Amanda (AnotherBookJunkie)

Review: Vanish, by Sophie Jordan

2011-08-06T08:00:00.049-05:00

Vanish, by Sophie Jordan
Publish Date: September 6, 2011
Publisher: HarperTeen
ISBN: 9780061935107
Genre: YA Fantasy
Pages: 304
Source: ARC for review
Series: Firelight #2

To save the life of the boy she loves, Jacinda did the unthinkable: She betrayed the most closely-guarded secret of her kind. Now she must return to the protection of her pride knowing she might never see Will again—and worse, that because his mind has been shaded, Will’s memories of that fateful night and why she had to flee are gone.

Back home, Jacinda is greeted with hostility and must work to prove her loyalty for both her sake and her family’s. Among the few who will even talk to her are Cassian, the pride’s heir apparent who has always wanted her, and her sister, Tamra, who has been forever changed by a twist of fate. Jacinda knows that she should forget Will and move on—that if he managed to remember and keep his promise to find her, it would only endanger them both. Yet she clings to the hope that someday they will be together again. When the chance arrives to follow her heart, will she risk everything for love?

In bestselling author Sophie Jordan’s dramatic follow-up to Firelight, forbidden love burns brighter than ever.

NOTE: This review was written on May 21, 2011, prepared for posting today. This review will most likely contain spoilers to Firelight, so if you haven't read that one, you should probably stop reading now.

My feelings toward Vanish are bittersweet. I love the world Sophie Jordan has created, and I devoured Vanish just as easily as I did Firelight. However, to put it bluntly, the endings piss me off. There is no climax followed up by falling action, in my opinion. It's more like the incredible build to a climax, only to end during said climax. Firelight's cliffhanger was a killer but it was tolerable. Vanish's cliffhanger left me raising my eyebrows.

Jacinda's indecisiveness was another thing that annoyed me in Vanish. She can't seem to figure out where she belongs, and once you think she has it figured out, she changes her mind. She also didn't stand up to some people that I personally think she should have told to suck it. People treat her like shit, and she allows it and even thinks she deserves it. Hell no.

We know how I feel about love triangles. I'm not going to go into that. However, it doesn't really bother me in Firelight. I don't know why, but I feel as though the pride life and the secondary characters provide enough entertainment for me to overlook the love triangle/square. It probably also helps that I absolutely love both Will and Cassian, and though I know who she'll end up with, I really have no idea who I want her to end up with.

You can't help but feel for every character in these books. (Well except for maybe the hunters and the pride leaders. They can go to hell.) But everyone else! Everyone is going through some sort of personal struggle and you can't help but wish there was a way to make a happy ending for everyone involved.

Despite the few times I wanted to reach into the book and slap Jacinda (or better yet, slap someone for Jacinda) I ate. it. up. There is never a dull moment in these books. Words are never wasted and we're never given more or less than we need, with action from beginning to end, you just don't want to put it down. And then it ends.

And then you die.

4.5/5 Stars

The Future of Another Book Junkie

2011-05-31T15:40:00.001-05:00

This will probably be the last post you'll see around here, for a while. I'm in the process of joining the girls at Good Choice Reading, though the details of that are being hammered out. It's unclear at this point whether I will be a permanent reviewer there, or just a guest reviewer. It's up to the girls, and it's their blog, so whatever they decide is fine with me.

I've been thinking about this for a while now. I almost just shut the blog down completely to remove myself from the book blogging world. To be honest, it feels like high school anymore, and it gets a little tiring. The fact that you can't say something in general without someone assuming it's about a particular blogger, and running to tell them as if it will somehow put me in my place, is just sad. Especially when you don't follow that blogger, or know anything about them. I'm not intimidated by anyone, anywhere. None of us are better than the rest. Thousands of followers doesn't make you better than the blogger with ten. I didn't deal with the cliques in high school, and I'm not dealing with them in blogging. (Please note that this opinion does not reflect the girls at Good Choice Reading in any way whatsoever.)

But that isn't really what this is about. It plays a role, but for the most part, I really just do not want to do anything more than reviewing. I'm only taking half a step back, of course, rather than removing myself completely. I'm not a fan of doing the memes (though I have nothing against those who do), and apparently I'm incapable of coming up with many other post ideas. I'm jaded, it's crystal clear at this point. Something else that is clear? My blog is dead. Guys, very very few even enter GIVEAWAYS. Which I'm fine with! My blog is dead because I'm an inconsistent blogger and believe me I understand that. I'm blaming no one for the crickets you hear.

So my plan is to just review. I'll review for Good Choice Reading, and help out with anything they want/need help with, and that's it. This blog will remain just as you're reading it now. I don't want to delete all of the reviews from the past, and who knows, maybe one day I'll feel like diving back in head first. I guess we'll see.

Thank you to anyone who has ever read a single thing I've written.
Ciao.

Review: Other Words for Love, by Lorraine Zago Rosenthal

2011-05-30T13:17:00.000-05:00

Other Words for Love, by Lorraine Zago Rosenthal
Published: January 11, 2011
Publisher: Delacorte
ISBN: 9780385739016
Genre: YA Contemporary
Pages: 368
Source: Library
Series: n/a

When an unexpected inheritance enables Ari to transfer to an elite Manhattan prep school, she makes a wealthy new friend, Leigh. Leigh introduces Ari to the glamorous side of New York--and to her gorgeous cousin, Blake. Ari doesn't think she stands a chance, but amazingly, Blake asks her out. As their romance heats up, they find themselves involved in an intense, consuming relationship. Ari's family worries that she is losing touch with the important things in life, like family, hard work, and planning for the future.

When misfortune befalls Blake's family, he pulls away, and Ari's world drains of color. As she struggles to get over the breakup, Ari must finally ask herself: were their feelings true love . . . or something else?

I wanted to like Other Words for Love. No, I wanted to love Other Words for Love.

Ari's story had a rocky start for me, with over a hundred pages passed before we meet the boy she is supposed to fall in an out of love with. This time was filled with family drama; her sister Evelyn's mood swings, Ari's lying down and taking this shit Evelyn dishes out, her lusting for her sister's husband, and a friend who is quite frankly, a shallow selfish bitch. Not to mention a mother whose character felt inconsistent. These characters are written well, so well that I found myself sick at my distaste for them. For me, this shine's a light on Lorraine's writing ability, to make me to have to take a step back and realize that these characters are fiction, and I can't go back in time and tell them they're all full of shit.

Before Ari meets Blake, she's already heavily lusting after two other guys, and it just didn't make me like her character anymore than I already did. Which was, not at all. I just didn't connect with her. Well developed? Yes. Likable? Not for me personally. She was driven purely by hormones, and I suppose that is the point, but I'm not a fan of these situations. When she wasn't worried about one of the various older men in her life, she was complaining about and/or jealous of a toddler. I just didn't like her. I found myself having to force my way through the novel at times, because my disconnect with Ari was so strong. She really wasn't any better than Summer, in my opinion.

I really couldn't connect with a single character, aside from Leigh. And even then, it wasn't a very strong connection and it was most likely the artist in her that I was drawn to. I'm not saying they weren't well-fleshed out characters, because they definitely were. I just didn't really like any of them, and it's not easy to read a story when there isn't a single character you genuinely like.

Other Words for Love is a well written, well plotted story about a girl just trying to find her way. Everything about the story feels painfully real. (Although, I must be honest, I do not understand the point of it being set in the 80's. Sure, AIDS played a small roll in the anxiety of Ari's choices, but those stakes would be just as high today, if not higher. I'm not going to focus much on that, however, because I don't know the true meaning behind the time period.) Even the ending isn't the fairy tale ending everyone is used to and vies for. If Lorraine were to tell me it wasn't fiction, I would probably believe her, because it is that realistic.

I guess at the end of the day, I didn't connect well with it because I didn't like the characters. It truly is beautifully crafted with characters you'll probably either love or hate. Lorraine Zago Rosenthal is one hell of a story teller. If you can connect with the characters, I have no doubts that Other Words for Love would make a fan out of you. This just wasn't the story for me, but I will be watching for Lorraine's next release, because I know with the right story I could easily be a big fan of hers.

3/5 Stars

Negative reviews & a possible hiatus.

2011-05-16T10:31:00.000-05:00

Negative reviews are necessary. Every kind of feedback is beneficial to both a reader and the author. I'm all for writing your honest feelings about a book. However, for me, it's draining. Reading a review book and not enjoying it, and knowing I'm going to review it and say why I didn't enjoy it, is stressful for me. I think I have enough stress in my life and I'm tired of adding to it.

So. From now on, unless a my view of a book is at least 50% positive, I won't be writing a review. (I will still rate it on Goodreads, however.)If you've sent me a book for review and have yet to see a review around here, please go here to see the status on your book. I apologize if this is an inconvenience to anyone, but I need to get back to reading for enjoyment.

As I mentioned before, I have enough stress in life right now, and I may be taking a brief hiatus. I'm not sure how long, or if it will even happen, but things need to settle down around here, and I need to focus on that. But I'll be back.

Rapid Review

2011-05-15T10:04:00.000-05:00

I've read a few eARCS recently that I either can't review on the blog yet, or I don't have enough to say about them to write a full review. So. A few words on each!

Forbidden, by Tabitha Suzuma
Release date: June 28, 2011

I was reading Forbidden, and hit about the halfway mark. I started wondering what others thought of the book, so I went and read some reviews. I accidentally read one with spoilers. (It isn't the reviewer's fault. "Spoiler Warning" was there, in the same font as the review. I just didn't notice it.) So I knew the ending. This is a hell of an ending folks. Seriously. So I lost the desire to keep reading. So I skimmed. Even in skimming, the book was beautiful. The ending was absolutely heartbreaking. I won't rate it, because I don't believe it's fair for me to rate a book I skimmed, but I do think it's worth a read.

The Day Before, by Lisa Schroeder
Release date: June 28, 2011

I love novels in verse, but I never really know what to say about them. The Day Before is a love story, intertwined with what it means to live. These books can easily be read in one sitting, and this one was quite enjoyable. 4.5/5

Gone, Gone, Gone by Hannah Moskowitz
Release Date: April 17, 2012

Lips are sealed. Can't say anything about this one. You will get a review eventually. But for now, you should add it to your tbr, watch list, however you work. It was fantastic.
Add it! 5/5

Review: The Iron Daughter, by Julie Kagawa

2011-05-11T12:41:00.000-05:00

The Iron Daughter, by Julie Kagawa.
Published: August 1, 2010
Publisher: Harlequin Teen
ISBN: 9780373210138
Genre: YA Fantasy
Pages: 359
Source: Bought
Series: Iron Fey #2

Half Summer faery princess, half human, Meghan has never fit in anywhere. Deserted by the Winter prince she thought loved her, she is prisoner to the Winter faery queen. As war looms between Summer and Winter, Meghan knows that the real danger comes from the Iron fey—ironbound faeries that only she and her absent prince have seen. But no one believes her.

Worse, Meghan's own fey powers have been cut off. She's stuck in Faery with only her wits for help. Trusting anyone would be foolish. Trusting a seeming traitor could be deadly. But even as she grows a backbone of iron, Meghan can't help but hear the whispers of longing in her all-too-human heart.

Goodness these covers are absolutely gorgeous.

I'm so in love with the world Julie Kagawa has created. The Winter, Summer, and Iron Fey are all so unique in their appearance, actions, and abilities. I can't help but crave more of the world.

I'll warn you now, while I like both Ash and Puck, I am absolutely Team Puck. I simply do not understand the romance between she and Ash. When they aren't making googly eyes at each other, or making out, he's telling her they can never be together. It gets old. Quickly. Maybe because I prefer Puck's character, who is the NICE guy. Dammit, for once, I want the nice guy to get the girl. But we know this isn't going to happen. So I'm wondering, how do you push forward in a series, knowing the protagonist will not end up with the one you want her with?

Speaking of the protagonist. Meghan annoyed the bloody hell out of me this time around. I don't know why, if she changed or if I did, because I adored her in the first book. This time I just wanted to tell her to shut the hell up and focus on what was most important. Because the fate of the fey weren't on the line or anything, so thinking about Ash every damn second definitely made more sense.....

Did I mention I loved the story? Because hotdamn, I love the story. I was drawn in, anxiously flipping pages to find out what happens next, simultaneously fighting the urge to throw the book any time love came into the equation. Whether it was Puck or Ash, I didn't want to read it. Because in the end of a love triangle, someone always gets hurt. I loath a love triangle.

I love the story, so I'll continue reading the series. But dammit I wish there wasn't a love triangle.

4/5 Stars

Top Ten Tuesday

2011-05-10T11:39:00.000-05:00

Top Ten Tuesday is hosted by The Broke and the Bookish!

This week's topic is biggest jerks in literature.

(In no particular order)

1. Eric Northman from the Sookie Stackhouse series--Yeah, I've only read the first five. I can't seem to tolerate Charlaine Harris' writing. However, I do love the story, and Eric's an asshole. And oh, how I love thee. (And I'm choosing him because I love him. The real asshole is Bill, obviously! However, he deserves no such recognition!)

2. Wesley from The DUFF--he's a douche nugget. He shows himself for the asshole that he is in the very first chapter. Soda to the face was not enough. But he grows on a person.

3. Alex&Carlos Fuentes from Perfect Chemistry&Rules of Attraction-- They're both the epitome of a bad boy. Sure they both soften as they fall in love, but it doesn't change the fact that they're jerks along the way!

4. Snape from Harry Potter--Never read the books, but I have been spoiled to the truth behind his character. Still, he's a damn weirdo. Yeah, he's a good guy in the end. Yeah, he did some serious douchery. But my issue is not those things. My thing is, he's so weird while being an ass. (This series can probably produce a list of twenty jerks. Easily.)

5. Weston from the Heavenly series--He did some seriously stupid things. But he changed and I adore him.

6. Governor Tate from Feed--Dick. Seriously. And yet, so very much like a few of today's politicians. This may actually be the only character on this list that I DO NOT love to hate.

7. Grimalkin from the Iron Fey series--he's a cat.

8. Stalker from Enclave--he's a slimeball! Little regard for anyone but himself. And yet, I want to climb into the pages and pinch his cheeks, and seriously hope he allows me to keep my hand, afterwards.

9. Paul from the Twilight Saga.--control that temper, buster!

10. Patch from Hush, Hush--I almost didn't add him to the list. Crescendo has completely warped my opinion of these characters, but if I'm thinking in terms of Hush Hush ONLY, I love that asshat.

Review: XVI by Julia Karr

2011-05-05T08:00:00.001-05:00

XVI by Julia Karr

Published: January 6, 2011
Publisher: Puffin/Speak
ISBN: 9780142417713
Genre: YA Dystopian
Pages: 325
Source: Borrowed
Series: XVI #1

Nina Oberon's life is pretty normal: she hangs out with her best friend, Sandy, and their crew, goes to school, plays with her little sister, Dee. But Nina is 15. And like all girls she'll receive a Governing Council-ordered tattoo on her 16th birthday. XVI. Those three letters will be branded on her wrist, announcing to all the world—even the most predatory of men—that she is ready for sex. Considered easy prey by some, portrayed by the Media as sluts who ask for attacks, becoming a "sex-teen" is Nina's worst fear. That is, until right before her birthday, when Nina's mom is brutally attacked. With her dying breaths, she reveals to Nina a shocking truth about her past—one that destroys everything Nina thought she knew. Now, alone but for her sister, Nina must try to discover who she really is, all the while staying one step ahead of her mother's killer.

I'm actually surprised that XVI hasn't gotten better reviews. Not that I've seen negative reviews of it, but none of them are particularly gushing either. I thought it to be much better than some other raved about books out there, but I'll keep that to myself.

So. XVI felt like an intensified version of our society. Females are looked at much the same way, but they're completely stripped of their rights. Religion has become pretty much obsolete. This is something that I found interesting about XVI. I won't go into my religious beliefs. I don't have any. That's kind of the point. I've never actually sat down and considered what our society would be like if few believed in any gods. What would a world of atheists be like? Do I believe the world would be as it is in XVI? Not at all. But it definitely made me think.

While I'm surprised there aren't many raving reviews, I'm afraid this one won't be raving either. I liked XVI. I didn't love XVI. There were certain things that annoyed me about the story. Mainly the naivety of damn near every character. Nina kept walking into danger, she kept things from people so they were completely in the dark, and her best friend was practically brain dead, absolutely incapable of thinking for herself or listening to reason. Nina was also back and forth back and forth back and forth. She doesn't want to have sex, she doesn't want to have sex, she may want to have sex, she does NOT want to have sex. It just got old after a little while.

The other thing is the lingo. Non-cons? I don't even understand what the hell that stands for. I don't recall it ever actually stating what that meant, and if it did, please, PLEASE correct me.

XVI was a good story. I did enjoy it. Never once did I get bored and consider not finishing, and I am anticipating the sequel.

3.5/5 Stars

Language: None, unless "skiv" at some point in the future, becomes a derogatory term.
Sexual Content: Kissing. Many references to sex. (Think Secret Life of the American Teenager)(Okay don't think that, it wasn't mentioned that many times) References to rape.

Author Interview: Laura Lond

2011-05-04T08:00:00.012-05:00

Laura Lond

Website

Author of:

My Sparkling Misfortune (my review)

The Adventures of Jecosan Tarres Trilogy

___________________________________________________________________

Q: Can you tell us a little bit about yourself?

A: I grew up in a family of engineers who loved to read. I picked up the love of books early on, they had become my best friends, especially since I was the only child. Almost right away I knew that I wanted to write my own stories, too. I guess I was born with it. I couldn’t find satisfaction in anything else, no matter what I did.

I got a degree in history, my first job was at a literary museum. It was good, but not good enough. I moved on to work for a Christian mission -- once again, a good job that had taught me a lot, but not something I wanted to do for the rest of my life. Then I had entered the world of corporate business, working for large companies like Xerox Ltd. Same story. Great jobs, great opportunities, but I didn’t care to climb the corporate ladder. All I wanted was to write books, and I did that every spare minute.

Q: Was Lord Arkus always going to be a villain, or was he at one time, a hero in the traditional sense?

A: As Lord Arkus himself puts it, he “was not born a villain.” We don’t get to read much about his early life, he seems to guard his past, but we do learn that there was a time when he was not proudly calling himself a villain. He was not a hero, but he was a decent guy who even had a dear friend, someone he still remembers and misses. As the story goes on, the reader might notice that Arkus’ continuous claims of being evil actually don’t have that much support…which is something he would hate to hear.

Q: Which of your characters would you say are most like you?

A: I don’t think any of them are, they all seem to be much more fun than I am.

Q: The least like you?

A: The dragon. I am nice and friendly, I don’t haunt people with murderous intent.

Q: Should we be expecting a sequel to My Sparkling Misfortune in the future?

A: Yes, Lord Arkus is currently working on a sequel. It will be titled My Royal Pain Quest. His adventures continue, and as you can see from the title, he is not very pleased about it.

Q: Do you have any other projects in the works that you'd like to tell us about?

A: I am about to release a novel very different from Arkus’ story, a supernatural thriller about gene engineering and cloning titled “Side Effect.”

Q: Anything else you'd like to add? Advice for the aspiring writer, book recommendations, a word from Lord Arkus?

A: Advice: Keep writing.

Book recommendation: Elfhunter by C.S. Marks (a treat for fantasy fans, I loved it and am currently devouring the sequel, “Fire-Heart”).

Word from Lord Arkus: “I would like it to be known that I read reviews of my book, and while I am generally pleased with them, I do notice the annoying tendency of reviewers to doubt my villainy. I might have done some things villains don’t normally do, but Jarvi the Sparkling is to be blamed for that, not me. Those acts prove nothing. I am still quite a prominent member of the Villain’s League, thank you very much.”

___________________________________________________________________

I'd like to thank Laura for the interview! Check out My Sparkling Misfortune.

Review: Enclave, by Ann Aguirre

2011-05-03T08:00:00.000-05:00

Enclave, by Ann Aguirre

Published: April 12, 2011
Publisher: Feiwel & Friends
ISBN: 9780312650087
Genre: YA Dystopian
Pages: 259
Source: Won from author
Series: Razorland #1

New York City has been decimated by war and plague, and most of civilization has migrated to underground enclaves, where life expectancy is no more than the early 20's. When Deuce turns 15, she takes on her role as a Huntress, and is paired with Fade, a teenage Hunter who lived Topside as a young boy. When she and Fade discover that the neighboring enclave has been decimated by the tunnel monsters—or Freaks—who seem to be growing more organized, the elders refuse to listen to warnings. And when Deuce and Fade are exiled from the enclave, the girl born in darkness must survive in daylight, in the ruins of a city whose population has dwindled to a few dangerous gangs. As the two are guided by Fade’s long-ago memories, they face dangers, and feelings, unlike any they’ve ever known.

I will write this review. With words. That make sense.

Enclave was a book that I was pretty much dying to read. It sounded uber intriguing, and then the book bloggers starting getting their hands on it, and everyone was raving, and just, GAH. I had to read it.

Let's start with the cover. It isn't necessarily glamorous, not in the way that my typical favorite book covers are. But there's this subtle raw feeling to it, much like the story itself, and I think it is fantastic. The only thing I disliked, was the fact that it states that this book is "For fans of The Hunger Games." If you're frequenter around here, you probably already know that I was not a fan of The Hunger Games. So when I saw that up close, I thought, great. Another dystopian that everyone falls in love with, and I'll be in the minority with those who didn't like a damn thing about it.

Not the case. Not at all. I loved Enclave from the very beginning, and while I can see why fans of The Hunger Games would be drawn to it, and they are comparable in small ways, I don't think the connection is big enough to make a big deal out of. (Unless you're looking at it from a marketing perspective, of course.)

The world in which Enclave is set, is desolate. Heartbreaking. Fascinating.

Deuce kicked ass. There isn't much I love more than a female protagonist who isn't whiny and emotional all the time. In fact, Deuce is hardly capable of those feelings, which made me love her that much more, and certainly allowed me to connect with her character on a deeper level. I knew from the first encounter with Fade that I would love him as well, and I wasn't wrong about that.

I loved the "Freaks". We would probably refer to them as zombies, though I believe they're quite different from the zombies we are accustomed to. Land of the Dead is one of my favorite zombie movies, for the simple fact that the zombies are actually intelligent, thinking creatures. The Freaks reminded me of them. They aren't completely driven by hunger and instinct, at least not all of them, not anymore. I loved this take, and I'm excited to see where it takes us in the sequel.

The growing relationship between Deuce and Fade is subtle, and gradual. For this, I was relieved. I had hoped going in that this wouldn't be one of those stories where the majority of the plot circulates around the romantic relationship between the characters. While it is definitely there, it isn't being thrown in our faces all the time. Instead, they're genuinely trying to survive in a world where surviving seems impossible.

I do have one complaint. I wanted more. I felt a bit cheated in the end, because it was so abrupt. I was expecting a cliffhanger, but I was still expecting it to end gradually. But instead of feeling like we're hanging onto the cliff, I feel like we tumbled over without ever considering holding on.

Doesn't change the fact that I give it...

5/5 Stars

Language: Extremely mild.
Sexual content: Talks of rape and breeding. Otherwise-just a kiss or two.

In which I ramble. A lot.

2011-05-02T13:25:00.001-05:00

Hear that, my dears? **crickets**

Yeah, pretty sure my blog is dead. Which is understandable, I suppose. I don't post often enough. Writing reviews is also starting to feel like work, and the words don't come as easily as they used to. (cue "Jaded" by Aerosmith which has nothing to do with the situation, but the title certainly fits.)

Anyways. Osama Bin Laden is now allegedly dead. (I'm sorry, my cynical brain never believes a damn thing the media tells me, not 100%) So, yay? I mean. Justice has been served in the sense that the alleged mastermind behind 9/11 is now dead. As for everyone else involved, well, we just don't know, do we? Whatever. I genuinely hope this is a step toward making the world a better place, and I genuinely hope this increases the chances of more of our troops coming home alive. Unfortunately, I have a bad feeling about this. Okay. This isn't a political blog. Got it. Moving on.

The cover of Silence, the third book in the Hush Hush trilogy, was released today, and ommfsdpd, it is GORGEOUS. I wasn't a huge fan of Crescendo, it really let me down, but I still can't deny the fact that this series has some of the most beautiful covers. I also can't deny the fact that I am very much looking forward to Silence (despite the fact that I think the title is just..no) and I'm hoping this book redeems the series for me. I still find myself recommending Hush, Hush frequently, but I also find myself saying "and for the love of all that's holy, stop there. At least until Silence comes out."

Anyways. Man I'm really rambling today!

Btw, if you are unaware, Barnes and Noble currently has a Spring Clearance Sale going on, of epic proportions. I got ten books for twenty five dollars (which also means free shipping, cha-ching)....so I strongly suggest checking out. Now I'm on a book buying ban until I greatly reduce my tbr. Considering the fact that it has taken me three days to read Enclave, this will take a while. I honestly think this break I took from reading slowed down my reading abilities. Blah.

Anyways.....the initial point of this post, ya know, before the rambling took over....

How bloody gorgeous is that? Is it just me, or does Patch kind of look like James Franco in this? Just me? Okay then.

Review: Hunger by Jackie Morse Kessler

2011-04-30T20:27:00.001-05:00

Hunger by Jackie Morse Kessler
Published: October 18, 2010
Publisher: Harcourt
ISBN: 9780547341248
Genre: YA Fantasy
Pages: 177
Source: NetGalley
Series: Horsemen of the Apocalypse #1

“Thou art the Black Rider. Go thee out unto the world.”

Lisabeth Lewis has a black steed, a set of scales, and a new job: she’s been appointed Famine. How will an anorexic seventeen-year-old girl from the suburbs fare as one of the Four Horsemen of the Apocalypse?

Traveling the world on her steed gives Lisa freedom from her troubles at home: her constant battle with hunger, and her struggle to hide it from the people who care about her. But being Famine forces her to go places where hunger is a painful part of everyday life, and to face the horrifying effects of her phenomenal power. Can Lisa find a way to harness that power — and the courage to battle her own inner demons?

Hunger was not was I expected. Not in the least. In some ways this is a good thing, in other ways, not so much.

Death was a fascinating character, but unfortunately, he's the only secondary character who really stood out to me. Lisa was a great protagonist, if only because she was so flawed you couldn't help but feel for her. When I first realized that a girl with anorexia was going to be Famine, I found it ironic. (As did some characters in the story) But now that I've finished reading it, it makes perfect sense, and I loved the way Kessler intertwined mythology and real life, serious issues.

Lisabeth didn't just fall into the role of famine out of a case of back luck, nor was she born into the role. Her actions and her choices in life lead her to that position, and I think that's something that sets Hunger apart from your typical paranormal/fantasy.

My only real issue with the story is the lack of action. Even if I hadn't gone in expecting action out of the apocalypse (I admit, I totally did) there still wasn't much action for a story about anything. It is beautifully written, and well paced, so perhaps the short length is what created this problem for me.

I don't really understand the apocalypse aspect of the story, either. I assume the world must be in the middle of the apocalypse, but Lisabeth doesn't seem to address this issue in any way, whatsoever. Which I guess is understandable in a way, considering the real issue in Hunger was her struggle with an eating disorder, which I think Kessler captured perfectly. Still, I can't help but feel as though the story was lacking something, plot wise.

4/5 Stars

Language: Mild
Sexual content: References to sex

Author Interview & Giveaway: Gene Twaronite

2011-04-25T20:37:00.000-05:00

Gene Twaronite

Website

My Review

Read the first chapter of The Family That Wasn't

Blurb:

The Family That Wasn't is a humorous fable of how our families live inside us. It will appeal to both teen and adult readers. The 13-year-old narrator, John Boggle (whose real name is John Bazukas-O'Reilly-Geronimo-Giovanni-Li Choy-Echeverria), finds his family so impossibly crazy that he cannot stand living with them another moment. He invents a new perfect family so convincing that he suddenly finds himself living inside this imaginary world.
But John finds that he too has changed. He sees his too perfect image in the mirror and begins to wonder if it is all some kind of mistake. Only trouble is, now he can't remember who he is. He only knows that he must leave this family at once. His sole clue is the name, John Boggle.
To find his true family he embarks on a cross country quest. Along the way he encounters other characters who have also lost touch with their families. Together they must find a way to reconstruct the connections to bring back the family that once was. (via Goodreads)

___________________________________________________________________

Can you tell us a little bit about yourself?

A former science teacher, environmental educator, landscaper, bookseller, and Instructional Specialist at the University of Arizona, I now spend my time writing and promoting my novel as well as volunteering for several local non-profit organizations. When not gardening with native plants (especially cacti), I’m also trying to catch up on reading all the great books I was supposed to read in school but never really appreciated.

I think at some point in life, we're all embarrassed beyond belief by our families. We can all relate to the story. Did your own childhood play a role in coming up with the idea for The Family that Wasn't?

Not really. For the most part, my childhood was fairly normal for the times (I was born in 1948). I grew up in a quiet corner of suburban Connecticut, where it seemed that nothing ever happened, which is probably why as an adult I am more drawn to urban life. Though I suffered the occasional embarrassments that all children feel toward their families, I was never ashamed of my family. As I grew older and various family members passed away, I began to appreciate how their memories still influence me and how we all carry our families inside us.

The Family That Wasn't is humorous, in that dark, Tim Burton kind of way. Was that intentional or is it just my personal perception of the novel?

Yes, there is definitely a dark, cynical streak to my humor. In my writing I invariably find myself veering toward the humorous. It’s not intentional – it’s that “unintended snicker,” as E.B. White described it, that makes me see the humor in almost any situation. I have also found that when I do try to intentionally write humor, I end up instead writing something serious or sentimental, which can be very annoying.

There are some pretty wacky characters in your book. Were any of them based off of real life people, or were they all just your own creation?

My main inspiration was James Thurber, especially his book, My Life and Hard Times, in which he described some of the wacky members of his family. I suspect he made up most of these characters, so I started thinking about what it would be like to grow up in a really crazy family. While all of the characters are 99% fictional, there is at least a tiny element of real life in each of them. Even when setting out to create a completely new character, the writer invariably brings to this creation all that he or she has known and experienced. And so, while I did not base any of the characters directly on real life, each of them in some small way contains bits and pieces of real family members and friends.

Which of your characters is most like you, and which of them was the most fun to write?

That would be the main character, John, who has always dreamed of being a writer and, like me, sometimes retreats from the world into the fantasies he reads and creates. But I think there’s also quite a lot of Venus, the nerdy science wonk, in me, not to mention some of the wilder, blues loving side of Bruno. Having held quite a variety of different jobs in my lifetime, I can also relate to John’s stepfather, Juan. Certainly the most fun character to write was Vinnie. How far could I take his evil? And why did John hate him so? And though Vinnie manages to fool everyone in his various impostor roles, in the end you see him as a miserable, wretched character who has fooled no one but himself.

What are you hoping readers will take away from the story?

I hope they will think about their own families in new ways, and will experience some of the special magic that words have to take us to places strange and wonderful. But mostly I hope that readers will have a good laugh.

I hear you're writing a sequel. I have to know---will we hear more about Uncle Vinnie? And is there anything else you can tell us about the sequel?

While I did not choose to make it a major theme of the book, there is a part in the story where John is sexually abused by his “Uncle” Vinnie. I felt that I just couldn’t leave John or my readers hanging there with this unresolved issue. Though I have never experienced such abuse, I still tried to imagine some of what John must have felt, including the rage, powerlessness, and self-hatred of abuse victims. And I wondered how he might try to deal with it. The result is a much longer novel, My Vacation in Hell, in which John embarks on yet another journey of the imagination through the hell he has created within himself. And, yes, Vinnie does play a major role. I am currently on the third draft and hope to finish it this year. Because of its darker theme and the fact that John is now 15, this will definitely be a young adult novel.

Can you describe The Family that Wasn't in one sentence?

I read somewhere that a writer should always have a good “elevator description” on hand when someone asks the inevitable question: What’s your book about? So here goes: It’s a humorous fable of how our families live inside us.

Anything else you'd like to add?

Thanks, Amanda, for your thoughtful review and for giving me a chance to talk about my book. And thanks to all my readers. Your comments are always appreciated.

_________________________________________________________________

Giveaway:

To enter, fill out the form below. Comments are appreciated, but do not count as an entry.
US Only
Ends May 9th at midnight
(Contest Policy)

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Review: The Hunger Games, by Suzanne Collins

2011-04-17T08:00:00.010-05:00

The Hunger Games, by Suzanne Collins
Published: October 1, 2008
Publisher: Scholastic
ISBN: 9780439023481
Genre: YA, Dystopian
Pages: 374
Source: Bought
Series: The Hunger Games #1

In the ruins of a place once known as North America lies the nation of Panem, a shining Capitol surrounded by twelve outlying districts. The Capitol is harsh and cruel and keeps the districts in line by forcing them all to send one boy and one girl between the ages of twelve and eighteen to participate in the annual Hunger Games, a fight to the death on live TV.

Sixteen-year-old Katniss Everdeen, who lives alone with her mother and younger sister, regards it as a death sentence when she steps forward to take her sister's place in the Games. But Katniss has been close to dead before—and survival, for her, is second nature. Without really meaning to, she becomes a contender. But if she is to win, she will have to start making choices that will weigh survival against humanity and life against love.

The Hype Monster strikes again.

I had attempted to read The Hunger Games numerous times. I'd get through about chapter two and put it down to read something else. This should have been a huge red flag for me. It shouldn't take five chapters for me to start caring about the story, but it did. Even then, I kept reading because everyone said I should keep reading, not because I was particularly interested.

Do I regret that? Yes and no. It wasn't a horrible book. But it was slow paced. I was bored, often.

It left me pissed, to be completely honest. There wasn't much positivity left in me after I finished it, and I can't really think of it in a positive light.

I liked Katniss and Peeta. I liked what we saw of Gale. But. Love triangles. Oh how I loathe thee. I'm Team No One. Katniss played Peeta like a fiddle, and Gale's the long time friend who has been right in front of her all along. But I'd be willing to bet my copy of the book that she ends up with Peeta in the end. These things are predictable. When does the friend ever win? Not that I'm saying I'd be team Gale, if I picked a side. Like I said, Team Peeta-and-Gale-should-find-someone-who-appreciates-them. (Please, PLEASE feel free to tell me if I'm wrong about who she ends up with. And by all means, rub it in.)

It reminds me so much of Death Race, and Death Race is actually one of my favorite movies, so I honestly assumed I would love it. I was wrong. The two may be a lot alike, but there are obvious differences that should have told me not to even bother from the get go.

In Death Race, they are adults. Sure, they're being forced into the arena to kill one another, and many of them are innocent to begin with. However, they aren't children. Children who are being pitted against each other for an eager society just waiting to gobble it up for enjoyment. I found this deeply disturbing.

There's a part in the beginning when Peeta says his mother commented on how "maybe district 12 will actually have a winner." And she meant Katniss. I wanted to close it at that point and just give up. I was disgusted. Absolutely disgusted. There's nothing anyone could say that would make me feel better about that situation. Because if it were my son, they would have had to pry my ass off him before he ever even made it to the stage. The maternal detachment had my head spinning.

There are a few poorly worded sentences that I had to reread numerous times to understand. Hell some of them I still don't understand. This would have me questioning my intelligence if I didn't know with absolute certainty that I am capable of comprehending readings that are much more complex. I'm still baffled by this line in particular: "Don't. Don't let's pretend when there's no one around." Um. Say that again? It's not that I don't understand what she means, I do. But how that line got through editing is beyond me. Is it a typo? Ugh.

It has a compelling plot, I'm not denying that. There were moments when I was able to get absolutely lost in the story and felt as if I was there with Katniss. But then someone would die and I would imagine those sitting at home watching it all go down, and I was disgusted all over again. Or I would get bored because nothing was really happening. And then she would play Peeta and then think about Gale, and just GAH. No. Not for me. I'll just watch the movies.

3.5/5

Review: All About Daisy, by O'Dell Hutchison

2011-04-17T08:00:00.005-05:00

All About Daisy, by O'Dell Hutchison
Published: February 3, 2011
Publisher:
ISBN: 9781456516956
Genre: Contemporary YA
Pages: 374
Source: Provided by author for honest review
Series: Daisy Brown #1

High school is NOT for sissies...

Fourteen-year-old Daisy barely made it through middle school. After three years of being constantly taunted and bullied, she's decided it's time for a change. It all begins with a list of things she feels she needs: a best friend, popularity, a boyfriend, a first kiss, a spot on the cheerleading squad, and most importantly, boobs. With list in hand, Daisy just knows she will make a huge splash at Glenmark High, and her days of being miserable will be over.

The splash she makes isn't exactly what she was going for, and after a disastrous first day, she is ready to throw in the towel. It only takes a chance meeting with sophomore Russel Bryan, her grade school crush, to change everything. Soon, Daisy finds herself hanging out with the popular girls, preparing to try out for a spot on the cheerleading squad and looking forward to the homecoming dance.

Just when things start to look up for her, a betrayal by a new friend shatters everything she had hoped for. With her reputation on the line and the threat of a family secret being revealed, Daisy decides to take things into her own hands. It may not be her destiny to be popular, but she is done being taken advantage of.

Part "Are You There, God? It's Me, Margaret" and part "Mean Girls", "All About Daisy" is a hilarious and touching coming of age story that will have you cheering for the underdog.

I hate writing negative reviews, I really do. And unfortunately, I have a feeling this one will be mostly negative. While it was a fun read, I had some serious issues with it, and not addressing them would mean I wasn't being honest in my review.

I found the protagonist to be a fun character. She doesn't give up, regardless of all that is thrown at her, and I admired that strength. But at the same time, she was incredibly naive and gullible, and it had me rolling my eyes far too often.

I was thoroughly enjoying All About Daisy in the beginning, but problems arose and it wasn't difficult to pinpoint two major issues I had with the book.

My biggest issue with this book is the similarities between it and Mean Girls. All the cattiness, a Halloween party, all over a guy, a certain girl gets hit by a car. Too many similarities for me to ignore, specifically someone getting his by a car. It made it difficult to enjoy from that point on.

Another is the bullying. And not only the obvious bullying, but the bullying that wasn't addressed. Terms like "fag", "homo", "black-ass bitch", "retard"....I realize kids in the real world say things like this. It is a problem. Unfortunately, I don't feel like this book did anything to show that it was a problem. It felt more like it was just, life. And maybe it is. But it was difficult to swallow.

Despite all of this, I wanted to keep reading, and I wanted to find out how it all ended. Overall, I liked the story in All About Daisy, but I had a difficult time enjoying it due to the issues I mentioned. It just wasn't the book for me, but I would recommend it to anyone who likes to see the underdog protagonist grow and kick some mean girl ass. (Figuratively speaking, of course.)

Review: My Sparkling Misfortunate, by Laura Lond

2011-04-15T08:00:00.002-05:00

My Sparkling Misfortune, by Laura Lond and Alla Alekseyeva (illustrator)
Published: April 28, 2010
Publisher: Dream Books LLC
ISBN: 9781616580834
Genre: YA Fantasy
Pages: 164
Source: Provided by author for an honest review
Series: The Lakeland Knight Series

Lord Arkus of Blackriver Castle readily admits that he is a villain and sees no reason why it should stop him from being the protagonist of this book. After all, Prince Kellemar, an aspiring hero, has defeated him in a rather questionable way. Bent on revenge, Arkus attempts to capture a powerful evil spirit who would make him nearly invincible, but a last-minute mistake leaves him with a sparkling instead a goody-goody spirit that helps heroes, watches over little children, and messes up villains plans. Bound to Lord Arkus for five years of service and sworn to act in his best interests, the sparkling is not easy to get rid of, and of course his understanding of best interests is quite different from what Lord Arkus has in mind.

I almost didn't accept My Sparkling Misfortune for review. Complete with illustrations, this book seemed to lean too far into the MG category for my liking, but the blurb drew me in and I just had to give it a shot. I am so glad I did. Having read it, I would have been missing out on an absolutely adorable story!

This book won me over in the first few pages. I had already smiled numerous times, and let me tell you, it's rare for a book to genuinely make me smile. Lord Arkus is a self-proclaimed villain, but despite his best efforts to stay that way, deep down it just isn't who he is--not completely. We start to see this in these small deeds that he does along the way, though he himself just brushes them off as a rare moment of kindness. Those "rare" moments being to pile up, however, and Lord Arkus' realization and subsequent denial is hilarious.

This book is aimed at younger readers, that much is clear. But it's so much fun, I recommend everyone to give it a try if you're looking for a lighthearted, enjoyable read. Because My Sparkling Misfortune does not disappoint in that regard.

First memorable line: "Hmm...perhaps Korvaleus was right, writing a book is not so easy as it seems, and I shouldn't have, uh....Oh well. He'd deserved it anyway." This was in the second paragraph, and I was already smiling.

My only complaint is that it was too short. Classic MG length, but I'd have loved to have more.

Rating: 4/5 Stars

Characters---In Real Life

2011-04-13T10:40:00.000-05:00

I've been thinking lately about how often I read the terms "That just doesn't happen In Real Life." "Guys like that don't change, In Real Life." "No one likes girls like that, In Real Life" "Teenagers don't date outside their social circle, In Real Life."

A lot of times, I find myself thinking, "Yes, it does." I've seen a player fall in love and change. I know it can happen. I've seen the bitchiest girls, the girls who sleep with everyone, the shy reserved girl, all be surrounded by friends. I've been one of the popular-ISH (meaning I was friends with the popular girls but wasn't one of them, make sense?) girls that dated that metal head on the other end of the spectrum. I wasn't ostracized for it. It didn't matter. These things can happen.

Then I find myself reading books like Shiver for instance, where the guy is a sweet, poetry spouting romantic, and I think "those guys don't exist in real life." But, do they? Am I certain they don't, just because I've personally never encountered one in any fashion? No, I'm not certain. I'm the type that needs to see something to believe it, but I never completely rule out possibilities.

But at the end of the day, how much does that matter? I read fiction because it's an escape from reality. It's entering another world where anything is possible. I don't want it to be 100% authentic all the time. Real Life isn't that exciting.

I want to believe a player can change, whether it's a male OR a female. I want to believe we aren't confined to dating within our own social status. I want to believe that some guy out there memorizes and spouts poetry, and I want to believe there's a girl out there that eats it up. I want to believe that chivalry isn't absolutely dead. Even if it's only for a brief moment, I want to believe these things are possible.

I deal with reality everyday, I don't want to read about it too.

I'm curious, what do you look for when you're reading?

Review: Playing Hurt, by Holly Schindler

2011-04-11T08:00:00.004-05:00

Playing Hurt, by Holly Schindler
Published: March, 8, 2011
Publisher: Flux
ISBN: 9780738722870
Genre: Contemporary YA
Pages: 312
Source: Bought
Series: N/a

Star basketball player Chelsea "Nitro" Keyes had the promise of a full ride to college—and everyone's admiration back home. Then she took a horrible fall during senior year. Now a metal plate holds her together and she feels like a stranger in her own family.
That summer, Chelsea's dad hires Clint, a nineteen-year-old ex-hockey player and "boot camp" trainer, to work with her at a northern Minnesota lake resort. As they grow close, Chelsea finds that Clint's haunted by his own tragedy. Will their romance end up hurting them all over again—or finally heal their heartbreak?

I absolutely love the covers of Holly's books. Not only the pictures, but the feel of them. They feel like silk, and I find myself petting the cover more often than I'd like to admit.

I'm a fan of Holly Schindler's, have been since I read A Blue so Dark. Playing Hurt is very different from Blue, but I still loved them both for their own reasons.

Schindler's characters are so real, it almost makes you wonder if they're the kid down the street. Or that girl from high school. I feel like I know them personally, beyond the end of the book.

In all honesty, I wasn't a fan of Chelsea. In fact, she pretty much drove me insane, and I found myself hoping everything would come crashing down around her, and I kind of smiled when it kind of did. I thought she deserved everything the guys said to her. That isn't a nice way to think, but I couldn't help it. She infuriated me, and made poor decisions, not really considering who it would hurt in the long run. If she were the girl down the street, I'd have to slap some sense into her. Alas, such was impossible. My distaste for her is literally the only thing that brings down my rating of this book. And even then, it isn't by much.

Clint was a great character and I enjoyed watching him grow. I didn't harbor any of the resentment toward him, that I had for Chelsea, although a bit of it was on his shoulders, too. So I probably should have. But I just couldn't. I found myself caring about his story much more than Chelsea's, though both are upsetting. I think it was just Chelsea's actions that made it difficult for me to really empathize with her.

Their fling (though I think it can hardly be described as such, it's such a trivial word) was absolutely adorable. Once they started spending time together, I absolutely devoured Playing Hurt. I loved watching their love for each other blossom, and momentarily forgot about **SPOILER ALERT, ONLY KIND OF NOT REALLY** her boyfriend back home. Ah, and here lies the problem. I can forget about her boyfriend, because he isn't my boyfriend. But the fact that she did, disgusted me. That was my whole problem with her character. Cheating turns me off, no matter the situation.

But, cheating and Chelsea aside, I had absolutely no issues with Playing Hurt. Holly proved once again that she has a fantastic way with words. The writing, the cover, the story (minus the boyfriend back home), the characters (minus the selfish one), the pace, the edge....loved it. (And yeah, I kind of realize what taking away the boyfriend back home would have done to the story, but it doesn't make me like it.)

This part may be too spoilerish, so feel free to highlight if you'd like to read about the ending.
I loved the ending. Some people may not be satisfied with it, but I definitely was. I felt as though there was enough left open for me to imagine a happy ending for them, without having wrapped a pretty bow on it. The characters didn't pull a stop on their lives just to be together. They learned to live through each other, and it leaves just enough hope that someday they will live with each other. I loved it.

I'd recommend Playing Hurt to anyone who enjoys contemporary YA. Between Holly's writing and the characters and relationships she creates, I don't think you'd be able to put it down.

Rating: 4.5/5

Authors behaving badly. Bullying "readers".

2011-03-28T22:39:00.001-05:00

By now I'm sure everyone has heard of the author meltdown over at Big Al's Books and Pals. If you haven't, go read it and come back. I'll wait.

I'll be honest, I found it amusing at first. What the hell was she doing?! Sabotaging her career--that's what. This will blow over, a lot of people will forget, but I'm sure many will remember her name. They won't buy her books. I won't lie. I'm one of those people.

Her behavior has completely turned me off, and she couldn't write the most beautiful novel of all time, and get my money. Because she's left a bad taste in my mouth that will never go away, and I know I would never be able to forget that long enough to enjoy one of her books.

But.

At what point do the 'readers' stop bullying the woman? Clearly, she is unstable.

I'm all for us sticking together. It's part of what I love about the blogging community. But to go to Amazon and rate a book one star, and base it on her behavior rather than the novel, is petty. How is that any better than her meltdown? I know most of us strive to review books as a whole, and never let one aspect completely sway our rating. Guess what? As annoying as it may be, poor grammar is ONE aspect.

The author's behavior has nothing to do with the story she wrote.

Where's the line?

Authors, for the flying spaghetti monster's sake, don't attack a reader for a negative review. It will not go well for you. These things never, ever go well.

Readers, bloggers, etc. Am I alone in the opinion that this has gone too far?

(Please don't think I'm attacking anyone for discussing this via Twitter and such. I'm not. At all. I'm referring to those who continue to leave nasty comments on the blog, and on Amazon.)

(And apparently the comments are now disabled so nevermind on the blog part. :p)

Feature & Follow Friday

2011-03-25T10:35:00.000-05:00

To join the fun and make now book blogger friends, just follow these simple rules:

(Required) Follow the Follow My Book Blog Friday Host { Parajunkee.com} and any one else you want to follow on the list
(Required) Follow our Featured Bloggers - http://readingwithrebecca.blogspot.com/
Put your Blog name & URL in the Linky thing.
Grab the button up there and place it in a post, this post is for people to find a place to say hi in your comments
Follow Follow Follow as many as you can, as many as you want, or just follow a few. The whole point is to make new friends and find new blogs. Also, don't just follow, comment and say hi. Another blogger might not know you are a new follower if you don't say "HI"
If someone comments and says they are following you, be a dear and follow back. Spread the Love...and the followers
If you're new to the follow friday hop, comment and let me know, so I can stop by and check out your blog!

Q. Inspired by the inane twitter trend of #100FACTSABOUTME, GIVE US FIVE BOOK RELATED SILLY FACTS ABOUT YOU.

1. I used to be anal about finishing one book before I started another. I simply could not read more than one book at a time. Right now I have three physical books next to me, and two galleys open on the computer. I have no idea where my head is anymore.

2. In high school all I read were romance novels. In order to avoid embarrassment and/or teacher questioning, I made book covers for them so no one knew what I was reading.

3. I'm actually pretty good at avoiding the book buying impulse. I only buy a book or two a month. (unless there's a sale, but that doesn't count!) Okay maybe a couple more now that I have a Kindle. Still--the urge is constantly gnawing at me, so I think my addiction could be much much worse!

4. I've never been to a book signing. This is more a depressing fact than a silly one.

5. I can pretty much tune anything out to read. I don't need silence, or even quiet. If my head is in the 'reading' zone, nothing gets in the way unless I allow it to get in the way. (This isn't to say I'm okay with people talking to me while I'm reading. See this book in my hands? Now shut the 'ell up, unless it's important.)

Giveaway: Zan-Gah books 1 and 2.

2011-03-24T15:40:00.001-05:00

On person will win a signed copy of Zan-Gah: A Prehistoric Adventure and the sequel, Zan-Gah and the Beautiful Country.

Rules:

One entry per person.

US Only.

Deadline is March, 31st at midnight.

Following is not required, but is of course appreciated.

Comments are appreciated as well, but will not count as an entry.

CLOSED

"Oversexualized" YA covers, and why it doesn't matter.

2011-03-23T12:39:00.000-05:00

This post is likely to get ranty. I apologize in advance. Sort of.

These covers have been used as an example in this post, as well as this one, so what the hell--I'll use them as an example, too. (Yes, I realize these posts are months old.)

I simply do not see an issue with these covers.
Chain Reaction--they're fully clothed. They're kissing, but in my mind, it hasn't crossed over into inappropriateville. When did water transform from a necessity, into a sexualized no no?

Invincible Summer--I've read it. I know this novel is so much more than sex. It is not the central theme, but the cover is relevant. But let's assume it wasn't, for just a moment. Let's say these boys weren't on a beach, there was no girl, and there was no sex, but for some strange reason the publishers used this cover because um, "sex sells". Is a girl laying on the beach in a bikini really a sexual thing? Do you cover the eyes of your children when you see a woman, or a TEEN in a bikini on the beach?

Teenagers kiss. They lay on the beach. In bikinis. They curse. They're gay, straight, lesbian, transgender, bisexual. These are realities.

We'll all form our own opinions about these issues. We're all entitled to those opinions. That isn't the point of my post. Not really. I respect Vicky's opinion, even if I disagree with it. But these posts, as well as other things these past few days, have given the me the urge to bitch a little bit.

Somewhere along the way, we've all decided it's society that should be blamed for the actions of our children. Like somehow it is no longer our place to instill morals on them. No. It is not society's place to sugarcoat realities because I think my kids' eyes are too sensitive for it. It isn't your place, a publisher's place, a television producer's place, my own mother's place. It is MY job to talk to my children. It is my job to put them on the right path. It is my job to pay attention to what they're doing (that includes wandering into an age inappropriate section in the book store), and communicate with them about things that I disapprove of. Are they going to be tempted with sex? Of course they are. Sex is a part of growing up. Even if they aren't physically having sex, they're thinking about it. Blindfolding them isn't going to prevent that. It isn't about erasing the temptation. It's about teaching them to fight the temptation, until the time is right. Books like Invincible Summer accomplish that goal.

Someone else deciding what is inappropriate for my kids? Fuck that. (Yes, FUCK that. Now try to get my four year old to say "fuck" and see the reaction you get. She knows better, because I taught her to know better, and that's all I can do for now.)

Stop trying to shift the responsibility off our shoulders. I am a parent. It is my responsibility.

End rant.

Top Ten Tuesday--Bookish Pet Peeves

2011-03-22T10:03:00.001-05:00

Top Ten Tuesday is hosted by The Broke and the Bookish.
I rarely do these because I am horrible at making lists. I either can't think of anything, or I can't narrow it down to just ten. But this week's topic is Top Ten Bookish Pet Peeves, and I just couldn't keep my nose out of this one.

1. Death. Not just general death, but death of a close family member or friend. This is why I don't read Sparks (anymore). I've watched enough people die in real life, and as real as it may be, I don't want to read about it. It's a sickening reminder. I hate it. (There are exceptions, but few. Most of the exceptions are made for paranormal, but the occasional contemporary author does it right. coughHannahMoskowitzcough.)

2. Dog-earred pages. If you want to dog ear your own books, be my guest (but I do think you're disrespecting its poor little pages), but if you ever borrow a book of mine and dog-ear a page, prepare to hear about it. Dog-earred pages in library books piss me off too. That book needs to last a long time, why speed the deterioration process?!

3. Too descriptive when it's completely unnecessary. The Sookie Stackhouse series is a perfect example of this. Great story there, but do I need a page and a half talking about Sookie's shower and grooming process? No. I don't.

4. Love triangles. So. Overdone! Please just, no. And if you're going to do it, don't have it be the protag's best friend's boyfriend, or their boyfriend's best friend. I know betrayal creates conflict, but that kind of betrayal just makes me want to close the book. And if you're going to do that, don't wrap a bow on it at the end. Most of those situations in real life simply do not end with the best friends hugging it out. Sorry.

5. Characters with their author's music taste. I love classic rock. I know some people who love the Beatles. But if I had a nickel for every sixteen year old character who loved the Beatles...oy. Today's music sucks, in general. Yeah, I get that. But the majority of teens actually enjoy it. Somehow.

6. Washed up monsters. Vampires, werewolves, fallen angels, gods and goddesses. Creatures that are monsters or assholes at heart but have a constant inner conflict and want nothing more than to be human again, so they fall for some klutzy little plain Jane.

7. Girls who melt at the sight of their crush. Shallow much? (Maybe I'd melt at the physical sight of Taeyang, but hey, we aren't talking about me.) I know teens are hormonal. I remember. But damn. Look for some substance!

8. Disappointing sequels. Absolutely falling in love with a first book, only to be absolutely letdown by the second, really really sucks.

9. Cliffhangers. Yeah, I get it. You need us hyped up for the next book. But here's the thing. If I loved your first book, I'm going to get the next one. It doesn't matter if you actually gave the book an ending. I will want to know what happens next. It is just me, or does it seem like EVERY new Paranormal YA has a cliffhanger? I'm over it.

10. Reviews that summarize the book. I don't want to step on any toes here, but I can't count how many times I've read reviews, and there was a spoiler in there that the reviewer didn't warn us about. It makes me not want to read reviews. If you're going to have spoilers, a spoiler warning is necessary, in my humble opinion. Summarizing the story almost always spoils something for me.

And because I can't stop there...
11. Authors who treat their readers like bothersome minions. Often on Twitter I see certain authors (won't name drop) answering questions from readers, and their answers are extremely condescending. It makes me want to take all your books I bought and sell them, rather than read them.

12. Small and/or cramped font. I've gotten a few books for review that I couldn't finish, simply because the layout of the pages didn't work for me. Cramped font gives me a headache.

13. (And I'll stop here, I promise) People who rate a YA book one star, based on foul language and/or sex. I'm not saying you have to like it! I'm not saying you have to agree with it! By all means, we're all entitled to our opinions and moral standards. My issue is when someone rates a book one star and says something like "After the second f-bomb in the first chapter, I closed the book." Or "It opened with a makeout scene, I didn't finish it" I could actually expand this and say, people who rate a book based on any single aspect, rather than the book as a whole.

Of course there are some books I absolutely love that I've made exceptions for on most of these things.
What are some of your pet peeves?

Review: The Goddess Test, by Aimee Carter

2011-03-21T08:00:00.001-05:00

The Goddess Test, by Aimee Carter
Published: April 19, 2011
Publisher: Harlequin Teen
ISBN: 9780373210268
Genre: YA fantasy
Pages: 297
Source: NetGalley
Series: Goddess Test #1

Every girl who has taken the test has died.

Now it's Kate's turn.

It's always been just Kate and her mom--and now her mother is dying. Her last wish? To move back to her childhood home. So Kate's going to start at a new school with no friends, no other family and the fear her mother won't live past the fall.

Then she meets Henry. Dark. Tortured. And mesmerizing. He claims to be Hades, god of the Underworld--and if she accepts his bargain, he'll keep her mother alive while Kate tries to pass seven tests.

Kate is sure he's crazy--until she sees him bring a girl back from the dead. Now saving her mother seems crazily possible. If she succeeds, she'll become Henry's future bride, and a goddess.

If she fails..

I honestly have no idea how to review The Goddess Test. I enjoyed it, but there were things that annoyed me. I'll start with those things.

Watering down badass creatures. It started with vampires....werewolves....fairies....zombies.....now Greek Gods and Goddesses? I think this is where my biggest problem lies. I imagine all of the gods and goddesses acting like, well...gods. Henry is not only a god, but he's Hades. If I imagine any of them as a monster, it would be him. But he isn't. None of them are, not really. This seems like the thing to do now. Soften the monsters. I want to read a story where a girl falls in love with a monster despite the fact that he acts like the monster he is.

Second, some of the scenes just felt silly. The scene by the river (that's all I'm saying) that gets this all started was kind of laughable.

I don't understand why Kate felt the way she felt about any of them. I'm not sure how she fell in love with Henry, who hardly opened his mouth. I don't understand her friendship with Ava, the girl who started it all. The only loyalty I can understand is the loyalty for her mother.

Despite all of that, I enjoyed the story. I was able to get lost in it and look past the things that annoyed me, fairly easily. I love the story of the gods and goddesses, but if I sit and think about this as a separate story, I loved it. If I completely ignore the fact that Henry is supposed to be the Hades, it was a great read!

I'm afraid I don't know what else to say about The Goddess Test. I enjoyed it, some things annoyed me but regardless, it's still a definite four-star for enjoyment.

4/5 Stars

Review: Invincible Summer, by Hannah Moskowitz

2011-03-19T12:27:00.001-05:00

Invincible Summer, by Hannah Moskowitz
Published: April 19, 2011
Publisher: Simon Pulse
ISBN: 9781442407510
Genre: Contemporary YA
Pages: 336
Source: Simon & Schuster's Galley Grab
Series: n/a

Noah’s happier than I’ve seen him in months. So I’d be an awful brother to get in the way of that. It’s not like I have some relationship with Melinda. It was just a kiss. Am I going to ruin Noah’s happiness because of a kiss?

Across four sun-kissed, drama-drenched summers at his family’s beach house, Chase is falling in love, falling in lust, and trying to keep his life from falling apart. But some girls are addictive....

There's something about a character driven plot that's remarkably refreshing after paranormal after paranormal.

Invincible Summer is not what I expected. (Nothing is ever what I expect, I really have to stop judging books by their cover.) I thought it would be this light, fun read. Light? Definitely not. Fun? Not the word I'd use.

The problem is, I'm not sure what I can really say about it. I loved it, but I can't find the words to tell you why.

Oy.

Another misconception the cover gave me was the point of view. I thought this would be about the girl on the cover, but it's actually from a teen boy's perspective. (Didn't read the blurb before I began reading the novel) I think for the first time, I genuinely felt like a female author nailed the teenage boy mind. (not that I really know what goes through a teenage boy's mind, but I've never read a book from a boy's perspective that felt 100% authentic, until now)

There are so many different themes woven throughout the story, it's hard to pinpoint what I would consider the central theme. There's rape, emotional abuse, fear, disabilities, death, coming of age, divorce, sex, family dynamics. One of these things is something I'm not a fan of reading about, because I feel as though I've dealt with it enough in life. I won't say which it is, because I really don't want to spoil anything. But I will say, it makes me want to hate Invincible Summer. But I don't--I can't. Because the book is written beautifully, with life-like characters, and a story I'm not likely to forget.

I've never read Moskowitz's first novel, Break. Always wanted to, but never did. Now, I kind of think I have to.

5/5 Stars

Review: Unearthly, by Cynthia Hand

2011-03-18T09:41:00.000-05:00

Unearthly by Cynthia Hand
Published: January 4, 2011
Publisher: HarperTeen
ISBN: 9780061996160
Genre: YA paranormal/fantasy
Pages: 435
Source: Netgalley
Series: Unearthly #1

In the beginning, there's a boy standing in the trees . . . .
Clara Gardner has recently learned that she's part angel. Having angel blood run through her veins not only makes her smarter, stronger, and faster than humans (a word, she realizes, that no longer applies to her), but it means she has a purpose, something she was put on this earth to do. Figuring out what that is, though, isn't easy.
Her visions of a raging forest fire and an alluring stranger lead her to a new school in a new town. When she meets Christian, who turns out to be the boy of her dreams (literally), everything seems to fall into place—and out of place at the same time. Because there's another guy, Tucker, who appeals to Clara's less angelic side.
As Clara tries to find her way in a world she no longer understands, she encounters unseen dangers and choices she never thought she'd have to make—between honesty and deceit, love and duty, good and evil. When the fire from her vision finally ignites, will Clara be ready to face her destiny?
Unearthly is a moving tale of love and fate, and the struggle between following the rules and following your heart.

**This review may contain slight spoilers regarding Tucker Avery. You've been warned!**

I'll start with the first thing ~~we all~~ I notice about a book. That gorgeous cover. It's absolutely stunning, as are many YA paranormal releases this year, and last year. I'm developing an issue with that. The problem is, I need to stop judging a book by its cover, but that's a difficult thing to get over. This cover, along with many others, have given me the impression that the books would be dark, poetic even. While this was a great one (as were the others) it just isn't what I expect going in.

Anyway. I love that Unearthly opened with Clara knowing she was part angel. It isn't something we have to wait for her to discover, and then deal with her reaction before we can get to the gist of the story. She knows from the first page, and that's uncommon. Loved it.

The characters stood out to me above all. The story, her purpose, none of that stood out to me the way the characters did. From the first time we meet Tucker Avery, I was hooked on him. I kept asking myself, "how does she not see the hottie cowboy right in front of her?" (okay so maybe I don't normally find the cowboy thing attractive. Perhaps I make exceptions for fiction.) I loved her friends and brother and mother as well. Even Christian, whom I suspected would give me a reason to detest him at some point down the line. But he didn't. There's really no definitive love triangle in this book. There's a shadow of one, but not really. I liked that because I am so sick of love triangles. For Clara, it was never "I have feelings for them both but who do I love more?" It was more true love vs her angelic predetermination.

In the end, Clara is forced to make a decision. A very, very difficult one, but I do believe she made the right one. Regardless of what the outcome would have been, I think she made the right choice. I was a little annoyed by the ending. The whole cliffhanger thing is getting old. Unearthly is no doubt one of those, but it wasn't really one that leaves me dying for the next book. It was just...okay. (Tucker leaves me dying for the next book, for the record.) The ending aside, I loved ~~Tucker~~ Unearthly. I'll definitely be anticipating the next installment.

4/5 Stars

Vampire Crush Blog Tour: Guest post by author A.M. Robinson

2011-03-16T07:00:00.001-05:00

Heyyy! You're on stop number nine on the Vampire Crush blog tour, hosted by Good Choice Reading. At the end of the tour, there will be an awesome giveaway! Each stop on the tour will have a piece of a saying at the bottom, and it's up to to you to visit each stop an collect the pieces.

Today, A.M. Robinson is giving us a bit of writing advice:

"I love how many different ways there are to write successfully. Some writers work early in the morning because they feel like the ideas are freshest; others wait until late at night, when they can feel content that the day’s hurdles are behind them. Some spend almost as much time outlining as they do writing; others (myself included) will abandon any sort of plan as soon as they reach chapter two. Virginia Woolf often wrote standing up; Ben Franklin wrote in the bathtub. Find two writers whose days and writing processes are exactly the same, down to the minute, and the world will fold in on itself! Or—less dramatically and probably more realistically—I will be really surprised.

But when it comes to offering tips on how to start a writing career, I’ve noticed that they all tend to agree on one point and one point only: In order to write a book, you have to write. Not talk about writing, or read books about writing or think about writing, or say the word “writing” twenty times while twirling counter-clockwise, but actually write.

As advice goes, it seems ridiculously simple. But I’d be willing to bet that Actually Writing is one of the hardest steps for a lot of aspiring writers. I know it was for me. I spent a good six years wanting to be a writer but convincing myself that I wasn’t ready to sit down at a computer yet. If it wasn’t assigned for class, I was a master of finding excuses—I hadn’t read enough writing guides! My idea wasn’t fully formed yet! I wasn’t familiar enough with the market! This television show needed to be watched RIGHT NOW! My fingers were tingling, better rest them! If I had spent as much time writing as I did spinning reasons on why not to write, I would have had at least one finished novel, maybe two.

Then, when I was 25, I got the kick in the pants that I needed. It’s an embarrassing kick in the pants to admit now (although is there ever an un-embarrassing kick in the pants? Discuss) as it had less to do with willpower and more to do with a Long-term Boyfriend Who Did Not Want to Move to New York. I had/have a job that’s not very portable, as publishing companies seem to all want to cluster together in NYC, and I was looking for something I could do in Indiana that I was passionate about. Naively—and definitely last-ditchedly--I decided the thing to do was finally attempt a writing career.

I started to write a couple of hours every day, staying after work until I had knocked out a thousand words. At first it was hard sticking around the office while everyone was leaving, but fifteen minutes in, a switch would flip and I would suddenly be typing away happily, buoyed by an incredible sense of accomplishment that came from doing something that I had been talking about for years. And besides, it was FUN.

Somewhere around page 130, the Boyfriend and I parted ways, but (thankfully!) the motivation to finish Vampire Crush stuck around. By that time I was hooked on Sophie’s voice. I loved how snarky and determined she was, and how at first the vampires invading her school were mainly problematic because they were making it harder for her to be editor-in-chief of her school’s newspaper. I loved the banter between her and James, her childhood crush/nemesis who had moved back to Michigan with a secret. And—let’s not kid ourselves—I loved that it gave me an excuse to make corny vampire jokes.

So I’m going to dole out some advice, but I warn you that it will be utterly familiar. Go ahead and write what you want, how you want, where you want, and why you want, but seriously—just start writing. Because the sooner you have it down on paper, the sooner you can start making it perfect. "

GRAND PRIZE:

+++Signed HARDCOVER copy of Vampire Crush

+++A pair of whale-dotted pajama pants, a la Sophie.

+++Bat-shaped cookie cutter

+++Cute vampire monster mirror

+++"Vampire Blood" hand gel.

TWO ALTERNATE PRIZES

+++Signed paperback copy of Vampire Crush

+++"Vampire Blood" hand gel

That is a total of THREE WINNERS!!! This giveaway will be open INTERNATIONAL! All you have to do is collect all the secret sayings and follow A.M. Robinson on Twitter and Facebook.

Here are the blogs participating in the tour:

March 8th: With a Book! Guest Post/Giveaway

March 9th: Once Upon A Twilight Guest Post/Giveaway

March 10th: A Simple love of Reading Guest Post/Giveaway

March 11th: 365 Days of Reading Guest Post/Giveaway

March 12th: Skyla11377 Reviews Guest Post/Giveaway

March 13th: Without a Bookshelf Guest Post/Giveaway

March 14th: Dark Readers Guest Post/Giveaway

March 15th: IB Book Blogging Guest Post/Giveaway

March 16th: Another Book Junkie! Guest Post/Giveaway

March 17th: Read for your Future Guest Post/Giveaway

March 18th: Good Choice Reading Guest Post/Giveaway

This stop's clue: "AND MAYBE"

The next stop: Read For Your Future.

A.M. Robinson on the web:

Review: Bumped, by Megan McCafferty

2011-03-08T11:04:00.000-06:00

Bumped by Megan McCafferty
Published: April 26, 2011
ISBN: 9780061962745
Genre: YA dystopian
Pages: 336
Source: NetGalley
Series: Bumped #1

When a virus makes everyone over the age of eighteen infertile, would-be parents are forced to 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 are searching 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 bring Melody back to Goodside and convince her 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 ever imagined, one that makes Melody and Harmony realize they have so much more than just DNA in common.

I read the last sentence of Bumped and continued reading into the Acknowledgements before I realized that that was actually the ending. What the hell? *looks around* *crickets* WHAT THE HELL?! Did it really just end that way?! Did I get a bunk galley copy that cutoff before the end was truly there?

No. It totally ended that way.

I loved the world McCafferty built. While I'd never want to imagine a world in which teenagers were the only ones able to have children, there seem to be enough teen pregnancies in today's society for the concept of Bumped to not be too far off. We're fascinated with it, even if we believe we aren't. We must be fascinated with it, because who else is watching Teen Mom? We claim to want to fix this problem, but in reality, we're encouraging it.

The dialogue and futuristic slang was fantastic. I'm a huge fan of the Jessica Darling series, and I had hoped McCafferty would bring that witty edge to Bumped as well. She definitely didn't disappoint.

Bumped is told from alternating perspectives which is something I absolutely love if done correctly. I do think McCafferty pulled it off, and I definitely felt the difference between the two girls, as well as their similarities. But I wish there had been more development for each of them, because at times I felt like the story was moving too quickly for us to get a real feel for each of them. We know their basic characteristics and beliefs, but not much beyond that.

I have so many unanswered questions, and I'm sure they'll be answered in the following installments, but it doesn't erase the frustration I'm left with at this point. What caused the virus? How does Jondoe really feel? Why do they have to actually have sex? Why is artificial insemination no longer a possibility? Where the hell are the parents who still actually care about their children in a way that isn't encouraging premature sex and pregnancies, or in stark contrast, forced marriages. Where's the middle ground?

Basically it all boils down to the fact that I want more. I enjoyed the writing because (duh) it's Megan McCafferty. I'm pretty much dying to know what happens next at this point, and I need to muster up some patience--pronto.

4 Stars

Review: Vampire Crush, by A.M. Robinson

2011-03-07T07:00:00.004-06:00

Vampire Crush, by A.M. Robinson
Published: December 28, 2010
Publisher: HarperTeen
ISBN: 9780061989711
Genre: Paranormal YA
Pages: 416
Source: Paperback copy provided by author for an honest review.
Series: n/a.

I swear, my life was always totally normal.
Normal house, normal family, normal school. My looks are average, I don't have any superpowers, no one's showing up to tell me I'm a princess—you get the picture. But when my junior year started, something not normal happened. There were new kids at school . . . new kids with a wardrobe straight out of a 19th-century romance novel, and an inexplicable desire to stay at school until sundown.
And on top of that, James Hallowell showed up. James, who stole my sandwiches in fourth grade and teased me mercilessly through middle school. James, who now seems to have the power to make my heart race any time he comes near.
But something weird is going on. Because James rarely goes out during the day. And he seems stronger than your typical guy. And he knows the new kids, all of whom seem to be harboring some kind of deep secret. . . .

I think you would have to be delusional to not see the similarities between the blurb and a certain popular teen vamp story that shall remain unnamed. But ignore those possible similarities, because they hardly exist at all once you start reading Vampire Crush.

Starting with the cover--I love it. It has a simple beauty, but I will admit that I have no idea how it plays into the story, other than the old fashioned bat&vampire connection.

I'm beyond over the vampire craze, but since I'll be one of the stops on the Vampire Crush blog tour (keep an eye out for her stop here, on March 16th) I wanted to have an opportunity to read it beforehand. I was pleasantly surprised with Vampire Crush, and so glad it didn't resemble that other vampire series that shall still remain unnamed.

I believe the majority of the characters were well developed. I liked the heroine, although she irked me from time to time with her editor-in-chief determination when there were far more important things going in her life. James was adorable, and I particularly loved Violet.

Vampire Crush had an edge to it that was fun and witty. I found myself smiling on numerous occasions, and even laughing out loud a few times. It never once lost my attention, and I devoured it from front to back without feeling the slightest sense of boredom. The only negative thing I would have to say about it is the ending. I wish it had packed a bigger punch, but I'm still pleased with the book as a whole.

Overall, it was a lot of fun to read, and I'll definitely be looking out for anything else A. M. Robinson writes!

4/5 Stars

Review: Wither, by Lauren DeStefano

2011-03-05T09:34:00.000-06:00

Wither, by Lauren DeStefano
Published: March 22, 2011
Publisher: Simon & Schuster
ISBN: 9781442409057
Genre: YA Dystopian
Pages: 356
Source: Simon & Schuster's galley grab
Series: Chemical Garden #1

What if you knew exactly when you would die?

Thanks to modern science, every human being has become a ticking genetic time bomb—males only live to age twenty-five, and females only live to age twenty. In this bleak landscape, young girls are kidnapped and forced into polygamous marriages to keep the population from dying out.

When sixteen-year-old Rhine Ellery is taken by the Gatherers to become a bride, she enters a world of wealth and privilege. Despite her husband Linden's genuine love for her, and a tenuous trust among her sister wives, Rhine has one purpose: to escape—to find her twin brother and go home.

But Rhine has more to contend with than losing her freedom. Linden's eccentric father is bent on finding an antidote to the genetic virus that is getting closer to taking his son, even if it means collecting corpses in order to test his experiments. With the help of Gabriel, a servant Rhine is growing dangerously attracted to, Rhine attempts to break free, in the limted time she has left.

Wither is to blame for my current book hangover. Once I started reading it, it was difficult for me to stop. I know a lot of people are already sick of the sudden increase in YA dystopian, but I am not one of those people.

It is not for the faint of heart. Don't let the gorgeous (yet, oh so perfectly fitting) cover fool you. I found myself repulsed throughout the majority of the book, but it was just one of those train wrecks you can't pull your eyes away from. It is a lot darker than your typical YA. There was a lot of death, and multiple spots for the reader to get misty eyed.

I have nothing against polygamy. I don't understand how women can share their husband, but I don't judge them for it. Whatever, that's their prerogative. But when it is forced polygamy, it's a different story. These girls had no choice in the matter, and they were so young. I realize they needed to be young because women die at age twenty, but the youngest wife, Cecily, was thirteen. THIRTEEN. I was disgusted by her child-like ways, when she's already sister wife. I was disgusted by her father-in-law's strange affection for her, and I was especially disgusted with the fact that Linden could touch her and live with himself. Which is upsetting, because he was otherwise a great character. This coupled with his naivety seemed to be his only real character flaws, but the Cecily situation is too much for me to overlook, even if this is the world as they know it.

The world was fascinating. North America is the only country left, as the rest of the world was wiped out in a WW3. (I won't talk about how unlikely it is that America would be the only country left standing, that's another discussion for another time.) Women live to be twenty and men twenty-five. The ages confuse me as well, considering women generally live longer than men, not to mention Rhine is a twin, and yet she will still die exactly five years before her brother. I see no logic in the numbers, but I'm not even going to attempt to dissect that. Regardless, I could not imagine living in a world like this. I would not want to know when my time was up. I would not want to live on the lone little island in the world, and live in constant fear of being a victim of human trafficking. Or worse, BE a victim of human trafficking. The idea is haunting.

I really felt like all of the characters were real, but I wasn't particularly fond of all of them. I liked Rhine, though from time to time I felt like she was losing herself. But there is so much going on in her world, so many places in which her loyalty lies, and she is a sixteen year old girl, after all. Her sister wife, Jenna, was one of my favorite characters, but I was not a fan of Cecily in the least. Gabriel was adorable, and probably my other favorite character. Their father-in-law was a creep, and I'm looking forward to whatever lies ahead for him, because I'm sure it won't be good.

Despite all of the things about this store that had me repulsed, it's beautifully written, and a beautiful story. Rhine's determination to get out and get back to her brother was riveting, and I was surprised at some of the lengths she was willing to go to for those around her to trust her. It explores the dynamics of polygamous relationships, a world in which the human race is truly on the verge of extinction, death, loyalty, and whatever else you'd like to throw in the mixing bowl. I loved it, and I am genuinely shocked. Not what I expected--at all. So eager for the sequel.

5/5 Stars

Review: The Family That Wasn't by Gene Twaronite

2011-03-04T11:25:00.000-06:00

The Family That Wasn't, by Gene Twaronite
Published: August 24, 2010
Publisher: iUniverse
ISBN: 9781450245173
Genre: MG/YA Fantasy
Pages: 128
Source: Provided by author for honest review
Series: n/a-?

The Family That Wasn't is a humorous fable of how our families live inside us. It will appeal to both teen and adult readers. The 13-year-old narrator, John Boggle (whose real name is John Bazukas-O'Reilly-Geronimo-Giovanni-Li Choy-Echeverria), finds his family so impossibly crazy that he cannot stand living with them another moment. He invents a new perfect family so convincing that he suddenly finds himself living inside this imaginary world.
But John finds that he too has changed. He sees his too perfect image in the mirror and begins to wonder if it is all some kind of mistake. Only trouble is, now he can't remember who he is. He only knows that he must leave this family at once. His sole clue is the name, John Boggle.
To find his true family he embarks on a cross country quest. Along the way he encounters other characters who have also lost touch with their families. Together they must find a way to reconstruct the connections to bring back the family that once was.

There's such a thin line between middle grade and young adult that I'm not so sure there's a definitive line at all. I realized by the blurb that this was more middle grade than the young adult I typically enjoy, so I wasn't sure if I wanted to take the chance. However, the concept and the cover drew me in, so I decided to give it a shot.

I'm glad I did. It started off a little slow as we are introduced to how John's crazy family came to be, but it soon picks up and the action doesn't stop from that point on. Each of the characters had these quirks that would drive any child crazy, and a few of them reminded me of people in my life.

While it was geared toward younger readers and I normally don't enjoy such a thing, it definitely drew me. I felt like I was in the middle of a Tim Burton movie. It had that dark humorous feel to it, and I could definitely see it as a movie. A fun read!

Aside from being fun, it makes you think about how fragile families truly are, and the fact that there is usually one person who is the rock of every family. I have many branches of family and have witnessed this myself numerous times; the death of the family rock causes the family to fall apart. It--for lack of a better word--sucks. Nevertheless, it's definitely a reality and a clear parallel in The Family That Wasn't. I encourage you to read this one if you get the chance!

4/5 Stars

Review: So Much Closer by Susane Colasanti

2011-03-03T09:12:00.001-06:00

So Much Closer, by Susane Colasanti
Published: May 3, 2011
Publisher: Viking
ISBN: 9780670012244
Genre: YA contemp
Pages: 256
Source: ARC provided by Penguin for review.
Series: N/A

When Brooke's crush, Scott, moves from their suburban town to New York City, she decides to follow him there. Living with her formerly estranged dad and adapting to a new school are challenging, and things go from bad to worse when Brooke learns that Scott already has a girlfriend. But as she builds her new life, Brooke begins to discover a side of herself she never knew existed. And as she finds out, in the city that never sleeps, love can appear around any corner...

Oy. I read this book yesterday, and before going to bed, I loved it. But after I've slept on it, there are a few things about it that bug me, though my review will still remain relatively positive.

Let's start with what I didn't like.

First off, Brooke is a genius. Through the roof IQ scores style genius. And yet, the girl has no common sense. It takes her a long time to catch on to what's going on around her.

She follows Scott to New York. What senior in high school would leave everything behind, to follow a boy to another city? To leave her friends, and her mother, to go live with the father who deserted them....all for Scott? No. I don't care how much she wanted to live in the city her entire life, only a heartless little drama queen would be willing to take those steps. All for The Knowing.

Which leads me to problem number three. The Knowing. Enough with this fate business.

And last, there were characters who seemed to serve no purpose. Rhiannon--which I would assume is the same Rhiannon from Colasanti's other novel, Take Me There (haven't read it). What purpose did she serve other than popping in from another novel? If she isn't the same Rhiannon, then she really served no purpose. And there's another, but revealing this one's non-purpose would be spoilerish.

Now, what I did like.

The story. Despite its flaws, Brooke goes through a transformation that was honorable. She morphs into someone who cares about people, and starts to value more important things than a boy. She starts to realize all of her past mistakes, and takes steps towards fixing them. She took drastic steps in the beginning for some boy, but the girl in the end of the book wouldn't have done such foolish things. Though I doubt she would have stayed in Jersey had she been given a do-over, because her decision to move to NY really did turn out to be what was best for her.

I liked both John and Scott. I liked these boys for different reasons. They were very different characters, and despite Brooke's feelings toward them, I believe they both had their redeeming qualities. Neither were perfect, both had flaws, but that's the reality of the world. Which makes So Much Closer feel that much more real.

The city. Brooke's adventure through the city almost makes me want to visit! (Almost.) I imagine a beauty in it that I hadn't ever thought would be there. I'll be completely honest. When I think about NY, I see buildings, taxis, and bustling pedestrians. Through Brooke's eyes, I saw the city differently.

It was quick. This is one thing I absolutely love about Colasanti. She manages to fit a whole story in a short, quick, fun read. And while sometimes I desire more, there are days when I just want to sit down and read a book from front to back, and walk away feeling satisfied. That's something Colasanti delivers.

Final thoughts:

So Much Closer was a fun read, that forces you to see the beauty in simple things. Look up.

B+

Review: Anna and the French Kiss, by Stephanie Perkins

2011-02-25T16:34:00.000-06:00

Anna and the French Kiss, by Stephanie Perkins
Published: December 2, 2010
Publisher: Dutton
ISBN: 9780525423270
Genre: Contemporary YA
Pages: 372
Source: Bought
Series: Not part of a series, but there are two companion novels slated to be released this year and next year.

Anna is looking forward to her senior year in Atlanta, where she has a great job, a loyal best friend, and a crush on the verge of becoming more. Which is why she is less than thrilled about being shipped off to boarding school in Paris—until she meets Étienne St. Claire: perfect, Parisian (and English and American, which makes for a swoon-worthy accent), and utterly irresistible. The only problem is that he's taken, and Anna might be, too, if anything comes of her almost-relationship back home.
As winter melts into spring, will a year of romantic near-misses end with the French kiss Anna—and readers—have long awaited?

My thoughts before reading Anna and the French Kiss were centered around the cover, title, and the hype. The cover looks fun, the title sounds flirty, and the hype had me weary.

When I began reading, I wasn't sure I was going to enjoy it. Anna was whiney, and annoyed me a bit. I can understand her being upset, because despite the fact that she was going to Paris (PARIS!), she was being shipped off to another country during her final year in high school, when everything in her life seems to be going well. I'd be homesick before I ever left my city, let alone the country. Still, the way she handled it and her thought process just made me want to tell her to shut the hell up.

I got over that quickly. Most likely the moment St. Clair entered the picture. Um, hottie with an English accent? Yes please! (Yeah, I totally fit into that 'American girls love English accents' stereotype) But it was more than that. It was every character. They all had depth, and I was surprised at this. I don't know what I went in expecting, but it wasn't what I got. Fascinating, memorable characters? Check. Engaging setting? Check. Chemistry?? Double check. Like, dripping off the pages, chemistry. Realistic dialogue? Check. GREAT love story? CHECK.

My one complaint (well, two) is the cover and the title. I liked them at first. Both make it look like a fun read. But I felt like the novel was more than a fun read. The girl on the cover isn't at all what I imagined, and she can't possibly be eighteen. As for the title, I think it makes the story seem cheap and shallow. Anna and the French Kiss is definitely not cheap or shallow. It was fantastic!!

A+

Blog Tour: Playing Hurt, by Holly Schindler & Contest Reminder!

2011-02-24T00:00:00.011-06:00

I am thrilled to be a part of the local leg for the Playing Hurt blog tour! Holly Schindler and I share the same hometown, (which is awesome) so the interview below pertains to our area. Hope you enjoy!!
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Holly Schindler's novels:

Playing Hurt release date: March 8th.

Star basketball player Chelsea “Nitro” Keyes had the promise of a full ride to college—and everyone’s admiration in her hometown. But everything changed senior year, when she took a horrible fall during a game. Now a metal plate holds her together and she feels like a stranger in her own family.

As a graduation present, Chelsea ’s dad springs for a three-week summer “boot camp” program at a northern Minnesota lake resort. There, she’s immediately drawn to her trainer, Clint, a nineteen-year-old ex-hockey player who’s haunted by his own traumatic past. As they grow close, Chelsea is torn between her feelings for Clint and her loyalty to her devoted boyfriend back home. Will an unexpected romance just end up causing Chelsea and Clint more pain—or finally heal their heartbreak?

A Blue So Dark, in stores now.

Fifteen-year-old Aura Ambrose has been hiding a secret. Her mother, a talented artist and art teacher, is slowly being consumed by schizophrenia, and Aura has been her sole caretaker ever since Aura’s dad left them. Convinced that “creative” equals crazy, Aura shuns her own artistic talent. But as her mother sinks deeper into the darkness of mental illness, the hunger for a creative outlet draws Aura toward the depths of her imagination. Just as desperation threatens to swallow her whole, Aura discovers that art, love, and family are profoundly linked—and together may offer an escape from her fears.

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Virtual Tour of the landmarks you'll see in Holly's novels:

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Interview:

FAVORITE THINGS ABOUT SPRINGFIELD

Having lived in Springfield , Missouri my entire life, I’ve racked up a lifetime worth of favorites…

Do you think our cashew chicken is nationwide fame worthy?

Do I. In fact, I specifically requested Lucy’s Cashew Chicken for my last birthday dinner.

Where was your favorite place to hang out as a teenager?

The mall. Back when the mall had movie theaters—and record stores—and an arcade! If I could find an 80’s-vintage mall, I STILL think it’d be a good time…

Have you ever visited Wilson ’s Creek National Battlefield?

Oh, yes. Field trips in school, Civil War reenactments…I’d have to say I personally prefer it to, say, The Nature Center.

Do you support any local sports teams?

I’m funny about sports—I get involved in individual players, rather than teams. Got to be a Greinke fan when he played for the Royals…Now that he’s been traded, it looks like I’m going to be following the Brewers.

Are the Fantastic Cavers really that “fantastic”?

In the picture taken of me at Fantastic Caverns, I have my new Cabbage Patch doll with me (oh, how that dates me)…It’s been a long time, but I do remember thinking it was cool.

What towns in the area are you particularly fond of?

I have family ties to the Fair Grove area…there’s a town near Fair Grove—tiny little thing—called Bassville. My great grandmother’s first husband was a Bass. I swear, if it happened in the Ozarks, I’m tied to it somehow…

Favorite thing to do in Branson?

Honestly, I haven’t had a vacation since the summer of 1999. And the only complete day off I’ve taken since ’01 was May 1, 2010—A BLUE SO DARK’s release date. I’m dying to take a weekend—rent a cabin on the lake. I’m hoping to get there this summer. Fingers crossed.

Any particular restaurants in the area that you would recommend?

Mexican Villa. Two beef enchiladas and a Coke. I think I could write a sonnet about Mexican Villa beef enchiladas, actually.

If someone were to come to Springfield , MO for one day only, what specific Springfield attraction would you recommend?

Our skies. It’s a simple answer, but I swear, we have the most beautiful skies in the Ozarks…

What’s your favorite thing about Springfield , Missouri ?

In short? It’s home. You know that feeling you get when you’ve been away from your house for a while? That it’s-so-good-to-be-back feeling? How fantastic it feels to sleep in your own bed after you’ve been gone? That’s Springfield for me.

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Find Holly on the web:

Website, Blog, Twitter, Facebook, Myspace, Youtube, Goodreads

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Reminder:

Holly has a contest going for a signed copy of Playing Hurt! The person who racks up the most comments on tour stops, and links to the tour stops, wins! CLICK HERE to go to the form to record your entries!

I want to thank Holly for stopping by! Can't wait to have Playing Hurt in my hands!

Review: Overprotected, by Jennifer Laurens

2011-02-18T10:30:00.001-06:00

Overprotected by Jennifer Laurens
Publish Date: April 29, 2011
Publisher: Grove Creek Publishing
ISBN: 9781933963006
Genre: YA Contemp
Source: E-book provided by author for review
Series: N/A

Ashlyn: A lonely society princess living in New York City.

Daddy hired you to be my bodyguard.

Colin: Childhood enemy, now her protector.

Daddy thought I’d be safe. He thought I’d never fall in love. He thought he could keep me forever.

Charles: obsessed with keeping her safe, keeping her his, he hires the one person he knows she could never fall in love with: Colin.

Daddy was wrong.

I was eager to read Overprotected, because we all know how much I love Jennifer Laurens' books. This one didn't disappoint!

This book kind of had that A Season of Eden feel to it, for those that have read it. (Not a bad thing--I loved Eden) Ashlyn is a musician, and when Jennifer writes about a character playing the piano, I always get lost in her writing. It also helps me connect to the character.

Ashlyn's parents...oh my. I would not have been able to live with parents like hers. I think 'overprotected' may actually be an understatement, and her father's obsession with her "safety" crossed over into creepyville. That coupled with her mother's drive for attention, would have been too much for me to handle.

I loved Colin. He was a man, and he took his job as Ash's bodyguard seriously. He tried with all of his effort to keep a wall between the two of them. But what does time do to walls? And if you're going to have a bodyguard forced down your throat, it may as well be a hot one! (I know how that sounds but you know what I meant!!)

I think Ash was a confused girl in the beginning. She wants nothing more than her own freedom and the space to grow up, but she still clung to the relationship she had with her father, which should have expired long before. She also held onto the grudge she had against Colin, and this too should have been forgotten. I think this was a result of her being sheltered though, and we get to watch her grow up rather quickly.

I don't want to say much more for fear of giving away the story. (I hate reading reviews that tell me what happens, even if they don't seem to be spoilery) I also don't think the blurb does the book justice by any means. There is so much more to the story than a girl and her bodyguard falling in love. All I can say is, I loved it! Pre-order it, or get it on your e-reader now because it's worth it!!

5/5 Stars

Waiting on Wednesday (15)

2011-02-16T09:00:00.014-06:00

"Waiting On" Wednesday is a weekly event, hosted at Breaking the Spine, that spotlights upcoming releases that we're eagerly anticipating.

Chain Reaction, by Simone Elkeles

Luis Fuentes is a good boy who doesn't live with the angst that his big brothers, Alex and Carlos, have always lived with. Luis is smart, funny, and has big dreams of becoming an astronaut. But when he falls for the wrong girl, Luis enters a dark world he's never known, and just when he thinks he's got life all figured out, learns some disturbing news about his family that destroys his positive outlook on life. Will that Fuentes bad boy streak come out with a vengeance and lure Luis to live on the edge like his new girlfriend and his own father?
Continuing all the steamy romance of the first two books, New York Times and USA Today bestselling author Simone Elkeles gives fans one more satisfying taste of the irresistible Fuentes boys.

Release date: May 24, 2011

I absolutely loved Perfect Chemistry and Rules of Attraction. Still, I was a bit nervous about the plot of this next novel in the series. I was afraid it'd be smexy bad boy meets good girl again, and it would get old. But she apparently knew that would be on our minds because this one sounds completely different. I have no doubt it'll carry that same steam Elkeles has given us in the last two novels, and I can't wait!

What are you waiting for this week?

Review: Delirium, by Lauren Oliver

2011-02-15T16:48:00.000-06:00

Delirium, by Lauren Oliver
Published: February 1, 2011
Publisher: HarperTeen
ISBN: 9780061726828
Genre: YA, Dystopian
Pages: 441
Source: won from HarperTeen.
Series: Delirium #1

Before scientists found the cure, people thought love was a good thing. They didn’t understand that once love -- the deliria -- blooms in your blood, there is no escaping its hold. Things are different now. Scientists are able to eradicate love, and the governments demands that all citizens receive the cure upon turning eighteen. Lena Holoway has always looked forward to the day when she’ll be cured. A life without love is a life without pain: safe, measured, predictable, and happy.

But with ninety-five days left until her treatment, Lena does the unthinkable: She falls in love.

In one word: Breathtaking. We bloggers seem to throw that word around a lot, but I mean it. My first thought after closing the book was "I wonder if that's how people felt the first time they read Romeo and Juliet.." (And I mean those who set out to read it by choice. Not those of us who had it shoved down our throats at age thirteen when we didn't have the slightest idea of what love was.)

I had high expectations for Delirium. How could I not? Before I Fall was fantastic. But Delirium took me to a level that I'm not even sure I can put into words. I could probably make a list a mile long, of all the times I stopped reading to think about something I had just read. Not because I didn't understand it, but because I did. It made me look at things in ways I never had.

Imagine a world without love. Not just a world without romantic love, but a world without love in general. Compassion, sympathy, these are things of the past. I think it's best said in Oliver's own words:
"Hate isn't the most dangerous thing. Indifference is." Pg 362

The story starts with an emotionless heap of an MC. At first I thought, if this will be her voice the entire time, I'm not going to be able to finish it. She didn't seem to feel anything, and all she seemed to do was regurgitate facts, to herself as well as those around her. But it didn't take long to realize that Lena was just a product of her environment. She was the result of a force fed dogma. (Sound familiar? I won't get into that.) Once she started seeing things, and feeling things, she became an individual. From the first sign of that, I was hooked.

The story hooked me. The characters hooked me. The writing hooked me. But it was so much more than that. This book managed to reach a part of me that hasn't been touched in a long time, if ever. It made me almost welcome those hearts and flowers from yesterday with open arms. (I said almost.) I've read romance novels, I've read the tragedies, I've read Sparks. I love (most) of them almost as much as the next girl. But nothing, nothing, made me feel the way this book did. I'm not sure I can explain it. I'm not sure I would explain it if I could. I think it's something you have to experience for yourself.

I think it goes without saying, but...:

5/5 Stars

Holly Schindler Blog Tour Info & Contest!

2011-02-15T09:23:00.000-06:00

I'm sure you guys have seen information about the upcoming blog tour for Playing Hurt around the interwebs. My post goes live on Feb. 24th, so be sure to look out for that!

The tour is going to kick off with a Local Leg, stopping around various blogger's blogs in Holly's area. This will go from February 21-25th, and this is where the contest comes in.

Holly will be holding the contest. Basically, the person who racks up the most comments & links via Twitter, FB, Myspace, etc etc. to the tour stops, wins a signed copy of Playing Hurt.

CLICK HERE. Bookmark that page! Comment on the posts, link the tour stops, and fill that in for your chance to win. Have you read A Blue So Dark? If you have, you know it will be worth the effort!

Waiting on Wednesday (14)

2011-02-09T09:00:00.008-06:00

"Waiting On" Wednesday is a weekly event, hosted at Breaking the Spine, that spotlights upcoming releases that we're eagerly anticipating.

So Much Closer, by Susanne Colasanti

Scott Abrams is the love of Brooke's life. He just doesn't know it yet. So when his family moves to New York City the summer before senior year, Brooke has no choice but to follow Scott. It's her last chance to prove to him that they're meant to be together.

What will Brooke do when her biggest dream finally comes true, but instead she wants something more?

Release date: May 3, 2011

I was a bit disappointed with Colasanti's last novel, Something Like Fate. I'm not sure why, exactly. The storyline (girls falls for best friend's boyfriend) was just too much for me I think, and I had a hard time empathizing with any of the characters. However, I've liked all of her other novels, so I'm sure I'll enjoy this one!

What are you waiting for this week?

E-Reader of choice?!

2011-02-04T09:38:00.000-06:00

I need your help! I recently bought a Kindle, and it seems to be malfunctioning. >:| So I'm thinking I'll have to return it. Howeverrr, I'm no longer sure if I want a Kindle or something else. What's your e-reader of choice? Why?

(I'm going crazy here. :p)

Review: Darkness Becomes Her, by Kelly Keaton

2011-02-02T21:56:00.000-06:00

Darkness Becomes Her, by Kelly Keaton
Published: February 22, 2011
Publisher: Simon Pulse
ISBN: 9781442409248
Genre: Paranormal/Fantasy YA
Pages: 288
Source: Simon & Schuster's galley grab
Series: Gods & Monsters

Ari can’t help feeling lost and alone. With teal eyes and freakish silver hair that can’t be changed or destroyed, Ari has always stood out. And after growing up in foster care, she longs for some understanding of where she came from and who she is.
Her search for answers uncovers just one message from her long dead mother: Run. Ari can sense that someone, or something, is getting closer than they should. But it’s impossible to protect herself when she doesn’t know what she’s running from or why she is being pursued.
She knows only one thing: she must return to her birthplace of New 2, the lush rebuilt city of New Orleans. Upon arriving, she discovers that New 2 is very...different. Here, Ari is seemingly normal. But every creature she encounters, no matter how deadly or horrifying, is afraid of her.
Ari won’t stop until she knows why. But some truths are too haunting, too terrifying, to ever be revealed.

Darkness Becomes Her took me by surprise. I read it because a few people recommended it, but I'll be honest--I hadn't even read the synopsis. Right? I know. I just delved right in without a thing to go on!

I was immediately drawn to the heroine, Ari. To put it plainly, she kicks ass. With a foul mouth and a no bullshit attitude, I connected with her from the first page.

It's difficult to talk about the story, and what I enjoyed about it, without giving too much away. I loved the mix of gods and paranormal creatures. It felt like a genuinely fresh concept, though the individual elements were far from original. Keaton managed to pull these things together in a way that felt original. Unique. It was fantastic.

About two thirds through the book, there was a brief moment when I had a fleeing feeling. Ari does something that felt so out of character, I was nearly turned off to the point of DNFing it. Was it really that extreme? Probably not. I'm not sure why it resonated with me in such a negative way, but it did. I pushed forward, though, determined to find out what happens with her story. Luckily, she snapped out of it quickly, realized her own stupidity, and turned back into the girl I loved. I'm glad she snapped back, but I'm left wondering what the hell the scene did the for the story. I'm still baffled by it. I don't think it was necessary to move the story along at all, and it pulled us away from her character. Even if it was brief, I just wish it wasn't there.

I think Keaton did a great job painting the picture. It had a gothic feeling that I fell in love with. I'll definitely be keeping tabs on what comes next in this series! I'd recommend it to YA paranormal junkies everywhere.

*Small note. There's a lot of cursing. If you're turned of by excessive foul language, be prepared, because Darkness Becomes Her is littered with it!

4 Stars

Waiting on Wednesday (13)

2011-02-02T08:45:00.000-06:00

"Waiting On" Wednesday is a weekly event, hosted at Breaking the Spine, that spotlights upcoming releases that we're eagerly anticipating.

Afterlife, by Claudia Gray

The fourth book in this electrifying vampire series has all the romance, suspense, and page-turning drama that have made Claudia Gray’s Evernight books runaway successes.

Having become what they feared most, Bianca and Lucas face a terrifying new reality. They must return to Evernight Academy, Lucas as a vampire and Bianca as a wraith. But Lucas is haunted by demons, both personal and supernatural. Bianca must help him fight the evil inside him, combat the forces determined to drive them apart—and find the power to claim her destiny at last.

Readers have fallen in love with Bianca and Lucas, and they will be thrilled to read this exciting conclusion to their romantic adventure.

Release date: March 1, 2011

I've yet to read Stargazer or Hourglass. I liked Evernight, though I wasn't completely blown away with it. I am excited to see where the story takes us though. Waiting for release dates to find out what happens next is no fun sometimes! So if Afterlife is released by the time I'm even ready for it, there's no waiting involved. :)

What are you waiting for this week?

Waiting on Wednesday (12)

2011-01-26T09:00:00.002-06:00

"Waiting On" Wednesday is a weekly event, hosted at Breaking the Spine, that spotlights upcoming releases that we're eagerly anticipating.

Playing Hurt, by Holly Schindler

Star basketball player Chelsea "Nitro" Keyes had a full ride to college—and everyone's admiration back home. Then she took a horrible fall during senior year. Now a metal plate holds her together and she feels like a stranger in her own family.
That summer, Chelsea's dad hires Clint, a nineteen-year-old ex-hockey player and "boot camp" trainer, to work with her at a northern Minnesota lake resort. As they grow close, Chelsea finds that Clint's haunted by his own tragedy. Will their romance end up hurting them all over again—or finally heal their heartbreak?

Released date: March 8, 2011

As we all know, I absolutely loved Schindler's debut novel, A Blue So Dark. I'm ridiculously excited to see what else she has in store for us. I'm one of many stops on the Playing Hurt blog tour, so keep a look out for that sometime mid-February!

What are you waiting for this week?

Paranormal/Fantasy VS Contemporary

2011-01-23T08:00:00.003-06:00

Before I read Twilight (cringe, I hate typing that title!) I hadn't really read anything paranormal. In fact, I rarely read anything YA. I don't remember reading anything other than adult mystery & suspense, or romance novels, by choice. Anything that I read before Twilight that would be considered young adult, was a requirement in school. Why? I have no idea. I was never drawn to that genre, perhaps because I was a teenager and I longed to grow up. Now maybe I long to be a teenager again, somewhere deep inside myself. Who knows, really.

Anywho, the point. Once I read the Twilight saga, I started reading other young adult novels, many of which were paranormal, and I realized just how much I prefer it over contemporary. I won't necessarily say I prefer it over adult romance or mystery, because I feel like each of those speak to a different part of myself and I just have to be in the right mood for each. But if you put a YA novel about fallen angels in front of me, and then a contemporary--I'll most likely choose the one about fallen angels. Maybe it pushes my imagination further than a contemporary, because I like to imagine living the impossible. Orrr, maybe it all goes back to my mood.

How about you? Do you have a preference, or are you a mood reader too?

Waiting on Wednesday (11)

2011-01-19T08:45:00.000-06:00

"Waiting On" Wednesday is a weekly event, hosted at Breaking the Spine, that spotlights upcoming releases that we're eagerly anticipating.

So Shelly, by Ty Roth

Until now, high school junior, John Keats, has only tiptoed near the edges of the vortex that is schoolmate and literary prodigy, Gordon Byron. That is, until their mutual friend, Shelly, drowns in a sailing accident.

After stealing Shelly's ashes from her wake at Trinity Catholic High School, the boys set a course for the small Lake Erie island where Shelly's body had washed ashore and to where she wished to be returned. It would be one last "so Shelly" romantic quest. At least that's what they think. As they navigate around the obstacles and resist temptations during their odyssey, Keats and Gordon glue together the shattered pieces of Shelly's and their own pasts while attempting to make sense of her tragic and premature end.

Release date: February 8, 2011

I have a feeling this one won't live up to the gorgeous cover. Not to say it doesn't sound fantastic, because it does. I'm just hoping it's everything I expect!!

What are you waiting for this week?

Giveaway @ Jennifer Lauren's blog!

2011-01-17T11:43:00.000-06:00

This week Jennifer is offering five winners their choice of four of her novels! Three of those are the Heavenly series, and the other is my favorite of hers--A Season of Eden. As much as I love the Heavenly series, I absolutely loved A Season of Eden! Take a look at the trailer!

Don't Die, Dragonfly--Free Kindle Edition!

2011-01-16T16:25:00.000-06:00

I've never read The Seer series, but it's always been one that I've planned on reading--eventually. I don't know how long this one has been free on Amazon for the Kindle, but I just noticed it today so I thought I'd share!

Don't Die, Dragonfly, by Linda Joy Singleton

After getting kicked out of school and sent to live with her grandmother, Sabine Rose is determined to become a "normal" teenage girl. She hides her psychic powers from everyone, even from her grandmother Nona, who also has "the gift." Having a job at the school newspaper and friends like Penny-Love, a popular cheerleader, have helped Sabine fit in at her new school. She has even managed to catch the eye of the adorable Josh DeMarco.
Yet, Sabine can't seem to get the bossy voice of Opal, her spirit guide, out of her head . . . or the disturbing images of a girl with a dragonfly tattoo. Suspected of a crime she didn't commit, Sabine must find the strength to defend herself and, later, save a friend from certain danger.

I need a Kindle! I've put it off for way too long. Have any of you read this series, and if so, would you recommend it?

Waiting on Wednesday (10)

2011-01-12T09:09:00.001-06:00

"Waiting On" Wednesday is a weekly event, hosted at Breaking the Spine, that spotlights upcoming releases that we're eagerly anticipating.

Delirium, by Lauren Oliver

Before scientists found the cure, people thought love was a good thing. They didn’t understand that once love - the deliria - blooms in your blood, there is no escaping its hold. Things are different now. Scientists are able to eradicate love, and the governments demands that all citizens receive the cure upon turning eighteen. Lena Holoway has always looked forward to the day when she’ll be cured. A life without love is a life without pain: safe, measured, predictable, and happy.

But with ninety-five days left until her treatment, Lena does the unthinkable: She falls in love.

Release date: February 1, 2011

I started reading this one a while ago when I obtained it from NetGalley, but I don't have an e-reader so I was having to read on the computer. This doesn't work for me for long, and I ended up not finishing it. It expired. Sadface. So now I'm anxiously awaiting its official release.

What are you waiting for this week?

Review: Zan-Gah, A Prehistoric Adventure

2011-01-10T09:00:00.007-06:00

Zan-Gah, A Prehistoric Adventure, by Allan Richard Shickman
Published: July 15, 2007
Publisher: Earthshaker Books
ISBN: 9780979035708
Pages: 148
Source: Provided by Earthshaker Books for review
Series: Zan-Gah #1

Zan-Gah, seeking his lost twin brother in a savage prehistoric world, encounters adventure, suffering, conflict, captivity, and final victory. In three years hero passes from an uncertain boyhood to a tried and proven manhood and a position of leadership among his people. Themes include survival, brotherhood, cultures, gender roles, psychological trauma, and nature's wonders and terrors. This is the electronic version of Zan-Gah: A Prehistoric Adventure, which has been awarded Mom's Choice Gold Medal for Series, the Eric Hoffer Notable Book Award, and was a finalist for ForeWord Magazine Book of the Year.

Okay, I realize I'm being ridiculous when I nit-pick on this specific aspect of the novel, so I'm getting it out of the way first. There were a lot of exclamation points. I mean---a lot. I don't know about you, but when I see an exclamation mark, I hear yelling in my head. So I constantly felt like the narrator was yelling at me. Like I said, ridiculous, I know. :p

Moving on to the important stuff:
Zan-Gah is a powerful story about a boy who goes on a treacherous journey in search of his twin, who has been missing for some time. Along this journey, Zan-Gah is forced to fight for survival on many different occasions. There is action from beginning to end, though for a middle grade novel, I would have liked to see more dialogue. But given his circumstances, it wasn't really a possibility.

When Zan-Gah finally reaches his destination, I was saddened by the story. Dael is clearly affected deeply by what he has gone through, and my heart ached for him. This was the only time in the entire story that I felt any emotion, which is most likely a problem that lies within me, not the book. I'm curious to see how the next novel plays out, because I'm sure it will be centered around Dael and the issues he's suffering now.

I read a lot of this aloud to my 2 and 4 year olds, and they seemed to really enjoy it. A lot of times, I'll read whatever book I'm reading at the time to them, and they look at me like "Where are the pictures?" With Zan-Gah, they genuinely listened. I think this would be a fantastic novel for a parent to read and discuss with their children. Or a middle grade teacher to read and discuss with their students. The story is powerful, and engaging.

I'm unsure of whether or not I'll be reading the sequel. I'd like to see where Dael's story goes, but I think this is better suited for my little brother than myself. It's difficult for me to read and review middle grade novels with the targeted audience in mind. Which is why I generally don't accept MG. I don't regret accepting this one though, and I think people of all ages could appreciate it in some way!

4 Stars

New blog design & button!

2011-01-09T20:14:00.000-06:00

I've remodeled! I get bored quickly with layouts, so hopefully I can manage to keep this one around a while!
I also have a new button!

What do you guys think? Be honest! :)

Paperback or Hardcover?

2011-01-09T10:00:00.001-06:00

This week I'm curious---Do you prefer paperback or hardcover? Or neither? I'll pretty much always buy the paperback if it's available. For one, it's cheaper and I'm a penny pincher. For two, hardcovers seriously hurt my hands. I always end up with a sore thumb, or a sore neck, or something sore when I'm holding a heavy covered book. At the same time, hardcovers are a lot prettier and I feel like a traitor to their beautiful covers.

Forever torn. How about you?

Review: Demonglass, by Rachel Hawkins & WINNER!

2011-01-06T09:00:00.002-06:00

Demonglass, by Rachel Hawkins
Published: February 15, 2011
Publisher: Hyperion
ISBN 13: 9781423121312
Genre: Paranormal, YA
Pages: 368
Source: ARC for review
Series: Hex Hall #2

Sophie Mercer thought she was a witch.

That was the whole reason she was sent to Hex Hall, a reform school for delinquent Prodigium (aka witches, shapeshifters, and fairies). But that was before she discovered the family secret, and that her hot crush, Archer Cross, is an agent for The Eye, a group bent on wiping Prodigium off the face of the earth.

Turns out, Sophie’s a demon, one of only two in the world—the other being her father. What’s worse, she has powers that threaten the lives of everyone she loves. Which is precisely why Sophie decides she must go to London for the Removal, a dangerous procedure that will destroy her powers.

But once Sophie arrives she makes a shocking discovery. Her new friends? They’re demons too. Meaning someone is raising them in secret with creepy plans to use their powers, and probably not for good. Meanwhile, The Eye is set on hunting Sophie down, and they’re using Archer to do it. But it’s not like she has feelings for him anymore. Does she?

First let me say, I wasn't expecting a whole lot out of this book. I enjoyed Hex Hall, but it wasn't something I absolutely fell in love with. It did leave me anxious for the second installment, however.

There wasn't a moment of Demonglass that I didn't love. Sophie's returns with that snarky attitude that I grew to love in Hex Hall, but even better this time, I think. She's such a strong, independent girl, and I adore her as a character.

The world in which Sophie lives was expanded greatly in Demonglass. We learn more about Sophie's heritage, as well as Archer's. New characters are introduced, and I loved all of them--namely, her father. Old characters returned and we got to know them a lot more this time around. I fell in love with Cal! I'm very excited to see what roll he plays in the third book of the series.

After reading Hex Hall, I would have recommended the series for anyone who loves paranormal YA. Now I highly recommend it. I am shocked at how much I fell in love with the characters in Demonglass, and I can't begin to tell you how much I'm anticipating the third book. Demonglass surpassed Hex Hall in a way that I've personally never experienced from a sequel. Absolutely loved it! What more can I say?

Be prepared for that cliffhanger, folks! It's a killer!

Cover: 5/5

Plot: 5/5

Pace: 5/5
Characters: 5/5
Ending: 4/5
Writing Style: 5/5

Winner of Demonglass ARC: Vicki S.

Thanks to all who participated and spread the word!!

Waiting on Wednesday (09)

2011-01-05T09:51:00.000-06:00

"Waiting On" Wednesday is a weekly event, hosted at Breaking the Spine, that spotlights upcoming releases that we're eagerly anticipating.

Other Words for Love, by Lorraine Zago Rosenthal

When an unexpected inheritance enables Ari to transfer to an elite Manhattan prep school, she makes a wealthy new friend, Leigh. Leigh introduces Ari to the glamorous side of New York--and to her gorgeous cousin, Blake. Ari doesn't think she stands a chance, but amazingly, Blake asks her out. As their romance heats up, they find themselves involved in an intense, consuming relationship. Ari's family worries that she is losing touch with the important things in life, like family, hard work, and planning for the future.

When misfortune befalls Blake's family, he pulls away, and Ari's world drains of color. As she struggles to get over the breakup, Ari must finally ask herself: were their feelings true love . . . or something else?

I'm generally drawn to paranormal and fantasy YA. But this one really caught my eye. It seems quite unique, and I'm excited to read it!

What are you waiting for this week?

Top Ten Tuesday!

2011-01-04T10:01:00.000-06:00

Top Ten Tuesday is hosted by The Broke and the Bookish.

Today's list: Top Ten Books I Resolve to Read in 2011

Hunger Games, by Suzanne Collins. The entire world seems to adore this one, and I bought it months ago intending to read it. But of course it's somehow made it's way towards the bottom of the TBR, and I want to move it up.
Harry Potter, (the whole series) by J.K. Rowling. I refuse to watch these movies until I read the books, and we have the movies. The boyfriend watches them from time to time and ignore the television. That's really getting old. (These should probably take up more than one spot. :/)
Beautiful Creatures, by Kami Garcia and Margaret Stohl. I've always wanted to read this one, it's just one of those--never got around to it, situations.
The Outsiders, by S.E. Hinton. This is a classic, one that everyone and their mother have read and loved. I feel it's necessary for me to read it!
City of Bones, by Cassandra Clare. I bought this, like Hunger Games, a while ago and it just sits on my shelf waiting for me. The series is getting longer as we speak, so I need to get on that!
Gathering Blue and Messenger, by Lois Lowry. The Giver is still one of my favorites, and I'd like to reread it, as well as read the companion novels.
Anna and the French Kiss, by Stephanie Perkins. I'd actually prefer to read this one before the month is over, but I doubt that'll be happening. I haven't seen a single bad word about this novel in the blogging world, and ya'll are the only ones I listen to. So I want it.
Fight Club, by Chuck Palahniuk. Love the movie, but I haven't read the book. I think it may be a little ruined for me, since I know the 'twist', but I still really want to read it!
1984, by George Orwell. Everyone I know who has read this one, says it was great. And I mean, come on, it's George Orwell.
The Great Gatsby, by F. Scott Fitzgerald. Another classic I own but haven't read.

Bonus: Every review book on my shelf. Ready to get these read and reviewed, and start anew!

Lyrical Spotlight?

2011-01-04T09:29:00.000-06:00

Have you ever heard a song, and got chills? Not from the voice, not from the beat, but from the lyrics? This is rare for me. It takes something special to blow me away, though what's special to me may be hogwash to you. ;)

Today's Tuesday. Tune Tuesday, Tuesday Tunes, some-other-title-that-incoporates-'tunes'-and-'Tuesday'. We can stick this with any label, but to me it isn't really about the music today. It's about the words.

Dessa. Also known as Dessa Darling. Dessa's a female rapper out of Minnesota. She's also an author, essayist, poet, and whatever other kind words you'd like to label her with. The woman has a way with words, we'll just leave it at that!

A few months back I read her short book of poems and essays, called Spiral Bound. I had liked a few of her songs, and a few of her poetry readings on Youtube, but in my mind--she was a rapper. A rapper writing a book? It seemed silly. But it wasn't silly, in any sense of the word. It was fantastic, and it wasn't until after reading it that I realized I should probably pay more attention to her lyrics, and listen to more of it.

So I thought I'd just share some of her greatness! Or what I perceive as greatness anyway.

**Explicit lyrics.

Children's Work-----------------------------------------------------------------Mineshaft II

Review: The Iron King, by Julie Kagawa

2011-01-03T09:56:00.000-06:00

The Iron King, by Julie Kagawa
Published: February 1, 2010
Publisher: Harlequin Teen
ISBN 13: 9780373210084
Genre: Fantasy, YA
Pages: 363
Source: bought
Series: Iron Fey #1

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

A few weeks ago I was browsing books on Amazon, and read the preview they offered for The Iron King. I was immediately drawn in. Nothing had happened, we had literally just met Meghan Chase, and I had nothing to go on--other than the voice. I immediately knew I would love this book. I can't really explain it, but I connected to the character almost instantly. Two paragraphs into the book, and I didn't want to stop, but that was just a preview. Well apparently this is a popular novel, because it took me forever to find it, and even when I did, it was only one little copy. I couldn't find The Iron Daughter, which makes me want to scream but I'll get to that later.

This was my first official fairy novel. Unless I count Sookie Stackhouse. I don't. So going in, I was a little nervous. Fae is something that has always interested me, and I was worried it wouldn't live up to my expectations. It's one of the most far fetched concepts, and I wanted to really be able to believe it. Kagawa delivered!

As I mentioned earlier, this novel pulled me in from the very first page. I think this is large part due to Meghan, who was an intriguing character. She was strong, yet didn't shy away from her vulnerability. She wasn't one to always do the right thing before at least considering the alternative. There were times when she would consider doing something, and I couldn't understand how she would even give it a second thought. But then you realize, she's human. Sort of. Who makes the right decision without thinking about the wrong one? This made her feel more real to me.

There isn't a character in this book who doesn't really grab your attention, even if they're only in it long enough to go a bit homicidal. Everyone was interesting, unique, and vivid. Aside from this, there is no time wasted with unnecessary introductions. You are quickly dropped into a fairy world so intense, you truly feel like you're there.

Meghan encounters many, many characters along her journey. Few of them have good intentions, and for this reason, I absolutely loved Puck. He was one of the only characters involved who didn't look for something in return any time he helped Meghan. In fact, I think he may be the only character who didn't expect something in return. Ash was that dark, brooding hottie that we can't help get a little fuzzy around. I fell for him too of course, but it took me quite some time. Most of the time I was wondering how anyone liked him, as a romantic interest for Meghan. To be completely honest, I wish we'd seen more development between the two of them. Their relationship grows as the book progresses, but I felt like we missed out on a bit of that. We were there for all of it, but for some reason I feel a slight disconnect. Grimalkin, a cat Meghan comes across, was a fantastic character. Always amusing, always sarcastic, and always bored.

There's a cliffy, thus--my screaming. I may have to order The Iron Daughter, since I can't seem to find it in stock anywhere around here. I'm dying to know what happens next!

Overall, I loved it. I had small issues with the relationships but none were distracting enough to take away from the story. Meghan's journey is one I was completely enthralled with, and I almost have the urge to look in my closet for a path to Nevernever. :p

5 Stars!

Do you save your reviews?

2011-01-02T13:18:00.000-06:00

One of my goals for this year is to blog more often, and blog about more than just reviews and giveaways. So each week I'm going to try to post a poll, or a general question about blogging or reading. I'll only ask something I'm truly curious about.

This week I'm wondering--Do you save your reviews on your computer? I don't. The only time I ever have, is when the internet was down and I wanted to get some reviews written. Otherwise, I write them on Blogger and that's it. I've been thinking lately, should I keep record of them some other way? Do you think it's a good idea to keep a copy of your review somewhere other than your blog?

2010 Wrap-Up & ABJ Survey. Please? :D

2010-12-30T10:30:00.001-06:00

You've seen these around everywhere, I'm sure. We have to wrap-up the year somehow, right?
I started this blog this year. So aside from telling you some of my favorite things this year, I'm also going to go a little into blogging--what I love about it, what I've learned, etc.

I've put together a survey for Another Book Junkie, and I'd LOVE to hear your thoughts. You'll have my undying gratitude! Also, if you have a survey for your blog that you'd like me to take, let me know in the comments, and I'll head over there!

My survey: Click Here!!

Favorites:

2010 Releases:

I actually hate answering this one, because I know there are so many releases from this year that I didn't get the chance to read. I'm sure they're fantastic. But I'll choose out of the ones I personally got around to reading. The ones that immediately stand out to me are The DUFF, by Kody Keplinger, Firelight, by Sophie Jordan, and Feed, by Myra Grant.

Book read this year, released before 2010:

Peeps, by Scott Westerfeld, and Hush, Hush, by Becca Fitzpatrick. I wasn't much of a fan of Crescendo, which saddens me.

Most overlooked 2010 release:

A Blue So Dark, by Holly Schindler. I have seen it pop up around the blogosphere more in the last couple of months, but I'm baffled as to why it hasn't been receiving that shine all year.

Female badass:

Bianca Piper--The DUFF. Some people found her to be a little too negative, but negativity is right up my alley, so I loved her. (It really is. Perhaps I should work on that...)
Jacinda--Firelight. Who doesn't love the resilient, dragon-girl?!

Male hottie:

I'd call it a toss-up between Carlos Fuentes from Rules of Attraction by Simone Elkeles, and Will from Firelight, by Sophie Jordan. Both of them were completely swoon worthy, for entirely different reasons.

Villian:

The zombies in Feed, by Myra Grant. I know, it's kind of a silly pick. I'm just not the type to empathize with douchey characters who set out to destroy the lives of our beloved protags, even if it's necessary to have a story. Sorry for my lame-osity.

Book Couple:

Bianca and Wesley--The DUFF. This one just keeps coming up. A few others went through my mind before I settled on this one, but I picked them for a reason. This book was raw, and it all centered around Bianca and Wesley's relationship/non-relationship. Unfortunately, their type of relationship is more common with teens than the lovey-doveyness we usually get. I chose them because they managed to push it aside, grow as people, and realize they loved each other and deserved better than they were getting/giving.

Best book cover:

Rules of Attraction, by Simone Elkeles. There were so many fantastic covers this year! My issue is, often times the covers makes me expect more than I get. Rules of Attraction gave me everything I was expecting out of that fantabulous cover.

Series discovery:

Iron Fey, by Julie Kagawa. I actually wasn't aware that The Iron King was released this year, so it's a new series in general. Still, it would have been my pick, had it been released two years ago. I am just completely drawn into The Iron King, and if what others say is true, I'll probably love the entire series thus far. We shall see.

2010 release I'm still dying to read:

Anna and the French Kiss, by Stephanie Perkins. I'll be getting this one SOON. I've yet to see anyone say a single bad thing about it. Can't wait to read it! (Okay, so I have seen a bad review here and there, but I'll be completely honest here---if you're incapable of forming a complete sentence in your review, I'm not going to take it seriously. Sorry. :/)

Hopes for 2011:

Young adult books that are as mind-blowing as their covers.
More edgy YA. I want to see more authors take it to the limits!
Great indie authors getting more shine.

Blogging:

What I love most:

The community. I'll be completely honest here. Going in, I never even gave much thought to the people I would meet. I thought the books would be the best part, and of course they're awesome, but the people you meet along the way can quickly become someone you talk to on a daily basis. Even if they live six states away, or further. We all have at least one thing in common--books. But it goes even further than that. Many of us are adults, and there are a lot of fellow moms doing this, and that's something I didn't expect. You can easily bond with someone when you have so much in common.

What I've learned:

Authors are real people. Shocker, right? Clearly I wasn't under the impression that they weren't human, though I will admit, the abilities some of them have, make me wonder. :p I kid, I kid. But seriously, they're real people, with real emotions. They respect you if you respect them, and they're usually pretty quick to answer questions or respond if you reach out to them. Some of them are the nicest people I've come across, and I've enjoyed communicating with each and every one of them.
Everything you say, will be remembered. If you smash a book or an author, there will be backlash, people will tell you exactly what they think, and people won't forget. The most important thing in this bloggy world, is to be respectful. It isn't too much to ask for, really.
How many times does it need to be said? Review the book, not the author! Unless of course, you want the aforementioned backlash. Your blog, your choice, but don't play the victim if you put yourself in this position.
It really doesn't matter how well you write your reviews, or how good your content is, if your blog is a wreck. Disorganized, distracting blogs never seem to have many followers, and yet they write great reviews. I can only speak for myself in this of course, but if a blog is a mess, I rarely spend much time trying to weed through all of it.

What I hope to accomplish in 2011:

I met my own goal this year for debut authors, but next year I want to surpass that, by a long shot!
Finish my WIP.
Stop being such a horrible follower. I read your blogs, but I rarely comment. I want to fix that.
Do more of everything. More reading, more reviewing, more interviews, more giveaways, more more more.

Thanks for reading! Comment below if you have a wrap-up post and I'll come by!

Wish by Alexandra Bullen--free!

2010-12-23T11:31:00.001-06:00

Everyone may have heard by now, but just in case, I wanted to let everyone know that Wish, by Alexandra Bullen is free for Kindle right now. Hardcovers of the book are also on sale for a small price.

Head over to Amazon to download your free copy before it's no longer free! :p

Reaper (A Soul Screamers Novella) is also free here. I've yet to read that series, but I hear it's fantastic!

Happy Holidays!

Review: Lure, by Deborah Kerbel

2010-12-22T15:59:00.001-06:00

Lure, by Deborah Kerbel
Published:
Publisher:
Pages:
Overall Rating: 3/5

A Victorian garden, a fishing lure, and a ghost named John .
Absolutely nothing is going right for Max Green. His parents have just uprooted their family from Vancouver to the bleak suburbs of Toronto, he has no friends, and everybody at his new high school is ignoring him. To make matters worse, he's in love with an older girl who's completely out of his league.
When Max discovers a local library rumored to be haunted by ghosts, he's immediately drawn to it. With the help of some cryptic messages, he begins to piece together the identity of the teenage ghost and the mysterious chain of events that have connected its spirit to the building for over a century. But just who was John, anyway? Why has he chosen to contact Max? And what does an old fishing lure have to do with solving the mystery?

I know I just said I'd be gone for a little while, but I finished this and felt the need to give it a quick review. So maybe I won't be gone for a while. Who knows. Maybe I just can't stay away from you guys. :p

Lure is a fast paced, interesting story. The cover drew me in from the start, and despite the fact that I don't believe ghosts exist, so did the premise.

The story is told from alternating points of view, between Max and John. I preferred John's parts over Max's, because I felt like this was the only place we really got any story.

I really don't know what to say about it. It was interesting, I held on to the finish, and closed the book feeling relatively satisfied. The novel is about a 16 year old boy, but I still don't feel as though it was a young adult novel, and I think this is why I don't have much to say about it. I think it's more middle grade, probably for readers more 10-13. For that age group, I think it'd be a great read. For an adult you delves in young adult? It was okay.

Best New Blog, 2010!! (Nomination)

2010-12-21T16:58:00.001-06:00

Hey!
I may be away a few days. I woke up with some severe stomach pain early Friday morning, and by afternoon I'd had my appendix removed. Guess what? Not fun. So I'm recovering, and slowly getting some reading done, but it will probably be a little after the holidays before I'm up to reviewing and such. I honestly would like to just sleep for the next month, but with two toddlers, this is impossible. It's also impossible to properly take care of and discipline children when it takes you forty five seconds to get up. You should see my house. Okay, no you shouldn't. No one should. :p

Anyways, the point of this post. Natalie over at Mindful Musings is hosting a "Best Blog and Best New Blog of 2010"! I heard from another blogger via twitter that her blog was nominated, so I actually went over to Mindful Musings with the intent of voting for her blog, only to notice my blog on the list. Quite the surprise, so thank you to whoever is responsible for that!

I encourage all of you to go over and vote for your favorites for this year! Whether that's me, or another blog, they're all fantastic and everyone deserves to win!

(PS. That first paragraph was for informative purposes only. I'm not asking for a pity vote, nor do I expect one. I love you either way. :) )

Review: The Dark Divine, by Bree Despain

2010-12-16T09:29:00.000-06:00

The Dark Divine, by Bree Despain
Published: December 22, 2009
Publisher: Egmont USA
Pages: 372

A Prodigal Son

A Dangerous Love

A Deadly Secret

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

Cover: I love the covers for this series. They're absolutely stunning, but I have no idea how they have anything to do with the story. Unfortunately, this is often the case for me with young adult novels. These cover artists create the most beautiful covers, but it doesn't seem as though they're creating that cover for the specific novel. 4/5

Plot & Pace: I really enjoyed this story! There were times when I felt that it was moving a little too slowly, and I was pretty far into the book without really feeling like much had happened, but there was never a time when I felt like putting it down because of this. It flowed easily, and I think we were given just enough information to make this world seem real. 4/5

Characters: Grace was a pastor's daughter, and she definitely had that good girl thing going on. She was extremely caring, and was constantly trying to better the lives of those around her. One specific thing I loved about Grace, was how she was the complete opposite of most paranormal female characters. **SLIGHT SPOILER ALERT** Grace wasn't the type to say, "I know you're a monster and you could kill me, but I love you anyway, and I'm not going anywhere!". With her, she was more like "I love you, but dude, I don't want to die. Stay away from me." Of course I'm paraphrasing because Grace would never use the term "dude". :p
I liked Daniel. He was a great person, given all he had been through. He was good for Grace, even if she didn't realize it.
Don was a sweet character, who reminded me a lot of Lennie from Of Mice and Men.
The other characters in the novel were interesting enough to be memorable, but there are few of them I cared enough about to look forward to in the next novel. I'm anxious to see where Grace and Daniel's story goes, as well as her brother Jude's. 4/5

Ending: There were moments throughout the novel that I was just kind of, ehh about it. But the last few chapters really redeemed it for me, and I was quite happy with the way things ended. There were just enough loose ends left to leave me wanting the next book. I'm really looking forward to The Lost Saint. 5/5

Overall Rating: 4 out of 5

Follow Friday!!

2010-12-09T22:05:00.001-06:00

I've been featured over at Parajunkee!! (Sorry for those who came before I posted this)I'll be doing my hopping and following back tomorrow.
Questions of the week:

Do you have an under-noticed author that you think we should all know about?

This is actually hard for me to answer, when I'm constantly lurking in the book blog world. It seems as though authors I love are getting shine, because the bloggers talk about them. As for the rest of the world? I could create a list the size of a novel. I'll go ahead and go with Jennifer Laurens, though. I've loved nearly every one of her books, and admire her greatly, as a person!

Review: Absolution, by Jennifer Laurens

2010-12-09T20:43:00.001-06:00

Heavenly, by Jennifer Laurens
Published: October 2010
Publisher: Grove Creek Publishing
Overall Rating: 5 out of 5.

Zoe’s secret is out. And the powers of Hell are ravenous to claim her soul. Her brother, Luke, knows her secret: that she sees both good and evil spirits. Her boyfriend knows. At least Matthias is her guardian angel again. But now Hell’s most ruthless leader will stop at nothing to have her soul.

Albert, Matthias’ father, is relentless in his hunger for Zoe. He wants to destroy Matthias and will use Zoe to do so.

The battle between Heaven and Hell tests everything Zoe has. As she witnesses everyone important in her life suffering, she’s brought to the ultimate choice: will she sacrifice her soul to save the ones she loves?

I drew this book out for weeks, because I just didn't want this story to end. It was difficult, and once I got about halfway through, I could no longer put it off. I had to finish it in one sitting. Loved it.

We get more of Weston, which I absolutely love! He's a dream. Honestly, I think I've said this before, but I don't think Zoe deserves him. Her constant back and forth between him and Matthias continued into this book, and it still annoyed me. I didn't feel it was fair to Weston in any way. I understand the love Zoe and Matthias share, but Weston deserved better than that!

Zoe has really developed into a strong character. There were times in Absolution that I thought she had developed a bit of a "holier than thou" complex, but I suppose being in love with a heavenly being would do that to a person.

I loved the way the story wrapped up. There isn't a lot I can really say about it without spoiling it, but I was happy with the way everyone's story ended. When Jennifer Laurens said the story had an ending that was necessary, I definitely understand what she meant.

Cover: 5/5

Plot: 5/5

Pace: 4/5

Characters: 4/5

Ending: 5/5

Writing Style: 5/5

Review: Claire De Lune, by Christine Johnson

2010-12-07T09:51:00.002-06:00

Claire De Lune, by Christine Johnson
Publish Date: May 18, 2010
Publisher: Simon Pulse
Pages: 336
Overall Rating: 4/5

Torn between two destinies?
Claire is having the perfect sixteenth birthday. Her pool party is a big success, and gorgeous Matthew keeps chatting and flirting with her as if she's the only girl there. But that night, she discovers something that takes away all sense of normalcy: she's a werewolf.
As Claire is initiated into the pack of female werewolves, she must deal not only with her changing identity, but also with a rogue werewolf who is putting everyone she knows in danger. Claire's new life threatens her blossoming romance with Matthew, whose father is leading the werewolf hunt. Now burdened with a dark secret and pushing the boundaries of forbidden love, Claire is struggling to feel comfortable in either skin. With her lupine loyalty at odds with her human heart, she will make a choice that will change her forever?.

Claire De Lune pulled me in from the first page. This book completely skipped any werewolf cliches, and it truly felt like a world all its own. The werewolf concept in this novel, and the difference between that and society's perceptions, was fascinating.

The characters were well developed and I liked Claire a lot. She was strong willed, and accepted her fate rather quickly. Matthew, the love interest, was about as perfect as they come.

Unfortunately the story started to fall flat for me about midway through. I didn't feel as though anything was really happening, so it went slow for a while.. I had actually considered giving up and moving onto another book, but I decided to go ahead and push through it, hoping it would get better. I'm glad I did, because once the story picked back up, I was pulled into it again.

The ending was tied up rather nicely. I was actually kind of surprised at the ending, because most paranormal novels these days have a cliffhanger. They rarely feel so--complete, in just the one book. I'm wondering where the sequel will take us, because I believe there is one in the works.

Overall, I enjoyed Claire De Lune most of the time, and I would recommend it to anyone who enjoys paranormal YA.

Cover: 4/5

Plot: 4/5

Pace: 3/5

Characters: 4/5

Ending: 4/5

Writing Style: 4/5

GIVEAWAY: Demonglass ARC

2010-12-06T12:28:00.001-06:00

Win an ARC copy of the second novel in the Hex Hall series--Demonglass, by Rachel Hawkins.

(ARC does not have official cover)

Demonglass is set to be released on February 15, 2011. I'm waiting to post my review of the novel until January, so that it's closer to the release date. However, I absolutely loved this book (5 stars) and I want to give someone else the opportunity to read it.

Details:

Deadline to enter is January 1, 2011, at midnight.
Following is not required, but it is appreciated.
There are optional ways to earn extra entries, but none of them are required.
Giveaway open to US residents only.

Extra entry opportunities:

Tweet about contest, +1. Link required.

Follow on Twitter, +1. @AnthrBookJunkie

"Like" Another Book Junkie's Facebook page, +1.

Join Swagbucks using my referral link. +5

Blog about giveaway OR post link in sidebar, +1.

Giveaway is now closed.

NaNoWriMo Failure...probably.

2010-11-24T11:50:00.000-06:00

I've pretty much given up on the idea of finishing on time. NOT on finishing, but by the end of the month. I just don't see it happening. I'm at 35,000 words, and not much time to write at this point.

I have 41 "major" plot points, and I'm at number 19. Wow. That surprises me.

A few things I've learned this year:

I'm a combination pantser/outliner. I had a basic outline written up before NaNo started, but throughout the month, the story has morphed into something almost entirely different. This is probably normal, as characters tend to take on a life of their own as the story progresses, and they change your mind about certain things. I had honestly thought I knew exactly how everything would go, but it's changed so much. Not that I'm complaining. I did have to go in and change my outline accordingly, because I can't just completely pants it. I just...can't!

This shizz is hard. Maybe it's hard for me because it's hard for everyone. Maybe it's hard for me because I'm just not cut out for it. Either way, I'm not giving up, because I love it. It's difficult, but I still enjoy it. I'll keep trying, unless I stop enjoying it.

I didn't think it was possible to have any more respect for authors. Obviously I think they're awesomesauce, or I wouldn't have a blog dedicated to the books they write. But I never realized just how much you have to put into your novel. I'm starting to wonder how they even make it out alive.

My story sucks. Well, I kind of like the idea of my story, (or I wouldn't be writing it), but the writing is horrendous. I cannot wait to get the first draft down so I can go in and edit the hell out of it!

All complaining aside: I'm having fun with this. I'm enjoying watching my story take form. Even if I don't finish in time to be a "winner", I'll still most definitely finish this thing. The first draft is the most important part, right? Without the foundation, you have nothing. At least, that's the way I look at it!

So how are you doing on NaNo? If you aren't participating this year, is it something you could imagine yourself trying in the future?

2011 Debut Author Challenge

2010-11-21T10:08:00.002-06:00

Kristi at The Story Siren is hosting the 2011 Debut Author Challenge. I participated this year, and met my goal. Some great books came out of that challenge, so I'm participating again next year! Head on over to The Story Siren to learn more about the challenge.

Here's my list, though I'll definitely be adding to it as time goes on, and I learn more about the novels being released throughout the year.

Unearthly, by Cynthia Hand
XVI, by Julia Karr
The Water Wars, by Cameron Stracher
A Touch Mortal, by Leah Clifford
The Iron Witch, by Karen Mahoney
So Shelly, by Ty Roth
Bad Taste in Boys, by Carrie Harris
Wildefire, by Karsten Knight
~~Wither, by Lauren DeStefano~~
~~Bumped, by Megan McCafferty~~

An Update

2010-11-19T16:40:00.001-06:00

I'm supposed to be writing right this moment, but I miss you guys. So I decided to give you an update on what I'm reading, what's to come, what I've been doing this month, etc. Stuff you may or may not care about. :)

I'm currently reading:

Lure by Deborah Kerbel
Absolution by Jennifer Laurens

I hadn't planned on reading anything at all this month, but I just couldn't help myself. So I've read a few chapters of each of these. So those reviews will be coming in December!

What I have lined up next:
Nightshade, by Andrea Cremer
The Dark Divine, by Bree Despain
And, I'm going to attempt to make a dent in my review pile!

NaNo is going...decent. I'm still on schedule with a little over 32,000 words, so that's good. I've been struggling the last few days with where to go next, but today it seems to be getting back on track.

I'm getting a bit obsessive over Korean pop music. It actually turns out to be great writing music. I'm the type that can't really listen to music while I'm writing, because the lyrics get in the way of my....words. However, I also can't stand silence. So with the K-Pop, I can't understand the majority of it (because I can't speak or understand Korean--yet!), so it is perfect for writing. And the videos are awesome sauce.

Lookie:

Just look at that boy go! His name is Taeyang, if you want to hear more!!

Well, until next time!!

I've been thinking of you.

2010-11-14T18:26:00.000-06:00

Hi!

It's been nearly three weeks since I read and reviewed a book. The break has done everything I'd hoped for--I'm dying to read something!

I'm not going to though. Not yet, anyway. It's still November, which leads me to....

NaNoWriMo. Wow. This is the first time I've really tried to do this thing, and it's difficult. Some days are simple, other days I struggle with meeting my goal. But I'm at 24,000 words as of today, which means I'm on schedule, and almost half way there! It's been fun though. My story has taken a few unexpected turns, but I still pretty much have a general idea of how everything will play out. I had a little surprise today though, when another dude walked into the picture. I hadn't anticipated a love triangle, and I really don't want to write about one. I guess we'll just have to see where his role takes him.

I'll be back next month full force! (Assuming I can stay away that long. :o )

Have you read Heavenly?

2010-11-05T11:11:00.000-05:00

Hmm? Author Jennifer Laurens has an offer up on her blog for book bloggers who have yet to read Heavenly. Host an interview, chat, etc. and she'll send you a copy of Heavenly!

Everyone wins here. You get a great book (read my review?), and you're helping spread the word about the Heavenly series, among all her other great books. :) Who doesn't want to do that?!

Head over to her blog to learn more!!

Minder WINNER

2010-11-04T11:36:00.000-05:00

Winner winner ~~chicken~~ veggie dinner.

Random.org chose #29--Mika, as the winner for a copy of Minder, by Kate Kaynak.

Thank you to everyone who entered. Mika, you should have already received an email from me, please be sure to check your spam if it isn't in your inbox.

Book Blogger Failure.

2010-10-31T21:44:00.000-05:00

Ugh. I'm in a bit of a reading slump, folks. Does this happen to you? No matter what I try to read, I can't get into it. You're probably thinking, you're reading the wrong book, then. I don't believe I am, though. These are books that I know I should be taking serious interest in. These are books that I have been dying to read. I say "these" because I've tried with numerous books, and I can't seem to get into any of them. This happens from time to time, and I hate this feeling. This is the first time it's happened since starting this blog, however. In my mind, I want to read, but from the first word, my mind starts to wander and I can't focus. Too much internet? Possibly.

So, the point of this post. As we all well know, NaNoWriMo officially begins in two and half hours (my time). I am not fully prepared for this by any means, but I'm still giving it my best effort. If nothing else, I think focusing on writing for a while will help pull me out of this reading slump! So I may be MIA for the next thirty days. I'll still be monitoring my email, so feel free to leave me lovely comments. :)

I should've been prepared for NaNoWriMo, as well as had posts scheduled to keep my blog up to date. But I really don't have anything to post, as my brain is completely scattered.

See you on the other side!