In a Heartbeat by Loretta Ellsworth

Rating:
Characters: 19/20
Plot: 18/20
Originality: 17/20
Writing: 17/20
Recommendation: 17/20
Overall: 88/100 or B
Source: Publisher
A small mistake cost Eagan her life during a figure skating competition. She leaves so many things undone. In the afterlife, she reflects on her memories of the bad relationship with her mother, her love of skating, and her boyfriend Scott. Amelia learns that she will finally get a new heart after years of being sick. She is guilty about the fact that someone is dead, but Amelia is still excited about her new life. After the heart transplant, she feels different. Amelia is dreaming of figure skating and craving grape candy. She needs to learn more about her donor's life, and she discovers that they needed it just as much as she did.
This book made me cry a few times, because I could really connected to In a Heartbeat and found it to be a unique book. It also had amazing characters. I liked Eagan. She had a fiery personality and it was interesting to see her past and how that shaped who she was. I could relate to Amelia so much. I have been sick for over three years and know how that whole family has to change around that. I also understand the fear that she had about the transplant. I get infusions every three weeks and there is always a risk of something going wrong. W I also loved Ari is was such a sweet character and I wanted to learn more about him. He was so interesting. In a Heartbeat has a great plot. It is told in alternating points of view. The characters didn't seem to mesh together, which happens in some alternating POV books. I also liked that this book had originality, I don't think that I have seen a book like this. I found Ellsworth to be a great writer and I can't wait to read other books by her. I would recommend this book to anyone that enjoyed If I Stay by Gayle Forman or Lurlene McDaniel's books.

In My Mailbox(Week of March 7th)

Contest: http://sarahbear9789.blogspot.com/2010/02/giveaway.html
Khy's Blog: http://www.freneticreader.com/
Books I got this week:
Sisters Red by Jackson Pearce
Sorta like a Rockstar by Matthew Quick
Guardian of the Gate by Michelle Zink
Ghostgirl Lovesick by Tonya Hurley
My Soul to Save by Rachel Vincent
The Morpheus Road: The Light by DJ McHale

Forget-Her-Nots by Amy Brecount White

Rating:
Characters: 18/20
Plot: 19/20
Originality: 18/20
Writing: 19/20
Recommendation: 19/20
Overall: 93/100 or A
Source: Publisher
Laurel finds three mysterous flowers outside her dorm door. Maybe Avondale School isn't so awful after all. Then her body freaks in the middle of an English presentation on the Victorian Languge of Flowers. Strange word pop into her head and her body also seems to tingle and hum. Laurel gives love bouquet to her spinster english teacher to demonstrate the languge. When her teacher suddenly finds new and unexpected romance. Maybe there is something... magical about flowers. Her new friend Kate helps her discover the origins of her powers by experimenting on herself and others, but she can't seem to find any living experts of the power of flowers to guide her. Her bouquets don't always do what she wants to do, especially when it comes to her crush Justin. Rumors about Laurel and her flowers are flying across campus, and she soon is hounded with request from girls who want their lives magically transformed, just in time for prom.
At the beginning of the book, Laurel seems to be a normal teenage girl. She wants to be accepted by her peers and she also has drama in her life from friendship and romance. I liked the fact that she was shy and also that she was curious about everything. I liked how she found out more about her power. Some of her action were annoying, because she became wish washy at moments and really didn't stand up to the popular girl. Her new friend Kate was annyoing, because she couldn't make a decision if she wanted to be with Laurel or not. I really liked her Cousin Rose, she was really sweet and overall an interesting character. Justin was a sweet character and I sound him intriguing. The plot was slow at times, but I felt that the content made up for that. The Victorian Languge of flowers used in this book was a fantastic plot device. I loved how the world was made and how it was so indepth. I learned so much about flowers and also loved that that their was a glossory in the back. White was also a brilliant writer, this book is perfect for younger teens that are looking for a original and well crafted book.

The Cupcake Queen by Heather Hepler

Rating:

Characters: 17/20

Plot: 18/20

Originality: 16/20

Writing: 18/20

Recommendation: 17/20

Overall: 86/100 or B

Source: Author

Penny's mother moved them from the big city to a small town, where her grandmother lives. Her mom is now opening a cupcake bakery, while her dad is still in the city. Penny isn't sure what will happen with her family. And in this small town, her life wasn't exactly how she expected it would be. A popular girl named Charity, pulls pranks on unexpected people almost daily. Penny quickly befriends sweet and independent Tally. There is also Marcus, who is mysterious and always running on the beach. Then Penny is finally settling into Hog's Hollow, when her parents want to make a decision that could change her life.

This book was really cute. Penny was a cute character. She had a cute voice and was a lot of fun. I loved Tally and Blake with their Rock, Paper, Scissors society, and both had such a fun personality. Marcus was an interesting character, but I didn't see the appeal of him. The plot was fun. I love baking, so seeing a Cupcake bakery was a lot of fun. I also loved the theory about jolly ranchers and how your personality matches that flavor. Hepler is a great writer that knows how to make a sweet and cute book that is just a fun read...

Merlin's Harp by Anne Eliot Crompton

Rating:
Characters: 18/20
Plot: 18/20
Originality: 17/20
Writing: 18/20
Recommendation: 18/20
Overall: 89/100 or B
Source: Publisher
When I was yet a very young woman I threw my heart away. Ever since then I have lived heartless, or almost heartless, the way Humans think all Fey live.
Among the towering trees of magical Avalon, where humans dare not tread, lives Niviene, daughter of the Lady of the Lake. Her people, the Fey, are folk of the wood and avoid the violence and greed of man. But the strife of King Arthur’s realm threatens even the peace of Avalon. And while Merlin the mage has been training Niviene as his apprentice, he now needs her help to thwart the chaos devouring Camelot. Niviene’s special talents must help save a kingdom and discover the treachery of men and the beauty of love…
Niviene is an interesting character. She is very spirited and strong. Her voice made it one of a kind and I really liked her point of view. This book is an original take on a myth that we all grew up on, King Author and the Round Table. Instead of being from a male points of view, it is told from the Daughter of The Lady of The Lake. I found it to be an original take on the myth. The plot still had unique twists and turns that made the story more interesting. Crompton is a great writer. The songs that were intertwined in the story really helped make the story original and fun. I would recommend this book if you enjoy Mythology or Song of the Sparrow by Lisa Ann Sandell.
You can also read the first chapter here.
You can see other thoughts on this book:
http://litbites.blogspot.com/ 20-Feb
http://bookjourney.wordpress.com/ 22-Feb
http://fayeflamereviews.blogspot.com/ 23-Feb
http://www.devourerofbooks.com/ 23-Feb
http://yainsider.blogspot.com/ 24-Feb
http://bfishreads.blogspot.com/ 1-Mar
http://booksandliteratureforteens.blogspot.com/ 2-Mar
http://ultimatebookhound.blogspot.com/ 2-Mar
http://bookrevues.blogspot.com/ 3-Mar
http://bookworm0440.blogspot.com/ 3-Mar
www.thebookjournal.com 3-Mar
http://www.howlinggooddbooks.com 5-Mar
http://thebookowl.blogspot.com/ 7-Mar
http://www.jenrothschild.com/ 8-Mar
http://alwaysriddikulus.blogspot.com/ 9-Mar
http://stephsureads.blogspot.com 10-Mar
http://bookalicio.us/ 11-Mar
http://neverendingshelf.blogspot.com 12-Mar
http://www.galleysmith.com/ 13-Mar
http://bookingmama.blogspot.com/ 15-Mar
http://thebookpixie.blogspot.com/ 15-Mar
http://www.jennsbookshelves.com 15-Mar
http://cafeofdreams.blogspot.com 16-Mar
http://reveriemedia.blogspot.com/ 17-Mar
http://www.thecompulsivereader.blogspot.com/ 18-Mar
http://darkfaerietales.com 19-Mar
http://edward-cullen.net 20-Mar
http://redheadedbookchild.blogspot.com 22-Mar
http://cindysloveofbooks.blogspot.com 23-Mar
http://dolcebellezza.blogspot.com/ 23-Mar
http://www.capriciousreader.com/ 24-Mar
http://examiner.com (Portland) 25-Mar
http://www.theveronicaproject.blogspot.com/ 26-Mar

Before I Fall by Lauren Oliver

Rating:
Characters: 18/20
Plot: 17/20
Originality: 18/20
Writing: 17/20
Recommendation: 17/20
Overall: 87/100 or B

Source: Author

Samantha Kingston has a charmed life. She has an amazing boyfriend, looks, and tons of popularity. February 12th should be a normal day in her life. Except it is kind of her last day of her life. Then something happens after dying, she wakes up again. But it isn't a Saturday, it is the same day and she wakes up again for the next seven days. Then she finally realizes that she needs to change what she did on that day, because such a slight change can make all the difference to what happens.

Samantha is not the nicest character. At the beginning, she is a vain and very selfish person. As the novel progressed, she began to understand how important such little action can have on others and began to change her ways. Her friends were horrible, I couldn't belivee what they did. Oliver gives insight to high school and the cruelty that surrounds everyone, even the popular girls. The plot was unlike any book that I have ever read. The best way for me to explain this book is that it is a mix between Mean Girls and Groundhog Day. It was a very interesting and unique plot. Oliver is a fantastic writer, she created such a haunting and beautiful novel. I can't wait for more books from her on the future. This book also showed how fragile life is and how you need to be the best person that you can possibly be. Seriously, you should check this book out.

Books Read in February 2010

14. Ginger High by Melissa Burmester
15. Jonas by Eden Maguire
16. Heart at Stake by Alyxandra Harvey
17. Dirty Little Secrets by C.J. Omololu .
18. Guardian of the Dead by Karen Healey
19. Gone by Lisa McMann
20. Scarlett Fever by Maureen Johnson
21. The Sky is Everwhere by Jandy Nelson
22. The Rise of Renegade X by Chelsea Campbell
23. The Clearing by Heather Davis

Reviews posted from these books: 5 of these books so far, a few are planned to be posted later.
Books from Library: 0 books
Books for Review: 8 books
Books borrowed: 0 books
My Favorite: Guardian of the Dead or The Clearing. The Clearing was such a cute read and had an interesting plot. Guardian of the Dead was really enjoyable and original.
My Least Favorite: Ginger High... I don't know how to explain this book. It was such a mess.
Challenge Update:
100+ Reading Challenge: 23 read. 77 books left
Debut Authors '10: 8 read 42 books left
Dystopian Challenge: 2 read 18 books left

Waiting on Wednesday (49)

Title: Birthmarked

Author: Caragh O'Brien

Publisher: Roaring Brook Press

Date: March 30th 2010

After climate change, on the north shore of Unlake Superior, a dystopian world is divided between those who live inside the wall, and those, like sixteen-year-old midwife Gaia Stone, who live outside. It’s Gaia’s job to “advance” a quota of infants from poverty into the walled Enclave, until the night one agonized mother objects, and Gaia’s parents are arrested. Badly scarred since childhood, Gaia is a strong, resourceful loner who begins to question her society. As Gaia’s efforts to save her parents take her within the wall, she herself is arrested and imprisoned.

Fraught with difficult moral choices and rich with intricate layers of codes, BIRTHMARKED explores a colorful, cruel, eerily familiar world where one girl can make all the difference, and a real hero makes her own moral code.

This book sounds awesome. Also dystopian novels are awesome. The cover is so pretty too.

Trailer Tuesday (9)

Okay this is a companion book to The Forest of Hands and Teeth. I want! I am probably meeting Carrie Ryan. I am so excited.

Giveaway!

Hey Everyone!
I have a Giveaway for Nailpolish, but not just any nail polish. It is Dark Divine Nailpolish, which is win. Dark Divine is a book by Bree Despain and it is lovely. The Nailpolish is the color above in the photo. Anyways, this is international contest and ends on March 16th.