Reading or Breathing

Review: The Fault in Our Stars by John Green

2012-01-26T08:52:00.010-06:00

I'm sitting here staring at my copy of TFiOS wanting to cry. I'm panicking and flipping through the book like a crazy person and can't find a single one anywhere. I FEEL LIKE THEY WERE MY WHOLE LIFE AND MARKED NOT JUST PAGE NUMBERS BUT ALSO THE ANSWERS TO THE MYSTERIES OF THE UNIVERSE WHERE THE EFF ARE THEY?!

*flashback*

I went to my grandparents' house to spend the night and brought one of my two copies of TFiOS. You see, I had preordered it from Amazon back in like 2003, but I had to buy another copy when I was shelving them onto the beautiful stepladder display at work on release day. Anyway, I go over and get into my forever lazy and tuck myself into the recliner for the evening. I feel somewhat bad because for the next few hours I inadvertently forget they exist, but they forgive me because my grandparents are really nice people. I bust out laughing at something on like, page 4 or whatever and get up to go get a piece of paper to mark its spot. I'm about to go back to the recliner when I think, hmmm I have a feeling this is not enough so I tear off a few more pages from the notepad and rip them up into tiny pieces until I have a nice pile to work with. Every time I laugh (which is often), I mark the page. Anytime I feel emotionally moved, I mark the page. Whenever there is a reference to something I particularly like, I mark the page. Eventually I ran out of paper and had to start using gum wrappers. At the end of it, my copy of TFiOS was a hot mess.

*flash forward*

There is not a single piece of paper anywhere in this book (I will later learn they fell out in my backpack). Fortunately for you, this review just got three pages shorter. Unfortunately for me, I am lost and confused. However, I will try my best.

So my favorite author of all time is Jodi Picoult, which is actually quite odd considering she's an adult writer. But when your favorite author of all time has a blurb on the cover of your favorite YA author's new book, the world just becomes a better place. I seriously thought I was going to lose my mind waiting for it. From the very first page, I was mesmerized by Hazel. This girl has the most amazing personality. She is the funniest, strongest most intelligently awesome main character I've ever had the honor of reading about. I mean, she can freaking quote T.S. Eliot and Robert Frost from memory. So basically, John made his own character a nerdfighter which is actually rather legit.

The relationship between Augustus and Hazel is so intricately developed. You know it's the strongest thing in the world, but it still seems so delicate. In some ways, it feels like their relationship was made perfect because of how incredibly imperfect they are, and I really loved that. I also loved how realistic the story was. John doesn't shy away from the ugliness of cancer, nor does he forget the beauty of love and the importance of family.

I don't think I can say much more without it turning into a gush fest. I do want to leave you with one of my favorite quotes from the book, though.

"But I believe in true love, you know? I don't believe that everybody gets to keep their eyes or not get sick or whatever, but everybody should have true love, and it should last at least as long as your life does."

There has to be fault in our stars simply because this book is so perfect. You know, maintaining the balance of the universe or whatever.

P.S. When they are trying to sell the swing set? I died. DIED.

Releases to Remember: 2012 Edition

2012-01-05T13:23:00.022-06:00

Below are just a few of the many books that are releasing this year that I am really excited for. Some are by debut authors, and some are new stand alones by some of my favorite authors. Click on any of the covers to go to the book's Goodreads page to read more about it and add it to your own shelf :)

I went ahead and left out books that are part of a series as not everyone has read the first books. But if you're curious, I'm really looking forward to Fever by Lauren DeStefano, The Last Echo by Kimberly Derting, Insurgent by Veronica Roth, Timepiece by Myra McEntire, Pandemonium by Lauren Oliver and the sequel to Shatter Me by Tahereh Mafi <3

What books are you looking forward to? Please let me know in the comments!

Cover reveal: City of Lost Souls by Cassandra Clare

2012-01-04T13:53:00.006-06:00

I'm sure everyone here has heard of the Mortal Instruments series by Cassandra Clare in one way or another. Hopefully it's because you've read them. It's pretty much our number one paranormal/fantasy series we love to hate and features the gorgeous and angsty Jace Wayland. *takes a moment to swoon* When we found out Cassie was adding 3 more books to the series after we thought what was originally supposed to be a trilogy had come to an end? OHHH YEAAAH

The next book in the series aka libro numero cinco, City of Lost Souls, is set to release May 8, 2012. Would you like to see its cover? BECAUSE IT WAS FREAKING RELEASED TODAY!

And a closeup of the lovely couple:

A New Year

2012-01-01T11:21:00.003-06:00

This past year went by soooo freaking fast. I feel like I was just in New York for BEA, but no...that was 7 months ago. Life seriously blows my mind, guys. It's made me realize just how important every single day is. I won't start with the whole "live your life to the fullest" shmuck, but...

Start doing what you want to be doing, what makes you happy :)

2011 has been a serious roller coaster ride. I faced a lot of heartbreak, rejection and disappointment...but it's also the year I started dating my best friend, and had so many amazing opportunities. It wasn't always great, but everything that's happened has gotten me closer to where I want to be. I learned a lot about myself so for that I'm thankful.

I hope the holidays have been as great for you as they have for me. It's given me some much needed time to slow down and relax and get back to doing what I love. I know you've heard this once or twice, but I'm really hoping to give my blog the time it deserves starting RIGHT THIS SECOND. The start of a new year is the perfect time make some needed changes. So here's to a new year! *hugs a book*

City Segments (2)

2011-11-01T11:00:00.003-05:00

Today we have Cialina from Muggle-Born.net!

"New York City has no shortage of internship opportunities, and for that, I cannot be more grateful. From small publishing houses and literary agencies to the Big Six Publishers, there are so many different ways to jumpstart one’s career in publishing. (The Big Six: Penguin, Macmillan, Scholastic, Random House, HarperCollins, and Simon & Schuster are based in New York City.) I’m thankful for the fact that I’ve already had three internship opportunities that exposed me to three different perspectives to children’s publishing. I know what it’s like to work in trade fiction, commercial fiction, and a literary agency. I know what it’s like to read from the slush pile. I’ve worked on picture books, middle grade, and young adult.

I always tell my friends that it’s never too early to start looking for internships. I’m only a sophomore in college. I admit that most Big Six Publishers are more willing to take eager juniors and seniors into their internship programs but you shouldn’t let that discourage you. New York City has so many different opportunities. If you don’t have prior work experience, start building your resume. You can start out at a small indie publisher or a literary agency, but I think it’s also great to work in retail. One of my mentors told me that working in book retail provide such valuable information because you are the ones selling the books.

But being both a student and an intern is tough - especially in New York City. An intern basically means working for free in exchange for an educational experience. That usually isn’t a problem for me because I believe that the knowledge I’ve gained through internships is just too valuable. I learned so many things just being surrounded almost everyday by people who work in publishing.

But after a while, money does become an issue. When you’re juggling homework and internship, when is there room for a part-time job? Living in New York City is very costly. There are paid internship options, but looking specifically for paid internships limits the search. I don’t ever regret working for free. I love being an intern more than anything. But sometimes, I just wish I can already graduate and get paid for what I like to do.

And one last thing: Don’t be afraid to put blogging in your resume. It definitely shows your enthusiasm for books."

Big thanks to Cialina for participating! If any of you would like to contribute, please email me via the contact form. See you next week :)

Review: Every You, Every Me by David Levithan

2011-10-25T21:30:00.008-05:00

In this high school-set psychological tale, a tormented teen named Evan starts to discover a series of unnerving photographs—some of which feature him. Someone is stalking him . . . messing with him . . . threatening him. Worse, ever since his best friend Ariel has been gone, he's been unable to sleep, spending night after night torturing himself for his role in her absence. And as crazy as it sounds, Evan's starting to believe it's Ariel that's behind all of this, punishing him. But the more Evan starts to unravel the mystery, the more his paranoia and insomnia amplify, and the more he starts to unravel himself. Creatively told with black-and-white photos interspersed between the text so the reader can see the photos that are so unnerving to Evan, Every You, Every Me is a one-of-a-kind departure from a one-of-a-kind author.

It was so weird reading this book right after Shatter Me since both books are written with strikeouts. I haven't seen many other authors use this method, but I quite enjoy it! It's like the narrator is saying, "I want you to read these words but I shouldn't be saying them." It adds an edge to the story. This is the first book by David Levithan I've read that hasn't been co-written, and while I don't think I can really base his independent writing off of this book because the style is just so different, I thought it was great.

A few things I didn't like were one, Evan didn't have much character development in my opinion. He never seemed to be able to move past what happened. And two, I felt the ending was a little weak. Throughout the story you can feel yourself getting closer and closer to discovering the truth about Ariel. With every new picture it seems like you're thiiiis much closer to having all of your questions answered. Then it's just kind of like, meh. It was a slight letdown after the intensity of the mysterious trail of clues.

However, those are my only complaints, and they're not even really complaints. I loved the story and read it super fast (we're going to ignore the fact that sometimes there were only 3 words on a page). I recommend this book if you're looking for a thriller with a sophisticated side. Can't wait to see what David writes next!

City Segments

2011-10-09T19:44:00.003-05:00

Hi, guys! This is something I've been wanting to do for a while now. If you're reading this, chances are you're a book blogger...which means you most likely have your eye on that dream publishing job in New York City. However, how many of you actually know the first step in getting there? I know I have lots of little panic attacks. How do you make the adjustment to big city life? How can you even afford to live? Just how competitive is the publishing industry? Well, I've gathered up some lovely people who are going to answer these questions. So nice of them, right?

First up we have Martha Mihalick, a children's book editor for Greenwillow Books, an imprint of HarperCollins Publishers.

"I <3 NYC. Which is always a little surprising to me, since I never, ever thought I’d become a city girl. I grew up in a small town in western Pennsylvania, and went to small college in a small town in central Pennyslvania. So how did I end up here? Well, I knew I wanted to be a children’s book editor, and frankly, there aren’t a whole lot of other places I could do that. I was lucky to have friends who graduated about two years before I did who moved to the city to try the acting thing, so I was able to come up and visit them during breaks and summers and get to know the city a little before I moved. I also had family on Long Island who let me stay with them for about six weeks while I started my job and looked for an apartment. I cashed out my savings account in order to get that first apartment. And then my roommate and I were very, very thrifty.

Because it’s true, rent is steep. But if you fall in love with the city, like I did, you figure out a way to make it work. You have roommates. You live in tiny spaces or further from Manhattan. You never pass up an event that will have free snacks (i. e. dinner). You find a comfortable dive bar you and your friends all like, and you become regulars, which can mean free drinks. You keep track of all the free summer movies, concerts, etc. You learn things like admission at the Met Museum is only suggested, so you can get away with paying just a dollar, and that Friday nights are free at MOMA, and that some Broadway theatres have cheap student rush tickets and luckily you’ve held onto your student ID. You bring your lunch instead of buying it every day. You do without cable TV. Maybe you have more than one job, or do freelance work in addition to your full-time job. You probably eat a lot of pasta or cereal.

NYC is a demanding place to live, but it’s also rewarding. The pace is fast; it takes a lot of energy. But there is always something new and interesting to see or do. There are always unexpected surprises. Like seeing an elderly gentleman riding a Segway down Fifth Avenue in the middle of the day. Or walking by a movie or tv show shooting on the street. Or a random firework show on the East River just when you happen to be on the Brooklyn Promenade. Like running into a friend on the subway because despite NYC being the largest city in the country, it’s also a small, small world."

Thanks to Martha for taking the time to do this! I hope you found it helpful. Look for another post next week!

If you have any advice that you'd like to contribute, please feel free to email me under the Contacts tab! Any input is welcome :)

Review: Shatter Me by Tahereh Mafi

2011-09-22T11:43:00.022-05:00

Juliette hasn't touched anyone in exactly 264 days. The last time she did, it was an accident, but The Reestablishment locked her up for murder. No one knows why Juliette's touch is fatal. As long as she doesn't hurt anyone else, no one really cares. The world is too busy crumbling to pieces to pay attention to a 17-year-old girl. Diseases are destroying the population, food is hard to find, birds don't fly anymore, and the clouds are the wrong color.

The Reestablishment said their way was the only way to fix things, so they threw Juliette in a cell. Now so many people are dead that the survivors are whispering war--and The Reestablishment has changed its mind. Maybe Juliette is more than a tortured soul stuffed into a poisonous body. Maybe she's exactly what they need right now.

Juliette has to make a choice: Be a weapon. Or be a warrior.

In this electrifying debut, Tahereh Mafi presents a world as riveting as The Hunger Games and a superhero story as thrilling as The X-Men. Full of pulse-pounding romance, intoxicating villainy, and high-stakes choices, Shatter Me is a fresh and original dystopian novel—with a paranormal twist—that will leave readers anxiously awaiting its sequel.

I absolutely loved this book. When I picked it up at BEA I had no idea what it was about, especially because the cover hadn't been finalized yet. But you don't ask questions when it comes to HarperTeen books. You grab and go. Over the next several months, many bloggers read their copies and the reviews started pouring in. Perfection. Pure brilliance. This shit blew my brain right out of my face. It was the same thing everywhere you looked. So finally, in the middle of September, I was like, I should really get on this, and started reading it. Then like two seconds later I finished it.

The writing is unlike anything I've ever read before. It's like one really long poem made up of a bunch of little tiny poems that are typically called sentences. She writes the way we think. Fast, with a sense of urgency. Sometimes she would have a run on sentence that would simply repeat a single phrase over and over again, and you would read it effortlessly because that's how fast your brain is moving when you're reading this book. It's sooo beautiful and perfect.

"His eyes scan the silhouette of my structure and the slow motion makes my heart race. I catch the rose petals as they fall from my cheeks, as they float around the frame of my body, as they cover me in something that feels like the absence of courage."

"His body presses closer and I realize I'm paying attention to nothing but the dandelions blowing wishes in my lungs."

The story itself is haunting. Can you imagine not even being able to hold hands with someone when we're programmed to crave human touch? It's like in season 8 episode 14 of Smallville when Lana finds out her skin suit actually absorbs Kryptonite and everyone bawls like a baby and you're like nooooooo. But anyways, that's another story. And if having to keep your hands to yourself isn't hard enough, try living in a world where every good and beautiful thing is slowly being obliterated. It's pretty hardcore. And incredible.

You will see on Goodreads though that I did rate it 4 out of 5 stars, and that's because of these two things: 1) I did not always find the conflict believable. Yes, in theory, getting kidnapped to be used as a weapon in a war that's going to end with either the preservation or destruction of mankind as we know it is pretty damn scary. However, I didn't feel scared. I was always aware of what was at stake, but I didn't really sense a threat, and I think a lot of that comes from the predictability of Warner's behavior with Juliette. 2) I felt the last part of the book took a weird turn. Throughout the story there is always a seriousness and intensity present, and I felt that was lost towards the end. I liked where she took it, I just think it was taken too fast and a little too lightheartedly.

But you know what? We all wanted Romeo to have gotten that letter in time. We all wanted Rose to scoot her ass over and make room for Jack on that stupid headboard. Just because something doesn't happen the way we want or the way we expected doesn't mean the story is any less amazing. And now that I've talked it out like that I think I'll go change my rating to 5 stars.

Read this book or you’ll be missing out.

A Radical Sabbatical

2011-09-18T19:16:00.008-05:00

Hello! First off, if you’re currently viewing this page through Internet Explorer, it’s going to look a little messy. For some reason, certain parts of the layout aren’t compatible with that browser. If you’d like to see this blog how it’s meant to be seen, and have an overall better browser, I recommend downloading Google Chrome.

Now then.

OH HOW I’VE MISSED YOU. I don’t even know how to explain where I’ve been these past several months. When school started at the beginning of this year, I knew I was going to be busy. It was a really important semester for me, and unfortunately that meant that the blog wasn’t going to get the attention it deserved. School had slowly begun taking over my entire existence and by the time summer finally came around, I was just too exhausted to do anything. I had lost a lot of my enthusiasm and became really selfish with my time. In being gone though, I realized just how much all this means to me. I love this little world we’ve created and I’ve missed being a part of it. You guys are all so awesome and you inspire me every day.

I’m back now though and I’m really excited about it! I thought, what better way to kick this thing off than with a new blog design? So here it is! If you follow me on anything, you’ll soon learn that one of my favorite things in the entire world is autumn and Jessica over at Hopelessly Devoted Bibliophile did a great job capturing that for me. Let me know what you think in the comments! Love it? Hate it? I won’t judge.

Talk to you soon xo

Review: Wither by Lauren DeStefano

2011-07-31T19:12:00.002-05:00

Review: Shut Out by Kody Keplinger

2011-06-11T09:48:00.017-05:00

Most high school sports teams have rivalries with other schools. At Hamilton High, it's a civil war: the football team versus the soccer team. And for her part, Lissa is sick of it. Her quarterback boyfriend, Randy, is always ditching her to go pick a fight with the soccer team or to prank their locker room. And on three separate occasions Randy's car has been egged while he and Lissa were inside, making out. She is done competing with a bunch of sweaty boys for her own boyfriend's attention.

Lissa decides to end the rivalry once and for all: She and the other players' girlfriends go on a hookup strike. The boys won't get any action from them until the football and soccer teams make peace. What they don't count on is a new sort of rivalry: an impossible girls-against-boys showdown that hinges on who will cave to their libidos first. And Lissa never sees her own sexual tension with the leader of the boys, Cash Sterling, coming.

When I heard this book was going to be at BEA, I freaked the freak out. You see, I'm mildly obsessed with Kody's previous/debut novel, The DUFF (review here), and think it's pretty much the bee's knees, or wings or whatever. Jeremy just taught me that saying. Not well apparently. Anyway, I just knew Shut Out was going to be completely amazing. Oh, how I wanted it to be completely amazing. Sadly, it just didn't quite do it for me. To give Kody the benefit of the doubt, she wrote an absolutely incredible first novel and I think we all kind of knew that any book she wrote after would be compared to it. Like if JK Rowling were to write a new series. However, I don't think it's totally fair to do that. It's okay to have expectations, but at the end of the day each book is its own entity and needs to be reviewed that way.

The book starts off introducing the reader to the rivalry, and showing us what kind of crap Lissa and the other girls have to deal with. And showing us. And showing us. I honestly felt like the first 100 pages of the novel were unnecessarily redundant. I understand the reader is supposed to get as fed up with the boys' antics as Lissa is, but it was told almost lifelessly. I felt as though there needed to be a subplot so that we could get a break from some of the other stuff that was going on.

Then we get to the part where the girls decide to lay down the law and go on a sex strike. At first it's almost overwhelming how many of the girls are having sex. It's ridiculous. But as it turns out, a lot of the girls aren't even having it. They just say they are because they're scared of being made fun of for being a virgin, which I thought was a lovely touch because this definitely happens in real life. Somewhere along the way, being a virgin became a bad thing and I think that's total shit. Excuse my language. So I did like that she touched on all aspects of girls' sexuality.

The best thing about the book by far was Cash Sterling. I loved him as a love interest. He was perfect, but not too perfect. He actually gave the reader something to look forward to.

All in all, it was a good book. The storyline could have used some excitement, but it was fun and so were the characters. I look forward to reading Kody's next novel, and all the ones after that. By the way, I met her at BEA and she is lovely!

In My Mailbox (25)

2011-05-15T14:02:00.003-05:00

**In My Mailbox is a weekly meme hosted by Kristi at The Story Siren

Purchased
The Liar Society by Lisa and Laura Roecker
What Happened to Goodbye by Sarah Dessen

In My Mailbox (24)

2011-05-08T15:11:00.005-05:00

In which I say "I'm sorry" and learn to use my first speech bubble.

**In My Mailbox is a weekly meme hosted by Kristi at The Story Siren

For review
Hard Bitten by Chloe Neill
Bite Club by Rachel Caine
The Near Witch by Victoria Schwab
Hourglass by Myra McEntire
Beauty Queens by Libba Bray
Sweetly by Jackson Pearce
Rise by Stefne Miller
Love Story by Jennifer Echols

Won
Sea by Heidi R. Kling (thanks to Jenni Hicks @ Jenni Does Read!)

Purchased
City of Fallen Angels by Cassandra Clare
Where She Went by Gayle Forman
Entwined by Heather Dixon
Red Glove by Holly Black
The Gathering by Kelley Armstrong
Perfect Chemistry by Simone Elkeles
We'll Always Have Summer by Jenny Han
Illusions by Aprilynne Pike
Divergent by Veronica Roth
So Much Closer by Susane Colasanti

In My Mailbox (23)

2011-04-03T13:18:00.005-05:00

**In My Mailbox is a weekly meme hosted by Kristi at The Story Siren

For review
Shift by Jeri Smith-Ready
We'll Always Have Summer by Jenny Han
Bumped by Megan McCafferty
The Near Witch by Victoria Schwab
Hereafter by Tara Hudson
Die For Me by *AMY* Plum
Starcrossed by Josephine Angelini
The Goddess Test by Aimee Carter
Illusions by Aprilynne Pike

Purchased
The Vespertine by Saundra Mitchell
Wither by Lauren DeStefano
The Dark and Hollow Places by Carrie Ryan
Clarity by Kim Harrington

What books did YOU get this week?

Review: Bad Taste in Boys by Carrie Harris

2011-03-19T10:50:00.015-05:00

Kate Grable is horrified to find out that the football coach has given the team steroids. Worse yet, the steroids are having an unexpected effect, turning hot gridiron hunks into mindless flesh-eating zombies. No one is safe--not her cute crush Aaron, not her dorky brother, Jonah . . . not even Kate.

She's got to find an antidote--before her entire high school ends up eating each other. So Kate, her best girlfriend, Rocky and Aaron stage a frantic battle to save their town . . . and stay hormonally human.

Look. At. That. Cover. I saw it and added the book on Goodreads before there was even a synopsis to go with it. It's just so gorgeous! So then a description was released and I thought Zombies. Okay, I can roll with this. I expected it to be this intense, emotional story about a kick-ass girl who saves the day, and possibly falls in love with a zombie, but it would be okay because Carrie would have written him in a way that made us not find him as disgusting as he really is. You get what I'm saying? Yeah, not even close.

The story started out really quickly, if that makes sense. We're pretty much immediately thrown into the action and excitment with hardly any background information whatsoever. I felt the reader needed way more time to get to know the characters and the world than was given. And because of that, it's difficult to become truly invested in the story. It's hard to explain, but Bad Taste in Boys reads like it's not meant to be engaging, like the author intended for there to be no depth...which I guess is better than straining to read a book that you can tell is meant to be really good, but missed the mark. However, I did still find the book relatively enjoyable. The narrator, Kate, is super witty and hilarious, and I found myself laughing out loud on several occasions.

Overall, it's a quick, fun read...I just found the plot to be a little too ridiculous to take seriously. However, not all books are meant to change lives. So yes, I was slightly disappointed, but that was only because I assumed the book was something it wasn't. I'm glad I read it, but I probably won't read it again.

Want to know what teens think about sex in YA? Try asking one.

2011-03-14T16:34:00.014-05:00

So apparently the hot topic of the month is "Sex in YA. Should it be there?" I normally stay away from controversial topics like this, but I felt that my opinion really needed to be out there. Not that I think my opinion is super amazing or anything, but I do feel that a lot of teens out there share it with me. I'm sure by now you've seen all the different blog posts that take a stance against this subject, such as this one by Andye at Reading Teen, or this one by Kody Keplinger, author of The DUFF. They are both fantastic, well-written posts, and they both support their opinions. However, if you want to know what teens think about sex in YA, try asking one. Granted, Kody and I are the same age, but since she's also an author we're going to say she doesn't count for the time being. Now then, I have a feeling that this is about to get really traumatizing, but they make ice cream for a reason.

I have never had sex. Now let me just say this...saving yourself for marriage is very difficult. Especially in today's society. That's why I understand where adults are coming from when they say "Oh, there shouldn't be sex in YA because it's going to pressure this kid who's trying so hard to stay pure into having sex!" However, I mostly just take offense to this. Do you think we aren't aware of sex? Do you? Because we are. Choosing to remain abstinent does not mean we've gone and blocked out anything and everything that might possibly be sexual so that we don't accidentally crack, it means that we've made the decision in spite of it all. I can see how people who have had sex might think we're these fragile little things who were so torn in making the decision to wait that seeing/hearing/reading one wrong thing is going to make us fall apart, but the truth is, it's not.

I also want to say this. Being abstinent (I really hate that word by the way) does not make you a religious freak. Yes, I'm religious...but you know what? I made this decision for myself, not for anyone else. Not God (though I know he approves), or my parents, but for me. Secondly, being abstinent does not make you a prude. Trust me, you can get pretty hot and heavy with your boyfriend/girlfriend without having sex. Now I'm not saying it's easy to stop before it gets there, I would just like to point out that you move on to sex because what you were doing before was clearly sexually attracting you to the other person. Also, being abstinent does not mean you don't think about sex. It does not mean the opportunity to have sex has not presented itself. It does not mean you are scared of sex in one of those weird, neurotic ways. Well, I guess that could be the case for some people, but I'm not even going to try and touch on that. What I'm saying is that we. are. aware. of. sex. Stop thinking that we live in this perfect little bubble.

Now then, you may be thinking Kelsey, you're just proving our point. No. You are under the impression that we have so much pressure coming at us from every direction that it doesn't need to be made worse by having sex in YA books. I'm telling you that all that pressure has made us pretty tough. I'm not trying to speak for every abstinent teenager here because I am not naive enough to believe that there aren't people in the gray area. That there aren't people who are really, really struggling with remaining pure. And I know those are the people you're trying to protect. I'm also not dense enough to think, "Oh well. If they're having this much difficulty, chances are they're going to end up having sex anyway." What I am saying is, just like you can't please every single person with a book, you're not going to offend every single virgin with a book. EVERYONE IS DIFFERENT.

As far as sex in YA goes, I have never had a problem with it. Some of my favorite books have sex in them--The DUFF by Kody Keplinger, The Sky is Everywhere by Jandy Nelson, Jennifer Echols' books, Simone Elkeles' books...and the list goes on and on. Not once have I read a book with sex and thought Wow. I really need to go out and have sex now. The idea that we are that pliable is absurd. If anything, it makes me happy. I love romance. Also, people keep saying that all these stories only focus on how amazing sex is and that none of the girls ever struggle or face consequences, and that's sending a bad message to girls. First of all, you're right...the message of "nothing bad ever happens after sex" is not a good one to send to girls. However, sometimes nothing bad ever does happen! Not every sexual relationship ends in some kind of disaster. Though I do think that as a parent, whether you want your child having sex or not, it's your responsibility to make sure your kid knows all of the risks involved with sex, and not anyone else's. Also, have you not ever thought about the fact that you're only reading a small percentage of the books that deal with the topic of sex? Because I've read several YA books where the main character has to deal with the physical and emotional backlash of choosing to have sex. One of I'm sure hundreds of examples is Tell Me A Secret by Holly Cupala, which deals with teen pregnancy. And then there are books like Divergent by Veronica Roth (I won't tell you whether sex actually happens because I don't want to spoil you) that address the issues that teens face when deciding whether to have sex or not--body image issues, self esteem issues, feelings of inadequacy, emotional instability, and so on. Don't you dare try and say these things don't belong in YA books because everyone, no matter when you choose to have sex, will have to face these things at one point or another.

I don't know how to end conversations like a boss, so I'll just finish with this: Adults, do not tell teenagers what they can and cannot handle, especially when there are more breeds of teenagers than there are fish. And um...yeah, I'm okay with sex in YA.

In My Mailbox (22)

2011-03-06T14:11:00.002-06:00

**In My Mailbox is a weekly meme hosted by Kristi at The Story Siren

For Review
Falling Under by Gwen Hayes
Divergent by Veronica Roth

Purchased
Rival by Sarah Bennett Wealer
Sean Griswold's Head by Lindsey Leavitt
Darkness Becomes Her by Kelly Keaton
Babe in Boyland by Jody Gehrman
The Perks of Being A Wallflower by Stephen Chbosky
Demonglass by Rachel Hawkins
Sing You Home by Jodi Picoult

In My Mailbox (21)

2011-02-20T14:58:00.002-06:00

I will not be recording any more IMMs from the couch. The sun is disorienting.

**In My Mailbox is a weekly meme hosted by Kristi at The Story Siren

For review
Hex Hall by Rachel Hawkins
Where She Went by Gayle Forman
River Marked by Patricia Briggs
Bite Club by Rachel Caine

Purchased
Angelfire by Courtney Allison Moulton
Desires of the Dead by Kimberly Derting
Cryer's Cross by Lisa McMann
Pink by Lili Wilkinson
Thirteen Reasons Why by Jay Asher

Giveaway winners!!

2011-02-19T10:12:00.013-06:00

I first want to thank all of you for participating in my One Year Blogoversary Giveaway! It was pretty fun and exciting if I do say so myself, and I look forward to doing it again next year. Just in case you've forgotten, the books up for grabs were Before I Fall by Lauren Oliver (signed), Firelight by Sophie Jordan (signed), Paranormalcy by Kiersten White (signed), Tell Me A Secret by Holly Cupala and Shade by Jeri Smith-Ready.

And the winner is.....

Kira B.

And the winner of the signed Sweet Venom bookmarks is.....

Brynne S.

Congratulations to you both! I'll be sending you an email shortly. And for the rest of you...thanks again! I'll be doing another huge giveaway when I hit 500 followers, so keep an eye out for that :)

Sweet Venom cover reveal!

2011-02-14T23:13:00.009-06:00

GUYS! I am so excited to share this cover with you. As a lot of you know, I adored Forgive My Fins by Tera Lynn Childs, and its sequel, Fins Are Forever. Sweet Venom is the first book in her Medusa Girls Trilogy and is set to release in October. This will no doubt be a lot darker and more intense than her Fins series and I absolutely cannot wait to read it. Take a look at the cover below and tell me you don't think you'll love it.

"Grace just moved to San Francisco and is excited to start over at a new school. The change is full of fresh possibilities, but it’s also a tiny bit scary. It gets scarier when a minotaur walks in the door. And even more shocking when a girl who looks just like her shows up to fight the monster.

Gretchen is tired of monsters pulling her out into the wee hours, especially on a school night, but what can she do? Sending the minotaur back to his bleak home is just another notch on her combat belt. She never expected to run into this girl who could be her double, though.

Greer has her life pretty well put together, thank you very much. But that all tilts sideways when two girls who look eerily like her appear on her doorstep and claim they're triplets, supernatural descendants of some hideous creature from Greek myth, destined to spend their lives hunting monsters.

These three teenage descendants of Medusa, the once-beautiful gorgon maligned by myth, must reunite and embrace their fates in this unique paranormal world where monsters lurk in plain sight."

Yeah, you're going to love it.

Make sure and add it on Goodreads HERE.

And check in HERE for the latest info.

Now then, I have some lovely signed bookmarks up for grabs. Want them? Better enter below!

Review: The Day Before by Lisa Schroeder

2011-02-12T12:22:00.016-06:00

SOMETIMES THERE'S NO TURNING BACK. . . .

Amber's life is spinning out of control. All she wants is to turn up the volume on her iPod until all of the demands of family and friends fade away. So she sneaks off to the beach to spend a day by herself.

Then Amber meets Cade. Their attraction is instant, and Amber can tell he's also looking for an escape. Together they decide to share a perfect day: no pasts, no fears, no regrets.

The more time that Amber spends with Cade, the more she's drawn to him. And the more she's troubled by his darkness. Because Cade's not just living in the now--he's living each moment like it's his last.

I LOVED THIS BOOK. I read it in just under 2 hours, and that was with me having to stop every time a customer walked into the store. Yes, I was reading at work. No, you will not tell anyone. For those of you who don't know, Lisa Schroeder writes in verse, and it's absolutely gorgeous. The first book I ever read of hers, and coincidentally the first book I ever read in verse, was Chasing Brooklyn...a novel about two people who, in losing themselves in grief over the same person, find each other. After that, I swore I'd read any YA book that Lisa Schroeder came out with. No questions asked. In a way, it's nice to be totally dedicated to an author; the release date is something you get to anticipate every year...like your birthday, or parking outside of a restaurant with your best friend on Valentine's Day and making fun of the couples that walk in all while lost in the bliss of Girl Scout Cookies. I've never done that, but it seems fun...

So. The Day Before. This time around we have a girl named Amber who decides she's going to sneak off to the beach for twenty-four hours. However, you don't quite know if she's going there to escape the world, or to escape, THE WORLD. Did I even execute that right? Anyway, there she meets Cade, a strange and beautiful boy who, it turns out, is trying to escape his own world. The reader has no idea what is hurting these characters so badly, but after being thrown into a whirlwind of adventure and romance and discovery and glitter (I'm not being cliche...there's actually glitter), figures it out. This book is so incredible. I'd like to say books in verse capture your emotions in a way that other books can't, but it's Lisa. Lisa's books capture your heart in a way that other books can't. I don't understand how words that seem so effortless can hold so much power.

The next best thing about her books are the characters. Even if you can't relate to a single thing a character has gone through, they are still totally relatable. How she does this blows my mind too. And the relationships she develops between said characters? Absolutely unreal. She has a gift. So my advice to you is this: if you are hesitant to read a book in verse, or even if you've read a book in verse before, but didn't like it, read this book.

And finally, I'd like to leave you with a few of my favorite quotes from the book...

"Guys always look at me
and see the cool girl who plays drums,
and they think,
friend.

Right now,
I want to know
what this guy thinks.
I want to know
what this guy feels.

I want to know

this guy."

and...

"When Kelly and I
built a sand castle together,
we'd dig a mote around it.

Then we'd sit back,
waiting for the tide
to come in.

Once, we imagined
we were princesses,
stuck in the towers,
waiting for princes
to rescue us.

But motes filled with
crocodiles
make rescues
difficult.

'My prince has a flying horse,' Kelly'd announced.

And just like that, she'd won. She was
free.

I couldn't think of a way to be rescued.
Not one.

So I, the pissed-off princess,
kicked the castle walls,
causing them to come
crashing down.

Even then
I hated impossible
situations."

P.S. I will not be able to listen to Matt Nathanson or eat jelly beans without smiling now.

Love Story by Jennifer Echols COVER!

2011-02-10T12:26:00.008-06:00

If you didn't already know, Jennifer Echols is one of my all-time favorite authors. There's Jodi Picoult, then JK Rowling...then Jennifer Echols. Yeah. Serious stuff. I've read several of her books, but my favorites are her romantic dramas, Going Too Far and Forget You. I actually have a review of Forget You HERE if you'd like to check it out. I've never known another author who is so in tune with how teens work, and how we go about building relationships. Jennifer's writing is absolutely amazing and I think each of you should check out at least one of her books! Anyway...the reason I'm here today is to share the gorgeous cover of her THIRD romantic drama, Love Story, that was revealed (that we stalked down) about 4 minutes ago! ENJOY!

It is absolutely my favorite cover so far. Also...it's everyone's lucky day because Jennifer gave us the official description! ♥

"WRITE WHAT YOU KNOW.

Erin Blackwell is headed to college in New York City to study creative writing and earn aliving as a romance novelist. Her grandmother has other plans: she approves of the college, but she wants Erin to major in business and then come back home to Kentucky to run the family’s famous racehorse farm. There is no way Erin will agree. Studying in New York and writing her way into a career is her escape from the farm and the family tragedy that happened there. So Erin’s grandmother decides Erin really will live life as a starving artist. She takes Erin’s future job running the farm, her inheritance, even her college tuition, and gives them all to Hunter Allen.

Hunter has lived on the farm for years. He’s Erin’s age, he’s the stable boy, and he’s the romantic dream of every girl in her high school. But he was involved in the family tragedy. Erin has always given him a wide berth. And he’s a slick opportunist. She’s furious that he fooled her grandmother into giving him Erin’s birthright and sending him to Erin’s college.

At least she’s free of him in her creative writing class. So she pens a story that has haunted her lately, in which the horse farm heiress at the very first Kentucky Derby starts a forbidden affair with the lowly stable boy. Unfortunately for her, the day she’s sharing this story with her New York classmates, Hunter walks in. He’s switching to her class. And after reading about himself in Erin’s story, he writes his own sexy assignments that lure Erin into dangerous fantasies about what could have been between them, and what might be."

Coming July 19th!

Richelle Mead's Bloodlines cover revealed!

2011-02-08T15:20:00.006-06:00

I totally spazzed out when Richelle announced that there would be a spin-off series set in the Vampire Academy world. I absolutely LOVED the Vampire Academy series and was dreading the day Last Sacrifice released because I knew it would all be over. Like when Mockingjay came out. Sad times. HOWEVER, we soon learned there was no reason to be sad because Bloodlines, the first book in the spin-off series (also titled Bloodlines), would be releasing less than a year later. And today, the cover for Bloodlines has been revealed!

I'm not going to lie...I'm not really a fan of this cover. I love that they are sticking with the same "character close-ups" theme as the Vampire Academy covers, but I find the font tacky. I also think they could have come up with a better background color. But no matter! I will still be at Barnes and Noble the second it opens on August 23rd ready to grab myself a copy and immerse myself back into the world I love so much.

What are your thoughts on the cover? How excited are you to be reading from Sydney's point of view?

---

UPDATE: The cover is growing on me. Also, who is that sexyhot guy on the cover with Sydney? It couldn't possibly be Adrian, could it?

In My Mailbox (20)

2011-02-06T14:13:00.007-06:00

**In My Mailbox is a weekly meme hosted by Kristi at The Story Siren

For review
Unseen by Rachel Caine

Purchased
A Great and Terrible Beauty by Libba Bray
The Splendor Falls by Rosemary Clement-Moore
This Is All: The Pillow Book of Cordelia Kenn by Aidan Chambers
The Lover's Dictionary by David Levithan
An Abundance of Katherines by John Green
Paper Towns by John Green
The Book Thief by Markus Zusak
The Iron Queen by Julie Kagawa
Tiger's Curse by Colleen Houck

What did YOU get??

ONE YEAR BLOGOVERSARY GIVEAWAY!

2011-02-03T22:23:00.012-06:00

Graphic made by Jeremy West. http://jswdesign.blogspot.com/

Today, February 2nd, 2011, (or February 3rd) marks a momentous occasion. In fact, I am certain that it is in some way responsible for the snow that we WILL be getting tonight. As of today (or yesterday), I have been blogging for ONE WHOLE YEAR! Guys, I can't even begin to tell you how amazing this year has been. I've gotten to do so many things, and meet so many people, and share my love of reading in so many ways. And because I only let things like American Idol auditions and Delirium make me emotional, we will move on.

I WANT TO GIVE THINGS AWAY.

Fill out the form below for a chance to win ALL this:

-a SIGNED copy of Before I Fall by Lauren Oliver

-a SIGNED copy of Firelight by Sophie Jordan

-a SIGNED copy of Paranormalcy by Kiersten White

-a copy of Tell Me a Secret by Holly Cupala

-a copy of Shade by Jeri Smith-Ready

Lauren DeStefano talks Wither!

2011-01-28T16:27:00.003-06:00

Waiting on Wednesday on Thursday

2011-01-27T11:07:00.009-06:00

HOURGLASS by Myra McEntire

Published by Egmont USA 5/24/11

"Since the age of fourteen, Emerson Cole has seen strange things – dead things – swooning Southern Belles, soldiers, and other eerie apparitions of the past. She’s tried everything to get rid of the visions: medication, counseling, asylums. Nothing’s worked.

So when Emerson's well-meaning brother calls in yet another consultant from a mysterious organization called the Hourglass, Emerson’s willing to give it one last try.

Michael Weaver is no ordinary consultant. He's barely older than she is; he listens like no one she's ever met before; and he doesn't make her feel the least bit crazy. As Emerson ventures deeper into the world of the Hourglass, she begins to learn the truth about her past, her future--and her very life.

A seductive time-slip novel that merges the very best of the paranormal and science fiction genres, Myra McEntire’s Hourglass is a stunning debut from an author to watch."

So I totally know it's Thursday, but I spazzed out yesterday trying to think of a book that I was waiting on. I know there are plenty, but I'd think of one, and then someone's WoW post would show up in my Twitter feed with the same book I was going to do (CARLA BLACK!)...and you see, I don't like to share.

However, a book I've been waiting on for a while, even more so after THIS excerpt was released, just got a cover this morning! Well, I'm sure its had a cover for a while, but we the people were only just granted viewing rights this morning. Then I spazzed out in a good way, and here, my friends, you have what I call Waiting on Wednesday on Thursday.

What do y'all think of the cover??

Review: The DUFF by Kody Keplinger

2011-01-24T23:00:00.001-06:00

Seventeen-year-old Bianca Piper is cynical and loyal, and she doesn’t think she’s the prettiest of her friends by a long shot. She’s also way too smart to fall for the charms of man-slut and slimy school hottie Wesley Rush. In fact, Bianca hates him. And when he nicknames her “the Duff,” she throws her Coke in his face.

But things aren’t so great at home right now, and Bianca is desperate for a distraction. She ends up kissing Wesley. Worse, she likes it. Eager for escape, Bianca throws herself into a closeted enemies-with-benefits relationship with him.

Until it all goes horribly awry. It turns out Wesley isn’t such a bad listener, and his life is pretty screwed up, too. Suddenly Bianca realizes with absolute horror that she’s falling for the guy she thought she hated more than anyone.

It's going to be really hard to put into words how much I adored this book, but I will do my best. The DUFF is one of those books that will make you feel 10x braver just by being in your purse. It is empowering. It is sexy. It is broken. It is everything you could ever ask for in a book. In fact, I believe my first tweet after finishing it was, "The DUFF is like a Def Leppard meets Taylor Swift song plus the meaning of life all wrapped into one." So this is serious business.

The story starts out with Bianca and her friends hanging at the Nest, the local hot spot for teens. Bianca's off to the side sipping on her cherry coke and watching her friends dance because she doesn't actually enjoy being there. Wesley Rush, school hottie and known player, joins her with only one goal in mind: he wants to get one of her friends in bed. He believes he will do this by chatting with the Duff of the group, which he considers to be Bianca. He thinks it will make him seem sensitive.

"You, darling, are the Duff. Designated. Ugly. Fat. Friend. No offense, it's not like you're an ogre or anything, but in comparison..." He shrugged his broad shoulders. "You have hot friends...really hot friends." He paused, watching the action on the dance floor for a moment, before facing me again. "The point is, scientists have proven that every group of friends has a weak link, a Duff."

This is the very second the story becomes relatable. Who doesn't feel like the Duff at one point or another? I know I do. Not necessarily because I feel like I'm uglier than my friends, but just in a general sense. I don't have big boobs. I'm not super skinny. My legs are too long. And my eyes? They pretty much squint into nonexistence when I smile. The point is, we all have things we're self conscious about, and it doesn't help that we live in a society that says you have to look perfect to get the guy you want. Because let's be real...we all know what guys like. And if you've got it, you flaunt it. If you don't, you want it. That's how our messed up world works. That's why The DUFF is so emotionally gripping--everything that happens to Bianca, in a way, happens to you. You feel what she feels.

The journey this book takes you on is so powerful; I've never read a book with more character growth. I can't tell you exactly how they grow without spoiling you, but it's a really beautiful moment when the reader realizes what's happening AND gets to watch it unfold.

Also, just a warning to those of you who aren't comfortable with it, or who are trying to decide whether to let your kid read it, there is a lot of language and sexually sexual sex (beat that!). However, I would consider it extreme blasphemy for anyone to say they missed out on the message of this story for any reason.

In My Mailbox (19)

2011-01-10T22:41:00.002-06:00

**In My Mailbox is a weekly meme hosted by Kristi at The Story Siren

For review
Fins Are Forever by Tera Lynn Childs
Fall for Anything by Courtney Summers

Purchased
My Soul to Steal by Rachel Vincent
Some Girls Are by Courtney Summers
Rich and Mad by William Nicholson
Awakened by P.C. Cast and Kristin Cast
Unearthly by Cynthia Hand

Won
Jane by April Linder
Beastly by Alex Flinn
Girl in the Arena by Lise Hanes
The Named by Marianne Curley

Hiatus: A letter to my followers

2011-01-05T21:56:00.000-06:00

First of all, I just finished reading Stolen: A letter to my captor about 7 minutes ago...that's why the title of this post is the way it is; colons now fascinate me. Anyway, the reason for this post is this:

I'm going on a temporary hiatus. It's actually more of a "hiat," really. Well, when you think about it, "hi, I'll be back in a few weeks," is more accurate. Here's the thing...this past semester of college did not work out so well for me. The beginning of it was right around the time I moved out of my parents' house and was trying to learn how to experience life on my own for the first time. It was also the same time I went from having my two best friends around all the time, to driving to Austin every other weekend to see them after they moved there for their own college endeavors. Or you could say it was around the time when my blog really started to take off, or when I met those West boys whose methods of distraction are nothing less than brilliant, or when I discovered a love for climbing trees (please disregard that last part...it's not true). My mom also tried to blame it on Rebel, saying he is nothing but a pain and that I shouldn't have gotten him. I personally think she's a crazy, old loon. Or a prophet of doom (that's a synonym for "pessimist" on thesaurus.com FYI).

Anyway, throw a little bit of each of those things into a candy dish, add in a little bit of my own laziness, and you have me going from having a solid GPR that I worked quite hard to get my first year, to being put on academic probation. Which is a problem, you see, because the GPR that gets you put on academic probation is the minimum GPR I can have and still keep my scholarship. FOR THE LOVE OF SUPERMAN! So after a very long talk with my parents, it's been decided that I have to learn how to better manage my time. Prioritize. Realize that, aside from my relationship with God, nothing is more important than school. They even went so far as to say getting good grades is my job...and then I said something along the lines of "so I stand on the sidewalk at night for nothing?" Turns out they don't find my comedic relief all that relieving.

So here is what I have decided: I love books, and this blog and you guys WAY too much to just let it all go...which is what my parents would like me to do. In fact, when they even suggested it, I said, "You're freaking crazy!" That earned me a wintergreen Lifesaver to the head. So I'm going to read my little heart out during the 21 days I have left of Christmas break. I'm going to read as many books as I can, write reviews for them, and then save them as drafts on Blogger. This should make it to where I can post about one review a week throughout the semester. This solution doesn't necessarily make me happy because for one, I won't be able to read any books until summer once the semester starts (except for the 4 or 5 I will desperately try and inhale with my brain during spring break), and two, because it leaves you with hardly any posts for the next 3 weeks. However, it was the best solution I could come up with. I hope you understand!

P.S. Feel free to leave me a joke or something in the chat box from time to time so I don't turn into a robot.

P.P.S. When you see me in New York for BEA, high-five me, for it will also be a celebration of my survival.

In My Mailbox (18)

2011-01-02T13:44:00.002-06:00

**In My Mailbox is a weekly meme hosted by Kristi at The Story Siren

Purchased

Stolen by Lucy Christopher

Will Grayson, Will Grayson by John Green and David Levithan

Fall for Anything by Courtney Summers

The Lost Saint by Bree Despain

Slice of Cherry by Dia Reeves

In My Mailbox (17)

2010-12-22T14:42:00.002-06:00

**My Mailbox is a weekly meme hosted by Kristi at The Story Siren

For Review
The Lost Gate by Orson Scott Card
Night School by Mari Mancusi

Purchased
Let It Snow by John Green, Maureen Johnson and Lauren Myracle
Incarceron by Catherine Fisher
Entice by Carrie Jones

Reveals for the win!

2010-12-14T11:39:00.007-06:00

From the very moment Cassie announced that there would be a fourth book in the Mortal Instruments series and made all our hearts explode, we wanted to see a cover. We needed something that would make City of Fallen Angels tangible, something to prove that we weren't all experiencing delusions from some kind of self-preservation-of-the-mind dream state. Even a sliver of the cover would probably have sufficed...we just needed the slightest something that would allow us to begin looking for/imagining clues about what might happen inside this dang book. Well, we didn't get it. Not by a long shot. However, the number of torturous months we've endured seems to have finally reached a respectable amount in the eyes of Simon and Schuster. In all its chill-inducing glory, here's the cover of City of Fallen Angels by Cassandra Clare!

**Note: Despite what it looks like, Clary is not demonically possessed--her eyes are just the brightest shade of green possible. (in case anyone else has been watching Supernatural non-stop and happened to think this...)

***

Also, check out the amazing book trailer for The Lost Saint--the sequel to The Dark Divine by Bree Despain!

In My Mailbox (16)

2010-12-12T13:35:00.004-06:00

**In My Mailbox is a weekly meme hosted by Kristi at The Story Siren

For review
Hexbound by Chloe Neill
Entangled by Cat Clarke

Purchased
Last Sacrifice by Richelle Mead

Entangled book trailer:

In My Mailbox (15)

2010-12-03T13:18:00.001-06:00

** In My Mailbox is a weekly meme hosted by Kristi at The Story Siren

For Review
Girl Saves Boy by Steph Bowe
Wither by Lauren DeStefano

Purchased
Matched by Ally Condie
Anna and the French Kiss by Stephanie Perkins

Review: Her and Me and You by Lauren Strasnick

2010-11-27T01:05:00.005-06:00

First love, broken friendships, and heartache all play a part in this evocative, voice-driven novel about Alex, a girl whose world is ripped apart when her father's affair splits her family in two.

Alex moves with her mess of a mother to a new town, where she is befriended by hot, enigmatic Fred--and alternately flirted with and cold-shouldered by Fred's twin sister, Adina. Others warn Alex to steer clear of the twins, whose sibling relationship is considered abnormal at best, but there's just something about Fred--and something about Adina--that draws Alex to them and makes her want to be a part of their crazy world... no matter the consequences.

This was such an odd little book! I hadn't read Lauren Strasnick's other novel, Nothing Like You, before I got this one, so I wasn't quite sure what to expect from her writing. It turns out, she is super different! The first thing I noticed about her is that where most authors normally include lots of description, Lauren writes almost entirely in dialogue. So while you may be wondering how intense things could possibly get in 224 pages, the whole novel consisting of almost nothing but conversations allows the reader to experience lots of conflict and emotions, just at a really fast pace.

Though the plot of the story is somewhat weird, I found it easy to relate to Alex. While she tries not to show it, her father's decisions really hurt her, and no matter what happens throughout the story, Alex is ultimately grappling with trying to find her place after her world's been turned upside down. This sometimes makes her a boring character, simply because she's so focused on her situation that she seems to forget how to really live, but BY NO MEANS does she make the story boring. In fact, you rarely even realize that she isn't growing much as a character because all the major character arches seem to happen to Fred and Adina.

Speaking of the twins, they. were. creepy. I'm pretty sure we were supposed to see them that way, but still! It was mainly Adina's behavior that was bizarre, but Fred's extreme need to defend her made their relationship with each other just plain unusual. And while I was disappointed that the reason behind their behavior was never fully explained, you are still ultimately left with a sense of resolution.

Overall, this book isn't as fulfilling as others I've read, but it's intriguing nonetheless. The unique style of writing is enjoyable, and I think I will keep up with Lauren Strasnick for that reason. I'd recommend it because it is a quick, interesting read...but I didn't fall in love with it.

In My Mailbox (14)

2010-11-26T21:28:00.008-06:00

**In My Mailbox is a weekly meme hosted by Kristi at The Story Siren

PURCHASED
Coffeehouse Angel by Suzanne Selfors
Ship Breaker by Paolo Bacigalupi
Night Star by Alyson Noel
Fixing Delilah by Sarah Ockler

FOR REVIEW
Lost Voices by Sarah Porter

Unearthly by Cynthia Hand

The Iron Queen by Julie Kagawa

Awaken by Katie Kacvinsky

Angelfire by Courtney Allison Moulton

The Vespertine by Saundra Mitchell

Chain Reaction by Simone Elkeles cover!

2010-11-23T03:29:00.010-06:00

I don't know when or where this was first released (I actually don't really know much of anything right now--I'm all dry-mouthed and disoriented), but OMGOSH here is the cover for Chain Reaction by Simone Elkeles in all it's splendid, hot, fantastic glory! 1, 2, 3, OBSESS!

2011 Debut Author Challenge!

2010-11-22T23:21:00.003-06:00

I am so freaking pumped for the 2011 Debut Author Challenge! I think the challenge is a brilliant idea, and I had a jolly good time participating in this year's. There are so many awesome (sounding) books coming out this next year, and the challenge is an amazing platform to spread the word about them and support their authors, as well as a great way to connect with other readers. SO, with that being said...below are a list of books. This list has been formed by taking the books from THIS LIST of 2011 debuts that I'm most excited to read, and well, listing them. Anyway, books in orange are books that I've already read and unfortunately can't count towards the challenge, but are nonetheless amazing, and should be added to YOUR list.

My goal is to read 25 debuts, though the final number could be lower or higher depending on a) how super awesome and speedy I am, or b) how much college hates me next year. Once I finish a book that counts toward the challenge, I will put it in italicise as well as a different color, a color that has not yet been determined because it's a pretty important decision. Well, I think that's it. You can go HERE for more info about the challenge, and to sign up. I could now think of something super snazzy to say, like "fighting dragons with you has got nothing on this" but I've recently learned that simple is good, so I'll just say good luck. GOOD LUCK! Was that redundant?

**Note, the book does not have to be read during the month that it was released in order for it to count, as long as it's read sometime in 2011, it's perfectly okay to skip around.

JANUARY
Warped by Maurissa Guibord
Unearthly by Cynthia Hand
XVI by Julia Karr
The False Princess by Eilis O'Neal
Across the Universe by Beth Revis
Vesper by Jeff Sampson
Entangled by Cat Clarke

FEBRUARY
Angelfire by Courtney Allison Moulton
Rival by Sarah Bennett-Wealer
A Touch Mortal by Leah Clifford
Leverage by Joshua C. Cohen
Haven by Kristi Cook
Darkness Becomes Her by Kelly Keaton
The Iron Witch by Karen Mahoney
Exposed by Kimberly Marcus
The Demon Trapper's Daughter by Jana Oliver

MARCH
Wither by Lauren DeStefano
Entwined by Heather Dixon
Clarity by Kim Harrington
Falling Under by Gwen Hayes
The Liar Society by Lisa and Laura Roecker

APRIL
Enclave by Ann Aguirre
Bumped by Meghan McCafferty
Future Imperfect by K. Ryer Breese

MAY
Starcrossed by Josephine Angelini
Awaken by Katie Kacvinsky
Hourglass by Myra McEntire
Die for Me by Amy Plum
Divergent by Veronica Roth

JUNE
Hereafter by Tara Hudson
Possession by Elana Johnson

JULY
Bad Taste in Boys by Carrie Harris
Wildefire by Karsten Knight
Lost Voices by Sarah Porter

AUGUST
The Near Witch by Victoria Schwab

SEPTEMBER
The Unbecoming of Mara Dyer by Michelle Hodkin

OCTOBER

NOVEMBER

DECEMBER

DATE UNANNOUNCED
A Beautiful Dark by Jocelyn Davies
Flawless by Lara Chapman
Never Eighteen by Megan Bostic
Hemlock by Kathleen Peacock
Dead Rules by Randy Russell
A Long Sleep by Anna Sheehan
Queen of Glass by Sarah J. Maas

"Hunger Games: Katniss and Rue" short film!

2010-11-17T10:49:00.004-06:00

Below is a short film shot and directed by a very talented fan! He knew several actors that he thought would be excellent in the film, and decided to shoot this as a sort of audition tape for Lionsgate. DO NOT WATCH if you have not read The Hunger Games. Also, be warned...you will cry. So AMAZING! Let's start a campaign to get Danielle Chuchran cast as Katniss!

*UPDATE* I've created a fan page on Facebook for Danielle Chuchran here: http://tiny.cc/m2i52

In My Mailbox (13)

2010-11-16T21:50:00.006-06:00

Sorry, no vlog this time! (if there is anyone out there who actually enjoys them haha) So this is what I got in my mailbox LAST week...I'm just posting late because I was out of town this past weekend. I didn't get much, but it doesn't take a lot to make me swoon.

For Review
A Touch Mortal by Leah Clifford
Across The Universe by Beth Revis

P.S. that is my paisley ottoman of epic proportions you see underneath the books. The lid is removable and it's where I hide all my seasonal candy. YEAUGH!

P.P.S see the top right corner of Across The Universe? I SWEAR I feed Rebel.

**In My Mailbox is a weekly meme hosted by Kristi at The Story Siren

Favorite Five Giveaway winners!

2010-11-08T10:44:00.021-06:00

April X. Adam S.

Mary H. Kelly A.

Judita P.

**Thanks so much to everyone who participated! I'm already looking forward to my 2011 Favorite Five Giveaway! Winners have been notified by email...hope you enjoy your books :)

In My Mailbox (12)

2010-11-07T19:42:00.002-06:00

**In My Mailbox is a weekly meme hosted by Kristi at The Story Siren

For review
The Lost Saint by Bree Despain
My Soul To Steal by Rachel Vincent
Delirium by Lauren Oliver

Purchased
The Mockingbirds by Daisy Whitney
Hold Still by Nina LaCour
Stork by Wendy Delsol
Mostly Good Girls by Leila Sales

EMERGENCY Major Swoon-Worthy Post!!!

2010-11-05T10:26:00.011-05:00

What are y'all THINKING throwing something like this on me before 10:00 AM?! My heart could have stopped, and then I could have missed my pyschology midterm! And, you know...the rest of my LIFE!

♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥

Sometimes there's no turning back.

Amber's life is spinning out of control. All she wants is to turn up the volume on her iPod until all of the demands of her family and friends fade away. So she sneaks off to the beach to spend a day by herself.

Then Amber meets Cade. Their attraction is instant, and Amber can tell that he's also looking for an escape. Together they decide to share a perfect day: no pasts, no fears, no regrets.

The more time that Amber spends with Cade, the more she's drawn to him. And the more she's troubled by his darkness. Because Cade's not just living in the now--he's living each moment like it's his last.

For your inspiration...

2010-11-03T00:23:00.006-05:00

LONG LIVE by Taylor Swift

I said remember this moment,

in the back of my mind
The time we stood with our shaking hands
The crowds and stands went wild
We were the Kings and the Queens
And they read off our names
The night you danced like you knew our lives
Would never be the same
You held your head like a hero
On a history book page
It was the end of a decade
But the start of an age

Long live the walls we crashed through
How the kingdom lights shined just for me and you
I was screaming long live all the magic we made
And bring on all the pretenders
One day we will be remembered

I said remember this feeling
I passed the pictures around
Of all the years that we stood there
On the side-lines wishing for right now
We are the Kings and the Queens
You trade your baseball cap for a crown
When they gave us our trophies
And we help them up for our town
And the cynics were outraged
Screaming this is absurd
Cause for a moment a band of theives
In ripped up jeans got to rule the world

Long live the walls we crashed through
How the kingdom lights shined just for me and you
I was screaming long live all the magic we made
And bring on all the pretenders
I'm not afraid
Long live all the mountains we moved
I had the time of my life fighting dragons with you
I was screaming long live the look on your face
And bring on all the pretenders
One day we will be remembered

Hold on to spinning around
Confetti falls to the ground
May these memories break our fall
Will you take a moment, promise me this
That you'll stand by my forever
But if god forbid fate should step in
And force us into a goodbye
If you have children some day
When they point to the pictures
Please tell them my name
Tell them how the crowds went wild
Tell them how our hope it shined

Long live the walls we crashed through
I had the time of my life with you
Long, long live the walls we crashed through
How the kingdom lights shined just for me and you
I was screaming long live all the magic we made
And bring on all the pretenders
I'm not afraid
Singing, long live all the mountains we moved
I had the time of my life fighting dragons with you
I was screaming long live the look on your face
And bring on all the pretenders
One day we will be remembered

Waiting On Wednesday, On Tuesday

2010-11-02T13:13:00.009-05:00

I have a very sacred tradition in life. At 7:51 AM every Tuesday and Thursday, when I am inevitably stopped at the world's longest red light on my way to British literature, I stalk Twitter via iPhone to learn about the happenings of my favorite peeps as they start their day. Normally, I do not find much. Today, I found the meaning of life. *is dramatic* Clearly, anytime one finds an egg (HELLO. Easter?!), good things happen.

WHEN A VIRUS makes everyone over the age of eighteen infertile, would-be parents must pay teen girls to conceive and give birth to their children, making teens the most prized members of society.

Sixteen-year-old identical twins Melody and Harmony were separated at birth and had never met until the day Harmony shows up on Melody’s doorstep. Until now, the twins have followed completely opposite paths. Melody has scored an enviable conception contract with a couple called the Jaydens. While they search for the perfect partner for Melody to bump with, she is fighting her attraction to her best friend, Zen, who is way too short for the job.

Harmony has spent her whole life in religious Goodside, preparing to be a wife and mother. She believes her calling is to convince Melody that pregging for profit is a sin. But Harmony has secrets of her own that she is running from.

When Melody is finally matched with the world-famous, genetically flawless Jondoe, both girls’ lives are changed forever. A case of mistaken identity takes them on a journey neither could have ever imagined, one that makes Melody and Harmony realize they have so much more than just DNA in common.

*****

I WILL BE AT BARNES AND NOBLE ON APRIL 26, 2011!!!

The Secret Circle by L.J. Smith coming to the CW?!

2010-10-31T20:21:00.009-05:00

Another L.J. Smith book series may be coming to the CW -
with Vampire Diaries veterans involved

The CW is developing a series based on another book series from Vampire Diaries author L.J. Smith – and TVD consulting producers Elizabeth Craft and Sarah Fain, who also are writing the upcoming “Plan B,” are involved.

The new project, Secret Circle, is about a California teen who moves to her mom’s hometown of New Salem and learns that she is a witch.

Vulture originally released the news about the development. The series, if it happens, will have a pilot script from Andrew Miller, who will also be executive producer.

---from vampiresite.net

I WOULD SERIOUSLY DIE! The Secret Circle is one of the best book series ever, and by far the best series by L.J. Smith. YES, that means better than The Vampire Diaries. Even if it doesn't make it to the CW, it should make it to your bookshelf.

L.J. Smith had this to say:
"As for the agony and the ecstasy and the agony of the Secret Circle option, all I know so far is what’s out on Google. And that means I don’t know anything at all. (Except that some sweet fans are rooting for it.) I’ll do my best to get more info, so that those who are rooting for it can let the CW know that they are. That might do a spot of good."

You heard her! Tweet @CW_Network and tell them how you feel! However, do not tell them you will shoot them if they don't make it happen. I thought about it for a while and decided that's a route no one should take.

Also, it would most likely be taking Smallville's time slot since, you know... *whimpers* it's in its final season. And the fact that I'm not shooting Secret Circle evil eyes should confirm its amazingness.

Favorite Five Giveaway book 5!

2010-10-31T16:20:00.009-05:00

Because it felt sinful trying to choose between these two books, the winner will be getting both!
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YA Spooktacular story 1: DARKNESS, part 2!

2010-10-22T00:49:00.014-05:00

I'm SUPER excited to be taking part in the YA Spooktacular hosted by onceuponareview.com & frenzyofnoise.blogspot.com. This will be 7 fun filled days with 2 great stories and TONS of prizes!!!

And here's how it works. There are 2 spooky YA stories being told in 13 parts. Each part is written by a different author (some currently published, some aspiring) and posted on a different blog. At the end of each story, you will have a chance to enter to win a prize pack (there is one for each story and a separate one that's open internationally). To be eligible to win that story's prize pack, you must comment on each part of the story. There will also be Trick or Treats along the way for more chances to win! For all the rules, the full rundown of all the goodness as well as a list of all the story stops, click HERE.

If this is your first time hearing about YA Spooktacular (whaaaaat?), you'll want to go back and read PART ONE first!

DARKNESS: Part 2

by Kimberly Derting

He wondered what he must look like to the others. Mostly, he went unnoticed, passing people on the streets without turning a single head, without drawing a single glance. Mostly, he was that tightening at the nape of their necks, the whisper of something sinister hidden in the darkness. A warning that danger was nearby.

He watched as a couple huddled closer to one another, neither noticing him as he slipped past them, even as they drew further into their coats, into themselves. They became suddenly more aware of their surroundings, more alert. Wary.

Jeremy grinned to himself. They were right to be afraid. To shiver and cross the street and hasten their step. They had every reason to be frightened of him. They were in danger every time he ventured out. They were the reason he ventured out.

On occasion, however, someone actually saw him. Every now and then, he crossed paths with someone who was more attuned than the rest, someone who wasn’t oblivious to the creatures who journeyed through the night. And when he did, he could see himself in their glassy, terror-stricken eyes. He would catch a glimpse of his own reflection, and he knew what he really was: A monster.

Only once had things been different. Only once had someone looked at him with something other than horror or revulsion.

The girl.

She saw something different than anyone else ever had. She thought he was beautiful.

------by Kimberly Derting

*****

For the next part of the story, go HERE!

AND...click the button below to check out the first part of a whole NEW story!

Favorite Five Giveaway book 4!

2010-10-22T00:10:00.000-05:00

Review: Invincible Summer by Hannah Moskowitz

2010-10-20T20:47:00.010-05:00

Across four sun-kissed drama-drenched summers at his family's beach house, Chase tries to come to grips with his family's slow dissolution while also finding himself in a chaotic love triangle, pitted against his own brother in pursuit of the girl next door. Invincible Summer is a gritty, sexy, page-turning read from a talented teenaged author that readers won't want to miss.

I would first like to say that I think the synopsis is somewhat misleading; it seems to magnify the romance aspect of the book, when in fact there are other, stronger, storylines that will demand just as much of your attention, if not more. However, maybe thinking you're delving into a light, summer romance is a good thing--not expecting the beauty and strength this story has to offer just makes it that much more rewarding.

I'd like to consider Hannah Moskowitz my own personal shining star. What does that mean, you ask?

You shine, obviously.
I'll buy any book you write without knowing what it's about.
I want to own part of you.
This was my first time reading one of her books, and I quite enjoyed it. It's not that the story itself is the most amazing thing I've ever read (though its message packs a serious punch), but her writing is unbelievably powerful; I think "raw" is the only way to describe it. Hannah doesn't brush over things, and I don't believe there is a subject that she's scared to address. She wants you to see just how truly broken things are, so that you can truly appreciate them when they're fixed, or at least sympathize with the attempt to fix them. Also, I always have to commend an author who can write in the opposite gender's perspective, and have it be believable. I don't know whether it's truly how teenage boys think, but Chase's voice is always there, always his own--never forced.

There were a few things about the book I found a little odd; the dynamic between some of the characters, as well as a few totally dysfunctional relationships, were just...different. However, different is not always bad, and quirks are not always problems. Besides, there's not one thing in this book that you can call bizarre, without countering it with beautiful. I think people are really going to enjoy Invincible Summer and the original voice that Hannah has masterfully crafted.

P.S. I love Gideon. That is all.

RETURN TO PARADISE by Simone Elkeles review

2010-10-18T00:00:00.006-05:00

Maggie and Caleb just went through the worst year of their lives. Hit by a car and starting over with a limp, Maggie never thought she would forgive Caleb. But she did--and fell in love. What they shared was real. But Caleb wanted to be free from the past--and a terrible secret: he wasn't the one who hit Maggie. So he left Paradise--and Maggie--forever. When Maggie and Caleb run into each other in a different twon, they can't deny their true feelings. Will Maggie let Caleb get away again? Or will Caleb face the truth and return to Paradise?

------

For those of you who don't already know, I want to have a love affair with Simone Elkeles' books--and several of her characters. And know this: I will buy any book Simone writes without even knowing what it's about.

Return to Paradise is a must read for anyone who's read Leaving Paradise. You'll adore the new characters and storyline, and the sexual tension between Caleb and Maggie is explode worthy. And while it wasn't perfect, it's an amazingly satisfying follow-up to Leaving Paradise.

My only issue with it was that, at times, I felt Caleb and Maggie did things that were out of character for them...and while it doesn't take away from your overall enjoyment of the book, you're left a little dazed and confused at points. Also, the cover is just plain awful. Simone's books are supposed to have the simple, sexy, signature black covers, and this is just...horrible; however, in no way does it affect your reading experience--so please don't let that stop you from picking up the book! Let's just hope it gets changed in the second printing.

Fans of Simone Elkeles will love Return to Paradise, and will no doubt be left wanting more. However, the end of the story definitely has a concluding feel should more never come...which is something I don't even want to think about!

Buy a book and win a prize: Huge Giveaway!

2010-10-17T23:40:00.007-05:00

Buy A Book, Win A Prize

Katie from Katie's Book Blog is hosting an unbelievable giveaway! If you order a copy of Salvaged by Stefne Miller, either from her website, B&N, or Amazon, you will win a prize from below. The contest will end on November 20 or when all the prizes have been claimed. A big thanks goes out to everyone who donated prizes and spread the word about this amazing book!

Rules: (US only)

1. Order Salvaged by Stefne Miller

2. Send your "receipt" to the following email address: katieb206(at)gmail(dot)com

3. Along with your proof, you must let Katie know what prize you want. (Make sure you check that the prize you want is still on the list. She'll be crossing them off as they are claimed.)

4. This giveaway will end on November 20 or when all the prizes are gone.

5. Not necessarily a rule but you should definitely check out the blogs that helped out with this giveaway and their reviews of Salvaged!

Don't wait too long to order your copy. Also, if you order the book from Stefne's website, it is only $14 + shipping and she will sign it for you! It's an amazing book and if you are going to buy a copy anyway, why not do it now and get a 2-for-1 deal, at least one of which is signed? =]

Salvaged summary:
"My body was being torn apart, and my stomach felt as if it exploded. The pain was excruciating, and I was aware that I was dying... 'Mom?' My vision was murky, but I could see her face. It was bloody, and her eyes were large and full of fear. Her voice calmed. 'Get out of the car, Attie.' Her words sounded crisp and clear. I looked into the backseat in search of Melody and found her lying covered in blood in a twisted heap on the floor. I turned my attention back to my mother and out of the corner of my eye saw fire. 'Get out, Attie!' 'Mom?' Everything went dark.' Attie Reed should have died in the wreck that stole the lives of her mother and best friend. But her life was spared. Why? When Attie moves to Oklahoma to stay with the Bennetts for the summer, she hopes she has left her nightmares behind. But her battle is far from over, and Riley Bennett steps forward to help her fight the nighttime monsters. As the battle wears on, Riley begins fighting monsters of his own: his feelings for Attie. And Attie realizes she must begin to face the monsters of the night herself if she wants to conquer them for good. Can Attie's life be Salvaged?"

Prize list and who donated it:

1. Tiger: finished copy of Heartless by Anne Elisabeth Stengl

2. Me: signed copies of Heavenly and Penitence by Jennifer Laurens (claimed)

3. Liz: signed copy of The Knife Of Never Letting Go by Patrick Ness (claimed)

4. Nancy: signed copy of Crescendo by Becca Fitzpatrick (claimed)

5. Nancy: finished copy of Starcrossed by Elizabeth C. Bunce (claimed)

6. Erica: signed ARC of Halo by Alexandra Adornetto (claimed)

7. Erica: ARC of Dark Song by Gail Giles

8. Erica: Paperback copy of Pretty Little Devils by Nancy Holder

9. Finished copy of Prom Nights From Hell by various authors and finished copy of Hearts At Stake by Alyxandra Harvey

10. ARC of Confessions Of The Sullivan Sisters by Natalie Standiford

11. Finished copy of A Field Guide For Heartbreakers by Kristen Tracy and finished copy of Maine Squeeze by Catherine Clark

12. Finished copy of Plain Kate by Erin Bow

13. Finished copy of Radiant Shadows by Melissa Marr

14. ARC of Revolution by Jennifer Donnelly

15. ARC of Low Red Moon by Ivy Devlin

16. ARC of Firelight by Sophie Jordan

Favorite Five Giveaway book 3!

2010-10-17T14:00:00.002-05:00

In My Mailbox (11)

2010-10-14T10:04:00.004-05:00

**In My Mailbox is a weekly meme hosted by Kristi at The Story Siren

For review
Invincible Summer by Hannah Moskowitz
Desires of the Dead by Kimberly Derting
Ghost Town by Rachel Caine
Wither by Lauren DeStefano

Purchased
Beautiful Darkness by Kami Garcia and Margaret Stohl
Crescendo by Becca Fitzptrick
Outlander by Diana Gabaldon
You by Charles Benoit
Revolution by Jennifer Donnelly
The Morganville Vampires Volume 1 by Rachel Caine
Elixir by Hilary Duff
Girl Stolen by April Henry
Torment by Lauren Kate

Operation Give SEA to Damon!

2010-10-10T18:16:00.032-05:00

I randomly see this tweet in my newsfeed on October 1st, 2010:

PageTurnersBlog: @HeidiRKling the TVD cast is doing a Hot Topic Tour - Ian's going to be in TX i know, not sure if he'll be other place too

So then...

kelseydickson: @PageTurnersBlog @HeidiRKling IAN IS GOING TO BE IN TEXAS?!!!
PageTurnersBlog: @kelseydickson yep http://bit.ly/bNYm2U

And so it begins...

kelseydickson: @JustlyJennifer WANT TO GO WITH ME ON OCTOBER 9TH TO THE HOT TOPIC IN FRISCO TO SEE IAN SOMERHALDER?!?
JustlyJennifer: YES! HE IS HOT!!!!

------

On the evening of October 8th, 2010, I began my drive from College Station to Austin (approx 2 hours) to meet Jennifer Dee. Original plan: Leave College Station around 6:30pm, meet Jennifer at her house around 8:30pm, go to Chuy's (it closes at 11:30pm), and then head back to her house and listen to Brandon Flowers/daydream about Ian until we leave for Dallas the next morning.

*What actually happened*

I left College Station at 6:30pm, got to Elgin (about 30 miles from Austin) and realized I forgot my wristband for the signing that me and Jennifer had driven to Dallas to buy the weekend before. I call Hot Topic and explain the situation... "Sorry, you have to have the wristband." "Even though my receipt says 'Vmpr Dia tour tee/wbnd cmbo___$25?" "Yes." At this point, the word F@#! is ringing through the car, and it apparently came from my mouth. I call Jennifer and tell her what's going on/make declarations of my stupidity. She asks, "Is there anyone that can meet you halfway with it?"

Text to my loser roommate big sister: What are you doing??!!!
Kayla: I'm at a wedding, why?

Call to Mom: "Where are you??"
Mom: "I'm at work, what is it?"
(situation is explained)
Mom: "Are you kidding me?!"
Me: "No."
Mom: "Well I'm sorry, I'm at work...I can't help you this time."
Me: "You make your own hours!"
Mom: "Sorry, Kelsey. Not this time."
*screams*

So it looks like I'm headed back to College Station. After about ten minutes of driving, I get a call from my mom...

Me: "Hello?"
Mom: "I'm feeling guilty, so I'm going to help you out. Where's the wristband?"
Me: "Thankyouthankyouthankyou! Go to my house, look in my bedroom...it's in a little shopping bag. I think it's either on my desk, or somewhere in my big dish chair with all my clothes."
Mom: "Okay, I'll call you when I'm on the road."
Me: "Thank you! Oh, and mom?"
Mom: "Yeah?"
Me: "You're going to freak when you see my room."

We meet in Cooks Point--she gives me the wristband, I promise to clean my room. At this point (haha PUNS), I'm 1.5 hours from Austin. The time is 8:45 pm.

I've just crossed the Elgin city line for the second time when red and blue swirly lights fill every space in my car. I pull over, and do the forehead/steering wheel version of a facepalm. He takes my license and proof of insurance, and walks back to his car. When he comes back, he asks: "Do you have any guns, knives or bombs in the vehicle?" I laugh and say, "No. Do people who have them actually admit to having them?" (STUPID KELSEY) Luckily he ignores me, but then out of nowhere I start crying and mumbling things about tres leches cake and vampires, and he lets me off with a warning.

At this point, me and Jennifer have decided to just meet at Chuy's instead of her house. She gives me the address, I plug it into my GPS, and I'm back on the road to Austin. (9:50pm)

At 10:45pm, my GPS tells me I have arrived at my destination. I look around. I'm sitting at a stop sign, and there are houses on either side of me. Crickets chirp.

Me: "So I'm lost. My GPS says I'm here, but I'm totally not."
Jennifer: "Okay, well just drive until you see a main road." So I do.
Me: "It's a dead end both ways. Wait, here's a road. Spice Ridge? Should I take that?"
Jennifer: No response
Me: "Hello?"
Jennifer: No response
My phone has died. I have no choice but to drive until I find civilization.

At 11:15pm, I spot a golden spinning statue man holding a globe (Jennifer later tells me it is called Atlas) poking out from behind some trees. I make out the the word "Chuy's" and nearly cry. I made it with just enough time to lose my Chuy's virginity. It was beautiful.

NOTHING CAN KEEP ME FROM IAN!

♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥

Favorite Five Giveaway book 2!

2010-10-08T10:30:00.002-05:00

Susane Colasanti EPICNESS!!!

2010-10-06T10:58:00.002-05:00

This is officially my favorite Susane Colasanti cover EVER.

So Much Closer is Susane's fifth novel, and is set to release in May of 2011. I'm not sure what will happen when they release the synopsis. Blogger may not be able to handle it.

Review: Nightshade by Andrea Cremer

2010-10-06T09:40:00.001-05:00

Calla Tor has always known her destiny: After graduating from the Mountain School, she'll be the mate of sexy alpha wolf Ren Laroche and fight with him, side by side, ruling their pack and guarding sacred sites for the Keepers. But when she violates her master's laws by saving a beautiful human boy out for a hike, Calla begins to question her fate, her existence, and the very essence of the world she has known. By following her heart, she might lose everything--including her own life. Is forbidden love worth the ultimate sacrifice?

First thing we are going to focus on? The cover. How gorgeous is that? Not only is it stunning, but everything about it fits the story--the lilies, the cross in the title, even the purple hair. Okay, so maybe I don't get the hair...it's blond in the book...but who really cares? It's freaking purple! Clearly that translates to, "I kick ass."

Second thing we are going to focus on? The love triangle. Omigosh! Andrea Cremer knows how to do sexy. This isn't your typical love triangle where you have your teams (Gale and Peeta, Ash and Puck)...it's impossible to choose a guy. At the beginning of the book, you're immediately drawn to Ren, the alpha male of the Banes, and Calla's future mate. Yes, he's kind of a player, he's also kind of possessive, but he is HOT...and very protective of Calla. Enter Shay...the human boy Calla saves at the beginning of the book. If I'm being honest here, I didn't even see Shay as a contender until the last 100 pages or so. I knew he tied in to the Pack's history in a major way, but until you figure out how, he just seems to be getting in the way of Calla and Ren. So you start to think you have your mind made up, but then Ren's biting necks, and Shay's taking off Corsets, and just FORGET IT--you're so done for. You are totally at the book's mercy.

And the storyline itself is just brilliant. The story revolves around Ren and Calla's union--a union that will result in the creation of a new pack dedicated to protecting the sacred grounds of Haldis. What makes this story so different though, is that this union was planned for them long before they were even born. In fact, the only reason they were born in the first place was to create the new pack. Nightshade is almost dystopian in a sense because you have the Keepers, who the Guardians don't even realize they're being slaves to, deciding everything...including who mates with whom. Overall, I thought it was a beautiful coming of age story. You have this girl who's been taught her entire life that she doesn't get to control who she loves, finally deciding to choose her own destiny. This book is simply amazing. It's unlike anything I've ever read before. Now then, I'll just have to take up rock climbing, or something equally consuming, in order to distract myself from how long I must wait for the sequel.

Review: Crescendo by Becca Fitzpatrick

2010-10-05T13:14:00.001-05:00

Nora Grey should have known her life was far from perfect. Even though her boyfriend, Patch, also happens to be her literal guardian angel (who, despite the title, is far from angelic), things are not looking up. First there is summer school and facing the nightmare of her enemy Marcie Millar as her lab partner. Then Patch starts to pull away with no explanation. And finally, she is having nightmares and visions about her father's murder.

As Nora chooses to ignore her better instincts and delves deeper into the mystery of her father's death, she also begins to question whether her Nephilim bloodline had something to do with it, which casts more doubt on her relationship (or lack thereof) with Patch. Does he know more than he lets on? Why does he always seem to be standing in front of the answers she is looking for? And if he really is her guardian angel, why is her life always in danger?

I want to start off by saying, I don't think I've ever been more excited in my entire life than when I got this in the mail. Now, that either means I have a pathetic life, or Becca Fitzpatrick is amazing. And just so you know, my life is awesome. Seriously, I got home from vacation, and there it was: a package from Simon & Schuster. I was pretty sure I knew what it was, but I needed to dramatically rip it open anyway. I may or may not have screamed, and my cat may or may not have hidden from me for ten minutes.

With that being said, Becca Fitzpatrick has done it again. For those of you who worry that Crescendo won't be able to get out of Hush, Hush's shadow...just don't. From the second you start reading, you won't be able to stop. I think your subconscious knows from the moment you see the first letter of the book just sitting there in that awesome font that you're about to be immersed back into the mysterious and dangerous world of the fiery headed heroine and the sexiest, bad boy with wings you'll ever swoon over. Becca wasted absolutely no time getting your heart racing--from the hottest first chapter that I think has ever been written, to a twist of events so unbelivable you just might audibly squeal, you're swept up in a whirlwind of emotions that would make even The Archangel seem tame.

There's a whole new set of problems in Crescendo. Problems that raise questions like these: What happens when the archangels find out about a guardian angel being in a relationship with a human? What if said relationship seems to cause more pain than pleasure? What's more important: Protecting your heart, or finally finding out the truth about your father's murder? But mostly, who do you trust when no one will tell you the truth? So basically, she took all of our unanswered questions from Hush, Hush, gave us new questions to ponder in Crescendo that we never even THOUGHT to ask, and created a totally exciting, "you'll think WHOA" storyline complete with all of our favorite characters, and a few new ones that were very interesting. Speaking of characters, I would just like to say Becca did a FANTASTIC job of building them in this book. Vee gets funnier, Nora gets stronger, Patch gets vulnerable, and Marcie.......did I mention how awesome Vee was in Crescendo?! Haha you'll have to read for yourself to figure out Marcie.

With a breathtaking cover, and a story to match, Crescendo will live up to all your expectations and more. You will laugh, you will cry--you will not sleep! Now, I remember Becca saying in a past interview that she wasn't contracted for a third book. I don't know if that's changed, but well...IT BETTER HAVE.

Favorite Five Giveaway book 1!

2010-09-30T23:35:00.009-05:00

Review: Matched by Ally Condie

2010-09-30T12:10:00.002-05:00

In the Society, Officials decide. Who you love. Where you work. When you die.

Cassia has always trusted their choices. It's barely any price to pay for a long life, the perfect job, the ideal mate. So when her best friend appears on the Matching screen, Cassia knows with complete certainty that he is the one...until she sees another face flash for an instant before the screen fades to black. Now Cassia is faced with impossible choices: between Xander and Ky, between the only life she's known and the path no one else has ever dared follow--between perfection and passion.

This book has been a force to be reckoned with in the blogosphere as of late. I'm not sure there's anyone who hasn't heard about it, and as its November release date draws nearer, you can almost physically feel the anticipation building. Yes, I do believe I can sense the shift in the atmosphere. Do you enjoy my dramatics? Seriously though, the buzz around this book is overwhelming, and I know there are going to be many people who read Matched for that reason alone. However, I'm here to confirm the talk of the Twitter.

We're going to skip the part where I tell you that I'm borderline obsessed with the cover. Actually...no we're not. I mean, look at it! Not only does it completely capture the essence of the book, it's absolutely breathtaking. Though I must say that lime green is my favorite color, so you may not be able to fully understand why I've named it the new inanimate object of my affection...which is totally fine (more or less).

The first thing I realized when I started reading Matched was that I was dealing with something BIG. Whether it's this series that does it for her (which I have no doubt it will be), Ally Condie is going to make her mark on the literary world. She not only gives us a completely unique story, but delivers it flawlessly. This book is very peculiar in that it's disturbing enough to establish itself as a dystopian novel, but also gentle enough to make you want to live in it; that can't possibly be an easy balance to achieve (though her lyrical writing and attention to detail certainly helps).

Ally does a great job of building her characters and making us connect with them. However, she may have done this a little too well, as the love triangle will do a serious number on your heart. It's not that it's impossible to pick a side--you'll know EXACTLY who she has to end up with in order to keep the planets from falling out of the sky-- it's that your heart will absolutely break for the boy that doesn't make it into the line segment. It was very odd, and rewarding, to be able to experience both extremes. Cassia was also a refreshing mind to be in; her refined boldness and strength will definitely captivate readers. I will not say anything about the ending, or how it made me feel, but instead, will allow you all to temporarily freak out. I can't tell you how long you will be freaking out...it all depends on how feverishly you can google.

Elegant, intense and totally undebut-ish, Matched will have lots of fans. The best thing you can do for yourself is become one of them.

P.S. the movie rights for Matched have already sold...so like, duh.

In My Mailbox (10)

2010-09-26T13:39:00.002-05:00

**In My Mailbox is a weekly meme hosted by Kristi at The Story Siren

For review
Anna and the French Kiss by Stephanie Perkins
Dash and Lily's Book of Dares by Rachel Cohn and David Levithan

Purchased
The Replacement by Brenna Yovanoff

Now what did you get??

Favorite Five Giveaway!

2010-09-24T10:41:00.021-05:00

You've heard me talk about it (seen me tweet about it),
and now it's finally here (in one week)!

Five books. Five weeks. Five winners.

October 1st-entry form for book 1 (Sea by Heidi R. Kling) goes up!
October 8th-entry form for Sea closes/entry form for book 2 (Impossible by Nancy Werlin) goes up!
October 15th-entry form for Impossible closes/entry form for book 3 (The Sky is Everywhere by Jandy Nelson) goes up!
October 22nd-entry form for The Sky is Everywhere closes/entry form for book 4 (Brightly Woven by Alexandra Bracken) goes up!
October 29th-entry form for Brightly Woven closes/entry form for book 5 (Going Too Far AND Forget You by Jennifer Echols) goes up!
November 5th-entry form for Going Too Far and Forget You closes at 5:00pm CT

------

From now until October 1st, tweet about the contest! Blog about it! Post the button in your sidebar! Then when the entry forms open up, you can leave your links for extra entries! All winners will be announced Tuesday, November 5th. This contest is INTERNATIONAL...and while you don't have to be a follower to enter, I will throw imaginary, though very realistic, confetti if you are. Did I also mention I have swag to go with each one of those books? Have fun and good luck!

FINS ARE FOREVER cover splash!

2010-09-23T23:29:00.008-05:00

BEHOLD, the cover of Fins Are Forever--the sequel to Forgive My Fins/one of my favorite books of 2010! As much as I WANT to post the synopsis for this, I don't want to spoil anything for those who haven't read Forgive My Fins yet. If you have read it, and want the synopsis, you can read it on Tera's site HERE!

Praise for Forgive My Fins -------

"Tera Lynn Childs has created an enchanting world of romance, magic and endearing characters that you can't help but root for. Forgive My Fins had me hooked from page one, and I can't wait to immerse myself in its sequel! I simply adored this book!"
~Alyson Noel, #1 New York Times bestselling author of the Immortals series

"Full of fishy expressions, mermaid lore, and breathless underwater kisses, this lighter-than-air read will charm teens and tween girl who prefer their supernatural romances to be more Meg Cabot than Stephenie Myer."

~ALA Booklist

"Bubbly, inventive and well worth a plunge."
~Kirkus

Isn't it pretty?! Also, for those of you who want to obsessively count down the days until its June 28, 2011 release date...we have a WIDGET for you! Make sure and grab it from my sidebar!

Interview with debut author Elizabeth Kolodziej!

2010-09-22T13:16:00.012-05:00

I'm pleased to introduce you to Elizabeth Kolodziej, and her debut novel Vampyre Kisses!
______

"Vampyre Kisses is an enthralling story about a young woman named Faith, who was content with her life, but deep down craved more excitement. Then a mysterious man named Trent enters her life and everything changes. Surprising to Faith, Trent is a green-eyed vampire from Ireland. She is even more surprised to find out that she is a witch, and the last of her kind. Faith finds out that she is destined to restore her witch line, and becomes more powerful as she gains confidence and knowledge, but danger lurks everywhere. Especially when unknown assailants steal the most important gems from the vampire master and werewolf royalty. Now surrounded by a world full of mystifying vampires and werewolves, can Faith gain enough power to help her friends and rescue the stolen gems?"

Interview

I have to say it...that is one heck of a last name! Do you think you could sound it out for us?
LOL! What a unique question. My last name is actually Polish, and it means "wheel maker." It is pronounced KO-LA-G. People ask me why I didn't go with a pen name sometimes and I tell them this..."Because I want people to learn how to prounounce my last name and spell it correctly." Haha

Five adjectives that best describe Vampyre Kisses...go!
Romantic, adventurous, compelling, exciting, unique...HA! I didn't know if I would get that or not.

This book is based off of a LOT of research. Were you already researching mythology and folklore when the inspiration for Vampyre Kisses hit, or did you have the story in your head before you began researching?
I have been reading about different types of mythology since I have been little. Actually, my name would have Lo, one of Zeus's "chicks," but my mother decided against it. I am kind of happy about that, and kind of not.

But I digress; it has always been a love of mine. Folklore came a little later in my teens though. So I guess when it comes to which came first, that would be my love for mythology and folklore THEN the idea for the book, which made it all that much easier.

But still much research was put into the book. There were new questions I didn't have the answer to and new ideas I wanted to try out. Research for me is an ongoing process, and learning is something you should never stop doing.

Vampyre Kisses is your first novel AND you self-published it. How was that whole process? Do you have any advice for up-and-coming writers?
Self-publishing can be a very difficult task. You have to keep organized and know what you want to do because you have a lot of suggestions and questions thrown your way. It also takes your own money and a lot of time, while you juggle your "paying" job and your life.

My advice for up-and-coming writers is to start promoting now. Tell everyone about your book. Make sure you're open-minded to advice, and look at every option you might be able to take. What is good for one author isn't always going to work, or be good, for another

Can you give us one, tantalizing hint about what you're working on now? Next book in the Vampyre Kisses series? New project?
There is going to be a sequel to Vampyre Kisses. I am playing with the title right now, but I plan to have it done by the end of this year. What I plan to do is introduce more about werewolves and their history while testing the bonds of Faith and Trent. It is coming along very nicely as of yet.

I am also working on something totally different from the VK series. But I don't have anything down on paper yet. It is just a thought as of right now. But a good idea!

**You can find out more about Elizabeth on her site, http://www.vampyrekisses.com OR find her on Facebook and Twitter!

Check out the trailer for Vampyre Kisses below!

Also, make sure to stop by Elizabeth's site to enter her giveaway for a chance to win a personalized, signed copy of Vampyre Kisses, a Vampyre Kisses T-Shirt, AND a Vampyre Kisses sticker! Go HERE to enter.

Want to purchase your own copy of Vampyre Kisses? Publisher's website, Barnes and Noble, Amazon

Teaser Tuesday!

2010-09-21T23:20:00.012-05:00

September 21, 2010

"St. Clair flops down beside me, breathing heavily. He's lying so close that his hair tickles the side of my face. Our arms are almost touching. Almost. I try to exhale, but I no longer know how to breathe. And then I remember I'm not wearing a bra."

-Anna and the French Kiss by Stephanie Perkins, page 69

Ooooh la la!

Contest Craze 2010

2010-09-21T22:19:00.003-05:00

How does a contest a day for 2 weeks--ending with an ARC giveaway of epic proportions--sound to you? Certainly not bad, eh? It's time once again for the Princess Bookie Contest Craze! Cindy has put together some awesome prize packs and is ready to make YOU the proud new owner of some shinies (ARCs).

All you have to do is swing by HERE everyday starting September 27th. There will be a new contest or mini challenge each day...and it all leads up to the major blowout contest day on October 9th!

It's going to be AWESOME. Hope to see you there!

**Also, because of the large number of prizes being given away, Cindy's going to need some help in order to ship them all. At the top left corner of THIS page, you'll see a DONATE link. Helping out in any way possible will make lots of people happy! We only need about twenty more dollars!

In My Mailbox (9)

2010-09-19T23:07:00.002-05:00

**In My Mailbox is a weekly meme hosted by Kristi at The Story Siren

For review:
Shade by Jeri Smith-Ready
Her and Me and You by Lauren Strasnick

Purchased:
Extraordinary by Nancy Werlin
Low Red Moon by Ivy Devlin
Person Demons by Lisa Desrochers
Speak by Laurie Halse Anderson
Zombies vs Unicorns by Everyone and Their Mother

Smart Chicks Kick It Tour--The Woodlands, TX!

2010-09-16T12:36:00.019-05:00

I was lucky enough to make it to the Woodlands, TX for the second stop of the Smart Chicks Kick It Tour on Tuesday night! It was the most amazing experience! I've always just gone to single author signings--never one this large. For those of you who don't know, the authors at my stop were Cassandra Clare, Rachel Vincent, Holly Black, Melissa Marr, Alyson Noel, Kelley Armstrong, Kami Garcia, and Margaret Stohl. Now, you may be wondering how I was able to pick and choose which books to bring. The answer is: I didn't. I loaded my Runaway bag up with 22 beautiful books, and looked like a young, magical Aggie Cromwell toting my bottomless duffel around.

The authors were even more amazing in person--they had so much energy, and were unbelievably friendly, and they signed EVERYTHING! All my books, my t-shirt...they probably would have signed my arm had I asked. They also hooked me up with swag--key chains, dog tags, bracelets, signed posters, signed bookmarks, a copy of Cassie's short story from Zombies vs Unicorns, the first two chapters of Red Glove by Holly Black, a Soul Screamers tee, and more! While I am hoarding a lot it, I've set aside some marvelous goodies for giveaways.

I had such a great time meeting everyone...that includes other bloggers! It was so nice to finally be able to match names with faces. I love everyone even more! Now onto pictures! Me with...

Cassandra Clare!

Rachel Vincent!

Holly Black!

Melissa Marr!

Alyson Noel!

Kelley Armstrong!

Kami Garcia and Margaret Stohl!

Jeremy and Jeffrey West!

Jennifer Dee!

In My Mailbox (8)

2010-09-06T01:17:00.002-05:00

**In My Mailbox is a weekly memo hosted by Kristi at The Story Siren

For review:
The DUFF by Kody Keplinger
Immortal Beloved by Cate Tiernan
Fixing Delilah by Sarah Ockler

Purchased:
Return to Paradise by Simone Elkeles
Radiance by Alyson Noel
Firelight by Sophie Jordan
Crusade by Nancy Holder and Debbie Viguie
Paranormalcy by Kiersten White
Clockwork Angel by Cassandra Clare

In My Mailbox (6 & 7)

2010-08-28T00:24:00.003-05:00

I was a loser and accidentally forgot to post my IMM last week. So BEHOLD: last week's AND this week's books!

**In My Mailbox is a weekly meme hosted by Kristi at The Story Siren

FOR REVIEW:
Matched by Ally Condie

PURCHASED:
The Thirteenth Chime by Emma Michaels
The DUFF by Kody Keplinger
The Tension of Opposites by Kristina McBride
Everlasting by Angie Frazier
Mockingjay by Suzanne Collins
Halo by Alexandra Adornetto
Nevermore by Kelly Creagh
A Little Wanting Song by Cath Crowley
Jellicoe Road by Melina Marchetta
Delcroix Academy: The Candidates by Inara Scott
Crank by Ellen Hopkins

Reading or Breathing? This week I chose reading. So what did YOU get?

P.S. I am not above begging/trading/fainting.

Signed Linger Giveaway winner!

2010-08-27T23:51:00.003-05:00

And the winner is...

Jeremy from Novel Thoughts

Skip a Starbucks Day!

2010-08-23T17:27:00.013-05:00

The story behind SKIP A STARBUCKS DAY!

(taken from her site)

"What do a skipped cup of coffee, a little Chinese orphan girl, and you have in common? I'll get to that in a minute, but first, I want to tell you our story.

We had three biological boys in four years, and then I was diagnosed with cervical cancer. I had a hysterectomy and while I mourned the fact that I couldn't have any more biological children, I was certain our family wasn't finished. My husband wasn't so sure. :) I'd talked about adopting and I always saw us with a little girl from China. He came up with a ton of reasons why now wasn't the right time to adopt. Then, on Mother's Day of 2005, he leaned over to me in church and said, "We have a daughter in China. We need to start the adoption proceedings to bring her home." I adjusted to this unexpected news (we hadn't discussed adoption for months) in about 15 seconds. :)

The next day, we began researching adoption and we picked out her name: Johanna Faith. Johanna means God's Gracious Gift and Faith is what it is taking to bring her home. We signed up with Chinese Children Adoption International agency based out of Colorado. We completed our stateside paperwork and homestudy within a few months, sent off our dossier to China with the understanding that it would be a 6-8 month wait, and eagerly planned to bring our daughter home.

Soon, though, we began to hear rumors that the wait time was extending. Then we heard that the government had cracked down on orphanages who were receiving money from the state but who weren't keeping all of their beds full and the wait slowed to a crawl. Our dreams of having her home for Christmas were dashed. And then our dreams for having her home in time for summer were dashed as well. Before we knew it, another Christmas had passed and we were still waiting. Meanwhile, the Olympics were coming to Beijing, and the word was most adoption processes would stop altogether.

As the wait stretched from 8 months to three years, I struggled with depression. I could hardly bear Christmas, because she wasn't yet there. I shut the door of her bedroom and left it closed because I couldn't bear to walk past it in the hall. It hurt to think about having a child out there whom I couldn't protect. Couldn't love. Couldn't save. Three years became four with no real change. Our homestudy expired. Our immigration petition expired. Three times. Our fingerprints expired. Four times. And China raised the orphanage and court fees by thousands while we waited. Suddenly, the cushion of money we'd raised at the start of this process was almost gone, and China was picking up speed in their child match program.

In September, it will be five years since we officially started our adoption process to bring Johanna home. We expect to receive her picture, information, and permission to travel sometime by the middle of September.

I opened her bedroom door for the first time in 3 1/2 years.

And went a little crazy ordering cute little hand-made hats and headbands on Etsy because I still don't know her size so can't buy her any clothes.

We're so excited to be able to travel soon to bring her home! But we still need to raise $8,000 to ransom her life from the orphanage. And that's where you come in!

The thought behind Skip A Starbucks Day is that if every person who reads this and feels a tug on their heart to be part of Johanna's journey home would give up a personal indulgence (like a cup of coffee) and donate that money toward our adoption instead, we could raise the money needed to bring her home to her forever family.

We know most of you would gladly donate without receiving anything in return, but I thought it would be fun to line up some awesome prizes and do a huge giveaway at the end of the fundraiser. Other bloggers thought it would be fun too.

So here's the deal: donate any amount you choose (we suggest a $5 minimum to mitigate the small percentage Paypal takes from the transaction) and you're automatically entered in the grand prize giveaway on this blog! You can look at the prize groupings below and fill out the entry form to choose which group you'd like to be entered to win. Several winners will each win one item from each group.

You can gain extra entries by publicizing this fundraiser on Twitter, Facebook, MySpace, and your blog! And don't forget to grab an I Skipped Starbucks button from my sidebar for your blog!

It gets even better! My blogger friends are hosting some AMAZING giveaways for donors on their own blogs. Simply by donating, you are qualified to enter EVERY SINGLE ONE of their giveaways. At the bottom of this post, you'll see the prizes pictured with links to where you can go to enter. There's some awesome stuff there, ranging from Voldemort's wand to Cassandra Clare's Mortal Instrument series (with a signed City of Glass!) to a huge ARC giveaway!

All you need to do to enter any of these giveaways is make a minimum $5 donation (button on the top of my sidebar). If you don't have a Paypal account and would rather send a snail mail entry, please contact me via email. Thank you!!"

♥ ♥ ♥

Go HERE to help this amazing family bring home their daughter. I know the world of book bloggers is a HUGE and amazing one, and I have a feeling we can help them get PAST their goal of $8,000. Any donation you can make will help.

Countdown to Mockingjay!

2010-08-17T11:58:00.009-05:00

Contact Jessica at roses7184@gmail.com for your own customized button!

Teaser Tuesdays is a weekly bookish meme hosted by MizB of Should Be Reading. Anyone can play along! Just do the following:

Grab your current read
Open to a random page
Share two (2) "teaser" sentences from somewhere on that page
BE CAREFUL NOT TO SHARE SPOILERS! (make sure that what you share doesn't give too much away! You don't want to ruin the book for others!)
Share the title & author, too, so that other TT participants can add the book to their TBR lists if they like your teasers

"My name is Haven Moore. I'm seventeen years old, and I live in a town called Snope City in eastern Tennessee. As long as I can remember, I've had visions of another life in New York, a city I've never visited."

-The Eternal Ones by Kirsten Miller, page 101

Countdown to Mockingjay!

2010-08-16T21:30:00.002-05:00

*8 DAYS!*

In My Mailbox (5)

2010-08-15T13:54:00.006-05:00

**In My Mailbox is a weekly meme hosted by Kristi at The Story Siren

Aces Up by Lauren Barnholdt (purchased-B&N)
Salvaged by Stefne Miller (purchased-Stefne Miller)
Winter Longing by Tricia Mills (purchased-B&N)
Graceling by Kristin Cashore (already read it, but my friend bought it for me while she was in Scotland because the UK cover is PRETTY)
The Eternal Ones by Kirsten Miller (purchased-B&N)
Nightshade by Andrea Cremer (Around the World Tours)

Countdown to Mockingjay!

2010-08-14T16:06:00.003-05:00

Sorry I forgot yesterday's! Behold, TWO quotes.

10 DAYS!

Win a signed copy of Linger!

Caleb and Kate by Cindy Martinusen-Coloma

Breathing by Cheryl Renee Herbsman

Tweet Heart by Elizabeth Rudnick

Audrey, Wait! by Robin Benway

The Extraordinary Secrets of April, May and June by Robin Benway

I Am Number Four by Pittacus Lore

***

If you've read any of these books, I'd love to know what you thought of them!

HOLY MOTHER OF BEAN SIDHE!!!!!!!!

2010-08-07T12:46:00.002-05:00

YOU WANT MY SOUL AND MY BOYFRIEND?

Trying to work things out with Nash--her maybe boyfriend--is hard enough for Kaylee Cavanaugh. She can't just pretend nothing happened. But "complicated" doesn't even begin to describe their relationship when his ex-girlfriend transfers to their school, determined to take Nash back.

See, Sabine isn't just an ordinary girl. She's a mara, the living personifcation of a nightmare. She can read people's fears--and craft them into nightmares while her victims sleep. Feeding from human fear is how she survives.

And Sabine isn't above scaring Kaylee and the entire school to death to get whatever--and whoever--she wants.

I DON'T THINK SO.

Countdown to Mockingjay!

2010-08-06T10:26:00.001-05:00

---

18 DAYS

Countdown to Mockingjay!

2010-08-05T20:41:00.008-05:00

---

19 DAYS!

TELL ME A SECRET by Holly Cupala trailer!

2010-08-02T00:01:00.002-05:00

I AM IN LOVE!

Review: Forget You by Jennifer Echols

2010-08-01T22:35:00.001-05:00

I would first like to thank Jessica over at Confessions of a Bookaholic for introducing me to Jennifer Echols; I had no idea what I was missing out on. All I know is, if I never got to read another book by Jennifer Echols ever again, I would be devastated. It's like if you have two empty cups, say cup A and cup B, and cup A has always been empty, but cup B was once full of water and then got poured out...cup B would seem so much more empty to you since you actually saw what it looked like full. OKAY, never again will I try metaphors after midnight.

Anyway, Jessica had told me that I needed to read Going Too Far. So, I ordered it at Barnes and Noble. When it finally came in, I was in the middle of reading As You Wish by Jackson Pearce. Then Jessica threw me off course. Our conversation went like this:

Me 8:00pm: "I picked up my copy of Going Too Far today!"
Jessica 8:01pm: "You HAVE to read it. It's so amazing!"
Me 8:02pm: "I have to finish As You Wish first. I can't just switch books, and I refuse to read two at once."
Jessica 8:03pm: "COME ON, you'll love it! I know it!"
Me 8:04pm: "I'll start tomorrow after I finish!"
Jessica 8:05pm: "I'll tell you what. Just read the first 10 pages of Going Too Far, and then you can go back to As You Wish if you want."
Me 8:06pm: "Fine..."

***

Me 6:02am: "OH MY GOSH! I JUST FINISHED GOING TOO FAR, *dies* IT WAS FREAKING AMAZING!!"

And that my friends, is when the Jennifer Echols obsession commenced. I immediately (well not immediately...Barnes and Noble doesn't even open until 9:00am) went and bought Endless Summer; it was so, so good. And now, her most recent brilliant book is Forget You. Did I mention it's brilliant?

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.

Holy Toledo Batman chocolate starfish! Forget You obviously had high expectations; we wanted a hot, sexy guy, a jealous-of-a-fictional-character inducing romance, and a storyline that would be bouncing around in our heads long after we finished it. We got so much more than that I thought my heart might explode, but in a totally good way...because we all know there are some people whose hearts can explode and they'll still be perfectly fine (just nod). Forget You is the second book in Jennifer Echols' romantic drama series. And even being warned by the aforementioned series name doesn't prepare you for how romantically dramatic this book is.

Zoey has got it pretty rough. Her dad knocked up his twenty-four year old employee, Ashley, and tells Zoey's mom that he's divorcing her. As a result, Zoey's mom becomes extremely depressed,and she tries to kill herself. Zoey can't tell anyone...not just because she's fearful of what the town might think, but also because her dad threatened that she would regret it if their secret got out. And Zoey's boyfriend, Brandon? TOTAL player. The thing is though, it's hard to hate him because he's sweet, and totally open with Zoey about seeing other people. The person you kind of find yourself hating is Zoey. She deserves someone so special, and totally committed to her *cough*Doug*cough*, yet she continues to stay with Brandon knowing that he sleeps with other people. That doesn't mean Zoey is an annoying character--she has her reasons for what she does--but she frustrates, that's for sure.

And Doug, amazing, beautiful Doug. Once I got over the initial urge to sing the What Do Tigers Dream of song from The Hangover every time I saw his name, there was no stopping my swooning. The only thing about him I know I can elaborate on without exclamatory run-on sentences is this: If even when he's being a total ass, you love him...think about how you're going to handle him being at his sweetest, and most passionate.

I have absolutely nothing negative to say about Forget You. Jennifer Echols, as always, does a beautiful job of developing real relationships and scenarios. The cover is gorgeous...and this may make me a nerd, but I've decided that Zoey's eyes being closed represents her trying to remember why she feels so happy with Doug, and Doug looking at her represents HIM hoping she remembers there's a reason she should feel that way. While I fear that last sentence was somewhat convoluted, I think you understand what I was trying to say. Basically, to quote my friend Courtney Rae, "Forget You is as wonderful as we all imagined."

In My Mailbox (3)

2010-07-31T16:01:00.006-05:00

**In My Mailbox is a weekly meme hosted by Kristi at The Story Siren

FOR REVIEW:

Infinite Days by Rebecca Maizel (purchased-B&N)

Forget You by Jennifer Echols (from Jessica at Confessions of a Bookaholic)

Kiss Me Deadly Anthology (purchased-B&N)

Guardian of the Gate by Michelle Zink (purchased-B&N)

What did YOU get?

BRIGHTLY WOVEN sequel petition!

2010-07-31T11:37:00.004-05:00

Hey guys! I know there are many of you who have read Brightly Woven and LOVED it! (if you haven't, you need to seriously work on that) It was personally one of my favorites of 2010...maybe even ever. I also know there are many of you who are dying for a sequel! There were many questions left unanswered, and let's face it, who doesn't just want more Syd and North?? Alex has already told us she hasn't been contracted for a sequel, so the only way for that to happen is to get Egmont USA's attention! SO, if you feel like Brightly Woven deserves a sequel (duh), go HERE and sign the petition!