Squiggles Reviews

The Pledge by Kimberly Derting Review

2012-02-24T09:06:00.001-08:00

TITLE: The Pledge

AUTHOR: Kimberly Derting

PUBLISHER: Margaret K. McElderry (Simon & Schuster)

PUBLICATION DATE: 11/15/2011

PAGES: 323

MY RATING:

INSIDE COVER SUMMARY: In the violent country of Ludania, the classes are strictly divided by the language they speak. The smallest transgression, like looking a member of a in the class in the eye while they are speaking in their native tongue, results in immediate execution. Seventeen-year-old Charlaina has always been able to understand the languages of all classes, and she's spent her life trying to hide her secret. The only place she can really be free is the drug-fueled underground clubs, where people go to shake off the oppressive rules of the world they live in. It's there that she meets a beautiful and mysterious boy named Max, who speaks a language she's never heard before...and her secret is almost exposed.

Charlie is intensely attracted to Max, even though she can't be sure where his real loyalties lie. As the emergency drills become real emergencies and the violence escalates, it becomes clear that Charlie is the key to something much bigger: her country's only chance for freedom from the terrible power of a deadly regime.

OVERALL IMPRESSION: This was a pretty good book. It does not make my top list of favorites, but I did enjoy reading it. The twist in the middle of the story was pretty predictable, but I still enjoyed reading everything as the details were revealed. I have a slight problem with the love story in this book. I don't know if everything happened too quickly or what, but I just feel like the love between Max and Charlie is too forced. It doesn't feel natural.

CHARACTERS: I am so jealous of Charlie's ability. I think it would be amazing to automatically understand any language. It would be so helpful in communicating with people, and I just think it would be fun. My favorite character in this book was Angelina. She was so cute and sweet and I just wanted to pick her up and protect her from everything.

COVER: I like the cover a lot. I love the faded word 'PLEDGE' with the design. and I like the dark and mysterious vibe it gives off.

*I received this from Amazon Vine for Review

In My Mailbox #9

2012-02-19T05:13:00.000-08:00

My Mailbox is hosted by Kristi at The Story Siren.

Won from Kristin @ Better Read Than Dead:

The Alchemy of Forever Review (ARC)

2012-02-16T16:38:00.000-08:00

TITLE: The Alchemy of Forever

AUTHOR: Avery Williams

PUBLISHER: Simon and Schuster Books for Young Readers

PUBLICATION DATE: 1/3/2012

PAGES: 256

MY RATING:

BACK COVER SUMMARY: After spending six hundred years on earth, Seraphina Ames has seen it all. Eternal life provides her with the world's riches, but at a very high price: innocent lives. Centuries ago her boyfriend, Cyrus, discovered a method of alchemy that allows them to swap bodies with other humans by jumping from one vessel to the next, taking the human's life in the process. No longer able to bear the guilt of what she's done, Sera escapes from Cyrus and vows to never kill again.

When sixteen-year-old Kailey Morgan gets into a horrific car accident right in front of her, Sera accidentally takes over her body. For the first time, Sera finds herself enjoying the life of the person she's inhabiting--and falling for the human boy who lives next door. She knows Cyrus will stop at nothing to find her...and by staying she's putting herself and the people she's grown to care for in great danger. But can Sera give up the one thing that's eluded her for centuries: true love?

OVERALL IMPRESSION: I really wanted to like this book, but I just couldn't get into it. The summary on the back cover is pretty indepth, and I'm actually glad that I didn't spend a whole lot of time reading it, I just skimmed over it, because in my opinion, it tells you way too much about the story line. I feel like there's not much else in the story itself that isn't on the back cover.

I loved the concept of the book and what the book could have been, but for me the story just didn't do it for me. I felt like I needed more to be happening. I wanted Sera to go out and do something about what was happening.

The ending got to me though. It was really the only point of the story that made me go "WOAH" and because of it, I feel the need to read the next book in the series.

CHARACTERS: The main character, Seraphina, was a character that I enjoyed. She carried guilt and other emotions that were very relate able. Noah, who was the love interest, was very sweet and genuine.

And then there's Cyrus, the antagonist. I want to know more about what makes him tick and just how far he is willing to go and what he will do.

COVER: It's okay. Not my favorite cover, but I do like the purples and blues.

*I received a copy of this book from Amazon Vine for review.

In My Mailbox #8

2012-02-12T11:05:00.000-08:00

My Mailbox is hosted by Kristi at The Story Siren.

Books Won:

From Mary @ Book Hounds

From Kimberly @ The Windy Page

Card Share #4 (Challenge)

2012-02-11T15:45:00.000-08:00

Supplies Used:

Ribbon - Offray
Letter Stickers - Making Memories; "Tiny alpha black on white"
Buttons - Michaels
Flowers - Recollections
Sparkly Brad - Recollections

Challenge - Just Us Girls - Images with Buttons

Card Share #3 (Challenge)

2012-02-11T15:00:00.000-08:00

Supplies Used:

Paper - Authentique "Blissful" Collection
Ribbon - ebay
Flower - Recollections
Chick Sticker - Recollection
Happy Easter Stamp - Inkadinkado; "Happy Everything"

Challenge - Craft Your Days Away - "Get Stitchy With It"
Crafty Purple Frog Challenge - Flower Power

Card Share #2 (Challenge)

2012-02-11T14:18:00.000-08:00

Supplies used:

ribbon - Michaels
Buttons - Michaels
Flowers - Recollections
Butterfly - Recollections
Paper - Recollections: Animal Kingdom Paper Pad
I <3 U - Colorbok

Challenge - Simon Says - Love is in the Air
                    Mark's Finest Papers - Shaped Cards
My Sheri Crafts - At Least 2 Hearts
One Stop Craft Challenge - Hearts and Flowers with Ribbon
Squiggles and Giggles - All Loved Up
2 Sisters Challenge Blog - I heart You
   Card Crafter's Circle - Valentines Loves Hearts
   Card Makin Mamas - Valentine
   Crafty Ann's Challenge Blog - Love is in the Air

Digital Layout Share #4 + Freebie

2012-02-04T08:58:00.000-08:00

I created this simple layout using the My Memories Digital Scrapbooking software. All of the elements I used for this layout came from a kit from My Memories. Below is a link to the kit for you to download and use yourself -- Free!

Click the picture to be taken to the download page!

And don't worry if you don't have the My Memories software. These files are all JPEG and PNG files so they can be used with any software you have!

**Leave me a link to a layout you created with this kit and I will send you a link to 2 more super cute freebies!**

If anyone is interested in the My Memories software check my sidebar for a code to save you $10 off the purchase price.

Dead to You by Lisa McMAnn (ARC)

2012-02-02T12:21:00.000-08:00

TITLE: Dead to You

AUTHOR: Lisa McMann

PUBLISHER: Simon Pulse (Simon & Schuster)

PUBLICATION DATE: 2/7/2012

PAGES: 256

MY RATING:

BACK COVER SUMMARY: Ethan was abducted from his front yard when he was just seven years old. Now, at sixteen, he has returned to his family.

It's a miracle...at first.

Then the tensions start to build, and his family starts falling apart all over again. If only Ethan could remember something, anything, about his life before, he'd be able to put the pieces back together.

But there's something that's keeping his memory blocked.

Something unspeakable...

OVERALL IMPRESSION: I just finished reading this book and I had to hurry and write a review for it. I want to scream after reading this book. It got my heart rate up and I flew through the last few chapters. The book is a really quick read, and the story line is pretty slow moving, but it is really interesting. While I was reading it, I wanted to know more about how Ethan was feeling and what he was going through. The ending made me so mad. I feel like I need closure that I didn't get, but at the same time I still feel it was really good.

CHARACTERS: I didn't really feel particularly tied to any of the characters. None of them had anything quirky about them, they just all seemed like normal everyday people. I did really enjoy the character of Gracie though. She is Ethan's younger sister who was born after he was abducted and whom, the beginning, Ethan refers to as "the replacement child." She was just really cute and made me laugh.

COVER: The cover of this one is very creepy.

*I received a copy of this book from Amazon Vine for review.

Project Tell Taylor Swift

2012-02-01T00:30:00.000-08:00

Michelle wants to know, what inspires me?

I'm going to take this question and relate it back to my scrapbook and cardmaking, since I post about these on my blog. I am inspired by colors and scenery and other people's creations. I love things that are bight and cheery, things with lots of color.

Here are just a few things that have inspired me:

TAKEN FROM MICHELLE MADOW'S BLOG POST:

WHAT IS "PROJECT TELL TAYLOR?"

As a lot of you know by now, my debut novel Remembrance was inspired by Taylor Swift's "Love Story" music video. I talked all about it in a blog entry a few months ago, discussing how Remembrance was inspired by Taylor Swift's "Love Story" music video. I even wrote a letter to Taylor Swift and sent it to her, along with a signed book!

It's been a few months now, and I have yet to hear back from Taylor that she received the letter and book. I don't even know if she ever saw it (I kind of doubt she did).

I really want to tell Taylor about how inspiring she and her music have been to me, but since Taylor Swift is an international superstar, she’s a little hard to reach. This is where YOUR help comes into play! I am giving away the biggest prize pack I've offered yet, and the ways to enter to win are by telling Taylor Swift about Remembrance.

The Goal: Get Taylor Swift to Tweet about Remembrance!

A LITTLE BIT ABOUT THE BOOK:

Summary From Goodreads:

Lizzie Davenport has been reincarnated from Regency Era, England ... but she doesn't know it yet.

Then Drew Carmichael transfers into Lizzie's high school at the beginning of the year, and she feels a connection to him, almost like she knows him. She can't stop thinking about him, but whenever she tries talking with him about the mysteries behind her feelings, he makes it clear that he wants nothing to do with her. Reaching him is even more difficult because she has a boyfriend, Jeremy, who has started to become full of himself after being elected co-captain of the varsity soccer team, and her flirtatious best friend Chelsea starts dating Drew soon after his arrival. So why can't she get him out of her mind?

Even though Lizzie knows she should let go of her fascination with Drew, fighting fate isn't going to be easy.

READ BELOW TO WIN AN AWESOME PRIZE PACK:

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Partials by Dan Wells (ARC)

2012-01-31T11:24:00.000-08:00

TITLE: Partials

AUTHOR: Dan Wells

PUBLISHER: Balzer + Bray (Harper Collins)

PUBLICATION DATE: 2/28/2012

PAGES: 480

MY RATING:

SUMMARY (from Goodreads): The human race is all but extinct after a war with Partials—engineered organic beings identical to humans—has decimated the population. Reduced to tens of thousands by RM, a weaponized virus to which only a fraction of humanity is immune, the survivors in North America have huddled together on Long Island while the Partials have mysteriously retreated. The threat of the Partials is still imminent, but worse, no baby has been born immune to RM in more than a decade. Our time is running out.

Kira, a sixteen-year-old medic in training, is on the front lines of this battle, seeing RM ravage the community while mandatory pregnancy laws threaten to launch what’s left of humanity into civil war, and she’s not content to stand by and watch. But as she makes a desperate decision to save the last of her race, she will discover that the survival of humans and Partials alike rests in her attempts to uncover the connections between them—connections that humanity has forgotten, or perhaps never even knew were there.

Dan Wells, acclaimed author of I Am Not a Serial Killer, takes readers on a pulse-pounding journey into a world where the very concept of what it means to be human is in question—one where our humanity is both our greatest liability and our only hope for survival.

OVERALL IMPRESSION: This book wasn't great for me, but it did have it's moments. The story line was very slow moving in the beginning. I feel like there is a lot of sitting around and wanting to do things, but not a lot of actually doing things. The last third of the book is where we finally get a lot of pieces of the puzzle. A plan is finally formed, we get a lot more action and the story line starts to move. I feel like this book would make a great movie. If it were adapted as a movie, they could cut out a lot of the slower moving parts and the action scenes would be very exciting to watch unfold.

CHARACTERS: I feel like I wasn't really able to connect with any of the characters. There are so many different characters in the book and it is hard to keep track of who everyone is and how they are related to everyone else, especially because even some people who are related aren't technically 'blood' related.

COVER: Love it. I love how the girl is looking towards the city and how the wind is blowing her hair. I also love the tagline: 'The only hope for humanity isn't human.'

*I received a copy of this book from Amazon Vine for review.

In My Mailbox #7

2012-01-29T10:50:00.000-08:00

My Mailbox is hosted by Kristi at The Story Siren.

From Amazon Vine:

Layout Share #1

2012-01-28T08:21:00.000-08:00

The background paper is called 'Summer Kraft Tree' and is from Scenic Route (designed by Sarah Milne).

The arrows are chipboard stickers from Recollections Kids.

The giraffe, monkey, and vine were created from the Create a Critter Cricut cartridge.

Card Share #1

2012-01-12T07:05:00.000-08:00

I created this card for a challenge at Sketches4All.

Cheryl's Challenge Group - Challenge #5

In My Mailbox #6

2012-01-08T00:30:00.000-08:00

In My Mailbox is hosted by Kristi at The Story Siren.

Lots of goodies for this edition of IMM as it is a few weeks worth of books.

From Beverly @ The Wormhole I won:

1. Eon by Alison Goodman

From Tell Harlequin:

1. A Cold Creek Secret by RaeAnne Thayne

From Amazon Vine:

1. The Pledge by Kimberly Derting
2. Partials by Dan Wells (arc)

For Review:

1. Rae of Hop by W.J. May (ebook)

Bought from my library book sale:

1. Cryer's Cross by Lisa McMann

2. Imaginary Girls by Nova Ren Suma

3. Evermore by Alyson Noel

4. The Ivy by Lauren Kunze and Rina Onur

5. Captivate by Carrie Jones

6. Evernight by Claudia Gray

7. Bright Young Things by Anna Badbersen

Rae of Hope by W.J. May + GIVEAWAY

2012-01-07T17:16:00.000-08:00

TITLE: Rae of Hope

AUTHOR: W.J. May

PUBLISHER: Mitchell-Morris Publishing

PUBLICATION DATE: 9/5/2011

PAGES: 240

MY RATING:

SUMMARY (Goodreads.com): How hard do you have to shake a family tree to find out the truth of the past?
Fifteen-year-old Rae Kerrigan has never questioned her family’s history. That is until she accepted a scholarship to pGuilder Boarding School in England. Guilder is a very unique, gifted school. Rae has no idea what she is getting herself into or that her family’s past is going to come back and taunt her. She learns she is part of an unparalleled group of individuals who become marked with a unique tattoo (tatù) on their sixteenth birthday. The tatù enables them to have supernatural powers particular to the shape of their marking. Both her parents were marked though Rae never knew, as they passed away when she was young and never told her. Learning about her family’s past, her evil father and sacrificial mother, Rae needs to decide if there is a ray of hope for her own life

OVERALL IMPRESSION: I am in love with this book. From the very beginning I was sucked in and wanted to keep reading more. I was in a bit of a reading funk and this book pulled me back out of it. The story is exciting and interesting, and made me insistent on reading whenever I had the time so I could find out what was coming next in the story. I really enjoyed the twist in the story towards the back half of the book and the ending was just perfect. I can't wait for the next book.

I did find quite a few typos throughout the book, but nothing major and nothing that affected the story.

I also wish that this was an illustrated book so I could see all of the tatus. I think that would make a great addition to the series.

CHARACTERS: There are so many likeable characters in this book. Rae (the main character) is very relatable. She is a strong female, but she has insecurities about fitting in. Rae's crush (Devon) is also a great character. He sounds dreamy, for lack of a better word. My favorite character in the book has to be Molly. Molly is Rae's roomate. She has such a strong personality; she's a bubbly, fun person. I want to know more about the character of Argyle (Rae's uncle), and I am hoping that we will learn a little bit more about him in the next book.

COVER: I like it. I like the glimpse we get of the school; it helps to make a picture in my mind of the setting. You can also tell by the look on the girl's face that she means business and she is going to get to the bottom of what is going on.

*I was provided a copy of this book by the author for review.

Here's your chance to win an e-book copy of this book for yourself. There's no mandatory entries, pick the ones you want to do.

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Digital Layout Share #3 + Freebie

2012-01-05T11:20:00.000-08:00

Pin It

Click the picture to be taken to the download page!

And don't worry if you don't have the My Memories software. These files are all JPEG and PNG files so they can be used with any software you have!

**Leave me a link to a layout you created with this kit and I will send you a link to 2 more super cute freebies!**

If anyone is interested in the My Memories software check my sidebar for a code to save you $10 off the purchase price.

Every Other Day by Jennifer Lynn Barnes (ARC)

2012-01-02T06:50:00.000-08:00

TITLE: Every Other Day

AUTHOR: Jennifer Lynn Barnes

PUBLISHER: Egmont

PUBLICATION DATE: 12/27/2011

PAGES: 336

MY RATING:

BACK COVER SUMMARY: Every second day, Kali D'Angelo is a normal sixteen-year-old girl. She goes to high school. She attends pep rallies (reluctantly). She's human.

And every other day...she's not.

Though she's not quite sure what she is on those days, Kali knows what she does--she hunts, traps, and kills demons, hellhounds, and other supernatural creatures that threaten her world. On those days, she is practically indestructible.

But when Kali notices a mark on a popular girl at school, she knows instantly that the girl is marked for death by one of these unworldly beings. And she knows she has only twenty-four hours to save her.

There's only one problem--it's the wrong twenty-four hours.

OVERALL IMPRESSION: At the beginning of the book I felt like this was a book that I was not going to enjoy. I knew what had happened to Bethany and Kali, but I didn't know why--but I guess if I knew why, there'd be no story line. I was also bothered by the fact that Kali didn't seem to have a plan about the situation. I just felt like I didn't know where the story was trying to go.

Everything changed for me at chapter 24. We find out some important information that sucked me back into the book. Especially towards the end, it got a lot more action packed and I felt like there was more of a story for me to follow.

CHARACTERS: At the beginning of the book, I didn't really care about any of the characters. I felt like I couldn't relate to them because I didn't know anything about them, their values, beliefs, likes/dislikes, interests. As the story progressed though, I started to get more attached to the characters. My two favorite characters were Skylar and Zev. Skylar proclaims herself as being "a little bit psyic" and it was fun to watch that unfold and try to figure out if it is true or not. I wanted to know more about Zev. We aren't told a lot about him and I am really interested to know more about his life and why he is the way he is.

COVER: Love it. I love the dark background with the pop of red and I love the flowered vine in the back.

*I received a copy of this book from Amazon Vine for review.

Digital Layout Share #2

2011-12-26T17:53:00.000-08:00

Pin It

I felt in the Christmas mood still today and decided to create a digital layout of Christmas yesterday. I included the best present I got on the layout -- my new purple laptop!

Also, if anyone is interested there is a code on my sidebar to get $10 off the purchase of the My Memories Suite software.

The Digital Mom Handbook Review (ARC)

2011-12-18T09:44:00.000-08:00

TITLE: The Digital Mom Handbook

AUTHOR: Audrey McClelland and Colleen Padilla

PUBLISHER: Harper Business

PAGES: 232

MY RATING:

BACK COVER BLURB: To work or not to work? That seems to be the bottom-line question for most mothers today. But Audrey McClelland and Colleen Padilla are proving that the equation is changing. Both of them left the corporate ladder behind to stay home with their children, but instead of permanently keeping these women out of the workplace, this choice was the catalyst to their reinvention. Audrey and Colleen literally blogged, tweeted, Skyped, vlogged, and Facebooked their ways to the top. In The Digital Mom Handbook they show other moms how to find middle ground -- via the frontier of the Internet and these seven basic steps:

1. Find your passion
2. Hang a digital "shingle" and start typing
3. Find your tribe
4. Make opportunity knock and learn how to answer that door
5. Manage the Benjamins
6. Don't forget the children
7. Live happily ever after

OVERALL IMPRESSION: This is a good starter book for anyone who is thinking about creating a blog. I myself do not have children, but I still found this book helpful. The first point that I really enjoyed that this book made is "writing about your passion is not work" (page 26). I agree with this 100%. If you center your blog around what you love to do, you will not feel like you are working, and you will enjoy your time more.

A great feature of this book is that there are real stories from people interspersed throughout the book. It just shows you that this is a possibility and people have done it before. It's great to read about other people's experiences to learn from them.

I love all of the lists in this book. It makes it so easy to read through them and check off in your mind if you have done the things they are talking about or if you need to spend some more time on them.

The appendices in this book are so valuable, especially Appendix A. Appendix A has a section for each social media platform and explains how it works, the terminology and other tips.

A few things I learned from the book that I found helpful:

"When possible, title blog posts as if they're news headlines" (page 51). This is such great advice. You want your blog titles to pull people in and cause them to read what you spent so much time and effort on writing.
You don't have to say yes to ever offer given to you by companies. Pick and choose the ones that are relevant to your blog.

COVER: Cute cover. I like all of the pink accents.

I received an advanced reader's copy of this book for review from Amazon Vine.

Digital Layout Share #1

2011-12-17T03:49:00.000-08:00

Pin It

I was bored the other day and decided to play around with my digital scrapbook software (My Memories Suite) and I created a layout. I just thought I'd share it with you.

This is a layout of my dad taking a nap in the backyard the Summer of 2006. He's very fond of naps :)

Also, if anyone is interested there is a code on my sidebar to get $10 off the purchase of the My Memories Suite software.

In My Mailbox #5

2011-12-11T00:01:00.000-08:00

In My Mailbox is hosted by Kristi at The Story Siren.

From Tammy @ Blue Roses Heart I won:

1. The Lion, The Witch and the Wardrobe by C.S. Lewis

2. Keeping The Moon by Sarah Dessen

From Lori @ www.clarklori.com I won:

1. Blood Red Road (ARC) by Moira Young

I am SUPER excited about this last one. I bought this during Cyber Monday and got a pretty good deal on it. It is such an awesome book and I love it!

1. Harry Potter From Page To Screen: The Complete Filmmaking Journey by Bob McCabe

What did you get in your mailbox this week? Leave me a link to your post.

Prefense Hand Sanitizer Review and Giveaway

2011-12-07T10:28:00.000-08:00

I was given the opportunity to try out Prefense Hand Sanitizer and I am glad that I was chosen for this opportunity.

I want to start off with the one bad thing that I have experience with this product is the way it was shipped to me. The bottle of hand sanitizer was shipped to me in a bubble wrap envelope. After going though everything packages deal with during shipping, my bottle of hand sanitizer got squished and leaked in the package. Probably about 1/4th of the product leaked out of the bottle. I wish that it had been sent to me in some sort of small box instead of the envelope, but that was the only problem I had with the product.

Now, with all that being said, I love the product itself. One squeeze of the pump produces enough hand sanitizer to completely cover my hands without being too much.

My favorite feature about the Prefense Hand Sanitizer is that it does not have the harsh scent that other hand sanitizers have because it does not contain alcohol. I also like the size of the bottle as it fits easily in my purse. This is extremely convenient because I can just pull it out of my purse and quickly sanitize my hands when I need to, especially before eating out.

Here are a few facts about Prefense hand sanitizer:

Prefense is only made up of all-natural ingredients and does not contain alcohol
You are protected for 24 hours or up to 10 hand washings after using Prefense
Prefense is safe for kids as it is non-toxic
It will not dry out your hands, and will actually smooth and soften them
It protects against germs such as staph, strep, E.Coli and more

You can purchase Prefense hand sanitizer on their website or enter my giveaway for a chance to win one 8oz. bottle of Pre-Fense Foaming Hand Sanitizer.

I received one or more of the products mentioned above for free using Tomoson.com. Regardless, I only recommend products or services I use personally and believe will be good for my readers.Sponsored by Tomoson.com

Diamond Candles Company Review/Giveaway Opportunity

2011-12-05T13:35:00.000-08:00

There is a post up on Celebrate Woman Today's blog about reviewing and hosting a giveaway for soy candles from the Diamond Candles Company.

The idea behind their candles is such a great one. I think it is so clever and I would love the opportunity to review a candle as well as host a giveaway for you guys so you can also enjoy a candle.

Basically, every candle contains a mystery ring with a monetary value of anywhere between $10 and $5000. I think it would be so fun to take a product that I use all the time (candles) and when the candle has burned down, get a nice surprise of a beautiful piece of jewelry.

If any other bloggers are interested in trying to participate in this opportunity as well, click HERE to be taken to the post to sign up.

In My Mailbox #4

2011-12-04T00:01:00.000-08:00

In My Mailbox is hosted by Kristi at The Story Siren.

I was super excited to get a R.A.K. from two people this month. These are my first R.A.K.s. Thanks you two!

From Briana @ The Book Pixie:

1. Better Latte Than Never by Catherine Clark

From Ann @ Annabell's Book Nook:

1. Extraordinary by Nancy Werlin
2. The Dead-Tossed Waves by Carrie Ryan
3. Sarah's Key by Tatiana DeRosnay

And I also got a book a few weeks ago that I forgot to post. From Denise Jaden (Author of Losing Faith) @ www.DeniseJaden.com:

1. I Am Number Four by Pittacus Lore

What did you guys get this week? Leave me your links and I'll stop by!

In My Mailbox #3

2011-11-27T00:01:00.000-08:00

In My Mailbox is hosted by Kristi at The Story Siren.

I won at contest from Tiffany at For Those About To Read :

1. Manifest by Artist Arthur

From Amazon Vine:

1. Every Other Day by Jennifer Lynn Barnes

Chronicle Books Happy Haul-idays Giveaway

2011-11-18T14:48:00.000-08:00

Hi Everyone! I am participating in the Happy Haul-idays contest by Chronicle Books. Up for grabs: $500 worth of books!

How to participate:
Bloggers: Write a blog post with a list of books from Chronicle valued at up to $500. Also, choose a charity that you would like to receive $500 worth of books from Chronicle.

Readers: If I win, I get to choose one lucky reader who comments on this post to win all of the books on my list! So leave me your comments for your chance to win!

Here is my list of books:

1. Cake Pops by Bakerella

$19.95

2. Cake Pops Kit by Bakerella

$19.95

3. Perfect Pops by Charity Ferreira

$16.95

4. Quick and Easy Mexican Cooking by Cecilia Hae-Jin Lee

$22.95

5. Boo by J.H. Lee

$12.95

6. Best Friends Forever by Rachael Hale McKenna

$14.95

7. Creature by Andrew Zuckerman

$60.00

8. The Space Between Trees

$17.99

9. Keys Journal by enormouschampion

$9.95

10. Bike Journal

$9.95

11. Evolve Eco-Journal by Nikki McClure

$10.95

12. Stuff on My Cat Journal by Mario Garza

$10.95

13. Fat Journal by Oh Boy

$12.95

14. Curious Cats by Mitsuaki Iwago

$16.95

15. The Kittens of Boxville by Ryosuke Handa, Yoneo Morita, and Tracy Sunrize Johnson

$14.95

16. Kittenwar Card Game by Fraser Lewry and Tom Ryan

$10.95

17. Kittenwar by Fraser Lewry and Tom Ryan

$9.95

18. Funny Bunnies Notecards by Laurie Frankel

$13.95

19. ASPCA Complete Guide to Cats by James R. Richards

$24.95

20. ASPCA Complete Guide to Dogs by Sheldon Gerstenfeld

$24.95

21. The Art and Making of Stars Wars: The Old Republic by Frank Parisi and Daniel Erickson

$40.00

22. The Art of Toy Story

$18.95

23. Paul Frank: Rock Out with Julius! Journal

$12.95

24. The World Almanac for Kids Puzzler Deck: Dinosaur Science by Christine Economos

$9.99

25. Vunce Upon a Time by J.otto Seibold and Siobhan Vivian

$16.99

26. Cath Kidston Masking Tape: Yellow Stars by Cath Kidston

$8.95

27. Cath Kidston Cupcake Liners by Cath Kidston

$9.95

28. The Sock Knitting Kit by Alyce Benevides and Jaqueline Milles

$19.95

TOTAL: $494.82

For my charity I have chosen The Book Bus. This is a great charity that is helping young children explore the wonderful world of reading. Here is a little bit of info about this organization:

The Book Bus Foundation (Charity number 1117357) aims to improve literacy rates in Africa and South America by providing children with books and the inspiration to read them. The Book Bus currently provides a mobile library service for children from disadvantaged communities and families in Zambia, Malawi and Ecuador. Our Book Buses tour schools, hospitals and orphanages to promote reading and storytelling to children who would otherwise have little or no access to books. There's no doubt that stories can make a difference to children's lives and with story tellers onboard, the Book Bus can help maintain the link between local society and its own stories as well as providing inspiration with new stories from afar.

The idea of using a bus to bring books to children is not a new one but our Book Buses are more than simple mobile libraries. Our onboard volunteer crews engage with children and their teachers, promoting reading in a way that is creative, inspiring and above all, fun. By mixing books with enjoyment, our volunteers can encourage an early interest in reading. Through repeat visits, regular book donations and help with developing library spaces, they are working hard to sustain that interest.

In My Mailbox #2

2011-11-13T00:01:00.000-08:00

In my mailbox is hosted by Kristi at The Story Siren.

From Michelle at Another Look Book Reviews for winning her Spooktacular Giveaway:

1. Pride and Prejudice and Zombies by Jane Austen and Seth Grahame-Smith

2. Paramour by Margaret Etheridge *Signed*

3. Kiss of Midnight by Lara Adrian

And a few weeks ago from Amazon Vine I recieved:

1. Shatter Me by Tahereh Mafi

Shatter Me by Tahereh Mafi (ARC)

2011-11-12T07:21:00.001-08:00

TITLE: Shatter Me

AUTHOR: Tahereh Mafi

PUBLISHER: Harper Collins

PUBLICATION DATE: 11/15/2011

PAGES: 352

MY RATING:

SUMMARY FROM GOODREADS: Juliette hasn't touched anyone in exactly 264 days.

The last time she did, it was an accident, but The Reestablishment locked her up for murder. No one knows why Juliette's touch is fatal. As long as she doesn't hurt anyone else, no one really cares. The world is too busy crumbling to pieces to pay attention to a 17-year-old girl. Diseases are destroying the population, food is hard to find, birds don't fly anymore, and the clouds are the wrong color.

The Reestablishment said their way was the only way to fix things, so they threw Juliette in a cell. Now so many people are dead that the survivors are whispering war-- and The Reestablishment has changed its mind. Maybe Juliette is more than a tortured soul stuffed into a poisonous body. Maybe she's exactly what they need right now.

Juliette has to make a choice: Be a weapon. Or be a warrior.

In this electrifying debut, Tahereh Mafi presents a world as riveting as The Hunger Games and a superhero story as thrilling as The X-Men. Full of pulse-pounding romance, intoxicating villainy, and high-stakes choices, Shatter Me is a fresh and original dystopian novel—with a paranormal twist—that will leave readers anxiously awaiting its sequel.

OVERALL IMPRESSION: Amazing. I loved everything about this story. The story line itself is great, the characters are wonderful and the writing is impeccable. The beginning of this book makes you appreciate the small things in life that are so common we don't even think about how lucky we are that we can do them. The writing in this book was terrific. Parts of the book sounded to me almost like they were spoken by someone giving a speech. There were also some very intense love scenes that I enjoyed. You could feel the passion between the two characters. The ending of the book was excellent. After reading through the book and wondering what is going on and what is going to happen, we find out some information that sounds as though it's going to make for an exciting sequel. I can't wait!

CHARACTERS: Juliet, the main character was great. It was very easy to relate to her. I felt what she felt as she was going through everything. I also really liked the character of Warner. I guess he would be classified as "the bad guy". I am interested to learn more about him in the sequel, such as what he really wants and what his goals are.

COVER: Love it! The cover is gorgeous. I love the dress the girl is wearing and I love the bright shimmery explosion happening behind her. I also like the slash through the title.

*I received a copy of this book from Amazon Vine for review.

My Memories Digital Freebie Kits #2

2011-11-09T08:28:00.000-08:00

My memories has put out three new digital kits FOR FREE!! Click on the pictures to download.

I created an example for you guys using the 3rd freebie. This was a super simple layout to make, as I just used the premade page, but you are also given all of the pieces so you can create your own layout if you wish. Here my example:

I'd love to see what you guys make with these awesome freebies!

Also, don't forget, you can still get $10 off MyMemories Suite v2 Software and $10 in free products from MyMemories.com. That's a $20 value! Use Promo Code: STMMMS79055

Siren's Storm by Lisa Papademetriou (ARC)

2011-10-23T13:19:00.000-07:00

TITLE: Siren's Storm

AUTHOR: Lisa Papademetriou

PUBLISHER: Knopf / Random House

PAGES: 272

MY RATING:

BACK COVER BLURB: Everything changed for Will last summer. On an ordinary sail with his brother, there was a strange accident, and Will washed ashore on the beach like a piece of driftwood, only to learn that his brother was missing -- presumed drowned.

Now Will and his lifelong friend Gretchen are trying to resume normalcy in their quaint seaside hometown, which is being overrun, as usual, by wealthy summer residents. But both are restless. Gretchen's sleepwalking habit is worse than ever. And Will can't stop thinking about the new girl in town -- Asia. Nobody knows who Asia is. But her otherworldly beauty and bewitching voice have a powerful effect on people...

When disturbing things start happening in town, including a rash of violent drownings, will and Gretchen begin to wonder -- who is Asia really? And if she isn't a beautiful summer resident but something entirely more sinister, why is she there -- and what does she want from them?

Compelling and eerie, this mesmerizing novel is steeped in nautical lore and the mythology of the sultry and mysterious Sirens.

OVERALL IMPRESSION: One thing I don't understand about this book is the title. In this book, sirens are referred to as "seekrieger's", so I'm not sure why the author decided to use siren in the title. Maybe it was just to help people understand the subject matter of the book. The ending of the book was wonderful. I finally got the fast paced action that I had been waiting for. All of the pieces finally came together and I got a sense of what was really happening in the town. I'm excited for the next novel to come out to see where the story will go.

CHARACTERS: My favorite character in this book is Gretchen. She seems to be the one that I relate to the most. She's pretty much just your all around normal girl, and she handles herself really well.

COVER: Love it! I love the hair in the girl's face and the expression she has. I also love how the whole thing is tinted in green, it helps tie in the mermaid theme.

*I received a copy of this book from Amazon Vine for review.

Bookshelves

2011-10-20T14:40:00.000-07:00

I was messing around on Stumble today, when I came across this page. It has a bunch of bookshelves on it. Here's a few of them!

I like the pacman and the falling books ones. Which are your favorites?

In My Mailbox #1

2011-10-16T06:30:00.000-07:00

In my mailbox is hosted by Kristi at The Story Siren.

From Tell Harlequin:

From Shelf Awareness:

The Mephisto Covenant by Trinity Faegen (ARC)

2011-10-11T18:50:00.002-07:00

TITLE: The Mephisto Covenant: The Redemption of Ajax

AUTHOR: Trinity Faegen

PUBLISHER: EgmontUSA

PAGES: 448

MY RATING:

BACK COVER BLURB: Sasha is desperate to find out who murdered her father. When getting the answers means pledging her sould to Eryx, she unlocks a secret that puts her in grave danger -- Sasha is Anabo, a daughter of Eve, and Eryx's biggest threat.

A son of Hell, immortal, and bound to Earth forever, Jax looks for redemption in the Mephisto Covenant -- God's promise he will find peace in the love of an Anabo. After a thousand years, he's finally found the girl he's been searching for: Sasha.

With the threat of Eryx looking, Jax has to keep Sasha safe and win her over. But can he? Will Sasha love him and give up her mortal life?

OVERALL IMPRESSION: This book was pretty confusing at first. I didn't know what was going on; I didn't know what each group of people were -- the Anabo, the Ravens, the Skia, etc -- it was hard to figure out what everyone's purpose was. As the book continued, things were explained and I figured out everyone's purpose. This was an okay book, but not one that I jumped out of my seat for and had to finish right away.

CHARACTERS: I honestly didn't connect with any of the characters in this book. None them stood to me and made me want to learn more about them.

COVER: I love the cover of this one! The dark atmosphere, the trees in the background. I love the dress the girl is wearing and the bridge that she is walking over.

*I received a copy of this book from Amazon Vine for review.

My Memories Digital Freebie Kits

2011-10-11T18:03:00.000-07:00

My memories has put out three new digital kits FOR FREE!! Click on the pictures to download.

Also, don't forget, you can still get $10 off MyMemories Suite v2 Software and $10 in free products from MyMemories.com. That's a $20 value! Use Promo Code: STMMMS79055

Top 100 Most Popular YA Books

2011-10-01T22:08:00.002-07:00

I found this list on Waiting on Sunday to Drown who found it on Pages Turned & Lessons Learned. The ones I've read are in purple and the ones I have but have not yet read are in blue.

1. Alex Finn – Beastly

2. Alice Sebold – The Lovely Bones

3. Ally Carter – Callagher Girls

4. Ally Condie – Matched

5. Alyson Noel – The Immortals (1-4)

6. Anastasia Hopcus – Shadow Hills

7. Angie Sage – Septimus Heap

8. Ann Brashares – The Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants
9. Anna Godbersen – Luxe

10. Anthony Horowitz – Alex Rider

11. Aprilynne Pike – Wings (1)

12. Becca Fitzpatrick – Hush, Hush (1)

13. Brandon Mull – Fablehaven

14. Brian Selznick – The Invention of Hugo Cabret

15. Cassandra Clare – The Mortal Instruments (1-3)

16. Carrie Jones – Need (1, 2, 3)

17. Carrie Ryan – The Forest of Hands and Teeth

18. Christopher Paolini – Inheritance (1)

19. Cinda Williams Chima – The Heir Chronicles

20. Colleen Houck – Tigers Saga

21. Cornelia Funke – Inkheart (1 & 2)

22. Ellen Hopkins – Impulse

23. Eoin Colfer – Artemis Fowl

24. Faraaz Kazi – Truly, Madly, Deeply

25. Frank Beddor – The Looking Glass Wars

26. Gabrielle Zevin – Elsewhere

27. Gail Carson Levine – Fairest

28. Holly Black – Tithe (1-3)

29. J.K. Rowling – Harry Potter (1-7)

30. James Dashner – The Maze Runner

31. James Patterson – Maximum Ride (1-5)

32. Jay Asher – Thirteen Reasons Why

33. Jeanne DuPrau – Books of Ember

34. Jeff Kinney – Diary of a Wimpy Kid

35. John Boyne – The Boy in the Striped Pajamas

36. John Green – An Abundance of Katherines

37. John Green – Looking for Alaska

38. John Green – Paper Towns

39. Jonathan Stroud – Bartimaeus

40. Kami Garcia & Margaret Stohl – Caster Chronicles (1-2)

41. Kelley Armstrong – Darkest Powers (1-3)

42. Kristin Cashore – The Seven Kingdoms

43. Lauren Kate – Fallen (1)

44. Lemony Snicket – Series of Unfortunate Events (1-13)

45. Libba Bray – Gemma Doyle

46. Lisa McMann – Dream Catcher (1-2)

47. Louise Rennison – Confessions of Georgia Nicolson (1-3)

48. M.T. Anderson – Feed

49. Maggie Stiefvater – The Wolves of Mercy Falls (1)

50. Margaret Peterson Haddix – Shadow Children

51. Maria V. Snyder – Study

52. Markus Zusak – The Book Thief

53. Markus Zusak – I am the Messenger

54. Mark Haddon – The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-time

55. Mary Ting – Crossroads

56. Maureen Johnson – Little Blue Envelope
57. Meg Cabot – All-American Girl
58. Meg Cabot – The Mediator
59. Meg Cabot – The Princess Diaries

60. Meg Rosoff – How I live now

61. Megan McCafferty – Jessica Darling

62. Megan Whalen Turner – The Queen’s Thief

63. Melina Marchetta – On the Jellicoe Road

64. Melissa de la Cruz – Blue Bloods

65. Melissa Marr – Wicked Lovely (1-4)

66. Michael Grant – Gone

67. Nancy Farmer – The House of the Scorpion

68. Neal Shusterman – Unwind

69. Neil Gaiman – Coraline

70. Neil Gaiman – Stardust

71. Neil Gaiman – The Graveyard Book

72. P.C. Cast & Kristin Cast – House of Night (1-6)

73. Philip Pullman – His Dark Materials (1)

74. Rachel Caine – The Morganville Vampires (all so far)

75. Rachel Cohn & David Levithan – Nick & Norah’s Infinite Playlist

76. Richelle Mead – Vampire Academy (1)

77. Rick Riordan – Percy Jackson and the Olympians

78. Rom LcO’Feer – Somewhere carnal over 40 winks

79. S.L. Naeole – Grace

80. Sabrina Bryan & Julia DeVillers – Princess of Gossip

81. Sarah Dessen – Along for the Ride

82. Sarah Dessen – Lock and Key

83. Sarah Dessen – The Truth about Forever
84. Sara Shepard – Pretty Little Liars
85. Scott Westerfeld – Leviathan
86. Scott Westerfeld – Uglies

87. Shannon Hale – Books of a Thousand Days

88. Shannon Hale – Princess Academy

89. Shannon Hale – The Books of Bayern

90. Sherman Alexie & Ellen Forney – The Absolutely True Diary of a Part-Time Indian

91. Simone Elkeles – Perfect Chemistry

92. Stephanie Meyer – The Host
93. Stephanie Meyer – Twilight Saga (1-4)

94. Sue Monk Kidd – The Secret Life of Bees

95. Susan Beth Pfeffer – Last Survivors
96. Suzanne Collins – Hunger Games

97. Suzanne Collins – Underland Chronicles

98. Terry Pratchett – Tiffany Aching

99. Tonya Hurley – Ghost Girl

100. Wendelin Van Draanen – Flipped

I have only read 18 of these and I own another 6 of them. There's so many books left to read and not enough time!!

The Unbecoming of Mara Dyer by Michelle Hodkin

2011-09-23T21:36:00.002-07:00

TITLE: The Unbecoming of Mara Dyer

AUTHOR: Michelle Hodkin

PUBLISHER: Simon and Schuster

PAGES: 452

MY RATING:

INSIDE COVER BLURB: Mara Dyer doesn't think life can get any stranger than waking up in a hospital with no memory of how she got there. It can.

She believes there must be more to the accident she can't remember that killed her friends and left her mysteriously unharmed. There is.

She doesn't believe that after everything she's been through, she can fall in love. She's wrong.

OVERALL IMPRESSION: This is a hard one to review. The inside cover of the book doesn't tell you a whole lot about what this book is about. It's hard to give a summary of the book without giving away the story. The story was slow moving. I was about halfway through the book when I realized not a lot had gone on to progress the story and I still didn't know what was going on with Mara. That didn't stop me from reading though. For some reason I was compelled to keep turning the pages and I didn't get bored with the book even with the slow moving plot. The last hundred or so pages is when the story picks up and everything starts to go crazy. The ending of the book left me confused. It's hard to explain without giving anything away, so I don't really want to expand on that.

I think this will be a book where reading the second book in the series will make me like the first book better because things will (hopefully) have been cleared up.

CHARACTERS: I liked both of Mara's (the main character) brothers. It seemed like Mara had the perfect family. Her parents were just overprotective enough without being overbearing, and her siblings seemed to be the best brothers any girl could ask for. I also enjoyed the character of Noah, Mara's love interest as well.

COVER: I love this cover. The cover is what initially drew me to the book and made me HAVE to read it. I love the dress that the girl is wearing.

*I received a copy of this book from Amazon Vine for review.

Blood Magic by Tessa Gratton

2011-09-18T13:39:00.001-07:00

TITLE: Blood Magic

AUTHOR: Tessa Gratton

PUBLISHER: Random House

PAGES: 405

MY RATING:

INSIDE COVER BLURB: It starts off simply.

Draw a circle...place a dead leaf in the center...sprinkle some salt...recite a little Latin...add a drop of blood...

Maybe that last part isn't exactly simple. Yet somehow it feels right to Silla Kennicott. And nothing in her life has felt remotely right since her parents' horrific deaths. She's willing to do anything to uncover the truth about her family -- even try a few spells from the mysterious book that arrived on her doorstep...and spill some blood.

The book isn't the only recent arrival in Silla's life. There's Nick Pardee, the new guy next door who may have seen Silla casting a spell. She's not sure what he saw and is afraid to find out. But as they spend more time together, Silla realizes that this may not be Nick's first encounter with blood magic. Brought together by a combination of fate and chemistry, Silla and Nick can't deny their attraction. And they can't ignore the dark presence lurking nearby -- waiting to reclaim the book and all its power.

Tessa Gratton's intoxicating first novel will keep pulses racing, minds reeling, and pages turning right up to the very last drop of blood.

OVERALL IMPRESSION: Loved it! This book was wonderful. It was so riveting, I had to keep reading and see how the story would play out. The end of the book was so exciting. I felt like I was in the story running around the woods with the characters. I was completely caught up in the moment of the story as if I was a part of it. I do have to say that this story is not for those with weak stomachs and it may also not be the best story for animal lovers. I am an animal lover and there were 2 scenes in the book where I had to read fast and keep reminding myself that it is just a story.

CHARACTERS: In the beginning of the book I did not like Nick. He was extremely rude to his classmates, but as the book progressed, he became more likeable in my eyes. My favorite character in the book was Reese, Silla's brother. He was very kind, caring and protective. He was basically what you would expect an older brother to be, and he was very good at being an older brother. Another character I really enjoyed was Mary (whom Nick calls 'Lilith'). I wish there was a little more of her in the story. I wanted to know more about her and her relationship with Nick's father, and how she came to be a part of their family.

COVER: I love this cover. Dark covers appeal to me and I love how this cover is dark with pops of bright 'blood' red.

*I won a copy of this book in a contest hosted by Kristen @ Seeing Night Reviews

Want to Go Private? by Sarah Darer Littman (ARC)

2011-09-04T19:29:00.003-07:00

TITLE: Want To Go Private?

AUTHOR: Sarah Darer Littman

PUBLISHER: Scholastic Press

PAGES: 336

MY RATING:

INSIDE COVER BLURB: When Abby meets Luke online, she can't believe her luck. He's nice. He's funny. He listens to her and he thinks she's pretty. He even gets jealous of other guys, which is adorable. Without Luke, Abby's not sure how she'd make it through her first year of high school. Everyone, including her mom and her best friend, Faith, tells Abby that if she just made more of an effort, she'd be having fun instead of dreading each and every day as if it's a prison sentence. But there's nothing fun about being the lowest link in the social food chain.

Abby knows she's not supposed to chat with random guys online. But Luke isn't random, and he isn't a stranger. Best of all, he loves her. So what if she never goes out with her friends anymore and her grades are slipping? All she needs is Luke. Luke is her secret, and she's his -- it's perfect that way. So when Luke suggests that they meet each other in person, Abby agrees. And then she's gone. Missing. Without a trace. And everyone is left to put together the pieces. If they don't, they'll never see Abby again.

OVERALL IMPRESSION: Scary. This book is very scary because it is a situation that has happened many times and it can happen to anyone who feels lost and alone. The thing that bothered me while reading this book was that it feels like Abby is being a little naive. She keeps saying that there are things she shouldn't do or shouldn't tell Luke because it seems odd (she even brings up her school assemblies about internet safety) yet she does them anyway. There are also small clues that point to Luke not being who he says he is, which Abby points out to herself, but she rationalizes them away with things that don't even make sense. Other than than, I understand that these internet predators take the time to be extremely relateable to the teenagers they prey on and that it is easy for teenagers to fall for it when they feel like nobody else understands them and what they are going through. I think that every teen should read this book. It is a bit graphic in some parts, so I feel that parents should also read the book to be aware of what is in this, but I still feel like all teens should read this. It can help them understand the things an internet predator will say and do to try to earn their trust.

CHARACTERS: I really liked the character of Billy in this book. He was very sweet and kind towards Abby. You could tell he really cared about her.

COVER: I like the cover. It's very simple and to the point. There's nothing overly flashy about it. IT pretty much shows the progression of the relationship between an online predator and a teen.

*I received a copy of this book through Amazon Vine.

My Memories Suite Review and GIVEAWAY!

2011-09-04T10:17:00.003-07:00

THE WINNER IS: AIMEE!!

I've never been into digital scrapbooking before. When I scrapbook, I like to get my hands dirty. I love spreading all of my materials out around me and getting ink and glue on my fingers. But when I was approached by www.mymemories.com to check out their digital software and write a review, I figured I'd give digital scrapbooking another try, and I'm so glad I did.

My Memories Suite is such a wonderful program. It is so easy to use. I've only used one other digital scrapbook software program before, but the My Memories Suite is so much better. Everything is laid out for you step by step. You just choose your elements -- embellishments and photos -- and off you go! There are tons of premade layouts for you to place your photos in, or you can start from scratch and let your creativity take you away. It is also very easy to add digital embellishments from other websites. If it is saved on your computer, it can easily be imported into the software.

One more fact about this software that I absolutely love is the fact that you can add anything you want to your pages as long as you can scan it into your computer. This can include items such as movie tickets, concert tickets, brochures, maps and all kinds of other items. Once they are scanned into your computer you can add them to your project, then re-size them, add shadows, etc. This is great for preserving memories and adding personal touches to your pages.

Here's a few layouts I made with this software.

Check out this great video introduction to the software!

Welcome to the Family! from Lisa Jurrens on Vimeo.

And now for the GIVEAWAY!

1. Mandatory Entry: Visit www.mymemories.com and tell me the name of your favorite digital scrapbooking kit. If you do not complete the mandatory entry, the rest of your entries WILL BE INVALID.

2. Follow my blog via GFC and leave your follower name.

3. Follow My Memories on Facebook and leave your follower name (First name and last initial is okay too).

4. Follow My Memories on Twitter and leave your follower name.

5. Follow Me on Twitter and leave your follower name.

**Please make sure to put each entry in a separate comment and leave your e-mail so I can contact you if you are the winner.**

The giveaway is open to all US residents 18 and older. It will end at midnight PST on Monday, Sept. 12, 2011. I will use random.org to choose a winner and contact that winner by e-mail as well as announce it on the blog.

If anyone is interested in purchasing the software, use the coupon code STMMMS79055 to receive $10 off the software as well as $10 to spend in the My Memories store. That's a $20 value!

*I received this product to give my honest review. All opinions are my own and have not been influenced in any way.

Colin Preston Rocked and Rolled by Bert Murray

2011-08-29T14:25:00.001-07:00

TITLE: Colin Preston Rocked and Rolled

AUTHOR: Bert Murray

PUBLISHER: Davanna Books

PAGES: 251

MY RATING:

SUMMARY (FROM GOODREADS): It's September 1985 in the bosky precincts of Elerby University (though it conveys the intimacy of a small liberal arts college) in upstate New York. Colin is entering his sophomore year with a lousy love life and a lousy relationship with his father, but he does have a good friend in Karl (a handsome natural athlete who has a way with women) and in the Beatles—"when you love a band so much that its songs fill the empty spaces inside your head and heart." But along comes Jasmine, a serious dish with lips like butter, who really gets inside Colin's head and steals his heart.

OVERALL IMPRESSION: Overall, this was an enjoyable book. I've read better books, but I've also read worse books. It was a fairly quick read about a high school student and was pretty much what I expected it to be. The storyline was basically just a telling of a year of Collin's life in college; how he falls for a girl and what happens to his relationship and how that affects other parts of his life.

CHARACTERS: The main character, Colin, is pretty much a typical college guy. Then there's Colin's best friend Karl. I did not like him from the beginning. he's pushy, not supportive, and cocky. Colin's girlfriend Jasmine seems a little bit off to me. She has these crazy mood swings and appears to me like she might be slightly bipolar. Chester was the most interesting character in the book to me. I wish we had a little more interaction with him. He was entertaining and I wanted to learn more about his story. The only character that Colin is able to count on is one of his teachers, Mrs. Vesquez. She seems to be the only character in the book who truly cares about what happens to Colin and tries to help him by giving him good advice.

COVER: I like the cover. It makes me feel happy and makes me want to lay in the grass and pick out all the shapes in the clouds. :)

*I was sent a copy of this book by the author for review.

Digital Scrapbook Software Review and Giveaway Comming Soon!

2011-08-17T11:50:00.000-07:00

Hey everybody! I was approached by www.MyMemories.com to review their digital scrapbook program, My Memories Suite, and host a giveaway for you guys. This will be coming up soon, but in the meantime while I test out the program and get everything ready, how about a discount code in case you can't wait for the giveaway. Once you're ready to checkout add the coupon code STMMMS79055 to save $10 off of your purchase.

Also, feel free to visit My Memories at these other places:
Blog- http://blog.mymemories.com/
Facebook- http://www.facebook.com/mymemoriessuite
Twitter- http://twitter.com/#!/mymemoriessuite

Hooked by Catherine Greenman (ARC)

2011-08-16T17:52:00.001-07:00

TITLE: Hooked

AUTHOR: Catherine Greenman

PUBLISHER: Delacorte Press

PAGES: 288

MY RATING: 2/5

BACK COVER BLURB: Seventeen-year-old Thea Galehouse has always known how to take care of herself. With a flighty club-owner mom and a standoffish recovering-alcoholic dad, Thea has made her own way in her hometown, New York City, attending the competitive Stuyvesant High School. But one chat with Will, a handsome and witty senior, and she's a goner--completely hooked on him and unable to concentrate on anything else.

Always worried that she loves Will more than he loves her, Thea is pleasantly surprised when their romance weathers his move to college and he goes out of his way to keep her involved in his life. But then Thea discovers that she's pregnant. And that starts Thea and Will on a wild ride that neither of them is prepared for.

After they decide to keep the baby, their disappointed parents contribute what they can to keep Will in school and give both teenagers a safe place to raise their child. When Ian is born, Thea and Will couldn't be happier. But a freak accident leaves Thea shaken and threatens to tear apart their little family, and she must turn to the last person she would have chosen to be her source of comfort: her stiff, uncompromising father.

This smart, touching first novel brims with realistic, beautifully drawn characters and reminds us that love is never as easy or predictable as we might like it to be.

OVERALL IMPRESSION: I had really high hopes for this book and I was pretty disappointed. I really like reading stories about teenage pregnancy and I was hoping this would be a great read, but it fell flat. I found Thea and Will's first date extremely weird. Neither seemed the least bit nervous and they were both blatantly asking and answering personal questions like it was completely normal. It seemed to me like their relationship just kind of fell together instead of developing. I was confused for a lot of the book. To me it felt like it jumped around too much and was hard to me to follow sometimes. It also seemed like the book moved really slow. It took forever for Thea to get pregnant, and I was very impatient waiting for it to happen. The back cover summary made it completely obvious that Thea was going to get pregnant, and I felt like the book was dragging along because I already knew it was going happen and I was just waiting for it.

CHARACTERS: I didn't really get attached to any of the characters in the book. I just felt like once the story was over, I didn't really care about any of them. I couldn't stand Thea's parents at all. I understand how they would be upset with their daughter for getting pregnant, but they were just downright mean to her, even before she got pregnant. They were awful and supportive of her.

COVER: I like the cover of this one. Right off the bat it lets you know this will be a book about someone's pregnancy, and I really like it when book covers tie into the book.

*I received a copy of this book from Amazon Vine.

The Beginning of After by Jennifer Castle (ARC)

2011-08-08T09:39:00.001-07:00

TITLE: The Beginning of After

AUTHOR: Jennifer Castle

PUBLISHER: Harper Teen

RELEASE DATE: September 6, 2011

PAGES: 432

MY RATING: 4 Stars

BACK COVER BLURB: Laurel's world changes instantly when her parents and brother are killed in a terrible car accident. As she tries to piece together the shards of what remains in the eerie stillness of life after the tragedy, David -- the son of the man responsible -- swoops in and out of her life. Laurel find herself attracted to him against her better judgment, and their connection will change them both in unexpected ways.

Fans of emotionally true and heartfelt stories, such as Sarah Dessen's The Truth About Forever and If I Stay by Gayle Forman, will fall in love with Jennifer Castle's incandescent debut novel.

OVERALL IMPRESSION: I was hooked on this book from the very first sentence. I could just tell that this was going to be a book that I was going to enjoy immensely, and I was right. I could not put this book down and I flew through it probably faster than any other book I've ever read before. I just wanted to know what was going to happen and how Laurel (the main character) was going to deal with this tragedy, and then how she was going to deal with events that caused her to remember the tragedy all over again. I really enjoyed the ending of this book. It resolved everything, but was left at a point where the author could write a sequel if she wanted too, but it is not necessary if she chooses not to do so. This was an amazing book and I would recommend it to anyone. I really enjoyed the ending of this book. It resolved everything, but was left at a point where the author could write a sequel if she wanted too, but it is not necessary if she chooses not to do so.

CHARACTERS: There was not one character in this book that I did not like. Laurel's character was very inspiring, watching her to overcome this great tragedy in her life. She had her moments of breakdown, but I believe she was strong and I'm not sure I would have been able to handle this situation she was thrown into as well as she did. Megan is another character I enjoyed. She is Laurel's best friend and always there for Laurel. They had their arguments, but they were around for each other when it counted. And of course, there was a little bit of romance in the book between Laurel and two other characters, David and Joe. These two could not be more opposite characters. David is the dangerous bad boy rebel type, while Joe is the sweet safe one. I have to say that I was definitely team David on this one.

COVER: Love the cover of this one. The pose of the girl on the cover is vulnerable and scared, but to me her face looks strong. I also love the way the sun is barely making an appearance in the background as if to say that things will get better.

*I received a copy of this book from Amazon Vine.

Harry Potter House Quiz

2011-08-06T18:05:00.001-07:00

I've always wondered which Hogwarts house I'd be sorted into given the chance to visit the school of Witchcraft and Wizadrdry and today I came across a sorting hat quiz on The Cozy Reader's Blog. So of course, I just had to take it. Here's my results:

Which Hogwarts house will you be sorted into?

Your in-depth results are:

Gryffindor - 13
Hufflepuff - 11
Ravenclaw - 10
Slytherin - 8

Did anyone else take this quiz? Which house were you sorted into?

Hourglass by Myra McEntire (ARC)

2011-07-26T18:04:00.002-07:00

TITLE: Hourglass

AUTHOR: Myra McEntire

PUBLISHER: Egmont USA

PAGES: 397

MY RATING: 4/5

BACK COVER BLURB: Since the age of fourteen, Emerson Cole has seen strange things -- dead things -- swooning Souther Belles, soldiers, and other eerie apparitions of the past. She's tried everything to get rid of the visions: medication, counseling, asylums. Nothing's worked.

So when Emerson's well-meaning brothercalls in yet another consultant from a mysterious organization called the Hourglass, Emerson's willing to give it one last try.

Michael Weaver is no ordinary consultant. He's barely older than she is, he listens like no one she's ever met before, and he doesn't make her feel the least bit crazy. As Emerson ventures deeper into the world of the Hourglass, she begins to learn the truth about her past, her future -- and her very life.

A seductive time-slip novel that merges the very best of the paranormal and science fiction genres, Myra McEntire's Hourglass is a stunning debut from an author to watch.

OVERALL IMPRESSION: It's hard to say much about this book without giving anything away, so I will keep this brief. This book was amazing. I loved every minute of it and I am so glad that I had to opportunity to read it. The book has a great story line with a wonderful plot full of twists and turns that made me want to keep on reading to see what McEntire would come up with next.

CHARACTERS: The main character is Emerson (Em) and she is a great character. She is very strong willed and able to fend for herself. Her love interest is Michael, the man hired by Emerson's brother to help Emerson deal with her gift of seeing ghosts from the past. He is also a good character, but the instant love connection between the two bothers me. I am the kind of girl who does not believe in love at first sight, and I like it better when the romance develops over time in a story.

COVER: I adore the cover of this book. It creeps me out, but it also draws me in . I can't stop looking at it.

*I received a copy of this book from Amazon Vine.

Jane Jones: Worst Vampire Ever (ARC)

2011-07-21T12:34:00.002-07:00

TITLE: Jane Jones: Worst Vampire Ever

AUTHOR: Caissie St. Onge

PUBLISHER: Random House Children's Books

PAGES: 240

MY RATING: 4/5

SUMMARY FROM GOODREADS: For Jane Jones, being a vampire is nothing like you read about in books. In fact, it kind of sucks. She's not beautiful, she's not rich, and she doesn't "sparkle." She's just an average, slightly nerdy girl from an ordinary suburban family (who happens to be vampires.) Jane's from the wrong side of the tracks (not to mention stuck in the world's longest awkward phase), so she doesn't fit in with the cool vampire kids at school or with the humans kids. To top it all off, she's battling an overprotective mom, a clique of high school mean girls (the kind who really do have fangs), and the most embarrassing allergy in the history of the undead, she's blood intolerant. So no one's more surprised than Jane when for the first time in her life, things start to heat up (as much as they can for a walking corpse, anyway) with not one, but two boys. Eli's a geeky, but cute real-live boy in her history class, and Timothy is a beautiful, brooding bloodsucker, who might just hold the key to a possible "cure" for vampirism. Facing an eternity of high school pressure, fumbling first dates, or a mere lifetime together with Timothy, what's a 90-something year-old teen vampire to do?

Fans of the Vladmir Tod Chronicles, You are So Undead to Me, and Jessica's Guide to Dating on the Dark Side will feast on this deliciously readable, smart, and fantastically funny debut.

OVERALL IMPRESSION: This was a cute book. I was afraid that it was going to be a little too cutesy with too much high school drama, but that wasn't the case at all. The book has the typical story line of the girl desperately wanting to fit in with the 'cool' crowd, but there's a twist that vampires are involved. I think this book is great for anyone who wants to read a quick book that is actually a good book as well.

CHARACTERS: The main character of the book is Jane. She is a vampire, but she has a rare disease that she is blood-intolerant. She uses humor to overcome her problems and insecurities and it works for her. She was enjoyable to read about. One of my favorite characters in the book is Zachary. Zachary is Jane's younger brother and he is the perfect little brother. The siblings get in spats from time to time, but they seem to get along really well. Zachary is even trying to help out his sister by trying to create a cure for Jane's blood intolerance. There are two main male characters in the story--Eli, the human geeky type that Jane gets paired up with for a project in school, and Timothy, the cool vampire that Jane has had a crush on. Between the two character, I prefer Eli. It just seems like him and Jane click better and work very well together.

COVER: The cover of the book is very simple, but I like it. It conveys the overall feeling of the book. It's cute, but not over the top cute.

**I received a copy of this book from the Amazon Vine program.

Jamba Juice Energy Drink Review

2011-05-28T12:38:00.000-07:00

PRODUCT: Jamba Juice Energy Drink, Crisp Apple

MY RATING: 3 Stars

DESCRIPTION (From Amazon.com): All Natural Nestle Jamba Energy Drinks deliver great benefits. All Natural (No artificial ingredients, no taurine, no glucuronolactone). Great Taste (made with 70% Fruit Juice). Sustained Energy (80mg of natural caffeine per can). Lower calories and sugar per serving than Red Bull.

MY REVIEW: I only had the opportunity to try one of these, so I wish I had been able to try one or two more to get a better assessment of the product. But overall it was okay. I was apprehensive about the taste because most energy drinks leave behind an unpleasant aftertaste, but this product didn't have it. I actually enjoyed the taste; it was refreshing with just the right amount of carbonation.

I work the overnight shift, and I drank this about halfway through my shift to help give me some extra energy, but it didn't feel very effective. I didn't feel any more energized once I had drank it.

I like the fact that this drink is better for you than other energy drinks, but it doesn't seem worth it if it doesn't help energize me.

Overall, great taste but don't expect to feel energized.

*I received this product from the Amazon Vine Reviewer's program.

Post-It Craft Paper Review

2011-05-28T11:59:00.001-07:00

PRODUCT: Post-it 8-1/2 by 12-Inch Craft Paper, 6-Sheet/Pack

MY RATING: 4/5

DESCRIPTION (From Amazon.com): Fast, Easy, No Mess! Simply cut, peel and stick Post-it(R) Craft Paper to a variety of surfaces. The paper is incredibly versatile - try it with your favorite supplies and techniques. Stamp it, chalk it, print it, punch it, layer it, emboss it, embellish it. Great for scrapbooking, card making, school projects and so much more.

MY REVIEW: I enjoyed this product. I make a lot of cards and this paper was really helpful. I really liked that the product is sticky on the entire back of the sheet. This is great for small cutouts that are hard to put adhesive on. I used a basic shape punch on this paper first. It was a little bit hard to punch all the way through the paper because of the thickness, but with a little extra force it wasn't too bad. This paper also works great in the cricut machine. There are instructions right on the back of the package that tell you what settings to use on your machine in order to kiss cut the paper (cut through just the top layer so you can just peel off the color paper).

The only problem I have with this paper is that it is a little on the expensive side because you only get six sheets. It would be better if there were two or three sheets of each color in the package instead of just one. If the paper ever goes on sale it will be well worth buying a pack or two.

Changes

2011-05-28T11:50:00.002-07:00

Hi Everyone.

I've decided to make a change to my blog. I enjoy reviewing the books that I've read, but I don't review every single book that I read because it's just too time consuming. I do like reviewing other products on other websites as well, so I figured that I would just combine everything here and post all of my reviews of different products here. I will still be posting book reviews as well as reviews for products I have used and a few parties I have hosted.

I hope this does not become an inconvenience for anyone, and I hope that you continue to follow me and read my reviews.

Thanks!

A Touch Mortal

2011-05-04T13:04:00.001-07:00

TITLE: A Touch Mortal

AUTHOR: Leah Clifford

PUBLISHER: Greenwillow Books

RELEASE DATE: February 22, 2011

PAGES: 417

MY RATING: 2.5/5

INSIDE COVER BLURB: Eden didn't expect Az.

Not his saunter down the beach toward her. Not his unbelievable pick-up line. Not the instant, undeniable connection. And not his wings.

Yeah.

So long, happily-ever-after.

Now trapped between life and death, cursed to spread chaos with her every tough, Eden could be the key in the the eternal struggle between heaven and hell. All because she gave her heart to one of the Fallen, an angel cast out of heaven.

She may lose everything she ever had. She may be betrayed by those she loves most. But Eden will not be a pawn in anyone else's game. Her heart is her own.

And that's only the beginning of the end.

OVERALL IMPRESSION: I really wanted to like this book. And it almost had me. But there was just some things about it that I don't believe were up to par all the way. First of all, I was very confused in the beginning of the book. I didn't understand what all of the characters were and exactly what they could do. I'm still not really sure about that. Also, I feel like the plot was a little lacking. I didn't understand what the plot was supposed to be about really. It didn't seem like there was a direction. I was left with some questions such as where is the story line going? What are they hiding from? What is the goal of any of the groups in the story. I just didn't understand what I was supposed to get out of the book. Now, all of that being said, I really enjoyed the last couple of chapters. They were very exciting and it seemed like a small plot took place. I don't want to get too much into the story because I don't want to give anything away, but some characters were trying to save another character and it gave the book a little bit of somewhere to go. In other words, at the end of the book, there was a conflict and a resolution.

The book was left in a way that makes me believe there will be a sequel, and I am interesting in reading that, to see if the author uses what happened at the end of the story to create another book that has a little more depth to it and a more prominent direction.

CHARACTERS: I enjoyed all of the characters in this book. They all had their own personalities and it seemed like they were well rounded.

COVER: Great cover. I love the dark feel of it and the tagline on it fits the story perfectly (She's been betrayed by life, by love, and by death.

*I received a copy of this book from the Amazon Vine program for review.

Bumped by Megan McCafferty (ARC)

2011-04-21T12:12:00.009-07:00

TITLE: Bumped

AUTHOR: Megan McCafferty

PUBLISHER: Balzer + Bray

RELEASE DATE: April 25, 2011

PAGES: 336

MY RATING: 3/5

BACK COVER BLURB: When a virus makes everyone over the age of eighteen infertile, would-be parents must pay teen girls to conceive and give birth to their children, making teens the most prized members of society.

Sixteen-year old identical twins Melody and Harmony were separated at birth and had never met until the day Harmony shows up on Melody's doorstep. Until now, the twins have followed completely opposite paths. Melody has scored an enviable conception contract with a couple called the Jaydens. While they search for the perfect partner for Melody to bump with, she is fighting her attraction to her best friend, Zen, who is way too short for the job.

Harmony has spent her whole life in religious Goodside, preparing to be a wife and mother. She believes her calling is to convince Melody that pregging for profit is a sin. But Harmony has secrets of her own that she is running from.

When Melody is finally matched with the world-famous, genetically flawless Jondoe, both girls' lives are changed forever. A case of mistaken identity takes them on a journey neither could have imagined, one that makes Melody and Harmony realize they have so much more than just DNA in common.

From New York Times bestselling author of Megan McCafferty comes a strikingly original look at friendship, love, and sisterhood--in a future that is eerily believable.

OVERALL IMPRESSION: The book was okay. Not my favorite, but I did not have any trouble getting through the whole thing. When I first started reading the books I had to get used to the lingo. The book is written in the future and includes terms such as "bumping" and "MiNet". There was never really an explanation of the terms so I had to figure out their meanings on my own.

CHARACTERS: I really like the character of Melody. She is very easy to relate to. She has inhibitions about "bumping" with a boy and she seems uneasy about the whole process. Harmony, on the other hand, was not an enjoyable character for me, especially at first. She was very preachy and pushed her thoughts onto everyone a little too much. She did grow throughout the story, but I still was not fond of her personality. My favorite character in the book was Zen. He was very caring throughout the whole book and is the kind of guy that you root for all the way up to the ending.

COVER: Love the cover. Very simple and cute!

*I received a copy of this book from Amazon Vine.

Book Vending Machine

2011-01-23T12:53:00.003-08:00

Hey guys! I saw this today when I was browsing the web and I had to share it. It's so awesome! A book vending machine! I'd be worried that the books would get damaged dropping from the top shelf, but maybe there's an arm or something that pulls them down. Check out more at the website here: http://theharperstudio.com/2009/08/a-book-vending-machine/

Populazzi by Elise Allen (ARC)

2011-01-18T14:04:00.008-08:00

TITLE: Populazzi

AUTHOR: Elise Allen

PUBLISHER: Houghton Mifflin Harcourt

RELEASE DATE: 8/1/2011

PAGES: 400

MY RATING: 3/5

GOODREADS SUMMARY: Cara has always dreamed of being a Populazzi, one of the popular crowd. But it’s not until she changes schools that she gets a shot at it, thanks to her best friend Claudia’s crazy plan. The idea is simple: The rungs of The Ladder are relationships. First get a boyfriend who's ranked low, then climb up through more boyfriends until you're not just one of the Populazzi, but the Supreme Populazzi. Yet what starts off as a fairy tale turns into a somewhat dark comedy of errors. Just when Cara reaches the top, her life hits rock bottom. She wonders why she wanted to be popular in the first place—and if there’s any way to live happily ever after now.

OVERALL IMPRESSION: This was a cute fun read. We've all gone through high school so we all know what it's like wanting to be liked by other people and to have lots of friends. The book made me want to keep reading to see whether or not Cara would fit in with the crowd she desperately wanted attention from.

CHARACTERS: I liked the main character, Cara. There were some parts of the book where she wasn't the greatest most selfless person, but she is in high school and she is worried about fitting in with the popular crowd, which is something that I think is pretty common. The two characters that I did not like at all were Cara's mother and Cara's stepfather. I feel that they were way too harsh on her and it was completely out of line the way that they treated her. We all make mistakes, but the way that Karl (Cara's stepfather) handled the punishment was totally unacceptable. My favorite character was Archer. He was just all around a great guy.

COVER: The cover is cute. I love all of the bright colors and the girl on it looks the way I would imagine Cara to look.

*I recieved a copy of this book from netgalley.

This Girl is Different By JJ Johnson (ARC)

2011-01-07T17:11:00.006-08:00

TITLE: This Girl is Different

AUTHOR: JJ Johnson

PUBLISHER: Peachtree Publishers

RELEASE DATE: April 1, 2011

PAGES: 288

MY RATING: 3.5/5

GOODREADS SUMMARY: This girl is different… That’s what Evie has always told herself—and it’s true. Home-schooled by her counter culture mom, she’s decided to see what high school is like for the first time—for her senior year. And what a year it is.

As it turns out, it’s not just Evie who’s Different. Lots of people are. Many of her assumptions about others are turned on their heads as she makes friends with kids her own age for the first time, discovers what’s good and what’s bad about high school, and learns lessons about power and its abuse—both by the administration and by Evie herself.

OVERALL IMPRESSION: This was a good book. I have recently started watching the show Gossip Girl, and this book reminded me of it what with the whole online gossip blog. This book was a good example of standing up for what you believe in, but also figuring out the right way to do that without hurting people along the way. Overall, a great story with a good lesson.

CHARACTERS: I liked all of the characters in this book. While they got into some petty arguments, they were all honest with each other for the most part.

COVER: 3/5 This was an okay cover. I'm not sure if it would catch my attention on a shelf next to a bunch of other books, but it definitely ties into the story line.

*I received a copy of this book from netgalley.

Silent Echoes by Carla Jablonski Review

2011-01-05T14:22:00.005-08:00

TITLE: Silent Echoes

AUTHOR: Carla Jablonski

PUBLISHER: Razorbill

PAGES: 344

MY RATING: 4/5

INSIDE COVER BLURB: Sixteen-year-old Lucy Phillips lives with her father in nineteenth-century Manhattan where together they concoct schemes and cons to make a living. Then Lucy hears a real "spirit" speak to her at a seance packed with wealthy socialites, and she quickly gains fame and fortune as a talented medium who can share valuable knowledge about the future.

In modern-day New York City, Lindsay Miller is terrified by the girl's voice she's started hearing in her head. Worried she's losing her mind, Lindsay finally admits what's happening, and she's hospitalized for schizophrenia.

But when the two girls realize they are hearing each other's voices across time, they begin to see possibilities that will change both of their lives forever....

Author Carla Jablonski weaves together the riveting stories of two girls who live centuries apart into one unforgettable novel.

OVERALL IMPRESSION: I loved this book. It was so much fun to read. I loved the way the author wove the two stories together and that we got to see the story from two different sides. It was really interesting to be able to compare the life that I am more familiar with to the life from back in the nineteenth century. The ending of the book made me really happy too. I don't want to give anything away, but I'm glad it ended the way it did.

COVER: I'd give the cover a 3/5. I'm not sure who the girl on the cover is supposed to be, but I like to think it's a combination of the two girls, which I think is a great idea if that is the case.

CHARACTERS: I loved both the characters of Lucy and Lindsay. They had a lot in common both being teenage girls, but they were also so different because of the things they've grown up around.

Nothing But The Truth by Avi Review

2011-01-05T13:58:00.008-08:00

TITLE: Nothing But The Truth

AUTHOR: AVI

PUBLISHER: Scholastic Inc.

PAGES: 177

MY RATING: 1.5/5

BACK COVER BLURB: Ninth grader Philip Malloy has one thing on his mind: running. When a failing English grade keeps him from joining the track team, he believes his teacher, Miss Narwin, has it in for him. One morning during announcements, he disregards the school's policy of observing "The Star-Spangled Banner: in respectful silence and hums along, hooping to get transferred out of her class. Little does he know that his minor infraction will make him the subject of national media attention. What truly happened that morning in Miss Narwin's class? Examine the events and reach your own conclusion. But--can you swear to tell the truth and nothing but the truth?

OVERALL IMPRESSION: I did not enjoy this book at all. The only reason I finished it was because it was short and a very quick read. The plot angered me and the story never really went anywhere. I just feel like more could have been done with the storyline. It was boring and nothing got accomplished.

COVER: I do like the cover of the book. I love that it's simple and that they used the word to The Star Spangled Banner in the form of a flag; I think that's pretty clever.

CHARACTERS: Philip was an okay character. I understand that he is young and doesn't fully grasp the severity of the situation, but I feel like he could have spoke up at the end of the story. I did not like Philip's dad. It seems like this whole situation could have been avoided if Philip's dad did not push him so hard to talk to their neighbor when obviously Philip was reluctant to do so. I also did not really enjoy the character of Miss Narwin. I feel like she should have tried a little harder to stand up for herself instead of just rolling over and taking it.

*I won this book in a contest at www.teenreads.com

Dakota Child by Linda Ford Review

2011-01-02T19:26:00.006-08:00

TITLE: Dakota Child

AUTHOR: Linda Ford

PUBLISHER: Steeple Hill

PAGES: 270

MY RATING: 3/5

*I received this book from Tellharlequin.

BACK COVER BLURB: Trapped in a North Dakota blizzard, single mother Vivian Halliday's prayer for herself and her child is answered. Rescue comes in the seemingly terrifying form of Billy Black, the hulk of a man feared by all the townsfolk. Yet in the home he shares with his ailing mother, the handsome, gentle giant warms her baby's bottles and sings sweet lullabies that lull even Vivian to peaceful sleep.

When the storm abates and it is safe to leave, will she seek the life that led her back to the village or stay where she's found an unexpected family for herself and her Dakota child?

Overall Impression: This was a pretty good read. I found myself cheering for the two main characters throughout the book hoping that they would be able to figure everything out.

Cover: I loved this cover compared to most other romance novel covers. The cover was very sweet and made me feel warm and cozy.

Characters: I really like the character of Billy. I love his protectiveness of his mother and how he was determined to be nice to everyone and always do the right thing. I was also very intrigued by the character of Billy's mom. Her story really interested me and if I could have it my way another book would be written about what happened to her when she was captured and how she handled living through everything.

2011 Debut Author Challenge!

2010-12-19T13:12:00.004-08:00

Hey guys. I've pretty much stopped blogging all together. I just don't have the time to do it any more. That being said, I would love to be able to participate in the 2011 debut author challenge hosted by the Story Siren. So what I'm going to do is participate in the challenge, but also post my reviews on Goodreads and Amazon that way people will actually get to read them as I know I don't have a lot of traffic to my blog.

As for the list of books I'm hoping to read, I have no idea what I'm going to read, there's so many that look so great. I'm just going to be adding books as I pick them up to read them.

So, if you want to participate too head over to The Story Siren.

1. This Girl is Different by JJ Johnson (Blog) (Goodreads) (Amazon)

Awesome Contest!

2010-06-02T09:32:00.004-07:00

Leilani from Leilani Loves Books is having a 100 Follower and Birthday Bash!! Lots of contests and prizes. Info taken straight from her blog:

Hey Guys!!
Yes! I am super close too 100 followers and my birthday is coming up!
So, in honor to this I am having a 100 follower Birthday Bash!
Here's how it works:
Starting June 11th to August 13th (my birthday) I am going to have a list of contests. On August 13th I will have the names of all of the winners.
I will have separate posts for each contest and their will be rules there.

So Click the Button below to join in the fun.

Giving the Moon

2010-05-27T07:30:00.000-07:00

Giving the moon - www.givingthemoon.com

“Giving the Moon” is a book of short stories on the thin line between life and dream, between reality and fiction. Several have already been published online and in print, some published for the first time. The book is due to be published in a few weeks, but the site is already up, with some sample stories.

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Muffins and Mayhem

2010-05-18T13:52:00.010-07:00

TITLE: Muffins and Mayhem (ARC)

AUTHOR: Suzanne Beecher

PUBLISHER: Touchstone

RELEASE DATE: June 2010

PAGES: 230

MY RATING: (3.5 out of 5)

BACK COVER BLURB: More than 350,000 people have joined Suzanne Beecher's online book club at DearReader.com and her daily column--which offers her candid, thought-provoking reflections on life--has inspired countless readers. But it was on of her readers who inspired her: A forty-three-year-old mother of three who was dying of cancer asked Suzanne for advice on what she could leave behind to help and guide her children after she was gone.

Deeply affected by the woman's story, Suzanne recalled the photo albums and recipe box passed on by her grandmother. She urged the woman to create a similar cache of memories for her three kids--and the idea for this book was born.

Gathering thirty wonderful recipes and the memories surrounding them, Suzanne shows us the author as a child who learned to cook when she was just eight years old while singing backup to the Monkees, a woman who struggled with difficult parents, a hardworking mom who loved making cookies for her kids, a recovering addict, and a writer who has learned much along the way by remembering that love is the most important thing in life.

This beautifully written celebrating of food, friends, and family will nourish Suzanne's numerous fans and those who have yet to discover her simple, homespun magic.

MY REVIEW: I had so much fun reading this book. I love that the book is a compilation of a bunch of short stories all rolled into one bigger story--the story of Suzanne's life. Some of the stories were sad, but Suzanne was able to overcome those situations to become the person she is today. Most of the stories were humerous and made me crack a smile. I loved looking at the pictures at the beginning of each chapter and the recipes at the end of the chapters made my mouth water. I cannot wait to try the cinnamon roll recipe and the candy cane cookies recipe. The only complaint I have about this book is that I wish there was an index in the back for each of the recipes that way I could find them easily.

*I was provided a copy of this book by BookTrib.com.

Before I Fall

2010-05-06T08:38:00.008-07:00

TITLE: Before I Fall

AUTHOR: Lauren Oliver

PUBLISHER: HarperCollins

PAGES: 470

MY RATING: (2 out of 5)

INSIDE COVER BLURB: What if you had only 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.

MY REVIEW: I did not enjoy this book as much as I wanted to. I had read lots of greats reviews of everyone loving this book so I had high hopes for it, but it just wasn't great for me. Reliving the same day over and over, while there were some differences, overall the same series of events seemed to happen to often. I thought most of the characters were way too shallow and the ending didn't leave me satisfied at all. On a positive note, I really love the cover of the book :)

Pretty Little Liars 1-4

2010-05-06T08:11:00.012-07:00

TITLE: Pretty Little Liars (1), Flawless (2), Perfect (3), Unbelievable (4)

AUTHOR: Sara Shepard

PUBLISHER: HarperTeen

MY RATING: (3 out of 5)

SUMMARY (from Amazon): Among the mega mansions and perfectly manicured hedges of Rosewood, Pennsylvania, everyone has something to hid--especially four very pretty little liars.

High school juniors Spencer, Hannah, Aria, and Emily have been keeping secrets ever since their best friend, Alison DiLaurentis, disappeared three years ago. But when the girls begin receiving threatening notes from someone named "A," their secrets--the big ones, the little ones, even the long-buried ones--no longer seem safe.

MY REVIEW: I had been wanting to read this series for a while and I came across the first four books on the bargain table at Books-A-Million so I couldn't pass them by. I enjoyed this series so much. The characters each have their own personality and they are all easy to relate to. My favorite part about the books is the note at the very end left by "A" just for us. I think that's really unique, and it definitely made me want to read the next book that much faster. I hope that I'm able to pick up the rest of the books from this series soon and I'm really looking forward to the TV show that's coming out in June.

Amazing Contest Craze over at Princess Bookie!

2010-04-10T15:40:00.001-07:00

Princess Bookie is having an amazing contest craze with contests all day long today! Don't miss out!

My Big Nose and Other Natural Disasters

2010-03-10T14:39:00.010-08:00

TITLE: My Big Nose and Other Natural Disasters (ARC)

AUTHOR: Sydney Salter

PUBLISHER: Graphia

PAGES: 345

MY RATING: (3 out of 5)

BACK COVER BLURB: For Jory Michaels, it all comes down to her nose. The big, bumpy monstrosity she calls the Super Schnozz makes her feel different from everyone--her classically good-looking family, her cute-as-a-button best friends, and her gorgeous crush. Jory wants nothing more than the join the "Nice Nose Club" before the start of her senior year. So she gets a job delivering wedding cakes to save up for a nose job at the end of the summer. She even keeps a notebook filled with magazine cutouts of perfect noses to show the doctor. But Jory's quest for cosmetic perfection is unexpectedly derailed when she discovers the people she longs to be like are not as perfect as they seem; and she finally finds a place--and a person--that make her feel like she fits in.

In her hilarious and heartbreaking debut novel, Sydney Salter delivers a story about broadening your horizons, accepting yourself, and finding love right under your nose.

MY REVIEW: This book was so much fun to read. The main character, Jory, is awkward, clumsy, and unconfident--basically a normal girl for her age. These characteristics caused Jory to create some happenings in the book that almost made me feel like I was on a ride at an amusement park because of all of the emotions that went along with the events. I enjoyed the fact that Jory isn't perfect, it allowed me to relate to the story in a way that does not usually happen for me.

I won this book in a contest at Writer Musings.

Book Review Wednesdays

The Vampire Watcher's Handbook

2010-03-10T14:28:00.009-08:00

TITLE: The Vampire Watcher's Handbook

AUTHOR: Constantine Gregory

PUBLISHER: Piatkus Books

PAGES: 160

MY RATING: (3 out of 5)

GOODREADS SUMMARY: The Vampire Watcher's Handbook presents a wealth of information on the lore and history of vampires, covers all the various major traditions of this much-discussed revenant. From how to dis-tinquish a 'real' vampire from a 'wannabee' (which helps avoid those embarrassing staking mistakes), to effective means of escap-ing unscathed the clutches of a ravenous creature of the night, this is a comprehensive look at the ways and means of the Undead. The Vampire Watcher's Handbook is 'reprinted' from a turn-of-the-century compendium of the craft, complete with the annota-tions of the book's original owner (whose name and fate remain unknown). For those who wish to pursue a career path as the scourge of the vampires, it includes lists of necessary equipment and essential knowledge for hunting and retiring all the various types of bloodsucking fiends (stakes and holy water not pro-vided). But it also includes many useful tips for those for whom bird watching and trainspotting have lost their charm and who now wish to observe in their natural habitat this most compelling of unnatural creatures, without ending up on the dinner menu.

MY REVIEW: This was a really fun book to read. The pages were filled with handwritten notes throughout the margins, making it look as if this book was someone's personal journal. It was really interesting to learn about the history of vampires and the differences in vampires throughout different countries.

Book Review Wednesdays

Amazing Contest at Bloody Bookaholic

2010-02-28T12:08:00.001-08:00

You don't want to miss this one!

As of now there are going to be 7 winners and up to 28 books. It is big, it is weird, it is awesome!

Winner number 7 gets 1 book.
Winner number 6 gets 2 books.
Winner number 5 gets 3 books.
Winner number 4 gets 4 books.
Winner number 3 gets 5 books.
Winner number 2 gets 6 books.
Winner number 1 gets 7 book.

This one is the biggie. When we get all the way to 7 YOU get to choose your books and not from the list, but from either The Book Depository or Amazon. (There's a limit of 10 dollars per book).

And there's more! If I get to 800 followers I will add books (the amount will depend). Same as if I get to 850 or 900.

http://bloodybookaholic.blogspot.com/2010/02/ridiculously-awesome-contest.html

Win a Nook!

2010-02-25T11:13:00.003-08:00

Enter at: http://shilohwalker.com/excerpt_broken.htm

Shattered

Quinn Rafferty is working as a bounty hunter and bail bondsman in St. Louis when a new neighbor catches his eye. He’s tempted by her beauty—but he knows from experience that anyone desperate enough to live in his building is damaged goods. Besides, he has his own soul to mend before he can worry about anyone else.

Desperate

Sara Davis is on the run, but not for the usual reasons a woman goes on the lam. She’s not an abused wife, and she’s not a criminal. But she does have a plan for her future. And as much as she finds herself attracted to her gruff, tough neighbor, she can’t risk telling him the secrets she’s hiding. There’s just too much at stake.

Driven to desire…

But Quinn must get closer to Sara when she turns out to be the target of his new missing persons case, and he discovers that there is something more complex and dangerous to her than he thought. Now, both Quinn and Sara will have to expose their true feelings—as well as their fragile hearts—if they hope their love will survive…

EXCERPT
He opened the door—

And stopped dead in his tracks as somebody all but fell into his arms. Somebody…a woman. And not Theresa.

He caught her just above her elbows, automatically steadying her.

“I’m sorry,” she said, her voice soft and low.

Then she lifted her face and Quinn found himself gazing into the biggest, brownest eyes he’d ever seen in his life. Feeling a little dazed, he studied her face while she stammered out another apology.

Quinn barely heard it.

He was too busy staring at her mouth. A very pretty mouth, a cupid’s bow mouth slicked with deep, vibrant red. Under his hands, he could feel silken smooth skin and unable to resist, he stroked a thumb along her inner arm.

Her skin was soft, soft and warm. He was also pretty sure she had the creamiest, most flawless skin imaginable. Her shoulder-length hair was a shade caught between blonde and brown, nondescript, but for some reason, he found himself thinking about tangling his fingers in that hair and holding her head still while he kissed that red-slicked mouth.

Well, hello…

YA Reading Challenge

2010-02-01T07:25:00.014-08:00

The Mini--Read 12 Young Adult Novels

My Progress:
13/12

My List:
1. Shiver by Maggie Stiefvater
2. The Dark Divine by Bree Despain
3. Kissed by an Angel by Elizabeth Chandler
4. Night World No. 1 by L.J. Smith
5. My Big Nose & Other Natural Disasters by Sydney Salter
6. If I Stay by Gayle Forman

7. Sing Me To Sleep by Angela Morrison

8. Fallen (ARC) by Lauren Kate

9. Beautiful Creatures (ARC) by Kami Garcia & Margaret Stohl

10. Demon Princess: Reign or Shine (ARC) by Michelle Rowen

11. Three Witches (ARC) by Paula Jolin

12. Magic Under Glass by Jaclyn Dolamore

13. Wherever Nina Lies by Lynn Weingarten

Click on the Links for my reviews.

100+ Reading Challenge

2010-02-01T07:20:00.041-08:00

My Progress:
60/100

My List:

1. Shiver by Maggie Stiefvater
2. The Dark Divine by Bree Despain

3. Kissed by an Angel by Elizabeth Chandler

4. The Power Of Love by Elizabeth Chandler

5. Soulmates by Elizabeth Chandler

6. Night World No. 1: Secret Vampie by L.J. Smith

7. Night World No. 1: Daughters of Darkness by L.J. Smith

8. Night World No. 1: Spellbinder by L.J. Smith

9. Neverwhere by Neil Gaiman

10. Freaks and Revelations by Davida Wills Hurwin

11. My Big Nose & Other Natural Disasters by Sydney Salter

12. The Vampire Watcher's Notebook by Craig Glenday

13. Sing Me To Sleep by Angela Morrison

14. Fallen (ARC) by Lauren Kate

15. If I Stay by Gayle Forman

16. Beautiful Creatures by Kami Garcia & Margaret Stohl

17. Demon Princess: Reign or Shine (ARC) by Michelle Rowen

18. Three Witches (ARC) by Paula Jolin

19. Magic Under Glass by JAclyn Dolamore

20. Wherever Nina Lies by Lynn Weingarten

21. Pretty Little Liars by Sara Shepard

22. Flawless by Sara Shepard

23. Perfect by Sara Shepard

24. Unbelievable by Sara Shepard

25. The Hollow by Jessica Verday

26. The Warrior Heir by Cinda Williams Chima

27. Before I fall by Lauren Oliver
28. The Wizard Heir by Cinda Williams Chima

29. Muffins and Mayhem (ARC) by Suzanne Beecher
30. How To Be Popular by Meg Cabot

31. Confessions of a Triple Shot Betty by Jody Gehrman

32. Under the Dome by Stephen King

33. My Almost Epic Summer by Adele Griffen

34. I Was A Teenage Popsicle by Bev Katz Rosenbaum

35. Wake by Lisa McMann

36. After the Kiss by Terra Elan McVoy
37. I Has A Hotdog

38. Keep Sweet by Michele Dominguez Greene

39. The Poker Diaries by Liza Conrad

40. Stupid Cupid by Rhonda Stapleton

41. The Fallen by Thomas E. Sniegoski

42. Leviathan by Thomas E. Sniegoski

43. The Iron King by Julie Kagawa

44. Hard Love by Ellen Wittlinger

45. After by Amy Efaw

46. Night World No. 2: Dark Angel by L.J. Smith

47. Night World No. 2: The Chosen by L.J. Smith

48. Night World No. 2: Soulmates by L.J. Smith

49. One Night That Changes Everything (ARC) by Lauren Barnholdt

50. Tell Me A Secret by Holly Cupala

51. Night World No. 3: Huntress by L.J. Smith

52. Night World No. 3: Black Dawn by L.J. Smith

53. Night World No. 3: Witchlight by L.J. Smith

54. Wish by Alexandra Bullen

55. Public Affair, Secretly Expecting by Heidi Rice

56. Wild Fling or a Wedding Ring? by Mira Lyn Kelly

47. Caleb + Kate by Cindy Martinusen-Coloma

48. Avalon High by Meg Cabot

49. City of Bones by Cassandra Clare
50. City of Ashes by Cassandra Clare
51. City of Glass by Cassandra Clare
52. Remember me by Christopher Pike
53. The Return by Christopher Pike
54. The Last Story by Christopher Pike
55. Swoon by Nina Malkin
56. Dead Until Dark by Charlaine Harris
57. Sweethearts by Sara Zarr
58. Lock and Key by Sarah Dessen
59. 32AA by Michelle Cunnah
60. Five Things I can't Live without by Holly Shumas

Click on the links for my review.

So I was 40 books short. I had a lot going on this year though with moving and everything so hopefully this year I can do better!

The Dark Divine

2010-01-30T06:59:00.010-08:00

TITLE: The Dark Divine

AUTHOR: Bree Despain

PAGES: 372

MY RATING: (4 out of 5)

INSIDE COVER BLURB: Grace Divine--daughter of the local pastor--always knew something terrible happened the night Daniel Kalbi disappeared and her brother Jude came home covered in his own blood.

Now that Daniel's returned, Grace must choose between her growing attraction to him and her loyalty to her brother.

As Grace gets closer to Daniel, she learns the truth about that mysterious night and how to save the ones she loves, but it might cost her the one thing she cherishes most: her soul.

MY REVIEW:First of all, I absolutely love the cover of this book. I am obsessed with purple and I really like covers that are dark and fairly simple.

I really enjoyed reading this book. It was suspenseful throughout the entire story. I was a little bit confused throughout the first part of the story as to what was going on, but that's what made the story good for me. I didn't have any major clues early on as to what was going to happen when I got further into the book. The ending of the book left the story open for a sequel, which I hope will be out soon because I cannot wait to see what happens next (assuming there's going to be a sequel).

I won this book in a giveaway at Fantastic Book Review and it was personally signed to me.

Book Review Wednesdays

Shiver

2010-01-22T11:58:00.006-08:00

TITLE: Shiver

AUTHOR: Maggie Stiefvater

PUBLISHER: Scholastic Press

PAGES: 390

MY RATING: (4 out of 5)

INSIDE COVER BLURB: The Cold.

Grace has spent years watching the wolves in the woods behind her house. One yellow-eyed wolf--her wolf--watches back. He feels deeply familiar to her, but she doesn't know why.

The Heat.

Sam has lived two lives. As a wolf, he keeps the silent company of the girl he loves. And then, for a short time each year, he is human, never daring to talk to Grace...until now.

The Shiver.

For Grace and Sam, love has always been kept at a distance. But once it's spoken, it cannot be denied. Sam must fight to stay human--and Grace must fight to keep him--even if it means taking on the scars of the past, the fragility of the present, and the impossibility of the future.

MY REVIEW: First of all, I love that the writing in this book is in blue ink instead of black, that's just awesome :). The book itself was a very good read. I liked how it was written from both of their sides so that you could see each of their views on what was happening. The story moved fairly quickly and kept me wondering if and when Sam would change into a wolf again. I think the only problem that I had with this book was how fast Sam and Grace seemed to fall in love. I know that they had watched each other for many years before Grace knew that it was Sam that was the wolf, but to me it seemed they moved rather quickly and there was no build up of their relationship.

I'm looking forward to the next book, Linger, and I wonder if it will have green ink in the pages as the cover is green :0

Book Review Wednesdays

Kissed by an Angel

2010-01-21T12:31:00.009-08:00

TITLE: Kissed by An Angel

AUTHOR: Elizabeth Chandler

PAGES: Book 1-230, Book 2-225, Book 3-235

MY RATING: (5 out of 5)

BACK COVER BLURB: A love beyond life...a danger beyond that.

When her boyfriend, Tristan, died, Ivy thought she'd lost everything, even her faith in angels. But now she's discovered that he's her guardian angel--his presence so strong that she can feel the touch of his hand, the beat of his heart. Ivy needs Tristan now more than ever because he knows she's in terrible danger. Only Ivy's guardian angel can save her, now that his killer is after her.

But if Tristan rescues Ivy, his mission on earth will be finished, and he must leave her behind forever. Will saving Ivy mean losing her just when he's finally reached her again?

MY REVIEW: I absolutely loved this book. It's actually three books in one: Kissed by an Angel, The Power of Love, and Soulmates. I think that if I had picked up the first part of the story as a book all by itself, it wouldn't have been as good. The first book starts out building up the relationship between Ivy and Tristan, and because after reading the back of the book I knew that Tristan was going to die, I was kind of just waiting for that to happen. I guess I wish I hadn't read the back of the book because it did give a lot away. But either way, I still really enjoyed the book. I loved the relationship between Ivy and Tristan. You could tell it was pure and true. As I read the book I could feel the feelings of both Tristan and Ivy (the book is told from both of their perspectives, jumping back and forth). Great book overall.

http://cymlowell.blogspot.com/2010/03/book-review-party-wednesday-starts.html

Eye Contact

2010-01-16T06:41:00.007-08:00

TITLE: Eye Contact

AUTHOR: Cammie McGovern

PAGES: 288

MY RATING: (4 out of 5)

INSIDE COVER BLURB: As children wage mock battles in the playground of Woodside Elementary School, two students, a little girl and boy, seem to vanish, last seen heading across the soccer field toward the woods behind the school. Hours pass and then only one of them, Adam, a nine-year-old boy with autism, is found alive, the sole witness to an incomprehensible killing. Barely verbal on the best of days, Adam has retreated into a silent world that Cara, his mother, knows only too well. With her community in shock and her son unable to help with the police investigation, Cara tries to decode the puzzling events.

When another child goes missing, Adam's mother realizes that only she can unlock her son's silence and interpret the changes in Adam's behavior not only to help him through the trauma, but also to help the police catch a killer. And as she moves closer to exposing the truth, her unsettling past begins to emerge from the shadows. In her desperate desire to protect her child from real life, has she made his world a more dangerous place?

A thrilling novel of psychological suspense and a gripping tale of a crime that strikes at the core of a small community, Cammie McGovern's heartrending novel is, above all, the powerful story of the tender and complex bond between a mother and her young son.

MY REVIEW: I had never heard of this book or this author before, but stumbled upon the book at a bookstore in the bargain bin, and I'm really glad that I found it. The book was suspenseful the whole way through. I found myself wondering throughout the whole book if anyone was ever going to be able to get Adam, who is autistic, to tell what happened that day in the woods. I would definitely recommend this one to everyone.

Book Review Wednesdays

Graceling

2010-01-04T11:47:00.005-08:00

TITLE: Graceling

AUTHOR: Kristin Cashore

PAGES: 471

MY RATING: (2 out of 5)

BACK COVER BLURB: Katsa has been able to kill a man with her bare hands since she was eight--she's a Graceling, one of the rare people in her land born with an extreme skill. As niece of the king, she should be able to live a life of privilege, but Graced as she is with killing, she is forced to work as the king's thug.

When she first meets Prince Po, Graced with combat skills, Katsa has no hint of how her life is about to change.

She never expects to become Po's friend.

She never expects to learn a new truth about her own Grace--or about a terrible secret that lies hidden far away...

MY REVIEW: I've seen so many great reviews of this book and how everyone loved it, but I just couldn't get into it. I really wanted to be able to like this book, and I hoped it would get better as I read further into it, but it didn't. I don't know, it was a very good idea for a story and Cashore's writing was fine, but the story line didn't do enough for me. It was very slow moving and it didn't seem like there was much going on in the story. I just think the story line could have been 'beefed up' a little more; adding in more action instead of just a long walk through the forest.

Anyone else have any opinions on this one?

Dizzy

2010-01-04T11:36:00.006-08:00

TITLE: Dizzy

AUTHOR: Cathy Cassidy

PAGES: 247

MY RATING: (3 out of 5)

BACK COVER BLURB: It's Dizzy's birthday. Every year she looks forward to only one thing. Not a huge present. Not a fabulous party. Not even a cake. Just a letter, or a small homemade something. It isn't what comes every year, it's who it comes from. Dizzy hasn't seen her mother in eight years, and the only time she hears from her is on her birthday. It's the only thing she has ever been able to count on from her mother her whole life. But this year Dizzy's mom has a surprise for her. And Dizzy will never be the same....

MY REVIEW: This was a really cute book. It was very predictable, but it was still really good. It didn't take me very long to read it, as it's a pretty short book, but I enjoyed every minute of it. The character relationships are interesting and the whole book was just fun.

After

2009-12-15T11:07:00.007-08:00

TITLE: After

AUTHOR: Francine Prose

PAGES: 330

MY RATING: (4 out of 5)

INSIDE COVER BLURB: The shootings in Pleasant Valley were fifty miles away, but at Central High a grief and crisis counselor is hired, security is increased, and privileges are being taken away.

No one knows why.

If you break the new rules the punishment is severe. And the rules keep changing every day.

School feels like a prison.

It's for their protection, yet fifteen-year-old Tom Bishop and his friends learn that things are far more sinister than they seem. Students and teachers begin disappearing.

There's no way to stop it.

Nationally best-selling and acclaimed author Francine Prose has written a haunting novel about what happens when protection goes too far and what it means to have freedom extinguished--in the name of safety.

MY REVIEW: I loved every minute of this book. The subject matter is so scary based on the fact that something like this could actually happen, and how easily it would be to accomplish something like this. The only thing that I would say I didn't like was the ending of the book. It seems as though it was left open for the possibility of a sequel, but I don't think it was. Now, if a sequel ever does come out, I'll be the first one there to buy it. Basically, this book is worth your time to read.

Just Listen

2009-12-15T10:54:00.006-08:00

TITLE: Just Listen

AUTHOR: Sarah Dessen

PAGES: 371

MY RATING: (2.5 out of 5)

BACK COVER BLURB: Annabel Greene is the girl who has everything. At least, that's what she portrays in her modeling shoots. But Annabel's life is far from perfect. Her friendship with Sophie ended bitterly, and her older sister's eating disorder is weighing down the entire family. Isolated and ostracized at school and at home, Annabel retreats into silen acceptance. Then she meets Owen--intense, music-obsessed, and determined to always tell the truth. And with his guidance, Annabel learns to just listen to herself and gains the courage to speak honestly. But will she be able to tell everyone what really happened the night she and Sophie stopped being friends?

MY REVIEW: This book was okay for me. I've been wanting to read a Sarah Dessen book for a long time and I finally got a hold of one. I do hope that the next book of hers that I read is a little bit better and holds my interest more. With all of that said, the book wasn't bad. It was alittle bit slow and slightly predictable, but a predictable book can be good sometimes. I've definately not lost hope for Dessen though and will be seeking out another of her books to read.

The Diary

2009-12-15T10:37:00.008-08:00

TITLE: The Diary (Large Print Edition)

AUTHOR: Eileen Goudge

PAGES: 310

MY RATING: (3.5 out of 5)

INSIDE COVER BLURB: A bestselling author known for her storytelling prowess, "Goudge's characters leap from the page ready to engage readers" (The Denver Rocky Mountain News), and never more so than in The Diary, that begins when two sisters searching in their mother's attic are given the shock of their lives...

Elizabeth Marshall's grown daughters had no idea their mother's old diary would turn the image of their parent's happy marriage upside down. For upon reading the opening pages, they learn that the love of their mother's life was not their father! And the desperate-to-know answers to their questions reside with Elizabeth who, after a massive stroke, lies mute and near death in a nursing home. Will pages of her diary provide the truth they seek?

MY REVIEW: I had a good time reading this book. It seemed like a really fast read for me because I have never read a large print edition before, so it felt like I was flipping through the pages pretty fast, but then I guess I would have been even if it wasn't a large print book. The story line was very intriguing and kept you wondering what was going to happen next in the mother's diary and how her two daughters were going to react to it. Reading this book reminds you that everyone has a past, even your own parents. It makes me wonder about the past experiences of my parents before they met.

The Wrong Mother

2009-11-28T15:10:00.007-08:00

Title: The Wrong Mother

Author: Sophie Hannah

Pages: 416

My Rating:
(out of 5)

Goodreads.com Summary: Sally Thorning is watching the news with her husband when she hears and un-expected name-Mark Bretherick. It's a name she shouldn't know, but last year Sally treated herself to a secret vacation-away from her hectic family life-and met a man. After their brief affair, the two planned to never meet. But now, Mark's wife and daughter are dead-and the safety of Sally's old family is in doubt. Sophie Hannah established herself as a new master of psychological suspense with her previous novel, Little Face. Now with accomplished prose and plot guaranteed to keep readers guessing, The Wrong Mother is Hannah's most captivating work yet.

My Review: I could not get enough of this book. After I read my copy I put it somewhere and I can't seem to find it, hence the summary from Goodreads instead of the inside cover blurb today, so let me summarize the book a little bit more. Basically, Sally Thorning goes away on vacation and has an affair with a man name Mark Bretherick. Some time later, she is watching the news and it shows that Mark's wife and daughter are both dead, but the man claiming to be Mark on t.v. isn't the same man who Sally had an affair with.

The book is a murder mystery and keeps you guess at every turn. This was definately a book that I did not want to stop reading. It's very suspenseful and I kept needing to know what was going to happen next. There were many things that I didn't understand in the beginning of the book that I just had to keep reading to untangle the mystery.

The Otherworldlies

2009-11-23T08:22:00.004-08:00

Title: The Otherworldlies

Author: Jennifer Anne Kogler

Pages: 383

My Rating: 2 out of 5

Inside Cover Blurb: Fern communicates with her dog, blisters from just moments in the sun, and has correctly predicted the daily weather for more than two years. Even so, she's always seemed to be a normal twelve-year-old girl...until one day when Fern closes her eyes in class and opens them seconds later on a sandy beach miles away from school. When Fern disappears again, this time to a place far more dangerous, she begins to realize exactly how different she is.

With the help of her twin brother, Sam, Fern struggles to gain control of her supernatural powers. The arrival of a sinister vampire in town--who seems to have an alarming interest in Fern's powers--causes Fern to question her true identity. Who is she? More importantly, who can she count on? Soon Fern finds herself in the middle of a centuries-old battle--one that could destroy Fern and endanger everyone she loves.

My Review: I had a hard time getting into this book. There have been a lot of vampire books gaining popularity recently, and I like many others, have found myself wanting to read them all. This book had great potential to be a wonderful read, but I believe it fell short. The story was extremely slow moving, especially in the beginning. We don't learn about Fern's powers until about halfway into the book, and then we don't even really see her getting the hang of them until even later than that. I just believe that there could have been more going on throughout the book--more action maybe.

Ruined

2009-11-13T08:32:00.004-08:00

Title: Ruined: A Novel

Author: Paula Morris

Pages: 309

My Rating:
Inside Cover Blurb: Rebecca Brown couldn't feel more out of place in New Orleans, where she comes to live while her dad is away on business. She's staying in a creepy house with her aunt Claudia, who reads tarot cards for a living. And at the snooty prep school, a pack of filthy-rich girls treat Rebecca like she's invisible. Only gorgeous, unavailable Anton Grey seems to give Rebecca the time of day, but she wonders if he's got a hidden agenda.
Then one night, among the oak trees in Lafayette Cemetery, Rebecca makes a friend. Sweet, mysterious Lisette is eager to show Rebecca the nooks and crannies of New Orleans. There's just one catch.
Lisette is a ghost.
A ghost with a deep, dark secret, and a serious score to settle.
As Rebecca learns more from her ghost friend--and as she begins to trust Anton Grey--she also uncovers startling truths about her own history. Will Rebecca be able to right the wrongs of the past, or has everything been ruined beyond repair?
My Review:
I won this book in a giveaway contest hosted by Lauren at Shooting Stars Mag.
I enjoyed this book. It was a fun and cute read. The character moves to New Orleans while her dad is away in China. From the beginning you can see there is something odd going on with the families that live in the town. I think that's what made this book so enjoyable for me. The entire time I was reading it, I just wanted to know what the connection was between the main character (Rebecca) and the rest of the town. I wanted to know what everyone was keeping from her.

The Impostor's Daughter by Laurie Sandell

2009-11-04T05:30:00.004-08:00

Title: The Impostor's Daughter

Author: Laurie Sandell

Pages: 247

My Rating: (Out of 5)

Inside Cover Blurb: Laurie Sandell grew up in awe -- and sometimes in terror -- of her larger-than-life father. A former Green Beret with a law degree, a PhD, and fluency in several languages, he told dazzling tales of life in Buenos Aires, heroism in Vietnam, friendships with Henry Kissinger and the pope. In her childhood drawings, Laurie placed her father prominently among the faces on Mount Rushmore and herself ant-sized, gazing up at him. Beguiled and repelled by outrageous behavior, she grew into a young woman as restless as her father, roaming the globe, trying on her own outsized personalities -- Tokyo stripper, seduces of Yeshiva girls, yogi, Ambien addict. Laurie finally lucked into the perfect job: Interviewing celebrities for a top women's magazine. Growing up with her extraordinary father gave her a knack for relating to the stars -- she slipped easily into their surreal worlds, having lived in one herself. Yet even after meating so many of entertainment's most intriguing people, it was her father she still desperately watned to understand.

Her investigation uncovered a staggering secret: her father wasn't the man he claimed to be, not even close. His unbelievable stories were in fact an extravagant collection of lies, the discovery of which shook Laurie to the core.

In The Impostor's Daughter, Laurie Sandell asks: if the man whose identity is the basis of my own is a fraud, then who am I? This is a brilliantly original and dramatic graphic memior, a father-daughter story as achingly loving and heartbreakingly honest as it is visually captivating.

My Review: I won a copy of this book in a contest by Park Avenue Princess.

This book only took me 2 days to finish. I didn't want to put it down; I just wanted to know what was going to happen next. I guess this book would be classified as a graphic novel, which I've never read one before. There is a lot of adult content in the book as well as a lot of nudity in the pictures, so this is not for young audiences.

Overall, I really enjoyed this book. It was funny and made me want to keep reading to find out the next thing that Laurie's dad was going to do.

Twisted by Laurie Halse Anderson

2009-09-28T20:24:00.010-07:00

TITLE: Twisted

Author: Laurie Halse Anderson

Pages: 250

My Rating: (out of 5)

Inside Cover Blurb: Everybody told me to be a man. Nobody told me how.

My Review: Well, there wasn't much on this book that told me what it was going to be about, but I saw the cover and loved it and knew I wanted to read it. I just really love the cover of this book. I found this book at a discount bookstore for $4.99 and had to buy a copy. This book is basically about a highschooler who gets into some trouble and has to deal with the consequences. There is a major even that happens partway through the book that this character has to deal with.

I really enjoyed reading this book. It was like many other YA books in the sense that it dealt with high school issues, but it was more indepth and dealt with tougher issues than normal. It only took me 2 days to read this book. I couldn't put it down; I wanted to know what was going to happen next.

First Entry

2009-09-24T20:23:00.001-07:00

This is my very first blog entry. I am going to use this blog to review books that I read. Bear with me as I try and finish a book to review for everyone.