Review: Forget You

Forget You        

Jennifer Echols

Publisher: MTV

Release Date: July 20, 2010           

Pages: 293

Ratings: 3.5 Stars

Summary (from Goodreads):

WHY CAN’T YOU CHOOSE WHAT YOU FORGET . . .  AND WHAT YOU REMEMBER?

There’s a lot Zoey would like to forget. Like how her father has knocked up his twenty-four- year old girlfriend. Like Zoey’s fear that the whole town will find out about her mom’s nervous breakdown. Like darkly handsome bad boy Doug taunting her at school. Feeling like her life is about to become a complete mess, Zoey fights back the only way she knows how, using her famous attention to detail to make sure she’s the perfect daughter, the perfect student, and the perfect girlfriend to ultra-popular football player Brandon.

But then Zoey is in a car crash, and the next day there’s one thing she can’t remember at all—the entire night before. Did she go parking with Brandon, like she planned? And if so, why does it seem like Brandon is avoiding her? And why is Doug—of all people— suddenly acting as if something significant happened between the two of them? Zoey dimly remembers Doug pulling her from the wreck, but he keeps referring to what happened that night as if it was more, and it terrifies Zoey to admit how much is a blank to her. Controlled, meticulous Zoey is quickly losing her grip on the all-important details of her life—a life that seems strangely empty of Brandon, and strangely full of Doug. 

The wonderful Erica kindly book bullied me into buying this book, along with Going Too Far, and I am glad she did. I read Forget You in one sitting, and was not disappointed. Jennifer Echols has written an enjoyable book with beautiful scenes.

One thing I have learned from reading this book is that Jennifer Echols’ characters have such great chemistry. The interactions between Doug and Zoey are packed with tons of sexual tension and it was great to see how their story unfolded.

While this book might seem like some light chick lit, it does deal with some very serious topics and issues. With Zoey’s parents divorce, her dad’s pregnant new wife, and her mom going crazy, Zoey has a lot of stress and issues with which to deal. I often felt extremely sorry for Zoey and the situation she was. Her life was falling apart in front of her and she just wanted to maintain her normal, perfect life.

One thing that Jennifer Echols’ excels at is writing realistic characters. Every character in this book was extremely relatable and believable. None of the characters felt fake, I felt I know someone like each character. It was easy to relate to the characters too, even if not in similar situations. Every teenager has doubts about there life and everyone is trying to figure out who they are just like Zoey.

Even though I found this book very enjoyable and loved the story, at times I did get annoyed with Zoey. The whole Brandon situation, especially bothered me. A girl as smart as Zoey should be able to see that Brandon wasn’t her boyfriend. At times I just wanted to smack her when she kept saying Brandon’s my boyfriend, or my boyfriend Brandon. I wish Zoey was a bit more independent and could see that she was lying to herself with the Brandon situation.

Overall, Forget You was a very enjoyable read. Emotionally packed with great characters and great romance, Jennifer Echols has written a book that many teens will eat up. 

Blog Silence

If I have little to no posts in the following week it is because I am extremely busy and starting college. I've been up here since monday doing a community service project which has taken up most of my time. I promise to use any free time to blog! But just wanted to give a heads up of blog silence in the upcoming days.

Waiting on Wednesday (10) - Personal Demons

Personal Demons

Lisa Desrochers

Publisher: Tor Teen

To be released: September 14, 2010

Summary (from Goodreads):

Frannie Cavanaugh is a good Catholic girl with a bit of a wicked streak. She's spent years keeping everyone at a distance—even her closest friends—and it seems her senior year will be more of the same...until Luc Cain enrolls in her class. No one knows where he came from, but Frannie can't seem to stay away from him. What she doesn't know is that Luc works in Acquisitions—for Hell—and she possesses a unique skill set that has the King of Hell tingling with anticipation. All Luc has to do is get her to sin, and he’s as tempting as they come. Frannie doesn’t stand a chance.

Unfortunately for Luc, Heaven has other plans, and the angel, Gabe, is going to do whatever it takes to make sure that Luc doesn’t get what he came for. And it isn't long before they find themselves fighting for more than just her soul.

But if Luc fails, there will be Hell to pay…for all of them.

I’ve been dying to read this book for ages. I’ve heard nothing about good things and have you seen the Gabe trailer (1 of 3 trailers) for this book?!?

Waiting on Wednesday is a weekly event highlighting exciting upcoming releases. It is hosted by Jill at Breaking the Spine.

Happy Mockingjay Release and a STORY

Since today is the official release of Mockingjay, I thought I'd share a little story in celebration.

Almost a year to date, my dad met Suzanne Collins. It was the day before Blood Promise was released, so it was about a week before Catching Fire was to released. I, unfortunately, was on a college road trip, visiting schools along the East Coast, and we just arrived at in Fairfax, Viriginia when my dad calls us to check in with us. Our phone conversation went something like:

Dad: So, when I was at the library today to drop off movies, there was some kind of author there.
Me: Okay.
Dad: She was back in your YAAA section at the tables back there. I went to see what she was talking about.
Me: What she write?
Dad: She wrote books like that author we just saw (he is referring to Cassandra Clare). Something with a boy and a girl, like in a future world and reality tv. They had really weird names.

*Here I start to panic*

Me: What was her name?
Dad: I don’t something with like an S.

My dad then proceeds to describe what she looked like and where she lived and about her life since she was talking about it. I proceed to freak out more and more since it sounds very familiar. Finally, after I cannot stand it, I ask:

Me: Was her name Suzanne Collins?
Dad: Ohhhh yeahhh. That was the name.
Me: *SCREAMS* WHAT?!?! Why didn’t you call me?? You know I love books!! You could have ran home and got my Hunger Games book that is next to my bed.
Dad: *pause* I forgot.

*Head meets wall*

My dad ran into Suzanne Collins when she just stopped into our local library. He constantly brings it up and I always get a little angry at him for that. But he loves telling the story to torture me. So, my dad met Suzanne Collins….while I was stuck in a hotel room in Virginia.

Happy Mockingjay release day!! Enjoy reading! My review for Mockingjay should be up soon since I finished the book at 5am today.

Fragment Friday (3) - Infinite Days by Rebecca Maizel

Fragment Friday is hosted by James of Book Chic and it is where you read excerpts of your favorite books or what you are reading now. I chose an excerpt from a book I’m currently reading: Infinite Days by Rebecca Maizel. It features a scene with one of my favorite characters: TONY!! 

I had a lot of issues with this video being recorded and uploaded so that is why it's posted on Saturday and the quality not that great. Sorry!

Review: The Iron Daughter

The Iron Daughter

Julie Kagawa

Publisher:  Harlequin Teen

Release Date: August 1, 2010

Pages: 368

Ratings: 5 Stars

Summary (from Goodreads):

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, iron-bound 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 alone 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.

Julie Kagawa has outdone herself in the second installment of the Iron Fey series. Usually, the second book often falls short of expectations, but the Iron Daughter actually surpassed the Iron King.

In the Iron Daughter, Julie Kagawa expands the beautiful world she created in the first installment of the series, adding even more rich details to Meghan’s world. I loved seeing the Winter Court, the place where Ash grew up, and learning more about the courts and the customs in the fey world of Nevernever. New characters were introduced in the Iron Daughter and I must say, I really liked them all. Characters such as Leanansidhe fit in great with the old characters from the previous books.

The story in Iron Daughter was a rollercoaster ride of emotions. I cried, I laughed, I gasped, I scream and was even tempted at points to toss my Nook across the room. This book was everything I expected and more. The plot had me flipping pages as fast as possible. The plot felt incredibly new and fresh, and extremely captivating. While I did speed read this to not have the book spoiled in a chat with Julie Kagawa, I wanted to speed read it to figure out where Julie Kagawa was taking Meghan, Ash, Puck and the gang next.

What I love about this series is the characters. They drive the plot and the story completely. Whether you are Team Ash or Team Puck, Julie Kagawa had plenty of action with both characters, leaving everyone happy. New characters, such as Rowan and the Iron Horse have become new favorite characters, especially Iron Horse. While Iron Horse was in the previous novel, his role has change drastically and the readers really get to know that not all Iron Fey are evil and that Iron Horse is not what we thought from the previous novel.

While I can continue talking and gushing forever about this book, I don’t want to bore you with my love for the Iron Daughter. This book is amazing, and I’ve had to contain my love of the awesomeness of this book through out this review. The Iron Fey series is everything I want in a series, it’s fresh, exciting, has amazing characters and is just awesome. I highly recommend this series to everyone. The ending of the Iron Daughter has me eagerly awaiting the conclusion of the Iron Fey series. I guess I just must reread the Iron King and the Iron Daughter a gazillion times until the release of the Iron Queen in February 2011.

Waiting on Wednesday (9) - The Iron Witch

The Iron Witch

Karen Mahoney

Publisher: Flux

To be released: February 1, 2010

Summary (from Goodreads):

Freak. That's what her classmates call seventeen-year-old Donna Underwood. When she was seven, a horrific fey attack killed her father and drove her mother mad. Donna's own nearly fatal injuries from the assault were fixed by magic—the iron tattoos branding her hands and arms. The child of alchemists, Donna feels cursed by the magical heritage that destroyed her parents and any chance she had for a normal life. The only thing that keeps her sane and grounded is her relationship with her best friend, Navin Sharma.

When the darkest outcasts of Faerie—the vicious wood elves—abduct Navin, Donna finally has to accept her role in the centuries old war between the humans and the fey. Assisted by Xan, a gorgeous half-fey dropout with secrets of his own, Donna races to save her friend—even if it means betraying everything her parents and the alchemist community fought to the death to protect.

I love the cover for this book, it’s so gorgeous and the plot sounds very interesting. I’ll definitely be checking this book out in February.

Waiting on Wednesday is a weekly event highlighting exciting upcoming releases. It is hosted by Jill at Breaking the Spine

Review: Winter's Passage

Winter’s Passage

Julie Kagawa

Publisher: Harlequin Teen

Release Date: May 20, 2010

eBook

Ratings: 5 Stars

Summary (from Goodreads):

Meghan Chase used to be an ordinary girl...until she discovered that she is really a faery princess. After escaping from the clutches of the deadly Iron fey, Meghan must follow through on her promise to return to the equally dangerous Winter Court with her forbidden love, Prince Ash. But first, Meghan has one request: that they visit Puck--Meghan's best friend and servant of her father, King Oberon--who was gravely injured defending Meghan from the Iron Fey.Yet Meghan and Ash's detour does not go unnoticed. They have caught the attention of an ancient, powerful hunter--a foe that even Ash may not be able to defeat....An eBook exclusive story from Julie Kagawa's Iron Fey series.

Whoa! This eBook novella was hot! First, let me just confess how much I love Ash, he is probably one of my biggest book crushes, and this novella had so much Ash it was going to explode with awesomness.

Okay…now that I got the Ash is hot out of my system, I must say I am so glad Julie Kagawa released this novella to bridge the gap between the Iron King and the Iron Daughter. If I didn’t read this, I would feel like I missed out on some major action between books one and two of the Iron Fey series.

This novella takes place immediately after the end of the Iron King and continues the story perfectly. Winter’s Passage adds more to the lovely world already create by Julie Kagawa in the Iron King. This book had everything I was expecting after reading Iron King, it had an intriguing plot, action, Ash, romance and just a great story.

While reading Winter’s Passage is not essential to the story of the Iron Fey, it is a great book connecting books one and two and will definitely add to the experience of reading the series. Any fan of the Iron King should definitely check out this novella, especially if you want to read lots about Ash! 

Review: Dark Goddess

Dark Goddess

Sarwat Chadda

Publisher: Hyperion Books

Release Date: January 25, 2010 (USA release)

Pages: 384

Ratings: 4 Stars

Summary (from Goodreads):

*SPOILERS FROM PREVIOUS BOOK*

After the death of her soulmate Kay by her very own sword, Billi SanGreal has thrown herself into the brutal regime of Templar duties with utter abandon. There is no room for feelings any more – her life is now about hunting down the Unholy. But when Billi and another Knight Templar are caught at the heart of a savage werewolf attack, only Billi survives – except for a young girl at the scene who Billi unthinkingly drags away with her as they escape. But Vasalisa is no ordinary girl. She is an avatar with an uncontrollable power – and it’s not only the werewolves who want her. Billi has to flee to the frosty climes of Russia, with a human timebomb who, it seems, could destroy the world . . .

While visiting London this summer, my one requirement was to visit a book store and pick up this book since here, in the United States, the book is not released until next year. I am extremely glad I did this. I loved Devil’s Kiss the first book featuring Billi SanGreal and I was really looking forward to seeing where Sarwat Chadda would take Billi next.

Dark Goddess, the sequel to Devil’s Kiss, was more than I expected, in a good way. Sarwat Chadda continues Billi’s adventures as a Templar Knight and in this book expands the world Billi lives in. I loved that this book took Billi away from London and brought her, along with the rest of the Templars, to Russia where we get to meet the Russians equivalent of the Templars. Russia provides Billi many more challenges and has her continuing to question herself and her duty as a Templar.

In the Dark Goddess, the events from the previous book have truly taken a toll on Billi. In this book, Billi, who still have those characteristics I love about her, such as her stubbornness and devotion to those she loves, has been deeply effected by the previous events in her life. Billi has grown as a character, and continues to grow even more because of the events of these books. I often forgot that Billi is a fifteen year old girl. She seems more mature that because of the harsh life she has been subjected to as a Templar. Even though Billi gets put through more events that have her questioning her beliefs, I love that she stayed true to herself and ended up growing up even more from her experiences.

One of my favorite parts about this book was that it took place in Russia and that in Russia we met a whole new set of characters. I must confess, I have a weird love of Russia and really would love going there and I was so glad that Billi got to go there in this book. I also really loved how Sarwat Chadda took the Russian myth of Baba Yaga and made it his own. I’ve read a few different takes on Baba Yaga and I really like his spin on her and how well it fit with the story. Along with just loving Russia, the characters Sarwat Chadda introduced to us in Russia are probably some of my favorite. I loved Ivan Alexeivich Romanov, even if he did fulfill Kay’s role in this book. Ivan is basically a male version of Billi, and I loved that what you see with him is not what you get. He is battling many personal battles, like Billi, and it was interesting to see his story revealed.

Overall, I truly enjoyed Dark Goddess and ended up reading it all in one sitting. I think I ended up enjoying this book more than it predecessor, probably cause it had Russia in it (just kidding). I found this book very enjoyable, and the ending left me wanting more since it was left opening, hopefully for a sequel to help resolve it. I was not disappointed in my buy in the UK and extremely glad I brought it. Definitely check this book out when it is released in the US.

Review: Sleepless

Sleepless

Cyn Balog

Publisher: Delacorte Press

Release Date: July 13, 2010

Pages: 224

Ratings: 3.5 Stars

Summary (from Goodreads):

Eron De Marchelle isn't supposed to feel a connection. He is a Sandman, a supernatural being whose purpose is to seduce human charges to sleep. While he can communicate with his charges in their dreams, he isn't encouraged to--after all, getting too involved in one human's life would prevent him helping his other charges get their needed rest.

But he can't deny that he feels something for Julia. Julia, with her fiery red hair and her sad dreams. Just weeks ago, her boyfriend died in a car accident, and Eron can tell that she feels more alone than ever. Eron was human once too, many years ago, and he remembers how it felt to lose the one he loved. Eron has always felt protective of Julia . . . but now, when she seems to need him more than ever, he can't seem to reach her . . .

Sandmen are forbidden from communicating with humans outside their dreams. But will Eron be willing to risk everything for a chance to be with the person he loves?

In a genre dominated by vampires and werewolves, Sleepless was a refreshing and unique read. Cyn Balog takes the commonly known legend of the Sandman and adds to that legend with her own twist.

I loved the alternating point of views in this book. A lot of times, I feel, that alternating point of view takes away from the story, but I believe in this case it enhanced the reading of the story. I loved reading Eron point of view and seeing what it was like to be a Sandman, and learning from him, the difficulties of being a Sandman.

Cyn Balog did an excellent job of making me want to read more about these characters and the plot. There were many small mysteries, such as what happened to Julia when she was seven, that made me want to continue reading. The threat of danger to Julia also kept constantly shifting, making me want to keep reading to see who was actually the one who wanted to hurt Julia.

My only complaint was that this book was too short! I wish it was longer! Towards the end I felt the plot was a bit rushed and I just wanted to read about these characters and the world Cyn Balog created with the Sandman. I also must say too that at times I was frustrated with Juila for not seeing that her boyfriend was not as good as she thought he was and that he was a bad boyfriend. Overall though, Sleepless was a book that kept me turning the pages until the end and left me wanting more, always a good sign.

Help Me Choose Books for College and a Giveaway

I head out to college in about a week and I need to start packing up my room, including my 300 books. My mom decided to come and tell me she only wants me to bring 5 books to college! I gave her a "are you kidding me look?" So, I know I cannot bring all my books, no matter how much I would like to, there just isn't enough room in the dorm (or even my own bedroom), so I am going to need a little help in choosing a few books to bring with me to college. Now, I want to bring no more than 10 books with me. I'm going to post the lists of books I own and you can choose which books you think I should bring.

Now for helping me choose, I'm going to be giving away some stuff I've had lying around my room. Here's what you will win:

• My Soul to Take by Rachel Vincent 
• Airhead by Meg Cabot 
• White Cat Chapter sampler by Holly Black (signed) 
• City of Bones Postcard 
• I Heart You, You Haunt Me postcard 
• I Heart You, You Haunt Me bookmark 
• Sea bookmark 

To enter, leave a comment with what books I should bring from the list below plus your email address in the comments. Contest ends Friday, August 20th. 

Here's the books to choose from:

• Speak – Laurie Halse Anderson
• Thirteen Reasons Why – Jay Asher
• The Persistence of Memory – Amelia Atwater-Rhodes
• The Handmaid’s Tale – Margaret Atwood
• Pride and Prejudice – Jane Austen
• Candor – Pam Bachoz
• What I Saw and How I Lied – Judy Blundell
• Brightly Woven – Alexandra Bracken
• Going Bovine – Libba Bray
• A Great and Terrible Beauty – Libba Bray
• Rebel Angels – Libba Bray
• The Sweet Far Thing – Libba Bray
• The Demon's Lexicon - Sarah Rees Brennan 
• The Demon's Covenant - Sarah Rees Brennan
• Last Christmas – Kate Brian
• Private – Kate Brian
• Invitation Only – Kate Brian
• Untouchable – Kate Brian
• Confessions – Kate Brian
• Inner Circle – Kate Brian
• Legacy – Kate Brian
• Ambition – Kate Brian
• Revelation – Kate Brian
• Paradise Lost – Kate Brian
• Suspicion – Kate Brian
• Angels and Demons – Dan Brown
• The Da Vinci Code – Dan Brown
• Airhead – Meg Cabot
• Being Nikki – Meg Cabot
• Jinx – Meg Cabot
• Pants on Fire – Meg Cabot
• Ransom my Heart – Meg Cabot
• Glass Houses – Rachel Caine
• The Dead Girl’s Dance – Rachel Caine
• Midnight Alley – Rachel Caine
• Feast of Fools – Rachel Caine
• Lord of Misrule – Rachel Caine
• Carpe Corpus – Rachel Caine
• Fade Out – Rachel Caine
• Kiss of Death – Rachel Caine
• Heist Society – Ally Carter
• Graceling – Kristin Cashore
• Fire – Kristin Cashore
• Marked – P.C. Cast and Kristin Cast
• Betrayed – P.C. Cast and Kristin Cast
• Chosen – P.C. Cast and Kristin Cast
• Untamed – P.C. Cast and Kristin Cast
• Hunted – P.C. Cast and Kristin Cast
• Tempted – P.C. Cast and Kristin Cast
• Burned – P.C. Cast and Kristin Cast
• Devil’s Kiss – Sarwat Chadda
• Kissed by an Angel – Elizabeth Chandler
• City of Bones – Cassandra Clare
• City of Ashes – Cassandra Clare
• City of Glass – Cassandra Clare
• The Splendor Falls – Rosemary Clement-Moore
• The Hunger Games – Suzanne Collins
• Catching Fire – Suzanne Collins
• Nightshade – Andrea Cremer
• The Naming – Alison Croggan
• The Riddle – Alison Croggan
• The Crow – Alison Croggan
• The Singing – Alison Croggan
• Old Magic – Marianne Curley
• Mistwood – Leah Cypess
• The Maze Runner – James Dashner
• Blue Bloods – Melissa de la Cruz
• Masquerade – Melissa de la Cruz
• Revelations – Melissa de la Cruz
• The Van Alen Legacy – Melissa de la Cruz
• 13 to Life – Shannon Delany
• The Body Finder – Kimberly Derting
• The Dark Divine – Bree Despain
• Along for the Ride – Sarah Dessen
• Just Listen – Sarah Dessen
• Lock and Key – Sarah Dessen
• This Lullaby – Sarah Dessen
• The Truth About Forever – Sarah Dessen
• The Musician’s Daughter – Susanne Dunlap
• What is the What – Dave Eggers
• Leaving Paradise – Simone Elkenes
• Perfect Chemistry – Simone Elkenes
• The Lonely Hearts Club – Elizabeth Eulberg
• Jekel Loves Hyde – Beth Fantaskey
• Jessica’s Guide to Dating on the Dark Side – Beth Fantaskey
• Incarceron – Catherine Fisher
• Hush, Hush – Becca Fitzpatrick
• Everlasting – Angie Frazier
• Beautiful Creatures – Kami Garcia and Margaret Stohl
• Princess of the Midnight Ball – Jessica Day George
• The Luxe – Anna Godbersen
• Rumors – Anna Godbersen
• Envy – Anna Godbersen
• Splendor – Anna Godbersen
• Lord of the Flies – William Golding
• The Red Umbrella – Christina Diaz Gonzalez
• Evernight – Claudia Gray
• Stargazer – Claudia Gray
• Hourglass – Claudia Gray
• Looking for Alaska – John Green
• Will Grayson, Will Grayson (signed) – John Green and David Levithan
• Will Grayson, Will Grayson – John Green and David Levithan
• Hail Caesar – Thu-Huong Ha
• Girl in the Arena – Lise Haines
• Hex Hall – Rachel Hawkins
• Moonlight – Rachel Hawthorne
• North of Beautiful – Justina Chen Headley
• Shadow Hills – Anastasia Hopcus
• Burned – Ellen Hopkins
• Crank – Ellen Hopkins
• Glass – Ellen Hopkins
• Identical– Ellen Hopkins
• Impulse – Ellen Hopkins
• Tricks (signed) – Ellen Hopkins
• The Kite Runner – Khaled Hosseini
• A Countess Below Stairs – Eva Ibbotson
• Need – Carrie Jones
• Captivate – Carrie Jones
• Fallen – Lauren Kate
• Sea – Heidi R. Kling
• Into the Wild – Jon Krakauer
• The Wreckers – Iain Lawrence
• The Smugglers – Iain Lawrence
• To Kill a Mockingbird – Harper Lee
• Wondrous Strange – Lesley Livingston
• Darklight – Lesley Livingston
• The Messenger – Lois Lowry
• The Season – Sarah MacLean
• Wicked – Gregory Maguire
• Son of a Witch – Gregory Maguire
• Swoon – Nina Malkin
• Let’s Get Lost – Sara Malkin
• Finnikin Of the Rock – Melina Marchetta
• Witch Season – Jeff Mariotte
• Witch Season 2 – Jeff Mariotte
• Wake – Lisa McMann
• Fade – Lisa McMann
• Gone – Lisa McMann
• Vampire Academy – Richelle Mead
• Frostbite – Richelle Mead
• Shadow Kiss – Richelle Mead
• Blood Promise – Richelle Mead
• Spirit Bound – Richelle Mead
• Bloody Jack – L.A. Meyer
• Under the Jolly Roger – L.A. Meyer
• My Bonny Light Horseman – L.A. Meyer
• Rapture of the Deep – L.A. Meyer
• Twilight (Paperback) – Stephenie Meyer
• Twilight (Collector’s Edition) – Stephenie Meyer
• New Moon – Stephenie Meyer
• Eclipse – Stephenie Meyer
• Breaking Dawn – Stephenie Meyer
• The Short Second Life of Bree Tanner – Stephenie Meyer
• Beloved – Toni Morrison
• Evermore – Alyson Noël
• Blue Moon – Alyson Noël
• Shadowland – Alyson Noël
• Saving Zoë – Alyson Noël
• The Things They Carried – Tim O’Brien
• The Book of Luke – Jenny O’Connell
• Before I Fall (ARC) – Lauren Oliver
• Eragon – Christopher Paolini
• Eldest – Christopher Paolini
• Brisingr – Christopher Paolini
• To Catch a Pirate – Jade Parker
• Sisters Red – Jackson Pearce
• Terrier: Bekka Cooper – Tamora Pierce
• Bloodhound: Bekka Cooper – Tamora Pierce
• Wings – Aprilynne Pike
• Pirates! – Ceclia Rees
• Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them – J.K. Rowling
• Quidditch Through the Ages – J.K. Rowling
• The Tales of Beedle the Bard – J.K. Rowling
• The Forest of Hands and Teeth – Carrie Ryan
• Holes – Louis Sachar
• Far From You – Lisa Schroeder
• Getting’ Hooked – Nyomi Scott
• Immortal – Gillian Shields
• Intertwined – Gena Showalter
• Beautiful Americans – Lucy Silag
• Night World, Vol. 1- L.J. Smith
• Night World: Ultimate Fan Guide – L.J. Smith
• The Vampire Diaries: The Return: Nightfall – L.J. Smith
• Crown Duel – Sherwood Smith
• Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde – Robert Louis Stevenson
• Lament: The Faerie Queen’s Deception – Maggie Stiefvater
• Shiver – Maggie Stiefvater
• Linger – Maggie Stiefvater
• Blue is for Nightmares – Laurie Faria Stolarz
• White is for Magic – Laurie Faria Stolarz
• Silver is for Secrets – Laurie Faria Stolarz
• Red is for Remembrance – Laurie Faria Stolarz
• Deadly Little Secrets – Laurie Faria Stolarz
• Deadly Little Lies – Laurie Faria Stolarz
• The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn – Mark Twain
• Raven – Allison Van Diepen
• My Soul to Take – Rachel Vincent
• My Soul to Save – Rachel Vincent
• My Soul to Keep – Rachel Vincent
• Generation Dead – Daniel Waters
• Kiss of Life – Daniel Waters
• Leviathan – Scott Westerfeld
• From Bogus to Bubbly – Scott Westerfeld
• Uglies – Scott Westerfeld
• Pretties – Scott Westerfeld
• Specials – Scott Westerfeld

Contest ends Friday, August 20th.

Waiting on Wednesday (8) - Clarity

Clarity
Kim Harrington
Publisher: Scholastic Point
To be released: March 1, 2011

Summary (from Goodreads):

Clarity "Clare" Fern sees things. Things no one else can see. Things like stolen kisses and long-buried secrets. All she has to do is touch an object and the visions come to her. It's a gift.

And a curse.

When a teenage girl is found murdered, Clare's ex-boyfriend wants her to help solve the case — but Clare is still furious at the cheating jerk. Then Clare's brother — who has supernatural gifts of his own — becomes the prime suspect, and Clare can no longer look away. Teaming up with Gabriel, the smoldering son of the new detective, Clare must venture into the depths of fear, revenge, and lust in order to track the killer. But will her sight fail her just when she needs it most? 

I love this cover and cannot wait to read this book! It sounds so good! Cannot wait for next year! 

Waiting on Wednesday is a weekly event highlighting exciting upcoming releases. It is hosted by Jill at Breaking the Spine. 

Review: Keys to the Repository

Keys to the Repository
Melissa de la Cruz
Publisher: Hyperion Book CH
Release Date: June 29, 2010
Pages: 192

Ratings: 4 Stars 

Summary (from Goodreads):

Lavish parties. Passionate meetings in the night. Bone-chilling murders. Midterms. The day-to-day life of Schuyler Van Alen and her Blue Bloods friends (and enemies) is never boring. But there's oh-so-much more to know about these beautiful and powerful teens. Below the streets of Manhattan, within the walls of the Repository, exists a wealth of revealing information about the vampire elite that dates back before the Mayflower. In a series of short stories, journal entries, and never-before-seen letters, New York Times bestselling author Melissa de la Cruz gives her hungry fans the keys to the Repository and an even more in-depth look into the secret world of the Blue Bloods. Won't you come inside? 

This is a great companion book to the Blue Blood series. While this book is not a new story in the Blue Blood series, it provides background information on the characters, the Blue Blood society and their legends.

This book gives you a great overview of the series and the main characters in the series, even providing new detail to characters you thought you knew all about. I loved how this book was organized, with files on each characters and on the Blue Bloods myths and then Melissa de la Cruz would have a short story after each file to go along with what you just read. I really loved the short stories that go with the book series. It was great seeing some events from different perspectives, or learning more about a characters life that is unseen in the actual book.

Having not read the Blue Blood series in a while, this book helped to refresh my mind about what has occurred in the last books and made me extremely excited for the release of Misguided Angel. I loved learning more about the characters and seeing, in a way, how Melissa de la Cruz formed this complex Blue Blood series and created all these characters. This book is a must read for any fan of the Blue Blood series who wishes to learn more about the characters and events that take place in the books.

Cover News - Secrets and Shadows

On Shannon Delany's blog, the cover to the sequel of 13 to Life was revealed. I love 13 to Life and I really like the cover to the sequel, Secrets and Shadows and cannot wait for it to be released. To bad February 15 is so far away. For now, I will just look at the pretty cover and wait patiently.

Fragment Friday (2) - Forget You by Jennifer Echols

Fragment Friday is hosted by James of Book Chic and it is where you read excerpts of your favorite books or what you are reading now. I chose an excerpt from a book I’m currently reading: Forget You by Jennifer Echols.

Review: Infinity (Chronicles of Nick #1)

Infinity

Sherrilyn Kenyon

Publisher: St. Martin’s Griffin

Release Date: May 25, 2010

Pages: 448

Ratings: 2 Stars

Summary (from Goodreads):

 At fourteen, Nick Gautier thinks he knows everything about the world around him. Streetwise, tough and savvy, his quick sarcasm is the stuff of legends. . .until the night when his best friends try to kill him. Saved by a mysterious warrior who has more fighting skills than Chuck Norris, Nick is sucked into the realm of the Dark-Hunters: immortal vampire slayers who risk everything to save humanity.

Nick quickly learns that the human world is only a veil for a much larger and more dangerous one: a world where the captain of the football team is a werewolf and the girl he has a crush on goes out at night to stake the undead.

But before he can even learn the rules of this new world, his fellow students are turning into flesh eating zombies. And he’s next on the menu.

As if starting high school isn't hard enough. . .now Nick has to hide his new friends from his mom, his chainsaw from the principal, and keep the zombies and the demon Simi from eating his brains, all without getting grounded or suspended. How in the world is he supposed to do that?

I was really hoping to like this book, but I was sadly disappointed. The plot hand so much potential but the writing style got in the way.

Infinity is the first in the Chronicles of Nick series and is a prequel to Sherrilyn Kenyon’s adult series Dark Hunters series. This was Sherrilyn Kenyon’s first YA novel and I feel it was an unsuccessful transition. While I enjoyed the plot, the writing style got in the way and made me not want to continue reading the book.  I was confused when I first started the book because of the point of view. While it was third person, it focused mostly on Nick and showed all his thoughts. When the story suddenly jumped and focused on some other secondary character it was extremely confusing, since the book focused mostly on Nick and felt at time like it was from Nick’s first person point of view. I wish it was told from Nick’s point of view because he was an interesting character and had a great personality and this series is about him becoming who he is later in life.

While I had a problem with the point of view of the story, I also had a problem with the writing style. It felt overly simplified at times, like it was dumbed down for Sherrilyn’s readers. There were phrases like “massive loser dork” and “ coolest awesome dork” that made me cringe. While writing for YA does have a different style then adult writing it does not mean it has to be written poorly.

While I was distracted by the writing style for most of the book, I really enjoyed the plot. While the book started off slow, I was drawn in by the mystery of who Nick really was and why students at his school were being turned into living zombies. The end had plenty of zombie fighting action which is always a plus. The characters also drove the story. While I did not like some characters, I loved others, such as Bubba and Nick. Nick had a great, unique voice that was entertaining to read and Bubba was just one of those great secondary characters who has a strange obsession with zombies.

Unfortunately, the plot wasn’t strong enough to hold my attention the whole way and I felt, at various times, like I was forcing myself to finish the book. I feel if I have read Sherrilyn Kenyon’s adult books then I would have enjoyed this book more, but I have not read those books. When the second book in the Chronicles of Nick comes out, I most likely will not check it out.

Waiting on Wednesday (7) - Crescendo

Crescendo

Becca Fitzpatrick

Publisher: Simon and Schuster Children’s

To be released: October 19, 2010

Summary (from Goodreads):

The sequel to the New York Times Best selling phenomenon, Hush, Hush! 

Nora should have know her life was far from perfect. Despite starting a relationship with her guardian angel, Patch (who, title aside, can be described anything but angelic), and surviving an attempt on her life, things are not looking up. Patch is starting to pull away and Nora can't figure out if it's for her best interest or if his interest has shifted to her arch-enemy Marcie Millar. Not to mention that Nora is haunted by images of her father and she becomes obsessed with finding out what really happened to him that night he left for Portland and never came home.

The farther Nora delves into the mystery of her father's death, the more she comes to question if her Nephilim blood line has something to do with it as well as why she seems to be in danger more than the average girl. Since Patch isn't answering her questions and seems to be standing in her way, she has to start finding the answers on her own. Relying too heavily on the fact that she has a guardian angel puts Nora at risk again and again. But can she really count on Patch or is he hiding secrets darker than she can even imagine?

I am a huge Hush, Hush fan and cannot wait to see where Becca takes us in Crescendo. I have been dying to read this since I heard she was writing a sequel. I love Patch and cannot wait to see what happens next with Nora and Patch. And once again, the cover is lovely. James Porto is an amazing photograph and has made another beautiful cover for this book series. Now, if only it was October…

Waiting on Wednesday is a weekly event highlighting exciting upcoming releases. It is hosted by Jill at Breaking the Spine.

Revew: By the Time You Read This, I'll Be Dead

By the Time You Read This, I’ll Be Dead

Julie Anne Peters

Publisher: Hyperion Books CH

Release Date: January 5, 2010

Pages: 224

Ratings: 5 Stars

Summary (from Goodreads):

Daelyn Rice is broken beyond repair, and after a string of botched suicide attempts, she's determined to get her death right. She starts visiting a website for "completers"- www.through-the-light.com.

While she's on the site, Daelyn blogs about her life, uncovering a history of bullying that goes back to kindergarten. When she's not on the Web, Daelyn's at her private school, where she's known as the freak who doesn't talk.

Then, a boy named Santana begins to sit with her after school while she's waiting to for her parents to pick her up. Even though she's made it clear that she wants to be left alone, Santana won't give up. And it's too late for Daelyn to be letting people into her life. Isn't it?

National Book Award finalist Julie Anne Peters shines a light on how bullying can push young people to the very edge.

What a stunning, powerful story. This book left me speechless. While reading this book I laughed, I cried and even did both at the same time. A story full of emotions, By the Time You Read This, I’ll Be Dead is a stunning book that will stay with you.

While the main character, Daelyn, might not be able to physically speak, she says so much. Julie Anne Peters takes you into the mind of Daelyn, showing you all the pain she has suffered in her life and why she believes death is the only way out. Daelyn has suffered horrible verbal and physical attacks from bullies her whole life and this novel truly demonstrates the extreme side effects of bullying. While this book is fiction, Daelyn’s story could be the story of any number of teens that have suffered from bullying.

How the story unfolded was one of my favorite things about this book. While the reader knows Daelyn has attempted suicide, we do not know the reasons behind the attempts and how she ended up injured in the beginning of the story. Through a website Daelyn finds, the read slowly gets glimpses into Daelyn’s past and the reasons for her wanting to end her life are slowly revealed. While the website is a suicide site, I felt that it was not there to aid people to end their lives. The website became a way for Daelyn to open up and expose her secrets and real the inner demons she was with which she struggled.

Even though this book deals with a multitude of extremely serious issues, Juile Anne Peters is able to offer some comic relief through the character Santana. I loved Santana. Even though Daelyn cannot speak, Santana is relentless in trying to draw her out and form some sort of connection with her. He provides much need relief from the serious and sad thoughts of Daelyn. He tries various ways to engage Daelyn, even enlisting the help of his pet rat. I cried when Santana revealed what was wrong with him. Santana is such an important character in this book, helping Daelyn even though she does not want help.

This book was just amazing. It captured so many emotions, demonstrates the extreme side effects of bullying, and deals with suicide efficiently. The ending of the book was one those ending that I hate, yet love, leaving it up to the reader. This book was beautifully written and truly captured the pain that comes from bullying and belongs up on shelves with books such as Speak by Laurie Halse Anderson and 13 Reasons Why by Jay Asher.