Saturday, May 29, 2010
In My Mailbox (39)
For Review:
-The Tension of Opposites by Kristina McBride (!!)
-In a Heartbeat by Loretta Ellsworth
-Harmonic Feedback by Tara Kelly
-Stranded by J.T. Dutton (Sounds crazy good)
-Forgive My Fins by Tera Lynn Childs (!!)
-Forget-Her-Nots by Amy Brecount White (!!)
-Zillah's Gift by Lois West Duffy
-Wings by Aprilynne Pike
-The Beautiful Beatween by Alyssa B. Sheinmel
Trades:
-Wake by Lisa McMann
I had a wonderful week! My review books came from ReaderViews and Around The World Tours. I'm a bit overwhelmed, but I'm excited to start reading. Which to read first?
Well, this slideshow basically failed. As you can see, I deleted it. I won't be doing that again. It's actually more work than what I normally do.
How was your week?
Friday, May 28, 2010
Contest: Lifted

The catch? Her new pals have a nasty shoplifting habit, and before long Poppy is also a theft enthusiast. But when the girls' addictions get out of hand and friendships are threatened, it's up to Poppy to set things right...
Information:
Contest closed! Thanks for participating.
Interview: Wendy Toliver, author of Lifted
Poppy hates moving to a Bible belt town, but then two popular girls take her under their wings. They’re shoplifters, and she learns their secret pastime gives her an amazing rush. When her entire world crashes down, Poppy must decide how far she’ll go to protect herself and those she loves.

I was watching a show on TV about how shoplifting is a huge problem, especially with teens, and thought it would make an interesting topic for a book. Most people have either shoplifted themselves, have been tempted to try it, or know someone who has, so I think it’s something we can all relate to.
3. What are you guilty pleasures in life?
Diet Coke, chocolate covered cinnamon bears, sleeping in (or going to bed early), red wine, take-out pizza, Britney Spears's music, "The Vampire Diaries" on TV, car dancing, Aussie accents, lotions and potions, Facebook/Twitter, Target, Red Robin's French fries (can you tell by my answers that I'm hungry? LOL)
4. Everyone reads classics in high school English. Which ones did you love? Which ones should students never be forced to read?
I'm working on a paranormal YA but it's in the very beginning stages right now so there's really not much to tell except that it will be very different from anything else I've written.
7. Any last words?
Also, I blog for several amazing YA group blogs, and we love visitors.
http://www.teenfictioncafe.blogspot.com/
http://www.booksboysbuzz.com/
http://www.pulserocom.com/
Wednesday, May 26, 2010
Wednesday Wishlist (16)
Classy
by Derek Blasberg
If you’ve ever wondered how to climb the social ladder with grace, how to feel confident in every situation, or even how to make a lasting impression (but not the kind that lands you on the latest “Worst Dressed List”)—Derek Blasberg is here, with quotes and secrets from all the socialites so girls everywhere can learn how to have class.
This hilarious handbook will provide everything you need to know about fashion, socializing, dating, and etiquette. With tons of practical tips and tools for learning to flaunt what you’ve got, dozens of specific how-tos, common no-nos, and huge blunders that even smart girls make, this tongue-in-cheek book will train you to be a lady, and not a tramp!
2. I've flipped through it somewhere, and the tips were wonderful.
3. Love the images in the book
Monday, May 24, 2010
A Little Wanting Song by Cath Crowley

Sunday, May 23, 2010
Updates: What's Going On
Reviews you can expect:
Boys, Girls, and Other Hazardous Materials by Rosalind Wiseman
Some Girls Are by Courtney Summers
Never Bite A Boy on the First Date by Tamara Summers
Anxious Hearts by Tucker Shaw
Wayfarer by R.J. Anderson
Boys, Bears, and a Serious Pair of Hiking Boots by Abby McDonald
A Little Wanting Song by Cath Crowley
Time You Let Me In selected by Naomi Shihab Nye (Do you enjoy reviews of poetry collections?)
Shadow Hills by Anastasia Hopcus
Restoring Harmony by Joelle Anthony
The Immortal Life of Henrietta Lacks by Rebecca Skloot (Adult nonfiction that I loved!)
Other fun things:
Two author interviews
Giveaway for a signed, finished copy of an upcoming release that I thoroughly enjoyed!
Giveaway for a signed, ARC copy of a highly anticipated book that I loved!
I look forward to seeing everyone more frequently over the next few weeks!
PS. Do you like posts like these? Feel free to say no. You won't hurt my feelings.
Saturday, May 22, 2010
In My Mailbox (38)
For Review:
Friday, May 21, 2010
Spring: Why I Love It





Thursday, May 20, 2010
Spell Hunter by R.J. Anderson

Sunday, May 16, 2010
In My Mailbox (37)
Short post this week!
For Review:
-Ship Breaker by Paolo Bacigalupi
-Faithful by Janet Fox (Whoo!)
-Don't Know Where, Don't Know When by Annette Laing
-A Different Day, A Different Destiny by Annette Laing
-A Little Wanting Song by Cath Crowley
-Boys, Bears, and A Serious Pair of Hiking Boots by Abby McDonald
-Nightshade by Andrea Cremer
Won:
-Wings Without Birds by Brian Henry
-The Ghost, the Eggheads, and Babe Ruth's Piano by Larry Sweitzer
I had an awesome week! What about you?
Friday, May 14, 2010
Still Sucks to Be Me by Kimberly Pauley

Wednesday, May 12, 2010
Wednesday Wishlist (15)
Bird
by Rita Murphy
A girl easily carried off by the wind. An elderly widow whose husband died under strange circumstances. An isolated dwelling that breeds fear. Miranda has no recollection of where she came from—only that years ago, a gust of wind deposited her outside Bourne Manor. The Manor’s sole inhabitant, Wysteria Barrows, took Miranda in and promptly outfitted her with special boots—boots weighted with steel bars to keep her anchored to the ground. But aside from shelter and clothing, Miranda receives little warmth from the aging widow. The Manor, too, is a cold place, full of drafts and locked doors. Full of menace. Full of secrets. Then one day a boy named Farley appears. Farley helps Miranda embrace her destiny with the wind . . . and uncover the Manor’s hidden past.
Reasons I want to read this:
1. What an intriguing description.
2. The cover is gorgeous!
3. It reminds me of Howl's Moving Castle and The Wide Window
4. It sounds like a piece of art, more than just a book.
Tuesday, May 11, 2010
Lifted by Wendy Toliver

Publication Date/Version: June 2010/Paperback
Publisher: Simon Pulse
Age Group: Young Adult
Received From: Around The World Tours (Thanks!)
Poppy Browne is none too thrilled to be the new girl in Pleasant Acres, Texas--especially after her mother enrolls her in a private Baptist school. But to her delight, Poppy is pulled into the cool clique on her first day at Calvary High, and her new friends, Mary Jane and Whitney, are as genuinely nice as they are gorgeous and rich.
The catch? Her new pals have a nasty shoplifting habit, and before long Poppy is also a theft enthusiast. But when the girls' addictions get out of hand and friendships are threatened, it's up to Poppy to set things right...
Poppy is forced to move. It might not be so bad except for the fact that she's enrolled in a private Baptist school. Thing is, she isn't religious. Her mother's more worried about Poppy's college application than anything. Poppy is instantly accepted into the popular crowd at Calvary High, and she leaves behind Bridgette, her first-day mentor at Calvary. As Poppy grows closer to Mary Jane and Whitney, she's let in on their dirty secret. They shoplift. Not because they need to, but because they love the adrenaline rush. Soon Poppy is joining in on their escapades and realizing just how much she loves the rush too.
This is my book by Wendy Toliver, and I really enjoyed it! She's definitely an author to watch out for on my list. She made a serious subject approachable, but even more complex. She takes two well-liked and nice, but ultimately hypocritical, popular girls and turns them into criminals. It poses some interesting questions: Are people looking the other way because of their status? Would they get away with this otherwise? Why is such hypocrisy allowed?
Poppy is easy to connect to, and I really enjoyed her. She's fun, spunky, and independent. She's a typical teenager who happens to run into a bad problem. Mary Jane and Whitney both seem to be nice, wholesome individuals, but looks can be deceiving. I really enjoyed the characters. I think their social status made the read even more compelling because you wouldn't expect them to be thieves.
The plot evolved quickly, jumping right into theft and the rush of it. The three girls didn't really need anything; they only did it for the rush. It's easy to see how they could get caught up in it. Oddly enough, I never viewed them as bad people, only good people making bad decisions. Their social standing really did have an effect on my perspective, sad to say. I could see it being easy to fit right into their crowd and go with the flow. They seemed like genuinely nice people.
The ending was a bit too happy, but I was glad someone faced the consequences. I look forward to reading more by Wendy Toliver!
Overall: Quick and fast paced. Thought provoking. Very enjoyable.
My Advice: I would say buy it or borrow it. I thoroughly enjoyed it, and I look forward to owning a copy.
Cover: The cover's a bit plain, but there's a certain something that draws me in. I feel that the girl is a bit too rough to be Polly. I like the simple font, but other than that, there's nothing specific I enjoy.
*This was read as a part of the 100+ Reading Challenge
Sunday, May 9, 2010
Mini Reviews (1)


Very quick read. Fun for those who need to polish their knowledge of movies. Enjoyable quotes, summaries, and popular references. Makes me want to watch some classics!
Monday, May 3, 2010
Status Update
Love you all!