Winners!

I have a few winners to announce.
Out For Blood winner: Emily @ The Ninja Librarian
The winner of When the Stars go Blue is: Korianne Wey
The winner of Fall for Anything is: Chloe
Congrats to the winners!
I'll have some more contest in the new year for sure. =)

In My Mailbox (Week of January 9th)

For Review:

Flirt Club by Cathleen Daly

The Girl Who Became a Beatles by Greg Taylor

Bought:

Serafina67 by Susie Day

Misguided Angel by Melissa De La Cruz

Unearthly by Cynthia Hand

The Lover's Dictionary by David Levithan

Once in a Full Moon by Ellen Schreiber

What Happens Here by Tara Altebrando

Wish by Alexandra Bullen

Winnie's War by Jenny Moss

Mad Love by Suzanne Selfors

Three Quaters Dead by Richard Peck

Rating:
Characters: 13/20
Plot: 14/20
Originality: 15/20
Writing: 12/20
Recommendation: 14/20
Overall: 68/100 or D
Source: Publisher

Kerry is chosen by the coolest clique in school and so she thinks life has finally begun. But then it seems all over when her three friends are killed in a shocking car accident. Or are they? Only weeks after the accident, Kerry receives a text from one of the girls: We're all 3 here at my aunt's in the city. Take the 3:50 train. B there. Exhilarating, terrifying suspense is crossed with a thought-provoking examination of peer pressure in Richard Peck's return to his contemporary teen- and ghost-story roots. This is a master author's gift to the Gossip Girl/Twilight generation: his own smart, stylish, and fun take on the paranormal.
So, I wanted to like this book, but I hated the narrator. She just annoyed me like crazy. Kerry was overly niave and trusted Tanya, Natalie, and McKenize way to much. There was also the fact that this book didn't make sense. It was six month in the future and suddenly a few people are dead. It left me wondering what exactly happened in those last six months. The second part of the novel, quickly jolts forward out of nowhere. It was somewhat creepy, but not nessicarily scary. I haven't read anything else by Peck, but this book was sadly a disappointment. I would suggest this book, if you want something that is very materialistic and vain read.

Brightly Woven by Alexandra Bracken

Rating:
Characters: 19/20
Plot: 20/20
Originality: 20/20
Writing: 19/20
Recommendation: 20/20
Overall: 98/100 or A
Source: Bought

Sydelle Mirabil is living proof that, with a single drop of rain, a life can be changed forever. Tucked away in the farthest reaches of the kingdom, her dusty village has suffered under the weight of a strangely persistent drought. That is, of course, until a wizard wanders into town and brings the rain with him.
In return for this gift, Wayland North is offered any reward he desires—and no one is more surprised than Sydelle when, without any explanation, he chooses her. Taken from her home, Sydelle hardly needs encouragement to find reasons to dislike North. He drinks too much and bathes too little, and if that isn’t enough to drive her to madness, North rarely even uses the magic he takes such pride in possessing. Yet, it’s not long before she realizes there’s something strange about the wizard, who is as fiercely protective of her as he is secretive about a curse that turns his limbs a sinister shade of black and leaves him breathless with agony. Unfortunately, there is never a chance for her to seek answers.
Along with the strangely powerful quakes and storms that trace their path across the kingdom, other wizards begin to take an inexplicable interest in her as well, resulting in a series of deadly duels. Against a backdrop of war and uncertainty, Sydelle is faced with the growing awareness that these events aren’t as random as she had believed—that no curse, not even that of Wayland North, is quite as terrible as the one she herself may carry.

I loved Sydelle. She was such a strong character and full of so much life. Her strong voice made the story more enjoyable as does her hope. I also loved North. He was so strong and sweet at times, other times he was a complete jerk and I was never sure of his motives. The relationship between them developed really quickly and seemed unrealistic at times, but if you were traveling with someone like they were, you might do that too. The plot of Brightly Woven was epic. It captured my imagination really quickly and I just loved it. The world was developed into something that I have never seen before and was so detailed. Unlike a lot of fantasy, I understood what was going on and never felt lost. Bracken's debut leaved me wanting more from her. Brightly Woven was exquisitely written and will easily captivate you. I highly suggest that you read this book, it was exciting and a page turner.

Not That Kind of Girl by Siobhan Vivian

Rating:
Characters: 18/20
Plot: 19/20
Originality: 19/20
Writing: 18/20
Recommendation: 19/20
Overall: 93/100 or A
Source: Publisher

Natalie Sterling wants to be in control. She wants her friends to be loyal. She wants her classmates to elect her student council president. She wants to find the right guy, not the usual jerk her school has to offer. She wants a good reputation, because she believes that will lead to good things. But life is messy, and it's very hard to be in control of it. Not when there are freshman girls running around in a pack, trying to get senior guys to sleep with them. Not when your friends have secrets they're no longer comfortable sharing. Not when the boy you once dismissed ends up being the boy you wants to sleep with yourself - but only in secret, with nobody ever finding out. Slut or saint? Winner or loser? Natalie is getting tired of these forced choices - and is now going to find a way to live life in the sometimes messy, sometimes wonderful in-between.
Natalie reminded me of how I was, because I tried so hard to be the model student that I really missed a lot of things like high school dances and parties. She was so determined, smart, and sweet. The main problem that I had with her, was that she was so concerned with being a feminist that she was bitchy to people that she cared about. I really liked Spencer, because while she was like strong and powerful, she was also feminine and sure of what she wanted. Can I just say that I totally love The plot of this book was epic and I was engaged the whole time. I also found it to be unique from a lot of contemporary books, because it didn't seem forced or fake. Vivian's writing was epic. Natalie was a girl that anyone can relate to and I enjoyed her. I highly recommend that you read this book as soon as possible. It was epic.

Waiting on Wednesday (85)

Title: The Lipstick Laws
Author: Amy Holder
Publisher: Graphia
Date: April 4, 2011
At Penford High School, Britney Taylor is the queen bee. She dates whomever she likes, rules over her inner circle of friends like Genghis Khan, and can ruin anyone's life with a snap of perfectly manicured fingers. Just ask the unfortunate few who have crossed her.
For April Bowers, Britney is also the answer to her prayers. April is so unpopular, kids don't even know she exists. But one lunch spent at Britney's table, and April is basking in the glow of popularity.
But Britney's friendship comes with a high price tag. How much is April willing to pay?
This book looks really cute and I am in love with the cover.

Positively by Courtney Sheinmel

Rating:
Characters: 18/20
Plot: 18/20
Originality: 19/20
Writing: 18/20
Recommendation: 20/20
Overall: 93/100 or A
Source: Bought
Since the day Emerson Pressman and her mother were diagnosed as HIV positive, nothing has been the same. When her mother dies of AIDS, Emmy has to go live with the father and stepmother she barely knows, and she feels more alone than ever. Now she has to take pills by herself, and there is no one left who understands what it's like to be afraid every time she has a cold. But when her father decides to send her to Camp Positive, a camp for HIV-positive children, Emmy begins to realize that she's not alone after all, and that sometimes, opening up to other people can make all the difference in the world.
When I got sick the first thing that they tested me for was HIV, and I was so afraid that I got it somehow. I didn't have it, but my disease is caused by the immune system. Even though our diseases are very different, I could totally relate to Emmy. I know that if I have 100% lung function by the time I am forty or if my liver doesn't stop from the pills, I am lucky and Emmy is faced with that too in other ways. There are days that I want to just throw my pills out or not get shots anymore, but I know that decision is a choice between life and death. When I first got sick, I went to a camp for teens with Primary Immunodeficiency and it was similar to what Emmy experienced at Camp Positive. Some of the friends from that time are dead, but they are far from forgotten. The part about the balloons really got to me, because that it what we do every year on my sister's birthday.

The plot is real, because you are constantly reminded how hard life can be for some people. This book is really original, because it leaves you with so much hope. Shienmel is a fantastic writer. I loved that this is based by her experience from with working The Elizabeth Glaser AIDS Foundation and is really accurate and realistic. I highly suggest that you read this book, it is a story of a girl with so much strength.

Books read in December 2010

141. Between Shades of Gray by Ruta Sepetys
142. When the Stars go Blue by Caridad Ferrar
143. Entice by Carrie Jones
144. A Long Walk to Water by Linda Sue Park
145. Out For Blood by Alyxandra Harvey
146. Last Sacrifice by Richelle Mead
147. Pink by Lili Wilkinson
148. The Lost Saint by Bree Despain
149. Falling in Love With English Killers by Melissa Jenson
150. Brightly Woven by Alexandra Bracken
151. White Cat by Holly Black
152. Not That Kind of Girl by Siobhan Vivian
153. Where She Went by Gayle Forman
154. Posistively by Courtney Sheinmel
155. Three Quaters Dead by Richard Peck

Reviews posted from these books: 6 of these books so far, a few are planned to be posted later.
Books from Library: 0
Books for Review: 11
Books borrowed: 0
My Favorite: Not That Kind of Girl! I love Siobhan Vivian!
My Least Favorite: Three Quaters Dead, I liked it, just slow and shallow character.
Debut Authors '10: 49 read 1 books left

In My Mailbox (Week of January 2nd)

For Review:
Blood Red Road by Moira Young
Swag from Leah Clifford

Yay!

Happy New Year!