Wednesday, July 29, 2009

I'm Back

Well everyone, mom and I got back home from the hospital in Augusta today around noon. A day later than planned. Mom's neck surgery went well and shes catching up on her rest as we speak. After we got home, my granny had to take me to the doctor because I apparently picked up a case of pink eye over at the hospital. Oh joy. I'm still sore and tired from two nights in a hospital chair but nothing some good ole fashioned sleep won't fix.


On another note, I was greeted by 6 packages when I arrived home. One of which contained a second ARC of Hush Hush which I might can be persuaded to trade. If you are interested then send me an e-mail. Of course I may still change my mind and decide to give it away in my 100 followers contest later this week or next week.


Well, I'm glad to be back. I missed you all and hopefully I'll have things back on track before long.



Sunday, July 26, 2009

Past, Present, Future (9)

This past week I...............


What is going on at present.........
I'm eating Dove Bananas Foster chocolates. lol. I'm listening to Scarborough Fair by Celtic Woman (Hayley Westenra.) As for what I'm reading, I regret to say I'm still on Two-Way Street. I've been very busy helping my mom get things ready around the house for after her neck surgery. Which is also why I didn't have a chance to post the contest this week.

What to expect from the future..........
Well, I will not be here tomorrow and part of Tuesday. My mom's neck surgery is at noon so we will need to leave very early tomorrow. Please keep us in your prayers. Since it is just mom, the cat and me, I'm sure you can guess that I'm gonna be very busy helping out my mama, so my posts might be a little slow and my activity sparse. With any luck, you will be seeing two reviews this week. One on Far From You by Lisa Schroeder and one on Prophecy of the Sisters by Michelle Zink. I'm also hoping to maybe post my contest towards the end of this week.

Have a great week everybody! :D





Saturday, July 25, 2009

Review: Drive Me Crazy

Drive Me Crazy by Erin Downing
Publisher: Simon Pulse
Pub. Date: June 2, 2009
Pages: 240
Age Level: 14+

Synopsis
Kate's tote is packed, and she's ready for a road trip!

Kate and her two best friends, Sierra and Alexis, are geared up for a week of fun and freedom on the road to their family lake houses in Love, Wisconsin. Best of all, when Kate reaches Love, she'll be reunited with Lucas, with whom she shared a steamy end-of-summer kiss last year. She can't wait to see Lucas again and pick things up exactly where they left off.

Then Kate gets some seriously bad news: Alexis's sarcastic, condescending, hot-but-he-knows-it cousin is crashing the girls' road trip. Adam bugs Kate in every possible way. Now Kate just wants to get the road trip over with so she can spend the summer in Lucas's arms. But the road to Love is full of surprises....

Review
Drive Me Crazy was a great summer read that had me laughing more times than I can count. The characters were realistic and very likable. I thought it was strange how much Adam reminded me of a guy I used to go to school with and Kate, in many ways, was a lot like me in some ways. The writing was just what I expected, quickly read and well suited for a fun summer read. The ending was well done, sweet and happy, which works for this kind of book. I would recommend this to anyone who is looking for a fast-paced and enjoyable read that will make them laugh and smile. I can easily see myself re-reading this.

Grade
Characters: B
Writing: B-
Plot: B
Ending: B+
Cover: B

Recommendable: B+

Overall: B





In My Mailbox (8)

In My Mailbox

For Review
~Immortal by Gilian Shields

Contests
~Fairest of them All by Jan Blazanin (Won from Melanie at Reviews of Young Adult Literature)
~Crash Into Me and Goodies Giveaway (Won from Beautiful Creatures)
~Suite Scarlett by Maureen Johnson (Won from Amber[ella] at Must and Lust for Books! & Morgan at Books and Literature for Teens)

BookMooch
~Innocent Traitor by Alison Weir
~Far From You by Lisa Schroeder
~Wicked Lovely by Melissa Marr (see review)
~Hacking Harvard by Robin Wasserman (see review)
~13 Little Blue Envelopes by Maureen Johnson
~Dark Secrets: The Deep End of Fear by Elizabeth Chandler
~Royally Jacked by Niki Burnham
~Spin Control by Niki Burnham
~Scary Beautiful by Niki Burnham
~Dancing Queen by Erin Downing






Wednesday, July 22, 2009

Waiting on Wednesday

The Vinyl Princess by Yvonne Prinz
Publisher: HarperTeen
Release Date: December 22, 2009
Pages: 320
Age level: YA

Synopsis
With a summer job at Bob & Bob Records in Berkeley, California, teen music junkie Allie is ready for anything. She’s poised to fall in love, catch a thief, and make a mix that’ll break your heart. And when she blogs as The Vinyl Princess, Allie is the sort of mystery girl you can’t resist tuning into. Get ready for the vinyl revolution!

Author Yvonne Prinz, cofounder of Amoeba Music, the world’s biggest independent music store chain, brings readers into the inspired, obsessive, irrepressible heart of a teen who is head-over-heels in love with music. Like a great record, this read will rock your soul and rattle your bones.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Ok this books sounds like it is going to be really awesome! I can't wait for it to release.




Tuesday, July 21, 2009

The Hollow: Book Trailer Sneak Peek

Ok, I am really looking forward to reading this book and trailer made me want to read it even more. I first saw it after being told about it in Jessica Verday's newsletter. This has got to be one of the best book trailers I've even seen. I just really like it.







Teaser Tuesday

This week's teaser tuesday is from Drive Me Crazy by Erin Downing.

Teaser (pg. 40):
"Stay still and I'll try to get it back up again. There's no sense in both of us risking our lives trying to dig out of here," Adam joked.

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



Monday, July 20, 2009

Review: Oh My Goth

Oh My Goth by Gena Showalter
Publisher: MTV
Pub. Date: July 4, 2006
Pages: 256
Age Level: YA


Synopsis
A fiercely individualist Goth girl wakes up to discover that the whole world has gone Goth and she's actually -- gag -- popular.

Jade Leigh is a nonconformist who values individuality above all else. She has a small group of like-minded Goth friends who wear black, dabble in the dark arts, and thrive outside the norm. They're considered the "freaks" of their high school. But when Jade's smart mouth lands her in trouble -- again -- her principal decides to teach her a lesson she'll never forget.
Taken to a remote location where she is strapped down and sedated, Jade wakes up in an alternate universe where she rules the school. But her best friends won't talk to her, and the people she used to hate are all Goth. Only Clarik, the mysterious new boy in town, operates outside all the cliques. And only Mercedes, the Barbie clone Jade loathes, believes that Jade's stuck in a virtual reality game -- because she's stuck there, too, now living the life of a "freak."
Together, they realize they might never get back to reality...and that even if they do, things might never be the same.

Review
Oh My Goth wasn’t quite what I expected. I mainly thought it would just be a quick and funny book, but it was much more than that. Gena Showalter managed to tie-in subtle but important messages about prejudice, cliques, and maintaining a self appreciation for who you are, an individual. She also shows how your opinions on people and ideas can change when you are placed in a totally different scenario. Somehow the author managed to sneak all this in without being preachy about it and still write a sassy and enjoyable story.

The characters, though at times a tad bit cliché, were likeable, relatable, and well developed. Everyone seemed to have their own little secrets, which made things more interesting. Jade really reminded me of a friend I have who is a self declared non-conformist. I liked how the main characters had all changed in one way or another by the end. They weren‘t static like some characters in other books I’ve read.

The only issue I had with the writing was Jade’s vocabulary usage. It just wasn’t very realistic for a seventeen-year-old. It was too developed in my opinion. That being said, I felt everything else was appropriate and fit this particular kind of story.

I positively loved the ending. Everything was tied up nicely and was exactly what I would have hoped for. I don’t think I’d change a single thing about it. I just wish real life situations could end that way, for they rarely do. If you read it, you’ll see what I mean.

This was a wonderful and enticing novel that I definitely plan to re-read. I recommend Oh My Goth to anyone, adult or teen, popular or outcast. It really got me thinking and I love that quality in a book. I’d tell you more but I don’t want to ruin it, so you’ll just have to take my word for it and read it. I know I can’t wait to get my hands on my own copy.

Grade
Characters: B
Writing: B
Plot: B+
Ending: A-
Cover: B
Recommendable: A

Overall: B

Sunday, July 19, 2009

Past, Present, Future (8)

Can I get a Hooray!, for posting this on time this week. WooHoo!

This Past week I..............

What is going on at Present......
Well ya'll, I finally did it. I reached 100 followers! Yipee! Right now I'm reading Two-Way Street by Lauren Barnholdt. I've also been working on uploading some of my photography for sale which you can see on my website here. You can also always find the link under my Where You Can Find Me on the right sidebar. To visit and follow my photography blog click here. Yeah I know, self promotion but hey, if I'm not willing to promote my own work then why would anyone else want to. :P

What to expect from the Future...........
I will be posting a minimum of two reviews this week. One for Oh My Goth by Gena Showalter and one for Two-Way Street by Lauren Barnholdt. I've got some awards that I have been putting off giving away and I'm gonna do my best to pass them on this week. Plus, since I reached 100 followers, I will be having a contest which you can expect to be posted by the end of this week.

Hope you all have a wonderful week! :D



Saturday, July 18, 2009

In My Mailbox (7) & Selling My Work


In My Mailbox

For Review
~Bewitching Season by Marissa Doyle (Signed! Also came with some lovely swag.)
~The Naughty List by Suzanne Young

Contests
~Death by Denim by Linda Gerber (Signed! Plus swag! Won from Melanie at Melanie's Musings)
~Hunted by P.C. & Kristin Cast (Included note and House of Night Mix CD. Won from Kristin at Feed Your Imagination)
~What I Saw and How I Lied by Judy Blundell (Won from The Epic Rat)

BookMooch
~ ARC Prophecy of the Sisters by Michelle Zink
~Girl at Sea by Maureen Johnson
~ARC Touch by Francine Prose
~Queen of Everything by Deb Caletti

Library
~Two-Way Street by Lauren Barnholdt

On Another Note
I'm trying to sell my photography. Can you believe it? I'm still getting over the shock myself. I've always wanted to but could never seem to work up the nerve. So, check them out and buy one if you like. For future reference, you can always find this widget at the bottom of my photography blog where it maintains a permanent residence. Also, to see all the photos I have for sale you'll need to go to my site. I noticed a a good many are missing from the slide show so it may only do a certain number. Enjoy! :D

Official Blog Tour: Review & Interview with Suzanne Selfors

Coffeehouse Angel by Suzanne Selfors
Publisher: Walker Books for Young Readers
Release date: July 21, 2009

Pages: 288
Age level: 14+/YA

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


Review
With a unique and enticing plot, Coffeehouse Angel was a funny, enjoyable, and fast-paced book like I have never read before.

The heroine, Katrina, is the picture of your everyday girl. That, my friends, is what I loved so much about her! Never, in all my years of reading, have I been able to relate so utterly and completely to a character. Her sassy wit just tops it all off. From feeling betrayed by her friend to struggling to make ends meet, Katrina is such a genuine and realistic character that is very easy to love.As for the rest of the characters, I felt they were very well developed, with each having there own unique personality. My only complaint would be that I felt there should have been a little more of Malcolm in the story. I would have really liked to get to know his character a little more and his relationship with Katrina seemed a little under-developed.

The actual writing was exactly what I would have expected of this book. I loved the first-person narrative and it helped me connect even more with Katrina.

The ending, though a little rushed, tied everything up nicely.

Of course, I'd certainly love to hear a little more about how Katrina's life went beyond this book. *hint hint Suzanne* ;)All in all, this is a wonderful read that I would recommend to anyone. I truly believe it is a book that most everyone can and will enjoy. This is definitely one I plan to continue to re-read in the future.

Grade
Characters: B
Writing: B
Plot: A -
Ending: B
Cover: A-
Recommendable: A

Overall: B


Interview with Suzanne Selfors

Suzanne Selfors is the author of two YA novels Saving Juliet (click title for my review) and Coffeehouse Angel, which releases July 21, 2009. She has also written two middle grade novels called, To Catch a Mermaid and Fortune's Magic Farm.

The Book Pixie: Aside from being a writer, what is another career you believe you'd enjoy? Why?

Suzanne Selfors: I would be a teacher, no doubt about it. At the highschool or college level. I've been lucky enough to have had some exceptional teachers in my life.

TBP: What is it you love most about writing?

SS: Meeting the readers. Honestly, that's the best. Especially when it's a little girl and she's cradling your book in her arms and looks up at you with a big pair of eyes and tells you that she's read it three times. I love that!

TBP: Who, would you say, has been your biggest supporter throughout your writing career?

SS: Well, my family is great. My kids read everything I write. My husband supported me during those years when I had no idea what I was doing. ANd my mom has always encouraged my writing. I would say that my worst supporter has been myself--I had lots of doubts and very little self-confidence early on.

TBP: What inspired you to write Coffeehouse Angel?

SS: I've always wanted to own a coffeehouse. And I spend a lot of time in them writing. If you visit my website, http://www.suzanneselfors.com/, you can see where I wrote most of the book, and you'll see how the location influenced me.

TBP: In your opinion, what makes Coffeehouse Angel different from other YA novels?

SS: Honestly, I don't know. My stories are quirky, no doubt about that. While the setting might seem like the real world, there's always a lot of otherwordly elements. And while there is a "romance", I never focus on it.

TBP: In Coffeehouse Angel, Malcolm is a messenger. Could you tell us a little more about him?

SS: Malcolm is based on the Greek Messenger God, Hermes. I'm crazy about Greek mythology. He's a bit of a mischief-maker, and he has all of Hermes attributes, including the winged sandals. Because angels are messengers, I've always thought of Hermes as an ancestor to the angelic tradition.

TBP: Can you give us a hint as to whether or not you are working on anything else at the moment?

SS: I'm busy busy busy, and the book is due in a month. It had another "otherworldly" relationship in it and that's all I'm going to say at this point.

TBP: What is your favorite comfort food?

SS: Cozy Shack Rice pudding.

TBP: Where is your favorite place to shop?

SS: Lucky.

TBP: If you could live anywhere in the world, where would it be?

SS: London.

TBP: Anything else you'd like to add or say before we wrap this up?

SS: Please visit my website and join my mailing list! I'm trying to locate the girl who modeled for the cover of Coffeehouse Angel and would love some help finding her.

Visit Suzanne's website here
Pre-order Coffeehouse Angel here
Order Saving Juliet here















Friday, July 17, 2009

Review: Saving Juliet

Saving Juliet by Suzanne Selfors
Publisher: Walker Books for Young Readers
Pub. Date: January 22, 2008
Pages: 256
Age Level: 15+/YA


Synopsis
Mimi Wallingford, Great Granddaughter of Adelaide Wallingford, has the life that most girls dream about, playing Juliet opposite teen heartthrob Troy Summer on Broadway in Shakespeare’s famous play. Unfortunately, she has no desire to be an actress, a fact her mother can’t seem to grasp. But when she and Troy are magically thrust into Shakespeare’s Verona, they experience the feud between the Capulet’s and Montague’s first hand. Mimi realizes that she and Juliet have more in common than Shakespeare’s script—they are both fighting for futures of their own choosing. Mimi feels compelled to help her and with Troy’s unexpected help, hopes to give Shakespeare’s most famous tragedy a happily-ever-after-ending.

Review
Saving Juliet was a quirky and enchanting tale that kept me turning the pages for more. I liked the play Romeo and Juliet well enough but I guess the whole suicide-over-someone-I-just-met thing didn’t really make sense to me. This, however, was a terrific twist on it, and I thoroughly enjoyed it.

I loved the characters in Saving Juliet. Mimi reminded me of myself. She strikes me as being very blunt, saying whatever pops into her head. I loved watching all of the characters’ personalities unfold before me. No one was really who they seemed in the beginning. I, at times, felt sorry for Mimi and Juliet, considering their situations. Some of the minor characters weren’t quite as well developed but I guess that is why they are called minor characters.

I really enjoyed the writing. It was fun and interesting to read Mimi narrating the story. I really thought the writing and dialogue fit the characters. I found it interesting how Suzanne had the Verona characters speaking more modern. A bold but good choice.

I don’t know why but the ending felt a little too short. In general, it was very good but part of me craved for more. Saving Juliet could have easily been another fifty pages or so.

This was such a cute, fun, and fast paced book. I am very glad I read it and I can easily see myself reading it again. I would recommend this to anyone who thinks Juliet deserves a second chance at happiness.

Grade
Characters: B+
Writing: B
Plot: B+
Ending: B
Cover: B
Recommendable: A-

Overall: B

Stay tuned, tomorrow I will be posting my review on Coffeehouse Angel along with an interview with Suzanne Selfors.




Wednesday, July 15, 2009

Review: No More Us For You

No More Us For You by David Hernandez
Publisher: HarperTeen
Pub. Date: January 27, 2009
Pages: 288
Age Level: 15+

Synopsis
Isabel is a regular seventeen-year-old girl still reeling from the pain of her boyfriend's tragic death exactly one year ago. Carlos is a regular seventeen-year-old guy, loves red licorice and his friends, and works at a fancy art gallery for some extra cash. The two have no connection until they both meet Vanessa, an intriguing new transfer student with a mysterious past. While Vanessa is the link that brings these two very different lives together, will she be the one that can also tear them apart?

Review
No More Us for You was a sad story about loss and learning to live again. However, it was also a story that really didn’t live up to its potential. The premise in itself sounded intriguing, but the book was, I’m afraid to say, no where even close to as great as it could have been.

From the beginning, I thought Isabel to be a depressing sort of girl. Everything she saw or heard just seemed to remind her of death. Her sorrow and morbidity were about the only defining characteristics she had. There wasn’t anything really special that made her stand out except the fact that her boyfriend had died a year ago. Carlos was a little more interesting but not by much. The characters were basically very 2-Demensional. It wasn’t until much later that Isabel and Carlos seemed to develop a little more personality only for the book to reach its end.

As for the writing, it was just ok. I’ve read worse but I’ve certainly read better. At times, it was kind of funny but at others it was just bland.

The idea for the ending was a great one, but it left a lot of loose ends, leaving me with a lot of unanswered questions. For example, a part of me wanted to know more about Vanessa.

All in all, I feel this book could have been a great, edgy and poignant story, instead it was a fast yet forgettable read. Would I recommend it? Only if your looking for something mildly entertaining to occupy your time. Remember though, just because I wasn’t crazy about it doesn’t mean you won’t like it. So if this had been a book you really wanted to read, do what the doctors say and seek a second opinion. ;)

Grade
Characters: C-
Writing: C+
Plot: B-
Ending: C
Cover: D
Recommendable: C

Overall: C










Waiting on Wednesday

Fallen by Lauren Kate
Publisher: Delacorte Books for Young Readers
Release date: December 8, 2009
Pages: 320
Age level: YA

Synopsis
Seventeen-Year-Old Luce is a new student at Sword & Cross, an unwelcoming boarding/reform school in Savannah, Georgia. Luce’s boyfriend died under suspicious circumstances, and now she carries the guilt over his death with her as she navigates the unfriendly halls at Sword & Cross, where every student seems to have an unpleasant—even evil—history.

It’s only when she sees Daniel, a gorgeous fellow student, that Luce feels there’s a reason to be here—though she doesn’t know what it is. And Daniel’s frosty cold demeanor toward her? It’s really a protective device that he’s used again . . . and again. For Daniel is a fallen angel, doomed to fall in love with the same girl every 17 years . . . and watch her die. And Luce is a fellow immortal, cursed to be reincarnated again and again as a mortal girl who has no idea of who she really is.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Ok now this book sounds fabulous! This is definitely one I plan to read.


To Pre-order it go
here





Tuesday, July 14, 2009

Teaser Tuesday

This week's Teaser Tuesday is from Saving Juliet by Suzanne Selfors.

Teaser (pg.43):
"Mimi!" my mother yelled from the far end of the hall.
"Come back here!"


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






Monday, July 13, 2009

Past, Present, Future (7)

Sorry I'm late posting this. Again. Yesterday we had a surprise party for my Granny's 70th Birthday. I spent hours with 8 other teenagers, falling all over each other on one of those huge inflatable water slides. I'm bruised, sunburned, and in pain. We were all crazy to do it but we had a blast and I wouldn't trade it for the world. Anyway, I was out acting like an over grown youngun' and that is why I didn't post yesterday. Trust me though, I'm suffering for it today. lol. :P

This Past Week I.........


What is going on at present........
I'm currently reading Saving Juliet and nursing a sunburn and really soar/bruised muscles. Thats what I get for letting the kid in me out of its cage.

What to expect from the future...........
Alright everyone, I'm sure you are all wondering who the author interview is with later this week. Well don't get your knickers in a knot cause I'm about to tell you. It's with......*drumroll*........Suzanne Selfors, author of Coffeehouse Angel and Saving Juliet. So, I'll be posting my Saving Juliet review the 17th and my review on Coffeehouse Angel with the interview on the 18th as part of her Official Blog Tour. Also, expect a review on No More Us For You by David Hernandez this week. Plus, I got awards I seriously need to pass on.
Hope you all have a terrific week.






Saturday, July 11, 2009

Candor Book Trailer

Before seeing the trailer, I never really paid much attention to this book. However, this trailer was awesome and the book sounds terrific. I can't wait to be able to have the chance to read it.

In My Mailbox (6)

This week I received:

~A signed ARC copy of Hush, Hush by Becca Fitzpatrick (for review)
~An ARC of If I Stay by Gayle Forman (Won from Marie at Cupcake Witch)
~An ARC of No More Us For You by David Hernandez (Won from Marie at Cupcake Witch)
~An ARC of Dull Boy by Sarah Cross (Won from Marie at Cupcake Witch)
~A signed copy of Better Latte Than Never by Catherine Clark (Won from Marie at Cupcake Witch)
~Assorted Swag (Won from Marie at Cupcake Witch)
~Lovesick by Jake Coburn (BookMooch)
~Airhead by Meg Cabot (Won from Susan at Black-Eyed Susan's)








Friday, July 10, 2009

From Briana's Point of View (new blog)


Guess what everyone? I have started a new blog for my photography called From Briana's Point of View. Check it out if you like. :D

Thursday, July 9, 2009

Review: Hacking Harvard

Hacking Harvard by Robin Wasserman
Publisher: Simon Pulse
Pub Date: September 11, 2007
Pages: 336
Age Level: 14+

Synopsis
It's the ultimate challenge: breaking into the Ivy League.

The hack:
To get one deadbeat, fully unqualified slacker into the most prestigious school in the country.

The crew:
Eric Roth -- the good guy, the voice of reason.
Max Kim -- the player who made the bet in the first place.
Schwarz -- the kid genius already on the inside...of Harvard, that is.
Lex -- the beauty-queen valedictorian who insists on getting in the game.

The plan:
Use only the most undetectable schemes and techno-brilliant skills. Don't break the Hacker's Code. Don't get distracted. Don't get caught. Take down someone who deserves it.

The stakes:
A lot higher than they think.
They've got the players, the plot, and soon -- the prize.
It's go time.


Review
When I first started reading Hacking Harvard, I thought, "Oh no! We have a dud." Well, thankfully I was wrong and it quickly picked up the pace. Of course, I’ve learned to give a book more than 20 pages before judging it.

Hacking Harvard was snarky, witty, and very fast paced. It was fun and I often found myself laughing. It was also very original though it kind of reminded me of a movie called The Perfect Score.

The characters were well developed and authentic, each having their own distinct personality that separated them from the rest. There is Eric, the level-headed and righteous one of the group. Then we have Max who is all about the money and extremely impulsive. Schwarz is the geek of all geeks. At 16 he is a freshman at Harvard and the more gullible one of the three friends. Last, but definitely not least, we have Lex, our narrator. She’s sassy, smart, and will do whatever it takes to win. I felt that I could see a little bit of myself in each of the characters, which is something I really loved about this book.

I thought Robin Wasserman did a superb job writing the dialogue, especially for the guys. However the random changes from first person to third person narrative could get a little confusing. Well, for me anyway.

The ending was satisfactory and tied everything up well but it was very brief and I couldn’t help but feel that the whole book was spent leading up to the result only to end too suddenly. Although, I must say Wasserman had some terrific last sentences to end the book with.

All in all, it was a fun, quick, and enjoyable read that made me laugh and smile. Will I re-read it? Yes, I definitely plan to. It was a great story and I recommend this book to anyone looking for something to cheer them up, give them a good laugh, or who just want something good to read.

Grade
Characters: B+
Writing: B
Plot: B
Ending: B-
Cover: A
Recommendable: B+

Overall: B


Wednesday, July 8, 2009

Waiting on Wednesday (8)

The Splendor Falls by Rosemary Clement-Moore
Publisher: Delacorte Books for Young Readers
Release date: September 9th, 2009
Pages: 528 pgs
Age Level: YA

Synopsis
Can love last beyond the grave?

Sylvie Davis is a ballerina who can’t dance. A broken leg ended her career, but Sylvie’s pain runs deeper. What broke her heart was her father’s death, and what’s breaking her spirit is her mother’s remarriage—a union that’s only driven an even deeper wedge into their already tenuous relationship.

Uprooting her from her Manhattan apartment and shipping her to Alabama is her mother’s solution for Sylvie’s unhappiness. Her father’s cousin is restoring a family home in a town rich with her family’s history. And that’s where things start to get shady. As it turns out, her family has a lot more history than Sylvie ever knew. More unnerving, though, are the two guys that she can’t stop thinking about. Shawn Maddox, the resident golden boy, seems to be perfect in every way. But Rhys—a handsome, mysterious foreign guest of her cousin’s—has a hold on her that she doesn’t quite understand.

Then she starts seeing things. Sylvie’s lost nearly everything—is she starting to lose her mind as well?

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

This book sounds absolutely thrilling! Loving the cover too. I can't wait to be able to read this.

Pre-order
here

Visit the author's page
here




Teaser Tuesday (6) On Wednesday

This week's Teaser Tuesday is from Beautiful Creatures by Kami Garcia and Margaret Stohl.


Teaser (pg.4):
I was free falling, tumbling through the air.
"Ethan!"
She called to me, and just the sound of her voice made my heart race.
"Help me!"


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





Saturday, July 4, 2009

In My Mailbox (5)

In My Mailbox
And I thought last week was slow. lol. Ok, so I still have four books but two are from the library.

In the Mail
~Betraying Season by Marissa Doyle (For review)
~What's in a Name by Ellen Wittlinger (BookMooch)

Library
~Oh My Goth by Gena Showalter
~Saving Juliet by Suzanne Selfors







Happy 4th of July

Happy 4th of July everybody! I hope you all get the chance to eat some good food and see some great fireworks. I, unfortunately, won't be doing much of anything special today. My family kind of had their own celebration yesterday. However, I will still celebrate this day in honor of our country's independence!




fireworks rwb Pictures, Images and Photos






Wednesday, July 1, 2009

Waiting on Wednesday (7)

Chasing Brooklyn by Lisa Schroeder
Publisher: Simon Pulse
Release Date: February 9, 2010
Pages: 320pgs
Age Level: YA

Synopsis
Restless souls and empty hearts

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

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

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

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

I can't wait to read this! I love books written in verse and this one sounds so good! Also, the cover is awesome. Kind of eerie but beautiful at the same time.

Check out Lisa's website here

Check out Lisa's blog here

Pre-order Chasing Brooklyn here