yet serious. As well as his daughter being the cutest little girl everrrr.

So the concept of the novel was very original, as Kristin Cashore always is. The world she created was very easy to get into. Unlike in some fantasy books where the world is so far fetched that there is no way you get into it. The characters were portrayed very well and by the end of the book I felt as if I was Fire and I felt everything she felt. My only issue was a little confusion at the start but this is a great read to give as a gift this holiday season!

Rating: 4.5/5 stars
Happy Holidays!

Back From the Dead

2010-12-24T06:05:00.001-08:00

Hello everyone. If you're reading this thank you for sticking around while I was MIA. The honest truth is taking college classes during HS is very time consuming and the amount of books I've read lately is pathetic compared to my usual amount. But since this is my vacation I'm sure I'll have time to get back into it. So I apologize to everyone for not being here.

Good news is I have a year worth of books to review due to the fact that I fell behind in February *shame*. I'm going to try to past mulitple reviews a day. As well as many updates and end of the year posts. Also anyone who has won a contest I did not forget about you. This next check from work will go to sending your prizes out. Also the meme I was thinking of starting is titled Survery Saturday (original I know) and it'l be up and running on Saturday!

Also! My two year blogoversary is tomorrow! Any ideas about anything you want me to do?? Leave comments.

Happy Reading and Happy Holidays!

Low Red Moon by Ivy Devlin and contest!

2010-09-22T15:50:00.000-07:00

Title: Low Red Moon

Author: Ivy Devlin

Release Date:September 14, 2010

Publisher: Bloomsbury

Pages:196

Links: amazon/goodreads

Source: publisher for blog tour

Summary: Avery Hood is reeling from the loss of her parents - and the fact that she can't remember what happened to them even though she was there.

She's struggling to adjust to life without them, and to living with her grandmother, when she meets Ben, who isn't like any other guy she's ever met before. It turns out there's a reason why, and Ben's secret may hold the key to Avery finding out what happened to her parents...

But what if that secret changes everything she knows about- and feels for- Ben?

My Thoughts:

I had heard sime mixed review on this book: some loved it and some hated it. So I was pretty open minded when starting it. The descrption sounded amazing and by the first three chapters I was completely captivated by the setting and characters that Devlin created. But unfortunatly my love for this book stopped after those first three chapters.

First let's start with the positives because this book was not in any way terrible. I enjoyed the suspense of the novel and all the elements it had. But that was just too many for this very tiny book. I personally think that everything could have been resolved in about 400 pages, not less than 200. Avery's character was a good character; just not when Ben was around. As you can see the positives have a bunch of negatives attatched. The one thing that did make me gasp was the ending. Now that was epic.

Now onto the negatives. One part that aggrivated me happens in the woods with Ben and Avery. It goes as follows: "How old are you?" "Seventeen" "For how long?" Does that not sound familiar to some people??? I was sitting there with my mouth wide open saying "Oh why Ivy??" Avery just turns to jello whenever Ben comes along which I found annoying. Also, problems were resolved in a very rushed manner which I did not like.

Now there will be some of you who will fall in love with Avery and Ben. Some of you will be thirsty for more. That was not me though. I just wished the story had so much more. I felt the potential from Ivy. I recommend you take this one from the library or win a free ARC from The Book Obsession! Scroll down for more info.

Rating: 2 out of 5 stars

Happy Reading

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Win an ARC of Low Red Moon!

How??

OMFG!

2010-09-08T20:58:00.001-07:00

I just got three books from my library and The Extraordinary Secrets of April, May, and June by Robin Benway happens to be one of them. So it currently being 12 am, I'm just flipping through the pages when I find THIS!:

Yes! That is me, myself, and I quoted with a blurb from my Audrey, Wait! review. I am beyond freaking out right now!! It means alot that after me being so busy and neglecting my blog that I'm still somehow recognized. Thanks so so much to whoever is responsible! So go out and get a copy of both books by the amazing Robin Benway! =]

New Meme? Help!

2010-08-02T17:54:00.000-07:00

Hey everyone! So I got some great ideas from this website which lists some book quizzes and meme ideas. So I thought every Monday that I would do book quizzes/surveys to help you get to know me a little more. You all will be free to post your personal answers in the comments or on your own websites/blogs. But I don't have a name for it so I need your help! Pleaseee. Also if this is already occurring on another blog please let me know so I can give them credit.
This first survey is about Reading Habits.

Q: Do you snack while you read? If so, favorite reading snack?
A: I personally don't snack when I read. I'm not a fan of getting my book dirty so no food around my books please! xD

Q: What is your favorite drink while reading?
A: Hot Chocolate all the way. Perfect for those chilly nights when all you want to do is curl up with a good book.

Q: Do you tend to mark your books as you read, or does the idea of writing in books horrify you?
A: No no no no! I would never write in my books. The idea of it gives me a heart attack haha

Q: How do you keep your place while reading a book? Bookmark? Dog-ear? Laying the book open flat?
A: I am a firm believer in bookmarks. Seeing books that have been dog-eared breaks my heart. I guess you can say I have a bit of OCD with my books.

Q: Fiction, Non-fiction, or Both?
A: Fiction, please! =]

Q: Are you a person who tends to read to the end of a chapter, or you can stop anywhere?
A: Hmm. If the book is interesting I read until the chapter is over but if I'm bored and have to stop then I can stop anywhere. But I feel better if I finish the chapter first so I can start with a fresh idea.

Q: Are you a person to throw a book across the room or on the floor if it irritates you
A: Nope I just stare at it like "WTF??" xD

Q: If you come across an unfamiliar word, do you stop and look it up right away?
A: I should but I don't. I use my context clues so I end up still not knowing what the heck the word is.

Q: What are you currently reading:
A: Fallen by Lauren Kate, The Color of Water by James McBride, and I'm about to start Perfect Chemistry

Q: What is the last book you bought?
A: Prophecy of the Days which I bought for my boyfriend.

Q: Are you a person that reads one book at a time , or can you read more than one?
A: I prefer one book but I'm able to read more than one when I need to.

Q: Do you have a favorite time/place to read?
A: I enjoy reading in the wee hours of the morning, it's very relaxing

Q: Do you prefer series or stand alone titles?
A: I get so connected to characters that I need a series.

Q: Is there a specific book or author that you find yourself recommending over and over?
A: Sarah Dessen, she's beyond amazing.

Q: How do you organize your books? By genre, title, author's last name, etc?
A: I keep the genre's together and they are all alphabetized

Happy Reading!

IMM ~ August 2nd

2010-08-02T10:00:00.000-07:00

Hi everyone! Wow I've been gone for a while but I'm working on changing that =]. IMM is hosted by Kristi of The Story Siren and inspired by Alea of Pop Culture Junkie. This is a wrap up of books since my last IMM post. **Sorry for the wierd annoying spacing, not sure how to fix that. =p For Review:
* Passing Strange by Daniel Waters

*Love Sucks! by Melissa Francis

* The Death (and Further Adventures) of Silas Winterbottom by Stephen M. Giles

*Songs for a Teenage Nomad by Kim Culbertson ~ This looks so good!

Purchased:

*Midnight Alley (Bk 3) by Rachel Caine~ I love this series!

*Gimmerglass by Jenna Black~ Faeries = Love!

*Vampire Academy by Richelle Mead ~ Can't wait to re-read and continue the series

*Prophecy of the Sisters by Michelle Zink~ This book looks great, heard nothing but good things

*The Summer I Turned Pretty by Jenny Han ~ Eeek! Wanna read this now!

Library:
* Perfect Chemistry by Simone Elkeles ~ Wanna read noooow, starting soon
* 13 Little Blue Envelopes by Maureen Johnson ~ Looks good
* Reincarnation by Suzanne Weyn ~ YAYYY!
* You Are So Undead To Me by Stacey Jay
* Generation Dead by Daniel Waters
* Revelation by Kate Brian

Happy Reading!

Stolen by Lucy Christopher

2010-08-02T07:20:00.000-07:00

Title: Stolen
Author: Lucy Christopher
Release Date: May 1, 2010
Publisher: The Chicken House
Pages: 299 pages
Links: amazon/goodreads/website
Source: borrowed from the library

Click HERE to see a trailer for this book and HERE to see an interview with Lucy Christopher.

Summary (from Goodreads):
Gemma, 16, is on layover at Bangkok Airport, en route with her parents to a vacation in Vietnam. She steps away for just a second, to get a cup of coffee. Ty -- rugged, tan, too old, oddly familiar--pays for Gemma's drink. And drugs it. They talk. Their hands touch. And before Gemma knows what's happening, Ty takes her. Steals her away. The unknowing object of a long obsession, Gemma has been kidnapped by her stalker and brought to the desolate Australian Outback. STOLEN is her gripping story of survival, of how she has to come to terms with her living nigtmare--or die trying to fight it.

My Thoughts:
My thoughts on this book can be summed up in one word: WOW! This review is so difficult for me to write because I was truly speechless. To get to the point this novel is outstanding, the characters are outstanding, Lucy Christopher is outstanding. If you haven't read this please please do. I won't say that it changed my life because that's being dramatic but it stayed with me and made me think after I finished.

Stolen tells the story of Gemma who was kidnapped in a Bangkok airport and taken to Australia. This is told in a second person perspective which I thought was very different and really made the story more creepy. The hair on the back of my neck stood up and I had goosebumps more than once while reading. Lucy Christopher writes in such a way that you see everything Gemma is seeing and you feel everything Gemma is feeling.

Gemma was a great main character. She was smart and strong which is the ideal main character in YA Fiction. Even though there was really no hope left for her she didn't stop trying to get back home. Ty was a creep at first but while reading there is a bit of background on him so you kind of understand why he did what he did. But not that that's okay because when you understand you also see that he's more insane than you thought he was. But that is a perfect example of how this book gets to you, you go through a roller coaster of emotions.

Overall, this book is great and if you haven't read it please go do so right now! This book will take you on a great ride and wont let go until you're finished. I cannot wait to read more from Lucy Christopher.

Rating: 5/5 stars
happy reading!

Wicked Girls by Stephanie Hemphill

2010-07-09T10:38:00.000-07:00

Title: Wicked Girls: A Novel of the Salem Witch Trials

Author: Stephanie Hemphill

Release Date: June 29, 2010

Publisher: Balzer + Bray

Pages: 416 pages

Links: amazon/goodreads/website

Source: received for review

Summary: What started out as girls' games became a witch hunt. Wicked Girls is a fictionalized account of the Salem witch trials told from the perspectives of three of the real young women living in Salem 1692.

Ann Putman Jr. plays the queen bee. When her father suggests that a spate of illnesses within the village is the result of witchcraft, Ann graps her opportunity. She puts in motion a chain of events that will change the lives of people around her forever.

Mercy Lewis, the beautiful servant in Ann's house, inspires adulation in some and envy in others. With a troubled past, she seizes her only chance at safety.

Margaret Walcott, Ann's cousin, is desperately in love and consumed with fiery jealousy. She is torn between staying loyal to her friends and persuing the life she dreams of with her betrothed.

With her accusations mounting daily against the men and women of the community, the girls will have to decide: Is it too late to tell the truth?

My Thoughts:

When I first got this book I was so so excited because I love the Salem Witch Trials and books in verse. This novel blew me away from the start. I found myself so into the novel that I became sick and disgusted with the girls' actions. I have never connected with a book like this before.

I really enjoyed the characters even though they were so evil and mean.

I felt a real connection with this novel and it really made me think. I couldn't put it down...until..I got to the middle. Then it became a bit repetitive and kinda the same thing over and over.

But I did love the dramam between Mercy and Margaret. It really made the story interesting.

The ending was great and I love how you were informed about the real people and were able to make connections. Overall this was a great read and I recommend you pick it up and give it a try

Rating: 4 out of 5 stars

Happy Reading!

Great Alyx Harvey Contest!

2010-07-01T15:15:00.000-07:00

I was sent an awesome email from Bloomsbury Publishing about this unique contest so the email can explain better then I can so here it is:

To get the word out about Alyx Harvey, author of Hearts at Stake and the upcoming Blood Feud (Book 2-June 22nd) and Out For Blood (Book 3-December 2010), we are creating a "Get to Know Alyx Harvey" video. In the video, Alyx will give a tour of her haunted farmhouse and maybe answer a question from YOU!

What you need to do: Submit a question for Alyx Harvey along with your name and hometown.

Why?: If your question is chosen, it will be answered by Alyx in the video and your name and hometown will appear as well! Look for the video after September 1st on www.thedrakecronicles.com to see if you are a winner! PLUS everyone who enters a question will recieve an exclusive sneak peak of Out for Blood!

So please enter questions. You have the entire weekend. Good Luck!
Happy Reading

IMM~June 29th

2010-06-29T06:52:00.000-07:00

In My Mailbox is hosted by Kristi of The Story Siren and inspired by Alea of Pop Culture Junkie. To visit these wonderful blogs just check out the sidebar. **All summaries from Goodreads.

Review:

*Grace by Elizabeth Scott~ Grace was raised to be an Angel, a herald of death by suicide bomb. But she refuses to die for the cause, and now Grace us on the run, daring to dream of freedom. In search of a border she may never reach, she travels among malevolent soldiers on a decrepit train crawling through the desert. Accompanied by the mysterious Kerr, Grace struggles to be invisible, but the fear of discovery looms large as she recalls the history and events that delivered her uncertain fate. Told in spare, powerful porse by acclaimed author Elizabeth Scott, this tale of a dystopian near future will haunt readers long after they've reached the final page.

Bought:

*Radiant Shadows by Melissa Marr~ Half-human and half-faery, Ani is driven by her hungers. Those same appetites also attract powerful enemies and uncertain allies, including Devlin. He was created as an assassin and is brother to the faeries' cooly logucal High Queen and to her chaotic twin, the embodiment of War. Devlin wants to keep Ani safe from his sisters, knowing that if he fails, he will be the instrument of Ani's death. Ani isn't one to be guarded while others fight battles for her, though. She has the courage to protect herself and the ability to alter Devlin's plans - and his life. The two are drawn together, each with reason to fear the other and to fear for one another. But as they grew closer, a larger threat imperils the whole of Faerie. Will saving the faerie realm mean losing each other?

Library:

*The Last Knight by Hilari Bell

*The Upper Class by Hobson, Taylor Materne, and Caroline Says

*The A-List by Zoey Dean

*Hex Hall by Rachel Hawkins

* The Devouring by Simon Holt

*Stolen by Lucy Christopher

HAPPY READING!

Once Was Lost by Sara Zarr

2010-06-15T13:49:00.000-07:00

Title: Once Was Lost

Author: Sara Zarr

Release Date: October 1, 2009

Publisher: Little Brown Book for Young Readers

Pages: 224 pages

Links: amazon/goodreads/website

Source: received for review

To see the story behind Once Was Lost click HERE.

Summary:

As a pastor's kid, it's hard not to buy into the idea of the perfect family, a loving God, and amazing Grace. But lately, Sam has a lot of reasons to doubt. Her mother lands in rehab after a DUI, and her father seems more interested in his congregation than his family. When a young girl in her small town goes missing, the local tragedy overlaps with Sam's personal one, and the already worn thread of faith holding her together begins to unravel.

My Thoughts:

I am a big, big fan of Sara Zarr's writing and even though Once Was Lost did not surpass my love for Sweethearts, it came pretty damn close. Zarr takes the commonly used plot line of abduction and puts a twist to it that makes it seem like nothing you've ever read before as she did with her previous novels. There is no fear for throwing you raw emotion and I like that. I get so frustrated when books only show little bits of emotion when the main character should be a mess. I love how Sam was real.

I have never read a book with religion as a big theme so this was different for me. The struggle that Sam has with her faith I can relate to. I love it when I can make a connection with a character in a story that I should have nothing to relate to. Sam's faith is tested when her mother lands herself in rehab and then when a girl she knows it abducted right off the street. It is so painful to feel and read her struggle.

Sara Zarr tells this story in a day by day format and I think it was refreshing and really added that extra punch to the novel. If you haven't read Once Was Lost please do because it was really an outstanding, emotional novel. And if you have yet to read Sara Zarr's work...stop now and go buy one of her novels. She shows signs of an early Sarah Dessen so I hope that she writes more! Overall an amazing novel that everyone should read.

Rating: 5/5 stars

Happy Reading!

Shiver by Maggie Stiefvater

2010-06-13T13:16:00.000-07:00

Title: Shiver

Author: Maggie Stiefvater

Release Date: August 1, 2009

Publisher: Scholastic Press

Pages: 400 pages

Links: Amazon/ BarnesandNoble/ Website

Source: Purchased

To view an awesome book trailer click HERE.

Summary:

For years, Grace has watched the wolves behind her house. One yellow-eyed wolf - her wolf- is a chilling presence she can't live without. Meanwhile, Sam has lived two lives: In the winter, the frozen woods, the protection of the pack, and the silent of a fearless girl. In summer, a few precious months of being human...until the cold makes him shift back again.

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

My Thoughts:

The first thing I read from Maggie Stiefvater was Lament and I immediately fell in love with her writing style. So I knew that wouldn't be an issue with that. From the very first page I was sucked into the world of Mercy Falls that Stiefvater had created. I love, love werewolves and this is the best werewolf book I've read by far. There was great action and even the background characters were strong.

Shiver had a great plot and setting. I was never bored with the story and found it impossible to put down. I hope you guys can see how hard I'm trying not to be a major fangirl because I just LOVED this book. I mean the style was beautiful and by the end I was as in love with Sam as Grace was. Also just a side note the names Sam and Grace just make an adorable sounding couple don't you think? hehe.

Anyways if you haven't read Shiver already, please please do and if you haven't bought it finish reading and then go go go! This is a great addition to have to your shelves and it's so gorgeous. I cannot wait for Linger and will be first in line to buy it at my local bookstore.

Rating: 5/5 stars!

happy reading!

Upcoming Review: CSN Bookshelf

2010-06-10T10:51:00.000-07:00

I'm so so excited to say that I have been offered a gift card to CSN Stores. I was given the option of picking out anything from their over 200 stores online. Which offer everything from track lighting to bookshelves to office supplies! I'm deciding between a cute room accessory or this awesome bookshelf:

I think I'm going for that though. So please click the links and check out this amazing site! Review coming up soon

Happy Reading!

In My Mailbox - June 6th

2010-06-06T09:30:00.000-07:00

IMM is hosted by Kristi of The Story Siren and inspired by Alea of Pop Culture Junkie. To check out this awesome blogs go over to the sidebar. This week's IMM is just a big jumble of books I've gotten over the last few weeks. *All summaries from Goodreads.

Review:

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

*Gigged by Heath Gibson ~ This one looks really interesting and is a different read for me but I'm excited to try it out.

*Deception by Lee Nichols~ When Emma Valie's parents leave on a mysterious business trip, it gives her the perfect excuse to be a rebellious teen. Throw some parties, get a tattoo (or maybe just a piercing), and enjoy the first few weeks of her junior year. Then her best friend stops talking to her, the cops crash her party, and Emma finds herself in the hands of a new guardian - her college-age "knight in J.Crew armor," Bennett Stern - and on a plane to his museum-like mansion in New England. After enrolling at Thatcher Academy, Emma settles in making friends with the popular legacy crowd. But she can't shake the strange visions that are haunting her. She has memories of Thatcher that she can't explain, as if she's returning home to a place she's never been. Emma doesn't trust anyone anymore - except maybe Bennett. But he's about to reveal a ghostly secret to Emma. One that will explain the visions...and make Emma fear for her life.

*Touch by Francine Prose~ Something happened to fourteen-year-old Maisie Willard- something involving her three friends, all boys. But their stories don't match, and the rumors spin out of control. Then other people get involved...the school, the parents, the lawyers. The incident at the back of the bus becomes the center of Maisie's life and the talk of the school and, horribly, it becomes news. With just a few words and a touch, the kids and their community are changed forever.

Bought:

*The Short Second Life of Bree Tanner by Stephenie Meyer ~ Fans of the Twilight Saga will be enthralled by this riveting story of Bree Tanner, a character first introduced in Eclipse, and the darkerside of a newbornvampire world she inhabits. In another irresistible combination of danger, mystery, and romance, Stephenie Meyer tells the devestating story of Bree and the newborn army as they prepare to close in on Bella Swan and the Cullens, following their encounter to its unforgettable conclusion.

*The Demon's Lexicon by Sarah Rees Brennan~ Sooooo excited for this one. I read the first few pages in the bookstore and am hooked. I'll be rushing through my required reading to read it!

Happy Reading!

A New Dawn edited by Ellen Hopkins

2010-06-04T12:32:00.000-07:00

Title: A New Dawn

Edited by: Ellen Hopkins

Release Date: October 20, 2009

Publisher: Smart Pop

Pages: 200 pages
Links: Amazon/Goodreads

Source: Publisher for review

Summary:

Fans of the literary phenomenon known as the Twilight series can't help wanting more. A New Dawn gives it to them, inviting readers to join some of their favorite YA authors as they look at the series with fresh eyes and fall in love with Edward, Bella, and the rest of Forks all over again.

My Thoughts:

Despite all the screaming fangirls and the fact that Twilight is everywhere you look I am a big fan of the series so when I got the opportunity to review this I was very excited. It was great to see what other authors saw in the Twilight Series and how they took it. Yes I admit some of the essays were boring but others I was completely enthralled. I think this is a great addition to have on your shelf next to your Twilight collection.

If you're interested in the process of breaking apart a story and comparing and looking for hidden meanings and things of that nature then this is the book for you. But please only buy if you are a big, big Twilight fan because it really isn't for somebody who just thinks the series is okay. Even though not all the essays are positive there is one that bashes Edward Cullen so fangirls beware. But for me, this was a great addition to my collection.

Rating: 3 out of 5 stars

Happy Reading!

Contest: Blog Tour for The Turning

2010-05-23T18:35:00.000-07:00

Hello everyone! This is up so late because I've been super busy along with pretty much having the worst week of my life. But anywho, today I have a contest for The Turning: What Curiosity Kills by Helen Ellis. This is a really fun and unique read.

To Enter:

Please comment with your name and an email address so I can contact you.

Contest ends: June 1st

Good Luck and Happy Reading!

Winner of Something Like Fate

2010-05-19T14:09:00.000-07:00

Thank you to everyone who entered. The winner was determind by random.org and she is...

*drumroll*

Kelsey of The Door to Wonderland!

Congrats~! I have contacted you. If you did not win don't worry I have many, many contest coming up and I want to use the forms that you fill out. Does anyone know how? Leave a comment. Thanks!

Happy Reading!

Something Like Fate by Susane Colasanti

2010-05-19T13:12:00.000-07:00

Title: Something Like Fate
Author: Susane Colasanti
Release Date: May 4, 2010
Publisher: Viking Juvenille
Pages: 288 pages
Links: amazon/ goodreads/ website
Source: for review
To see an interview with Susane Colasanti click HERE.

Summary:
Lani and Erin are bonded for life. One thing that connects them is their fascination of fate. Lani wonders how much of our lives has already been decided and how much we can actually influence. Since the Unknown can unexpectedly change our lives forever, how much can we really control?
From the minute Lani meets Jason, she can't deny the intense connection they share. It feels like she's known him forever. She's not sure if he feels it too. But it doesn't matter. Because Jason is Erin's boyfriend. Lani is determined to ignore her feelings for Jason, no matter how poweful they are, rather than risk hurting her best friend. How long can Lani keep running from the boy that might be her destiny?

My Thoughts:
For some odd reason every one of Susane Colasanti's releases match with how my life is going when I read them. Her previous release, Waiting For You, left me crying like a little baby because I could relate so much. I could relate to Something Like Fate somewhat but thankfully not completely. Susane is truly such a talented writer and her characters are so three dimensional. I felt Erin's pain and Lani's shame and confusion. Of course I must mention how mouth watering Jason is. *drool* He's the perfect guy and I found myself giggling at his sweet moments. The way that Susane Colasanti made Lani and Jason react to each other, their connection, it was like nothing I'd ever read before. I literally had chills.

Yes there have been a number of similiar books in the YA world but Something Like Fate stands on it's own. Colasanti did not make her ending sugar coated. She showed the reality of how evil people can truly be and how they act when angry. And also how people react to pressure. I was hoping that Susane would take this deep and she didn't let me down. She is a beyong talented author that I hope is nowhere near done writing novels because I am now a devoted fan.

Please, please, please go out right now and get this book. It's great for a re-read and it teaches you about life and how things don't always go the right way but maybe it's supposed to happen. Maybe it'll make you stronger.

Rating: 4.8/5 stars
Happy Reading!

In My Mailbox - May 19th - Late

2010-05-17T14:21:00.000-07:00

In My Mailbox is memed by Kristi of The Story Siren and inspired by Alea of Pop Culture Junkie. These lovely ladies have great blogs that you can check out in the sidebar.

Library:

*Sucks To Be Me by Kimberly Pauley~
I already read this one and it was a really cute read that I highly enjoyed.
*The Stolen One by Suzanne Crowley~
The Stolen One looks really interesting and I'm excited to read it.
*Bewitching Season by Marissa Doyle~
I'm probably one of the few that hasn't read this series and my library recently got them.
*Finnkin of the Rock by Melina Marchetta~
I've heard nothing but good things about this author so I can't wait to read this one.
*The Dark Devine by Bree Despain~
Every single review I've seen of this book has told me to get it now!..so I did =p
*The Karma Club by Jessica Brody~
This looks like a really fun read.
*The Seven Rays by Jessica Bendinger~
I have seen not so good review of this one but I wanted to see for myslf.

Happy Reading!

Jekel Loves Hyde - Beth Fantasky

2010-05-16T06:08:00.000-07:00

Title: Jekel Loves Hyde

Author: Beth Fantasky

Release Date: May 3, 2010

Publisher: Harcourt Children's Books

Pages: 288 pages

Links: Amazon/ Goodreads/ Website

Source: Recieved for review

Summary:

Jill Jekel has always obeyed her parent's rules - especially the one about never opening the mysterious, old box in her father's office. But when her dad is murdered, and her college savings dissapear, she's tempted to peek inside, as the contents might be key to a lucrative chemistry scholarship.

To better her odds, Jill enlists in the help of gorgeous, brooding Tristen Hyde, who has his own dark secrets locked away. As the team of Jekel and Hyde, the recreate experiments based on the classic novel, hoping not only to win a prize, but to save Tristen's sanity. Maybe even his life. But Jill's accidental taste of a formual unleashes her darkest nature and compels her to risk everything -even Tristen's love- just for the thrill of being...bad.

My Thoughts:
I was very excited to read Jekel Loves Hyde because I've heard great things about Fantasky's debut novel. I wasn't really sure what to expect since this book had a very, very unique plot. I enjoyed it overall and found it to be a really good read. The beginning really caught my interest and I found the characters to be entertaining. But then from the point to the climax point of the plot I found the book slow and did not agree with the characters at all. It got so bad that I almost gave up. But reading later on, I understood why the characters had their personalities and acted the way they did. I just wish I didn't have that period of the book to force myself to get into.

After the climax the book was AMAZING. There was so much action and suspense that I couldn't stand to put the book down. This was a weeknd were I was cramming for an AP exam and I had a hard time focusing on my studying because I wanted to read so badly.

As I said, overall this was a good read. The first half of the novel got a 2 from me and the end got a five. So this averages out to 3.5 stars. I'm excited to read more from Beth Fantasky. Jekel Loves Hyde is out now and worth the read. So go out to your local bookstore and check it out!

Rating:3.5/5 stars
happy reading!

In My Mailbox - May 9th

2010-05-09T07:11:00.000-07:00

In My Mailbox is memed by Kristi of The Story Siren and inspired by Alea of Pop Culture Junkie.

This is a collection of three weeks worth of books. I'm still trying to catch up so what would you guys think of mini reviews? Let me know in the comments. Anyways, back to IMM!

For Review:

* Forget You by Jennifer Echols ~ There's a lot Zoey would like to forget. Like how her father has knocked up his twenty-four year old girlfriend. Like Zoey's fear that the whole town will find out about her mom's nervous breakdown. Like darky handsome bad boy Doug taunting her at school. With her life about to become a complete mess, Zoey fights back the only way she knows how, using her famous attention to detail to make sure she's the perfect daughter, the perfect student, and the perfect girlfriend to ultra-popular football player Brandon.

But then Zoey is in a car crash, and the next day there is one thing she can't remember at all - the entire night before. Did she go parking with Brandon, like she planned? And if so, why does it seem like Brandon is avoiding her? And why is Doug - of all people - suddenly acting as if something significant happened between the two of them? Zoey dimly remembers Doug pulling her from the wreck, but he keeps referring to what happened that night as if it was more, and it terrifies Zoey to admit how much is a blank to her. Controlled, meticulous Zoey is quickly losing her grip on the all-important details of her life- a life that seems strangely empty of Brandon, and strangely full of Doug.

* Still Sucks To Be Me by Kimberly Pauley~ With vampire boyfriend George and best friend Serena by her side, Mina thought she had her whole life -or afterlife- ahead of her. But then Mina's parents drop a bomb. They're moving. To Louisiana. And not somewhere cool, like New Orleans, but some teeny, tiny town where cheerleaders and jocks rule the school. Mina has to fake her death, change her name, and leave everything behind, including George and Serena. Not even the Vampire Council's shape-shifting classes can cheer her up. Then Serena shows up on Mina's doorstep with some news that sends Mina reeling. Mina may look a lot better with fangs, but her afterlife isn't any less complicated!

From The Library:

*The Clearing by Heather Davis

* Ambition by Kate Brian

*Perfect by Sara Shepard

Happy Reading!

Night by Elie Wisel

2010-05-07T19:11:00.000-07:00

Title: Night

Author: Elie Wiesel

Release Date: January 16, 2006 (Revised Edition)

Publisher: Hill and Wang

Pages: 120

Links: Amazon/Goodreads

Source: Read for School

Summary:

A terrifying account of the Nazi death camp horror that turns a young Jewish boy into an agonized witness to the death of his family...the death of his innocence...and the death of his God. Penetrating and powerful, as personal as The Diary of Anne Frank, Night awakens the shocking memory of evil at its absolute and carries with it the unforgettable message that this horror must never be allowed to happen again.

My Thoughts:

This memoir takes itself on an entirely different level from the books I've reviewed on this blog before. Unlike those that are works of fiction this is real and a person actually suffered this pain and suffering. This truly changed my life and the way I look at things. The past books that I've read for school I just read and put aside and forgot about them. This one will be with me forever and I know I'll read it again.

This memoir terrified me and I think that was Wisel's intention. He wanted the whole world to know the truth about what him and millions of other innocent Jewish people endured. I finished this in one night and was crying throughout the last half of the book. Please read this novel if you haven't already. It is amazing and you'll be so happy you experienced it.

Rating: 5/5 stars

Happy Reading!

Glass Houses by Rachel Caine

2010-05-07T17:52:00.000-07:00

Title: Glass Houses

Author: Rachel Caine

Release Date: October 3, 2006

Publisher: NAL Jam

Pages: 256

Links: Amazon/Goodreads/Website

Source: Purchased

Summary:

From the author of the popular Weather Warden series comes the debut of an exciting new series set in Morganville, Texas, where you would be well advised to avoid being out after dark.

College freshman Claire Danvers has had enough of her nightmarish dorm situation. When Claire heads off-campus, the imposing old house where she finds a room may not be much better. Her new roommates don't know many signs of life, but they'll have Claire's back when the town's deepest secrets come crawling out, hungry for fresh blood.

My Thoughts:

At first I thought that Glass Houses would be the same as every other vampire series out there but it was actually unique and had a nice twist to it. I love the writing style of Rachel Caine and really found myself involved in the plot and with the characters. But there is one thing that I have to warn you guys about. I hated the first chapter. So much that I put the book down for six months. BUT please please keep going. It gets so amazing in chapter two. Like a completely different book. Even though the first chapter was needed for the rest of the novel, I didn't like it.

I connected so much with the characters in the novel and felt as if I was reading a novel written by me because I related so much to Claire. I was so jealous of her roommates because I wanted them for myself. This story had suspense, romance, and sexy vampires. What else could you ask for? Oh, and in this series vampires are bad and need to be avoided at all costs. It's good to get back to the original kind of vampires.

The only problem I had with Glass Houses was the first chapter. The rest was so, so great. The end has this huge cliffhanger, most likely the biggest one I've ever read. To be kept intersted and literally hungry for more was an excellent reading experience. If you haven't already read this series now!

Rating: 4.5/5 stars

happy reading!

Something Like Fate Contest!

2010-05-04T20:06:00.000-07:00

Susane Colasanti's newest novel, Something Like Fate, was released today. I just recently read it and LOVED it. The review is coming up soon but I somehow got an extra ARC of it so I wanted to share it with all of you!

So what is this books about?

Lani and Erin are bonded for life. One thing that connects them is their fascination of fate. Lani wonders how much of our lives has already been decided and how much we can actually influence. Since the Unknown can unexpectedly change our lives forever, how much can we really control?

From the minute Lani meets Jason, she can't deny the intense connection they share. It feels like she's known him forever. She's not sure if he feels it too. But it doesn't matter. Because Jason is Erin's boyfriend. Lani is determind to ignore her feelings for Jason, no matter how powerful they are, rather than risk hurting her best friend. How long can Lani keep running from the boy who might be her destiny?

To Enter:

*Please leave a comment with your email address included. US residents only, sorry. =[

Extra Entries:

+1 Follower (old or new)

+1 if you post about this contest somewhere and tell me about it. (links please)

+1 make a suggestion on how I can improve The Book Obsession

Ends: May 16th at midnight. Good Luck!

Happy Reading!

Poetry Speaks Who I Am

2010-05-02T12:50:00.000-07:00

Title: Poetry Speaks Who I am
Editor(s): Elise Pashen; Dominique Raccah
Release Date: March 1, 2010
Publisher: Sourcebooks Jabberwocky
Pages: 176
Links: Amazon/ Goodreads/ Website
Source: By publisher for review

Summary:
Poetry Speaks Who I Am is filled with more than 100 remarkable poems about you, who you are, and who you are becoming. Dive-in find the poem you love, the one that makes you angry, the one that makes you laugh, the one that knocks the wind out of you, and become a part of Poetry Speaks Who I Am by adding your own inside the book.

My Thoughts:
I've always had a love for poetry so when I was asked to review a poetry book I jumped at the offer. It's a bit difficult to review poetry books because they're all so unique and speak to different types of people. But as an overall these poems were great. They deal with all situations and have some classic poets along with modren ones. They all tell their stories and when I'm having a bad day or even good one, I find myself flipping through to find myself a poem that relates to my day. If a book can keep you that interested that you flip through to it often then it's a good book. I'm happy that some of my favorite poems and poets were included in this collection (Edgar Allen Poe, Shakespeare, and more). So please pick up this collection. You won't regret it. It gets 4.5 stars from me and it's a great addition to anyone's bookshelf.

Happy Reading!

100+ Reading Challenge: March and April 2010

2010-05-02T10:09:00.000-07:00

Since I had no internet I couldn't give a wrap up of March but that left alot of reading time. I'm happy about the number I'm at but still have to pick up the pace a bit. Look for all of these reviews soon!

Books Read in March 2010:

14. Night by Elie Wisel pages: 115

15. A New Dawn by Ellen Hopkins pages: 186

16. Beautiful Dead: Jonas pages: 279

17. Glass by Ellen Hopkins (#2) pages: 681

18. Some Girls Are by Courtney Summers pages: 246

19. Before I Fall by Lauren Oliver pages: 470

20. Tangled by Carloyn Mackler pages: 308

21. Anxious Hearts by Tucker Shaw pages: 242

Total Number of Books: 8

Total Number of Books in 2010: 21

Total Number of Pages: 2,527

Total Number of Pages in 2010: 6,022

Books Read in April 2010:

22. Rumors by Anna Godbersen (#2) pages: 423

23. Pretty Dead by Francesca Lia Block pages: 195

24. Gone by Lisa McMann (#3) pages: 214

25. Legacy by Kate Brain (#6) pages: 243

26. The Tear Collector by Patrick Jones pages: 263

27. Flawless by Sara Shepard (#2) pages: 330

Total Number of Books: 6

Total Number of Books in 2010: 27

Total Number of Pages: 1,668

Total Number of Pages in 2010: 7,690

Happy Reading!

Winners of Demigods and Monsters!

2010-04-29T12:44:00.000-07:00

Yes I know this ended a loong time ago. But here are the winners *drumroll*....

I Heart Monster

and

Natasha!!!

Congrats to you both. I will be emailing the winners shortly for your info.

New contest coming soon, Happy Reading!

I'm back!

2010-04-26T12:07:00.000-07:00

Hey everyone! So I wont sit here apologizing forever but basically my internet was down for a while and now it leaves me with about 20 reviews to post and a bunch of contest info. So I will be trying my hardest to bring The Book Obsession back to life. Any reviews
I've missed will be made up ASAP. Glad to be back and Happy Reading!

The Naughty List by Suzanne Young

2010-03-30T12:08:00.000-07:00

Title: The Naughty List
Author: Suzanne Young
Release Date: February 4, 2010
Publisher: Razorbill
Pages: 272 pages
Links: Amazon/ Goodreads/ Website
Source: 1 ARC Tours

Get The Naughty List Tee HERE.

Summary: As if being a purrfect cheerleader isn’t enough responsibility! Tessa Crimson’s the sweet and spunky leader of the SOS (Society of Smitten Kittens), a cheer squad–turned–spy society dedicated to bringing dastardly boyfriends to justice, one cheater at a time. Boyfriend-busting wouldn’t be so bad . . . except that so far, every suspect on the Naughty List has been proven 100% guilty!
When Tessa’s own boyfriend shows up on the List, she turns her sleuthing skills on him. Is Aiden just as naughty as all the rest, or will Tessa’s sneaky ways end in catastrophe?
The Naughty List. Is your boyfriend on it?

My Thoughts:
I give Suzanne Young praise for being so original with her plot and characters but that’s about as far as I will go. I’ve heard amazing things about this book so I guess I had really high expectations for it. And in the first 60 pages I really, really liked it but then it went downhill from there.

I felt that the characters were a bit immature and the book was too fluffy for me if that makes sense. If this is your type of book then I highly recommend you give it a try. I saw the potential it had to be a great book but it just wasn’t for me.

The one thing about this book that made me put this book down several times was the message it sent out to its readers. To me, this novel was screaming out all men are cheaters! Now this isn’t always the case and I really didn’t like how men were portrayed. Some guys are really great and I think that should be show-cased as well. I would say give this one a chance but get it from the library first.

Rating: 2/5 stars
Happy Reading!

The Body Finder by Kimberly Derting

2010-03-29T13:50:00.000-07:00

Title: The Body Finder
Author: Kimberly Derting
Release Date: March 16, 2010
Publisher: HarperCollins
Pages: 336
Links: Amazon/ Goodreads/ Website
Source: 1 ARC Tours
View the book trailer HERE.

Summary: Violet Ambrose is grappling with two major issues: Jay Heaton and her morbid secret ability. While the sixteen-year-old is confused by her new feelings for her best friend since childhood, she is more disturbed by her "power" to sense dead bodies—or at least those that have been murdered. Since she was a little girl, she has felt the echoes the dead leave behind in the world . . . and the imprints that attach to their killers.
Violet has never considered her strange talent to be a gift; it mostly just led her to find dead birds her cat left for her. But now that a serial killer is terrorizing her small town, and the echoes of the local girls he's claimed haunt her daily, Violet realizes she might be the only person who can stop him.
Despite his fierce protectiveness over her, Jay reluctantly agrees to help Violet find the murderer—and Violet is unnerved by her hope that Jay's intentions are much more than friendly. But even as she's falling intensely in love, Violet is getting closer and closer to discovering a killer . . . and becoming his prey herself.

My Thoughts:
The Body Finder wasn’t like anything I’ve read before. It was dark, eerie, and mysterious with the perfect touch of romance. I believe that the setting is a crucial part of a novel and the setting of The Body Finder was perfect. The woods by Violet’s house and the small town really gave mental images that helped me get into the story quickly.
Violet’s character was strong and I really felt as if she could be one of my close friends. Her gift was very unique and it was nice to having something original for a change. Now onto Jay, he honestly gives Edward Cullen a run for his money. He is sweet, loving, and caring. He is every girl’s dream and then some. Jay is tied at number one of my favorite swoon-worthy guys. Also, being inside the serial killer’s mind was haunting and added fear to the novel. I got the chills whenever those parts came and was checking out my windows to see if I was being watched. Yes, it made me extremely paranoid.
The ending of The Body Finder was amazing. It left me hanging on the edge of my seat and gasping every five seconds. I was glued to that book until the very end. This book is out now so go out and get it. This is Kimberly Derting’s debut novel and it is a darn good one. I cannot wait for more. So go support!

Rating: 5/5 stars
Happy Reading!

In My Mailbox (11, 12, 13)

2010-03-28T10:43:00.000-07:00

In My Mailbox was started by Kristi of The Story Siren and Alea of Pop Culture Junkie.

For Review:

*Little Vampire Women by Louisa May Alcott and Lynn Messina~ The March sisters are back, sweeter and more loving than ever. But they’ve grown up since you last read their tale. That’s right—they live on as vampires. Readers will be agog and aghast at the hilarity of the sisters’ transformation—especially now that they have (much) longer lives and (much) more ravenous appetites. This uproarious retelling of a timeless American classic will leave teens craving the bloodthirsty drama on each and every page.

*Read, Remember, Recommend for Teens created by Rachelle Rogers Knight~ Perfect for teens who love to read and those who need a companion for school assignments or summer reading programs, Read, Remember, Recommend for Teens offers more than 2400 award-winning and notable reading suggestions in many genres, cross-referenced to help parents and teens chose the right books for them. This unique journal sold out its first print run, attracting readers with recommended lists for fiction, manga, historical fiction, romance, westerns, crime novels, and poetry, as well as nonfiction sections focusing on biography/ autobiography. College-bound readers will find a section to help guide their reading selections. The journal also provides room to record books read, jot down thoughts and ideas, and keep track of recommendations, books to read next, and works by favorite authors.

* A second copy of Something Like Fate by Susane Colasanti. Look for something fun with this!

Purchased:

*Anxious Hearts by Tucker Shaw~ “Evangeline,” he repeated, calling at a whisper. “Evangeline.” He was not calling that she may hear, he was calling that somehow her soul might know that he was devoted entirely to her, only to her. “Evangeline, I will find you.” Eva and Gabe explore the golden forest of their seaside Maine town, unknowingly tracing the footsteps of two teens, Evangeline and Gabriel, who once lived in the idyllic wooded village of Acadia more than one hundred years ago. On the day that Evangeline and Gabriel were be wed, their village was attacked and the two were separated. And now in the present, Gabe has mysteriously disappeared from Eva.
A dreamlike, loose retelling of Henry Wadsworth Longfellow’s famous love poem “Evangeline,” Anxious Hearts tells an epic tale of unrequited love and the hope that true love can be reunited.

Happy Reading!

Win Demigods and Monsters!

2010-03-13T09:24:00.000-08:00

Contest Time, again! This time you will have the opportunity of winning a copy of Demigods and Monsters which is edited by Rick Riordan. It is an anthology of essays on his Percy Jackson Series.

There will be two (2) winners because I have two copies. To enter just leave a comment below with your email address and answer this question: Who or what is your favorite monster or favorite type of monster?

Good Luck and Happy Reading!

Beautiful Dead: Jonas by Eden Maguire

2010-03-13T06:46:00.000-08:00

Title: Beautiful Dead Book 1: Jonas
Author: Eden Maguire
Release Date: March 1, 2010
Publisher: Sourcebooks Fire
Pages: 288
Links: Amazon/ Goodreads/ Website
Received: Publisher for book tour
Read an excerpt from Chapter 1 here.

Summary:
Not alive. Not dead. Somewhere in between lie the Beautiful Dead.
Something strange is happening at Ellerton High. Phoenix is the fourth teenager to die within a year. His street-fight stabbing follows the deaths of Jonas, Summer, and Arizona in equally strange and sudden circumstances. Rumors of ghosts and strange happenings rip through the small community as it comes to terms with shock and loss.
Darina, Phoenix's grief-stricken girlfriend, is on the verge. She can't escape her intense heartache or the impossible apparitions of those that are meant to be dead. And all the while the sound of beating wings echoes inside her head...
And then one day Phoenix appears to Darina. He tells her that she must help Jonas-the first of the four to die-right the wrong linked to his death. Only with her help can Jonas finally rest in peace. Will love conquer death? And if it does, can Darina set it free?

My Thoughts:
Beautiful Dead tells the story of Darina who has just lost her boyfriend, Phoenix. He is the last of four teenagers to die in the past year. This seems a little odd to Darina until she drives out to the woods one day and sees all her peers she thought to be dead, looking very much alive. Unfortunately, that is all I can give away without spoiling the novel. The only thing I can say is that Darina now has to help each of them solve the mystery of their death before it’s too late. Sounds awesome right?

First, let’s start off with my thoughts on the characters. I really, really loved Darina’s character and felt she was very relatable. She is such a strong person and when she wants something, she never gives up until she gets it. Her love for Phoenix is what hit home the most for me. To have so much love for someone that you would risk your own life for them and the emotions that go along with it are just beautiful. Some people found their relationship cheesy and overdramatic but I found it sweet and something I want very much. The other Beautiful Dead members were really great people except for Arizona, but you always have to have at least one mean person you just have to hate.

The plot of this book was highly original, to me at least. I haven’t read anything quite like this book. It was refreshing and I was hooked right from the beginning. The book was fast paced right from the beginning, got a little slow in the middle, and sped up again at the end. Usually this would highly annoy me, but it somehow worked in this novel. As you all know, I love books with a little hint of mystery. In Beautiful Dead: Jonas, there was the constant mystery of who was responsible for the death of Jonas and it was really fun trying to figure it out along with Darina.

I really love Eden Maguire’s writing and this is the great start to a great series! Please go pick up this book because it’s just that good. I cannot wait for the release of the next installment. 5 stars!

Rating: 5/5 stars
Happy Reading!

The Unwritten Rule by Elizabeth Scott

2010-03-07T12:00:00.001-08:00

Title: The Unwritten Rule
Author: Elizabeth Scott
Release Date: March 16, 2010
Publisher: Simon Pulse
Pages: 224
Links: Amazon/ Goodreads/ Website
Received: From author for book tour

Summary: Everyone knows the unwritten rule: You don't like you best friend's boyfriend. Sarah has had a crush on Ryan for years. He's easy to talk to, super smart, and totally gets her. Lately it even seems like he's paying extra attention to her. Everything would be perfect except for two things: Ryan is Brianna's boyfriend, and Brianna is Sarah's best friend. Sarah forces herself to avoid Ryan and tries to convince herself not to like him. She feels so guilty for wanting him, and the last thing she wants is to hurt her best friend. But when she's thrown together with Ryan one night, something happens. It's wonderful...and awful. Sarah is torn apart by guilt, but what she feels is nothing short of addiction, and she can't stop herself from wanting more...

My Thoughts:
I’ve highly enjoyed the Elizabeth Scott books that I’ve read. This one looks lighter than the other ones but that doesn’t mean it’s not a great book. Just from the summary you can tell that this novel is like the anthem for every teenage girl out there. You have a secret crush on a guy and then your prettier best friend snatches him up and now you’re stuck being the third wheel. I’ve been through it and I’m sure a lot of other people have. Sarah is such a relatable character and I think a lot of teenage girls and even older women will connect with her and feel her longing for Ryan. Ryan of course is the sweetest guy even that makes me drool and say “Awe” every five seconds.
The novel was really good, but there were some things that I did not like about it. First, I could not stand Brianna’s character. Maybe it’s because she’s the best friend we felt betrayed by but still loved. I don’t know, I just found her very immature and whiny and very b*tchy at times. I also found the characters two-dimensional at times. I really didn’t appreciate the book until after I read it. So it did leave an imprint with me and I definitely though about it after I finished. But it was just so fast paced that I didn’t experience this while reading. But also thinking about it post-reading made the initial rating I gave a little lower.
I rate this novel a little between 3.5 to 4 stars. I would have really liked to feel everything I felt after I read, while I was reading. I really wished we got a little more into the other characters, not just Sarah. BUT, Elizabeth Scott does an amazing job as really grabbing the voice and conflicts of a teenage girl. I absolutely recommend you read it but I don’t see myself re-reading.

Rating: 3.5-4/5 stars
Happy Reading!

In My Mailbox 10

2010-03-07T10:15:00.000-08:00

In My Mailbox was created by Kristi of The Story Siren and inspired by Alea of Pop Culture Junkie. This week I got some good books that I'm excited about.

1 ARC Tour:

* The Naughty List by Suzanne Young ~ As if being a purrfect cheerleader isn’t enough responsibility! Tessa Crimson’s the sweet and spunky leader of the SOS (Society of Smitten Kittens), a cheer squad–turned–spy society dedicated to bringing dastardly boyfriends to justice, one cheater at a time. Boyfriend-busting wouldn’t be so bad . . . except that so far, every suspect on the Naughty List has been proven 100% guilty! When Tessa’s own boyfriend shows up on the List, she turns her sleuthing skills on him. Is Aiden just as naughty as all the rest, or will Tessa’s sneaky ways end in catastrophe? The Naughty List. Is your boyfriend on it?

Bought:

* Dead Girl's Dance by Rachel Caine ~ Claire Danvers faces more challenges from both college and the undead in thissecond entry in the Morganville Vampires series...I couldn't find a longer summary but I'm super excited for this one!

* Wild Roses by Deb Caletti ~ You would have never recognized the Dino I lived with in the books that had been written about him before the "incident." No one had a clue. No one seemed to see what was coming.
Seventeen-year-old Cassie Morgan has a secret: She's living with a time bomb (a.k.a. her stepfather, Dino Cavalli). To the public, Dino is a world-renowned violinist and composer. To Cassie, he's an erratic, self-centered bully.
Dino has always been difficult, but as he prepares for his comeback concert, something in him begins to shift. He seems more high-strung than ever, set off by any little thing. He stops sleeping, starts chain-smoking. And he grows increasingly paranoid, saying things that Cassie is desperate to make sense of, but can't. So she does what she thinks she must: She tries to hide his behavior from the outside world. Before, she was angry. Now, she is afraid.
Enter Ian Waters: a brilliant young violinist, and Dino's first-ever student. The minute Cassie lays eyes on Ian she knows she's doomed. She tries everything to keep away from him, but is drawn to him in a way she's never felt before. It should be easy. It should be beautiful. It is not. Cassie thought she understood that love could bring pain. But this union will have consequences she could not have imagined.
As the novel crashes through two irreparable events and speeds toward its powerful end, one thing becomes clear: In the world of insanity, nothing is sacred

Happy Reading!

Merlin's Harp by Anne Crompton

2010-03-03T14:15:00.000-08:00

Title: Merlin’s Harp
Author: Anne Eliot Crompton
Release Date (Re-Print): March 1, 2010
Publisher: Sourcebooks Fire
Pages: 256
Links: Amazon/ Goodreads/ Sourcebooks
Source: Publisher for Book Tour
Read an excerpt of Chapter 1 here.

Summary:
Among the towering trees of magical Avalon, where humans dare not tread, lives Niviene, daughter of the Lady of the Lake and apprentice to Merlin the mage. Her people, the Fey, are folk of the wood and avoid the violence and avarice of man. But the strife of King Arthur’s realm threatens even Avalon’s peace, and Merlin needs his apprentice to thwart the chaos devouring Camelot. And so Niviene will use her special talents to help save a kingdom, and discover the treachery of men and the beauty of love.

My Thoughts: According to the summary of Merlin’s Harp, it sounds like a really great novel so I was super excited to start it. It didn’t really look like a genre that I would really read but I thought I’d give it a try and see if I could open up to a new type of writing and try different things. Unfortunately, this book was very odd for me and I felt that I had to push myself through it so I was not able to finish in time of my tour date. I might go back to it and continue where I left off and find that I love it but then beginning did not leave a good impression with me. I’ve done this with other books and found that I loved them so it might happen with this one.

Now I’m not saying is horrible. There were some parts that caught my interest and made me might want to continue. So do I recommend this book? If you like fantasy and the time era it takes place in then sure, try it out. I didn’t enjoy the beginning but you might. I’ll definitely be picking this book up at another time because the summary promises too many good things to not try again.

So if you feel interested then go out and pick up this book! An apology goes out to Sourcebooks.

Happy Reading!

Winners!

2010-03-02T13:32:00.000-08:00

Hey everyone, sorry this took so long but I finally have the winners for the Sing Me To Sleep contest. My boyfriend helped me out with this contest too so a big thanks goes out to him. =]
Here he is:

well hello everyone. thank you all for participating and i wanted to announce the winner.

the winner of the book is!!!
FLO!!!!!!!
congrats to flo! *claps hands* ^-^

Bookmark winners arrrrre:

* Lovely Miss Lucy
* xxsquigglesxx
*Kelsey
*E.J. Stevens
* Cayla
*Dramatistwriter

Congrats to all! I'll be emailing all of your for your personal info so please keep a lookout for that.

well its time for me to go! poopers
anyways just wanted to announce the winners and tell everyone to keep on reading! yeah!
but anyways lizzie cant look at this till i post it so i love you baby

Happy Reading!

100+ Reading Challenge - Feb 2010

2010-03-02T12:39:00.000-08:00

Back again for this last month's wrap up. Last month was my birthday and the last of winter vacation along with a lot of snow storms so that left me SUPER busy. Did not read much last month and I'm not too happy about it.

Books Read in February 2010:

9. The Unwritten Rule by Elizabeth Scott pages: 210
10. The Body Finder by Kimberely Derting pages: 327
11. Sing Me to Sleep by Angela Morrison pages: 301
12. Poetry Speaks Who I am edited by Elise Paschen pages: 136
13. Glass Houses by Rachel Caine (#1) pages: 239

Total Number of Books: 5
Total Number of Books in 2010: 13
Total Number of Pages: 1213
Total Number of Pages in 2010: 3495

Happy Reading!

In My Mailbox 8 and 9

2010-02-28T06:34:00.000-08:00

Since I was busy last week, this post has two weeks worth of books. There's a lot of books so no pictures this week. IMM was started by Kristi of The Story Siren and inspired by Alea of Pop Culture Junkie.

For Review:

*Something Like Fate by Susane Colasanti (!!) ~ Lani and Erin are bonded for life. One thing that connects them is their fascination of fate. Lani wonders how much of our lives has already been decided and how much we can actually influence. Since the Unknown can unexpectedly change our lives forever, how much can we really control? From the minute Lani meets Jason, she can't deny the intense connection they share. It feels like she's known him forever. She's not sure if he feels it, too. But it doesn't matter. Because Jason is Erin's boyfriend. Lani is determined to ignore her feelings for Jason, no matter how powerful they are, rather than risk hurting her best friend. How long can Lani keep running from the boy who might be her destiny?

* A New Dawn edited by Ellen Hopkins ~ *Is Edward a romantic or a (really hot) sociopath? * How is the Twilight series just like one of Shakespeare's tragedies? * Who would you rather date: the guy who thirsts for your blood, or the guy who drinks out of the toilet? You can't read Stephenie Meyer's Twilight series without wanting more- more romance, more suspense, just more of Bella, Edward, Jacob, and the rest of Forks, Washington. You aren't alone. Join some of your favorite writers as they look at the series with fresh eyes, and fall in love with Bella and Edward, and their world, all over again. Find out: * How the literary vampire went from horror show to heartthrob * Other Native American wolf myths, and how the Quileute werewolves compare * What Bella and Edward's romance has to say about free will * Why vampires and werewolves really shouldn't date, and what that has to do with Edward's insistence that Bella go to prom With Essays From... * Robin Brande * Rachel Caine * Cassandra Clare * Rosemary Clement-Moore * Linda Gerber * Cara Lockwood * Megan McCafferty * K. A. Nuzum * James Owen * Janette Rallison * Ellen Steiber * Anne Usru

* Demigods and Monsters edited by Rick Riordan ~ In Demigods and Monsters, YA authors take on Greek gods, monsters and prophecy, to add insight and even more fun to Riordan's page-turner series.
It's fresh, funny essays include:
* The pros and cons of having a god as a parent * Why Dionysus might actually be the best director Camp Half-Blood could have * What it takes to be one of Artemis's Hunters * How to tell a monster when you see one * Why even if we aren't facing manticores and minotaurs, reading myths can still help us deal with the scary things in our own lives * Why so many monsters go into retail--and why they're never selling anything a demigod really wants
The book also includes an introduction by Percy Jackson series author Rick Riordan, that gives further insight into the series and its creation, and a glossary of ancient Greek myth, with plenty of information on the places, monsters, gods and heroes that appear in the series

*Poetry Speaks Who I Am edited by Elise Pachen ~ I cannot find a summary but this is basically an anthology of poetry that pre-teens and teenagers can relate to.

From The Library:

* Don't Die Dragonfly by Linda Joy Singleton~ After getting kicked out of school and sent to live with her grandmother, Sabine Rose is determined to become a "normal" teenage girl. She hides her psychic powers from everyone, even from her grandmother Nona, who also has "the gift." Having a job at the school newspaper and friends like Penny Love, a popular cheerleader, have helped Sabine fit in at her new school. She has even managed to catch the eye of the adorable Josh DeMarco. Yet, Sabine can't seem to get the bossy voice of Opal, her spirit guide, out of her head... or the disturbing images of a girl with a dragonfly tattoo. Suspected of a crime she didn't commit, Sabine must find the strength to defend herself and, later, save a friend from certain danger.

* Leftovers by Laura Wiess~ Blair and Ardith are best friends who have committed an unforgivable act in the name of love and justice. But in order to understand what could drive two young women to such extreme measures, first you'll have to understand why. You'll have to listen as they describe parents who are alternately absent and smothering, classmates who mock and shun anyone different, and young men who are allowed to hurt and dominate without consequence. You will have to learn what it's like to be a teenage girl who locks her bedroom door at night, who has been written off by the adults around her as damaged goods. A girl who has no one to trust except the one person she's forbidden to see. You'll have to understand what it's really like to be forgotten and abandoned in America today.
Are you ready?

* The Boyfriend List by E. Lockhart ~ Ruby Oliver is 15 and has a shrink. She knows it’s unusual, but give her a break—she’s had a rough 10 days. In the past 10 days she:lost her boyfriend (#13 on the list), lost her best friend (Kim), lost all her other friends (Nora, Cricket), did something suspicious with a boy (#10), did something advanced with a boy (#15), had an argument with a boy (#14), drank her first beer (someone handed it to her), got caught by her mom (ag!), had a panic attack (scary),lost a lacrosse game (she’s the goalie), failed a math test (she’ll make it up), hurt Meghan’s feelings (even though they aren’t really friends), became a social outcast (no one to sit with at lunch)and had graffiti written about her in the girls’ bathroom (who knows what was in the boys’!?!). But don’t worry—Ruby lives to tell the tale. And make more lists.

* Rumors by Anna Godbersen ~ After bidding good-bye to New York's brightest star, Elizabeth Holland, rumors continue to fly about her untimely demise.
All eyes are on those closest to the dearly departed: her mischievous sister, Diana, now the family's only hope for redemption; New York's most notorious cad, Henry Schoonmaker, the flame Elizabeth never extinguished; the seductive Penelope Hayes, poised to claim all that her best friend left behind—including Henry; even Elizabeth's scheming former maid, Lina Broud, who discovers that while money matters and breeding counts, gossip is the new currency.
As old friends become rivals, Manhattan's most dazzling socialites find their futures threatened by whispers from the past. In this delicious sequel to The Luxe, nothing is more dangerous than a scandal . . . or more precious than a secret.

* Some Girls Are by Courtney Summers (!!) ~ Climbing to the top of the social ladder is hard--falling from it is even harder. Regina Afton used to be a member of the Fearsome Fivesome, an all-girl clique both feared and revered by the students at Hallowell High... until vicious rumors about her and her best friend's boyfriend start going around. Now Regina's been "frozen out" and her ex-best friends are out for revenge. If Regina was guilty, it would be one thing, but the rumors are far from the terrifying truth and the bullying is getting more intense by the day. She takes solace in the company of Michael Hayden, a misfit with a tragic past who she herself used to bully. Friendship doesn't come easily for these onetime enemies, and as Regina works hard to make amends for her past, she realizes Michael could be more than just a friend... if threats from the Fearsome Foursome don't break them both first.

* Hearts at Stake by Alyxandra Harvey ~ On Solange’s sixteenth birthday, she is going to wake up dead. As if that’s not bad enough, she also has to outwit her seven overprotective older brothers, avoid the politics involved with being the only daughter born to an ancient vampire dynasty, and elude Kieran Black—agent of an anti-vampire league who is searching for his father’s killer and is intent on staking Solange and her entire family.Luckily she has her own secret weapon—her human best friend Lucy—who is willing to defend Solange’s right to a normal life, whether she’s being smothered by her well-intentioned brothers or abducted by a power-hungry queen. Two unlikely alliances are formed in a race to save Solange’s eternal life—Lucy and Solange’s brother Nicholas, and Solange and Kieran Black—in a dual romance that is guaranteed to jump start any romance-lover’s heart. Even fans of the genre who’ve seen it all will find a fresh read with kick-butt characters and family dynamics that ring true for all brothers and sisters—vampire or otherwise.

* Devilish by Maureen Johnson ~ The only thing that makes St. Teresa's Preparatory School for Girls bearable for Jane is her best friend Ally. But when Ally changes into a whole different person literally overnight the fall of their senior year, Jane's suddenly alone—and very confused.
Turns out, Ally has sold her soul in exchange for popularity—to a devil masquerading as a sophomore at St. Teresa's! Now it's up to Jane to put it all on the line to save her friend from this ponytail-wearing, cupcakenibbling demon . . . without losing her own soul in the process.

Happy Reading

Sing Me To Sleep by Angela Morrison

2010-02-20T07:28:00.000-08:00

Title: Sing Me To Sleep

Author: Angela Morrison

Release Date: March 4, 2010

Publisher: Razorbill

Pages: 320

Links: Amazon/ Goodreads/ Book Website

Source: Author

Summary:

Beth has always been “The Beast”—that’s what everyone at school calls her because of her awkward height, facial scars, and thick glasses. Beth’s only friend is geeky, golden-haired Scott. That is, until she’s selected to be her choir’s soprano soloist, and receives the makeover that will change her life forever.
THE LOVE AFFAIR
When Beth’s choir travels to Switzerland, she meets Derek: pale, brooding, totally dreamy. Derek’s untethered passion—for music, and for Beth—leaves her breathless. Because in Derek’s eyes? She’s not The Beast, she’s The Beauty.
THE IMPOSSIBLE CHOICE
When Beth comes home, Scott, her best friend in the world, makes a confession that leaves her completely torn. Should she stand by sweet, steady Scott or follow the dangerous, intense new feelings she has for Derek?
THE HEARTBREAK
The closer Beth gets to Derek, the further away he seems. Then Beth discovers that Derek’s been hiding a dark secret from her …one that could shatter everything.

My Thoughts:

Angela Morrison is now on my favorite author list because this novel just blew me away. I was hooked from page one and didn't want to put it down until I was finished. I was first drawn to it because of the Phantom of The Opera references and the huge influnence that music has on this novel. It is so much more than that though. This novel will eat you up and spit you out. It'll break your heart and frustrate you but you'll be hungry for more because it's just that good. Beth was called a beast by the people at her high school because of her facial scars and big glasses. She was bullied for it and her peers were down right cruel to her. But there is one childhood friend, Scott, who was there for her all the time. But when Beth gets the lead for a song in her choir that sends them off to Switzerland, she gets a makeover that makes her the beauty she always wanted to be. In comes Derek and this is where our story beings. I absolutely loved Beth's character in the beginning and in the end. She's such a real character and I could see myself being friends with her. I loved how you could feel her passion for her music through the pages. Derek of course is the mysterious bad boy with a secret. No, I will not reveal this secret because if you know it then there's no point in reading the book. And I want you to read this cause it's amazing. Anyways, I can just imagine how amazing this guy's voice is. But in the middle of the novel he got very controling and quite scary but it's all explained in the end. Beth and Derek's relationship was perfect in the beginning. Yes, maybe Derek was a little obsessed with her but it was cute. After leaving Switzerland, the roles switched and Beth became the creepy obsessed one. Then it switched back to Derek. This is the only flaw I have with this novel. In the middle both characters go crazy at some point and I turn out liking Scott the best, haha. But everything was played out great and the characters acted how they were supposed to act based on their personalities. The end of this novel is what really turned me to give this book 5 stars. It was beautiful and heartbreaking all at the same time. When I say that I cried, I cried like a baby. I cannot think of other words to describe it other than perfect. Angela Morrison is such a talented author and I will be reading more from her. I highly recommend this book.

Rating: 5/5 stars

Happy Reading

Interview with Angela Morrison

2010-02-20T07:06:00.000-08:00

Angela Morrison is the wonderful author of Taken by Storm and Sing Me To Sleep. She's such a sweet person and was nice enough to stop by and answer some questions.

1. First let's start off getting to know you a little better. What can you tell us about yourself?
I grew up on a wheat farm in Tekoa, Washington where my first novel, TAKEN BY STORM (now out in paperback!) is set. I escaped to BYU--like Leesie longs to do. Got married, had four kids, and wrote when I could. When my youngest son went to first grade, I decided to go to school, too. I enrolled in Vermont College of the Fine Arts. They have a low-residency master of fine arts in writing for children and young adults degree program. Amazing experience. Changed my life. I learned my craft from those brilliant mentors. Without Vermont College, I wouldn't be a published author today.

2. What is your daily routine like?
I'm no good at routines. These days--when I'm busy with PR leading up to SING ME TO SLEEP's launch instead of creating a novel--I start and end my day with emails, website updates, FaceBook posts, standing in line at the post office, and visiting blogs all over the world. I love getting to interact with bloggers and fans, but I'm itching to be writing again.
When I'm in the middle of writing a novel, my work day starts as soon as I wake up. I scribble down whatever is in my head. Hopefully my characters are having a fight, or even better, making up. I take a break to drive my son to school. When I get back home, I turn on music--as romantic as I can find--and take a hot bath, climb right back into bed and try to draft another scene. When the spigot of new dialogue runs dry, I take my handwritten drafts to the computer and type them up--adding sensory details, emotional response, and actions.
Only after I've got my writing goal for the day done--usually five to ten pages or a chapter, scene or poem--do I let myself check email or FaceBook.
I'm a disaster when it comes to multi-tasking. When I work on something, I get totally absorbed. I don't eat. I don't sleep. My children have all become really good cooks!

3. The cover of Sing Me To Sleep is absolutely gorgeous. Are there any stories behind how it came to be?
Thanks, I love it, too. As a reviewer with an advance copy, you know that we started out with a lighter blue background and the highlights (sweater sleeve!) were white. But Razorbill decided to make some changes to the colors when it came time to design the hardcover jacket. I confess I panicked at first. But my editor listened to my concerns about their first re-design, and the designer came up with the smoky gray with pink highlights color scheme.
I got so excited about the pale pink accents. I'm a bit nuts when it comes to pink--I even wrote SING ME TO SLEEP on pale pink paper. I wear pink ballet shoes instead of slippers and just painted my new office in Mesa, AZ a lovely shade of barely pink. And Derek gives Beth a pale, pink rose.

4. I heard that Sing Me To Sleep was inspired by Phantom of the Opera. I am absolutely obsessed with the play and movie. How did you get influenced to use it? I have to give credit to my genius editor. She thought it would make a great marketing hook and help me develop the love triangle. It does add a lot to the story, but Beth took a hold of it and turned the story on it's head. She is no gentle Christine. She abused the "Beauty and the Beast" motif in a similar way.

5. Do you have a playlist for the novel? Any songs you listened to while writing?
You can find my TAKEN BY STORM playlist on my website. I listened to even more songs for SING ME TO SLEEP because I had to write all those lyrics. We had Leona Lewis's CD that we'd bought in London, England on our last trip their before we moved away from Switzerland. I listened to that over and over. And my collection Amabile's CDs--go to http://www.amabile.com/ if you're interested. You can get some of those same CDs now on iTunes! Of course, I had to listen to "Phantom"! But I also studied "Wicked"--those lyrics are pure genius.

6. What's up next? Any new novels in the works?
You are so sweet to ask. This fall I wrote the sequel to TAKEN BY STORM--UNBROKEN CONNECTION. Michael and Leesie are thousands of miles apart. And they don't like it. They won't leave each other alone and wouldn't leave me alone. I'm waiting to hear if Penguin will sign it or not. Ah, the perils of being a writer. I'm starting work on one last Leesie/Michael love story, CAYMAN SUMMER.
I'm also revising two unsold manuscripts. MY ONLY LOVE--a historical coming of age romance that moves from Scotland to Nova Scotia to Pennsylvania's anthracite coal mining country. And, MY ASSASSIN, a time-slip adventure novel that I've decided to turn upside down. I'm adding a Bronte-esque Victorian heroine to the mix. So it's going to be something like Jane Eyre meets the Terminator--but my assassin is no robot.

7. Anything else? Say anything you'd like! =]
Just a tiny little commercial for a worthy cause . . . if you love "Beth's Song," the soundtrack to SING's trailer, please, please, please watch for it on iTunes. Amabile will be releasing it as a single soon. That's their combined young men's and men's choirs backing up Shayna Follington's beautiful vocals. Shayna sings with the Amabile Youth Singers. I know you want to hear the whole song, don't you? Harriet Bushman, my fantastic composer, and I are donating are royalties, so all of the proceeds will go directly to Amabile's 25th Anniversary Fund Raising Campaign in honor of the Matt Quaife Leadership Award.
Thanks so much for having me, Lizzie. I'll drop by throughout the day to chat with your readers.

No, thank you Angela!

Happy Reading.

In My Mailbox 6 & 7

2010-02-15T07:17:00.000-08:00

In My Mailbox was started by Kristi of The Story Siren and inspired by Alea of Pop Culture Junkie. This is a haul from the last two weeks. I'm very excited about all these books.

For Review:

*The House of Tomorrow by Peter Bognanni~Sebastian Prendergast lives in a geodesic dome with his eccentric grandmother, who homeschooled him in the teachings of futurist philosopher R. Buckminster Fuller. But when his grandmother has a stroke, Sebastian is forced to leave the dome and make his own way in town. Jared Whitcomb is a chain-smoking sixteen-year-old heart-transplant recipient who befriends Sebastian, and begins to teach him about all the things he has been missing, including grape soda, girls, and Sid Vicious. They form a punk band called The Rash, and it's clear that the upcoming Methodist Church talent show has never seen the likes of them. Wholly original, The House of Tomorrow is the story of a young man's self-discovery, a dying woman's last wish, and a band of misfits trying desperately to be heard.

*High Before Homeroom by Maya Sloan~Doug is sixteen and lives in Oklahoma. He is in love with a girl named Laurilee, but he’s not cool enough for her. She likes bad boys. So what does he do? He decides to become a crystal meth addict so he can get sent to rehab and come back to win her and live happily ever after.

Book Tours:

*The Unwritten Rule by Elizabeth Scott~Everyone knows the unwritten rule: You don't like your best friend's boyfriend. Sarah has had a crush on Ryan for years. He's easy to talk to, supersmart, and totally gets her. Lately it even seems like he's paying extra attention to her. Everything would be perfect except for two things: Ryan is Brianna's boyfriend, and Brianna is Sarah's best friend. Sarah forces herself to avoid Ryan and tries to convince herself not to like him. She feels so guilty for wanting him, and the last thing she wants is to hurt her best friend. But when she's thrown together with Ryan one night, something happens. It's wonderful...and awful. Sarah is torn apart by guilt, but what she feels is nothing short of addiction, and she can't stop herself from wanting more...

Library:

* Glass by Ellen Hopkins~A sequel to Crank, this harrowing and disturbing look at addiction finds protagonist Kristina Snow thinking she can use drugs yet control the consequences. Now with a baby to care for, she's determined to be the one deciding when and how much, the one calling the shots. But the monster is too strong and, before she knows it, Kristina is back in its grips. She needs the monster to keep going, to face the pressures of day-to-day life. She will do anything for it, including giving up the only thing that makes her truly happy

*The Angel Experiment (Maximum Ride #1) by James Patterson~ In James Patterson's blockbuster series, fourteen-year-old Maximum Ride, better known as Max, knows what it's like to soar above the world. She and all the members of the "flock"--Fang, Iggy, Nudge, Gasman and Angel--are just like ordinary kids--only they have wings and can fly. It may seem like a dream come true to some, but their lives can morph into a living nightmare at any time...like when Angel, the youngest member of the flock, is kidnapped and taken back to the "School" where she and the others were experimented on by a crew of wack jobs. Her friends brave a journey to blazing hot Death Valley, CA, to save Angel, but soon enough, they find themselves in yet another nightmare--this one involving fighting off the half-human, half-wolf "Erasers" in New York City. Whether in the treetops of Central Park or in the bowels of the Manhattan subway system, Max and her adopted family take the ride of their lives. Along the way Max discovers from her old friend and father-figure Jeb--now her betrayed and greatest enemy--that her purpose is save the world--but can she?

Won:

*Wish by Alexandra Bullen~For broken-hearted Olivia Larsen, nothing can change the fact that her twin sister, Violet, is gone... until a mysterious, beautiful gown arrives on her doorstep. The dress doesn't just look magical; it is magical. It has the power to grant her one wish, and the only thing Olivia wants is her sister back. With Violet again by her side, both girls get a second chance at life. And as the sisters soon discover, they have two more dresses-and two more wishes left. But magic can't solve everything, and Olivia is forced to confront her ghosts to learn how to laugh, love, and live again. In a breathtaking debut from Alexandra Bullen, Wish asks the question: If you could have anything, what would you wish for?

Happy Reading!

A Couple of Updates

2010-02-15T07:10:00.000-08:00

Hi everyone! I know it's been a little boring around the blog lately but I do have explanations. This past Thursday was my sixteenth birthday so I was out and about. But since I turned sixteen, my Sweet 16 was on Saturday which means even more running around the entire past week. Andyesterday was Valentine's Day so a day out with my boyfriend. So I haven't had anytime to read or blog but I have no school this week so I'm getting a much needed break but with tons of homework for my AP classes. But I am trying top catch up with everything this week so bear with me.

Also a reminder that my Sing Me To Sleep contest ends on Saturday. I'm reading it right now and it's really good so please dont forget to enter with a chance to win a signed copy or a signed bookmark.

Happy Reading!

The Mark by Jen Nadol

2010-02-10T15:25:00.000-08:00

Title: The Mark
Author: Jen Nadol
Release Date: January 19, 2010
Publisher: Bloomsbury USA
Pages: 240 pages
Links: Amazon/ Borders/ Goodreads
Received: from publisher
View Jen Nadol reading Chapter 1 here.

Summary:
Cassandra Renfield has always seen the mark—a glow around certain people reminiscent of candlelight. But the one time she mentioned it, it was dismissed as a trick of the light. Until the day she watches a man awash in the mark die. After searching her memories, Cassie realizes she can see a person’s imminent death. Not how or where, only when: today. Armed with a vague understanding of the light, Cassie begins to explore her “gift,” seeking those marked for death and probing the line between decision and destiny. Though she’s careful to hide her secret—even from her new philosophy-obsessed boyfriend—with each impending death comes the temptation to test fate. But so many questions remain. How does the mark work? Why is she the only one who sees it? And finally, the most important of all: If you know today is someone’s last, should you tell them?

My Thoughts:
I was very excited to read The Mark because it seemed kinda original and a really great book. So I really liked it and read most of it in one day. I loved the feel it gave off and I could feel that I was Cassie and really into the plot.

I really like Cassie’s character and felt her personality was relatable. I really liked the mystery of the novel and the research it took to find out answers. I really liked that there was a way to change fate and that once she saw the mark there was still hope for that person. The ending isn’t all “happily ever after” like and it was refreshing for a change.

If you’re into fantasy/supernatural type reads then I highly recommend this book. It’s a very light and fast read that you can read in a couple of hours depending on how fast you read. I would say buy it because it’s a great book to have on your shelf. I can’t wait to see more from this author.

Rating: 4/5 stars
Happy Reading!

Possessed by Kate Cann

2010-02-08T07:51:00.000-08:00

Title: Possessed
Author: Kate Cann
Release Date: February 1, 2010
Publisher: Point
Pages: 336
Links: Amazon/ Borders/ Goodreads
Received: from publisher

Summary:
Rayne wants a complete break from her old life, from her possessive boyfriend and the claustrophobia of the inner-city estate she lives on. She lands a live-in job in the wildness of the country, at an ancient manor house called Morton’s Keep, where life is exhilarating, but terrifying too. There’s something sinister going on at the Keep – something to do with its history – but no one will talk to her about it. No one except her new group of friends, that is. They’re alluring and seductive …especially the group leader, the elegant St John. Who can she trust to tell her the truth? She can sense something evil growing – but from where, from who? And how can she keep herself safe from it?

My Thoughts:
The cover and summary of this novel promise a book that is so creepy that you can’t even read it at night without getting spooked. I was really excited about this because I haven’t been creeped out by a book in a while. But however, I didn’t find this novel that creepy. There were some parts that made my heart beat a little faster but that’s about it. It definitely wasn’t what I expected but it was a good story all the same.

I absolutely loved Rayne’s character. I can’t really explain why but I just loved her voice. I was just captivated by the first page. I really liked all the other characters and felt they were really well developed. Now back to the plot and “spooky factor” of the book. I’m not saying that it was a bad story; it was a really good mystery!

So I do recommend this novel but don’t expect to be creeped out supernatural wise. It’s a good mystery thought and really kept me interested. I will definitely be checking out more novels by Kate Cann.

Rating: 4/5 stars

Happy Reading!

Contest Time!

2010-02-03T15:27:00.001-08:00

Yep that's right, more contests! This one is the biggest contest I've ever held with SEVEN winners. Yes you heard right, seven. What is being given away?

One signed copy of Sing Me To Sleep by Angela Morrison aaand six great signed bookmarks. Cool huh?

Contest Ends on Feb. 20th at midnight.

Now if you click here you can see the lovely trailer for the book.

So all you have to do is leave a comment and you're in to win. But all I ask is for an email address. US only please.

Extra Entires:

+2 Post the trailer on your blog.

+2 New/Old Follower

+1 Link to this contest somewhere and link me back to it.

+1 Tell me what your plans are for this Valentine's Day.

Good Luck and Happy Reading!

100+ Reading Challenge--Jan 2010

2010-02-01T14:41:00.000-08:00

Wow, January flew by so fast! I read 8 books this month and think I'm off to a great start. Hopefully I can keep it up for this month *crosses fingers*

Books Read in January 2010:

1. Inner Circle by Kate Brian (#5) pages: 220
2. The Secret Year by Jennifer Hubbard pages:192
3. The Van Alen Legacy by Melissa de la Cruz (#4) pages: 369
4. Stargazer by Claudia Gray (#2) pages: 329
5. All Unquiet Things by Anna Jarzab pages:337
6. Boys, Girls, and Other Hazardous Materials by Rosalind Wiseman pages: 280
7. The Mark by Jen Nadol pages: 228
8. Possessed by Kate Cann pages:327

Total Number of Books: 8
Total Number of Pages: 2,282

Happy Reading!

In My Mailbox (5)

2010-01-31T05:27:00.000-08:00

In My Mailbox was started by Kristi of The Story Siren and Alea of Pop Culture Junkie.

I got alot of great books this week that I am really excited about. So here we go.

For Review:

*Beautiful Dead by Eden Maguire~ Something strange is happening in Ellerton High. Phoenix is the fourth teenager to die within a year. His street fight stabbing follows the deaths of Jonas, Summer and Arizona in equally strange and sudden circumstances. Rumours of ghosts and strange happenings rip through the small community as it comes to terms with shock and loss. Darina, Phoenix's grief-stricken girlfriend, is on the verge. She can't escape her intense heartache, or the impossible apparitions of those that are meant to be dead. And all the while the sound of beating wings echo inside her head...And then one day Phoenix appears to Darina. Ecstatic to be reunited, he tells her about the Beautiful Dead. Souls in limbo, they have been chosen to return to the world to set right a wrong linked to their deaths and bring about justice. Beautiful, superhuman and powerful, they are marked by a 'death mark' -- a small tattoo of angel's wings. Phoenix tells her that the sound of invisible wings beating are the millions of souls in limbo, desperate to return to earth. Darina's mission is clear: she must help Jonas, Summer, Arizona, and impossibly, her beloved Phoenix, right the wrong linked to their deaths to set them free from limbo so that they can finally rest in peace. Will love conquer death? And if it does, can Darina set it free?

*Merlin's Harp by Anne Eliot Crompton~Among the towering trees of magical Avalon, where humans dare not tread, lives Niviene, daughter of the Lady of the Lake and apprentice to Merlin the mage. Her people, the Fey, are folk of the wood and avoid the violence and avarice of man. But the strife of King Arthur's realm threatens even Avalon's peace, and Merlin needs his apprentice to thwart the chaos devouring Camelot. And so Niviene must use her special talents to help save a kingdom and discover the treachery of men and the beauty of love. A mystical love story, now back in print, sure to become a modern teen classic

One ARC Tours:

*The Body Finder by Kimberely Derting~A serial killer on the loose. A girl with a morbid ability. And the boy who would never let anything happen to her. Violet Ambrose can find the dead. Or at least, those who have been murdered. She can sense the echoes they leave behind... and the imprints they leave on their killers. As if that weren't enough to deal with during junior year, she also has a sudden, inexplicable, and consuming crush on her best friend since childhood, Jay Heaton. Now a serial killer has begun terrorizing Violet's small town... and she realizes she might be the only person who can stop him

Bought:

*Dear John by Nicholas Sparks~An angry rebel, John dropped out of school and enlisted in the Army, not knowing what else to do with his life--until he meets the girl of his dreams, Savannah. Their mutual attraction quickly grows into the kind of love that leaves Savannah waiting for John to finish his tour of duty, and John wanting to settle down with the woman who captured his heart. But 9/11 changes everything. John feels it is his duty to re-enlist. And sadly, the long separation finds Savannah falling in love with someone else. "Dear John," the letter read...and with those two words, a heart was broken and two lives were changed forever. Returning home, John must come to grips with the fact that Savannah, now married, is still his true love--and face the hardest decision of his life

Happy Reading!

Boys, Girls, and Other Hazardous Materials by Rosalind Wiseman

2010-01-30T21:22:00.000-08:00

Title: Boys, Girls, and Other Hazardous Materials
Author: Rosalind Wiseman
Release Date: January 12, 2010
Publisher: Putnam Juvenile
Pages: 288 pages
Links: Amazon/ Indiebound/ Goodreads
Received: publisher

Summary:
Looking for a new beginning after a terrible mean girl past, Charlie Healey realizes there’s no escaping high school drama Charlie Healey thinks Harmony Falls is the beginning of a whole new life. Middle school was brutal. But high school is Charlie’s big chance to start over and stay out of drama, except that on her first day she runs into Will, her ex–best friend, who had moved away. Now a varsity athlete and hotter than Charlie remembered, Will hangs with the crowd running the school. But Charlie doesn’t understand their power until an innocent delivery guy falls victim to a near-deadly hazing prank. Torn between doing what’s right and her secret feelings for Will, Charlie must decide whether to turn in her very best friend or live with the guilt of knowing what he did. Rosalind Wiseman’s first novel for young adults is a fresh, funny, and juicy read about friendship, betrayal, and how far some will go to be accepted.

My Thoughts:
Boys, Girls, and Other Hazardous Materials is a novel that shows that boys can be even worse than the mean girls in high school. I love this concept because it puts a twist to the stereotypical high school scene. I was very excited to read this novel and once I was done I really enjoyed it. I think the characters were really good and well developed. The only complaint I have is that they seemed a bit immature at times for high school students. But other than that I had no problem with the characters and found Will to be very adorable. =]

This novel deals with the subject of hazing which is a very situation in society now and I’m glad that Rosalind Wiseman brought it up. In this novel you see the scary effects of it and how the hazing affects the people who are close to the one being hazed. Wiseman really created a very realistic high school setting. It was refreshing to read a book without the plastic mean girls who rule the school.

I think this is a great novel for younger teenagers to read. It gives a great message and shows the hard truth that people need to see. I definitely liked it and can’t wait to read more from Rosalind Wiseman.

Rating: 4.5/5 stars
Happy Reading!

Stargazer by Claudia Gray

2010-01-30T13:44:00.000-08:00

Title: Stargazer (Evernight #2)
Author: Claudia Gray
Release Date: March 24, 2009
Publisher: HarperTeen
Pages: 336 pages
Links: Amazon/ Goodreads
Received: Library

Summary:
The vampire in me was closer to the surface . . .
Evernight Academy: an exclusive boarding school for the most beautiful, dangerous students of all—vampires. Bianca, born to two vampires, has always been told her destiny is to become one of them.
But Bianca fell in love with Lucas—a vampire hunter sworn to destroy her kind. They were torn apart when his true identity was revealed, forcing him to flee the school.
Although they may be separated, Bianca and Lucas will not give each other up. She will risk anything for the chance to see him again, even if it means coming face-to-face with the vampire hunters of Black Cross—or deceiving the powerful vampires of Evernight. Bianca's secrets will force her to live a life of lies.
Yet Bianca isn't the only one keeping secrets. When Evernight is attacked by an evil force that seems to target her, she discovers the truth she thought she knew is only the beginning. . . .

My Thoughts:
I was very undecided about Evernight, the first book in the series. I didn’t really like the beginning but the end was really promising and left a cliffhanger. So I decided to give the second novel a try.

I liked the characters a bit more in Stargazer and they didn’t disagree with me as much as they did in Evernight. The main problem I had with Stargazer was that I felt as if I was waiting the entire book for something good to happen. Don’t get me wrong the beginning and middle were good and entertaining but nothing really made me addicted to it. But then when the end of the novel finally came it was REALLY GOOD, even more suspenseful than the first installment. So yet again, I am undecided. But I mostly liked the book. The only problem was that you have to wait a while for something really good to happen.

Overall Stargazer was a good read, definitely an improvement from Evernight. I will be reading the third in the series, Hourglass, because the ending of Stargazer left a really big cliffhanger. I recommend this series but maybe try it out from your local library first.

Rating: 4/5 stars
Happy Reading!

In My Mailbox (4)

2010-01-24T08:31:00.000-08:00

In My Mailbox was started by Kristi of The Story Siren and Alea of Pop Culture Junkie.
This week I got some good looking books. I'm having company soon so this'll be a quick post, no pictures.

For Review:

*A House Afire by Emma Kinna~Phyllis Sorin has seen all sorts of people. With two kind Aunts who rent out the rooms of their house to anyone in need, the people she calls family are a little different from most. There’s Bill, who takes on the personalities of movie characters. There’s Quincy, whose best friend is a drag queen. There’s Anna, an opera singer and kung-fu master. And Phyllis, well, she’s not exactly normal herself. But even as she begins to navigate high school’s social jungle, Phyllis finds comfort and humor in her odd home. When Dominick Siddons moves in, however, all of Phyllis's priorities become inferior to finding out his secret. A young lawyer with a vicious wit and ferocious temper, Sid may understand Phyllis in a way no one else can. And through truth and fiction, through the inevitable chaos of the house, Phyllis finds much more than she bargained for

*I also got some adult books in the mail but I cannot review them since I review only YA.

From the Library:

*Breathe My Name by R.A. Nelson~ Frances Robinson is in high school now. She lives a quiet, suburban life, far from her horrifying past. When she was a child, her birthmother smothered her three sisters. Through pure luck, Frances survived. Now her mother has just been released from prison . . . and she wants to see Frances.
A new boy at school called Nix charms Frances. Together, Nix and Frances embark on a clandestine journey to visit Frances’ mother: to confront the monster in its lair. This trip will help Frances at last find peace—or die trying. But no matter what, Frances will discover just what it means to finish

*Leftovers by Laura Wiess~Blair and Ardith are best friends who have committed an unforgivable act in the name of love and justice. But in order to understand what could drive two young women to such extreme measures, first you'll have to understand why. You'll have to listen as they describe parents who are alternately absent and smothering, classmates who mock and shun anyone different, and young men who are allowed to hurt and dominate without consequence. You will have to learn what it's like to be a teenage girl who locks her bedroom door at night, who has been written off by the adults around her as damaged goods. A girl who has no one to trust except the one person she's forbidden to see. You'll have to understand what it's really like to be forgotten and abandoned in America today.

* Don't Die Dragonfly by Linda Joy Singleton~ After getting kicked out of school and sent to live with her grandmother, Sabine Rose is determined to become a "normal" teenage girl. She hides her psychic powers from everyone, even from her grandmother Nona, who also has "the gift." Having a job at the school newspaper and friends like Penny Love, a popular cheerleader, have helped Sabine fit in at her new school. She has even managed to catch the eye of the adorable Josh DeMarco. Yet, Sabine can't seem to get the bossy voice of Opal, her spirit guide, out of her head... or the disturbing images of a girl with a dragonfly tattoo. Suspected of a crime she didn't commit, Sabine must find the strength to defend herself and, later, save a friend from certain danger

Happy Reading!

The Van Alen Legacy by Melissa de la Cruz

2010-01-23T06:34:00.000-08:00

Title: The Van Alen Legacy (Blue Bloods, #4)
Author: Melissa de la Cruz
Release Date: October 6, 2009
Publisher: Hyperion Book CH
Pages: 384 pages
Links: Amazon/ Goodreads/ Indiebound
Received: Library

Summary:
With the stunning revelation surrounding Bliss's true identity comes the growing threat of the sinister Silver Bloods. Once left to live the glamorous life in New York City, the Blue Bloods now find themselves in an epic battle for survival. Not to worry, love is still in the air for the young vampires of the Upper East Side. Or is it? Jack and Schuyler are over. Oliver's brokenhearted. And only the cunning Mimi seems to be happily engaged.

Young, fanged, and fabulous, Melissa de la Cruz's vampires unite in this highly anticipated fourth installment of the Blue Bloods series

My Thoughts:
After the ending of the third installment, Revelations, I was very, very excited to pick up The Van Alen Legacy. But as with all series I’m a little hesitant if the series is larger than a trilogy because I’m afraid the series was stretched out too much and the quality of the writing will be a lot less. Thankfully this was not the case with this great series.

The Van Alen Legacy starts of one year after the ending of Revelations. I do not want to put any spoilers in this review but I will stay that this novel was action packed. I was at the edge of my seat the entire time and really loved this book. It was great to have all the characters back and this novel made me love them even more. The Blue Bloods series is told in multiple points of view and I would have it no other way. Each story was intense and I wanted to read more and more. De la Cruz’s writing is still outstanding and even after all these books she can really keep a reader interested and really into the novel. She is an outstanding author.

The Van Alen Legacy is now my favorite book in the Blue Bloods series. This is a series that I highly recommend if you love suspense and vampires. Melissa, I need the next book soon, please! Haha.

Rating: 5/5 stars
Happy Reading!

All Unquiet Things by Anna Jarzab

2010-01-21T12:32:00.000-08:00

Title: All Unquiet Things
Author: Anna Jarzab
Release Date: January 12, 2010
Publisher: Delacorte Books for Young Readers
Pages: 352 pages
Links: Amazon/ Goodreads/ Indiebound
Received: from publisher

Summary: Carly: She was sweet. Smart. Self-destructive. She knew the secrets of Brighton Day School’s most privileged students. Secrets that got her killed.Neily: Dumped by Carly for a notorious bad boy, Neily didn’t answer the phone call she made before she died. If he had, maybe he could have helped her. Now he can’t get the image of her lifeless body out of his mind.Audrey: She’s the reason Carly got tangled up with Brighton’s fast crowd in the first place, and now she regrets it—especially since she’s convinced the police have put the wrong person in jail. Audrey thinks the murderer is someone at Brighton, and she wants Neily to help her find out who it is.As reluctant allies Neily and Audrey dig into their shared past with Carly, her involvement with Brighton’s dark goings-on comes to light. But figuring out how Carly and her killer fit into the twisted drama will force Audrey and Neily to face hard truths about themselves and the girl they couldn’t save.

My Thoughts: There have been very positive reviews about this book around the blogosphere so I was excited to read this book. But they claimed that All Unquiet Things had a slow beginning. They were 100% correct. The beginning of this novel was so slow that I put it down a couple of times before really getting into it. But when I did, I absolutely loved this novel. I am a big fan of Law and Order and CSI. I love murder mystery and putting the pieces together in my head. This novel made me do that.
I have been reading more books from a guy’s point of view lately and Neily is now my favorite male character that was a narrator. He is such a sweet guy and you can tell he really cared about Carly. Audrey on the other hand I did not like until her part of the book came. In the beginning, I thought she was crazy and as messed up as her father. But then I came to learn she was really strong and independent. Even the minor characters were well developed.
I don’t think that there could have been another way to tell this story other than multiple points of view. I loved this book and cannot wait for Jarzab’s next novel. I highly recommend you go out and buy this great novel.

Rating: 5/5 stars
Happy Reading!

In My Mailbox (3)

2010-01-17T06:09:00.000-08:00

In My Mailbox was started by Kristi of The Story Siren and Alea of Pop Culture Junkie.

Got only one book this week but I'm very excited for it and have more than enough books to keep me busy.

For Review:

*Possessed by Kate Cann~Rayne can't wait to start her summer job at a remote country mansion, far from the crowded, noisy London she so desperately wants to escape. But the retreat soon turns into a nightmare -- the mansion is creepy, the legends of ghosts keep Rayne up at night, and she doesn't feel safe anywhere.
Can Rayne figure out why she's so freaked -- before she becomes a ghost story herself?

This novel looks so great! I'm so excited to read it. =]

Happy Reading!

Inner Circle by Kate Brian

2010-01-16T19:27:00.000-08:00

Title: Inner Circle (Private Series, #5)
Author: Kate Brian
Release Date: August 28, 2007
Publisher: Simon & Schuster Children’s Publishing
Pages: 224 pages
Links: Amazon/ Borders/ Indiebound
Received: borrowed from library

Summary:
Reed Brennan arrived at Easton Academy expecting to find an idyllic private school experience -- challenging classes, adorably preppy boys, and a chance to create a new life for herself. Instead, she discovered lies, deception, blackmail, and...murder. But, thankfully, the killers were caught and the nightmare is finally over.
Now, with a new school year ahead of her, Reed steps back on Easton's ivy-covered campus ready to start over. So when the headmaster announces that billings is forbidden from holding their traditional, secretive initiation, Reed is relieved. She champions the new rules and the six new girls the administration has picked to live in Billings Hall: Constance, Missy, Lorna, Kiki, Astrid, and newcomer Sabine.
But Reed's fellow Billings resident and new nemesis, Cheyenne Martin, believes the changes are a mockery of Billings history. Despite the new rules, Cheyenne vows to keep the old ways alive, no matter what -- or who -- stands in her way...

My Thoughts:

As I’ve said before, I really enjoy the Private Series so I was excited to see where Kate Brian took it next. At first, I was hesitant because I thought the series could be over at book four and a continuation was not needed. But as always I was wrong, Kate Brian has made a great continuation to her series.
After all the old Billings Girls left Billings new ones came in. Inner Circle was more clique-ish than the previous novels but I still really enjoyed it. There’s really nothing I can say about this book that won’t spoil it. So this will be a short review. The end of the book left a huge cliffhanger so I’m anxious to read the next one.
If you like clique type novels with a twist then I recommend this series to you. It’s one of my favorites.

Rating: 5/5 stars
Happy Reading!

In My Mailbox (2)

2010-01-10T11:18:00.000-08:00

In My Mailbox was started by Kristi of The Story Siren and Alea of Pop Culture Junkie.
Sorry, no pictures this week. A really busy weekend for me.

For Review:

*Jekel Loves Hyde by Beth Fantasky~Jill Jekel has always obeyed her parents’ rules – especially the one about never opening the mysterious, old box in her father’s office. But when her dad is murdered, and her college savings disappear, she's tempted to peek inside, as the contents might be key to a lucrative chemistry scholarship. To better her odds, Jill enlists the help of gorgeous, brooding Tristen Hyde, who has his own dark secrets locked away. As the team of Jekel and Hyde, they recreate experiments based on the classic novel, hoping not only to win a prize, but to save Tristen’s sanity. Maybe his life. But Jill’s accidental taste of a formula unleashes her darkest nature and compels her to risk everything – even Tristen’s love – just for the thrill of being… bad.

From the library:

* The Van Alen Legacy by Melissa de la Cruz~ With the stunning revelation surrounding Bliss's true identity comes the growing threat of the sinister Silver Bloods. Once left to live the glamorous life in New York City, the Blue Bloods now find themselves in an epic battle for survival. Not to worry, love is still in the air for the young vampires of the Upper East Side. Or is it? Jack and Schuyler are over. Oliver's brokenhearted. And only the cunning Mimi seems to be happily engaged. Young, fanged, and fabulous, Melissa de la Cruz's vampires unite in this highly anticipated fourth installment of the Blue Bloods series.

Purchased:

*City of Ashes by Cassandra Clare~ Clary Fray just wishes that her life would go back to normal. But what's normal when you're a demon-slaying Shadowhunter, your mother is in a magically induced coma, and you can suddenly see Downworlders like werewolves, vampires, and faeries? If Clary left the world of the Shadowhunters behind, it would mean more lary time with her best friend, Simon, who's becoming more than a friend. But the Shadowhunting world isn't ready to let her go -- especially her handsome, infuriating, newfound brother, Jace. And Clary's only chance to help her mother is to track down rogue Shadowhunter Valentine, who is probably insane, certainly evil -- and also her father. To complicate matters, someone in New York City is murdering Downworlder children. Is Valentine behind the killings -- and if he is, what is he trying to do? When the second of the Mortal Instruments, the Soul-Sword, is stolen, the terrifying Inquisitor arrives to investigate and zooms right in on Jace. How can Clary stop Valentine if Jace is willing to betray everything he believes in to help their father?

*Strange Angels by Lili St. Crow~ Dru Anderson has what her grandmother called “the touch.” (Comes in handy when you’re traveling from town to town with your dad, hunting ghosts, suckers, wulfen, and the occasional zombie.)
Then her dad turns up dead—but still walking—and Dru knows she’s next. Even worse, she’s got two guys hungry for her affections, and they’re not about to let the fiercely independent Dru go it alone. Will Dru discover just how special she really is before coming face-to-fang with whatever—or whoever— is hunting her?

Happy Reading!

Winner of Taken By Storm

2010-01-09T15:27:00.000-08:00

Hello everbody!
This is Vincent, Lizzies bf.
I am here to announce the winner of Taken By Storm.
Well a little about me first! =)
I like books. She recommends books for meh. My favorite book is...*drumroll(please)* Night Road by A.M Jenkins. Cool right?! I know!
Lets see i like long walks on the beach with Lizzie. (we have taken many)
Anyways the point of this post was for me to tell you all (the readers) the winner of this wonderful book, thats signed btw, isss!!!

Lili from ChicaReader!!

Congrats Lili! I will be emailing you shortly.
Again, this is a big thank you for everyone who contributed to making The Book Obsession what it is today, one year later. Look forward for a swag contest coming soon! Well yeah that was Vincent, how'd he do? =p He's been very helpful with the blog lately. Happy Reading Everyone!

Btw Lizzie is the bestest and i love her very much, and i thank everyone for making her happy cause she loves reading and doing this. and i stole the comp to write this so she doesnt know so shhh! =) -Vincent

As You Wish by Jackson Pearce

2010-01-09T07:31:00.000-08:00

Title: As You Wish
Author: Jackson Pearce
Release Date: August 25, 2009
Publisher: HarperTeen
Pages: 304 pages
Links: Amazon/ Borders/ Indiebound
Received: publisher

Summary: Ever since Viola's boyfriend broke up with her, she has spent her days silently wishing—to have someone love her again and, more importantly, to belong again—until one day she inadvertently summons a young genie out of his world and into her own. He will remain until she makes three wishes.
Jinn is anxious to return home, but Viola is terrified of wishing, afraid she will not wish for the right thing, the thing that will make her truly happy. As the two spend time together, the lines between master and servant begin to blur, and soon Jinn can't deny that he's falling for Viola. But it's only after Viola makes her first wish that she realizes she's in love with Jinn as well . . . and that if she wishes twice more, he will disappear from her life—and her world—forever.
Jackson Pearce spins a magical tale about star-crossed lovers, what it means to belong . . . and how important it is to be careful what you wish for.

My Thoughts: I have heard nothing but great things about this novel so when I finally got the chance to read it, I had very high expectations. Thankfully they were all met. As! You Wish is a light, fun, romantic novel that everyone should read.
I love the characters that Jackson Pearce has created. Viola is such a sweet person. All she wants is to belong somewhere and I think that one quality makes her so real because at one point that’s what everyone wants, to fit in. I fell for Jin so hard. He’s funny, cute, and the perfect guy. The relationship between him and Viola was perfect. They really interacted well and it was really cute. The minor characters were also very well developed and I really enjoyed it. I found nothing wrong with the novel. I found myself getting so into the story and yes, I cried at the end.
As You Wish was an outstanding novel if you haven’t read it yet I highly recommend you do it now. I devoured it in one sitting, it was that good. I cannot wait to read Jackson Pearce’s next novel which comes out later this year.

Rating: 5/5 stars
Happy Reading

The Secret Year by Jennifer R. Hubbard

2010-01-08T17:29:00.000-08:00

Title: The Secret Year
Author: Jennifer R. Hubbard
Release Date: January 7, 2010
Publisher: Viking Juvenile
Pages: 192 pages
Links: Amazon/ Borders/Indiebound
Received: from publisher

Summary:
Take Romeo and Juliet. Add The Outsiders. Mix thoroughly. Colt and Julia were secretly together for an entire year and no one—not even Julia’s boyfriend— knew. They had nothing in common, with Julia in her country club world on Black Mountain and Colt from down on the flats, but it never mattered. Until Julia dies in a car accident, and Colt learns the price of secrecy. He can’t mourn Julia openly, and he’s tormented that he might have played a part in her death. When Julia’s journal ends up in his hands, Colt relives their year together at the same time that he’s desperately trying to forget her. But how do you get over someone who was never yours in the first place?

My Thoughts:
I was really excited to start The Secret Year because it was a common plot line with an original twist. I really liked how it was told in a guy’s point of view. I haven’t read a book like that in a really long time and never read a book that dealt with mourning told from a male’s perspective.

I really liked Holden’s voice and his personality. He was strong and had been through a lot of tough times. The entries from Julia’s diary and flashbacks really added to Julia’s character and made her seem more real. I didn’t realize the emotion the book contained until about the end of the book. When Holden’s entire life is being destroyed because he cannot let Julia go. Those scenes were almost hard to read because you could feel the emotion like it was your own.

Jennifer Hubbard did an amazing job with her debut novel. She’s such a strong and talented writer, I cannot wait to read more from her. The Secret Year has proven to me that 2010 is going to be a great year for books. I highly recommend you go out to the bookstore and check out this great book.

Rating: 4.5/5 stars
Happy Reading!

In My Mailbox (January 5)

2010-01-05T10:38:00.000-08:00

In My Mailbox was started by Kristi of The Story Siren and Alea of Pop Culture Junkie. Sorry this is so late I got a TON of books so I wanted to wait until I had time to post about them. So here we go, sorry no pictures. I have homework today and too many books. =]

For Review:

*Before I Fall by Lauren Oliver-Samantha Kingston has it all—looks, popularity, the perfect boyfriend. Friday, February 12th should be just another day in her charmed life. Instead, it’s her last. The catch: Samantha still wakes up the next morning. In fact, she re-lives the last day of her life seven times, until she realizes that by making even the slightest changes, she may hold more power than she had ever imagined.

* Hourglass by Claudia Gray-After escaping from Evernight Academy, the vampire boarding school, Bianca and Lucas seek refuge with Black Cross, the elite group of vampire hunters led by Lucas’s stepfather. When Bianca’s close friend—the vampire Balthazar—is captured by Black Cross, Bianca knows she has to do whatever it takes to save him. But at what cost?

Purchased:

* Need by Carrie Jones- Zara collects phobias the way other high school girls collect lipsticks. Little wonder, since life’s been pretty rough so far. Her father left, her stepfather just died, and her mother’s pretty much checked out. Now Zara’s living with her grandmother in sleepy, cold Maine so that she stays “safe.” Zara doesn’t think she’s in danger; she thinks her mother can’t deal. Wrong. Turns out that guy she sees everywhere, the one leaving trails of gold glitter, isn’t a figment of her imagination. He’s a pixie—and not the cute, lovable kind with wings. He’s the kind who has dreadful, uncontrollable needs. And he’s trailing Zara. With suspense, romance, and paranormal themes, this exciting breakout novel has all the elements to keep teens rapidly turning the pages

*Fallen by Lauren Kate- There's something achingly familiar about Daniel Grigori. Mysterious and aloof, he captures Luce Price's attention from the moment she sees him on her first day at the Sword & Cross boarding school in sultry Savannah, Georgia. He's the one bright spot in a place where cell phones are forbidden, the other students are all screw-ups, and security cameras watch every move. Even though Daniel wants nothing to do with Luce--and goes out of his way to make that very clear--she can't let it go. Drawn to him like a moth to a flame, she has to find out what Daniel is so desperate to keep secret . . . even if it kills her. Dangerously exciting and darkly romantic, Fallen is a page turning thriller and the ultimate love story

* Beautiful Creatures by Kami Garcia and Margaret Stohl-Lena Duchannes is unlike anyone the small Southern town of Gatlin has ever seen, and she's struggling to conceal her power and a curse that has haunted her family for generations. But even within the overgrown gardens, murky swamps and crumbling graveyards of the forgotten South, a secret cannot stay hidden forever.Ethan Wate, who has been counting the months until he can escape from Gatlin, is haunted by dreams of a beautiful girl he has never met. When Lena moves into the town's oldest and most infamous plantation, Ethan is inexplicably drawn to her and determined to uncover the connection between them.In a town with no surprises, one secret could change everything

Borrow from library:

*Demon Princess: Reign or Shine by Michelle Rowen-As if trying to fit in at a new school isn't stressful enough, sixteen-year-old Nikki Donovan just found out that her long-lost father is, in fact, the demon king of the Shadowlands—the world that separates and protects us from the Underworld. When she is brought there by the mysterious—and surprisingly cute—messenger Michael, she learns that her father is dying, and he wants her to assume the throne. To complicate matters, a war is brewing between the Shadowlands and the Underworld, her half-demon qualities are manifesting, and her growing feelings for Michael are completely forbidden. Ruling a kingdom, navigating a secret crush, and still making it home by curfew—what's a teenage demon princess to do?

* Stargazer by Claudria Gray- Evernight Academy: an exclusive boarding school for the most beautiful, dangerous students of all—vampires. Bianca, born to two vampires, has always been told her destiny is to become one of them.
But Bianca fell in love with Lucas—a vampire hunter sworn to destroy her kind. They were torn apart when his true identity was revealed, forcing him to flee the school.
Although they may be separated, Bianca and Lucas will not give each other up. She will risk anything for the chance to see him again, even if it means coming face-to-face with the vampire hunters of Black Cross—or deceiving the powerful vampires of Evernight. Bianca's secrets will force her to live a life of lies.
Yet Bianca isn't the only one keeping secrets. When Evernight is attacked by an evil force that seems to target her, she discovers the truth she thought she knew is only the beginning. . . .

* Ivy by Julie Hearn- The only beautiful thing in Ivy's drab life is her glorious red hair. At a young age, her locks made her the target of Carroty Kate, a 'skinner'. She recruited Ivy to help her coax wealthy children away from their nannies so that she could strip them of their clothes - clothes worth a fortune in the markets of Petticoat Lane. It is years before Ivy escapes and finds her way back to her in-laws. Once there, she finds respite in laudanum. But before she can settle into a stupor and forget the terrible things she has done, Ivy is spotted by a wealthy pre-Raphaelite painter. Oscar Fosdick needs a muse (until now he has had to use his domineering mother as a model, something not conducive to producing his best work, he finds). To him, Ivy is perfect, a stunner. Realising quickly that this painter has more money than sense, Ivy's in-laws order her to sit for him, and to do anything else he demands. But not everyone is happy. Oscar's mother is determined to get rid of Ivy. Oscar's famous neighbour is determined to paint her. Carroty Kate is determined to find her, and Ivy herself is determined to escape . . .

*Rampant by Diana Peterfreund- Astrid had always scoffed at her eccentric mother's stories about killer unicorns. But when one of the monsters attacks her boyfriend—thereby ruining any chance of him taking her to the prom—Astrid finds herself headed to Rome to train as a unicorn hunter at the ancient cloisters the hunters have used for centuries.
However, at the cloisters all is not what it seems. Outside, the unicorns wait to attack. And within, Astrid faces other, unexpected threats: from the crumbling, bone-covered walls that vibrate with a terrible power to the hidden agendas of her fellow hunters to—perhaps most dangerously of all—her growing attraction to a handsome art student . . . an attraction that could jeopardize everything.

*Ice by Sarah Beth Durst-When Cassie was a little girl, her grandmother told her a fairy tale about her mother, who made a deal with the Polar Bear King and was swept away to the ends of the earth. Now that Cassie is older, she knows the story was a nice way of saying her mother had died. Cassie lives with her father at an Arctic research station, is determined to become a scientist, and has no time for make-believe.
Then, on her eighteenth birthday, Cassie comes face-to-face with a polar bear who speaks to her. He tells her that her mother is alive, imprisoned at the ends of the earth. And he can bring her back -- if Cassie will agree to be his bride.
That is the beginning of Cassie's own real-life fairy tale, one that sends her on an unbelievable journey across the brutal Arctic, through the Canadian boreal forest, and on the back of the North Wind to the land east of the sun and west of the moon. Before it is over, the world she knows will be swept away, and everything she holds dear will be taken from her -- until she discovers the true meaning of love and family in the magical realm of Ice

* Flawless by Sara Shepard-In the exclusive town of Rosewood, Pennsylvania, where the sweetest smiles hide the darkest secrets, four pretty little liars- Spencer, Aria, Emily, and Hanna- have been very bad girls. . . . Spencer stole her sister's boyfriend. Aria is brokenhearted over her English teacher. Emily likes her new friend Maya . . . as much more than a friend. And Hanna's obsession with looking flawless is literally making her sick. But the most horrible secret of all is something so scandalous it could destroy their perfect little lives. And someone named "A" is threatening to do just that. At first they thought A was Alison, their friend who vanished three years ago . . . but then Alison turned up dead. So could A be Melissa, Spencer's ultracompetitive sister? Or Maya, who wants Emily all to herself? What about Toby, the mysterious guy who left town right after Alison went missing? One thing's for certain: A's got the dirt to bury them all alive, and with every crumpled note, wicked IM, and vindictive text message A sends, the girls get a little closer to losing it all

* Prophecy of The Sisters by Michelle Zink-Sixteen-year-old Lia Milthorpe and her twin sister Alice have just become orphans, and, as Lia discovers, they have also become enemies. The twins are part of an ancient prophecy that has turned generations of sisters against each other. To escape from a dark fate and to remain in the arms of her beloved boyfriend James, Lia must end the prophecy before her sister does. Only then will she understand the mysterious circumstances of her parents' deaths, the true meaning of the strange mark branded on her wrist, and the lengths to which her sister will go to defeat her.

*The Alchemyst by Michael Scott-The truth: Nicholas Flamel was born in Paris on September 28, 1330. Nearly 700 years later, he is acknowledged as the greatest Alchemyst of his day. It is said that he discovered the secret of eternal life. The records show that he died in 1418. But his tomb is empty. The legend: Nicholas Flamel lives. But only because he has been making the elixir of life for centuries. The secret of eternal life is hidden within the book he protects; the Book of Abraham the Mage. It's the most powerful book that has ever existed. In the wrong hands, it will destroy the world. That's exactly what Dr. John Dee plans to do when he steals it. Humankind won't know what's happening until it's too late. And if the prophecy is right, Sophie and Josh Newman are the only ones with the power to save the world as we know it. Sometimes legends are true. And Sophie and Josh Newman are about to find themselves in the middle of the greatest legend of all time

*Inner Circle by Kate Brian-Reed Brennan arrived at Easton Academy expecting to find an idyllic private school experience -- challenging classes, adorably preppy boys, and a chance to create a new life for herself. Instead, she discovered lies, deception, blackmail, and...murder. But, thankfully, the killers were caught and the nightmare is finally over.
Now, with a new school year ahead of her, Reed steps back on Easton's ivy-covered campus ready to start over. So when the headmaster announces that billings is forbidden from holding their traditional, secretive initiation, Reed is relieved. She champions the new rules and the six new girls the administration has picked to live in Billings Hall: Constance, Missy, Lorna, Kiki, Astrid, and newcomer Sabine.
But Reed's fellow Billings resident and new nemesis, Cheyenne Martin, believes the changes are a mockery of Billings history. Despite the new rules, Cheyenne vows to keep the old ways alive, no matter what -- or who -- stands in her way...

All summaries are from goodreads. I'm so excited about all of these great titles!
Happy Reading.
***My Taken By Storm contest ends on Friday

Fragile Eternity by Melissa Marr

2010-01-01T18:53:00.000-08:00

Title: Fragile Eternity (Bk 3, Wicked Lovely)
Author: Melissa Marr
Release Date: April 21, 2009
Publisher: HarperCollins
Pages: 400
Links: Amazon/Borders/ Indiebound
Received: public library

Summary: (spoilers for the first book)
Seth never expected he would want to settle down with anyone—but that was before Aislinn. She is everything he'd ever dreamed of, and he wants to be with her forever. Forever takes on new meaning, though, when your girlfriend is an immortal faery queen.

Aislinn never expected to rule the very creatures who'd always terrified her—but that was before Keenan. He stole her mortality to make her a monarch, and now she faces challenges and enticements beyond any she'd ever imagined.
In Melissa Marr's third mesmerizing tale of Faerie, Seth and Aislinn struggle to stay true to themselves and each other in a milieu of shadowy rules and shifting allegiances, where old friends become new enemies and one wrong move could plunge the Earth into chaos.

My Thoughts:
The Wicked Lovely series introduced me to faeries and I’ve been in love ever since. I wasn’t very fond of the second book, Ink Exchange. But since the old characters were back, I had very high expectations for this novel. They were met and proceeded to go above and beyond. I absolutely loved Fragile Eternity and it is my new favorite in the series.
I adore the characters that Melissa Marr has created. Aislinn is such a strong character and she is so passionate, I love her. Seth is amazingly sexy and a sweetheart. I have a thing for emo looking guys if you haven’t noticed. =] There is the perfect amount of characters that you love and hate. The plot line was so exciting and suspenseful there was never a dull moment. Usually it takes me forever to read these books and I get confused. This was not the case with Fragile Eternity. I read most of it in one night and was so interested I never got lost.
If you haven’t picked up this series yet I highly recommend that you do. It will turn you into a faery lover. I cannot wait for the next installment!

Rating: 5/5 stars
Happy Reading!

Happy New Year!

2010-01-01T08:51:00.000-08:00

Adios 2009, Helloo 2010.

Hope this new year is everything you guys wish for and make the best of it! =]

My New Year Resolutions:

1. Read more, Blog more, Make my blog better

2. Get more in shape and drop some of these extra holiday pounds =]

3. Learn to use my time wisely

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Also today I reached 200 followers! Wow, I never thought that even one person would follow my blog. Thank you everyone for making me love blogging as much as I do.

Happy Reading and Happy New Year!

Magic Under Glass by Jaclyn Dolamore

2009-12-29T19:47:00.000-08:00

Title: Magic Under Glass
Author: Jaclyn Dolamore
Release Date: December 22, 2009
Publisher: Bloomsbury USA
Pages: 240 pages
Links: Amazon/ Borders/ Indiebound
Received: by publisher

Summary:
Nimira is a foreign music-hall girl forced to dance for mere pennies. When wealthy sorcerer Hollin Parry hires her to sing with a piano-playing automaton, Nimira believes it is the start of a new and better life. In Parry's world, however, buried secrets are beginning to stir. Unsettling below-stairs rumors swirl about ghosts, a madwoman roaming the halls, and Parry's involvement with a league of sorcerers who torture fairies for sport. Then Nimira discovers the spirit of a fairy gentleman named Erris is trapped inside the clockwork automaton, waiting for someone to break his curse. The two fall into a love that seems hopeless, and breaking the curse becomes a race against time, as not just their love, but the fate of the entire magical world may be in peril.

My Thoughts:
When I first got this for review I was so excited because this book looked so original and interesting. The beginning was amazing and I could not put it down. But towards the end…yeah, not so much. So I’ll split this review into two parts.

From the beginning to a little bit ahead of the middle of Magic Under Glass, I was completely into the story and loving every page. There was romance, suspense, and everything a great book should have. I love Nimira’s character. She’s very realistic and strong with what she believes in. I found it so cool and original that there was a spirit of a fairy trapped in an automan. One other great thing about this book was that music played a role and I love music so that was great. There was the great balance of characters you love and characters you love to hate *cough* Smollings. I really got into the story and could not put it down.

From the middle to the end I was unfortunately disappointed. There was so much build up and then it dropped and I was sitting there like “Wait, what? That’s it? How could that happen?” It might have worked for some people but it really wasn’t my thing. I wish there could have been a different ending to the novel. I give this half of the book a pretty low rating.

Even though I didn’t like the end I still really did like the characters and most of the plot. If there is a sequel I’ll definitely try it out. I recommend you to try this book out but maybe borrow it from your local library first. ‘

Rating: 3/5 stars
Happy Reading!
************* Please do not forget to enter my contest for Taken by Stom..link in the sidebar.

100+ Reading Challenge

2009-12-28T08:54:00.000-08:00

Yes I have decided to challenge myself this year! I am super excited to take a part in this. I challenge myself to read 100 books in 2010. With all the school work I will be lucky to get this much. But I will update on the first of every month. So stay tuned.

REMINDER!

Enter my blogoversary contesr for a signed copy of Taken by Storm by Angela Morrison!

In My Mailbox (December 27)

2009-12-27T06:30:00.000-08:00

In My Mailbox was started by Kristi of The Story Siren and Alea of Pop Culture Junkie.
This post is two weeks worth of books since I was very busy last week.

For Review:

* Magic Under Glass by Jaclyn Dolamore~Nimira is a music-hall performer forced to dance for pennies to an audience of leering drunks. When wealthy sorcerer Hollin Parry hires her to do a special act - singing accompaniment to an exquisite piano-playing automaton, Nimira believes it is the start of a new life. In Parry's world, however, buried secrets stir. Unsettling below-stairs rumours abound about ghosts, a mad woman roaming the halls, and of Parry's involvement in a gang of ruthless sorcerers who torture fairies for sport. When Nimira discovers the spirit of a dashing young fairy gentleman is trapped inside the automaton's stiff limbs, waiting for someone to break the curse and set him free, the two fall in love. But it is a love set against a dreadful race against time to save the entire fairy realm, which is in mortal peril.

* The Returners by Gemma Malley~London teenager Will Hodge is miserable. His mother is dead, his father’s political leanings have grown radical, and his friends barely talk to him. To top it off, he’s having nightmares about things like concentration camps. Then Will notices he's being followed by a group of people who claim to know him from another time in history. It turns out they are Returners, reincarnated people who carry with them the memory of atrocities they have witnessed in the past. Will realizes that he, too, is a Returner. But something about his memories is different, and with dawning horror, Will suspects that he wasn’t just a witness to the events, he was instrumental in making them happen. Set in the near future, with the world on the verge of a new wave of ethnic cleansing, Will must choose to confront the cruelty he's known in his past lives, or be doomed to repeat it . . . again.

* All Unquiet Things by Anna Jarzab~Carly: She was sweet. Smart. Self-destructive. She knew the secrets of Brighton Day School’s most privileged students. Secrets that got her killed.Neily: Dumped by Carly for a notorious bad boy, Neily didn’t answer the phone call she made before she died. If he had, maybe he could have helped her. Now he can’t get the image of her lifeless body out of his mind.Audrey: She’s the reason Carly got tangled up with Brighton’s fast crowd in the first place, and now she regrets it—especially since she’s convinced the police have put the wrong person in jail. Audrey thinks the murderer is someone at Brighton, and she wants Neily to help her find out who it is.As reluctant allies Neily and Audrey dig into their shared past with Carly, her involvement with Brighton’s dark goings-on comes to light. But figuring out how Carly and her killer fit into the twisted drama will force Audrey and Neily to face hard truths about themselves and the girl they couldn’t save.

Purchased:

*Privilege by Kate Brian~ Ariana Osgood ruled exclusive Easton Academy -- until she was arrested for murdering Thomas Pearson. She's spent the past two years at the Brenda T. Trumbull Correctional Facility for Women plotting her escape and is determined to get a second chance at the glamorous life she left behind. And Ariana will do anything to get her way....
From the author of the bestselling Private novels comes a new series about the dark world of wealth, secrets, and Privilege.

*Stealing Heaven by Elizabeth Scott~
My name is Danielle. I'm eighteen. I've been stealing things for as long as I can remember.
Dani has been trained as a thief by the best there is—her mother. They never stay in one place long enough for Dani to have real connections, real friends—a real life.
But in the town of Heaven, everything changes. Suddenly, Dani must question where her loyalties lie: with the life she's always known—or the one she's always wanted.

*Shiver by Maggie Stiefvater~For years, Grace has watched the wolves in the woods behind her house. One yellow-eyed wolf--her wolf--is a chilling presence she can't seem to live without. Meanwhile, Sam has lived two lives: In winter, the frozen woods, the protection of the pack, and the silent company of a fearless girl. In summer, a few precious months of being human . . . until the cold makes him shift back again.
Now, Grace meets a yellow-eyed boy whose familiarity takes her breath away. It's her wolf. It has to be. But as winter nears, Sam must fight to stay human--or risk losing himself, and Grace, forever.

I am so excited about all of these books and can't wait to start them. Happy Reading!

Blogoversary!..and Contest

2009-12-25T13:08:00.000-08:00

Yes that's correct. One year ago I started my baby, The Book Obsession. I'm so happy that it has grown this much and for all my followers. I have met some great people and got involved in many great things. So to say thank you to everyone, I am holding a contest.

Win a signed copy of Taken By Storm by Angela Morrison!

When Michael, a deep-sea diver who lost his parents in a hurricane, meets Mormon Leesie Hunt, the two teens experience a love like none before, but with strict rules about dating outside of her faith, Leesie must make a life-altering decision between the man she wants and the world she has always known.
Leesie Hunt has many rules: No kissing. No sex. No dating outside the Mormon faith.
Will their intense chemistry be too strong to resist?
Leesie and Michael must make the hardest choice of their lives: whether to follow their beliefs or their hearts

How to Enter: Please just leave a comment with an email address and tell me what your favorite book of 2009 was. It's that easy. =]

+1 Link contest somewhere (sidebar, twitter, etc.) leave me a link please

+1 If you follow my blog, new or old

+1 Tell me what your new year resolution is

This contest is for US residents only. Sorry =[

Ends: January 8th

Announcements

2009-12-25T13:02:00.000-08:00

Hi Everyone! I know i've been missing lately well today I'm fixing that. Christmas day is pretty quiet for my family so I have time to catch up on my blogging and updating my blog. I'm also putting in an order for Amazon today. More books...YES!

So look for a lot of posts today. =]

Have a safe and happy holiday!

Happy Reading and Happy Holidays!

By The Time You Read This, I'll Be Dead by Julie Anne Peters

2009-12-19T06:52:00.000-08:00

Title: By The Time You Read This, I’ll Be Dead
Author: Julie Anne Peters
Release Date: January 5, 2010
Publisher: Hyperion Book CH
Pages: 224 Pages
Pre-order: Amazon/ Borders

Recieved: publisher

Summary:
Daelyn Rice is broken beyond repair, and after a string of botched suicide attempts, she's determined to get her death right. She starts visiting a website for "completers"- www.through-the-light .com. While she's on the site, Daelyn blogs about her life, uncovering a history of bullying that goes back to kindergarten. When she's not on the Web, Daelyn's at her private school where she's known as the freak who doesn't talk.Then, a boy named Santana begins to sit with her after school while she's waiting to for her parents to pick her up. Even though she's made it clear that she wants to be left alone, Santana won't give up. And it's too late for Daelyn to be letting people into her life. Isn’t it?National Book Award finalist Julie Anne Peters shines a light on how bullying can push young people to the very edge.

My Thoughts:
By The Time You Read This, I’ll Be Dead is a truly amazing novel. It takes you through the mind of a teenage girl who has been bullied to the point where she sees that there is no other option than to take her own life. I believe that this is a book that everyone should read not just to be informed but to make sure this doesn’t happen to them.

Julie Anne Peters makes this book raw and shocking right from the start. So much that I had to but it down for a little and then come back to it. The website that Daelyn visited honestly scared me because I know that there are websites like that. That was one of many details that made this novel so real and shocking. While reading I found myself wishing that Daelyn would find out that suicide is not the answer and that Santana cares about her and is there for her. I really liked Santana’s characters and felt sympathy for him as well. There are some other things about him that I won’t spoil but it added to the dark feeling of the novel.

This novel is truly great and I highly recommend that you go buy it when it comes out in stores on January 5th. This is the first I’ve read of Julie Anne Peters but it definitely won’t be the last. By The Time You Read This, I’ll Be Dead is a book that shows the horror of society today. So please, please check this out.

Rating: 4.5/5 Stars
Happy Reading and Happy Holidays!

Winner of Hold Still!

2009-12-18T18:14:00.000-08:00

So I decided the winner of this contest a little different then the rest of them. My boyfriend wrote all the entires on a piece of paper and picked a winner out of a bowl. So a big thank you goes out to him for being such an awesome help. The winner of Hold Still issss *drumroll*

Dani from YA All The Way!

Congrats! I will be emailing you shortly for your infomation. Also, thank you for all your suggestions in the comments. So I will announcing yet another contest tomorrow. Why? Because December is my blogoversary month! So look out for more fun things to come.

Happy Reading!

Upcoming Books!

2009-12-16T18:52:00.000-08:00

I got this awesome email from Bloomsbury about two books coming out next year (early January). So here I am to spread the news. Now since I am still highly technologically challenged, I cannot upload videos to blogger so if someone knows how PLEASE help me out. Email me or tell me in the comments. thank you.

So anyways,

Here is a link for a trailer of Captivate, the sequel to Need: http://needpixies.com/trailers.html Zara and her friends may have won the battle against the evil pixies in Need, but they’ve just started a war. In Captivate there’s a new pixie king in town…and he’s not happy.

And here is a link for a trailer of Hearts at Stake which looks absolutely awesome: http://thedrakechronicles.com/
You think you have it bad? Try having seven overprotective brothers and having to deal with becoming a vampire queen on your sixteenth birthday. Being a vampire princess really bites.

So please go check these out. Do you like these information filled posts? Would you like more?
Let me know. Geez I'm asking a lot today. I think that's it.

Happy Reading!

Liar by Justine Larbalestier

2009-12-13T12:35:00.000-08:00

Title: Liar
Author: Justine Larbalestier
Release Date: September 29, 2009
Publisher: Bloomsbury USA Children’s Books
Pages: 384 pages
Links: amazon/ borders/ indiebound

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

My Thoughts: When I say Liar at my local library, I spazzed and immediately snatched it up. I had heard wonderful things about this novel and was excited to see what I thought about it. To the first 200 pages, Liar was everything I hoped it would be. There was always the confusion of whether Micah was telling you the truth or not. But then there is this HUGE twist in the story that I did not see coming in at all. To be honest, it changed my entire thoughts about the book. At the time I did not like it at all but I did finish the book.
I found Liar odd but yet addicting if that makes any sense. From the second half, it was so weird that I had to read more to find out if anything else happened. I really liked Micah’s character even if she was a compulsive liar. Her being a liar really made this novel a thriller. I think that’s what made me like the book. Always the chance that Micah’s entire story was false.
As you can tell I’m undecided on what to say about Liar. For me it had its positives and negatives. I loved the beginning but didn’t really like the end. So go and check out this book. I will definitely be reading more of Larbalestier’s books.

Rating: 3.5/5 stars
Happy Reading!

Stupid Cupid by Rhonda Stapleton

2009-12-08T18:04:00.000-08:00

Title: Stupid Cupid
Author: Rhonda Stapleton
Release Date: December 22, 2009
Publisher: Simon Pulse
Pages: 272 pages
(no pictutre, blogger hates me)

Summary: Felicity's no ordinary teen matchmaker...she's a cupid!
Felicity Walker believes in true love. That's why she applies for a gig at the matchmaking company Cupid's Hollow. But when Felicity gets the job, she learns that she isn't just a matchmaker...she's a cupid! (There's more than one of them, you know.)
Armed with a hot pink, tricked-out PDA infused with the latest in cupid magic (love arrows shot through email), Felicity works to meet her quota of successful matches. But when she bends the rules of cupidity by matching her best friend Maya with three different boys at once, disaster strikes. Felicity needs to come up with a plan to set it all right, pronto, before she gets fired?and before Maya ends up with her heart split in three.

My Thoughts: At first, I thought that Stupid Cupid would be a supernatural novel due to the summary but it was actually closer to a Simon Romantic Comedy, which I love so there are no complaints here.
The only character that was really developed was Felicity. I would have liked more focus on the other characters since they play a bigger role in the plot but that isn’t common for these types of books. But other than that, I liked the feel of the story and it was very light and fluffy. The story also took a little while to pick up the pace but after it did, I was entertained.
I like the messages of friendship the most in Stupid Cupid. Felicity was just trying to help out Maya but instead created disaster. Even though I found then ending unrealistic, it was still a very enjoyable novel.
Stupid Cupid is released on December 22. If you want a light romance this is the novel for you. But I recommend maybe taking it out from your local library.

Rating: 3/5 stars
Happy Reading!

Hold Still by Nina LaCour & Contest!

2009-12-05T05:27:00.000-08:00

Title: Hold Still
Author: Nina LaCour
Release Date: October 20, 2009
Publisher: Dutton Juvenile
Pages: 304 pages
Links: Amazon/ Borders/ Indiebound

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

Review: Suicide is always a very difficult subject not just to read about but to write about as well. The book is either two dimensional and shows no emotion or it’s packed with emotion and so real that you tear up at every page. This book was fortunately emotion packed and real.
Hold Still is told in four parts, the four seasons of the first year after Ingrid’s suicide. In the first part of the book, Caitlin’s depression is so deep and real that it’s shocking. Nina LaCour really gives you the feel of her depression and as your reading; you’re feeling the pain along with Caitlin. In most books about suicide, the person that was lost just seems like a dream, sometimes not believable. Ingrid’s journal brought her to life and made her real in my mind so I really felt what Caitlin was feeling.
I think this book couldn’t have been written any other way. I have no real complaints. The journey along with Caitlin during her recovery was emotional and heart breaking. But by the end, you feel as if you’ve recovered as well. LaCour wrote a book that makes an outstanding connection with it’s readers so please go check it out.
Rating: 4/5 stars
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

CONTEST TIME!

Kay now for the reason everyone’s reading this post. =]
I will be giving away one copy of Hold Still by Nina LaCour thanks to a very

nice person over at Penguin.

So how do you enter? Just leave a comment and please leave an email address.

Extra Entries:

+1 Suggest a meme or something creative I can add to the blog

+1 If you link this or post about this contest

Contest Ends: December 13th

Happy Reading!

Black is for Beginnings by Laurie Faria Stolarz

2009-11-29T05:55:00.000-08:00

Title: Black is for Beginnings (BIFN Series, Bk.6)
Author: Laurie Faria Stolarz, Janina Gorrissen
Release Date: September 1, 2009
Publisher: Flux
Pages: 168 pages
Links: amazon/ borders/ indiebound

Summary:
It's happening again...
The BLUE IS FOR NIGHTMARES series that put a spell on more than half a million readers continues – in graphic novel format!
Prophetic dreams. Near-brushes with death. Killers pursuing her and her friends. Stacey Brown knows that being a hereditary witch isn't all it's cracked up to be.
Stacey's nightmares are back. And all she wants to do is go to Colorado and work things out with Jacob, who hasn't been able to remember her since he lost his memory in his brush with death. But before Stacey and Jacob can have a future, they must face their pasts. Black is for Beginnings reveals the never-before-seen backstory—and what lies ahead—for the young, spellcasting lovers.

My Thoughts: If you couldn’t tell by now, I love Stolarz’s books and haven’t come across one that I didn’t like. I feel she’s a very talented author and can bring any story to life.
The Blue is for Nightmares series is my favorite by her. I feel very close to the characters and it was really great to feel that connection and have them back but with one catch. The sixth installment of this series is an American graphic novel, which is something never done by Stolarz before. For the first time, I was hesitant to pick this up. But yet again, I was wrong.
Being in the graphic novel form you get to see the characters and truly connect with them. I saw my favorite characters come to life right before my eyes and it was amazing. I was able to see what the author thought her characters should look like and it was a great experience. Was it my favorite book in the series? No. But was it a great book and even better reading experience? Absolutely.
Yes, this novel is good but since it is in graphic form there wasn’t as much character or storyline development as I hoped. There wasn’t really a mystery in this one but the little part that was, the mystery wasn’t solved. So if you are a fan of this series, I would recommend you read it but maybe borrow it from your local library.

Rating: 3/5 stars
Happy Reading!

In My Mailbox (November 29)

2009-11-29T05:15:00.000-08:00

In My Mailbox was started by Kristi at The Story Siren and Alea at Pop Culture Junkie.
I didn’t get that many book but that’s good because I have sooooo much to read already. This is two weeks worth of books.

For Review:

*By The Time You Read This, I’ll Be Dead by Julie Anne Peters

Daelyn Rice is broken beyond repair, and after a string of botched suicide attempts, she's determined to get her death right. She starts visiting a website for "completers"- www. through-the-light .com. While she's on the site, Daelyn blogs about her life, uncovering a history of bullying that goes back to kindergarten. When she's not on the Web, Daelyn's at her private school, where she's known as the freak who doesn't talk.Then, a boy named Santana begins to sit with her after school while she's waiting to for her parents to pick her up. Even though she's made it clear that she wants to be left alone, Santana won't give up. And it's too late for Daelyn to be letting people into her life. Isn't it?

This book looks so emotional and great. Thank you Julie Anne for sending it out!

Bought: (Yes I know, I’m bad)

*Night World No. 2 by L.J. Smith

Vampires, werewolves, witches, shapeshifters -- they live among us without our knowledge. Night World is their secret society, a secret society with very strict rules. And falling in love breaks all the laws of the Night World.
In Dark Angel, Gillian is saved from drowning by her guardian angel. Only visible to Gillian, Angel will fulfill her heart's every desire. But when Angel starts making strange and sinister requests, Gillian must question who he truly is and where he came from.
Armed with a wooden stake, martial arts, and the will to resist a vampire's mind control, Rashel struggles to avenge her mother's death in The Chosen. Then she meets Quinn, her soulmate, who is part of the world she has vowed to destroy.
Hannah receives notes warning her of incredible danger in Soulmate. But if death is her destiny, is the Lord of the Night World's love strong enough to save her?

I purchased the first Night World book a little while ago and I was in the store and saw this on sale. So how could I not buy it? I hope to start this series soon. Isn’t this cover gorgeous??

*City of Bones by Cassandra Clare

When fifteen-year-old Clary Fray heads out to the Pandemonium Club in New York City, she hardly expects to witness a murder — much less a murder committed by three teenagers covered with strange tattoos and brandishing bizarre weapons. Then the body disappears into thin air. It's hard to call the police when the murderers are invisible to everyone else and when there is nothing — not even a smear of blood — to show that a boy has died. Or was he a boy?

The Mortal Instruments is my all time favorite series and when I saw the first one on sale, I just had to get it. I will definitely be re-reading this soon.

Happy Reading!

Happy Thanksgiving!

2009-11-26T05:26:00.000-08:00

Happy Thanksgiving! Hope everyone has a safe and happy holiday. =]

Invisible Touch by Kelly Parra

2009-11-25T16:08:00.000-08:00

Title: Invisible Touch
Author: Kelly Parra
Release Date: October 14, 2008
Publisher: MTV/ Pocket Books
Pages: 288 pages
Links: amazon/ borders/ indiebound

**This is a review for the 1 ARC Tours.**

Summary (kellyparra.com): Do you believe in fate?
Kara Martinez has been trying to be "normal" ever since the accident that took her father's life when she was eleven years old. She's buried the caliente side of her Mexican heritage with her father and tried to be the girl her rigid mother wants her to be--compliant and dressed in pink, and certainly not acting out like her older brother Jason. Not even Danielle, her best friend at Valdez High, has seen the real Kara; only those who read her anonymous blog know the deepest secrets of the sign seer.
Because Kara has a gift--one that often feels like a curse. She sees signs, visions that are clues to a person's fate, if she can put together the pieces of the puzzle in time. So far, she's been able to solve the clues and avert disaster for those she's been warned about--until she sees the flash of a gun on a fellow classmate, and the stakes are raised higher than ever before. Kara does her best to follow the signs, but it's her heart that wanders into new territory when she falls for a mysterious guy from the wrong side of town, taking her closer to answers she may not be able to handle. Will her forbidden romance help her solve the deadly puzzle before it's too late...or lead her even further into danger?

My Thoughts: I had always wanted to read this book so when it came up for the tours I jumped at the opportunity to read it. For those who know me, I love MTV books and haven’t come across one that I didn’t love. Invisible Touch was no exception.

This novel has a little bit of everything: drama, love, suspense, mystery, fantasy. I really liked how the signs were like clues so you could solve the mystery along with Kara. This element will really get readers involved and sitting on the edge of their seats.

I really enjoyed Kara’s character and feel that many people will be able to relate to her. Her relationship with Andy was so strong and adorable. I loved it and wish I had it, haha.
One thing I really liked was the setting. I usually stay away from books having to do with gangs or people from the “wrong side of town” but I actually really liked it so now I’ll look more into that topic.

Invisible Touch is a great book that you should pick up. Highly recommended by me! I cannot wait to read more from Kelly Parra.

Rating: 3.5/5 stars
Happy Reading!

Love Is the Higher Law by David Levithan

2009-11-18T18:59:00.000-08:00

Title: Love Is the Higher Law
Author: David Levithan
Release Date: August 25, 2009
Publisher: Knopf Books for Young Readers
Pages: 176
Links: amazon/ borders/ indiebound

Summary (amazon.com): First there is a Before, and then there is an After. . . .The lives of three teens—Claire, Jasper, and Peter—are altered forever on September 11, 2001. Claire, a high school junior, has to get to her younger brother in his classroom. Jasper, a college sophomore from Brooklyn, wakes to his parents’ frantic calls from Korea, wondering if he’s okay. Peter, a classmate of Claire’s, has to make his way back to school as everything happens around him.Here are three teens whose intertwining lives are reshaped by this catastrophic event. As each gets to know the other, their moments become wound around each other’s in a way that leads to new understandings, new friendships, and new levels of awareness for the world around them and the people close by. David Levithan has written a novel of loss and grief, but also one of hope and redemption as his characters slowly learn to move forward in their lives, despite being changed forever.

My Thoughts: Just from the cover of this novel, which is amazing, I knew that this would be a very emotional read for me. Being from New York, 9/11 is a very touchy subject and something I get very upset about. To be honest, I was hesitant to read this novel because I was afraid of those emotions I had and if the novel would be completely wrong and unrealistic. But of course, I was wrong.

Love Is the Higher Law was a truly life changing book for me. I started getting choked up from the first chapter because even though I was young, I remembered everything that Levithan was describing. His characters and his description is so real, it’s shocking. This novel is just pure perfection in my eyes. David Levithan truly captured the fear and confusion from that day and the aftermath.

I read this novel in one sitting and after I was done my first thoughts were just “Wow, what a great book.” This is my first David Levithan novel but it will definitely not be my last. He is a true writer and can paint an amazing picture with words. I highly recommend everyone reads this novel because it will change the way you look at things. It’ll make you laugh, cry, and be so shocked that you have to close the book and come back to it. But it’s just so good. So if you haven’t already go read this outstanding book.

Rating: 5/5 stars
Btw, this is post number 200! Thanks everyone for following and sticking around.
Happy Reading!

Pretty Little Liars by Sara Shepard

2009-11-16T15:41:00.000-08:00

Title: Pretty Little Liars (Bk 1, Pretty Little Liars Series)
Author: Sara Shepard
Release Date: August 27, 2007
Publisher: Harper Teen
Pages: 304
Links: amazon/ borders/ indiebound

Summary (amazon.com): Aria, Emily, Spencer, Hanna and Alison have been best friends since the third grade. They go everywhere together, thinking no-one can come between them. If anyone is the ringleader of the group it is Alison, and the other girls cannot help but confide all their secrets to her. One night, during a sleepover, Alison goes missing. Her body is never found. The girls mourn her death but move apart after time, assuming their secrets have disappeared with Alison too. Three years later and Aria is having an affair with her teacher; Emily is questioning her sexuality; Hanna is a thief; and Spencer is flirting with her sister's fiancé. They all think their secrets are safe, until they start receiving messages from the mysterious A - who knows exactly what they are all up to, and is threatening to spill the beans...

My Thoughts: My first thoughts on Pretty Little Liars were that it was going to be this big murder mystery plot with a lot of drama. Yeahhhh, I was kinda wrong. But I’m no saying this is a negative thing. For lack of a better comparison, this is was closer to a more gossip girl type plot with a bit of mystery added on. But I love the drama that it did involve. So this novel wasn’t what I expected but it was amazing.

These characters were developed very well and the personalities of each character really stood out. Each character’s story was interesting and kept me hooked from page one. My personal favorite is Aria’s story because I felt that I shared her type of personality. Except the fact that she is messing around with her English teacher xD. But I give Sara Shepard two thumbs up for her characters and plot. I was completely captivated and didn’t put down the book until I finished it.

I would recommend this book to older teens because there are some older situations (Sex, Drug Use, Stealing, Language) but I believe they make the story and without them it wouldn’t be the same and the plot would feel two-dimensional. But this is just the beginning of a very fun series that I will definitely be continuing soon. So if you haven’t already please go check out this awesome series.

Rating: 4/5 Stars

Happy Reading!

In My Mailbox (November 15)

2009-11-15T08:24:00.000-08:00

In My Mailbox was started by Kristi of The Story Siren and Alea of Pop Culture Junkie.

This week I got a looooooot of books so here we go.

For Review:

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

* Invisible Touch by Kelly Parra~ This is for the 1 ARC Tours and it looks great~ Kara Martinez has been trying to be "normal" ever since the accident that took her father's life when she was eleven years old. She's buried the caliente side of her Mexican heritage with her father and tried to be the girl her rigid mother wants her to be — compliant and dressed in pink, and certainly not acting out like her older brother Jason. Not even Danielle, her best friend at Valdez High, has seen the real Kara; only those who read her anonymous blog know the deepest secrets of the Sign Seer.
Because Kara has a gift — one that often feels like a curse. She sees signs, visions that are clues to a person's fate, if she can put together the pieces of the puzzle in time. So far, she's been able to solve the clues and avert disaster for those she's been warned about — until she sees the flash of a gun on a fellow classmate, and the stakes are raised higher than ever before. Kara does her best to follow the signs, but it's her heart that wanders into new territory when she falls for a mysterious guy from the wrong side of town, taking her closer to answers she may not be able to handle. Will her forbidden romance help her solve the deadly puzzle before it's too late...or lead her even further into danger?

* The Mia Fullerton Series by Eileen Boggess~ This series look more middle grade but they look really cute.~ (Book 1-Mia The Meek) Mia the Meek is a tweener/teenager comedy about a 14-year-old girl, Mia, who resolves to cease her meek and timid ways once she enters high school, and then encounters unexpected hurdles when she overcompensates for her previous weaknesses.

From the Library: (AKA attack on the library)

*Pretty Little Liars by Sarah Shepard (I finsihed this one..so good!)

* Love Is The High Law by David Levithan (Read this in one sitting..such a moving read)

* Why I Let My Hair Grow Out by Maryrose Wood

* Liar by Justine Larbalestier

* Prada and Prejudice by Mandy Hubbard

* Runied by Paula Morris

*Fragile Eternity by Melissa Marr

*Possessed by Nancy Holder

Happy Reading!

Love on Cue by Catherine Hapka

2009-11-14T13:47:00.000-08:00

Title: Love on Cue

Author: Catherine Hapka

Summary: Maggie Tannery is a true theater girl and a total shoo-in for the lead in this year's school production of Romeo and Juliet. She's seriously psyched because it looks like her crush Daniel, might be playing her Romeo both on- and offstage- if all goes as planned.
But when her school decides to perform a musical instead, Maggie catches a major case of stage fright- because she can't sing! With her lead role in jeopardy, as well as her chance of winning her leading man, Maggie turns to the musically talented Nico to give her voice lessons. But their voices aren't the only things that seem to be harmonizing. As Maggie tries to break a leg- and not her heart- she wonders who the music man of her dreams really is...

Review: So lately I've been reading all these supernatural or very serious novels and I wanted to pick up something light and fluffy for once. And not to mention I love Simon Rom Coms and they put me in a very good mood.

I was very excited to read this particular romantic comedy because it has to do with theater. I enjoy theater, especially musicals so this was a very fun read. Now of course there is no depth in the characters but it's supposed to be that way. Maggie's character was very, very realistic and I liked that. She is a very shy person like I am but I'm not as shy as Maggie was.

In the beginning I wasn't really liking this novel but as the plot thickened and more happened, the story got better.

I recommend Love On Cue if you're in the mood for a light and fluffy romance read. It's so cute and I loved it. I cannot wait to read more Simon Romantic Comedies.

Rating: 4/5 Stars

Happy Reading!

Deadly Little Lies by Laurie Faria Stolarz

2009-11-09T12:21:00.000-08:00

Title: Deadly Little Lies (Touch novel, Bk 2)

Author: Laurie Faria Stolarz

Release Date: November 10, 2009

Summary: Last fall, sixteen-year-old Camelia fell for Ben, the mysterious new boy at school who turned out to have a very mysterious gift--pyschometry, the ability to sense the future through touch. But just as Camelia and Ben's romance began to heat up, he abruptly left town. Brokenhearted, Camelia has spent the last few months studying everything she can about psychometry, and experiencing her own strange brushes with premonition. Camelia wonders if Ben's abilities have somehow rubbed off on her. Can the power of psychometry be transferred? Even once Ben returns to school, Camelia can't get close enough to share her secret with him. Despite the romantic tension between them, Ben remains aloof, avoiding contact. Then when an unexpected kiss leads to a frightening argument, Camelia makes the painful decision to let Ben go and move on. Adam, the hot new guy at work, seems good for her in ways Ben wasn't. Adam is easygoing, and seems to really care about her.
But when Camelia and Adam start dating, a surprising love triangle results. A chilling sequence of events upturns secrets from Ben's past--and Adam's. Someone is lying, and it's up to Camelia to figure out who-before it's too late.

Review: I'm going to start this opening statement by saying that Laurie Faria Stolarz is one of my favorite authors. I love her writing and everything she has written I have adored. So you can imagine how excited I was when I was able to recieve Deadly Little Lies for review.

So you can check out my review for the first book in this series, Deadly Little Secret, and see that I loved it. So it was great to have all of the characters, that I know and love, back in action.

I really love the suspense and thrill that Stolarz brings to her novels and this one was no expception. I tasted and felt the fear and confusion that Camelia felt throughout the entire books and yet again I felt like a detective trying to guess who was guilty. Oh! and Ben...=]...I love him even though he's a complete jerk in the beginning of this book. But again, the characters are so fun and I feel this connection with them like they're my best friends as well.

So it pains me to say this but I had a little problem with this book. So there was all this build up and suspense and creepy stalker stuff. Also then the action leading up to the big reveal was epic but then the reveal came and I was expecting something way more. I mean it made sense with the story but I was just convinced it was someone else. Maybe that was the author's purpose but I just wish it would have been different.

But this series is amazing and if you haven't read this series yet go pick it up tomorrow because the second one will be released. This series will have you scared to sleep at night but you just cannot stand to put it down.

Rating: 4/5 stars

happy reading!

Hush, Hush by Becca Fitzpatrick

2009-11-06T19:40:00.000-08:00

Title: Hush, Hush

Author: Becca Fitzpatrick

Summary (amazon.com): For Nora Grey, romance was not part of the plan. She's never been particularly attracted to the boys at her school, no matter how much her best friend, Vee, pushes them at her. Not until Patch came along.
With his easy smile and eyes that seem to see inside her, Nora is drawn to him against her better judgment.
But after a series of terrifying encounters, Nora's not sure who to trust. Patch seems to be everywhere she is, and to know more about her than her closest friends. She can't decide whether she should fall into his arms or run and hide. And when she tries to seek some answers, she finds herself near a truth that is way more unsettling than anything Patch makes her feel.
For Nora is right in the middle of an ancient battle between the immortal and those that have fallen - and, when it comes to choosing sides, the wrong choice will cost her life.

Review: I've seen nothing but good reviews about Hush, Hush so when I finally got the chance to read it I was very excited and had very high expectations for it. Let me just say that my expectations were more than met.

This would be first fallen angel book I have read and I have fallen in love with them. Move aside vampires and werewolves, angels are coming through! The plot of Hush, Hush was great and the characters were so three-dimensional I felt as if I knew them and knew what their next move would be. I haven't felt this close to characters in a long time.

I did like Nora's character but sometimes found her annoying. Like when Patch was at the library she automatically thinks that he's following her when he's just there getting a book. But other than that I really liked her character and felt a connection while reading. Now onto Patch. I have heard somewhere that Patch was seen as annoying and obnoxious but I think he was the sexiest character ever. He was the dangerous and super cocky bad boy and I love every bit of him.

Hush, Hush had it all: romance, mystery, suspense, supernatural, and Patch!! =]

If you haven't read this book already, you must go and read it NOW! Yeah, it's that good.

Even if you really aren't a fan of paranormal reads still give it a try. This novel has a little something for everyone.

Rating: 5/5 stars

Happy Reading!

In My Mailbox (November 1)

2009-11-01T05:34:00.000-08:00

In My Mailbox was started by Kristi of The Story Siren and Alea of Pop Culture Junkie.

For Review:

* Boys, Girls, and Other Hazardous Materials by Rozalind Wiseman- I was so excited when I got this book. It looks really good.~ Looking for a new beginning after a terrible mean girl past, Charlie Healey realizes there’s no escaping high school drama. Charlie Healey thinks Harmony Falls is the beginning of a whole new life. Middle school was brutal. But high school is Charlie’s big chance to start over and stay out of drama, except that on her first day she runs into Will, her ex–best friend, who had moved away. Now a varsity athlete and hotter than Charlie remembered, Will hangs with the crowd running the school. But Charlie doesn’t understand their power until an innocent delivery guy falls victim to a near-deadly hazing prank. Torn between doing what’s right and her secret feelings for Will, Charlie must decide whether to turn in her very best friend or live with the guilt of knowing what he did.

Happy Reading!

Lament by Maggie Stiefvater

2009-11-01T05:15:00.000-08:00

Title: Lament: The Faerie Queen's Deception (Bk. 1)

Author: Maggie Stiefvater

Summary: Sixteen-year-old Deirdre Monaghan is a painfully shy but prodigiously gifted musician. She's about to find out she's also a cloverhand—one who can see faeries. Deirdre finds herself infatuated with a mysterious boy who enters her ordinary suburban life, seemingly out of thin air. Trouble is, the enigmatic and gorgeous Luke turns out to be a gallowglass—a soulless faerie assassin. An equally hunky—and equally dangerous—dark faerie soldier named Aodhan is also stalking Deirdre. Sworn enemies, Luke and Aodhan each have a deadly assignment from the Faerie Queen. Namely, kill Deirdre before her music captures the attention of the Fae and threatens the Queen's sovereignty. Caught in the crossfire with Deirdre is James, her wisecracking but loyal best friend. Deirdre had been wishing her life weren't so dull, but getting trapped in the middle of a centuries-old faerie war isn't exactly what she had in mind . . .

Review: Every faerie book I decide to read I am always hesitant about and then when I finally do read it, I knock myself in the head for waiting so long to read it. Did that same exact thing happen with Lament even though I read the summary and thought it look good? Absolutely.

Lament had all the elements of an outstanding novel: strong characters, good plot, twists, suspense, and romance. From the beginning I was sucked into this novel and wasn't spit out until the very end. Wow, it was good.

For starters, Deirdre was one of the most realistic characters I have ever read and experienced. She was shy and got nervous around people she didn't know. Exactly like me. But the one thing that made her so real were the emotions she felt. She is a character that is so talented but she just doesn't see it and doesn't think that highly of herself. This made me able to really get into Deirdre's shoes and truly experience this novel.

And Luke..oh my goodness.. he is defiantly drool-worthy. That is all I will say about that. =]

The plot and tone of this novel was simply amazing. I haven't read anything like this before so an original plot was very refreshing. It was dark, eerie, and even bone chilling at times. I love anything that has to do with fairy tales, fork lore, or legends and this combined all three which is a big bonus.

Lament is a flawless book. It keeps you on the edge your seat till the end and does not disappoint. If you haven't read this book, I recommend that you go do so because it is freakin awesome.

Rating: 5/5 stars

Happy Reading!

In My Mailbox (October 25)

2009-10-25T07:32:00.000-07:00

In My Mailbox was started by Kristi of The Story Siren and Alea of Pop Culture Junkie.

This week I recieved one book for review and I was jumping up and down when I got it.

Stupid Cupid by Rhonda Stapleton~Doesn't that look so cute?!?~ Felicity Walker believes in true love. That's why she applies for a gig at the matchmaking company Cupid's Hollow. But when Felicity gets the job, she learns that she isn't just a matchmaker...she's a cupid! (There's more than one of them, you know.) Armed with a hot pink, tricked-out PDA infused with the latest in cupid magic (love arrows shot through email), Felicity works to meet her quota of successful matches. But when she bends the rules of cupidity by matching her best friend Maya with three different boys at once, disaster strikes. Felicity needs to come up with a plan to set it all right, pronto, before she gets fired...and before Maya ends up with her heart split in three.

What did everyone else get? =]

Happy Reading!

Dreaming Anastasia by Joy Preble

2009-10-24T14:32:00.000-07:00

Title: Dreaming Anastasia

Author: Joy Preble

Summary: Sixteen year old Anne thinks her life is pretty ordinary – until she smacks into handsome, mysterious, and okay, annoying Ethan on her way to chemistry class. Now Anne has powers she doesn’t understand, a history altering mission she may not want, and a growing attraction to this blue-eyed stranger. And Ethan- who at eighteen made some choices he’s starting to regret – realizes that Anne is the girl for whom he’s been searching – for a very, very long time. Stir in doomed Russian Grand Duchess Anastasia – who is definitely not quite as dead as the history books say – and Baba Yaga, the legendary witch from Russian folklore, and you’ve got DREAMING ANASTASIA, a contemporary YA fantasy that alternates between the voices of Anne, Ethan, and Anastasia as Anne and Ethan join forces to battle the bad guys and save Anastasia. Only problem is – no one’s quite sure who’s really bad and who’s good. And everyone has some secrets

Review: I haven't read a book about Anastasia Romanov before so I was very excited to read this one.

To be honest, I'm very undecided about Dreaming Anastasia. The characters were outstanding but I didn't feel a connection with any of them. With this book written in alternating point of views, this should have been a given. I enjoyed them, don't get me wrong, but they only seemed two dimensional to me. Enough with the negative, let's go on with some positives. The plot was so unique and original, it made up for the characters.I felt as if I was living in a fairy tale. While reading I saw all the settings and Baba Yaga's forest. I thought that incorporating Baba Yaga was so fun and the perfect recipe for an amazing plot.

Unfortunatly through the first half of the book I thought it was just okay. I wasn't really connecting with anything and didn't really feel excited to read. I didn't have that "OMG I must read now, now, now" feeling. But then there was one twist around the middle of the book that turned my whole percpective. I then become so involved with the plot that I couldn't stop reading. I wish my ideas of the characters had changed as well.

Overall, Dreaming Anastasia is a pretty good read. It's great for the Halloween season but also anytime of the year. It's available now so go and pick up a copy. You won't regret it.

Rating: 3.5-4/5 stars

happy reading