After Obsession by Carrie Jones and Steven E. Wedel

Source: Publisher
Aimee and Alan have secrets. Both teens have unusual pasts and abilities they prefer to keep hidden. But when they meet each other, in a cold Maine town, they can't stop their secrets from spilling out. Strange things have been happening lately, and they both feel that something-or someone- is haunting them. They're wrong. Despite their unusual history and powers, it's neither Aimee nor Alan who is truly haunted. It's Alan's cousin Courtney who, in a desperate plea to find her missing father, has invited a demon into her life-and into her body. Only together can Aimee and Alan exorcise the ghost. And they have to move quickly, before it devours not just Courtney but everything around her.
Filled with heart-pounding romance, paranormal activity, and rich teen characters to love-and introducing an exciting new YA voice, Steven Wedel-this novel is exactly what Carrie Jones fans have been waiting for. Meet your next obsession.
Aimee is a really interesting character, but she shared several traits of Jone's other characters and that annoyed me at times. I found Alan to be entertaining and interesting. There instant love was annoying and a bit unrealistic. I didn't think that either characters were like that. I did like how well developed their family life was and that they weren't secretive about it either. The plot was rather suspenseful and made me wonder what was happening next. The possession was very frightening at times and other times, it was very cheesy. I also felt that parts of the book seemed rushed. The story is original and I liked the Native American aspect to it. If you want a quick and creepy story that is full of suspense, I suggest this book.

Lola and the Boy Next Door by Stephanie Perkins

Source: Publisher

Budding designer Lola Nolan doesn’t believe in fashion . . . she believes in costume. The more expressive the outfit -- more sparkly, more fun, more wild -- the better. But even though Lola’s style is outrageous, she’s a devoted daughter and friend with some big plans for the future. And everything is pretty perfect (right down to her hot rocker boyfriend) until the dreaded Bell twins, Calliope and Cricket, return to the neighborhood.
When Cricket -- a gifted inventor -- steps out from his twin sister’s shadow and back into Lola’s life, she must finally reconcile a lifetime of feelings for the boy next door.

Stephanie Perkins has a fantastic gift with words and stories. I loved Anna and the French Kiss and found Lola and the Boy Next Door to be just as amazing. Lola seems to be eccentric and over the top. At least she seems that way at the beginning, but really she is a down to earth girl that really cares about her dads and Lindsey and has amazing plans for her future. I could really relate to her and totally loved Lola. I wasn't a huge fan of Max. He seemed like a jerk at times and their relationship was hugely just psychical. Lindsey was a great friend to Lola and I liked that she supported Lola, even when she didn't agree with her decisions. Lola's dads, Nathan and Andy were such characters. I loved how protective they were and that they were such a huge part of her life. For example, Lola had to check in with them every hour when she was with her boyfriend. I could relate to this, because my mom did that with me until I was 18. They were amazing parents. I love Cricket. He was such a sweet and amazing guy. Cricket and Lola were great friends and I liked that it slowly developed into more. There was so much tension between both of them that helped sell their feelings for each other. I knew that Anna and St. Clair would be in Lola and the Boy Next Door, but I didn't realize how instrumental, they would be to the plot. I loved how sweet their romance was in the book and that it also showed some of the sacrifices that they made to be with each other. The plot is full of tension, romance, and heartbreak. Every part of the book excited and interested me. Like with Anna and the French Kiss, I didn't want this book to end. I loved how detailed San Francisco was and I felt like I was in that city. Stephanie Perkins creates complex characters with flaws of their own, a exciting story that engages you along the way, and amazing writing filled with love and humor. There is so much that I love about this book that it is hard to explain. I definitely recommend this book to fans of Anna and the French Kiss and Sarah Dessen. This book is a must read. I can't wait for Isla and the Happily Ever After and whatever else Stephanie Perkins writes next.

Sorry

I am sorry for the lack of post. I broke my ankle and am adjusting to college life. Will post more later this week.

In My Mailbox (Week of September 18th)

I am leaving for college today and this is my last In My Mailbox till I come back to visit in October.
I only got one book this week.

I am so excited to read it. I keep on hear great things about it and it looks amazing.

BBW: Blogging

The world of blogging is continually changing. Share 3 things you are essential tried and true practices for every blogger and 1-3 new trends or tools you’ve adapted recently or would like to in the future.
1.Be happy with what you have instead of wanting more of.
This can apply to ARCs, followers, comments, & ECT...
It can be kind of easy to become consume with this, instead just focus on how far you have come.
2. Post as much as you, but don't let it go out of hand.
Posting everyday is amazing, but if the quality goes up from only 20 post a month, then try and stick with that instead.
3. Be afraid to fail.
Try new memes and different genres. Even if you don't think that it will work for your blog. Maybe you can find a way for it to work.

BBAW: Reading and Blogging

Book bloggers blog because we love reading. Has book blogging changed the way you read? Have you discovered books you never would have apart from book blogging? How has book blogging affected your book acquisition habits? Have you made new connections with other readers because of book blogging? Choose any one of these topics and share your thoughts today!

I think that my reading has changed a lot since I started blogging.

I finish a lot more books then I used to and I read more actively then I used to. There is a big difference between what I want to read and what I do read. A lot of the time, these two things collide, but there are times my to-review pile doesn't have a book that I want.

I also have picked up a few books from blogging that I loved, like Brightly Woven and Finnikin of Rock. High fantasy hasn't been my favorite genre ever. I probably wouldn't go to as many signings, if I hadn't started this.

BBAW: Community Part II

There are a few places that I connect to people easily...

1. Twitter:

I usually check who is following or tweeting me and it is the easiest way to find new blogs. Especially with school starting soon, it is somewhere that I get on daily.

2. Signings:

I have met/been introduced to people this way. Both authors and bloggers. I also really enjoy them.

3. Blogs:

I have found other blogs by looking at their sidebars and blogs that are recommended to people.

Winner

The winner of a personalized copy of The Fox Inheritance is...

Khy!

Congrats!

BBAW: Community

I had a hard time coming up with the amazing people that I have talked to, because of blogging. There are so many bloggers and authors that have inspired me in some way or another.

Readergirlz:

I wouldn't have started my blog, if I didn't find Readergirlz. I found my first book blogs out of there, like James at Book Chic Club or Little Willow at Bildungsroman. After finding them, I found Kristi at The Story Siren and Chelsea at Coffee and Cliffhangers, (Back then it was The Page Flipper.) I followed those blogs for a few months before I made Sarah's Random Musings in 2008 and still love all four blogs a lot. The authors from Readergirlz have been very supportive and I am thankful for that.

Zoe at Zoe Book Review:

We were the first followers or each others blog. We are also a lot alike and enjoy Doctor Who, Harry Potter, and a million other things. She has been a great friend and I am glad to count her as one. She also have been supportive as I write.

Khy at Frenetic Reader:

Like with Zoe, we are very similar. We have many inside jokes and she can always make me laugh.

There are several other people that have made blogging fun and you definitely know who you are. Also to my followers, thanks for commenting, read my post and whatever else you do.

In My Mailbox (Week of September 11th)

For Review:

Shut Out by Kody Keplinger

The Shattering by Karen Healey

Anna Dressed in Blood by Kendare Blake

Bought:

Stargazer & Hourglassby Claudia Gray.

Sweetly by Jackson Pearce

Source: Given
SWEETLY is a modernization of Hansel and Gretel and a companion book to SISTERS RED.
Twelve years ago, Gretchen, her twin sister, and her brother went looking for a witch in the forest. They found something. Maybe it was a witch, maybe a monster, they aren’t sure—they were running too fast to tell. Either way, Gretchen’s twin sister was never seen again.
Years later, after being thrown out of their house, Gretchen and Ansel find themselves in Live Oak, South Carolina, a place on the verge of becoming a ghost town. They move in with Sophia Kelly, a young and beautiful chocolatier owner who opens not only her home, but her heart to Gretchen and Ansel.
Yet the witch isn’t gone—it’s here, lurking in the forests of Live Oak, preying on Live Oak girls every year after Sophia Kelly’s infamous chocolate festival. But Gretchen is determined to stop running from witches in the forest, and start fighting back. Alongside Samuel Reynolds, a boy as quick with a gun as he is a sarcastic remark, Gretchen digs deeper into the mystery of not only what the witch is, but how it chooses its victims. Yet the further she investigates, the more she finds herself wondering who the real monster is, and if love can be as deadly as it is beautiful.
Gretchen seemed like a quiet girl at the beginning, but as the book went on, she took more risk and became very kick ass. Samuel was part of the reason and I liked the romance that he brought to the story. I also liked that there was a lot more to him, then you first think of him. Ansel was a very strong and sweet character and I liked the relationship that he had with his sister. Sophie was a great character. She seemed like a positive and enthusiastic character, but was actually haunted by her past and future at the same time. I liked that the Fenris weren't obvious from the beginning and that they gradually came into the story. They were just as evil as they were in Sisters Red and brought foreshadowing for the next book. The mystery of the book left me wanting more. There were a lot of clue along the way, if you read Sister Red, it will be even easier to see the clues. The pacing for the first two hundred pages was a bit slow and I wish that it went quicker then it did. Since the rest of the book is rather quick. This is a very original retelling of Hansel and Gretel. Pearce's writing is as amazing to the first book. She created complex characters, a pretty epic plot, and originality to a story that we all know. I recommend this book to fans of Sisters Red or for someone that wants an exciting and thrilling read.

Waiting on Wednesday (115)

Title: This Is Not A Test
Author: Courtney Summers
Publisher: St. Martin's Griffin
Release Date: June 2012
It’s the end of the world. Six students have taken cover in Cortege High but shelter is little comfort when the dead outside won’t stop pounding on the doors. One bite is all it takes to kill a person and bring them back as a monstrous version of their former self. To Sloane Price, that doesn’t sound so bad. Six months ago, her world collapsed and since then, she’s failed to find a reason to keep going. Now seems like the perfect time to give up.
As Sloane eagerly waits for the barricades to fall, she’s forced to witness the apocalypse through the eyes of five people who actually want to live. But as the days crawl by, everyone’s motivations to survive begin to change in startling ways and soon the group’s fate is determined less and less by what’s happening outside and more and more by the unpredictable and violent bids for life–and death–inside.
When everything is gone, what do you hold on to?
I love Courtney's other books and I would read anything that she wrote. This one looks just as amazing.This book will be epic.

Trailer Tuesday (38)

This book sounds really good and I like the trailer.

The Name of the Star by Maureen Johnson

Source: Publisher

The day Louisiana teenager Rory Deveaux arrives in London marks a memorable occasion. For Rory, it's the start of a new life at a London boarding school. But for many, this will be remembered as the day a series of brutal murders broke out across the city, gruesome crimes mimicking the horrific Jack the Ripper events of more than a century ago.
Soon “Rippermania” takes hold of modern-day London, and the police are left with few leads and no witnesses. Except one. Rory spotted the man police believe to be the prime suspect. But she is the only one who saw him. Even her roommate, who was walking with her at the time, didn't notice the mysterious man. So why can only Rory see him? And more urgently, why has Rory become his next target? In this edge-of-your-seat thriller, full of suspense, humor, and romance, Rory will learn the truth about the secret ghost police of London and discover her own shocking abilities.

I have always been fascinated in Jack the Ripper and I was definitely really excited to read The Name of the Star. I couldn't wait to see what Maureen Johnson would write. Rory is in a new place. She is trying to get used to a new place and find people to get along with. She isn't the most popular girl, but she doesn't hide who she is. I loved her sense of humor and overall her personality is easy to relate to and I liked her. Jerome and Rory were both cute together. I found Jerome's fascination with the murders to be reasonable and even entertaining as he speculated what would happen next. Jazza was a very sweet character and I loved how she genuinely cared about Rory. I loved Stephen, Callum, and Boo. They each have their own personalities and a different back story. Stephen is also very swoon worthy and I can't wait to read more about him as the series continues.

The plot is exciting and full of history and details about London, Jack the Ripper, and the culture. It didn't drag the book, but actually made it more interesting. The descriptions of the East Side of London are full of details and really helped me understand where the murders happened and were happening. The pacing of this book was spot on, I never felt that it dragged or felt rushed. The secret police were very interesting and I liked how the story was a balance between paranormal and contemporary fiction. This story is really unique and surprised me at times. Maureen Johnson's writing is fabulous as always and I can't wait to read more from her. This story is full of fascinating characters, a gripping plot, and a unique premise. I am so excited to dig into the next book in this series, when it comes out. I recommend this book to fans of Revolution by Jennifer Donnelly and Maureen Johnson's previous books. It comes out on September 27th.

In My Mailbox (Week of September 4th)

To review:
After Obsession by Carrie Jones and Steven E. Wedel
Triangles by Ellen Hopkins
Glow by Amy Kathleen Ryan
Without Tess by Marcella Pixley

Books read in August 2011

103. And Then Things Fall Apart by Arlaina Tibensky

104. Populazzi by Elise Allen

105. The Fox Inheritance by Mary E. Pearson

106. A Temptation of Angels by Michelle Zink

107. The Day Before by Lisa Schroeder

108. Bloodlines by Richelle Mead

109. All You Desire by Kirsten Miller

110. Forgotten by Cat Patrick

111. The Beginning of After by Jennifer Castle

Reviews posted from these books: 4 of these books so far, all are planned to be posted later.
Books from Library: 0
Books for Review: 8
Books borrowed: 0
My Favorite: I really loved Forgotten and Bloodlines.
My Least Favorite: None this month.
Debut Authors '11: 29 read 21 books left
Books I hope to read next month: I really want to read Frost or Love Story soon, along with twenty other books. Just need to finish summer ready for college/

The Fox Inheritance by Mary E. Pearson

Source: Publisher

Once there were three. Three friends who loved each other—Jenna, Locke, and Kara. And after a terrible accident destroyed their bodies, their three minds were kept alive, spinning in a digital netherworld. Even in that disembodied nightmare, they were still together. At least at first. When Jenna disappeared, Locke and Kara had to go on without her. Decades passed, and then centuries.

Two-hundred-and-sixty years later, they have been released at last. Given new, perfect bodies, Locke and Kara awaken to a world they know nothing about, where everyone they once knew and loved is long dead.

Everyone except Jenna Fox.

I loved The Adoration of Jenna Fox, so I was really excited to hear about The Fox Inheritance. Locke was very unsure about what he wants. He liked both Kara and Jenna at one point and now only Kara is left there, but he still thinks about Jenna. He is very sweet and caring. Kara on the other hand is crazy, manipulative, and at times was a complete bitch. I wanted to smack her in the face most of the time. Dot was a great character too. She was very excitable and just awesome. Jenna was a great character too and I liked seeing how much she had changed from the first book. The setting is 260 years in the future and a lot has been happening in that time. This future is so rich and full of so many details that while reading this book, I loved this future. I wanted to know more about it. The plot is also very exciting. There was a lot of suspense and mystery. I was excited with where the story went. I would love to see more from these characters. This story is really original and amazing. Pearson's writing is amazing and I can't wait to read more from her in the future. There are a lot of amazing characters, an exciting plot, and a very detailed and amazing setting in The Fox Inheritance. If you read The Adoration of Jenna Fox, I highly recommend The Fox Inheritance and if you enjoy other psychological dystropian books, you will enjoy this series.