Saturday, April 30, 2011

Books read in April 2011

51. Miles from Ordinary by Carol Lynch Williams
52. City of Fallen Angels by Cassandra Clare
53. Bitter End by Jennifer Brown
54. Moonglass by Jessi Kirby
55. Hourglass by Myra McEntire
56. Sweetly by Jackson Pearce
57. How I Stole Johnny Depp's Alien Boyfriend by Gary Ghislain
58. Shadow Walkers by Brent Hartinger
59. Paradise by Jill S. Alexander
60. Enclave by Ann Aguire
61. OyMG by Amy Fellner Dominy
62. Flawless by Lara Chapman
63. The Goddess Test by Aimee Carter
64. Shift by Jeri Smith-Ready
65. Unnatural by Michael Griffo

Reviews posted from these books: 3 of these books so far, a few are planned to be posted later.
Books from Library: 0
Books for Review: 12
Books borrowed: 0
My Favorite: Hourglass. It was really original and I love Time Travel.
My Least Favorite: Unnatural, the plot was too slow and bored me.
Debut Authors '11: 16 read 34 books left

Friday, April 29, 2011

A Blue So Dark by Holly Schindler

Source: Bought
Fifteen-year-old Aura Ambrose has been hiding a secret. Her mother, a talented artist and art teacher, is slowly being consumed by schizophrenia, and Aura has been her sole caretaker ever since Aura's dad left them. Convinced that "creative" equals crazy, Aura shuns her own artistic talent. But as her mother sinks deeper into the darkness of mental illness, the hunger for a creative outlet draws Aura toward the depths of her imagination. Just as desperation threatens to swallow her whole, Aura discovers that art, love, and family are profoundly linked—and together may offer an escape from her fears.
A Blue So Dark was an emotionally grueling book that made it hard for me not to cry every second as I read it. Aura is such a strong girl that would do anything for her mom and she tries to through out her book. Her mom keeps on sinking deeper and deeper into the madness and I couldn't help feeling sorry for both Aura and her mom as they both had to deal with her mother's madness. The plot was an accurate portrait of schizophrenia and it engaged me along the way. It showed that it affects more then the person on medication, but also their family and friends. Schindler's writing was remarkable and I was amazed by her debut. I can't wait to read Playing Hurt, which is Holly's next book. I recommend this book to fans of contemporary young adult fiction that want something fresh, yet intense. It also presented a unique insight into mental illness that I haven't seen much in Young Adult Fiction.

Thursday, April 28, 2011

Enclave by Ann Aguirre

Source: Publisher
New York City has been decimated by war and plague, and most of civilization has migrated to underground enclaves, where life expectancy is no more than the early 20's. When Deuce turns 15, she takes on her role as a Huntress, and is paired with Fade, a teenage Hunter who lived Topside as a young boy. When she and Fade discover that the neighboring enclave has been decimated by the tunnel monsters—or Freaks—who seem to be growing more organized, the elders refuse to listen to warnings. And when Deuce and Fade are exiled from the enclave, the girl born in darkness must survive in daylight, in the ruins of a city whose population has dwindled to a few dangerous gangs. As the two are guided by Fade’s long-ago memories, they face dangers, and feelings, unlike any they’ve ever known.
I immediately fell in love with Enclave from the first page. This book has so much intense originality that I instantly fell in love with the character, the story, and the writing. Deuce is such a kick ass female character. She is really strong and fearless. I also liked that she would do anything to survive. I love Fade. He was really smart for the time period that he was from, and he also didn't give up on anything. The Gangers and Freaks were well developed and I can't wait to learn more about these concepts of the book. The story was very intense and kept me guessing on what would happen next. The ending was so sudden and I can't wait to see what will happen next in this series. Aguirre's writing is fast paced and very raw, but it seems to fit the story perfectly. I had a hard time not reading this book, it was so consuming. I highly recommend this book to anyone that loves an intense dystopian novel with complex, but very thrilling plot.

Wednesday, April 27, 2011

Waiting on Wednesday (99)

Title: Past Perfect
Author: Leila Sales
Publisher: Bloomsbury
Date: October 4th, 2011
A summer job is exactly the distraction that Chelsea needs in order to finally get over Ezra, the boy who dumped her on her a** and broke her heart to pieces just a few weeks before. So when Chelsea's best friend, Fiona, signs them up for roles at Essex Historical Colonial Village, Chelsea doesn't protest too hard, even though it means spending the summer surrounded by drama geeks and history nerds. Chelsea will do anything to forget Ezra.

But when Chelsea and Fiona show up for their new jobs, they find out Ezra's working there too. Maybe Chelsea should have known better than to think a historical reenactment village could help her escape her past. ...or will this turn out to be exactly the summer that Chelsea needed, after all?

I loved Leila Sales' first book Mostly Good Girls, when I read it last year. It was clever and really funny. I can't wait to read her next book Past Perfect, which sounds so amazing.

Tuesday, April 26, 2011

The Playlist for Girl Wonder by Alexa Martin

Alexa Martin was kind enough to share her playlist from Girl Wonder. These songs are all amazing and I hope you will enjoy her list.
1. All You Zombies--The Hooters (a "welcome to your new high school from hell" song)
2. Lips Like Sugar--Echo & The Bunnymen (a good song to play during an "it" girl's first appearance in a book)
3. Don't Think Twice It's Alright--Bob Dylan
4. London is Calling--The Kinks (makes me think of Charlotte's brother, James Henry, a kid way too cool for his own good)
5. The Killing Moon--Echo and the Bunnymen
6. Porch--Pearl Jam (a good song for the-acid-trip-from-hell scene)
7. Sometime Around Midnight--The Airborne Toxic Event (this song really gets at the agony of unrequited love)
8. Hey you--Pink Floyd
9. Suffering--Satchel
10. Let My Love Open the Door--The Who (ah, new love. such a giddy song!)
11. Fix You--Cold Play (this song would play during the movie preview of my book)

Monday, April 25, 2011

Don't Breathe A Word Cover Piece

Today, I have a Piece of Holly Cupala's cover of her new book, Don't Breathe a Word.
The cover will be revealed tomorrow at 8am CST on these blogs:
Make sure to check them out, because the cover is absolutely amazing.
Other pieces can be found at these blogs:
Holly Cupala keeps a regular blog on her website and is also on twitter.
Here is the summary, which sounds amazing:
Joy Delamere is suffocating.
From asthma, which has nearly claimed her life. From her parents, who will do anything to keep that from happening. From delectably dangerous Asher, who is smothering her from the inside out.
Joy can take his words—tender words, cruel words—until the night they go too far.
Now, Joy will leave everything behind to find the one who has offered his help, a homeless boy called Creed. She will become someone else. She will learn to survive. She will breathe…if only she can get to Creed before it’s too late.
Set against the gritty backdrop of Seattle’s streets and a cast of characters with secrets of their own, Holly Cupala’s powerful new novel explores the subtleties of abuse, the meaning of love, and how far a girl will go to discover her own strength.
Holly is also giveaway three copies signed copies of Tell Me a Secret. You can earn one entry by commenting on this post, and you can earn more entries by commenting on other cover piece post. This contest is international and make sure to leave your email in the your comment, so Holly can get in touch with the winners. The contest will run till Midnight Tuesday.

Giveaway of A Discovery of Witches by Deborah Harkness

I was asked by Penguin, if I would giveaway a copy of A Discovery of Witches. It is an adult novel, but a lot of the reviews said that it had crossover to the Young Adult fiction. Here is the summary:
A richly inventive novel about a centuries-old vampire, a spellbound witch, and the mysterious manuscript that draws them together.
Deep in the stacks of Oxford's Bodleian Library, young scholar Diana Bishop unwittingly calls up a bewitched alchemical manuscript in the course of her research. Descended from an old and distinguished line of witches, Diana wants nothing to do with sorcery; so after a furtive glance and a few notes, she banishes the book to the stacks. But her discovery sets a fantastical underworl
d stirring, and a horde of daemons, witches, and vampires soon descends upon the library. Diana has stumbled upon a coveted treasure lost for centuries-and she is the only creature who can break its spell.Debut novelist Deborah Harkness has crafted a mesmerizing and addictive read, equal parts history and magic, romance and suspense. Diana is a bold heroine who meets her equal in vampire geneticist Matthew
Clairmont, and gradually warms up to him as their alliance deepens into an intimacy that violates age-old taboos. This smart, sophisticated story harks back to the novels of Anne Rice, but it is as contemporary and sensual as the Twilight series-with an extra serving of historical realism.
The contest will run until Sunday at midnight. Just leave comment, if you want a chance to win the book and pins.

Sunday, April 24, 2011

In My Mailbox (Week of April 24th)


For Review:
OyMG by Amy Fellner Dominy
Flawless by Lara Chapman
The A Circuit by Georgia Bloomberg & Catherine Hapka
Tempest Rising by Tracy Debbs

Saturday, April 23, 2011

Carmen by Walter Dean Myers

Source: Publisher
A retelling of the Bizet opera set in Spanish Harlem in which a teen with a fiery temper wants the one boy she can't have, with deadly consequences.
Carmen is an amazing opera that I adore. Other then the setting, this story is relatively similar and I found the story just as enchanting. Myers captured the Opera and made it a quick book. I really enjoyed it, but I think that you are going to have to be familiar with the opera to understand it 100%.

Friday, April 22, 2011

Catching Up Readathon

I decided to do the Catch Up Readathon, because I am 3 books behind for my goal of 200 books this year. I want to read about ten books this weekend and since this started yesterday, I think it is definitely possible. This Readathon is hosted by Kristin at Bookworming in the 21st Century, and you can join right now.
My Progress:
1. Paradise by Jill S. Alexander (Read)
2. Enclave by Ann Aguirre (Currently Reading)


Are You Ready?

OMG, DOCTOR WHO IS ON TOMORROW!
Time for the trailer!

So, who else is as excited as I am?

In book-ish news, here is Richelle Mead talking about Bloodlines.

Thursday, April 21, 2011

Shadow Walkers by Brent Hartinger

Source: Author
Zach lives with his grandparents on a remote island in Puget Sound in Washington State. With only his little brother, Gilbert, to keep him company, Zach feels cut off from the world. But when Gilbert is kidnapped, Zach tries the only thing he can think of to find him: astral projection. Soon, his spirit is soaring through the strange and boundless astral realm—a shadow place. While searching for his brother, Zach meets a boy named Emory, another astral traveler who's intriguing (and cute).
As Zach and Emory track the kidnappers from the astral realm, their bond grows—but each moment could be Gilbert's last. Even worse, there's a menacing, centuries-old creature in their midst that devours souls and possesses physical bodies. And it's hungry for Zach.
From Brent Hartinger, the award-winning and critically acclaimed author of Geography Club.

I have heard a lot of amazing things about Hartinger's books. So, I was really excited to read it. The main character Zach is really well developed and I felt that I knew him really well. Sadly, I didn't feel like that about Emory and Gilbert, who both weren't developed as much as I would like. The plot is rather exciting, but a lot of it seemed rushed, which may have been why I had a tiny problem with the characters and it seemed like several details about the Astral Realm were missing. I found the premise to be really new and exciting. I really wish that it had more depth. Hartinger's writing was lovely and made this story very enjoyable. Overall, I liked Shadow Walkers, even with the issues that I had with it. I just wish that it wasn't as rushed and maybe a bit longer.

Wednesday, April 20, 2011

Invincible Summer by Hannah Moskowitz

Source: Publisher
Noah’s happier than I’ve seen him in months. So I’d be an awful brother to get in the way of that. It’s not like I have some relationship with Melinda. It was just a kiss. Am I going to ruin Noah’s happiness because of a kiss?
Across four sun-kissed, drama-drenched summers at his family’s beach house, Chase is falling in love, falling in lust, and trying to keep his life from falling apart. But some girls are addictive....
Not your typical beach read.
After reading Break, I was so excited for Moskowitiz's next novel and was sad to hear that it wasn't coming out until over a year from then. Though it was definitely worth the wait. Invincible Summer was a one of a kind novel that completely surprised me. The relationships between the siblings are similar to mine. I am really close to my sisters and brother and I really loved seeing that in a book. There are complexities in each character that made them more realistic and helped me understand them. Chase was a very sweet character and I loved how much he cared about everyone. Noah was a really interesting character that kept on surprising. Gideon was just so cute and amazing. I liked how Moskowitiz included some Deaf culture in the book. The rest of the family felt so real to me and I became attached to each of them. The feel of summer was infused through out the plot, and I loved that. I also liked that the book was broken across four summers and that I could feel bits of what has happened over the past year. Moskowitiz is a gifted author and I can't wait to read more from her. I recommend this to anyone looking for a very unique and remarkable summer read with lots of depth.

Tuesday, April 19, 2011

City of Ashes by Cassandra Clara

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 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?
In this breathtaking sequel to City of Bones, Cassandra Clare lures her readers back into the dark grip of New York City's Downworld, where love is never safe and power becomes the deadliest temptation.
I recently reread this series and decided to review it, since I haven't. I love this series. It is definitely what I would recommend to anyone that is just starting to read young adult, because it has such rich and developed characters, an exciting plot, and writing that is perfected. Clary is a sweet girl that is trying to do the right thing, which other then trying to wake up her mom and other then that, she isn't really sure what to. She thinks she loves Jace, but he is her brother and that is wrong. Jace is very cocky and sarcastic, but you can't help loving him. Especially when you see Clary and him interact and a total other side of him emerges out of no where. He also wants to protect the people he loves more then anything and he knows that his father is the cause of it. Simon is sweet and I can't help adoring him. His geekiness is really cute and his devotion to Clary is well awesome. Isabelle is a kick ass female character that you adore, even though she can be frightening at times. Alec is unsure or who he is and how that fits into his life. I found his relationship with Magnus to be adorable.
The plot of this book keeps you excited from the first word to the last. Every moment in this book is full of action, suspense, or magic. The originality of this book is awesome. I love how it is based on mythology and is so unique. Clare's writing captures your imagination and makes it run while. Even when I was rereading this, I couldn't wait to start the next book right away. You have to read this series, it is definitely one of my favorites.

Guest Post from Jennifer Archer

Jennifer Archer is the Author of Through Her Eyes. Today I have a post from her about the Top 10 Ways Jennifer Archer was like Tansy Piper (main character in Through Her Eyes) as a teen.
1. I lived a lot of different places while growing up. By the time I was 11 years old, I had moved more than 20 times!
2. I started my junior year of high school at a new school in a new city, and for the first couple of weeks, I spent lunch periods sitting in a cubicle in the library.
3. I scorned jocks!
4. I also scorned cheerleaders. That was probably unfair of me. I might’ve been a little jealous of all the attention they received at school.
5. Although I scorned jocks, I would’ve secretly thought Tate Hudson was hot. J
6. I was intrigued by moody, artistic guys like Henry, but was also somewhat wary of them.
7. A high school English teacher once asked me to read something I’d written to the class, and I was terrified.
8. I had (and have!) a great mom, but I was often frustrated with her.
9. Tansy has a wonderful grandfather in Papa Dan, and I also had wonderful grandparents.
10. I liked poetry.

Monday, April 18, 2011

Drought by Pam Bachorz

Ruby Prosser dreams of escaping the Congregation and the early-nineteenth century lifestyle that’s been practiced since the community was first enslaved.
She plots to escape the vicious Darwin West, his cruel Overseers, and the daily struggle to gather the life-prolonging Water that keeps the Congregants alive and gives Darwin his wealth and power. But if Ruby leaves, the Congregation will die without the secret ingredient that makes the Water special: her blood.
So she stays.
But when Ruby meets Ford, the new Overseer who seems barely older than herself, her desire for freedom is too strong. He’s sympathetic, irresistible, forbidden—and her only access to the modern world. Escape with Ford would be so simple, but can Ruby risk the terrible price, dooming the only world she’s ever known?
I finished this book in February and I wasn't sure, if I loved it or not. t has been two months and I still have very mixed feelings about Drought. I really like Ruby. She was a really sweet character, but I didn't like that she was overpowered so easily by the Congregation and didn't make that many decisions. Ford was also an amazing person, and I loved the magnetic relationship between Ruby and him. A lot of the other character felt flat, because the oppression lost a lot of their personality. The cult was also frightening and I was rooting for Ruby to find an escape. The plot was very simple and repetitive for a lot of the book, but it slowly became quite of a magical book that captured my imagination. Sadly, a lot that I wanted to know were left out of the book. The writing in Drought is fantastic, and I really loved Bachorz's style. The writing was truly magical, but parts of the characters and plot weren't as developed as I would have liked. I would recommend this book, if you are looking for something very different to read.

Sunday, April 17, 2011

In My Mailbox (Week of April 17th)


Bought:
Red Glove by Holly Black
Zombies VS Unicorns edited by Holly Black and Justine Larbelistier
The Poison Eaters by Holly Black
Ironside by Holly Black
Valiant by Holly Black
Gift from my local indie, Third Place Books:
Sweetly by Jackson Pearce
For Review:
The Sweetheart of Prosper County by Jill S. Alexander
Paradise by Jill S. Alexander
Mad Love by Suzanne Selfors
Fallen Grace by Mary Hooper
Taking Off by Jenny Moss
The Undertakers by Ty Drago

Saturday, April 16, 2011

Signings, Rock The Drop!, and other things I have been up to.

Happy Saturday! Lately I have been really busy. First off signings, I went to Rachel Hawkins and Sarwat Chadda last month, Gwen Hayes earlier this month and Holly Black and Cassandra Clare's signing on Thursday. All were really amazing and I enjoyed it. I also did Rock the Drop on Thursday, which is awesome. If you are the person that found White Cat on the Bremerton-Seattle Ferry let me know.
And Lastly I became an Aunt to Damien Chance Sherwin. He is so adorable and a really awesome baby. He verily cries and already is adorable.

Friday, April 15, 2011

Miles from Ordinary by Carol Lynch Williams

Source: Publisher
Thirteen-year-old Lacey wakes to a beautiful summer morning excited to begin her new job at the library, just as her mother is supposed to start work at the grocery store. Lacey hopes that her mother's ghosts have finally been laid to rest; after all, she seems so much better these days, and they really do need the money. But as the hours tick by and memories come flooding back, a day full of hope spins terrifyingly out of control....
Miles From Ordinary seems like it might be middle grade at the beginning, but the story quickly pulled me in. It definitely had young adult and adult appeal. Lacey is such a sweet girl that I absolutely adored.She wanted more from life, then she knew of. I was glad that she wanted to take initiative and change her life for the better. I also loved her love of reading. It was so cute. Her mother's madness was frightening and constantly changing. Williams crafted her madness, so well. The plot kept me surprised and I wasn't sure what was going to happen to Lacey or her mom. I liked that the plot had flashbacks to the past to show how much her mom has changed. Williams' writing keep on getting better. She know how to write about issues that you don't feel overwhelmed about the subject. I can't wait for more from her in the future. I recommend this book to anyone that is looking for a unique, but edgy read.

Thursday, April 14, 2011

Betrayal by Lee Nichols

Source: Publisher
Emma Vaile is the most powerful ghostkeeper in centuries. Which is great when she's battling the wraith-master Neos, but terrible when she's flirting with fellow ghostkeeper (and soul mate) Bennett. When ghostkeepers fall in love, the weaker one loses all power, and that's not something Bennett can handle. Heartbroken and alone, Emma tries to lose herself in school with fellow ghostkeeper, Natalie. When a new team of ghostkeepers arrive—one a snarky teen
boy, the other a British scholar—Emma finds solace in training for the battle against Neos. But as the team grows stronger, they are threatened by an unknown force. One they thought was good.
As chilling and page-turning as Deception, this sequel will grab readers and hold them to the last page. No one is safe from suspicion as Emma closes in on the traitor.

Betrayal brings us deeper into Emma's ghost keeper world as I learned a lot more about her powers and also her family. I continued to love Emma's spirited and brave attitude no matter what happens. I liked that she also realized that she had to take responsibility on fighting against Neos. Bennett developed a lot more, because he had to make a lot of difficult choices about Emma and his relationship. It is so sad that they can't be together without too many consequences and I hated what he was doing to himself in the book.. I loved the other characters in this book, they all bring something amazing to the book and contributed to the plot. The plot started off slow, but it quickly became fast paced and continually more exciting. I can't wait to see what happens in the sequel, and what surprises come with it. Nichols' writing is stunning and I loved how she blended the old and new characters to make one harmonious cast of unique characters.

Wednesday, April 13, 2011

Waiting on Wednesday (98)

Title: OyMG
Author: Amy Fellner Dominy
Publisher: Bloomsbury
Date: May 10th 2011

Ellie Taylor loves nothing better than a good argument. So when she gets accepted to the Christian Society Speech and Performing Arts summer camp, she's sure that if she wins the final tournament, it'll be her ticket to a scholarship to the best speech school in the country. Unfortunately, the competition at CSSPA is hot—literally. His name is Devon and, whether she likes it or not, being near him makes her sizzle. Luckily she's confident enough to take on the challenge—until she begins to suspect that the private scholarship's benefactor has negative feelings toward Jews. Will hiding her true identity and heritage be worth a shot at her dream?
Debut author Amy Fellner Dominy mixes sweet romance, surprising secrets, and even some matzo ball soup to cook up a funny yet heartfelt story about an outspoken girl who must learn to speak out for herself.
This book sounds so cute and the cover is cute too.

Tuesday, April 12, 2011

Trailer Tuesday (32)

This books sounds so amazing. I love the plot and I am excited to read it.

Monday, April 11, 2011

Back When You Were Easier to Love by Emily Wing Smith

Source: Publisher
What's worse than getting dumped? Not even knowing if you've been dumped. Joy got no goodbye, and certainly no explanation when Zan—the love of her life and the only good thing about stifling, backward Haven, Utah—unceremoniously and unexpectedly left for college a year early. Joy needs closure almost as much as she needs Zan, so she heads for California, and Zan, riding shotgun beside Zan's former-best-friend Noah.
Original and insightful, quirky and crushing, Joy's story is told in surprising and artfully shifting flashbacks between her life then and now. Exquisite craft and wry, relatable humor signal the arrival of Emily Wing Smith as a breakout talent.
This book is hard to explain, because I absolutely loved it and so much happened in this book. Joy was obsessed with her ex-boyfriend Zan. I hated that he had so much power over her and that she wouldn't let him go. I hated that she tried to change herself for him and the fact that she couldn't see how amazing she was to begin with. I liked that through out the book, she finally realized that she was better then Zan. I also liked that this book did touch on Joy's Mormon beliefs, but it didn't force it down your throat. The Joy at the end of book is a new person and I felt that it was perfect for the story. I adored Noah and he was an awesome guy that I really appreciated to see in Young Adult Fiction. I liked that he also had problems and wasn't the perfect guy that he seemed and had his own issues that he was dealing with. Zan was such a jerk. I love the plot. There were a lot of the surprises on the way and who doesn't love a road trip. This was a really original book with amazing characters and a fun plot. Emily Wing Smith surprised me with this treasure of a read. I highly recommend that you read this book.

Sunday, April 10, 2011

In My Mailbox (Week of April 10)

Bought:
City of Fallen Angels by Cassandra Clare
Who will be tempted by darkness? Who will fall in love, and who will find their relationship torn apart? And who will betray everything they ever believed in?Love. Blood. Betrayal. Revenge.In the heart-pounding fourth installment of the Mortal Instruments series, the stakes are higher than ever.
Yay for this book, but it was insanely evil.

Saturday, April 9, 2011

Family by Micol Ostow

Source: Publisher
i have always been broken. i could have. died. and maybe it would have been better if i had. It is a day like any other when seventeen-year-old Melinda Jensen hits the road for San Francisco, leaving behind her fractured home life and a constant assault on her self-esteem. Henry is the handsome, charismatic man who comes upon her, collapsed on a park bench, and offers love, a bright new consciousness, and—best of all—a family. One that will embrace her and give her love. Because family is what Mel has never really had. And this new family, Henry’s family, shares everything. They share the chores, their bodies, and their beliefs. And if Mel truly wants to belong, she will share in everything they do. No matter what the family does, or how far they go. Told in episodic verse, family is a fictionalized exploration of cult dynamics, loosely based on the Manson Family murders of 1969. It is an unflinching look at people who are born broken, and the lengths they’ll go to to make themselves “whole” again.
Family is a haunting portrait of what happens in a cult and the darkness that can be in other people's life. I felt sorry for the people that have been sucked into this type of environment and having to deal with that. I have already been interested in the Manson Family, so I was excited to read this and I could see a lot of it in the story. I felt sorry for Melinda and how she was stuck in such a harmful environment as she tried to find out who she really was. I really liked how Ostow only capitalized words, when referring to Henry, which made his power more frightening and understandable. The things that happened were scary and sickening. It really moved the plot along and kept me engrossed into every single detail. I found this story really original and engaging. Ostow's writing was wonderful and left me wanting more. Her verse writing was like poetry and made me treasure every moment. I adored this book and would recommend this to someone looking for an original and capturing book.

Friday, April 8, 2011

The Gathering by Kelley Armstrong

Source: Publisher
Strange things are happening in Maya's tiny Vancouver Island town. First, her friend Serena, the captain of the swim team, drowns mysteriously in the middle of a calm lake. Then, one year later, mountain lions are spotted rather frequently around Maya's home—and her reactions to them are somewhat . . . unexpected. Her best friend, Daniel, has also been experiencing unexplainable premonitions about certain people and situations.
It doesn't help that the new bad boy in town, Rafe, has a dangerous secret, and he's interested in one special part of Maya's anatomy—her paw-print birthmark.

The Gathering was a really interesting book. It didn't have as many twist and turns as Armstrong's previous young adult books, but I was still interested to see what the St. Cloud Corporation is up to and how it will continue to develop in the next two books. I really loved Maya. She was a gutsy and fearless teenager that was full of spirit and strength. Daniel was confusing, because at times, he felt like a brother and other times, he seemed like he wanted more from Maya. Rafe was a sweet guy, but I still feel that he is keeping something hidden from Maya. The plot was rather engaging, even though it was rather predictable and slow at times. I am really interested to see what really happened to Serena. The ending was rather sudden, and I can't wait for the next book. Armstrong created a book with just a hint of mystery, remarkable characters, and an ending that will leave you wanting more. If you enjoyed the Darkest Power Series, The Gathering is a must read.

Thursday, April 7, 2011

The Time-Traveling Fashionista by Bianca Turetsky

Source: Publisher
When Louise Lambert receives a mysterious invitation to a traveling vintage fashion sale in the mail, her normal life in suburban Connecticut is magically transformed into a time traveling adventure.
After a brief encounter with two witchy salesladies and donning an evening gown that once belonged to a beautiful silent film star, Louise suddenly finds herself onboard a luxurious cruise ship in 1912. As Alice Baxter, the silent film star, Louise enjoys her access to an extensive closet of gorgeous vintage gowns and begins to get a feel for the challenges and the glamour of life during this decadent era. Until she realizes that she's not just on any ship-- she's on the Titanic!
Will Louise be able to save herself and change the course of history, or are she and her film star alter ego, destined to go down with a sinking ship in the most infamous sea disaster of the 20th century?

This is probably the most adorable book that I have read it a while. Louise was such a dreamer, and that helped the book so much. She was a fan of classic movies, which is what made me love her so much. I loved her fashion ideas and the drawing, which were so adorable. I am a fan girl of pretty much anything to do time travel, so I loved that aspects of the novel. The challenge of being on the Titanic added a great element to the story and I liked how it was factual, while very entertaining. I think that this book will definitely appeal to middle school students and teenagers alike. Turetsky is planning on writing a sequel and I am excited to see what will come up next. It was a very cute, but quick read.

Wednesday, April 6, 2011

Waiting on Wednesday (97)

Title: You Against Me
Author: Jenny Downham
Publisher: Random House
Date: September 13th 2011

If someone hurts your sister and you're any kind of man, you seek revenge.
If your brother's accused of a terrible crime but says he didn't do it, you defend him.
When Mikey's sister claims a boy assaulted her, his world begins to fall apart. When Ellie's brother is charged with the offense, her world begins to unravel. When Mikey and Ellie meet, two worlds collide.
This is a brave and unflinching novel from the bestselling author of Before I Die. It's a book about loyalty and the choices that come with it. But above all, it's a book about love.

I loved Before I Die and can't wait to read this book. It sounds amazing!

Tuesday, April 5, 2011

Where She Went by Gayle Forman

Source: Publisher
It's been three years since the devastating accident ... three years since Mia walked out of Adam's life forever.
Now living on opposite coasts, Mia is Julliard's rising star and Adam is LA tabloid fodder, thanks to his new rock star status and celebrity girlfriend. When Adam gets stuck in New York by himself, chance brings the couple together again, for one last night. As they explore the city that has become Mia's home, Adam and Mia revisit the past and open their hearts to the future - and each other.
Told from Adam's point of view in the spare, lyrical prose that defined If I Stay, Where She Went explores the devastation of grief, the promise of new hope, and the flame of rekindled romance.

If I Stay was such a remarkable book, because while the idea was simple. It was developed in such a stunning way that it makes you think about what you would choose. I was so excited for Where She Went when I heard about it. Gayle Forman has such a remarkable way with words and that is part of the reason that I was so excited. The other being that I love these characters. Mia reminded me so much of myself and it was amazing to see how different she was three years later. Adam was amazing. I could feel how heartbroken he was after Mia left him and also found insight into the haunting lyrics that began each chapter. The chapters alternate between the past and the present of Adam and Mia. The glimpse into what happened made me keep on guessing what exactly went wrong. Though their chemistry shines through out the book, and I couldn't question how much they cared for each other. The writing was so raw and emotional that I felt it the whole time. I couldn't stop crying and laughing at times. Where She Went has the same gripping necessitous that If I Stay had. I couldn't stop reading this book.I highly suggest that you read this book as soon as possible. It is a must for anyone that loved If I Stay.

Monday, April 4, 2011

Red Glove by Holly Black

Source: Publisher
Curses and cons. Magic and the mob. In Cassel Sharpe's world, they go together. Cassel always thought he was an ordinary guy, until he realized his memories were being manipulated by his brothers. Now he knows the truth—he’s the most powerful curse worker around. A touch of his hand can transform anything—or anyone—into something else.
That was how Lila, the girl he loved, became a white cat. Cassel was tricked into thinking he killed her, when actually he tried to save her. Now that she's human again, he should be overjoyed. Trouble is, Lila's been cursed to love him, a little gift from his emotion worker mom. And if Lila's love is as phony as Cassel's made-up memories, then he can't believe anything she says or does.
When Cassel's oldest brother is murdered, the Feds recruit Cassel to help make sense of the only clue—crime-scene images of a woman in red gloves. But the mob is after Cassel too—they know how valuable he could be to them. Cassel is going to have to stay one step ahead of both sides just to survive. But where can he turn when he can't trust anyone—least of all, himself?
Love is a curse and the con is the only answer in a game too dangerous to lose.

Holly Black's Red Glove continues in the amazing world that she created with so much talent and imagination in White Cat. It seemed so layered and realistic through out the whole book. This story will suck you in from the very beginning and will leave you wanting more. Red Glove is a really fast read the ending will leave you wanting the next book.
Black's characters have so much depth and spirit that they jump out of the page and you can't help to relate to them. I adore Cassel. He really doesn't want to be Curse Worker, because he has seen what it has done to his family. He doesn't whine about what is happening, but rather takes charge. Lila is such a sweet character and I was surprised how she developed, like how easily she could get mad and that she can be just as manipulative as her father. I found Cassel and her relationship to be so complicated and intense, but at the same time, it is strangely adorable. Sam is the funny best friend that helped make this story awesome. Daneca was also a great character and I liked how supportive of Sam, she was and how they developed a friendship. Daneca and Sam were such a cute couple. Cassel's mom really flourished in the books at the beginning, I though that she was just a controlling bitch, but it really showed that she will do anything to protect her family. Overall, the characters were ever-changing and so memorable.
The twist and turns in Red Glove keep you engaged every moment along the way. Black's writing is one of the kind with spot on pacing and precise details. I can't help loving her books. I highly recommend that you buy this book as soon as possible and read White Cat now, if you haven't. I am sure that this series will only continue to get better.

Saturday, April 2, 2011

Stay by Deb Caletti

Source: Publisher
Clara’s relationship with Christian is intense from the start, and like nothing she’s ever experienced before. But what starts as devotion quickly becomes obsession, and it’s almost too late before Clara realizes how far gone Christian is—and what he’s willing to do to make her stay.
Now Clara has left the city—and Christian—behind. No one back home has any idea where she is, but she still struggles to shake off her fear. She knows Christian won’t let her go that easily, and that no matter how far she runs, it may not be far enough....

The chapters alternate between Clara, when she was with Christian and at the present. Clara is a smart girl, even with what happened with Christian and I could tell that she deeply cared about him and wishes him the best in his future, but wanted a fresh start. I felt every single emotion that Clara was dealing with and more. She has confusion, frustration, and uncertainty about what had happened. Finn was such a sweet boy and I wanted to hug him for all of his understanding and general awesomeness through out the book. Her relationship with Finn felt more natural then the one with Christian from her memories, which served as a great contrast in the books. It is full of so many emotions and Caletti captured all of them amazingly. The plot was stunning and powerful and I just adored this story. I have actually been to most of the places in the book, so I could picture Seattle and Deception Point amazingly by my memories and the description. I think that Caletti tackled a difficult issue with a lot of grace and elegance, while still capture the horror that people face both during and after a relationship. It was believable and complex. I can't wait for more from Deb Caletti and recommend this to fans of Sarah Dessen and Ellen Hopkins.

Friday, April 1, 2011

Books read in March

27. The House of Six Doors by Patricia Selbert
28. Through Her Eyes by Jennifer Archer
29. Hex Hall by Rachel Hawkins
30. Demonglass by Rachel Hawkins
31. Darkest Mercy by Melissa Marr
32. The Locket by Stacey Jay
33. Bloody Valentine by Melissa De La Cruz
34. Keys to the Respiratory by Melissa De La Cruz
35. Fat Kid Rules The World by K.L. Going
36. A Need So Beautiful by Suzanne Young
37. Love, Ghost, & Facial Hair by Steven Herrick
38. Red Glove by Holly Black
39. Family by Micol Ostow
40. Girl Wonder by Alexa Martin
41. Carmen by Walter Dean Myers
42. Stay by Deb Caletti
43. The Gathering by Kelley Armstrong,
44. Divergent by Veronica Roth
45. A Blue So Dark by Holly Schindler
46. Falling Under by Gwen Hayes
47. City of Bones by Cassandra Clare (3rd time)
48. City of Ashes by Cassandra Clare (3rd time)
49. City of Glass by Cassandra Clare (2nd time)
50. Love Ya Like a Sister by Tom Kelper

Reviews posted from these books: 10 of these books so far, a few are planned to be posted later.
Books from Library: 0
Books for Review: 12
Books borrowed: 1
My Favorite: Other then my re-reads, I would say either Red Glove or Divergent. These are books that you must read as soon as possible.
My Least Favorite: Love, Ghost, & Facial Hair, it was too slow and not really a plot line.
Debut Authors '11: 9 read 41 books left

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