Sunday, January 31, 2010
Evermore Winner!
And the winner is:
The Bookologist!!
Congratulations! I have emailed you. Please respond within 72 hours, or a new winner will be chosen.
The Naughty List by Suzanne Young
Saturday, January 30, 2010
In My Mailbox (24)
Among the towering trees of magical Avalon, where humans dare not tread, lives Niviene, daughter of the Lady of the Lake and apprentice to Merlin the mage. Her people, the Fey, are folk of the wood and avoid the violence and avarice of man. But the strife of King Arthur's realm threatens even Avalon's peace, and Merlin needs his apprentice to thwart the chaos devouring Camelot. And so Niviene must use her special talents to help save a kingdom and discover the treachery of men and the beauty of love. A mystical love story, now back in print, sure to become a modern teen classic.
Unsure of why she is following Sir Kenway, but determined to escape as far as possible from the castle, her long-time prison, Shadow sets off on an adventure with the handsome knight who has been charged with protecting her. As mystery builds, and romantic tension does, too, Shadow begins to wonder what her role in the kingdom truly is. Soon, she learns, it is up to her to save her land.
New Look!
Friday, January 29, 2010
Metamorphosis: Junior Year by Betsy Franco, drawings by Tom Franco
Publisher: Candlewick Press
Thursday, January 28, 2010
Of All the Stupid Things by Alexandra Diaz
Wednesday, January 27, 2010
Random Magic Quote
Random Magic by Sasha Soren
Publisher: Beach Books
*This was read as a part of the 100+ Reading Challenge
Wishlist Wednesday (6)
Torn to Pieces
by Margot McDonnell
Seventeen-year-old Annie always thought her mother was kind of quirky. In fact, her mom’s taste in 70s-esque furniture and mysterious frequent business trips were just the tip of the quirky iceberg. When her mom doesn’t come home on time from one of her long jaunts, Anne isn’t too surprised. But when a day late turns into a few days late, Anne knows something is very wrong.She tries the hotel number that her mother left her, but it has been disconnected. Then a strange man keeps leaving messages on their answering machine, looking for a woman who doesn’t even live there. However, when Anne discovers a lengthy letter from her mother explaining why she has disappeared, the fabric of Anne’s relatively normal life is torn to pieces. Despite her shock, Anne must pull herself together and protect herself—from people who want to find and hurt her mother, and the strange new boy who may change everything.
Reasons I want to read this:
1. This is the coolest premise ever. It sounds freaking amazing.
2. I just read a really good review for it.
3. Have you read the description?!
Tuesday, January 26, 2010
Teaser Tuesday (10)
Monday, January 25, 2010
It's Monday! What Are You Reading? (3)
Books finished last week (January 18-24):
The Secret Year by Jennifer R. Hubbard
Books I am currently reading:
Of All the Stupid Things by Alexandra Diaz - This book has me quite intrigued. I'm not very far, but I really like it already. The alternating points of view adds a lot to the story!
This week has been hectic. I started We Were Here, but then The Secret Year showed up and I had to read that first because it was for a tour. I finished that and started on We Were Here again, but then Of All the Stupid Things came, and it's part of a tour too. So poor We Were Here is being a little neglected. I'll get around to it eventually.
Books I need to write reviews for:
Almost Perfect by Brian Katcher
Random Magic by Sasha Soren
Metamorphosis: Junior Year by Betsy Franco
The Naughty List by Suzanne Young
The Seven Rays by Jesscia Bendinger
Oi, I'm so bad about writing reviews as soon as I finish a book. By the end of this week, though, I should be much more caught up, as finals will be over and I'll have time to work on my blog.
Up Next:
Not Ordinarily Borrowable by Thomas Thurman
Reel Culture by Mimi O'Connor
Egg-Larva-Pupa-Woman by Ogo Akubue-Ogbata
What are you reading?
Sunday, January 24, 2010
100 Followers!!
I don't even like sprinkles, but this looks so yummy.
A Pearl Among Princes by Coleen Murtagh Paratore
Saturday, January 23, 2010
In My Mailbox (23)
For Review:
The Secret Year by Jennifer R. Hubbard
(ARC/Released January 2010/Viking)
Take Romeo and Juliet. Add The Outsiders. Mix thoroughly.
Colt and Julia were secretly together for an entire year, and no one—not even Julia’s boyfriend— knew. They had nothing in common, with Julia in her country club world on Black Mountain and Colt from down on the flats, but it never mattered. Until Julia dies in a car accident, and Colt learns the price of secrecy. He can’t mourn Julia openly, and he’s tormented that he might have played a part in her death. When Julia’s journal ends up in his hands, Colt relives their year together at the same time that he’s desperately trying to forget her. But how do you get over someone who was never yours in the first place?
I received this for review from Around The World Tours. You can read my review here.
Of All the Stupid Things by Alexandra Diaz
(ARC/Released December 2009/Egmont)
When a rumor starts circulating that Tara's boyfriend Brent has been sleeping with one of the guy cheerleaders, the innuendo doesn't just hurt Tara. It marks the beginning of the end for an inseparable trio of friends. Tara's training for a marathon, but also running from her fear of abandonment after being deserted by her father. Whitney Blaire seems to have everything, but an empty mansion and absentee parents leave this beauty to look for meaning in all the wrong places. And Pinkie has a compulsive need to mother everyone to make up for the mom she's never stopped missing. This friendship that promised to last forever is starting to break under the pressure of the girls' differences.
And then new-girl Riley arrives in school with her long black hair, athletic body, and her blasé attitude, and suddenly Tara starts to feel things she's never felt before for a girl--and to reassess her feelings about Brent and what he may/may not have done. Is Tara gay--or does she just love Riley? And can her deepest friendships survive when all of the rules have changed?
I received this for review from Around The World Tours. Sounds juicy!
Egg-Larva-Pupa-Woman by Ogo Akubue-Ogbata
(PB/September 2009/Priceless Books)
The story kicks off in the early 1950s when two orphan sisters are separated against their wish because their aunt cannot afford to feed two mouths. The first sister is weak and wilts away but the second, Nkiru, digs deep and keeps on walking.
In the wake of her country's independence from British rule, Nkiru meets an aspiring diplomat with radical political views and hopes that love will put her life back on course. However, love only complicates things. Her new husband asks for more than she knows how to give and the past is filled with shameful secrets that threaten to erupt.
The plot thickens as Nkiru climbs the ladder of life, fearing the sudden loss of all that she has toiled for (her children's love, her husband's trust and the successful business she built out of nothing) all because of a single fatal mistake. At the same time, Nigeria descends further into conflict and corruption as a single foundational flaw leads to a brutal war and lingering mistrust.
Eventually Nkiru finds the courage to confront the past and seek forgiveness for an unpardonable sin. This is the only path to peace - both for Nkiru and her beloved country, Nigeria.
Set in the politically charged colonial and post-independence Nigeria (as well as the vibrant capitals of Uganda, Sierra Leone and Britain), Egg-Larva-Pupa-Woman is a novel that fearlessly chronicles the history of Africa's most populous and complex country whilst tackling big themes such as ethnic identity, racial discrimination, domestic violence, gender equality, endemic corruption, entrepreneurship and self actualisation, as well as universal themes such as love, mother-daughter relationships, betrayal and forgiveness.
I received this for review from Pump Up Your Book. The author was kind enough to sign it. Thanks!
A Shadow in the Dark by Ronica Stromberg
(PB/March 2009/Royal Fireworks Press)
When Kirsten moves out to the country, she's happy to learn from a neighbor boy that another girl lives in a nearby farmhouse. Kirsten sets out to meet the girl but is told by an old woman at the house that she lives there alone.
Kirsten befriends another neighbor's granddaughter, and soon, the two overhear the old woman scolding someone in her house. They see a shadowy figure at the front windows of her house. And dresses they discover hanging on her clothesline are too small to be hers. Is someone being held captive? Who is the girl the neighbor boy saw? And why doesn't she come out?
Living It Up to Live It Down by Ronica Stromberg
(PB/November 2009/Royal Fireworks Press)
As a new believer, Kirsten Hart is looking for a Christian friend she can lean on and learn from. What better friend that ninth-grader Sarah Miles, the pretty and popular daughter of a preacher? But Kirsten's heard the old saying, "The preacher's kids are always the worst," and this school year, Sarah is living up to it. Why won't she straighten out?
I received this book and the one listed above for review from Teens Read Too. These can be purchased here.
I had a good week. What about you?
The Secret Year by Jennifer R. Hubbard
Wednesday, January 20, 2010
Wishlist Wednesday (5)
Hearts at Stake
by Alyxandra Harvey
On Solange’s sixteenth birthday, she is going to wake up dead. As if that’s not bad enough, she also has to outwit her seven overprotective older brothers, avoid the politics involved with being the only daughter born to an ancient vampire dynasty, and elude Kieran Black—agent of an anti-vampire league who is searching for his father’s killer and is intent on staking Solange and her entire family.
Luckily she has her own secret weapon—her human best friend Lucy—who is willing to defend Solange’s right to a normal life, whether she’s being smothered by her well-intentioned brothers or abducted by a power-hungry queen. Two unlikely alliances are formed in a race to save Solange’s eternal life—Lucy and Solange’s brother Nicholas, and Solange and Kieran Black—in a dual romance that is guaranteed to jump start any romance-lover’s heart.
Reasons I want to read this:
1. I'm really drawn to the cover for some reason.
2. I'm in the mood for some more paranormal, vampire action. I'm hoping that this turns out to be something similar to City of Bones,with action and romance.
3. This doesn't seem like your average vampire read, or like a another wagon-jumper. Hearts at Stake seems unique.
Tuesday, January 19, 2010
Teaser Tuesday (9)
"I realized how alone I was. Just another random kid in their system. A half-Mexican ghost from Stockton who messed up his family. I'd spend this year with a bunch of other ghosts from other nowhere places until they said I could leave, and then I'd have to go haunt some other spot."
Pages 16-17, We Were Here by Matt de la Pena
Enjoy!
Monday, January 18, 2010
Falling For Romeo by Jennifer Laurens
Personal vs. Review Reads
I have obligations to a couple of companies, such as ReaderView Kids and Teens Read Too. I try to review those books first because they depend on me to reviews the books I receive. If an author or publisher sends me a book, I don't feel as bad waiting longer to review it because they aren't dependent on me and my one review. They're getting reviews from other places.
What I'm basically trying to say is: how do you balance your personal and review reads? Is it 1 for 1, 1 personal for every 1 review? It's not that I don't enjoy review copies, because I do, but my personal pile is completely ridiculous. It's honestly quadrupled since I started blogging. There's a lot of books in there that I really want to read, but I feel bad neglecting my review books. Should I? Those who send me review copies understand that I have a life and can't focus only on reading. I'm torn. Any words of advice or book balancing tips?
It's Monday! What Are You Reading? (2)
This is a weekly meme hosted by J. Kaye's Book Blog.
Books completed last week (January 11-17):
Almost Perfect by Brian Katcher
Falling For Romeo by Jennifer Laurens
Books I am currently reading:
The Seven Rays by Jessica Bendinger - I'm really enjoying this so far! I happy with the fantasy plot so far. Hope the ending is good. I have under 100 pages to go, so I'm sure I'll finish this today.
Books I need to write reviews for:
Falling For Romeo by Jennifer Laurens
Almost Perfect by Brian Katcher
Random Magic by Sasha Soren
A Pearl Among Princes by Coleen Murtagh Paratore
Metamorphosis: Junior Year by Betsy Franco
The Naughty List by Suzanne Young
I'm really bad about writing reviews as soon as I finish a book. I write the review when I feel like posting it, not as soon as I complete the book. I should probably work on that... I set up a review layout, but I'm going to make more of an effort to write reviews when a book is finished. It'll save me time and allow me to put up more posts.
Up Next:
Never Bite a Boy on the First Date by Tamara Summers
Reel Culture by Mimi O'Connor
Juggling Fire by Joanne Bell
Not Ordinarily Borrowable by Thomas Thurman
I'm not necessarily reading them it that order, but those are some of the books that I need to get read.
What are you reading?
Sunday, January 17, 2010
Salt by Maurice Gee
Saturday, January 16, 2010
In My Mailbox (22)
Tuesday, January 12, 2010
Award Time!
Here are the rules it comes with:
List 10 things that make you happy.
Try and do at least one of them today.
Tag 10 bloggers that brighten your day.
Link back to the person that tagged you.
Things that make me happy:
1. Finishing a book because I get to choose a new one!
2. Insightful comments and new followers.
3. Hugs - real ones, not one arm hugs. Those are terrible.
4. Getting mail!
5. Chocolate milk
6. Laughing until my stomach cramps, tears are running down my cheeks, and I can't breathe.
7. Watching endless amounts of Lost.
8. Hanging out with my family, as well as my best friend's family. I've got two awesome families!
9. Wearing a pretty outfit. It makes me feel good about myself, and you always get compliments.
10. Random acts of kindness. I love when people I don't know very well give me hugs, strike up a conversation, or simply smile.
I would like to pass this award onto:
1. Juju at Tales of Whimsy
2. Jessica at Reading is Sexy
3. Jenny at Wondrous Reviews
4. Steph Su at Steph Su Reads
5. Misty at Book Rat
6. Morgan at BLT
7. Aimee at my fluttering heart
8. Becky at The Bookette
9. Chelsea at The Page Flipper
10. Elie at Ellz Readz
Monday, January 11, 2010
Music Mix
Sunday, January 10, 2010
My Awards
Adrienne from An Addicted Book Reader has given me my first award! Thanks so much Adrienne. :)
The Vinyl Princess by Yvonne Prinz
Allie, a self-professed music junkie is right where she wants to be: working at Bob & Bob Records in Berkeley. It's the perfect place to start her new music blog and zine. At the store she can chat up the customers and staff, feeding her love for music. The area where she works, however, is under danger. Criminals have been going around robbing innocent stores. Is Bob & Bob Records next?
For me, The Vinyl Princess was just blah. I'd heard such good reviews, so I expected a lot out of it. Even if I had gone in with low expectations, I still don't believe I would have liked it. I found it hard to relate to any part of the story, actually. Allie's character was fine. She obviously loved music, which is great and all, but that doesn't leave her open to a very wide range of readers. I mean, she was obsessed. I enjoy music, but I don't want to read an entire book about it. Maybe I shouldn't have picked it up in the first place. The characters I found to be interesting were all secondary. Her mom, Ravi, and the invisible roommate. Honestly, one of the characters I liked the most was mentioned maybe three times! At least she had fun characteristics and seemed mysterious.
Allie's dating life was okay, with a couple love interests here and there. There was a slight twist to one of them, but it just feel flat. The only romance I was interested in was her mom's. Really? I was more interested in the hardly mentioned secondary characters than Allie. -sigh-
The plot, similar to everything else, was flat. Like a Sprite can left on the counter for 2 weeks. It might have been interesting, with the robberies and all, but even that wasn't as dramatic as I expected it to be. This book was not for me.
Overall: Flat plot, main character, and love interests. I was more interested in the barely there secondary characters. Not easy to relate to.
My Advice: Skip it. Unless you love music. Then maybe you'll be able to get through it. Maybe.
Cover: I think I'm the only one who doesn't like it. Obviously, it describes the book, but it's too messy and...thrown-together for my tastes.
Saturday, January 9, 2010
Dream Girl by Lauren Mechling
Publication Date/Version: November 2009/Paperback
Publisher: Delacorte Press
Age Group: Young Adult
Received From: Author (Thanks!)
Claire Voyante has been having strange visions ever since she can remember. But the similarity between her name and her talents is purely coincidental. The name is French, and unlike the psychics on TV, she can't solve crimes or talk to the dead. Whenever Claire follows her hunches, she comes up empty - or ends up in pretty awkward situations.
But that all changes on Claire's fifteenth birthday, when her grandmother Kiki - former socialite, fashion icon, and now permanent fixture at the Waldorf-Astoria Hotel - gives her something a little more extraordinary than one of her old cocktail dresses: a strange cameo, made of onyx and ivory, on a gold chain. And it's not long before Claire's world becomes a whole lot clearer. And a whole lot more dangerous.
New friends, old grudges, strange jewelry, and some creepy black-and-white dreams - if Claire can just survive sophomore year in high school, she might be able to get through anything.
Claire Voyante is kind of psychic. She has some odd hunches, but they never turn into anything. Then, on her fifteenth birthday, her grandmother gives her a cameo and everything changes for the weirder. Her dreams are intensified, but Claire still doesn't know what to make of them. Will she be able to figure out what they mean before her or one of her new friends gets hurt?
Dream Girl was one of those odd novels that doesn't try to be anything other than what it is. It doesn't attempt to appeal to mass markets with cussing, drugs, and sex, but instead keeps it clean with some good psychic fun. It was rather quirky, but it wasn't one of those books that was trying to go mainstream by being extra odd. Do you understand what I'm saying? It often seems that nowadays, things have to be odd or out there in order to be cool. They have to be much too unique. Dream Girl is unique, but I never felt as though it were trying to be. -sigh- So hard to explain. The novel is best related to Kiki Strike, one of the best reads ever. They're both fun and feature odd elements, claiming to be absolutely nothing they aren't.
Claire was a fun character, as was the entire cast. I found every character to be interesting, each with their own fun traits. There was no lack of character development; I knew just enough about each primary and secondary character. I enjoyed them all.
The plot was rather cool, with Claire using her psychic powers to figure out how to do, well, she doesn't know what. That's the point really. Claire has to figure out what her visions are pointing her to. This isn't the paranormal kind of psychic powers that are often featured today, but more of an average teenager with an added bonus. I found, however, that in the middle of the book the plot fell flat. Just like Claire, we didn't know what her visions meant, so we were strung along just like her, not knowing where anything was going. For that reason, I often felt lost and a little disappointed. The ending was interesting - I need to find a new word to use! - and made me a bit happier with the overall storyline. I especially loved how the romantic connection turned out.
Dream Girl was not without flaws, but this first taste is definitely enough to get me to read the sequel.
Overall: Quirky. Kiki Strike-esque. Up and down plot. Good characters.
My Advice: Pick up a copy at your local library.
Cover: Cool cover! I think it shows off the book's odd side. The girl, however, isn't how I pictured Claire. That's my problem, though, I guess.