Sunday, October 11, 2009

On the Edge by Ilona Andrews

On the Edge (The Edge, #1) On the Edge by Ilona Andrews


My rating: 5 of 5 stars
Encompassing three worlds. The Broken where technology rules and magic is unknown. The Weird where Bluebloods rule and magic is everything and then their is the Edge. A little of both worlds. Where life is hard, people have magic, and you work in the broken to earn a living. Rose is raising her two little brothers one a necromancer and the other a changeling. Ever since Rose was eighteen and flashed white, the most powerful magic flash see in two hundred years, at the town carnival shes been fending off attacks of men wanting to make her a brood mare. Her father ran off to find treasure; grandfather Cletus eats dog brains; her grandmother is a stubborn goat; and Rose is just trying to scrounge their pennies to buy Jack some nice shoes for the first day of school.
All that changes when she almost runs over a man on her way to Walmart. A couple days later the man reappears on her lawn. His names Declan, a noble Blueblood and he informs her he will have her. Rose knows that she can't run him off so she issues three challenges that he must complete and then he can have her in every sense of the word. All the while something strange is happening in the Weird. Something none of the edgers have ever seen before and the only person who can help is Declan.
I absolutely loved this book and can't wait till the next. Ilona creates another wonderful series. All who like her Kate Daniels books will like these. Although Rose isn't the daughter of an unknown evil magical dictator she is tough in her own sense with her shotguns and flash that can cut through someone like butter. I will definitely be following this kick-ass heroine.

View all my reviews >>

Tuesday, September 29, 2009

Release Party, Chat and SONY eReader Contest with Author Ilona Andrews

Release Party, Chat and SONY eReader Contest with Author Ilona Andrews

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Monday, September 28, 2009

Meagan's Way by Melissa Foster


Megan's Way by Melissa Foster
290 Pages

Description:When Megan Taylor, a single mother and artist living on Cape Cod, receives the shocking news that her cancer has returned, she's faced with the most difficult decision she's ever had to make. The love she has for her daughter, Olivia, and her closest friends will be stretched and frayed.

Megan’s illness reawakens the torment of her best friend, Holly Townsend, whose long-held secrets and years of betrayal come back to haunt her. How does one choose between a daughter and a life-long best friend? Can the secret she has been keeping be revealed after years of lying without destroying everyone in its wake?

Meanwhile, fourteen-year-old Olivia's world is falling apart right before her eyes, and there's nothing she can do about it. She finds herself acting in ways she cannot even begin to understand. When her internal struggles turn to dangerous behavior, even the paranormal connection she shares with her mother might not be enough to save her - her life will hang in the balance.

Megan’s Way is a journey of self discovery and heartfelt emotions, exploring the depth of the mother-daughter bond, and the intricacies of friendship.


My Thoughts: What to say about this book? Its about self and life evaluation.How life is complicated and the decisions in our lives effect our lives for better or for worse. I'll tell you the truth. I felt like the beginning didn't fit with the rest of the book. It felt repetitive and very uninteresting. Olivia the daughter was very annoying at times and rude to her dieing mom that I wanted to jump inside and throttle her. I hope kids aren't like that. I'm not trying to bag on your work because I know you put a lot of your hard earned time into it.

Now for the good stuff. Whenever I started getting into the middle it got better and it felt more real. I will give away that if you don't want to cry then don't pick up this book. The past reflections on her hard decisions left you wondering if they were the right ones. Just like in life. Everything is complicated and you just do the best you can. This does have a afterlife type of dealing so if you are prudish about such things than just be warned. My favorite character would have to be Meagan's best friend Holly. She's loving, dependent, strong, and wants a child so badly. The fact that she knew was thoughtful of others and how crying in front of her best friend wasn't an option. That she had to stay strong because it wasn't about her. Not everyone will enjoy this book but some will love it for its ability to make you burst into tears.



Friday, September 25, 2009

Ilona Andrews at Bitten By Books



Come check out Ilona Andrews release contest for their book On the Edge from 09/28-10/04 at Bitten by Books. Ilona Andrews is the author of the bestselling Kate Daniel series.

Tuesday, September 8, 2009

Teaser Tuesday



Teaser Tuesdays is a weekly bookish meme, hosted by MizB of Should Be Reading. Anyone can play along, do the following:

* -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!

Mine:


"You're beautiful", he says.
"Shut up," I tell him.
"Why does that embarrass you?" he asks.
"Because I'm not, okay?" I say quietly, snapping out of the moment for a second. "And I'm actually kind of okay with that. So do me a favor and just don't lie to me." Page 111 from Vintage Veronica by Erica S. Perl.

Monday, September 7, 2009

In My Mailbox

I was house-sitting while my brother went out of town and he lives way out in Boofoo so I wasn't able to use the internet for the last three days. So this is coming in late. In My Mailbox is hosted by The Story Siren.

Amazon:



Catching Fire by Suzanne Collins
Description:
Against all odds, Katniss Everdeen has won the annual Hunger Games with fellow district tribute Peeta Mellark. But it was a victory won by defiance of the Capitol and their harsh rules. Katniss and Peeta should be happy. After all, they have just won for themselves and their families a life of safety and plenty. But there are rumors of rebellion among the subjects, and Katniss and Peeta, to their horror, are the faces of that rebellion. The Capitol is angry. The Capitol wants revenge.

Contest Wins:

Geektatsic by Holly Black and Cecil Castellucci
Description:
Acclaimed authors Holly Black (Ironside)and Cecil Castellucci (Boy Proof) have united in geekdom to edit short stories from some of the best selling and most promising geeks in young adult literature: M.T. Anderson, Libba Bray, Cassandra Clare, John Green, Tracy Lynn, Cynthia and Greg Leitich Smith, David Levithan, Kelly Link, Barry Lyga, Wendy Mass, Garth Nix, Scott Westerfield, Lisa Yee, and Sara Zarr.

With illustrated interstitials from comic book artists Hope Larson and Bryan Lee O'Malley, Geektastic covers all things geeky, from Klingons and Jedi Knights to fan fiction, theater geeks, and cosplayers. Whether you're a former, current, or future geek, or if you just want to get in touch with your inner geek, Geektastic will help you get your geek on!



The Sweet Life of Stella Madison by Lara M. Zeises
Description:
A warmhearted, delectable novel about what it means to love and be loved.

When Stella Madison's food-loving parents help her land a summer job at the local newspaper, there’s only one catch: she’s expected to write about food. Luckily, Stella has Jeremy, the hot new intern at her mom’s restaurant, who’s more than happy to help. But where does that leave Stella’s boyfriend, Max, who recently dropped the L-word? And could her separated parents be cooking up romances of their own?



Ballads of Suburbia by Stephanie Kuehnert
Description:
Kara hasn't been back to Oak Park since the end of junior year, when a heroin overdose nearly killed her and sirens heralded her exit. Four years later, she returns to face the music. Her life changed forever back in high school: her family disintegrated, she ran around with a whole new crowd of friends, she partied a little too hard, and she fell in love with gorgeous bad-boy Adrian, who left her to die that day in Scoville Park....

Amid the music, the booze, the drugs, and the drama, her friends filled a notebook with heartbreakingly honest confessions of the moments that defined and shattered their young lives. Now, finally, Kara is ready to write her own.

Review:



Vintage Veronica by Eric S. Perl
Description:
Veronica Walsh is 15, fashion-minded, fat, and friendless. Her summer job in the Consignment Corner section (Employees Only!) of a vintage clothing store is a dream come true. There Veronica can spend her days separating the one-of-a-kind gem garments from the Dollar-a-Pound duds, without having to deal with people. But when two outrageous yet charismatic salesgirls befriend her and urge her to spy on and follow the mysterious and awkward stock boy Veronica has nicknamed the Nail, Veronica’s summer takes a turn for the weird. Suddenly, what began as a prank turns into something else entirely. Which means Veronica may have to come out of hiding and follow something even riskier for the first time: her heart.



Andromeda Klein by Frank Portman
Description:
Andromeda Klein has a few problems.

Her hair is kind of horrible.

Her partner-in-occultism, Daisy, is dead.

Her secret, estranged, much older and forbidden boyfriend-in-theory, has gone AWOL.

And her mother has learned how to text.

In short, things couldn't get much worse. Until they do. Daisy seems to be attempting to make contact from beyond, books are starting to disappear from the library, and then, strangely and suddenly, Andromeda's tarot readings are beginning to predict events with bizarrely literal accuracy.

Omens are everywhere. Dreams; swords; fires; hidden cards; lost, broken, and dead cell phones . . . and what is Daisy trying to tell her?

In the ensuing struggle of neutral versus evil, it's Andromeda Klein against the world, modern society, demonic forces, and the "friends" of the library.

From Frank Portman, author of King Dork, comes another unique literary experience. Andromeda Klein is dark, funny, smart, and entirely unforgettable.



To Be Mona by Kelly Easton
Description:
Sage Priestly is seventeen, and she longs to reinvent herself -- to strip away the fat, the past, the crazy mom, the unpaid bills. She longs to be her own version of the gorgeous and popular Mona Simms.

Sage starts dieting and exercising. She gets blond highlights and throws away all of her black clothes. Bit by bit she transforms herself. This is deeply troubling to her best friend, Vern, who is secretly in love with Sage just the way she is. But the boyfriend Sage wants -- the popular jock Roger -- suddenly notices her. And when they start dating, Sage thinks her life is turning around.

So why isn't Sage happier? Yes, Roger is a little too controlling and pushy, but isn't that what boys are like when you date them? What is it about the image Sage has created that just doesn't fit?

Smart, honest, and tough, Sage is a teen with more going for her than she thinks, but she still has a lot to learn.



That's what I got this week. I have a lot of books I have to catch up on reviewing so look out for a lot of stuff being posted this week.

Friday, September 4, 2009

Hunting Ground by Patricia Briggs; Vamps, Weres, and the Fae



Hunting Ground; An Alpha and Omega novel by Patricia Briggs
Publisher: The Penguin Group; Ace
Published: August 25th 2009
Genre: Urban Fantasy
Pages: 286

Summary: Anna Latham didn't know how complicated life could be until she became a werewolf. And until she was mated to Charles Cornick, the son-and enforcer-of Bran, the leader of the North American werewolves, she didn't know how dangerous it could be, either...

Anna and Charles have just been enlisted to attend a summit to present Bran's controversial proposition: that the wolves should finally reveal themselves to humans. But the most feared Alpha in Europe is dead set against the plan-and it seems like someone else might be, too. When Anna is attacked by vampires using pack magic, the kind of power only werewolves should be able to draw on, Charles and Anna must combine their talents to hunt down whoever is behind it all-or risk losing forever...

My Thoughts: Another wonderful book from the amazing Patricia Briggs. While the first book, Cry Wolf, is mainly about Anna overcoming her issues from the past this is more of the Charles and Anna kicking butt. I love how Anna is all soft, sweet, and vulnerable but ends up saving everyone's butts all the time. I liked this quote because it describes exactly what I'm talking about.
"You should have seen her kill the witch a couple of weeks ago," Bran said affably. "Asil had been fleeing from this one for two hundred years, and my son's little 'rabbit' killed her while in human form and armed with nothing more than a knife."
"Asil?" asked Angus, suitably taken aback. "Asil the Moor?"
"That's the one" said Charles.
"Suddenly I don't feel so bad at being rescued by a rabbit," Angus said cheerfully.


You see a lot of Anna's powers being explored. This is my all time favorite part of the book but I will only put a quote.

"Omega," said Charles formally, "it is the privilege of the dominants to protect our submissive ones, the heart of our packs. Alphas are called upon to protect even more strongly. An Omega calls us strongest of all."
Anna gave a puzzled nod. She already knew that, Charles thought. She just couldn't see what it had to do with the situation. She was too used to looking at dominant wolves as threats.
"Sweetie," said the witch, "while you were up here getting the cold shakes from all those nasty wolves staring at you--they were trying to figure out why you were upset and who they needed to kill for you."


I could just imagine this scene with the wolves in their human forms snapping looks at each other debating who they should kill first and Anna has no idea she's doing to this to them. I also love how Patricia always has a mix of multiple supernatural creatures; fae, werewolves, and vampires. And, not just one or the other its all of them. I enjoy all of Patricia Briggs books and I would recommend them to anyone.





















I'm also so excited for Silver Borne, the fifth Mercy Thompson book. It comes out March 30, 2010. I give Hunting Ground 4 out of 5 penguins.

Wednesday, September 2, 2009

WoW: Suicide



Waiting on Wenseday is a weekly meme hosted by Jill over at Breaking the Spine to help upcoming releases get their spotlight.









By The Time You Read This, I'll Be Dead by Julie Ann Peters
Genre: Young Adult Fiction
Release Date: January 5th 2010
Publisher: Hyperion Book CH


Summary: Daelyn Rice is broken beyond repair, and after a string of botched suicide attempts, she's determined to get her death right. She starts visiting a website for "completers"- www.through-the-light .com.

While she's on the site, Daelyn blogs about her life, uncovering a history of bullying that goes back to kindergarten. When she's not on the Web, Daelyn's at her private school, where she's known as the freak who doesn't talk.

Then, a boy named Santana begins to sit with her after school while she's waiting to for her parents to pick her up. Even though she's made it clear that she wants to be left alone, Santana won't give up. And it's too late for Daelyn to be letting people into her life. Isn't it?

National Book Award finalist Julie Anne Peters shines a light on how bullying can push young people to the very edge.




"23 Days and Counting


Dear
___mother
___father
___other

There was nothing you could do to stop me because:

___I’d already made up my mind
___I have been suffering my whole life
___ you were too slow to notice

I offed myself because:

___my life sucks
___the world sucks
___ you suck

Good-bye,
Daelyn"

This sounds really good. I can't wait to read it. What is your WoW?

Monday, August 31, 2009

The Naughty List: Cheerleaders, Cheating Boyfriends, and Secret Detectives



Release Date: February 4th, 2010
Description:
Tessa Crimson: Cheerleader By Day, Spy By Night
As the leader of the SOS(Society of Smitten Kittens), Tessa's mission is twofold: prep preservation and relationship salvation. That's right, Tessa is head cheerleader whose night job is catching cheating boyfriends in the act! Thank goodness her own relationship with Aiden is strawberry-smoothie purrfect- except for the fact that she's been concealing her nocturnal habits for, oh, two years.
Aiden suspects something's up, and his patience is wearing thin. But in the meantime, Tessa's far too busy to deal with her own romantic roadblocks. The Naughty List is at maximum capacity: because so far, every single suspect on it is 100% guilty.
When sultry Chloe Ferril transfers to Washington High, things only become more catastrophic. Tessa knows this predatory vixen won't stop hunting Aiden until her claws are planted firmly in his backside...
But Tessa's in for an even bigger shock when Aiden's name shows up on The Naughty List, and she's finally forced to confront the unthinkable: is her own boyfriend just as naughty as all the rest?

My thoughts:
This was a wonderfully cute read. Nancy Drew turned cheerleader. Since her former cheer captain was cheated on the cheerleaders where turned secret investigators. Following suspected cheaters and providing proof of whether or not they can be trusted. Going on two years Tessa is the happy cheerleader dating the basketball captain by day and being secret detective by night. Only thing is every case the SOS takes on is proven correct and its making Tessa doubt Aiden. Can her boyfriend really not be cheating on her? Seeing the new girl Chloe hang all over her sweet only makes Tessa worry more. Then everything comes crashing down when SOS gets a tip that Aiden is cheating on her.
This was a very cute quick read. Cheerleaders, cheating boyfriends, and undercover detectives. If you like any of these things you will love this book. I can't wait to read the next book So Many Boys. I give this book 3.5 out of 5 penguins. Sorry but I can't figure out how to do a half a penguin.










We are privileged to have with us the Suzanne Young.


She was kind enough to take the time out of her day and answer a few questions:
The Naughty List deals with a lot of cheating boyfriends. Was there are reason why you wrote about this? Maybe a personal or a friends experience?

When I thought about what SOS would investigate, I considered several options. But I decided to focus on cheating boyfriends because it’s somewhat universal. And like a lot of girls, I was burned in some of my past relationships. So I can relate to a lot of the character’s feelings.

The main character is the captain of the cheer leading team. Were you ever a cheerleader?

I was a cheerleader for half a season in eighth grade. Unfortunately, I was pretty awful.

Is there any advice you would give your readers or even yourself that you wish you would have had when you were younger?

There are so many things I’d tell myself! But my mistakes have made me who I am. If there’s only one thing I’d do differently, it’s to spend more time with my grandmother. So I’d tell teens to not sweat the small stuff and try to remember what’s important.

You are a writer right now but did you ever aspire to be something else? I personally wanted to be a vet whenever I was younger but that was before I realized that I am deathly frightened of being attacked by cats. I know strange.

HAH! That’s pretty funny! Um, I’ve always wanted to be a writer. Although, I was really into theatre and eventually became a teacher for a while.

Tessa is always nice to everyone, viewing it as the Smitten Kitten way. Are also always a perky person?

If you asked other people, they’d probably say yes. I don’t feel like I am, especially at home, but I guess for the most part I’m pretty dang friendly and smiley.

I personally love to listen to authors play lists. Is there anything you listened to while you wrote The Naughty List?

For the first book I really liked songs like Just a Girl by No Doubt and This Year’s Love by David Gray. But for So Many Boys (book 2) I’m more into songs like Boys with Girlfriends.

Is there anything else you would like to say to your current and future readers?

Just that I hope you enjoy the series. It’s been a blast to write and I hope it’s as fun to read!



Look out for Suzanne's next book in the series;
So Many Boys coming out in summer 2010.

Sunday, August 30, 2009

In My Mailbox 9/30

So like always In My Mailbox is a weekly meme hosted by The Story Siren. Its sort of funny how it seems I get the same number of books every week. The ARCs I received in the mail are:

Tessa Crimson: Cheerleader By Day, Spy By Night
As the leader of the SOS(Society of Smitten Kittens), Tessa's mission is twofold: prep preservation and relationship salvation. That's right, Tessa is head cheerleader whose night job is catching cheating boyfriends in the act! Thank goodness her own relationship with Aiden is strawberry-smoothie purrfect- except for the fact that she's been concealing her nocturnal habits for, oh, two years.
Aiden suspects something's up, and his patience is wearing thin. But in the meantime, Tessa's far too busy to deal with her own romantic roadblocks. The Naughty List is at maximum capacity: because so far, every single suspect on it is 100% guilty.
When sultry Chloe Ferril transfers to Washington High, things only become more catastrophic. Tessa knows this predatory vixen won't stop hunting Aiden until her claws are planted firmly in his backside...
But Tessa's in for an even bigger shock when Aiden's name shows up on The Naughty List, and she's finally forced to confront the unthinkable: is her own boyfriend just as naughty as all the rest?

Suzanne Young is super nice and I love the cover so I can't wait to read this.


Romance was not part of Nora Grey's plan. She's never been particularly attracted to the boys at her school, no matter how hard her best friend, Vee, pushes them at her. Not until Patch comes along. With his easy smile and eyes that seem to see inside her, Patch draws Nora to him against her better judgment.

But after a series of terrifying encounters, Nora's not sure whom to trust. Patch seems to be everywhere she is and seems to know more about her than her closest friends. She can't decide whether she should fall into his arms or run and hide. And when she tries to seek some answers, she finds herself near a truth that is way more unsettling than anything Patch makes her feel.

For she is right in the middle of an ancient battle between the immortal and those who have fallen -- and, when it comes to choosing sides, the wrong choice will cost Nora her life.

I got this from the B&N First Look club and I was so excited when I opened the box and it was right there. I was worried I wasn't going to get it since I signed up so late. Everyone has been saying how good this is so I can't wait to read it.



I'm marooned.

Abandoned.

Left to rot in boarding school . . .

Viola doesn't want to go to boarding school, but somehow she ends up at an all-girls school in South Bend, Indiana, far, far away from her home in Brooklyn, New York. Now Viola is stuck for a whole year in the sherbet-colored sweater capital of the world.

Ick.

There's no way Viola's going to survive the year—especially since she has to replace her best friend Andrew with three new roommates who, disturbingly, actually seem to like it there. She resorts to viewing the world (and hiding) behind the lens of her video camera.

Boarding school, though, and her roommates and even the Midwest are nothing like she thought they would be, and soon Viola realizes she may be in for the most incredible year of her life.

But first she has to put the camera down and let the world in.

I love the cover on this. Its nice and shiny and its one of the best that I have seen lately.



Discovering Pig Magic follows the exploits of Mattie (or Miss M, or just M) and her friends Ariel and Nicki as they attempt to overcome the problems that plague their thirteen-year-old lives. After discovering a book of spells, the three girls perform a ritual that will grant each the object of her desire. But as the magic takes effect, their achievements are accompanied by unanticipated consequences and the girls must figure out how to break the spell before something very bad happens.

Maybe I shouldn't call this an ARC because the Hardcover has already been out but this the paperback that is coming out in a couple months.



Emerson Price cannot remember a time when life was ordinary. She was four-years-old when she and her mom were diagnosed as HIV-positive – infected with the virus that causes AIDS, and eight when her parents divorced. Now she is thirteen and her mother is dead. Emmy moves in with her father and stepmother, but she feels completely alone. Even though everyone has always accepted her, no one – not her father, or stepmother, or even her best friend – understands what it’s like to have to take medicine every single day, to be so afraid of getting sick, and to miss her mom more than she ever thought she would.

When Emmy’s dad and stepmother send her to Camp Positive, a camp for HIV-positive girls, Emmy is certain she is going to hate it. But soon she realizes that she is not so alone after all – and that sometimes letting other people in can make all the difference in the world.

The author is donating a portion of her proceeds from this book to the Elizabeth Glaser Pediatric AIDS Foundation.

Another great cover and the book is helping an important cause.

I got this book from YA Central:

Miles Halter is fascinated by famous last words--and tired of his safe life at home. He leaves for boarding school to seek what the dying poet Francois Rabelais called the "Great Perhaps." Much awaits Miles at Culver Creek, including Alaska Young. Clever, funny, screwed-up, and dead sexy, Alaska will pull Miles into her labyrinth and catapult him into the Great Perhaps.

Its been unfortunate that I haven't been able to read any of John Green's books thought I've heard wonderful things about all of them. I don't know if I wait till Banned Books Week to read this or not. I'm just be too tempted to resist.

I bought these a few months ago waiting on their releases:



Rose Hathaway's life will never be the same.

The recent attack on St. Vladimir's Academy devastated the entire Moroi world. Many are dead. And, for the few victims carried off by Strigoi, their fates are even worse. A rare tattoo now adorns Rose's neck, a mark that says she's killed far too many Strigoi to count. But only one victim matters . . . Dimitri Belikov. Rose must now choose one of two very different paths: honoring her life's vow to protect Lissa—her best friend and the last surviving Dragomir princess—or, dropping out of the Academy to strike out on her own and hunt down the man she loves. She'll have to go to the ends of the earth to find Dimitri and keep the promise he begged her to make. But the question is, when the time comes, will he want to be saved?

Now, with everything at stake—and worlds away from St. Vladimir's and her unguarded, vulnerable, and newly rebellious best friend—can Rose find the strength to destroy Dimitri? Or, will she sacrifice herself for a chance at eternal love?

I can't wait to read this fourth installment in the Vampire Academy series.


Mated to werewolf Charles Cornick, the son—and enforcer—of the leader of the North American werewolves, Anna Latham now knows how dangerous being a werewolf is, especially when a werewolf who opposes Charles and his father is struck down. Charles’s reputation makes him the prime suspect, and the penalty for the crime is execution. Now Anna and Charles must combine their talents to hunt down the real killer—or Charles will take the fall.

I can not get enough of Patricia Brigg's sexy werewolf series, Mercy Thompson and Alpha and Omega. This definitely on my top list of books to read very soon.

That is all I got this week. What did you get? Leave some love!

Wednesday, August 26, 2009

WoW: So Many I Want!


Waiting On Wednesday is hosted by Jill over at Breaking the Spine. Its a weekly event for people to help upcoming releases. It was so hard to pick one so I'm going to do a couple.

Before I Fall by Lauren Oliver:

What if you only had one day to live? What would you do? Who would you kiss? And how far would you go to save your own life?

Samantha Kingston has it all: the world’s most crush-worthy boyfriend, three amazing best friends, and first pick of everything at Thomas Jefferson High—from the best table in the cafeteria to the choicest parking spot. Friday, February 12, should be just another day in her charmed life.

Instead, it turns out to be her last. Then she gets a second chance. Seven chances, in fact. Reliving her last day during one miraculous week, she will untangle the mystery surrounding her death—and discover the true value of everything she is in danger of losing.


Chasing Brooklyn by Lisa Schroeder:


Restless souls and empty hearts

Brooklyn can't sleep. Her boyfriend, Lucca, died only a year ago, and now her friend Gabe has just died of an overdose. Every time she closes her eyes, Gabe's ghost is there waiting for her. She has no idea what he wants or why it isn't Lucca visiting her dreams.

Nico can't stop. He's always running, trying to escape the pain of losing his brother, Lucca. But when Lucca's ghost begins leaving messages, telling Nico to help Brooklyn, emotions come crashing to the surface.

As the nightmares escalate and the messages become relentless, Nico reaches out to Brooklyn. But neither of them can admit that they're being haunted. Until they learn to let each other in, not one soul will be able to rest.

I'm only going to do those two though I have quite a few I want to put but I'll wait until next week. I've been seeing a few people with Before I Fall in their mailboxes and I absolutely love the cover and the description sounds really good. Plus it seems like sad coming to terms with your death books are usually really good.
I also put Chasing Brooklyn because I want to read some more ghost stories. It seems like all I have been reading of the supernatural genre is with vampires and werewolves. So this will be a nice change.

I'm sorry if you guys haven't seen me around lately. I've been really busy with school and stuff so please don't feel neglected. I wish there was more hours in the day since it seems like I never have enough time to do all things I want and need to do. I love you all and I give hugs and kisses to anyone who leaves a comment.
Talk To Yeah Laterz,
Rachel

Monday, August 24, 2009

In My Mailbox





In My Mailbox is hosted by the Story Siren. I'm a little late doing this because I've been so busy so please forgive me.

The Monstrumoligist by Rick Yancey

These are the secrets I have kept. This is the trust I never betrayed.

But he is dead now and has been for more than forty years, the one who gave me his trust, the one for whom I kept these secrets.

The one who saved me...and the one who cursed me.

So begins the journal of Will Henry, orphaned assistant to Dr. Pellinore War throp, a man with a most unusual specialty: monstrumology, the study of monsters. In his time with the doctor, Will has met many a mysterious late-night visitor, and seen things he never imagined were real. But when a grave robber comes calling in the middle of the night with a grueso me find, he brings with him their most deadly case yet.

Critically acclaimed author Rick Yancey has written a gothic tour de force that explores the darkest heart of man and monster and asks the question: When does a man become the very thing he hunts?

Hollywood Is Like High School With Money by Zoey Dean

Twenty-four-year old Taylor Henning has just landed her dream job as an assistant at a major movie studio. But when her catty coworkers trick her into almost getting fired, she realizes that the old saying "Hollywood is like school with money" just may be true. The thing is, Taylor wasn't exactly a social butterfly in high school-how is she supposed to do any better the second time around?

That's when she meets her boss's popular sixteen-year-old daughter Quinn, and has an epiphany: maybe this teenager can teach her how to use her queen bee tactics to succeed in the Hollywood popularity contest. Quinn comes up with a plan to teach Taylor one lesson a week-everything from "Fake it 'til you make it" to "It's *never* your fault"--and soon Taylor finds herself winning the war against rival assistant Kylie. Until, that is, she's directed to steal Kylie's boyfriend, and something happens that's not in the game plan: Taylor falls for the guy. Now she must do the impossible-- harness her inner mean girl while staying true to herself.

The Anatomy of Wings by Karen Foxlee

Ten-year-old Jennifer Day lives in a small mining town full of secrets. Trying to make sense of the sudden death of her teenage sister, Beth, she looks to the adult world around her for answers.

As she recounts the final months of Beth’s life, Jennifer sifts through the lies and the truth, but what she finds are mysteries, miracles, and more questions. Was Beth’s death an accident? Why couldn’t Jennifer—or anyone else—save her?

Through Jennifer’s eyes, we see one girl’s failure to cross the threshold into adulthood as her family slowly falls apart.

How Shall I Tell The Dog? by Miles Kington which I won from Bites

When some people are told they have only a few months to live, they might travel around the world or write their memoirs or put their affairs in order. When it happened at the age of 66 to Miles Kington-one of England's best-loved humorists-he did what he did best, offering sharp, wry, laugh-out-loud observations and ideas about his situation. Following his diagnosis of pancreatic cancer, Kington proposes crazier and crazier ideas for his next book (what he calls "cashing in on cancer") in a series of letters to his
literary agent, Gill.

And what sort of things capture Kington's attention in his waning months? The sudden grimness of those 1,000 Places to See Before You Die books, for example. (What about 100 Things to Do Before You Die, Without Leaving Home?, he suggests. Instead of bungee jumping and whitewater rafting, learn to whistle with two fingers in your mouth, yodel, or steam open envelopes.) The irony that his dog, Berry, will probably outlive him, or the semi-outrageous idea of creating a funeral video:

The answer is quite simple.

Make a video in advance of my farewell speech, to be shown on a monitor, from the pulpit, or on a screen behind the stage, or wherever the best place would be.

I have already visualised the opening shot.

It is of me, smiling ruefully, and saying to camera: "Hello. I'm sorry I couldn't be here in person with you today."

Mischievous and utterly original, MilesKington's words in the face of death are memorable and surprisingly uplifting.


Dragon House by John Shors

Set in modern-day Vietnam, Dragon House tells the tale of Iris and Noah—two Americans who, as a way of healing their own painful pasts, open a center to house and educate Vietnamese street children.

Iris and Noah find themselves reborn in an exotic land filled with corruption and chaos, sacrifice and beauty. Inspired by the street children she meets, Iris walks in the footsteps of her father, a man whom Vietnam both shattered and saved. Meanwhile, Noah slowly rediscovers himself through the eyes of an unexpected companion.

Resounding with powerful themes of suffering, sacrifice, friendship, and love, Dragon House brings together East and West, war and peace; and celebrates the resilience of the human spirit.

A Circle of Souls by Preetham Grandhi

The sleepy town of Newbury, Connecticut, is shocked when a little girl is found brutally murdered. The town’s top detective, perplexed by a complete lack of leads, calls in FBI agent Leia Bines, an expert in cases involving children.

Meanwhile, Dr. Peter Gram, a psychiatrist at Newbury’s hospital, searches desperately for the cause of seven-year-old Naya Hastings’s devastating nightmares. Afraid that she might hurt herself in the midst of a torturous episode, Naya’s parents have turned to the bright young doctor as their only hope.

The situations confronting Leia and Peter converge when Naya begins drawing chilling images of murder after being bombarded by the disturbing images in her dreams. Amazingly, her sketches are the only clues to the crime that has panicked Newbury residents. Against her better judgment, Leia explores the clues in Naya’s crude drawings, only to set off an alarming chain of events.

In this stunning psychological thriller, innocence gives way to evil, and trust lies forgotten in a web of deceit, fear, and murder.

That's everything I got this week, what about you?

Saturday, August 22, 2009

Jenna Fox, Who is That?


The Adoration of Jenna Fox by Mary E. Pearson
265 pages
Seventeen-year-old Jenna has been told that is her name. She has just awoken from a year-long coma, and she's still recovering from the terrible accident that caused it. Her parents show her home movies of her life, her memories, but she has no recollection. Is she really the same girl she sees on the screen?
Little by little, Jenna begins to remember. Along with the memories come questions-questions no one wants to answer for her. What really happened after the accident?
In this fascinating novel, acclaimed author Mary E. Pearson presents an unforgettable look at one human life and a glimpse into a possible future that may be closer than we think.
This book started out slow. If I didn't force myself to read through the first couple of chapters I probably would have put it down to never pick it back up again. Once it starts getting good you can't put the book down. Wanting to read the next page and then the next. Her name is Jenna; she has been in a coma for a year and a half; at least that's what her parents tell her. Jenna can't remember anything. Sitting in here room watching movies of supposedly herself; she starts to remember. But, she can't remember the important things. Like if she has friends? What happened that she was in a coma? And, is it that it seems they are in hiding?
What was really the turning point with the book was when she starts going to this charter school that isn't far from where they live. There she meets Dane, Allys, Gabriel, and Ethan. Dane is gorgeous with wavy surfer hair and the jackass personality to go with but watching him Jenna can only describe him with one word, empty. Allys is opinionated with her illegal under 49% biodigital enhancement opinions and her fake prosthetic limbs. Quite Ethan who lives in the church and must have something wrong with him since he's with the rest of the freaks. Gabriel isn't even mentioned accept for maybe three sentences out of the entire book. One boy make her feel like she never thought she could and another will show her believe she could be the empty thing that the laws are trying to not happen.
This is a book about the big questions: How much can you be prosthetic till you aren't human? If your 90% bio-gel do you still have a soul? Are you the same girl before the accident or one entirely different?
This was a good book though a little slow at the beginning. The ending was a little abrupt. She could have done another book if she wanted. I give this book a 7 out of 10.

Thursday, August 20, 2009

Come One, Come All! Awards 4 All!!!


I am horrible at giving out awards. So sorry I'm so late about doing this. The Book Blab and My Life is an Effing Fairy Tale nominated me for this. Thanks so much you guys. Your the sweetest!
The blogger who receives this award believes in the Tao of the zombie chicken - excellence, grace and persistence in all situations, even in the midst of a zombie apocalypse. These amazing bloggers regularly produce content so remarkable that their readers would brave a raving pack of zombie chickens just to be able to read their inspiring words. As a recipient of this world-renowned award, you now have the task of passing it on to at least 5 other worthy bloggers. Do not risk the wrath of the zombie chickens by choosing unwisely or not choosing at all.
Here are my ten nominees:
A Book A Day
A Flight of Minds
A Passion for Books
Angieville
B.A.M. Book Reviews
Bibliophile By the Sea
Books Obsession
Debbie's World of Books
Feed Your Imagination
Frenetic Reader

Thanks again you guys for nominating me. I love you all. So please don't hate me if you aren't above.

I haven't done a book review in a couple days because I've been rereading all the Sookie Stackhouse books. All nine books but I wouldn't say read them more like read through them. Like I only read the good parts and then flip through the lulls. That pretty much means reading everything where Eric or Bill was mentioned. And, I have to say I am forever more


Team Eric!

Tuesday, August 18, 2009

WoW: To Be Mona



Waiting on Wednesday is hosted by Jill over at Breaking the Spine. For my WoW this week I chose To Be Mona by Kelley Easton. I first saw this was coming out in I think October of 2010 but it was actually a reprint. I like the cover a lot better than the first one.


Sage Priestly is seventeen, and she longs to reinvent herself -- to strip away the fat, the past, the crazy mom, the unpaid bills. She longs to be her own version of the gorgeous and popular Mona Simms.

Sage starts dieting and exercising. She gets blond highlights and throws away all of her black clothes. Bit by bit she transforms herself. This is deeply troubling to her best friend, Vern, who is secretly in love with Sage just the way she is. But the boyfriend Sage wants -- the popular jock Roger -- suddenly notices her. And when they start dating, Sage thinks her life is turning around.

So why isn't Sage happier? Yes, Roger is a little too controlling and pushy, but isn't that what boys are like when you date them? What is it about the image Sage has created that just doesn't fit?

Smart, honest, and tough, Sage is a teen with more going for her than she thinks, but she still has a lot to learn.

What is your WoW for this week?

Jennifer Sturman Q&A



Jennifer Sturman author of And Then Everything Unraveled took the time out of her day to answer some questions. Here they are:

T.K., Delia's mother is a cause activist. Does that reflect you at all?
Mostly it reflects the sort of person T.K. is – she’s all about identifying a problem and solving it, in a very committed, won’t-take-no-for-an-answer way. I could learn a lot from her – I care about a number of issues, but I tend to take less of a hands-on approach, instead donating to related organizations or volunteering when I can.

What is something that you like to read in a book review other than your book being great that is?
I try to avoid reading reviews altogether. Even if it’s 99% positive, I focus on the 1% negative and obsess!

Delia's first kiss is mentioned in the book. Do you remember your first kiss?
Answering this question online might come back to haunt me, so I’m going to plead the fifth…

What is a book that you are looking forward to reading right now?
This is going to sound crazy, but I’ve been saving the last Harry Potter for two years! Part of me just didn’t want the series to end, and part of me wanted to wait until I was in the right frame of mind. But I’m taking a long trip in September, and I think the time has finally arrived.

I very much love to hear author's play lists for their books. Was their anything that you listened to while you wrote?
Delia’s aunt Charley is a huge fan of teen movies from the 80s, and I found myself listening to a lot of 80s music while I wrote. I even created a radio station on Pandora with artists like Flock of Seagulls, Modern English, New Order, OMD, the Plimsouls, Psychedelic Furs, Simple Minds, the Smiths, and a bunch of other bands. Some of my friends would mock me if they knew, but I see no reason to tell them.

There were a few things in the book that involved the economy, oil, and gas prices. Did you have to conduct any research during the writing of your book?
I probably should have dedicated this book to Wikipedia! I have a business background, and I’m a bit of a news junkie, so I could draw somewhat on my knowledge of current events, but I did a lot of research online to fill in the holes.

I hope I don't sound like a broken record and I'm sure many people have asked you this dreaded question that seems to always be asked. Is there any advice you would give your teenage self that you know now?
This is a tough one, because though it sounds soppy, there’s something to how all of your experiences, both the good and the bad, make you what you eventually become, and if you go back and change something who knows how things might have turned out instead? I will say this, however: I sort of regret getting my ears pierced.

What was your favorite quote out of the book?
I’ve been taught to get rid of my favorite parts, as they tend to be the ones that are forced or overwritten. That said, I do think Charley gets a lot of the best lines, like in Chapter 4 when she’s talking about studying zoology and says: “Giraffes and elephants are one thing, but who can get excited about mollusks, except maybe the French. And they’ll eat anything.”

Is there anything else you would like to say to your readers?
Apparently there’s been some confusion about whether UNRAVELED has a sequel, but it does! AND THEN I FOUND OUT THE TRUTH will be published in 2010 – I hope you and your readers will check it out!

Thanks so much Jennifer for taking the time to do this and I can't wait till And Then I Found Out The Truth comes out next year.

Monday, August 17, 2009

Rowling vs Meyer

Oh my goodness I watched this and I just had to post it. Hope you guys like it.



I'm made of money *fart* see I just farted money. Hahaha! Oh my goodness I'm still laughing just ignore me.

Talk To Me Trees!




Description:
Rin is sure that something is wrong with her…something really bad. Something that is keeping her from feeling at home in the Forest homestead where she’s lived all her life. Something that is keeping her from trusting herself with anyone at all. When her brother Razo returns from the city for a visit, she accompanies him to the palace, hoping that she can find peace away from home. But war has come to Bayern again, and Rin is compelled to join the queen and her closest allies—magical girls Rin thinks of as the Fire Sisters—as they venture into the Forest toward Kel, the land where someone seems to want them all dead. Many beloved Bayern characters reappear in this story, but it is Rin’s own journey of discovering how to balance the good and the bad in herself that drives this compelling adventure.

My thoughts: Sorry if its a little jumbled but their is just so many things going on in this book. I couldn't put this down while I was reading it. Ever since Rin was little she has had a connection with the forest but after an incident with a neighborhood boy they have drawn away from her. Now when she touches them she can fill this worm of evil inside of her. Razo, her brother comes to visit and he suggests she come to the city with him. At the city she becomes a lady in waiting for the Queen of Bayern. Listening to the other ladies babble and watching over Tusken, the little prince. Cecile another lady in waiting comes back and Rin can tell she means Tusken harm. An attack is made on a village so the king and his guards including Razo go out to help. Once there they are attacked by Fire-speakers. Rin listens while the Queen talks with her friends but something is strange in the way they are talking. Saying that her, Enna, and Dasha are riding out alone. What is so strange about these girls and why does Rin feel so compelled to be with them.

I haven't read any of the other Books of Bayern and this is the fourth one but I still loved it. The only time it was confusing is that all the characters from the other books are in it and it would have made the book even better if I had read their stories also. Forest Born is more on the adventurous-finding-yourself theme while I can tell that romance played a major part in the other books. Rin is so self conscious of herself. Always wanting to be a good person that it makes you really admire and relate to her. The book is very descriptive and I felt like I was standing right beside the characters the whole time. If you like books like Graceling then you'll love this series.

The only complaint I have is at times days would pass in a sentence and I wish at those times that she would have kept the story going. I probably wouldn't have picked this book up on my own because I don't like the cover very much. Other than that this book is a must read and I'm going to read the rest of Shannon Hale's books as soon as I can. I can just image Enna's tale is going to be great because she is such a descriptive character. You can visit Shannon Hale's site here. I give this book an 8 out of 10.

Saturday, August 15, 2009

Lost Mothers, Stowaway Boys, and Proper English Girls

I decided to make better review titles from now on instead of just putting the book titles.


Title: Unclaimed Heart
Author: Kim Wilkins
Pages: 305
I absolutely loved this book and devoured it in one sitting. Constance Blackchurch has lived with her Aunt Violet her whole life. Growing up without a mother and a barely there merchant father. On one of her Father's visits she ease drops on a conversation and learns there's been news of her mother. The mother she hasn't seen since she was a baby. The mother she doesn't have any memory of. Her father sails immediately. Unknowing that Constance has stowed away on the ship. Somewhere along the way they pick up Alexandre, a boy with the dark eyes and the French accent. You don't need me tell you were that goes.

Were to start with this book? I loved it. At first I couldn't get into it at the beginning but as I read I grew to love everything about the story. A girl trying to find her mother. Whether she'll learn that her mother has been held captive all these years or the unthinkable that she left of her own free will she just can't keep live with the unknown. They end up picking up Alexandre along the way who helps Constance with her search for her mother and along the way they both grow to have hidden feelings for each other. Constance is all the while trying to be the best person she can and that means doing things proper girls aren't suppose to which disappoints the father she's always trying to please. And, all the while they're on ships or exotic islands. Their is something in it for everyone; romance, adventure, sadness.

There was quite a few times that I wanted to jump in the book and shout at people. Like Constance's father who is always thinking shes a silly girl or English people treating others badly because of their social standing. I just felt like there could be a second book continuing the story. It felt like it ended a little abruptly. Giving you a line that could go either way if the story continued. The book was originally published in Australia it looks like. So details are some what hard to understand. You can visit Kim Wilkins site here. I would recommend this book to anyone who likes adventure, romance, or just a sad story. I give this book a 9 out of 10 rating.