In My Mailbox (Week of July 10th)

For Review:
BFF Breakup by Taylor Morris
Cold Case by Julia Platt Leonard

The World We Live In by Susan Beth Pfeffer

Source: Netgalley

The heart-wrenching companion to the bestselling novels Life As We Knew It and The Dead & The Gone.

It’s been a year since a meteor collided with the moon, catastrophically altering the earth’s climate. Miranda and her two brothers spend their days scavenging for food and household items, while their mother stays at home and desperately tries to hold on to the ordinary activities of their previous life. But they all know that nothing is truly normal in this surreal new world they live in.

The struggle to survive intensifies when Miranda’s father and stepmother arrive with a baby and three strangers in tow. One of the newcomers is Alex Morales, and as Miranda’s complicated feelings for him turn to love, his plans for his future thwart their relationship. Then a devastating tornado hits the town of Howell, and Miranda makes a decision that will change their lives forever.

I really enjoyed the first two books and was excited for the third. Miranda was such a strong and fierce girl in the first book that would do anything for survival. In this book, she seemed more weak and vulnerable. For example her relationship with Alex is anything but healthy, and I found it to be irritating. The plot of The World We Live In was exciting and kept me entertained, but I felt that it was missing that spark in the first two books. I think that it is a very realistic account of what would happen, which made me entertain me more. It is also a very original account of a dystopian world. Another problem that I had, is the sudden ending. I wish that I knew where the characters were going. I really hope there is another book. I just didn't feel at peace with what happened. Pfeffer is an amazing writer. Overall, I suggest this book to someone that wants something different in Dystopian books.

Friday Five

1. OMG, it is less then a week till I see HP. Dressing up as future Luna again, which may be a reason for me to wear a dress and curl my hair or maybe I am just not that original.

2. I go to College orientation on Monday till Tuesday, which is really exciting.

3. 65 pounds lost. This is my face at the moment: =D

I still have more to lose... but I'll get there.

4. My 5k is at 45:37, which is lower then it was.

5. I am re-reading Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire. It is getting rather intense. I love this book.

5 Reasons You Should be excited for Lola and the Boy Next Door...

This is like a pre-review, since it comes out in September, but I was luck enough to read it a little over a week ago and need a bit of fan girling. Don't read this, if you have not read Anna and the French Kiss...

1. Lola: She is such a fun character. I really liked her personality and how she treated clothes and her looks was amazing.

2. Cricket: He is so nerdy and amazing. He also likes Lola for who she really is. Can I marry him now?

3. San Francisco: I loved the setting. It was so rich and awesome. I want to visit there like now.

4. The Writing: Perkins is the master of YA Romance and I totally loved this book.

5 Anna and St. Clair Cameos: They are in the book in a few times and omg, it is so adorable.

My full review will be up in September, but I hope that you enjoyed this small post.

Jill S. Alexander's playlist for Paradise and giveaway

Here is a playlist for Paradise. I hope you enjoy it.

Sometimes, stories come to me initially as a character, a title, maybe a first line. PARADISE came through music. I knew I wanted to write a story about small town teens in a country rock band, and I stayed open to all the character possibilities – waiting on that special spark that tends to ignite my writing. One night at a restaurant/blues bar, I saw a guy totally shred a Springsteen song – not with a guitar or some other sexy musical instrument, but with a red, three-row button accordion. He was hot. The song was hot. The place went crazazay. And that was the spark that led to PARADISE.

So many songs – old and new – spoke to me while writing PARADISE. Here are a few from my official PARADISE playlist:

Runnin’ Down A Dream by Tom Pett PARADISE is just that: A story about chasing dreams, feeling unstoppable.

Use Somebody by Kings of LeonThe play on words. The idea of needing someone. The guitars. The drums. This song reminded me so much of Paisley and Paradise.

Jack & Diane by John Mellencamp “Two Amercian kids growing up in the heartland.” I had written Paisley’s parents as Jack and Diane – never thinking of the song. One day, I was driving and the Mellencamp song came on the radio. I was blown away. It was perfect for them. “Two American kids doing the best they can.”

Rosalita by Bruce Springsteen“I know your momma she don’t like me ‘cause I play in a Rock n Roll Band” says it all.

Carry On by Pat Green Written by Texas music legend Radney Foster, “Carry On” captures the feeling of needing to get away, “grab the wheel with your own two hands.” It’s also a barn party anthem for most Texas teens, so it works with the characters and setting. Check out the barn party scene in the novel!

Fifteen by Taylor Swift When I first heard this song, it reminded me of a scene when Paisley’s sister Lacey is cautioning her about taking things too far and too fast with Paradise. This particular scene is one of my favorites from the novel – personal and honest, as only two sisters can be.

I have a signed copy of The Sweetheart of Prosper County. Have a US address and comment with your favorite song by July 15th to enter to win.

The Chosen by Sheenah Freitas

Source: Author

Kaia's entire life has erupted in flames after an assassin appears and burns her village down. She's rescued by a god from another planet who requests her help because she's the descendant of their last savior. Together with Reeze -- the only other survivor from her village and her appointed guardian -- they set off on a quest to find the treasures of the gods in hopes of preventing a dire prophesy. Kaia and Reeze quickly meet the Tueors, a group of people many thought extinct, who are searching specifically for Kaia. Their intention: to protect the truth. As Kaia discovers more about the truth and her family's past, she also learns of the Tueors' bloody secret. Will Kaia be the savior the gods have been waiting for? Or will she let the prophesy come true?

I read an unedited ARC, so this might change by the time that it is published. There were several words that were used in the wrong context and other times, the phrasing just seemed wrong or made little sense. The world building could have been more believable. I just didn't see why it was based on a sister planet of Earth. It just didn't seem realistic or likely. I think that with more editing, this book could be very exciting. The characters each had distinct and unique personalities that I enjoyed. The plot was rather exciting too. After the kinks are fixed, I would recommend this book to fans of Fantasy.

So...

Happy 4th of July!!!

In My Mailbox (Week of July 3rd)

For Review:

Little Women and Me by Lauren Baratz-Logsted

Won:

The Sweetest Thing by Christina Mandelski (via YA Fresh)

Gifted:

Die for Me by Amy Plum (Via Pam at Bookalicious)

Paradise by Jill S. Alexander

Source: Author

Paisley Tillery is the drummer for a country rock band. If they can make it to the stage at the Texapalooza music fest, then Paisley will be closer to her dream of a career in music and a ticket out of her small Texas town.

Drumming and music are what Paisley has always wanted. Until the band gets a new lead singer, the boy from Paradise, Texas. With Paradise in her life, what Paisley wants, and what she needs, complicate her dreams coming true.

I loved Paradise. Paisley was such an awesome character. She wanted to achieve so much and had so much charm and was very determined. I loved the sister relationship between Lacey and Paisley and that they had awesome relationship between each other. The boys in the Waylon Slider Band, all had their own personality and I loved every single one of these character. I really loved Gabe. He was so amazing. The romance between Paisley and Gabe was amazing and I loved them together. The plot of Paradise was fast and exciting and I was engrossed during the whole book. I loved the music aspect of the book and that the plot was amazing. I could not put this book down. Alexander's writing was fabulous and entertained me every single moment. If you like music or realistic fiction, you need to read this book like now. It is so amazing.

Books read in June 2011

79. Luminous by Dawn Metcalf

80. Crush Control by Jennifer Jabaley

81.Legend by Marie Lu

82. The Carrier of the Mark by Leigh Fallon

83. Haunting Violet by Alyxandra Harvey

84. The Babysitter Murders by Janet Ruth Young

85. Lola and the Boy Next Door by Stephanie Perkins

86. Falling for Hamlet by Michelle Ray

87. The World We Live by Susan Beth Pfeffer

88. The Choosen by Sheenah Freitas

89. Inconvenient by Margie Gelbwasser

90. The Tale of Beedle the Bard by JK Rowling

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: 9
Books borrowed: 0
My Favorite: Lola! OMG, it wa perfect for the sequel to Anna!
My Least Favorite: None this month.
Debut Authors '11: 25 read 25 books left

Books I hope to read next month: Planning on All 7 HP and then focus on some of the ARCs I have to read for July and August.