Secretly Captivated

2011-06-09T20:40:00.002-04:00

Haihaihai guys. Okay, so I guess I wasn't really back was I? If any of you stop by my blog, sorry, it's inactive if you couldn't already tell. I just use it to check on some blogs that are my favorite and to see whether or not books that I've wanted to read have came out yet. Reading just isn't my thing anymore though :[

#rantover

Review: Revolution by Jennifer Donnelly

2010-12-05T22:29:00.005-05:00

Title: Revolution

Author: Jennifer Donnelly

Publisher: Delacorte

Pages: 496

Rating: 4/5

"BROOKLYN: Andi Alpers is on the edge. She’s angry at her father for leaving, angry at her mother for not being able to cope, and heartbroken by the loss of her younger brother, Truman. Rage and grief are destroying her. And she’s about to be expelled from Brooklyn Heights’ most prestigious private school when her father intervenes. Now Andi must accompany him to Paris for winter break.

PARIS: Alexandrine Paradis lived over two centuries ago. She dreamed of making her mark on the Paris stage, but a fateful encounter with a doomed prince of France cast her in a tragic role she didn’t want—and couldn’t escape.

Two girls, two centuries apart. One never knowing the other. But when Andi finds Alexandrine’s diary, she recognizes something in her words and is moved to the point of obsession. There’s comfort and distraction for Andi in the journal’s antique pages—until, on a midnight journey through the catacombs of Paris, Alexandrine’s words transcend paper and time, and the past becomes suddenly, terrifyingly present."

Review:

Revolution is a beautifully created story that manages to intertwine two stories seamlessly together into a great read. Between the mix of the history and of music, both current and way-back-when types, I was content for several days. As with any novel, there was an underlying message under the story itself. With Revolution, the message was learning to move on from tragic occasions in your life and not blaming yourself and healing. I can safely say both Andi's and Alex's story both had me flipping through the chapters time after time. The characters in both were also very entertaining and were well rounded. Though I admit towards the end it got trippy, but you knew in the back of your head what was going on. So it wasn't that big of a problem. Overall, this novel was really something that stuck with you even after days or weeks from reading it in the first place. I definite must read!

Guess who's back... back again? :D

2010-11-18T12:44:00.002-05:00

Yeah, I missed blogging.
And reading.
So this is me telling you I'm back.
Back again.
Eminem reference, anyone?
Anyways,
I'm having some review requests coming in from two publishers...
So I'm set :D

Take me back? :)

Leaving... :/

2010-09-29T18:15:00.003-04:00

Have you ever started something for fun... then after awhile it started to feel more like a job then anything else? Well, that's how I feel about my blog. It's been a great run and I've met a lot of nice people but I can't do it anymore. Reading is just eh now and I just enjoy reading for the heck of it and not writing reviews. It's indefinite if I'll come back or not, but for now I don't know. I just know that right now I need a really long break to focus on my life. Put it that way.

Plus I feel my blog really hasn't really accomplished anything in the year (almost two!) that I've been blogging. Oh well, there were those people that actually read it that matters :)

Everything will be on here till whenever. I hope I'll make up my mind sometime soon on if I'm leaving for sure or not. But for now I am. And thanks for the great ride everyone! <3

Music Monday [o3]

2010-09-18T17:35:00.004-04:00

Here's another dose :)
It's more catchy this time.
Give it a try :)

Music Monday [o2]

2010-09-13T12:02:00.003-04:00

Here's another dose of music for your Monday ;)

Review | The Eternal Ones

2010-09-08T07:00:00.000-04:00

Title: The Eternal Ones
Author: Kirsten Miller
Publisher: Razorbill
Pages: 416
Rating: 4.5

"What if love refused to die?

Haven Moore can’t control her visions of a past with a boy called Ethan, and a life in New York that ended in fiery tragedy. In our present, she designs beautiful dresses for her classmates with her best friend Beau. Dressmaking keeps her sane, since she lives with her widowed and heartbroken mother in her tyrannical grandmother’s house in Snope City, a tiny town in Tennessee. Then an impossible group of coincidences conspire to force her to flee to New York, to discover who she is, and who she was.

In New York, Haven meets Iain Morrow and is swept into an epic love affair that feels both deeply fated and terribly dangerous. Iain is suspected of murdering a rock star and Haven wonders, could he have murdered her in a past life? She visits the Ouroboros Society and discovers a murky world of reincarnation that stretches across millennia. Haven must discover the secrets hidden in her past lives, and loves¸ before all is lost and the cycle begins again."

In one sentence: The Eternal Ones was one helluva ride and secured a spot on my most favorites among the paranormal genre.

This novel, by far, was something I haven’t seen on the paranormal scene. Giving you signals that this is something fresh and interesting. The concept of reincarnation, past lives and love-at-first-sight interested me completely and left me awed when I finished reading. For me, keeping up with past characters and the present characters will leave you slightly confused. But The Eternal Ones was forgiven for how well the past and present mixed together seamlessly. And the writing. The writing was amazing and was definitely awesome.

The relationships that Haven were complex and very believable. With Iain, the chemistry between the two was undeniable and very steamy. I mean, come on, I’m a girl, I’m allowed to note on those sort of things. Now on to Beau. He was the guy best friend who was always there for Haven under the circumstances. We didn’t have any problem with the Southern gentleman either. All in all, the characters and their relationships with each other were great.

The ending. For me, everything closed nicely and left me satisfied. And about five minutes later, I’m like wait, what happened to this person? Is that it? But it’s naturally going to happen, and I didn’t mind it at all. Let’s just say it can either close nicely for you or having you wanting more. In my case, both.

The Eternal Ones has everything you could ask for in a paranormal novel with a little twist. The Ouroboros Society gave you the suspense, Haven and Iain gave you the romance (ahem), and with a little mystery, this novel will keep you on your toes. I definitely recommend this novel to almost anyone. Who knows, maybe you’ll like it just as much as I did.

Teaser Tuesday [17]

2010-09-07T07:00:00.003-04:00

**Mild language in the fragment. Just warning you.**

The track was muddier than it looked. Both competitors
were set. Rudy through a rock in the air as the starting pistol. When it
hit the ground, they could start running.

"I can't even see the finish line," Liesel complained.

"And I can?"

The rock wedged itself into the earth.

They ran next to each other, elbowing and trying to get in front. The slippery ground slurped at their feet and brought them down perhaps twenty meters from the end.

"Jesus, Mary, and Joseph!" yelped Rudy. "I'm covered in shit!"

"It's not shit," Liesel corrected him, "it's mud," although she had her doubts. They'd slid another five meters toward the finish. "Do we call it a draw, then?"

Rudy looked over, all sharp teeth and gangly blue eyes. Half of his face was painted with mud. "If it's a draw, do I still get my kiss?"

"Not in a million years." Liesel stood up and flicked some mud off her jacket.

So there you have it, my TT! :)

Music Monday [o1]

2010-09-06T07:00:00.001-04:00

Let me tell you, I am addicted to music. So I figured I'd do the meme as stated up there ^ to share both my love for reading and music! :)

Break.

2010-08-17T13:13:00.003-04:00

Alright, so here's the deal. You've noticed the lack of posts right? Well they're gonna be like that till I get settled into my school routine again. Which starts next week and shouldn't take too long. But don't worry I have to write reviews and I'll start that today and schedule them. Plus I've been out of the loop with this whole blogging scene. Oops. But anyways... so... stay with me while I do that, yeah?

Daily Dose [o3]

2010-08-09T07:00:00.000-04:00

This is a meme hosted by Good Golly Miss Holly and apparently you post pictures that made your day or gave you inspiration. So here are mine.

IMM [29]

2010-08-08T07:00:00.002-04:00

In My Mailbox was created by The Story Siren with inspiration from Pop Culture Junkie. It's where you share what you received every week.

I was feeling lazy and didn't feel like working with HTML this time around, so I made a video with all the books I received this week and last. Cool? Alright.

Daily Dose [o2]

2010-08-01T07:30:00.002-04:00

This is a meme hosted by Good Golly Miss Holly and apparently you post pictures that made your day or gave you inspiration. So here are mine.

Photo credits: Everything's magic), B.Romain

Review | The Beautiful Between

2010-07-30T22:41:00.004-04:00

Title: The Beautiful Between
Author: Alyssa B. Sheinmel
Publisher: Knopf Books for Young Readers
Pages: 192
Rating: 2.5/5

If high school were a fairy-tale kingdom, Connelly Sternin would be Rapunzel, locked not in a tower by a wicked witch but in a high-rise apartment bui...more

"If high school were a fairy-tale kingdom, Connelly Sternin would be Rapunzel, locked not in a tower by a wicked witch but in a high-rise apartment building by the SATs and college applications—and by the secrets she keeps. Connelly's few friends think that her parents are divorced—but they're not. Connelly's father died when she was two, and she doesn't know how.

If Connelly is the Rapunzel of her school, Jeremy Cole is the crown prince, son of a great and rich New York City family. So when he sits down next to her at lunch one day, Connelly couldn't be more surprised. But Jeremy has a tragic secret of his own, and Connelly is the only one he can turn to for help. Together they form a council of two, helping each other with their homework and sharing secrets. As the pair's friendship grows, Connelly learns that it's the truth, not the secrets, that one must guard and protect. And that between friends, the truth, however harsh, is also beautiful."

The Beautiful Between, although heartfelt, it didn't come full circle for me. The plot seemed to revolve around three things and three things only. Connelly's relationship with Jeremy, Connelly's desire to find out what happened to her father and Jeremy's family secret. Another thing I noticed about this novel's plot is that it didn't move much and felt repetitive.

I believe the main characters were just thrown into becoming friends and all was said and done. I didn't see a true bond between them. Although, I admit, there was a deeper message between them. That just because someone's from a clique you don't necessarily like that doesn't mean that they don't have problems of their own and that you can't relate to them. Or help each other. I adored that aspect of the novel. I also liked the aspect of high school being thought of as a fairytale.

Although this novel didn't satisfy me as the reader, The Beautiful Between was something that needed to be read for the simple fact about the inner message of the novel. But it's really your choice to read this novel or not. Who knows maybe you'll like it better than I did.

Waiting on Wednesday [14]

2010-07-28T07:30:00.000-04:00

"When her mother is killed in a car accident, Michele Windsor has no choice but to move in with the wealthy grandparents she's never met in New York. Disillusioned by their coldness, Michele retreats into her room, where she discovers her great-great-aunt's journal--and, once she touches its pages, finds herself hurtled back in time.

In the glamorous Gilded Age, Michele learns that a wedding is coming up between the Windsors and another prominent family, the Walkers. But when Michele attends a party, something miraculous happens: while almost no one can see her in this era, one gorgeous young man with sparkling blue eyes can. Drawn together by mutual attraction, the two bond over music and the parents they've recently lost. But when the party is over, Michele learns the truth--the man she just fell for is Phillip Walker. And she, unknowingly, has just inspired him to call off his wedding to her great-great-aunt, prompting a family feud that will last for generations.

As Michele travels back and forth in time, she and Phillip meet over and over, always frustrated by their inability to have more than a few hours together. Michele knows she should try to make a life in the present, but none of the boys at school can hold a candle to Phillip. Finally, Michele tries to end their romance altogether--spurring a tragedy that transcends generations. Has Michele destroyed her chances for happiness? Or is her love for Phillip . . . timeless?"

Why? Because it's about time travel romance. I mean come on, who doesn't like reading about that kinda stuff? Plus it sounds amazing. Oh and it's a 2011 release, so it'll be awhile before I even get near this book, lol.

Teaser Tuesday [16]

2010-07-27T07:30:00.012-04:00

""Locked?" Simon perked up.

"I busted it open. It's a workshop. Nothing but tools."

"So why would it be locked?" I asked.

"I'd love to say suspicious," Simon said. "But if this Banks guy had kids around, then I'm not surprised. My dad isn't exactly Mr. Handyman, but he kept a lock on his toolbox. You know parents. Paranoid."

"Yeah," Derek said. "Especially after their son flattens his finger trying to nail a drawing to the wall."

"Hey, I'm not the genius who suggested it." Simon glanced at me. "Tape wouldn't hold, and Science Guy explained that the paper was too heavy for the adhesive. So I got some nails."

Derek rolled his eyes."

Daily Dose [o1]

2010-07-25T19:15:00.003-04:00

This is a meme hosted by Good Golly Miss Holly and apparently you post pictures that made your day or gave you inspiration. I loved reading others' posts with this meme, so I thought I'd start sharing mine. It'll switch up the blog a little. And even though, it says every Monday, I'll go with every Sunday.

Let's get on with it shall we?

Er...yeah, I'm going to have to get better at this.

In My Freaking Mailbox! :] [36]

2010-07-24T15:30:00.003-04:00

In My Mailbox is a meme created by The Story Siren with some inspiration from Pop Culture Junkie. But we all knew that, right? Right. So let's get down to it.

Each of the books, except for the third picture is from the library. The publisher sent book three for review.

Book one: I was feeling the need to read a classic, so I chose The Catcher in The Rye. Silly enough, I've never read this. Book two: how could I not pick up the last book in the Darkest Powers Trilogy?! Enough said.

Book three: SQUEE. Enough said. Srsly. Book four: I've always liked this series, and plus the covers are always gorgeous. As a matter of fact, these last two books have gorgeous covers.

Review | Raised by Wolves

2010-07-19T23:00:00.009-04:00

Title: Raised by Wolves
Author: Jennifer Lynn Barnes
Publisher: Egmont
Pages: 432
Rating: 4/5

"Adopted by the Alpha of a werewolf pack after a rogue wolf brutally killed her parents right before her eyes, fifteen-year-old Bryn knows only pack life, and the rigid social hierarchy that controls it. That doesn't mean that she's averse to breaking a rule or two.

But when her curiosity gets the better of her and she discovers Chase, a new teen locked in a cage in her guardian's basement, and witnesses him turn into a wolf before her eyes, the horrific memories of her parents' murders return. Bryn becomes obsessed with getting her questions answered, and Chase is the only one who can provide the information she needs.

But in her drive to find the truth, will Bryn push too far beyond the constraints of the pack, forcing her to leave behind her friends, her family, and the identity that she's shaped?"

Raised By Wolves was a great book about werewolves that I found very enjoyable. I've got to admit, I'm liking werewolves more and more. Like any paranormal novel, the author takes a paranormal element and makes it their own. In Barnes' case, I really liked the way she made her element work. There was just something more awesome about it to say the least.

The characters were great. Devon was my favorite; he often busted out with different accents and was always there for Bryn no matter what. Ali was another favorite. She was the mother-figure for Bryn and a good one at that. I often found myself thinking they were almost best friends. Best of both worlds, you know? But almost every character took my liking because they're well created.

Although I got a little confused towards the middle of the book, this book has it's hooks in mine and I can't wait to read the next installment because I know it's going to be just as awesome as the first. Well, possibly. But I know it :)

Cover love: I love this cover. And the background. It's just so pretty! :)

IMM! [35]

2010-07-17T23:45:00.003-04:00

Hey all. Here's an In My Mailbox! You know the gist, this meme was created by The Story Siren and with inspiration from Pop Culture Junkie.

Both books are for review.

"Eron De Marchelle isn't supposed to feel a connection. He is a Sandman, a supernatural being whose purpose is to seduce human charges to sleep. While he can communicate with his charges in their dreams, he isn't encouraged to--after all, getting too involved in one human's life would prevent him helping his other charges get their needed rest.

But he can't deny that he feels something for Julia. Julia, with her fiery red hair and her sad dreams. Just weeks ago, her boyfriend died in a car accident, and Eron can tell that she feels more alone than ever. Eron was human once too, many years ago, and he remembers how it felt to lose the one he loved. Eron has always felt protective of Julia . . . but now, when she seems to need him more than ever, he can't seem to reach her . . .

Sandmen are forbidden from communicating with humans outside their dreams. But will Eron be willing to risk everything for a chance to be with the person he loves?"

"What happens when your sister becomes your biggest rival?
If there were a way to pick your family, fourteen-year old Franny might not pick her own. Her father is a hipster boutique owner who's constantly "friending" her on Facebook, her mother is off in Kenya jumpstarting her stalled anthropology career, and her sister Zooey, eleven months older and eight inches taller, is a precocious, prima ballerina. Lately, Zooey's so absorbed with her burgeoning ballet career that she barely seems to notice Franny. And since Zooey attends a top ballet conservatory, Franny's on her own navigating the brutal halls of her Manhattan prep school, a first-year trying to get noticed on the school paper (and by its soulful, long-lashed editor-in-chief).
But everything changes when Zooey breaks her leg and her dancing comes to grinding halt. Her ballet dreams shattered, Zooey begins to hone in on Franny's "normal" life and friends. Franny feels terrible for Zooey, but when her encroachment starts to extend to Franny’s long-time crush, Franny begins to wonder if her sister might just be her worst competition..."

Review - Shade by Jeri Smith-Ready

2010-07-13T15:36:00.009-04:00

Title: Shade
Author: Jeri Smith-Ready
Publisher: Simon Pulse
Pages: 309
Rating: 5/5

"Love ties them together. Death can't tear them apart.

Best. Birthday. Ever. At least, it was supposed to be. With Logan's band playing a critical gig and Aura's plans for an intimate after-party, Aura knows it will be the most memorable night of her boyfriend's life. She never thought it would be his last. Logan's sudden death leaves Aura devastated. He's gone. Well, sort of.

Like everyone born after the Shift, Aura can see and hear ghosts. This mysterious ability has always been annoying, and Aura had wanted nothing more than to figure out why the Shift happened so she can undo it. But not with Logan's violet-hued spirit still hanging around. Because dead Logan is almost as real as ever. Almost.

It doesn't help that Aura's new friend Zachary is so understanding--and so very alive. His support means more to Aura than she cares to admit.

As Aura's relationships with the dead and the living grow ever complicated, so do her feelings for Logan and Zachary. Each holds a piece of Aura's heart...and clues to the secret of the Shift."

Shade is one of those paranormal romance books that you have got to read with no exceptions. There’s the perfect amount of romance, mystery, and everything in between. It intrigued me from the first page and kept me turning the pages themselves. The aspect that only some kids born after a certain time, the Shift, can only see ghosts seemed totally original. And I everything about it wowed me.

Logan’s and Aura’s relationship, both ways, awed me in the sense that even through death, love can remain strong. There were definitely a lot moments that made you just want scream aw at the top of your lungs. And trust me, I awed… and teared up a little. Oh, and there’s a love triangle. And it’s hot. Just thought I should, you know, add that in for us girls.

The plot was unpredictable and kept me on my toes the whole time. The writing in and of itself was well written and described everything perfectly without overdoing it. And although the ending was a huge cliffhanger and left me muttering words I can’t say, it still gave you some closure. Kind of. This book is beyond amazing and probably the best paranormal debut '10. To me anyways.

IMM! :] [34]

2010-07-04T08:00:00.003-04:00

"Wicked Girls is a fictionalized account of the Salem witch trials based on the real historical characters, told from the perspective of three young women living in Salem in 1692—Mercy Lewis, Margaret Walcott, and Ann Putnam Jr.

When Ann’s father suggests that a spate of illnesses within the village is the result of witchcraft, Ann sees an opportunity and starts manifesting the symptoms of affliction. Ann looks up to Mercy, the beautiful servant in her parents' house. She shows Mercy the power that a young girl is capable of in a time when women were completely powerless. Mercy, who suffered abuse at the hands of past masters, seizes her only chance at safety. And Ann’s cousin Margaret, anxious to win the attention of a boy in her sights, follows suit.

As the accusations mount against men and women in the community, the girls start to see the deadly ramifications of their actions. Should they finally tell the truth? Or is it too late to save this small New England town?"

That's all I got this week and, I've gotta admit, this sounds like a purrrty good read. Oh, oh, oh how could I forget? Happy Birthday, America ;) And, like, even though fireworks are illegal, go have some fun with those. And enjoy those family cookouts! Catcha later, bloggers.

Contest Winner Annoucement.

2010-07-03T16:44:00.002-04:00

Happy 4th of July weekend! :)

--

That contest that was on my blog went really well, there were 243 entries in all. I'd say that went well, don't you? Anyways the winner isssss....

Ashley R.

You have 48 hours to respond to my email or I'm going to choose a different winner. Thanks for the awesome contest, guys!

Review | Perfect Chemistry

2010-06-23T17:04:00.003-04:00

Title: Perfect Chemistry
Author: Simone Elkeles
Publisher: Walker Books
Pages: 360
Rating 5/5

"A modern tale of star-crossed lovers with a fresh urban twist. At Fairfield High School, on the outskirts of Chicago , everyone knows that south-siders mixing with north-siders can be explosive. So when Brittany Ellis and Alejandro “Alex” Fuentes are forced to be lab partners in chemistry class, this human experiment leads to unexpected revelations – that Brittany ’s flawless reputation is a cover for her troubled home life, that Alex’s bad-boy persona hides his desire to break free from gang ties, and that when they’re together, life somehow makes more sense.

Breaking through the stereotypes and expectations that threaten to keep Brittany and Alex apart, Perfect Chemistry takes readers to both sides of the tracks in a passionate love story about looking beneath the surface."

Perfect Chemistry is a heartfelt, amazing novel that took my breath away from the first page. It's more than a star-crossed love story. It goes deeper than that and it's portrayed well in this novel.

Both Alex and Brittany's connection and chemistry felt so real. There was no Boom-I'm-In-Love-With-Him moment, it grew over time and flourished. Just as the characters did. Each of the characters, even the secondary ones, were well developed and rounded. Brittany wasn't just your snotty, rich kid. Alex wasn't just your typical gang member. Shelley wasn't just the older sister with cystic fibrosis. Each character had many layers underneath their exterior and I loved that. The alternating chapters between Alex and Brittany was perfect as well. It gave you views into what was going on in each of their lives, what they thought about each other. It was amazing.

I was blown away with everything about this novel. I found myself laughing with the funny parts, swooning with the A & B interaction, and wincing with every thing gang related. Heck, I even teared up a couple times. And the ending, oh the ending, was perfect in every single way possible! This is definitely one of my most loved books now. It's that good, people. Meaning you should go read this NOW. Now, I tell you.

Updatez... well, sort of.

2010-06-18T21:56:00.009-04:00

"Summer is where the girls go barefoot,

and their hearts are just as free as their toes."
--

It's summer, and you can blame that little tidbit for the lack of me posting. And reading books nonetheless. My mind has been on everything but reading and my blog! Yeah, you know what I'm talking about. Music, boys, shopping, staying outside all day, swimming, all that jazz.

The last week, or beginning of July, me, my aunt, sister, and my niece (who, let me remind you, is four. she's team edward, btw. yes, my niece is the most awesomest toddler EVAH.) are going to see Eclipse.

From there, a week later, my whole family is taking a trip to King's Island. That's just an amusement park a way up from where I live. Then we're coming back and hopping on a plane and heading over to San Diego for however long!

Busy, busy, busy, eh? You're telling me! The next post will be announcing the winner of the contest that's on my blog. Look out for that ;) But I will be posting posts when I have time.

So I'll be back sooner or later when things calm down and I can pick reading back up. Wait for me my dear followers? :)

Review - Keep Sweet by Michele Dominquez Greene

2010-06-02T08:00:00.004-04:00

Title: Keep Sweet
Author: Michele Dominquez Greene
Publisher: Simon Pulse
Pages: 215
Rating: 5/5

"Alva Jane has never questioned her parents, never questioned her faith, never questioned her future. She is content with the strict rules that define her life in Pineridge, the walled community where she lives with her father, his seven wives, and her twenty-eight siblings. This is the only world Alva has ever known, and she has never thought to challenge it.

But everything changes when Alva is caught giving her long-time crush an innocent first kiss. Beaten, scorned, and now facing a forced marriage to a violent, fifty-year old man, Alva suddenly realizes how much she has to lose--and how impossible it will be to escape."

Keep Sweet is one of those books that leave your jaw dropped and your mind racing about the reality that there really are places like that of the book. Where girls as young as eleven have to be married off to men twenty to thirty years older than they are. Where choice isn't an option. I was enticed reading this novel. Everything about it brought realization and horror of what Alva had to go through. It was a roller-coaster of emotions. From the very beginning, her voice brought me into the polygamy lifestyle and never lost its grip. Throughout the first part of the novel, Alva is perfectly fine and keeps sweet. She thinks it's normal. But as the novel progresses, she starts seeing everything in a new light. One that shows how bad she was really living life. You could say Alva grew and flourished as a character and I found myself proud of her as she did. She was one of those characters that just lifted off the pages. The author's writing really opened my eyes up with these polygamy lifestyles and created what Alva saw in my own head. I found the entire story eye opening and compelling to the last page. The ending didn't leave me satisfied and had some untied strings. That's the only complaint I have with the novel. Overall, there are some aspects of this novel that are intense, so I wouldn't recommend it for kids under thirteen. But everyone over that, definitely try to read it!

Favorite line: "I learned that sometimes you feel more lonesome when you're surrounded by people than when you're all alone."

Review - White Cat by Holly Black

2010-05-29T21:59:00.005-04:00

Title: White Cat
Author: Holly Black
Publisher: McElderry
Pages: 310
Rating: 4/5

"Cassel comes from a family of curse workers -- people who have the power to change your emotions, your memories, your luck, by the slightest touch of their hands. And since curse work is illegal, they're all mobsters, or con artists. Except for Cassel. He hasn't got the magic touch, so he's an outsider, the straight kid in a crooked family. You just have to ignore one small detail -- he killed his best friend, Lila, three years ago.
Ever since, Cassel has carefully built up a façade of normalcy, blending into the crowd. But his façade starts crumbling when he starts sleepwalking, propelled into the night by terrifying dreams about a white cat that wants to tell him something. He's noticing other disturbing things, too, including the strange behavior of his two brothers. They are keeping secrets from him, caught up in a mysterious plot. As Cassel begins to suspect he's part of a huge con game, he also wonders what really happened to Lila. Could she still be alive? To find that out, Cassel will have to out-con the conmen.
Holly Black has created a gripping tale of mobsters and dark magic where a single touch can bring love -- or death -- and your dreams might be more real than your memories."

White Cat is a novel that I haven't even read about before. The author created a world where with the touch of your hand, Curse Workers could put a curse on anyone they wanted. I think that's slightly on the awesome side, don't you think? I immediately liked Cassel and his story as it developed with each page you turned. The plot was one helluva ride and often had you thinking one thing, but in truth, it was something completely different. The author did that with ease. Overall, I came to the realization that Holly Black has some skills cursing me with this book. Okay that was cheesy, but you get the point!*

Favorite line:

"Pet the cat, dude," says Sam. "She brought you a present. She wants you to tell her how badass she is."

*I realize this review is on the short side. I'm working on changing my review style and this is what you get in the process. So yeah... They'll get better. (At least I hope.)

Blogoversary Contest!

2010-05-26T21:42:00.001-04:00

**Contest Now Closed**

So, I decided to have a contest anyways. There's two awesome releases that I'm willing to give away to one lucky winner! Here's the low down :)

Dana Hathaway doesn’t know it yet, but she’s in big trouble. When her alcoholic mom shows up at her voice recital drunk, Dana decides she’s had it with being her mother’s keeper, so she packs her bags and heads to stay with her mysterious father in Avalon: the only place on Earth where the regular, everyday world and the magical world of Faerie intersect. But from the moment Dana sets foot in Avalon, everything goes wrong, for it turns out she isn't just an ordinary teenage girl—she's a Faeriewalker, a rare individual who can travel between both worlds, and who can bring magic into the human world and technology into Faerie.
Soon, she finds herself tangled up in a cutthroat game of Fae politics. Someone's trying to kill her, and everyone wants something from her, even her newfound friends and family. Suddenly, life with her alcoholic mom doesn't sound half bad, and Dana would do anything to escape Avalon and get back home. Too bad both her friends and her enemies alike are determined not to let her go...

Sick of vampires? So is Meena Harper. But her boss is making her write about them anyway, even though Meena doesn’t believe in them. Not that Meena isn’t familiar with the supernatural. See, Meena Harper knows how you’re going to die (not that you’re going to believe her; no one ever does).

But not even Meena’s precognition can prepare her for what happens when she meets—then makes the mistake of falling in love with—Lucien Antonescu, a modern-day prince with a bit of a dark side . . . a dark side a lot of people, like an ancient society of vampire-hunters, would prefer to see him dead for.

The problem is, he already is dead. Maybe that’s why he’s the first guy Meena’s ever met that she could see herself having a future with. See, while Meena’s always been able to see everyone else’s future, she’s never been able look into her own. And while Lucien seems like everything Meena has ever dreamed of in a boyfriend, he might turn out to be more like a nightmare. Now might be a good time for Meena to start learning to predict her own future... If she even has one.

Ends June 15, 2010 at 12:00 P.M EST time.
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Fill out the form.
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IMM [33]

2010-05-23T08:33:00.002-04:00

Hey, guys. This week I borrowed a lot of good books from the local library. Can you believe these were from a library? Yeah, they're all books that were recently released. I love my library :) Sorry for the tiny images and awkward positioning. Used Paint this time around, lol. Anyways, here are the books:

Review-Glimmerglass by Jenna Black

2010-05-20T15:21:00.007-04:00

Title: Glimmerglass
Author: Jenna Black
Publisher: St. Martin's Griffin
Rating: 4/5

"Dana Hathaway doesn’t know it yet, but she’s in big trouble. When her alcoholic mom shows up at her voice recital drunk, Dana decides she’s had it with being her mother’s keeper, so she packs her bags and heads to stay with her mysterious father in Avalon: the only place on Earth where the regular, everyday world and the magical world of Faerie intersect. But from the moment Dana sets foot in Avalon, everything goes wrong, for it turns out she isn't just an ordinary teenage girl—she's a Faeriewalker, a rare individual who can travel between both worlds, and who can bring magic into the human world and technology into Faerie.

Soon, she finds herself tangled up in a cutthroat game of Fae politics. Someone's trying to kill her, and everyone wants something from her, even her newfound friends and family. Suddenly, life with her alcoholic mom doesn't sound half bad, and Dana would do anything to escape Avalon and get back home. Too bad both her friends and her enemies alike are determined not to let her go..."

Glimmerglass is a spellbinding debut novel that creates a world of Fae and humans alike. This novel was amazing. No other words to describe it.

The author had a way to make you go back and forth between characters and if you could trust them or not. I never really did figure it out completely who was who, but I was satisfied with who Dana figured out were the good guys and who were the bad ones. Each of the characters were well drawn out and had their personalities. Ethan, Kimber, Dana, Finn, and even Keane were my absolute favorites. You have your romance as well, and that starts off quite steamy. The world Avalon was realistic and had an air of old flair to it although it was modernized. The other world of Faerie was equally as interesting, but you didn't read much of it.

The only iffy problem that I had was how quickly Dana meets with her dad and automatically calls him dad. Most children who have never met their mother/father don't fall so quickly into calling that person mom or dad. Ya know? But that's my only issue with his novel! All these fairy books are starting to become my favorites, but overall, I think this is yet another amazing 2010 debut! Look for it's release the 25th. That's five days away!

I almost forgot!

2010-05-17T12:19:00.007-04:00

Today's my one year anniversary! Yupp, you heard correctly. This time last year, I created this blog. And although it went through two other names and more designs than I can count, it's still has been run by me all along. Since that day, I've written 212 posts. Each consisting of reviews and memes with a few author interviews hidden in there somewhere. My love for reading hasn't faltered. It got started, by come on give me a break, The Twilight Series. After I read that series, I just wanted to read more and more. Funny way to ignite your love of reading, huh? Either way, I'm so happy that I started this blog. The authors I was able to talk to, the books I was able to read and review was worth it. I wouldn't change it for anything. I hope that you'll stick with this blog with me for another year and probably many more! There might or might not be a contest. You'll just have to wait and see if I do or not :)

In Muh Mailbox [32]

2010-05-16T15:45:00.007-04:00

Hey, ya'll. I know you pretty tired of a lot of IMM's and like one review in between. Sorry 'bout that. I'm fixing to change it! Anyways, you know the drill, it's Sunday and I show you what books I got this week. It's hosted by The Story Siren & is inspired by Pop Culture Junkie.

Sixteen-year-old Maggie Bennet’s life is in tatters. Her mother has disappeared, and is presumed dead. The next thing she knows, her father has dragged Maggie away from their elegant Newport home, off on some mad excursion to Yellowstone in Montana. Torn from the only life she’s ever known, away from her friends, from society, and verging on no prospects, Maggie is furious and devastated by her father’s betrayal. But when she arrives, she finds herself drawn to the frustratingly stubborn, handsome Tom Rowland, the son of a park geologist, and to the wild romantic beauty of Yellowstone itself. And as Tom and the promise of freedom capture Maggie’s heart, Maggie is forced to choose between who she is and who she wants to be.

A summer to remember?
Angie always thought high school romances were just silly infatuations that come and go. She certainly never thought she would fall in love over one short summer. But when she meets Jack, their connection is beyond any childish crush. Suddenly, Angie and Jack are filling their summer with stolen moments and romantic nights. But as fall grows closer, they must figure out if their love is forever, or just a summer they'll never forget.

When Jacob’s foster father whispers, “You are indestructible” seconds before dying in a car crash that should’ve killed them both, Jacob never imagines he could possess a real superpower. To test it Jacob and his friends start indulging comic book-like fantasies. Later, they commit to use this amazing power of indestructibility to do good in the world and save others from death. But how do they decide who to save? And what happens when they blur the lines of life and death, right and wrong, and good and evil? Thirteen Days to Midnight is a nail-biting tale of dark intrigue, powerful romance, friendship and adventure.

Review | Will Grayson, Will Grayson

2010-05-10T08:00:00.001-04:00

Title: Will Grayson, Will Grayson
Author: John Green & David Levithan
Publisher: Dutton
Pages: 310
Rating: 4/5

One cold night, in a most unlikely corner of Chicago, two teens—both named Will Grayson—are about to cross paths. As their worlds collide and intertwine, the Will Graysons find their lives going in new and unexpected directions, building toward romantic turns-of-heart and the epic production of history’s most fabulous high school musical. Hilarious, poignant, and deeply insightful, John Green and David Levithan’s collaborative novel is brimming with a double helping of the heart and humor that have won both them legions of faithful fans.

Will Grayson, Will Grayson was one of those novels you just have to read. The alternating chapters give you points of views from two different people named the same name. My favorite W.G happened to be the second one, the depressed one. His voice drew me in and had me feeling what he was feeling. I connected more with him. Did I mention the writing was unique? I loved that. It was fantastic and had humor and realization. On the flipside though, you had the first Will Grayson who was, inevitably, was the dork with the gay best friend. His POV was more laid back and funny, especially with Tiny Cooper. He's the gay best friend who had me laughing quite a lot. Overall this novel says a lot about different kinds of love there actually are and I highly recommend you buy it or borrow it, anything to make you read it! :)

Favorite Line:
"maybe tonight you're scared of falling, and maybe there's somebody here or somewhere else you're thinking about, worrying over, fretting over, trying to figure out if you want to fall, or how and when you're going to land, and i gotta tell you friends that to stop thinking about the landing, because it's all about falling. maybe there is something you're afraid to say, or someone you're afraid to love, or somewhere you're afraid to go. it's gonna hurt. it's gonna hurt because it matters."

In My Mailbox [31]

2010-05-09T07:00:00.003-04:00

Hey guys, I have another IMM for you! This week was actually a good trip to the library. There were some good ones and I got them :) Sorry the layout is kind of loopy and the images are a tad too big, but whatever. As you know, this was created by Kristi from the The Story Siren and inspired by Alea at Pop Culture Junkie. Go check them out!
So yeah, the first book is for review! And the rest are from my local library. I'm excited about all of these and I just started Give Up The Ghost. So it's the next review after the review scheduled on Monday ;) What did you get?

Waiting on Wednesday [13]

2010-05-05T12:18:00.015-04:00

"Hello, David. My name is Rose. It’s a pleasure to meet you. We are now entering minute two of our friendship. According to my Intimacy Clock, a handshake is now appropriate…"

David and Charlie are opposites. David has a million friends, online and off. Charlie is a soulful outsider, off the grid completely. But neither feels close to anybody. When David’s parents present him with a hot Companion bot to encourage healthy bonds and treat "dissociative disorder," he can’t get enough of luscious red-headed Rose — and he can’t get it soon. Companions come with strict intimacy protocols, and whenever he tries anything, David gets an electric shock.

Severed from the boy she was built to love, Rose turns to Charlie, who finds he can open up, knowing Rose isn’t real. With Charlie’s help, the ideal "companion" is about to become her own best friend.

This sound really good. What books are you waiting for?

Review | Fade Out by Rachel Caine

2010-05-02T16:52:00.003-04:00

Title: Fade Out
Author: Rachel Caine
Publisher: Signet
Pages: 237
Rating: 4/5

Without the evil vampire Bishop ruling over the town of Morganville, the resident vampires have made major concessions to the human population. With their newfound freedoms, Claire Danvers and her friends are almost starting to feel comfortable again...

Now Claire can actually concentrate on her studies, and her friend Eve joins the local theatre company. But when one of Eve's castmates goes missing after starting work on a short documentary, Eve suspects the worst. Claire and Eve soon realize that this film project, whose subject is the vampires themselves, is a whole lot bigger-and way more dangerous-than anyone suspected.

*There are no spoilers in this review*

Fade Out is another awesome book in the Morganville Vampire series. The group have always been my favorite since the first book. The closeness that each of them have towards each other is completely realistic and funny as ever. As with the second set of characters (you know who I'm talking about) they were all still allies in a sense, but necessarily couldn't trust. I admit that this one in the series started out a little slow, but proved to be filled with action towards the middle and the end. I love how the author can have a ton of novels in a series and each one be completely different but alike. As usual, I loved this one as the others and I'm looking forward to Kiss of Death which is in my to read pile! Look out for that review.

Favorite part/line:
"I like a good bunny slipper. I'm surprised you didn't get the ones with fangs," she said, and scanned the room. "Wow the place looks fantastic."

Myrnin's eyes brightened. "They have some with fangs? Excellent."
-Claire & Myrnin pg. 10

In Muh Mailbox. [30]

2010-04-30T20:53:00.010-04:00

Long time, no posts my darling followers! Sorry about that, I was on vacation with the family :) Anyways, I have an In My Mailbox this week for ya. If you don't already know, this meme is hosted by The Story Siren.

The first two are for review. It was totally unexpected, but that's never a problem, eh? Burning Ambition is apart of a series, so I need to get the first novel before reading that. The other two are from my local library; so naturally they're the borrowed :)

What did you get this week?

The Iron King by Julie Kagawa | Review

2010-04-19T13:15:00.010-04:00

Title: The Iron King
Author: Julie Kagawa
Publisher: Harlequin Teen
Pages: 363
Rating: 5/5

Meghan Chase has a secret destiny—one she could never have imagined… Something has always felt slightly off in Meghan's life, ever since her father disappeared before her eyes when she was six. She has never quite fit in at school…or at home.

When a dark stranger begins watching her from afar, and her prankster best friend becomes strangely protective of her, Meghan senses that everything she's known is about to change.

But she could never have guessed the truth—that she is the daughter of a mythical faery king and is a pawn in a deadly war. Now Meghan will learn just how far she'll go to save someone she cares about, to stop a mysterious evil no faery creature dare face…and to find love with a young prince who might rather see her dead than let her touch his icy heart.

The Iron King is an amazing book that takes you into a magical world of the Fae. From the first page it had me wrapped in it's fingers, and not once let go. The world the author created was vivid and completely magical. It was filled with creatures, trolls, giants, and everything in between. But my favorite had to be the main characters. The ones that told the story; Meghan, Robbie, Ash (hellllo swoonage), and Grim. They were all fun, amazing characters and how they were created were realistic to a point I thought they were real. I found myself getting angry, happy, sad, or laughing with them. No wonder every review for this book is a good one! Between the amazing descriptions, strong characters, and the writing...you have yourself an awesome novel. I definitely recommend this book and can not wait until the next installment comes. Or, ya' know, can not wait to get more of Ash and Robbie! ;)

Favorite line:
"Stop thinking," Ash muttered, pulling me into a spin that ended with me against his chest. "The audience doesn't matter. The steps don't matter. Just close your eyes and listen to the music."
-Ash pg. 170

In My Mailbox [29]

2010-04-11T12:33:00.005-04:00

Torn between two vampire brothers

Damon: determined to make Elena his, he'd kill his own brother to possess her.

Stefan: desperate for the power to destroy Damon, and protect Elena, he gives in to his thirst for human blood.

Elena: the girl who can have anyone finds herself in the middle of a love triangle . . . one that might turn deadly.

Meghan Chase has a secret destiny—one she could never have imagined…
Something has always felt slightly off in Meghan's life, ever since her father disappeared before her eyes when she was six. She has never quite fit in at school…or at home.
When a dark stranger begins watching her from afar, and her prankster best friend becomes strangely protective of her, Meghan senses that everything she's known is about to change.
But she could never have guessed the truth—that she is the daughter of a mythical faery king and is a pawn in a deadly war. Now Meghan will learn just how far she'll go to save someone she cares about, to stop a mysterious evil no faery creature dare face…and to find love with a young prince who might rather see her dead than let her touch his icy heart.

Lily's parents have sent her to a fancy boarding school in Chicago filled with the ultra-rich. If that wasn't bad enough, she's hearing and seeing bizarre things on St. Sophie's creepy campus. Her roommate, Scout, keeps her sane, but keeps disappearing at night. When one day Lily finds Scout running from real-life monsters, she learns the hard way that Scout is involved in a splinter group of rebel teens.

They protect Chicago from demons, vamps, and dark magic users. It's too bad Lily doesn't have powers of her own to help. At least, none that she's discovered yet...

---------------

Dude, isn't the first book's cover absolutely hot? xD. I really, really like it. But most of all I'm excited to read The Iron King! This is all I got this week, what did you get?

Review | Brightly Woven

2010-04-09T19:04:00.007-04:00

Title: Brightly Woven
Author: Alexandra Bracken
Publisher: Egmont
Pages: 368
Rating: 5/5

When Wayland North brings rain to a region that's been dry for over ten years, he's promised anything he'd like as a reward. He chooses the village elder's daughter, sixteen-year-old Sydelle Mirabel, who is a skilled weaver and has an unusual knack for repairing his magical cloaks. Though Sydelle has dreamt of escaping her home, she's hurt that her parents relinquish her so freely and finds herself awed and afraid of the slightly ragtag wizard who is unlike any of the men of magic in the tales she's heard. Still, she is drawn to this mysterious man who is fiercely protective of her and so reluctant to share his own past.

The pair rushes toward the capital, intent to stop an imminent war, pursued by Reuel Dorwan (a dark wizard who has taken a keen interest in Sydelle) and plagued by unusually wild weather. But the sudden earthquakes and freak snowstorms may not be a coincidence. As Sydelle discovers North's dark secret and the reason for his interest in her and learns to master her own mysterious power, it becomes increasingly clear that the fate of the kingdom rests in her fingertips. She will either be a savior, weaving together the frayed bonds between Saldorra and Auster, or the disastrous force that destroys both kingdoms forever.

Brightly Woven was a captivating novel that had me breathless with each page I turned. This normally isn't the type of book that I would read and love, but the author had a way of taking me in and not letting go with her writing. The author also created a world full of magic, wizards and everything in between that was realistic in plenty of ways. Definitely my kind of fantasy world. The characters were all my favorite! Um, especially Wayland! Can I have him? The relationship between Sydelle and him weaved (no pun intended) perfectly from the beginning. It was pretty much realistic and I adored that. This story is definitely something I'd love to read over and over again.

Favorite line (that shows Wayland's adorable attitude):

"I'm trying to feel sorry for you, really, I am," North said. "If you wait just a moment, I'm sure the tears will come."

"Oh, shut up!" Oliver burst out...

Author Interview | Jackie Dolamore

2010-04-05T20:29:00.003-04:00

This was originally supposed to be posted around the release of Magic Under Glass, but the publisher and author were a little busy! But anyways, here's an interview with the creator of an awesome book :) Please stick with my lame and boring questions...I'm working on it!

1.) Where did you first get the idea for Magic Under Glass?

My first novel had been rejected a bunch of times, and I was realizing it was inherently flawed, so I was thinking about what I could write next. I write what I want to read more of, and one thing I wanted to see more of was fantasy inspired by the Victorian era. I've always loved the domestic history of that time, so once I thought of writing a novel set in a brooding Victorian house, ideas started coming quickly...

2.) Do you have any specific places you love to write?

I love to write on the porch and watch the squirrels, but it's not very ergonomic, so I'm kind of stuck in my bedroom at my desk. I dream of a house where my desk in by some windows!

3.) How long did it take you to write Magic Under Glass?

Two years before it was accepted. It was the only book I worked on in two years, however. It was probably three drafts that took about three months each to write, but the thinking months in between were just as important as the writing.

4.) Is there going to be a sequel?

Yes! The sequel just became official. It's called Magic Under Stone.

5.) Are you working on any other works? If so, what is it going to be about?

Well, the sequel isn't written yet, so mostly I am working on that. My next project that is in the simmering stage will probably be a fantasy novel based loosely on the silent film Metropolis. I have another completed book as well that is with my agent at the moment.

6.) What you first saw your book on the shelves, what was running through your head?

It's kind of a dazed, blank feeling. Extremely happy, on one hand, and in other ways strangely anticlimactic. You wonder why everyone in the stores isn't there looking at your book. Instead you're just standing in a lonely aisle looking at three lonely copies. Although, I actually managed to sell a copy to a couple of teenage girls in the aisle at the very first store where I went to look at it. That made my WEEK.

7.) Any last words?

Thanks for having me!

In Muh Mailbox :) [28]

2010-04-04T08:00:00.002-04:00

All Hanna's wanted since sophomore year is Seth. She's gone out with other guys, even gained a rep for being a flirt, all the while hoping cool, guitar-playing Seth will choose her. Then she gets him -- but their relationship is hurtful, stormy and critical, not at all what Hanna thinks a perfect love should be.

Bewildered by Seth's treatment of her and in need of understanding, Hanna decides to fulfill her school's community service requirement by spending time with Helen, her terminally ill neighbor, who she's turned to for comfort and wisdom throughout her life. But illness has changed Helen into someone Hanna hardly knows, and her home is not the refuge it once was.

Feeling more alone than ever, Hanna gets drawn into an audiobook the older woman is listening to, a fierce, unsettling love story of passion, sacrifice, and devotion. Hanna's fascinated by the idea that such all-encompassing love can truly exist, and without her even realizing it, the story begins to change her. Until the day when the story becomes all too real...and Hanna's world is spun off its axis by its shattering, irrevocable conclusion.

When someone leaves three mystery flowers outside her dorm door, Laurel thinks that maybe the Avondale School isn't so awful after all — until her own body starts to freak out. In the middle of her English presentation on the Victorian Language of Flowers, strange words pop into her head, and her body seems to tingle and hum. Impulsively, Laurel gives the love bouquet she made to demonstrate the language to her spinster English teacher. When that teacher unexpectedly and immediately finds romance, Laurel suspects that something — something magical — is up.

With her new friend, Kate, she sets out to discover the origins and breadth of her powers by experimenting on herself and others. But she can’t seem to find any living experts in the field of flower powers to guide her. And her bouquets don't always do her bidding, especially when it comes to her own crush, Justin. Rumors about Laurel and her flowers fly across campus, and she's soon besieged by requests from girls — both friends and enemies — who want their lives magically transformed — just in time for prom.

Unsettling. There’s no better word to describe Miranda Barnes’s ability to hear the cries of the dead, feel the wind move her hair when they run by, and—dare she look into a mirror—see the reflection of a ghostly woman behind her. There’s only one person to turn to for support: Etienne. As sexy as he is mysterious, Miranda can’t help but be drawn to him. He believes her; he wants to help her. But there’s a secret in Etienne’s past, something Miranda’s on the verge of discovering. As paranormal activity escalates, passion grows, and soon Miranda is caught up in both love . . . and tragedy.

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.

From the author of Saving Juliet comes a romantic comedy that is good to the last drop. When Katrina spots a homeless guy sleeping in the alley behind her grandmother’s coffee shop, she decides to leave him a cup of coffee, a bag of chocolate-covered coffee beans, and some pastries to tide him over. Little does she know that this random act of kindness is about to turn her life upside down. Because this adorable vagrant, Malcolm, is really a guardian angel on a break between missions. And he won’t leave until he can reward Katrina’s selflessness by fulfilling her deepest desire. Now if only she could decide what that might be . . .

_________

That's all I got this week... and I'm really excited about them. What did you get this week? Oh, and by the way, to those of you who celebrate Easter... Happy Easter! May you have plenty of candy to kill of your candy cravings haha. s

Waiting On Wednesday [12]

2010-03-31T08:00:00.005-04:00

Sixteen-year-old Hailey Tarbell can’t wait for the day she’ll leave Gypsum, Missouri, far behind, taking only four-year-old Chub, the developmentally-delayed little boy her cruel drug-dealing grandmother fosters for the state money. But when a freak accident in gym class leaves a girl in critical condition, Hailey feels drawn to lay her hands on the injured girl and an astonishing healing takes place.

Before Hailey can understand her new powers, a beautiful stranger shows up…just in time to save her and Chub from hired killers.

A desperate race begins, with Hailey as the ultimate prize: there are those who will stop at nothing to harness her gifts to create an undefeatable army of the undead. Now it is up to Hailey and a small but determined family of healers to stand up to the unbelievable and face the unthinkable.

Cooper Blake has everything going for him—until he wakes from a car accident with his football career in ruins and a mysterious, attractive girl by his side. Cooper doesn’t know how Samantha got there or why he can see her; all he knows is that she’s a ghost, and the shadows that surround her seem intent on destroying her.

No one from Cooper’s old life would understand what he can barely grasp himself. . . . But Delilah, the captain of the cheerleading squad, has secrets of her own, like her ability to see beyond the physical world, and her tangled history with Brent, a loner from a neighboring school who can hear strangers’ most intimate thoughts. Delilah and Brent know that Cooper is in more trouble than he realizes, and that Samantha may not be as innocent as she has led Cooper to believe. But the only way to figure out where Samantha came from will put them all in more danger than they ever dreamed possible.

On her sixteenth birthday, Anastasija Parker's present winds up being the shock of a lifetime. When her mom referred to her absentee dad as a deadbeat it was actually half true -- he's a vampire. And a king, no less. A king who wants his daughter to assume her rightful position at his side. But, thanks to Ana's mother, the blood of a witch also runs through her veins....

Too bad vampires and witches are mortal enemies.

With her parents gearing up for an all out brawl over her destiny, Ana's about ready to scream. But things get even crazier when a male witch and a brooding bad boy vampire start vying for her affection. Then the barely leashed tension between the vampires and the witches starts to boil over, and Ana has to figure out once and for all if she wants to become heir to her dad's throne. And deciding your eternal destiny is a pretty big deal for a girl who just wants to get through high school.

These all sound really, really, really interesting and I can't wait until the come out so I can read them! And, yeah, I noticed my choices are a little dark and highly supernatural... But that's my typa' genre, ya know? :)

Teaser Tuesday [15]

2010-03-30T08:00:00.004-04:00

Violet Ambrose is grappling with two major issues: Jay Heaton and her morbid secret ability. While the sixteen-year-old is confused by her new feelings for her best friend since childhood, she is more disturbed by her "power" to sense dead bodies—or at least those that have been murdered. Since she was a little girl, she has felt the echoes the dead leave behind in the world . . . and the imprints that attach to their killers.
Violet has never considered her strange talent to be a gift; it mostly just led her to find dead birds her cat left for her. But now that a serial killer is terrorizing her small town, and the echoes of the local girls he's claimed haunt her daily, Violet realizes she might be the only person who can stop him.

Despite his fierce protectiveness over her, Jay reluctantly agrees to help Violet find the murderer—and Violet is unnerved by her hope that Jay's intentions are much more than friendly. But even as she's falling intensely in love, Violet is getting closer and closer to discovering a killer . . . and becoming his prey herself.

"She heard the musical ringtone of a cell phone, and even through the sound was far away, she instinctively patted her pocket to feel for hers and realized that she'd left it in the back of her car."
- The Body Finder

Review | Looking For Alaska

2010-03-25T18:02:00.002-04:00

Title: Looking For Alaska
Author: John Green
Publisher: Speak
Pages: 256
Rating: 5/5

"Before. Miles "Pudge" Halter is done with his safe life at home. His whole existence has been one big nonevent, and his obsession with last words has only made him crave the "Great Perhaps" even more. He heads off to the sometimes crazy, possibly unstable, and anything-but-boring world of Culver Creek Boarding School, and his life becomes the opposite of safe. Because down the hall is Alaska Young. The gorgeous, clever, funny, sexy, self-desructive, screwed-up, and utterly fascinating Alaska Young, who is an event unto herself. She pulls Pudge into her world, launches him into the Great Perhaps, and steals his heart. After. Nothing is ever the same.

Looking For Alaska can be described in one word. Amazing. John Green has a way with words that's just pure awesomeness. The way he described everything, created his characters, and wrote period was amazing. I felt like the characters were real teenagers in a real school in Alabama. They each had their quirks and personalities, and I personally loved each one of them. The emotions run high with this novel and quite honestly, it fits perfectly. It even makes you think about stuff that maybe you haven't thought of before. This novel is definitely my most favorite of any book I've read before. It's real, funny, heart wrenching, and heart warming. Overall I really recommend that older teens (for some iffy content throughout the book) read this book before reading any works by Green. You won't regret it!

Best funniest part:

"Last night- before they woke you up, I guess- they pissed in my shoes."

"Are you sure?" I said, trying not to laugh.

"Do you care to smell?" he asked, holding the shoes toward me. "Because I went ahead and smelled them, and yes, I am sure. If there's one thing I know, it's when I've just stepped into another man's piss. It's like my mom always says: 'Ya think you's a-walkin' on water, but turns out you just got piss in your shoes.' Point those guys out to me if you see them today," he added, "because we need to figure out why they're so, uh, pissed at me..."

Changes are coming...

2010-03-23T12:48:00.007-04:00

Hey all. While on my break with the blog, I wanted to have some changes to the blog. Right now, it's vintaged themed and is called Darling Reviews. I was happy with that theme for quite awhile now, but it's changed. The new and final theme is basically me and what I like. No massive, confusing theme. And along with the design change, I'm changing the blog's name period. Secretly Captivated is the big winner. Wanna know the idea behind it? Hardly no one knows that I love to read books, it's basically kept under wraps (I know, I know!). So that's secretly. And the other part of it is I'm captivated by books! So it all makes sense, doesn't it? I hope so.

Nothing should change really. It's still going to be a book blog. It's still going to be ran by me. It's still going to be my main priority! I'm really hoping that you'll still be able to receive my post updates and stuff. I've changed my blog's name before, but simply removed 'read' that was in front of the current one. I'm trusting that you all will shoot me an email or tweet if this does happen! I'm also trusting that ya'll will stay put through the changes.

So, yeah, that's about it. All changes will be made by later today. I'd love to hear your opinions on the name change!

*Edit - I'm not changing my URL because if I do that, you will receive no updates whatsoever. It'll be like a completely new blog, and I don't want that. So new blog name = Secretly Captivated NOT Darling Reviews!

**Edit - Regular posts will be back as scheduled. The 29th.

Taking A Break...

2010-03-14T11:13:00.002-04:00

I've thought about this for awhile. But instead of a week break, I'm having trouble getting back into reading. So I'm going to take a break for a little bit. Not months and months, that'd be overrated... but two weeks is what I'm goin' for.

I hope that ya'll will stay following me and be patient waiting for posts. I promise when I come back there will be a lot of posts. There are lots of books that need to be read, and at least one of them will bring me back to reading!

So, I'll see you guys March 29! I hope ya'll will stay put till then!

Review | Some Girls Are by Courtney Summers

2010-03-06T12:00:00.001-05:00

Title: Some Girls Are
Author: Courtney Summers
Publisher: St. Martin's Griffin
Pages: 256
Rating: 4.5/5

"Climbing to the top of the social ladder is hard--falling from it is even harder. Regina Afton used to be a member of the Fearsome Fivesome, an all-girl clique both feared and revered by the students at Hallowell High... until vicious rumors about her and her best friend's boyfriend start going around.

Now Regina's been "frozen out" and her ex-best friends are out for revenge. If Regina was guilty, it would be one thing, but the rumors are far from the terrifying truth and the bullying is getting more intense by the day. She takes solace in the company of Michael Hayden, a misfit with a tragic past who she herself used to bully. Friendship doesn't come easily for these onetime enemies, and as Regina works hard to make amends for her past, she realizes Michael could be more than just a friend... if threats from the Fearsome Foursome don't break them both first."

My thoughts:

Some Girls Are in three words: realistic, addicting, shocking.

Regina is that character that you can't help to hate, but you can't help to feel sorry for her either. The author portrayed that about the character perfectly. With every turn of the page, I found myself wanting her to get revenge on what they were doing to her. But then again, she was doing the same thing to them as well. Michael. He's the loner. The one people think is crazy and plans to kill the whole school. I adored his character. He was quiet, forgiving, and basically there for Regina either way. He wants to hate her, but another side wants her. The internal struggles with each character flourished.

The writing was strangely addicting. You wanted to think one thing, yet couldn't help to think of something so different. I loved that. The romance between Michael and Regina was weird, nevertheless, but it slowly turned into something so sweet I wanted it myself. Regina wanted to do everything to keep him safe, but she couldn't tell him. That was the hardest part of the story for me. I just wanted to scream, 'tell him already!' But in the end it all tied together perfectly and left on a note that should be read about more often.

Some Girls Are is a great book about lies being turned into something worse than white lies. The daily drama of highschool. And the meaning of forgiving. A great read for anyone.

Disclaimer: Borrowed from the local library.

In My Mailbox [27]

2010-03-05T07:52:00.003-05:00

Waiting on Wednesday [11]

2010-03-03T08:00:00.001-05:00

"When sisters Sadie and Zuzu Brooks move to Salt Lake City, they discover a secret room in the attic of their new house, with a sign that reads “Palace Beautiful” and containing an old journal. Along with their neighbor, dramatic Belladonna Desolation (real name: Kristin Smith), they take turns reading the story of a girl named Helen living during the flu epidemic of 1918.

The journal ends with a tragedy that has a scary parallel to Sadie and Zuzu’s lives, and the girls become obsessed with finding out what happened to Helen after the journal ends. Did she survive the flu? Is she still alive somewhere? Or could her ghost be lurking in the nearby graveyard?

"It’s been two years since Noelle disappeared. Two years since her bike was discovered, sprawled on a sidewalk. Two years of silence, of worry, of fear.

For those two long years, her best friend Tessa has waited, living her own life in a state of suspended animation. Because how can she allow herself to enjoy a normal high school life if Noelle can’t? How dare she have other friends, go to dances, date boys, without knowing what happened to the girl she thought she would share everything with? And then one day, someone calls Noelle’s house. She’s alive."

"CHARLIE DUSKIN loves music, and she knows she's good at it. But she only sings when she's alone, on the moonlit porch or in the back room at Old Gus's Secondhand Record and CD Store. Charlie's mom and grandmother have both died, and this summer she's visiting her grandpa in the country, surrounded by ghosts and grieving family, and serving burgers to the local kids at the milk bar. She's got her iPod, her guitar, and all her recording equipment, but she wants more: A friend. A dad who notices her. The chance to show Dave Robbie that she's not entirely unspectacular.

ROSE BUTLER lives next door to Charlie's grandfather and spends her days watching cars pass on the freeway and hanging out with her troublemaker boyfriend. She loves Luke but can't wait to leave their small country town. And she's figured out a way: she's won a scholarship to a science school in the city, and now she has to convince her parents to let her go. This is where Charlie comes in. Charlie, who lives in the city, and whom Rose has ignored for years. Charlie, who just might be Rose's ticket out."

"Terrified that her mother, a schizophrenic and an artist, is a mirror that reflects her own future, sixteen-year-old Aura struggles with her overwhelming desires to both chase artistic pursuits and keep madness at bay. As her mother sinks deeper into the darkness of mental illness, the hunger for a creative outlet keeps drawing Aura toward the depths of her own imagination—the shadows of make-believe that she finds frighteningly similar to her mother’s hallucinations. Convinced that creative equals crazy, Aura shuns her art, and her life unravels in the process. "

Review | Bleeding Violet by Dia Reeves

2010-03-02T12:00:00.001-05:00

Title: Bleeding Violet
Author: Dia Reeves
Publisher: Simon Pulse
Pages: 452
Rating: 4/4

"Love can be a dangerous thing....

Hanna simply wants to be loved. With a head plagued by hallucinations, a medicine cabinet full of pills, and a closet stuffed with frilly, violet dresses, Hanna's tired of being the outcast, the weird girl, the freak. So she runs away to Portero, Texas in search of a new home.

But Portero is a stranger town than Hanna expects. As she tries to make a place for herself, she discovers dark secrets that would terrify any normal soul. Good thing for Hanna, she's far from normal. As this crazy girl meets an even crazier town, only two things are certain: Anything can happen and no one is safe."

My thoughts:

Bleeding Violet is one of those books that take something that mesmerizes you and twists it with something much deeper than just a town full of monsters.

Hanna, the heroine, has a pill for everything you can think of. And probably more. Her views on everything was something that had you interested from the start. Her character was very likable and I felt myself being drawn in with her mental struggles with everything going on. Like the desperation to build a relationship with someone you love, but barely know. Fitting in somewhere you can't necessarily figure out. All that jazz, basically. And Wyatt, oh Wyatt. He's the love interest of Hanna. He's the tough guy who does what he's told and nothing more. But doesn't like that idea. The two's relationship was steamy and well played out. It wasn't too fast, and it wasn't fairytale like. They had their fights, their issues. It was normal and built up perfectly.

I loved the idea behind this novel. It had everything you would want in a supernatural book. Do you consider it a supernatural? Whatever, anyways. You have your love interest, the monsters, the mystery, the craziness (literally), and the magic. It tied in wonderfully. Even though I found this book really weird, it was so in a good way. I definitely recommend to anyone that loves this kind of stuff! :)

Disclaimer: Borrowed from my local library.

Review | Jekel Loves Hyde by Beth Fantaskey

2010-02-16T21:58:00.007-05:00

Title: Jekel Loves Hyde
Author: Beth Fantaskey
Publisher: Harcourt Children's Books
Pages: 282
Rating: 3.5/5

"Jill Jekel has always obeyed her parents’ rules – especially the one about never opening the mysterious, old box in her father’s office. But when her dad is murdered, and her college savings disappear, she's tempted to peek inside, as the contents might be key to a lucrative chemistry scholarship. To better her odds, Jill enlists the help of gorgeous, brooding Tristen Hyde, who has his own dark secrets locked away. As the team of Jekel and Hyde, they recreate experiments based on the classic novel, hoping not only to win a prize, but to save Tristen’s sanity. Maybe his life. But Jill’s accidental taste of a formula unleashes her darkest nature and compels her to risk everything – even Tristen’s love – just for the thrill of being… bad."

Jekel Loves Hyde is a dark, twisted, chemistry filled novel with love hidden in all the right places. Definitely surprising and filled with twists and turns, it makes for an interesting read.

Jill Jekel is still hasn't overcome the grief that precedes the murder of her father. She's the quiet, good girl. The one who's focused on school and nothing more nothing less. With her character, you could visibly see the pain that she holds inside. And the anguish she feels after she finds out the truth about her father. Tristan, on the other hand, is your brooding, mysterious guy. But in no way is he cliched. He deals with his own internal struggles, and it's visible as well. His character was well favored by me! Their relationship, however, I couldn't find the chemistry behind it. It just lacked and wasn't that realistic.

The chapters alternate between Jill and Tristan, but not in the way I would have liked. I found myself wanting more of Tristan and his struggles rather than Jill's. And the chapters, did I mention there are ninety four chapters? I found it not likable, I really prefer less chapters, and more pages in them. That's just a personal preference. The plot heightened, and I mean heightened throughout the middle and the end. The relationship grew and felt more realistic with the that aspect. The ending tied together beautifully, but left me a bit confused.

Another enticing read by Fantaskey, it will surely savor your romance, mystery, and dark-twisted story line tastes. Most definitely. Even if you haven't read Jekyll and Hyde the classic, you'll have no problem with this book!

(This review was written before I changed my review style, so please deal :])

Teaser Tuesday [14]

2010-02-16T12:17:00.003-05:00

Hey sorry, the reviews are lacking. I've been busy all weekend and haven't be able to read at all. The schedule (found at the left sidebar) is going to be a little messed up this week.

But here's a Teaser Tuesday!

"In a future North America, where the rulers of Panem maintain control through an annual televised survival competition pitting young people from each of the twelve districts against one another, sixteen-year-old Katniss's skills are put to the test when she voluntarily takes her younger sister's place."

"Muddy banks covered in tangled water plants lead to large rocks that increase in size until I begin to feel somewhat trapped. It would be no small matter to escape the stream now."
- Page 251

Dark Divine Contest!

2010-02-15T12:15:00.004-05:00

"Grace Divine, daughter of the local pastor, always knew something terrible happened the night Daniel Kalbi disappeared--the night she found her brother Jude collapsed on the porch, covered in his own blood--but she has no idea what a truly monstrous secret that night held.

The memories her family has tried to bury resurface when Daniel returns, three years later, and enrolls in Grace and Jude's high school. Despite promising Jude she'll stay away, Grace cannot deny her attraction to Daniel's shocking artistic abilities, his way of getting her to look at the world from new angles, and the strange, hungry glint in his eyes.

The closer Grace gets to Daniel, the more she jeopardizes her life, as her actions stir resentment in Jude and drive him to embrace the ancient evil Daniel unleashed that horrific night. Grace must discover the truth behind the boy's dark secret...and the cure that can save the ones she loves. But she may have to lay down the ultimate sacrifice to do it--her soul."

--------

Interested in winning an advanced copy of The Dark Divine? What about the nail polish featured on the cover? One for you, and one for a friend or sibling? Interested, eh? Well all you have to do is fill out this form. Here are some lowdowns:

Have to be a follower, more details on form.
Ends 3/15 at 12:00 P.M EST. Need help on that? Click here.
Opened to U.S and Canada.

Review | Wish by Alexandra Bullen

2010-02-13T08:00:00.002-05:00

Title: Wish
Author: Alexandra Bullen
Publisher: Point
Pages: 336
Rating: 5/5

"For broken-hearted Olivia Larsen, nothing can change the fact that her twin sister, Violet, is gone... until a mysterious, beautiful gown arrives on her doorstep. The dress doesn't just look magical; it is magical. It has the power to grant her one wish, and the only thing Olivia wants is her sister back.

With Violet again by her side, both girls get a second chance at life. And as the sisters soon discover, they have two more dresses-and two more wishes left. But magic can't solve everything, and Olivia is forced to confront her ghosts to learn how to laugh, love, and live again.

In a breathtaking debut from Alexandra Bullen, Wish asks the question: If you could have anything, what would you wish for?"

My thoughts:

Wish is a heart squeezing, emotional, and magically created book that's worth every minute of your time.

The main character, Olivia, is your type of girl that's overcome with grief. She can't really live, or even thrive because of it. She was my favorite character and you really saw her grow out of that grief and finally accept everything that's happened. Soren and Miles, our main boys, were amazing characters as well. Soren is your carefree guy, who just skates around. Then you have Miles, the quiet, low-key guy. Both are awesome and have a significance in Olivia's life. As all of the characters do. Violet to me plays a bigger importance in the book. To me she urges Olivia over her grief and pushes her to live. She's a major importance, as I said, each and every character plays a part. Well, most anyways.

The writing was fantastic and had just enough oomph and creativity to keep you flipping pages. I have to get this through; this book is not just about fairytales and happy endings. There's more to it than that. More of getting through something terrible in your life. Forgiving the guilt that you feel. About not letting the past overcome everything you do in your present. The author portrayed that perfectly. Even though the beginning started a little slow, I think it works perfectly well with the novel.

Overall, I really, really recommend this book. Just think, not all books about wishes are fun and games. Some are just more intense and deeper than that.

Disclaimer: Borrowed from local library.

Author Thursdays | Alexandra Bullen

2010-02-11T09:26:00.004-05:00

For this author, her 2010 release was something a lot of us were waiting. The first Author Thursdays author is Alexandra Bullen; the wonderful author of Wish.

________________

Wish was really intense (in a good way!), so what inspired you most to write Wish?

Thanks for having me, Kaylyn. You're right - WISH deals with some pretty heavy stuff. I think that's where the idea for a little bit of magic came from, actually. I'm not usually big into wishes and fairy tales, but there was something about meeting Olivia when she was so low, and so unable to pick herself up, that made it seem like she desperately needed some extra special help.

When you're writing, do you need any essentials?

It really depends on the day and on what I'm writing. Sometimes it's absolutely quiet at my desk, and other days it's music and the couch.

When you first saw your book on the shelves, what was running through your mind?

I just recently saw WISH on shelves in the bookstore I used to spend hours in growing up. It was amazing to see my book displayed in the very place I found so many of my all-time favorites.

Is there going to be a sequel?

There is going to be a sequel, of sorts. It's a brand-new story with all new characters, but Poseyand her magical dresses will be back to grant three more wishes to another deserving girl. I'm working on it now and it's been so much fun to write!

Lastly, are you anything like your main character, Olivia? Any last words?(:

When we meet Olivia at the beginning of the book, she's never really had a chance to be herself. When Violet was alive, Olivia was always living in her sister's shadow, and now that Violet is gone, she's so overcome by sadness that it's hard for her to move on. I relate a lot to the way that Olivia depends on other people to bring her out of her shell, and admire the way she ultimately is able to step into the spotlight on her own.

Thanks for the great questions!

_________

Waiting on Wednesday [1o]

2010-02-10T11:00:00.009-05:00

There are so many good books this year, I can't help but pick more than one book I'm dying to read! Welll, here they are!:

"When Wayland North brings rain to a region that's been dry for over ten years, he's promised anything he'd like as a reward. He chooses the village elder's daughter, sixteen-year-old Sydelle Mirabel, who is a skilled weaver and has an unusual knack for repairing his magical cloaks.Though Sydelle has dreamt of escaping her home, she's hurt that her parents relinquish her so freely and finds herself awed and afraid of the slightly ragtag wizard who is unlike any of the men of magic in the tales she's heard. Still, she is drawn to this mysterious man who is fiercely protective of her and so reluctant to share his own past. The pair rushes toward the capital, intent to stop an imminent war, pursued by Reuel Dorwan (a dark wizard who has taken a keen interest in Sydelle) and plagued by unusually wild weather. But the sudden earthquakes and freak snowstorms may not be a coincidence. As Sydelle discovers North's dark secret and the reason for his interest in her and learns to master her own mysterious power, it becomes increasingly clear that the fate of the kingdom rests in her fingertips. She will either be a savior, weaving together the frayed bonds between Saldorra and Auster, or the disastrous force that destroys both kingdoms forever."

"Acclaimed YA author C. K. Kelly Martin offers a sexy, soulful story of one confused boy, two girls, and all the complications that ensue in this romantic feel-good love story that celebrates friendship, first love, first lust, and second chances.

Sixteen-year-old Mason Rice is having the night of his life. He's just delivered an incredible performance in the school play, basked in celebratory afterglow vibes at the party of the year, and lost his virginity to one of his best friends—the gorgeous but previously unobtainable Kat Medina. His dreams are coming true, and the future looks golden.

Unfortunately, Kat sees things very differently. Crossing the friendship line was a big mistake, and all she wants is to forget it and move on, even if that means forgetting Mason altogether. What's a guy to do? Well, if you're Mason, you hang your hopes on the first attractive twenty-three-year-old you cross paths with. At first Mason wonders if he's imagining the chemistry . . . until Colette invites him over to her apartment. Suddenly Mason's living in a whole new world."

"Act Two, Scene One

Growing up in the enchanted Thèâtre Illuminata, Beatrice Shakespeare Smith learned everything about every play ever written. She knew the Players and their parts, but she didn’t know that she, too, had magic. Now, she is the Mistress of Revels, the Teller of Tales, and determined to follow her stars. She is ready for the outside world.

Enter BERTIE AND COMPANY

But the outside world soon proves more topsy-turvy than any stage production. Bertie can make things happen by writing them, but outside the protective walls of the Thèâtre, nothing goes as planned. And her magic cannot help her make a decision between—

Nate: Her suave and swashbuckling pirate, now in mortal peril.

Ariel: A brooding, yet seductive, air spirit whose true motives remain unclear.

When Nate is kidnapped and taken prisoner by the Sea Goddess, only Bertie can free him. She and her fairy sidekicks embark on a journey aboard the Thèâtre’s caravan, using Bertie’s word magic to guide them. Along the way, they collect a sneak-thief, who has in his possession something most valuable, and meet The Mysterious Stranger, Bertie’s father—and the creator of the scrimshaw medallion. Bertie’s dreams are haunted by Nate, whose love for Bertie is keeping him alive, but in the daytime, it’s Ariel who is tantalizingly close, and the one she is falling for. Who does Bertie love the most? And will her magic be powerful enough to save her once she enters the Sea Goddess’s lair?"

----

1st Book: I cannot wait to read this! I've heard some really good things about this one. And even though it's normally not what I read, I am still wanting to read this. A lot.

2nd Book: This one sounds really good. I found it and automatically want to read it. I loved One Lonely Degree, so I'll probably love this one!

3rd Book: So. Excited! Need I say more?!

Review | The Secret Year by Jennifer Hubbard

2010-02-09T09:27:00.001-05:00

Title: The Secret Year
Author: Jennifer Hubbard
Publisher: Viking Juvenile
Pages: 192
Rating: 3/5 (Check rating scale in sidebar. This is not a bad rating.)

"Seventeen-year-old Colt has been sneaking out at night to meet Julia, a girl from an upper-class neighborhood unlike his own. They’ve never told anyone else about their relationship: not their family or friends, and especially not Julia’s boyfriend.When Julia dies suddenly, Colt tries to cope with her death while pretending that he never even knew her. He discovers a journal she left behind. But he is not prepared for the truths he discovers about their intense relationship, nor to pay the price for the secrets he’s kept."

My thoughts:

The Secret Year is an emotional, heartbreaking book that met my expectations, but didn't amaze me.

Colt's character was written highly relateble. You could sense just how much he felt for Julia and the pain that he feels after he loses her to a fatal car accident. Anything that he felt throughout the story, you felt it as well. And being in a male's point of view is really telling you something! I think the author created Colt amazingly.

The writing was fantastic, you could create vivid images with the emotions and descriptions. The letters to Colt from Julia were, to be blunt, boring. All you hear about is her wanting to break up with Austin. I expected more from the letters, and didn't get it. To me, this book was a mix between Romeo and Juliet and The Outsiders. And I loved that!

Emotionally consistent and an overall good read, this book is really something and I definitely think you should read this no matter what people say about it!

Disclaimer: Borrowed from the local library.

New Changes-For the good!

2010-02-07T11:14:00.008-05:00

I feel like I've been lacking on reviews, memes, and everything blog-worthy. I can't seem to get into a book, like at all. You can call it a book slump. Mine don't last very long, but it's still there... ya know? Anyways that's the first half of this annoucnment? Okay, whatever.

I've been meaning to start a schedule. If you remember, there was a poll at the top of my blog. From what I saw, you guys like two to three reviews a week. To me, that's perfect. I also did a post, and deleted it because it wasn't getting much attention, and it showed you guys like to switch it up a bit with memes, intereviews, etc. So I've come up with a weekly schedule for my blog! Neat, huh? Yeah probably not.

Monday: None
Tuesday: Review

Wednesday: Waiting on Wednesday (That'll be easy!)

Thursday: Author Interview

Friday: None

Saturday: Review

Sunday: In My Mailbox

Okay, that's not going to be direct on right now, but eventually it'll get started up and I'll be needing your guy's opinions. So yeah. Is the schdule too much? Too little? Just perfect? Any other ideas? Leave a comment below! Please? [:

Thanks!

Teaser Tuesday! [13]

2010-02-02T12:01:00.002-05:00

"The streets of downtown Bering were clean and lined with mature trees and iron lampposts. It was small, comfortable, and naggingly familiar, but in a good way."

-Page 71

Review | A Match Made In Highschool by Kirstin Walker

2010-02-01T21:01:00.003-05:00

Title: A Match Made In Highschool
Author: Kirstin Walker
Publisher: Razorbill
Pages: 288
Rating: 5/5

"When the principal announces that every senior must participate in a mandatory year-long Marriage Education program, Fiona Sheehan believes that her life can’t get any worse. Then she marries her “husband”: Jerky male cheerleader/jock Todd, whose cheerleader girlfriend, Amanda, has had it in for Fiona since day one of second grade. Even worse? Amanda is paired with Fiona’s long-term crush, Gabe. At least Fiona is doing better than her best friend, Marcie, who is paired up with the very quiet, very mysterious Johnny Mercer. Pranks, fights, misunderstandings, and reconciliations ensue in an almost Shakespearean comedy of errors about mistaken first impressions, convoluted coupling, and hidden crushes."

The thoughts;

A Match Made In Highschool is a hilarious book that will have your gut hurting from laughing so much.

Fiona is your carefree, I don't care what people think type of girl who's independent. Her character was my favorite. She was also spunky. She gets paired with Todd, the guy she can't stand. Todd is your know it all jock. The kind that you can't stand and is well, excuse my language, cocky. You couldn't help to like him throughout the end, but you'll have to read it to find out. The relationship between the two was hilarious. The snarky remarks, the pranks, everything about it was funny. The other characters, though, including Todd's girlfriend, the other students, and her best friend add even more action to the plot.

The writing was really good, in my opinion. I love how the author took everything that you feel during highschool and threw it into the book and took you for a whirl wind of a ride. There's the love, the drama, the friendship, and the humor. The author portrayed each and placed in perfectly into the book. Did I mention the author is completely genius when it came to the humor? You'll definitely be getting strange looks from those around you when reading this novel.

All in all, I highly recommend this book no matter how old you are. You'll laugh out loud more times than you can count and reel back with the realizations throughout the end of the book as well.

Disclaimer: Given to me by the publisher.

Review | Dirty Little Secrets by C.J Omololu

2010-01-28T13:12:00.005-05:00

Title: Dirty Little Secrets
Author: C.J Omololu
Publisher: Bloomsbury
Pages: 210
Rating: 3/5

"Everyone has secrets. Some are just bigger and dirtier than others. For sixteen years, Lucy has kept her mother's hoarding a secret. She's had to -- nobody would understand the stacks of newspapers and mounds of garbage so high they touch the ceiling and the rotting smell that she's always worried would follow her out the house. After years of keeping people at a distance, she finally has a best friend and maybe even a boyfriend if she can play it right. As long as she can make them think she's normal.

When Lucy arrives home from a sleepover to find her mother dead under a stack of National Geographics, she starts to dial 911 in a panic, but pauses before she can connect. She barely notices the filth and trash anymore, but she knows the paramedics will. First the fire trucks, and then news cameras that will surely follow. No longer will they be remembered as the nice oncology nurse with the lovely children -- they'll turn into that garbage-hoarding freak family on Collier Avenue. With a normal life finally within reach, Lucy has only minutes to make a critical decision. How far will she go to keep the family secrets safe?"

My thoughts:

Dirty Little Secrets is a window into what it feels like to have a hoarder for a mother and the difficulty of living that life.

Lucy, the main character, has lived with her mom and all the 'stuff' that lives with them. She hides everything from everyone she knows. I felt bad for her throughout the whole book. She was relateable when it came to constantly thinking what people think of you. Kaylie, the best friend, is constantly there for her, but doesn't know the secret that Lucy holds away. I feel her character supports Lucy in a way.

The plot was fast, and moved with a span of twenty four hours. But I felt that it was just Lucy trying to clean up the mess of the home she had, and hiding the secret. That's about it, but it was much deeper than that. And I liked that. The writing throughout the book portrayed exactly how bad the house would be in real life, and the emotions that Lucy felt about everything that has happened. The ending, to me, filled out well and tied together well.

Overall, I different book about something you hardly see. Even though it's a little disturbing, the message is there. I definitely recommend.

Disclaimer: Given by the publisher.

Waiting On Wednesday [o9]

2010-01-27T10:59:00.004-05:00

"One cold night, in a most unlikely corner of Chicago, two teens—both named Will Grayson—are about to cross paths. As their worlds collide and intertwine, the Will Graysons find their lives going in new and unexpected directions, building toward romantic turns-of-heart and the epic production of history’s most fabulous high school musical.

Hilarious, poignant, and deeply insightful, John Green and David Levithan’s collaborative novel is brimming with a double helping of the heart and humor that have won both them legions of faithful fans."

----

Hey, all. I'm sorry I haven't been updating as much as I really should be doing. I went to visit my aunt in the country and came back not feeling like doing anything I love. It's just a phase and will be passed quickly. I'm not taking any breaks, by the way.

What are you waiting on? [:

In My Mailbox [26]

2010-01-23T16:11:00.007-05:00

"Before Juliet Capelletti lie two futures: a traditionally loveless marriage to her father's business partner, or the fulfillment of her poetic dreams, inspired by the great Dante. Unlike her beloved friend Lucrezia, who looks forward to her arranged marriage, Juliet has a wild, romantic imagination that knows not the bounds of her great family's stalwart keep.

The latter path is hers for the taking when Juliet meets Romeo Monticecco, a soulful young man seeking peace between their warring families. A dreamer himself, Romeo is unstoppable, once he determines to capture the heart of the remarkable woman foretold in his stars. The breathless intrigue that ensues is the stuff of beloved legend. But those familiar with Shakespeare's muse know only half the story...

"Katie Ellison is not a liar.

It's just that telling the truth is so . . . tricky. She knows she shouldn't be making out with a drama club hottie behind her football-player boyfriend's back. She should probably admit that she can't stand eating quahogs (clams), especially since she's running for Quahog Princess in her hometown's annual Quahog Festival. And it would be a relief to finally tell someone what really happened the night Tommy Sullivan is a freak was spray-painted on the new wall outside the junior high school gymnasium—in neon orange, which still hasn't been sandblasted off. After all, everyone knows that's what drove Tommy out of town four years ago.

But now Tommy Sullivan has come back. Katie is sure he's out for revenge, and she'll do anything to hang on to her perfect (if slightly dishonest) existence. Even if it means telling more lies than ever. Even if, now that Tommy's around, she's actually—no lie—having the time of her life."

"Act on your impulse, swallow the bottle, cut a little deeper, put the gun to your chest.

Tony's painful childhood memories can be quelled only through pills. Vanessa has a secret that keeps her comin back to the blade. And Connor seems to have the perfect life on the outside, but his inward battle with his parents, his peers, and himself give him on last choice-to pull the trigger.

These are three lives that would have been cu short if not for the hasty intervention by loved ones. Or fate. Now they are given a second chance at a better life-but only if they help one another, and if they find the strength to let go of their inner demons. For good."

That's all I got this week. The first is for review [: What'd you get?

Review | Hearts At Stake by Alyxandra Harvey

2010-01-19T16:14:00.004-05:00

Title: Hearts At Stake
Author: Alyxandra Harvey
Publisher: Bloomsbury
Pages: 248
Rating 5/5

"On Solange’s sixteenth birthday, she is going to wake up dead. As if that’s not bad enough, she also has to outwit her seven overprotective older brothers, avoid the politics involved with being the only daughter born to an ancient vampire dynasty, and elude Kieran Black—agent of an anti-vampire league who is searching for his father’s killer and is intent on staking Solange and her entire family.Luckily she has her own secret weapon—her human best friend Lucy—who is willing to defend Solange’s right to a normal life, whether she’s being smothered by her well-intentioned brothers or abducted by a power-hungry queen. Two unlikely alliances are formed in a race to save Solange’s eternal life—Lucy and Solange’s brother Nicholas, and Solange and Kieran Black—in a dual romance that is guaranteed to jump start any romance-lover’s heart.Even fans of the genre who’ve seen it all will find a fresh read with kick-butt characters and family dynamics that ring true for all brothers and sisters—vampire or otherwise."

My thoughts:

Hearts At Stake is an awesome book filled with hot guys, vampires, action, and romance all tied in with a tint of humor which makes for an exciting thrill ride.

The main characters, Lucy and Solange, are best friends and I think the author portrayed their relationship really well. Lucy has the mellow parents who believe in karma, tofu, and have a peaceful center. She has a twist of humor that made her relatable. Solange, on the other hand, is the tough little sister that can tell her brothers how many times she's strong and can fight. The brothers. All of them had their own quirks and personalities that stood out from the page. Nicholas was totally swoon worthy and my favorite one out of the seven. Leading up to Logan, Quinn, and Connor coming in second, third, and fourth. But all of them were my favorite parts in the story and I wish there was more of them! Well, they're in there a lot, but still.

The chapters go back and forth between Lucy and Solange, and to me, I think that perfectly perfects the book even more. You get to see both sides of the friendship, almost like two stories that are all tied in together. It was amazing. The writing had ways of letting you swoon with the romance (not going to say who's with who), bite your nails with the action, and laugh with the characters. It was also descriptive, but not overly descriptive. That's always a plus, eh?

Overall, this is definitely a must read for anyone who loves vampires. It's not like your typical vampire story, it's much more...quirky and awesomer. (To me.) I cannot wait for the second book! [:

Disclaimer: From publisher.

Review | Magic Under Glass by Jaclyn Dolamore

2010-01-17T15:42:00.002-05:00

Title: Magic Under Glass
Author: Jaclyn Dolamore
Publisher: Bloomsbury
Pages: 225
Rating: 4/5

"Nimira is a music-hall performer forced to dance for pennies to an audience of leering drunks. When wealthy sorcerer Hollin Parry hires her to do a special act - singing accompaniment to an exquisite piano-playing automaton, Nimira believes it is the start of a new life. In Parry's world, however, buried secrets stir. Unsettling below-stairs rumours abound about ghosts, a mad woman roaming the halls, and of Parry's involvement in a gang of ruthless sorcerers who torture fairies for sport. When Nimira discovers the spirit of a dashing young fairy gentleman is trapped inside the automaton's stiff limbs, waiting for someone to break the curse and set him free, the two fall in love. But it is a love set against a dreadful race against time to save the entire fairy realm, which is in mortal peril."

My thoughts:

Magic Under Glass is filled with magic and creates suspense with every page you flip.

Nim, the main character, once had everything a girl could want. She had the riches, silk, everything you can think of. But then she loses it all, and changes. You would think that she would be portrayed as a snotty girl, but really she isn't. I liked that about her character. The mystery man, or Hollin, was a favorable character as well. He really was mysterious and felt portrayed as a man with secrets. Which he was. Erris, the automaton, was loveable and that's really saying something when he is, well, an automaton. All the characters were devolped well.

The world that Dolamore created was magically unique. I found myself wanting to go into the world that she created. The descriptions were simple, but portrayed (I'm just loving that word, aren't I?) the world very well. You can say the writing was awesome.

If you're looking for a light, airy with hints of magic and suspense I definitely recommend this to anyone. An awesome read, most definitely [:

Disclaimer: Given to me by the publisher.

In My Mailbox! [25]

2010-01-15T19:10:00.007-05:00

^^
I had to, xD.

I've made another video with another song. It's only a minute long, well, the last time I checked. Anyways, yeah check it out! [:

Created by The Story Siren & Inspired by The Book Junkie!

*Correction, title of song is called Don't Ever Leave.

Review | The Forest of Hands and Teeth by Carrie Ryan

2010-01-15T11:14:00.004-05:00

Title: Forest of Hands and Teeth
Author: Carrie Ryan
Publisher: Delacorte
Pages: 308
Rating: 3/5

"In Mary's world there are simple truths. The Sisterhood always knows best. The Guardians will protect and serve. The Unconsecrated will never relent. And you must always mind the fence that surrounds the village; the fence that protects the village from the Forest of Hands and Teeth. But, slowly, Mary's truths are failing her. She's learning things she never wanted to know about the Sisterhood and its secrets, and the Guardians and their power, and about the Unconsecrated and their relentlessness.

When the fence is breached and her world is thrown into chaos, she must choose between her village and her future - between the one she loves and the one who loves her. And she must face the truth about the Forest of Hands and Teeth. Could there be life outside a world surrounded in so much death?"

My thoughts:

The Forest of Hands and Teeth is a different novel that I would normally never read. Zombie just aren't my thing. But it was thrilling and had you wondering what secrets the Sisterhood and even the Unconsecrated held.

The writing is sort of dated back, if you will, and I really don't mind that because either way, it was written really good. The characters were awesomely dimensional, but you really couldn't tell how old they were. But that's not a problem. The Unconsecrated weren't my thing, and it's what the book is mostly based around. Again with the buts, but I found them interesting. Especially Gabrielle. The plot, to me, is loosely based around them walking on a path towards nothing. The ending confused me massively and left me asking questions, but kind of soothed Mary so it didn't matter.

So I did like this book even though it was about zombies. The whole love thing in this novel was heartbreaking, and that is probably why I liked it. I would recommend if you like reading about zombies! You'll definitely love it.

Disclaimer: Borrowed from a local library.

Review | Beautiful Creatures by Kami Garcia and Margaret Stohl

2010-01-12T13:48:00.003-05:00

Title: Beautiful Creatures
Author: Kami Garcia and Margaret Stohl
Publisher: Little, Brown Books for Young Readers
Pages: 576
Rating: 5/5

"There were no surprises in Gatlin County.
We were pretty much the epicenter of the middle of nowhere.
At least, that's what I thought.
Turns out, I couldn't have been more wrong.
There was a curse.
There was a girl.
And in the end, there was a grave.

Lena Duchannes is unlike anyone the small Southern town of Gatlin has ever seen, and she's struggling to conceal her power and a curse that has haunted her family for generations. But even within the overgrown gardens, murky swamps and crumbling graveyards of the forgotten South, a secret cannot stay hidden forever.

Ethan Wate, who has been counting the months until he can escape from Gatlin, is haunted by dreams of a beautiful girl he has never met. When Lena moves into the town's oldest and most infamous plantation, Ethan is inexplicably drawn to her and determined to uncover the connection between them. In a town with no surprises, one secret could change everything."

My thoughts:

Beautiful Creatures was a southern Gothic that is beyond amazing. It has the love, the mystery, the family secrets, it has everything.

The characters are amazing and relatable. They weren’t flat and cliché, they were well rounded (beyond it) and completely alive in a literal sense. It was like a town filled with a rich history, and you could really think everything was real. From each of their families, to everyone in the town, each and every one of them were awesome and popped off the pages. Ethan and Lena were my favorites, along with Boo Radley :].

Speaking of that town! It was creepy, yet was really interesting and played a deeper part of the story than you would originally think. The authors created that perfectly, and I really like it. Did I mention the writing is plain out amazing? The descriptions of everything lifted off the pages. When you first read the opening page, you’re instantly pulled into the dark history of Gaitlin, the feelings of Ethan about Lena, the Southern flare, everything was amazing. To me, the length of this book is perfect for the story that’s being told. I cannot wait for the second book!

Since this, by far, is my favorite southern Gothic novel and this review sucks and is starting to sound fangirly, we’ll just go that this book is amazing and you should seriously pick it up, no matter what you have heard about it. Which are so good reviews from what I see. You’ll fall in love with the town and the characters and the amazing story just like us who loved it!

Disclaimer: This was bought by my parents as a gift.

IMM/Award [24]

2010-01-10T12:07:00.009-05:00

Short week, but I could care less because I have enough books to read...Lol. Anyways, I just got one book for review and it is:

"Jill Jekel has always obeyed her parents’ rules – especially the one about never opening the mysterious, old box in her father’s office. But when her dad is murdered, and her college savings disappear, she's tempted to peek inside, as the contents might be key to a lucrative chemistry scholarship. To better her odds, Jill enlists the help of gorgeous, brooding Tristen Hyde, who has his own dark secrets locked away. As the team of Jekel and Hyde, they recreate experiments based on the classic novel, hoping not only to win a prize, but to save Tristen’s sanity. Maybe his life. But Jill’s accidental taste of a formula unleashes her darkest nature and compels her to risk everything – even Tristen’s love – just for the thrill of being… bad."

Yupp, I'm really excited to read that one! [:

-----

Anyways, instead of doing two posts today, I'm going to post this award that I got and pass it on as well. It's saving...time?...space? Ah, whatever. Cindy, from Simple Life and Reading gave it to me! Thanks!

Here are the rules it comes with:
List 10 things that make you happy.
Try and do at least one of them today.
Tag 10 bloggers that brighten your day.
Link back to the person that tagged you.

1.) My nieces, they're adorable &
can brighten any day.
2.) Getting followers!
3.) Getting texts at three in the morning [:
4.) Laughing hysterically.
5.) Being out at night in a car; don't ask.
6.) Getting packages in the mail.
7.) When my smallest niece misses me so much
she runs & falls into my arms.
8.) Dancing around when no ones home!:P
9.) Hugs.
10.) Life!

Well, that took longer than I thought... ha.

I nominate:

Just Your Typical Book Blog
The Clock Monkey
The Book Pixie
Fantastic Book Review
The Book Owl
The Neverending Shelf
Reading Cause I'm Addicted
Katie's Book Blog
A Passion For Books
&
And Anything Bookish

Review | Evermore by Alyson Noel

2010-01-08T21:14:00.004-05:00

Title: Evermore
Author: Alyson Noel
Publisher: St. Martin's Griffin
Pages: 356
Rating: 4/5

"Since a horrible accident claimed the lives of her family, sixteen-year-old Ever can see auras, hear people’s thoughts, and know a person’s life story by touch. Going out of her way to shield herself from human contact to suppress her abilities has branded her as a freak at her new high school—but everything changes when she meets Damen Auguste…

Ever sees Damen and feels an instant recognition. He is gorgeous, exotic and wealthy, and he holds many secrets. Damen is able to make things appear and disappear, he always seems to know what she’s thinking—and he’s the only one who can silence the noise and the random energy in her head. She doesn’t know who he really is—or what he is. Damen equal parts light and darkness, and he belongs to an enchanted new world where no one ever dies."

My thoughts:

Evermore takes something you only think for vampires and takes you on a spin.

Our heroine, Ever, is still grieving over the death of her family. She blames herself for everything that happens. The author makes her so relateable. The grieving wasn't something that was over dramatic, nor less than it should be. It was actually normal. Damen was your tall, dark, and handsome character. He was kind of sketchy when it came to how he really felt about Ever throughout the book, but it clears towards the end. Then there's Riley who is her little sister. She adds punk to the story and helps Ever with her grieving and letting her know it's not her fault.

The descriptions on the setting and characters were really good. She (the author) made it feel like there were real places and people. And what I mean by 'places' is something I'm not going to tell you because it might or might not be a spoiler. But anyways, I like Noel's writing. She took something that you normally would consider something for vampires and made it her own and I think that's really awesome. The whole thing about auras is something that's really neat thrown into the book.

Overall, I really liked this book no matter how many reviews I see saying that it's exactly like Twilight so on and so on. I recommend you read the first book :]

Disclaimer: Bought with parent's money as gift.

New Year, New Layout

2010-01-08T11:52:00.001-05:00

Hey all, I just wanted to let you know there will be more reviews to come. I've been working on a new look for the blog. I like to think a new year means a totally new blog design :] So, what do you think?

I want to thank Smitten Blog Designs for the actual template design!

Review up soon!

IMM :] [23]

2010-01-03T17:49:00.004-05:00

Hey there! So originally, I had an In My Mailbox scheduled to post itself at 12 this afternoon. Then I went to the library and picked up some more awesome books. Then today I went to the bookstore. So I had to delete it and start again.

This time in video form [: There were just too many to type out and it would have been a long post. So technically I saved your butt's from reading that much. Instead just listen and watch because there's awesome music and great book covers.

Isn't himz cute? The cup, xD.

ONE more thing, the little notes that come are for the book that came before the notes. Not after the note. Mkaythxs, dearies. (What movie did that come from?)

That's all I got! And hopefully, there won't be another post because quite honestly, I have enough books to read. Thanks for reading and watching! [:

Tell me if you can see it!

Happy New Years!

2010-01-01T00:01:00.000-05:00

Boo-ya this is posted at exactly the same time 2010 starts. Does that make sense? Ha. Anyways...Happy New Year! Have fun and be safe. And if you have any family members who have gotten drunk, be nice and take care of them [;

I didn't do any nifty or cool surveys for this blog, but I have made up some of my own goals for this blog and personal goals. But we aren't interested in those, xD. Here they are:

Work on my reviews!: This is definitely something I want to work on.
Read more books!: This is probably on everyone's list, or close to it. I haven't counted this years or anything, but yeah, I want to work on more.

Or, ya know, I didn't plan them out at all. If I think of anymore, I'll be sure to get back at you. Can you see how I didn't plan those goals? xD.

One more time, Happy New Years! I hope all you're goals are achieved bookly ones or what not. I just hope they work for you! This is starting to sound like a bad thing. But, I swear, it's a good thing! It's called best wishes.[:

Xx,
-kAy![:

Tis' The Season Contest @ Good Books & Wine!

2009-12-30T20:13:00.005-05:00

There's so many good contests going on it's not even funny. I seriously think I should tell you all about this one [: But let's get to the point, shall we? At Good Books and Wine there's a contest going on where the:

First place winner gets: Their choice of 6 books from the pile.
Second place winner gets: Their choice of 5 books from the pile.
Third place winner gets: Their choice of 3 books from the pile.
Fourth place winner gets: Their choice of 1 book from pile.
Fifth place winner gets: Their choice of 1 book from the pile.

Sound good, eh? And there's some really great books up there to! Hint, click on the picture and you should be able to see each titles clearly.

Check the contest out.

Review | Keeping The Moon by Sarah Dessen

2009-12-28T15:42:00.004-05:00

Title: Keeping The Moon
Author: Sarah Dessen
Publisher: Speak
Pages: Speak
Rating: 3/5

"Colie expects the worst when she's sent to spend the summer with her eccentric aunt Mira while her mother, queen of the television infomercial, tours Europe. Always an outcast -- first for being fat and then for being "easy" -- Colie has no friends at home and doesn't expect to find any in Colby, North Carolina.

But then she lands a job at the Last Chance Cafe and meets fellow waitresses Morgan and Isabel, best friends with a loving yet volatile relationship. Wacky yet wise, Morgan and Isabel help Colie see herself in a new way and realize the potential that has been there all along."

My thoughts:

Keeping The Moon is a book that I'm sort of iffy about. It was good because all of Sarah Dessen's books are, but as I said...iffy.

Colie, our main character, isn't relateable. She barely talks, has any emotions throughout the book except low self esteem and that's about it. I hate to down a character like that, but I'm serious. That's the first thing I thought of the book. Norman, though, is a character I liked both. He was straining to be something that his father necessarily didn't like. He loves art and collecting things. On the outside he may seem like a hippie, as pointed out by Colie, but there's more to him and I love that in any book. Aunt Mira is a really nice character. She's eccentric and dresses weirdly, but she doesn't let whatever someone says about her keep her down. That's something I loved about her character. Really someone everyone needs, don't you think? All of the characters are down to earth and relateable, except for my little annoyance up there ^ somewhere.

The writing, of course, is fairy awesome. Dessen's writing is my favorite, there's just something about it that keeps me reading them. I just love how she ties in the title into the actual story. But I have to say her other books were much better and deeper. Anyways, this novel was more on a lighter subject which, by the way, I still can't figure out all the way. The ending tied up perfectly and to me it wasn't rushed. Above all, I still recommend this book to any Sarah Dessen fans!

FTC: This was bought with my own money.

In My Mailbox. [22]

2009-12-27T13:41:00.005-05:00

^^^^^
Ever heard of surreal art? Well you've just witnessed it!

So, I officially have enough books to last me for awhile. I still haven't gotten around to all of last weeks books! And yet here I am again. But psh, I don't mind one bit [: It's a movie because I didn't want to do a whole post/mess with Photoshop...so yep.

The Story Siren created this meme, and it was inspired by The Book Junkie.

Music that I tried to get on there:
The Islander - Nightwish.

Uber Awesome Contest.

2009-12-26T17:12:00.004-05:00

Hey! I'm sorry for doing this to you guys again. But I just heard about this great contest and I thought you'd guys be interested too!

Basically there's this box, and its filled with eleven awesome books! Some including: Bleeding Violet by Dia Reeves, Fallen by Kate Lauren, Give Up The Ghost by Megan Crewe, and many more.

So here's the link for any of you who're interested just click on the smiley right after this sentence[:

Merry Christmas/Happy Holidays!

2009-12-25T00:01:00.001-05:00

"Christmas waves a magic wand over this world, and behold, everything is softer and more beautiful. "
-Norman Vincent Peale
______

To all my followers who celebrate Christmas:

Merry Christmas! When children are going to bed waiting for their presents, I'm writing this so you get it at exactly 12:01 Christmas morning. Smart, aren't I? But anyways, this is just a little post to wish you awesome guys a nice Christmas. One that's filled with laughter, family, presents, and all that good stuff! [:

To those who don't:

Whatever your holiday is, Happy Holidays! I wanted to make sure I went both ways this time. Just in case. But yeah! I hope you and your family have a great holiday filled with all the stuff listed above. The laughter, family, presents (if you do those) and all that good stuff!

Sincerely,
Kaylyn [:

Review | Fallen by Lauren Kate

2009-12-23T18:04:00.003-05:00

Title: Fallen
Author: Lauren Kate
Publisher: Random House
Pages: 452
Rating: 5/5

"There's something achingly familiar about Daniel Grigori.

Mysterious and aloof, he captures Luce Price's attention from the moment she sees him on her first day at the Sword & Cross boarding school in sultry Savannah, Georgia. He's the one bright spot in a place where cell phones are forbidden, the other students are all screw-ups, and security cameras watch every move. Even though Daniel wants nothing to do with Luce--and goes out of his way to make that very clear--she can't let it go.

Drawn to him like a moth to a flame, she has to find out what Daniel is so desperate to keep secret . . . even if it kills her. Dangerously exciting and darkly romantic, Fallen is a page turning thriller and the ultimate love story."

My thoughts:

Fallen is a book that'll have you gasping with each encounter with Daniel, flinch at the action, and overall swoon to the entire book.

Words can not describe how much I loved this book. Unlike Kate's first book, this one was beyond amazing. The writing, from start to finish, kept its hold on me throughout the whole book. The characterization was amazingly done. You really got a sneak into each of the character's personalities even though it was all Luce's point of view. Each were well rounded. The action towards the end of the book had me gripping the pages. The concept, in my eyes, was even more awesome. The author's point of view of that is quite interesting and I love it.

This book will have you trying to figure out whose on what side, swooning over how romantic it can get, and having you flip pages constantly. Overall a really good book, I would recommend it to all of you! [:

*Fan girly review. I'm so sorry about that, xD. It was just really good and surpassed how I originally thought it would be!

Waiting on Wednesday! [o8]

2009-12-23T12:00:00.001-05:00

Haven't done this in awhile, but anyways here's what my pick for this week is!

"Christine Johnson’s CLAIRE DE LUNE, in which a teenager learns that she is a werewolf, descended from a long line of female werewolves, and must balance her human and werewolf lives, while tracking down the rogue werewolf preying upon the people of her town."

[:

Werewolfs. Need I say more?

Review || Vampire Academy by Richelle Mead

2009-12-22T12:00:00.000-05:00

Title: Vampire Academy
Author: Richelle Mead
Publisher: Razorbill
Pages: 336
Rating: 4/5

"St. Vladimir’s Academy isn’t just any boarding school—it’s a hidden place where vampires are educated in the ways of magic and half-human teens train to protect them. Rose Hathaway is a Dhampir, a bodyguard for her best friend Lissa, a Moroi Vampire Princess. They’ve been on the run, but now they’re being dragged back to St. Vladimir’s—the very place where they’re most in danger. . . .

Rose and Lissa become enmeshed in forbidden romance, the Academy’s ruthless social scene, and unspeakable nighttime rituals. But they must be careful lest the Strigoi—the world’s fiercest and most dangerous vampires—make Lissa one of them forever."

My thoughts:

Vampire Academy is a fast paced, awesome book. It, as any other vampire book will do, created it differently than your basic story about vampires.

The main character, Rosemarie, has a smartalec-I don't care what you think-whatever attitude. And I must say I liked her character. On the other hand, you have Liss, who takes things more seriously and thinks about the consequences. She's Rosa's peanut butter to her jelly. In other words they put together well. Dimitri, God help us all, is just awesome in a bad boy type of way. Overall, all the characters are nicely put together and their relationships are likeable.

The plot is where I get a little iffy. The action, love, and suspense was awesome don't get me wrong, but for some reason it only seemed to revolve around one thing. That one thing being figuring out who did those 'things' (read to find out) to Lissa. Other than that, the writing and plot was awesome and kept me on my toes (: Did I mention how amazing Mead's concept of half vampires and guardian are? Because it is!

Overall, I really like this series. I don't know why I waited so freakin' long to start reading them! Off to find the second book :P

In My Mailbox! [21]

2009-12-19T18:07:00.003-05:00

So, instead of a tower of pictures like last week, I decided to do a little video. It has what I borrowed, etc. It won't take much of your time I swear. Because it's like one minute long, xD.

In My Mailbox was created by The Story Siren and inspired by The Book Junkie! So go check them out as well. I'm posting this early, btw.

Oh! Enjoy the music! It's Short Stack...whadya think? That picture just caught my eye, it has no meaning lol.

Review | City of Glass by Cassandra Clare

2009-12-19T15:29:00.003-05:00

Title: City of Glass
Author: Cassandra Clare
Publisher: McElderry
Pages: 560
Rating: 5/5

"To save her mother's life, Clary must travel to the City of Glass, the ancestral home of the Shadowhunters — never mind that entering the city without permission is against the Law, and breaking the Law could mean death. To make things worse, she learns that Jace does not want her there, and her best friend, Simon, has been thrown in prison by the Shadowhunters, who are deeply suspicious of a vampire who can withstand sunlight.

As Clary uncovers more about her family's past, she finds an ally in mysterious Shadowhunter Sebastian. With Valentine mustering the full force of his power to destroy all Shadowhunters forever, their only chance to defeat him is to fight alongside their eternal enemies. But can Downworlders and Shadowhunters put aside their hatred to work together? While Jace realizes exactly how much he's willing to risk for Clary, can she harness her newfound powers to help save the Glass City — whatever the cost?"

My thoughts:

For the last book of this awesome series folded everything up nicely and ended on a nice note. The suspense that's driven throughout the whole book will bound to have you cursing under your breath and just turning the pages for more.

The characters, as stated in the previous reviews, were so realistic, you would have thought they were real people. Clare made them with so many layers in their personalities it was fantastic.

Finally, in the third book, I got a hold on the whole different views type of writing. That was better than I originally thought it was. With each event you got a different view each way. You also ride a wave of emotions along with the characters; the writing just did that to you.

Overall, this series is amazing and I couldn't recommend more than right now. City of Fallen Angels come on to me! (:

[Sorry this isn't much of a, well, review but I couldn't help it. Unless, you know, you wanted me to spoil it all for you. So yeah I thought it'd be better to just review everything than give a review. Make sense? :P]

FTC: Borrowed from local library.

Review | City of Ashes by Cassandra Clare

2009-12-13T19:47:00.007-05:00

Title: City of Ashes

Author: Cassandra Clare

Publisher: McElderry
Pages: 496
Rating: 5/5

"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."

My thoughts:

This sequel will have you running through all the action, just urging to keep reading and just finish the whole book in one sitting.

The characters in this book are now more developed than they already were in the first book, City of Bones. More are introduced, two to be blunt. The relationship between Jace, Simon, and our heroine, Clary is even more tense. Mostly that tension runs through her and Jace's relationship, not with Simon. But towards the end it's somewhat cleared out; which, by the way, makes me mad. Ish. I have a feeling that's not the end of that triangle. Throughout the book you get the often, the feeling of nothing is what it seems. The action, suspense, love triangle and just everything about this book was awesomely created and beautifully written as ever (:

The only thing that threw me off, and this isn't a bad thing at all; it just confuses me. The perspectives. It takes you a bit to figure out which section is read in who's point of view. But eventually, you get the hang of and it's easily figured out quickly. This is just my problem sometimes, not that is has anything to do with others or has anything wrong with it. I love it actually and it's a very good idea; adds to the book's magic (:

FTC: I bought this book with my own money;

In My Mailbox/ Birthday Stuff [[: [2o]

2009-12-10T16:37:00.009-05:00

Hi! This Wednesday I had my seventeenth birthday and I got some really cool stuff for presents. So that's right, this is going to be a big IMM. Ish. Well, however you look at it xD. I'll be showing you books that I got for my birthday, for review, and borrowed from the library (:

Stay tuned...!

Presents (Some):

Borrowed from thee library!:

For Review!:

If you haven't noticed, yes I did make a little pyramid but that's beyond the point! Yep, yep that's all I got this week. You're probably thinking that's not much, but hell there all the books I wanted this month (: The second section and first and second books are not something I would normally read; sciencey type books aren't my thing, but it sounded interesting.

Don't be hating on my Robert Pattison movie either! xD. I knew you were thinking that. *Mumbles* Just kidding...

...What did you get?

*There may or may not be more books for review... I don't really know. Just felt like posting this earlier.

Disclaimer

2009-12-07T20:15:00.005-05:00

Disclaimer:
This policy is valid from 07 January 2010

This blog is a personal blog written and edited by me. This blog does not accept any form of advertising, sponsorship, or paid insertions. I write for my own purposes. However, I do accept and keep advanced reader copies, or ARC's, from publishers, authors, or sometimes publicists.

This blog abides by word of mouth marketing standards. I believe in honesty of relationship, opinion and identity. Most every book reviewed on Darling Reviews is borrowed from a local library or purchased with my own money. If I, by chance, receive an arc for review, it is given by the publisher each time.

The owner of this blog is not compensated to provide opinion on any given arc. The views and opinions expressed on this blog are purely the blog owners. If I claim or appear to be experts on a certain topic or product or service area, we will only endorse products or services that we believe, based on our expertise, are worthy of such endorsement. Any product claim, statistic, quote or other representation about a product or service should be verified with the manufacturer or provider. This blog does not contain any content which might present a conflict of interest.

Thank you.

Contest Finds! [:

2009-12-06T15:48:00.003-05:00

I normally don't do these, but I have to have these book. They sound so amazing and good. But if you're interested as well, you should follow the link I'm about to give...It's also signed by the author, that's a double right? Of course!

Go on and enter, I know you want to read it as well (:

&&&&&

Wanna win Shadow Hills? I know you do! Go on, follow and enter. It's amazing. And who doesn't want to read that book? I know I do! Here's the link: Contest

Psst, that picture has nothing to do with the contests :P I just thought it was purty amazing. Anyways go! Go enter those contests!

Review | City of Bones by Cassandra Clare

2009-12-06T14:44:00.007-05:00

Title: City of Bones
Author: Cassandra Clare
Publisher: McElderry
Pages: 512
Rating: 5/5

"When fifteen-year-old Clary Fray heads out to the Pandemonium Club in New York City, she hardly expects to witness a murder - much less a murder committed by three teenagers covered with strange tattoos and brandishing bizarre weapons. Then the body disappears into thin air. It's hard to call the police when the murderers are invisible to everyone else and when there is nothing - not even a smear of blood - to show that a boy has died. Or was he a boy?

This is Clary's first meeting with the Shadowhunters, warriors dedicated to ridding the earth of demons. It's also her first encounter with Jace, a Shadowhunter who looks a little like an angel and acts a lot like a jerk. Within twenty-four hours Clary is pulled into Jace's world with a vengeance, when her mother disappears and Clary herself is attacked by a demon. But why would demons be interested in ordinary mundanes like Clary and her mother? And how did Clary suddenly get the Sight? The Shadowhunters would like to know....

Exotic and gritty, exhilarating and utterly gripping, Cassandra Clare's ferociously entertaining fantasy takes readers on a wild ride that they will never want to end."

The Review;

City of Bones is a thrilling debut novel that will have your foot constantly moving as the plot twists and turns.

The characters in the book are very realistic. Each of them have flaws and things they're great at. Our main character, Clary, is a spunky red head who witnesses a 'murder' that sends her spiraling in a world she never knew existed. Jace is your sarcastic, fight-loving bad boy in the novel. His character was my favorite. But don't think that the other characters aren't any more amazing because I didn't list them..'cuz, well, they are. Awesome that is.

The writing was phenomenal. It gave you just the right amount of back story, emotion, action and descriptions that you could ever want in a book. They were never too much or too little, just perfect. And for a debut novel? That's awesome! The plot was perfect as well. This is my type of book; all things paranormal with some love mixed in. The world Cassandra created is amazing. Can I live there? Anyways...

Overall, I highly recommend that you pick up this series. It will have you nervous with the fighting; swooning with Jace and Clary; laughing with how they act; and dazed with how well it's written[:

FTC: I bought this book.

Review: Hold Still by Nina LaCour

2009-12-02T09:36:00.005-05:00

Title: Hold Still
Author: Nina LaCour
Publisher: Dutton Juvenile
Pages: 304
Rating: 5/5

"An arresting story about starting over after a friend’s suicide, from a breakthrough new voice in YA fiction.

dear caitlin, there are so many things that i want so badly to tell you but i just can’t.

Devastating, hopeful, hopeless, playful . . . in words and illustrations, Ingrid left behind a painful farewell in her journal for Caitlin. Now Caitlin is left alone, by loss and by choice, struggling to find renewed hope in the wake of her best friend’s suicide. With the help of family and newfound friends, Caitlin will encounter first love, broaden her horizons, and start to realize that true friendship didn’t die with Ingrid. And the journal which once seemed only to chronicle Ingrid’s descent into depression, becomes the tool by which Caitlin once again reaches out to all those who loved Ingrid—and Caitlin herself."

My thoughts:

Hold Still is a heartbreaking, raw book about dealing with the loss of someone who meant so much to you.

This novel is so much more than dealing with your close friend's suicide. The author made it that you feel what everyone in the Ingrid's life felt about her taking her lfie. It definitely showed that everyone is different when it comes to that subject. In the way they mourn.

The writing was amazing and I felt that how they were separated - by the seasons - showed each stage of grieving that Caitlin went through. It shows her from silently grieving then she finds her diary and slowly she doesn't forget necessarily, but she allows herself to get over the fact and understand the reason behind why Ingrid did that.

The photography aspect of this novel will catch you by surprise, but it shows you what Ingrid loved to do best. And that made her seem alive throughout the book. Like you really knew her. You will have tears in your eyes through some parts; I know that I did.

Overall, this is unlike any 'losing someone over suicide' book that I've ever read. It's so much into Caitlin's head that you'd think it really happened. I really, really liked this and following through with the stages of the main character's grief and recovery is fascinating and heartbreaking. Go get a copy if you haven't read it (:

FTC: This was borrowed from my local library.

2010 Challenge!

2009-11-27T21:25:00.005-05:00

What is this challenge exactly?

The objective is to read a set number of YA (Young Adult) or MG (Middle Grade) novels from debut authors published this year.* I'm going to challenge everyone to read at least 12 debut novels! I’m hoping to read at least 30! You don’t have to list your choices right away, but if you do feel free to change them throughout the year. I will also be focusing on mostly Young Adult novels.

Anyone can join, you don’t need a blog to participate. If you don’t have a blog you can always share your views by posting a review on Amazon.com/BarnesandNoble.com/GoodReads/Shelfari, or any other bookish site.

The challenge will run from January 1, 2010- December 31, 2010. You can join at anytime!

Interested? Check it out here.

Anyways, here's my list (: I have to say, I don't own any arc's of these whatsoever. And a head's up, the ones I just HAVE to read are in bold - not that I don't really, really want to read all of them. Because, trust me, I do :D

The Secret Year by Jennifer Hubbard
Shadow Hills by Anastasia Hopcus
Other by Karen Kincy
Hex Hall by Rachel Hawkins
Whisper by Phoebe Kitanidis
The DUFF by Kody Keplinger
Fat Vampire: A Never Coming of Age Story by Adam Rex
Paranormalcy by Kiersten White
The Body Finder by Kimberly Derting (Have arc)
Linger by Maggie Stiefvater
Sleepless by Cyn Balog
Kiss of Death by Rachel Caine
In A Heartbeat by Loretta Ellsworth
Anxious Hearts by Tucker Shaw (Have arc)
Early to Death, Early to Rise by Kim Harrison
The River by Mary Jane Beaufrand
Palace Beautiful by Sarah Deford Williams
The Reckoning by Kelley Armstrong

Ooh, doesn't that just interest you? xD.

In My Mailbox! [: [19]

2009-11-27T18:20:00.003-05:00

Sorry it's been awhile, but I've been stuck reading the books from last week or the week before that? It's been taking me awhile to finish, but it's all cool...The pile is finally down some! Anyways, I got four books this week! None for review, all borrowed. But yeah! The Story Siren created this meme, but you already know that(: Tempted is actually the audio book of it, :P Thought I'd try something new.

What did you get?

Writers Wednesday 2

2009-11-25T13:58:00.001-05:00

Hi ya, I hope you're ready to read some more of my novel for Nanowrimo. This meme was created by Just Your Typical Book Blog. So definitely go check hers out as well. It's really a funny story. Back to mine though, this is another one that's found throughout the novel itself.

This is one of her dream's dream's memory. Does that make sense? I bet it doesn't, but whatever.

"The chairs and beautiful setup in the garden was even more gorgeous from the actual view. The smell of lilies fill my nose and I breath it in deeply. Taking it all in. I spot Laylon with his green eyes sparkling brightly. With happiness. He folds his hands in front of him and looks innocent as ever."

This is just a playful moment between my two of my three main characters. xD

“Don’t you already spend enough time with me?” I stated the obvious. We finally arrived back into the living room. Laylon shut the door behind him softly and headed towards me. He wrapped his hands again around my waist, his forehead resting on mine.

“Never.” He breathed into my ear. Then he licked my cheek and ran to the other side of the room.

“Ew!” I yelled, running around to where he was. He moved quickly back to the other side. “That was not cute, Laylon!” His laughed reached my ears from behind me , he grabbed me from behind and I squealed.

“You know you liked it,” he whispered in my ear again. We fell backwards onto the couch laughing.

Review: Girls That Growl by Mari Mancusi

2009-11-24T22:16:00.004-05:00

Title: Girls That Growl
Author: Mari Mancusi
Publisher: Berkley Jam
Pages: 249
Rating: 3/5

"Rayne McDonald thought getting into the Blood Coven was the hard part. But now there's a new breed of trouble in town...and the former slayer and her vampire boyfriend may be the only ones who can stop it. Now that she's an official vampire and full-fledged member of The Blood Coven, Rayne assumes her vampire slaying days are over. Sure, she doesn't have any vampire powers, thanks to a mutated blood virus, but she and Jareth can go out in the sun, which is a pretty good trade-off. But just when Rayne's starting to enjoy her afterlife, she's contacted by Slayer Inc once again. It seems that a member of her high school's football team has disappeared—and the powers-that-be think the cheerleaders had something to do with it. Now Rayne has to infiltrate the squad before the cheerleaders have a chance to sink their teeth into someone else..."

My thoughts:

Girls That Growl is the third book to the Blood Coven series and is full with more supernatural beings. It's full of funny moments and action.

Rayne is a vampire slayer, whose, well, a vampire. Her character is totally goofy, and smart minding. She's my favorite character. Throughout the book you'll get funny remarks from her. The character is also emotional. The writing this time was okay, but it's not really my favorite. I don't know what to call it exactly. First person first person? I don't know, but it showed the characters more. Does that make sense? The plot was a lot like the second one. Sunny had to go to England to find a cure for vampirism, this one has to deal with this time Rayne going to England to find the cure for the cheerleaders. It felt like I was reading the same thing over again with different reasons and causes.

Overall, this is a cute quick read that will bring you into another realm of vampires and (SPOILERS) werewolfs. (SPOILER OVER) I reccomend that you pick this series up(:

Teaser Tuesady [12]

2009-11-24T12:57:00.004-05:00

Should Be Reading started this Teaser Tuesday meme. This week's teaser is going to come from Girls That Growl by Mari Mancusi. Mm, nothing like some vampires to brighten your day. *Insert goofy grin*

Grab your current read
Open to a random page
Share two (2) “teaser” sentences from somewhere on that page
BE CAREFUL NOT TO INCLUDE SPOILERS! (make sure that what you share doesn’t give too much away! You don’t want to ruin the book for others!)
Share the title & author, too, so that other TT participants can add the book to their TBR Lists if they like your teasers!

"Sunny puts a finger to her lips and motions for me to follow her into her room. I do, taking one last shuddering glance at the place formerly known as my bedroom. This time Mom has gone too far."
-Page 75

Review: The Everafter by Amy Huntley

2009-11-23T14:25:00.005-05:00

Title: The Everafter
Author: Amy Huntley
Publisher: Balzer & Bray
Pages: 148
Rating: 5/5

"Madison Stanton doesn't know where she is or how she got there. But she does know this—she is dead. And alone, in a vast, dark space. The only company she has in this place are luminescent objects that turn out to be all the things Maddy lost while she was alive. And soon she discovers that with these artifacts, she can reexperience—and sometimes even change—moments from her life.

Her first kiss. A trip to Disney World. Her sister's wedding. A disastrous sleepover. In reliving these moments, Maddy learns illuminating and sometimes frightening truths about her life—and death.

This is a haunting and ultimately hopeful novel about the beauty of even the most insignificant moments—and the strength of true love even beyond death."

My review:

The Everafter is a heartbreaking and amazingly unique book that takes you on a journey with the main character. See what she sees, even feel what she felt.

Madison, our main character, died and she knows it. Yet apart of her doesn't know anything. She doesn't remember any memories. But there are these objects that stand out, gleam at her. They throw her memories at you, and slowly she remembers everything up to her death. Snippets and dominant memories. I loved that part of the book. Huntley made her feelings amazingly realistic. The writing gave descriptions of each and the plot twisted and smacked you in the face towards the end, but it was all leading up to it.

Overall, this book is absolutely amazing and is completely and utterly a unique view of the afterlife. I'm definitely looking forward to more of her writing!(:

The Twilight Saga: New Moon! (:

2009-11-22T13:40:00.004-05:00

**This contains no spoilers!**

So we, me and my aunt, had this planned out for months. And finally, finally!, the day came. You should have seen me. I was talking up a storm because I was so excited. So we drive then get there perfectly fine. It was way too early, so we went to White Castles to sneak in a snack and looked like idiots from giggling too much. xD. Back to the theater, we found ourselves sitting under an Eclipse poster for about an hour. We attacked the door where the movie was showing. And was still showing the other part. Get this, I was able to see the corner of the movie. And my self restrain was running low. So I peeked, but didn't see much.

Then there was this guy. He seemed purty normal to me. Cept' he's wearing all black with a trench coat. When I look closer his eye are ICE blue. No lie, it wasn't natural. Then I saw his teeth... he had two inch fangs. So that pretty much convinced me there are vamps. Shut up, I know you can get extensions and stuff along with contacts, but still! Enough of this crap...let's get to the good stuff!

I heart Chris Weitz. He made the movie so much better than the first one. He stayed absolutely true to the book and that amazed me. Somehow, he Incorporated a lot of dialogue. Jacob. No words can describe how good his acting was. Not to mention the...erm... build. The wolfs. They're sexy and are now my favorites. Edward. Omg. He was so depressed looking and delicious. The movie was everything I expected and a lot more. The ending pissed me off, I'm not kidding! I was reading some reviews saying the ending wasn't in the book. I totally disagree. It was the exact ending just mixed around. So yeah, I totally disagree with all of you who say that. Still... I swooned xD. The acting was suburb, definitely amped up by a lot of levels. The vampire running was much better, it was realistic. Jasper! I loved that he talked in this one, and each time it was really funny. Awww. I loved it. Oh, yeah. I did. Then we went home, or at least we tried.

We got lost. I witnessed a creepy down at three in the morning, which happens to be the witching hour. Evil crap comes out at that time. Or so I heard. It was still creepy! After an hour we made it back. The stars were amazing, I never seen so many! (:

So yeah, I thought I would blog about this on a personal level and not book related. It wasn't so much a review, but hey, who cares, it's New Moon!(: I'm going to look for online version, seeya.

Review: Pretty Dead by Francesca Lia Block

2009-11-20T22:29:00.003-05:00

Title: Pretty Dead
Author: Francesca Lia Block
Publisher: Harper Collins
Pages: 195
Rating: 4.5/5

"People pity me, but mostly they feel envy. I have all the luxury and freedom a girl my age could want.

Something is happening to Charlotte Emerson. Like the fires that are ravaging the hills of Los Angeles, it consumes her from the inside out. But whether it is her eternal loneliness, the memory of her brother, the return of her first love, or the brooding, magnetic Jared—she cannot say. What if it's something more . . .

Something to do with the sudden tear in her perfect nails. The heat she feels when she's with Jared. The blood rushing once again to her cheeks and throughout her veins.

For Charlotte is a vampire, witness to almost a century's worth of death and destruction. But not since she was a human girl has mortality touched her.

In what way will you be transformed?

Until now."

My thoughts:

Pretty Dead is a story about a vampire, Charlotte Emerson, that's starting to get things only humans get in their lifetimes. She's changing, and she can't stop it. I liked her character a lot. She was portrayed as someone who was something they no longer strives to be in. And she wanted to change that. Her emotions filled the book, but they mixed together flawlessly. Her creator, William, is dark and pretty weird in my eyes. Every where he was put in the book, it was creepy. Emily was the human she loved. She was Charlotte's best friend. She was well portrayed as innocent and fun loving. They all fit Charlotte's story well, and I liked that.

The writing and plot in this fast read were amazing. Each and every thing that Block described, were vividly painted with words. Speaking of pages, this indeed was a fast read. But that wasn't a problem at all.

Overall, I think that this book was much deeper and a different kind of vampire story that I've seen out there and read. I recommend that you pick it up.

Contest

2009-11-19T21:48:00.005-05:00

Okay, since I had a guest post with L.M Preston, she told me I could hold a contest. So want to know what's up for grabs? An arc of her upcoming book Alpha-X, a tee-shirt, and some swag. Do you want to enter? Well keep on reading.

I made a form for the first time, and I'm seeing how this works. Just fill it out here and you'll be all set. Easy peasy. Comment with any questions you have about the form. Swear you will? I don't want to confuse anyone. I'll reply with a comment on your recent post (:

But yeah, go on and enter. The winner will be announced January 1st @ Midnight wherever you are!

It is open internationally, so it's not just open to the United States and Canada. Woo, everyone loves that idea don't we? Of course. I think I have the basics down. Go to the form, now.

Review: The Hollow by Jessica Verday

2009-11-18T15:10:00.003-05:00

Title: The Hollow
Author: Jessica Verday
Publisher: Simon Pulse
Pages: 513
Rating: 3/5

When Abbey's best friend, Kristen, vanishes at the bridge near Sleepy Hollow Cemetery, everyone else is all too quick to accept that Kristen is dead???and rumors fly that her death was no accident. Abbey goes through the motions of mourning her best friend, but privately, she refuses to believe that Kristen is really gone. It only makes things worse that everyone now treats Abbey like either a freak show or a charity case. Thank goodness for Caspian, the gorgeous and mysterious boy who shows up out of nowhere at Kristen's funeral, and keeps reappearing in Abbey's life. Caspian clearly has secrets of his own, but he's the only person who makes Abbey feel normal again...but also special.

Just when Abbey starts to feel that she might survive all this, she learns a secret that makes her question everything she thought she knew about her best friend. How could Kristen have kept silent about so much? And could this secret have led to her death? As Abbey struggles to understand Kristen's betrayal, she uncovers a frightening truth that nearly unravels her—one that will challenge her emerging love for Caspian, as well as her own sanity.

Review:

The Hollow is a dark, mystery, love novel about a town with a legend. The Legend of Sleepy Hollow.

I'm have mixed feelings about this book. I liked it, I really did, but something was off for me. Abbey, the main character, is grieving over her best friend and the author portrayed that really good. I could almost feel her pain myself, if I lost my best friend. Caspian was an okay character. To me, he was really distant and barely talked. Not exactly a brooding bad boy. He has a reason though and that only covers a bit of the reason behind it. I felt that her grief of her best friend was what most of the book was about. In the beginning.

Towards the middle/end it started to get good. Sleepy Hallow made itself known. It's a lot of pages, and it's too many. The writing was beautifully descriptive when it had to be, but sometimes it got overly descriptive. And the suspense toward the end? It made helluva good ending.

I can't wait for the next one, and hope just a tiny bit that it'll be better. Overall I enjoyed this book towards the middle and end because it sent you on a twisty turvy plot smack in the face. Do I recommend this book? Yes, even though it starts out slow and can be overly descriptive in all the wrong places.