My top books to read in 2010!

This is probably one of the hardest lists I have ever had to make. There are so many books coming out in 2010 that I want to read but I only picked 25. And yes they are in order of how badly I want to read them. =]

Italics=read

#1- The Hunger Games #3 by Suzanne Collins- I know this is probably one that tops a ton of peoples' lists. I know it is going to be so hard to wait for it to be released.

#2- Linger (Wolves of Mercy Falls #2) by Maggie Stiefvater- I already know someone who has an ARC of this and I am super jealous of her. Ever since I read Shiver back in August I have been dying to read this one.

#3- Before I Fall by Lauren Oliver- This is a debut novel that I have only heard amazing things about. I know quite a few people who have read and they couldn't have given it better reviews. March can't get here soon enough.

#4- The Body Finder by Kimberly Derting- This is another debut novel that I really want to get my hands on. I have talked with Kimberly and she is super nice. I can't wait to read her book.

#5- The Reckoning (Darkest Powers #3) by Kelley Armstrong- The Darkest Powers trilogy is one of my favorites. It's just really unique and interesting. It's a little creepy at parts but I can't wait for the third and final book.

#6- Shadow Hills by Anastasia Hopcus- Well, it seems like there are going to be quite a few debut novels on this list. I have only read one review for this one but it was an outstanding one. This is another author who is super cool and another book that I just can't wait for.

#7- Crescendo (Hush,Hush #2) by Becca Fitzpatrick- Hush,Hush was at the top of my list of favorite books for the year and I really hope that Crescendo is on that list next year. Also, I really can't wait to see the cover for this one even though I highly doubt it could top the one for Hush,Hush.

#8- Torment (Fallen #2) by Lauren Kate- Fallen was also on my list of favorites for 2009 and it left me wanting so much more. The ending wasn't necessarily a cliff-hanger but it does leave you with some questions. This is also another cover that I can't wait to see.

#9- Forget You by Jennifer Echols- Going Too Far was amazing and from what little I know about this one, it should be too. I really love Jennifer Echols writing so waiting til July to read this is going to be super hard.

#10- Tell Me A Secret by Holly Cupala- I have not read any reviews for this debut novel just yet but I am hoping that they are good. I have been wanting to read this one ever since I first heard about it a couple months ago.

#11- Everlasting by Angie Frazier- Guess what? Another debut novel! =] It's also one that I haven't heard anything about yet but I still really want to read it. It sounds unique and exciting.

#12- Jekel Loves Hyde by Beth Fantaskey- OMG! I want to read this one right now. I loved Jessica's Guide To Dating On The Dark Side and it was so well-written. I think this one could only be better. Plus, it's definitely something I have never read about before.

#13- Forgive My Fins by Tera Lynn Childs- Oh.My.Gods was such a cute book. This one is way different than that one but it's by Tera Lynn Childs so I am predicting that it is going to be awesome.

#14- Sisters Red by Jackson Pearce- After reading As You Wish, any book by Jackson Pearce goes on my to-read list. I know this one has nothing in common with the plot of As You Wish but it sounds like it is right up my alley.

#15- Some Girls Are by Courtney Summers- I haven't read Cracked Up To Be. I know, how bad is that? I really need to but this one sounds even better, if that's possible. I have read such great reviews for both her books, I just know when this one hits shelves I will be picking up a copy.

#16- Harmonic Feedback by Tara Kelly- I have read one review for this and I am terribly jealous that that person has already read this. The review was amazing and I expect that the book is even better. I can't wait to get my hands on a copy.

#17- The Iron King by Julie Kagawa- This is a book that is going to be released from the Harlequin Teen line and so far every book they have published has been amazing. Plus that means there is going to be romance and I love that. Fairies, cats, and romance. What more could you ask for?

#18- Spells (Wings #2) by Aprilynne Pike- Wings wasn't one of my favorite books but I did enjoy it and I really want to see where the author takes it next. I want to learn more about some of the characters.

#19- Tagged by Mara Purnhagen- Another Harlequin Teen novel. And a debut. This was my WOW pick a little while ago and I am even more eager for it now.

#20- The Clearing by Heather Davis- While Heather Davis' first book was not one of my favorites, I still really enjoyed it. This one is a completely different type of story but it still sounds really interesting.

#21- Gloves Off (The Debs #3) by Susan McBride- This is another great trilogy that I really love. Susan McBride is a great author and she is super nice. I can't wait to see how she ends this trilogy and how everyone ends up.

#22- Will Grayson, Will Grayson by John Green and David Levithan- These are two of my favorite authors. They are both great writers and I can't wait to see what they have put together. I have read one review for this already and it was great.

#23- The Unwritten Rule by Elizabeth Scott- Elizabeth Scott wrote one of my favorite books of this year and all her writing is amazing. I haven't read anything about this one yet but I am betting that it is great. She can do no wrong, in my opinion.

#24- All Unquiet Things by Anna Jarzab- This one is almost released. So close. I can't wait to finally read this one because all the reviews I have read praised it. It sounds unique and I can always use something a little different.

#25- Something Like Fate by Susane Colasanti- Another one of my favorite authors. She always writes such cute chick-lit books so I plan on reading this one as soon as it's released. Also, it has one of my favorite covers. It's just cute.

What books are you looking forward to in the new year?

My favorite books of 2009!

Originally I was only going to pick my top ten books but it would have been impossible for me to narrow it down that far. Instead you guys are getting my top twenty! =]

#1- Beautiful Creatures: You saw my review. Do I really need to explain why this was my favorite book of the year? It just rocked!

#2- Shiver: I know that Shiver was a book that some people really didn't like but I was not one of those people. I loved it and I can't wait for Linger. In my opinion, Maggie Stiefvater can do no wrong when it comes to writing. =]

#3- Hush,Hush- I loved Hush,Hush! I don't think there was a single thing about it that I didn't like. I can't wait for Crescendo to be released! Hopefully it's just as good, if not better.

#4- The Hunger Games/Catching Fire- I am going to group these two together because I read them both this year, one right after the other. I kept putting off reading The Hunger Games because I wasn't sure that I would like it but when I finally read it, I couldn't put it down. Then I had to read Catching Fire and it did not disappoint. I know that I am going to be sad when the trilogy ends this coming year.

#5- Fallen: When I read Fallen, I hadn't heard very many good things about it. I decided that I would just ignore those reviews and read it for myself. Boy am I glad that I did. I really loved Fallen and I can't wait for Torment.

#6- The Dark Divine: I just read this one not too long ago and I really enjoyed it. It was really unique and it was a debut novel. It was really well written and just really good. I can't wait for more from Bree Despain.

#7- The Van Alen Legacy- This is the fourth Blue Bloods book and it is my favorite so far. I wasn't sure that I was going to like it when I first started it but this series just seems to keep getting better. The next book comes out next year and the series isn't even close to being finished.

#8- Lament/Ballad- More Maggie Stiefvater. I just love all her books. I don't think I really need to explain more. =]

#9- Need- I read this very early in the year and I loved it. I haven't read the sequel yet but I plan on doing that as soon as possible. It's just a really good book.

#10- Eyes Like Stars- Another debut novel and a great one, in my opinion. Eyes Like Stars was just so unlike anything I have ever read and I can't wait to read the sequel. I don't think it will disappoint.

#11- Jessica's Guide To Dating On The Dark Side- I don't read a lot of vampire books because they all tend to be similar but not this one. It was one of the most unique vampire stories that I have ever read and it was superbly written.

#12- Prophecy Of The Sisters- It took me a while to actually get into Prophecy Of The Sisters but once I did it was great. It was full of action, romance, mystery, betrayal, and a lot more. Another debut author that I can't wait for more from.

#13- Poison Study- I am really sad to say that I haven't finished this series but the two books that I have read were amazing. I loved everything about Poison Study and I am so glad that Maria Snyder has some new stuff coming out this year. =]

#14- The Season- This is my one favorite historical. I thought it was super cute and I loved the heroine. She was strong and funny. She wasn't a typical teenager in her times and it made the book a lot more interesting.

#15- Going Too Far- Jennifer Echols is amazing. I have read most of her books this year and I loved them but this one stood out. It is her first book that isn't just a cute romance and it was really well done. If you haven't already read it, check it out!

#16- Love You Hate You Miss You- Elizabeth Scott is one of my favorite authors and I think this might be my absolute favorite book by her, at least so far. It was so sad but it was so good. I didn't think I could ever like a book as depressing as this one seems but there was a lot more than sadness to it.

#17- Hate List- Another really sad story that has a lot more than sorrow to it. I don't even really know how to do this book justice. I guess you will just have to read it.

#18- The Miles Between- This is a very recent read and one that I recommend to everyone. I haven't read her other book but if it's anywhere near as good as this one, then it's spectacular. =]

#19- Twenty Boy Summer- I have seen this one on some other people's lists and it totally deserves to be there. I read this one a while ago but it stuck with me.

#20- As You Wish- This was such a cute book. It wasn't really deep but sometimes just a fun book is what you need. This would fall right into that category.

What were your favorite books of the year?

100+ Reading Challenge!

Another challenge! I am really excited about all the challenges that I am going to be participating in for 2010. =]

This one is pretty self-explanatory: you try to read over 100 books in 2010. I think I can easily do that. If you want to know more details check out J. Kaye's post here.

This will be the post where I keep track of my books.

1. If We Kiss by Rachel Vail
2. Captivate by Carrie Jones
3. By The Time You Read This I'll Be Dead by Julie Anne Peters
4. This Heart Of Mine by Susan Elizabeth Phillips
5. Whitney, My Love by Judith McNaught
6. Boys, Girls, And Other Hazardous Materials by Rosalind Wiseman
7. Swallowing Darkness by Laurell K. Hamilton
8. Until You by Judith McNaught
9. Divine Misdemeanors by Laurell K. Hamilton
10. The Girl With The Mermaid Hair by Delia Ephron
11. The Secret Year by Jennifer R. Hubbard
12. The Good Girl's Guide To Getting Kidnapped by Yxya Maya Murray
13. Bleeding Violet by Dia Reeves
14. Night Shadow by Catherine Coulter
15. Wish by Alexandra Bullen
16. Night Storm by Catherine Coulter
17. Wondrous Strange by Lesley Livingston
18. The Mark by Jen Nadol
19. Dream A Little Dream by Susan Elizabeth Phillips
20. You Are So Undead To Me by Stacey Jay
21. Undead Much? by Stacey Jay
22. Edge Of Midnight by Shannon McKenna
23. Firespell by Chloe Neill
24. The Naughty List by Suzanne Young
25. In A Heartbeat by Loretta Ellsworth
26. Heist Society by Ally Carter
27. The Life Of Glass by Jillian Cantor
28. Early Dawn by Catherine Andersen
29. Numbers by Rachel Ward
30. The River by Mary Jane Beaufrand
31. Light Beneath Ferns by Anne Spollen
32. A Match Made In High School by Kristin Walker
33. The Stanislaski Brothers by Nora Roberts

34. Little Miss Red by Robin Palmer

35. A House Afire by Emma Kinna

36. Fire And Ice by Julie Garwood

37. Plum Lovin' by Janet Evanovich

38. Albatross by Josie Bloss

39. Before I Fall by Lauren Oliver

40. Mia The Magnificent by Eileen Boggess

41. Arson by Estevan Vega

42. The Line by Teri Hall

43. The Sky Is Everywhere by Jandy Nelson

44. Anastasia's Secret by Susanne Dunlap

45. Forget-Her-Nots by Amy Brecount White

46. Hex Hall by Rachel Hawkins

47. Daisy's Back In Town by Rachel Gibson

48. Tangled Up In You by Rachel Gibson

49. Simply Irresistible by Rachel Gibson

50. All Unquiet Things by Anna Jarzab

51. Sing Me To Sleep by Angela Morrison

52. Voices Of Dragons by Carrie Vaughn

53. Brightly Woven by Alexandra Bracken

54. Princess For Hire by Lindsey Leavitt

55. Epitaph Road by David Patneaude
56. Divine Evil by Nora Roberts
57. Dark Lover by JR Ward
58. The Clearing by Heather Davis
59. Boys, Bears, And A Serious Pair Of Hiking Boots by Abby McDonald
60. For Keeps by Natasha Friend
61. The Body Finder by Kimberly Derting
62. The Cinderella Society by Kay Cassidy
63. A Spy In The House (The Agency #1) by YS Lee
64. Perfect Chemistry by Simone Elkeles
65. Rules Of Attraction by Simone Elkeles
66. She Thief by Daniel Finn
67. Swoon At Your Own Risk by Sydney Salter
68. The Oracle Of Dating by Allison Van Diepen
69. Crossing by Andrew Xia Fukuda
70. The Light (Morpheus Road #1) by D.J. MacHale

71. Guardian Of The Dead by Karen Healey
72. This Is Me From Now On by Barbara Dee
73. The Emerald Talisman by Brenda Pandos
74. Book Of Love (Knight Angels #1) by Abra Ebner
75. Lover Eternal by JR Ward
76. Lover Awakened by JR Ward
77. White Cat by Holly Black
78. My Double Life by Janette Rallison
79. Amy & Roger's Epic Detour by Morgan Matson
80. Picture The Dead by Adele Griffin, Illustrated by Lisa Brown
81. She's So Dead To Us by Kieran Scott
82. We Hear The Dead by Dianne K. Salerni
83. What Curiosity Kills (The Turning #1) by Helen Ellis
84. Deception by Lee Nichols
85. Claire De Lune by Christine Johnson
86. Halfway To The Grave by Jeaniene Frost
87. One Foot In The Grave by Jeaniene Frost
88. At Grave's End by Jeaniene Frost
89. Zen And Xander Undone by Amy Kathleen Ryan
90. Mona Lisa Awakening by Sunny
91. Lover Revealed by JR Ward
92. Heartless by Sara Shepard
93. Wanted by Sara Shepard
94. Splendor by Anna Godbersen
95. Two Way Street by Lauren Barnholdt
96. Audrey,Wait! by Robin Benway
97. Sea by Heidi R. Kling
98. Sea Change by Aimee Friedman
99. Mona Lisa Blossoming by Sunny
100. Wereling by Steve Feasey
101. Lover Unbound by JR Ward
102. One Night That Changes Everything by Lauren Barnholdt
103. Infinity (Chronicles Of Nick #1) by Sherrilyn Kenyon
104. Raised By Wolves by Jennifer Lynn Barnes
105. Everlasting by Angie Frazier
106. Tell Me A Secret by Holly Cupala

I have passed 100!  Yay.  The challenge is complete but I am going to keep going and see how many I can read.

10 in '10 Chick Lit Challenge!

For my second challenge of 2010 I plan on participating in the 10 in '10 Chick Lit challenge co-hosted by author Kay Cassidy and blogger Jessica from Chick Lit Teens.

Copied from Kay Cassidy's blog:
1) Grab the official 10 in ‘10 Teen Chick Lit Challenge logo above and put it on your site with a link back to this page to let people know you’re playing.
2) Choose 10 teen chick lit books to read in 2010. Or select the ones you know you want to read and leave the rest of your list open to see what comes your way in 2010. (We’ll be talking about the great teen chick lit books we’ve read each month, so you may find some new ones that catch your eye!)
3) Click on the Mr. Linky button below to share your list if you’ve posted it on your blog. If you don’t have a blog, simply comment below with your choice of books and let us know you’re in like Flynn.
4) Each month, Jessica and Kay will alternate hosting the official check-in post where you can share the books you’ve read for the challenge. And be sure to let us know what you thought of them!
If you want to learn more about participating in this challenge you can check out Kay's post here or Jessica's post here.

This is the post where I will be keeping track of my books that I have read or that I plan to read for the challenge. Also, I think I will set my goal at 15 to begin. I hope to read more than that but that will just be a basic goal.

1. Experienced (Beautiful Americans #3) by Lucy Silag
2. The Naughty List by Suzanne Young
3. The Cinderella Society by Kay Cassidy
4. Scones and Sensibility by Lindsay Eland
5. Stupid Cupid by Rhonda Stapleton
6. A Match Made In High School by Kristin Walker
7. The Summer I Turned Pretty by Jenny Han
8. It's Not Summer Without You by Jenny Han
9. Forgive My Fins by Tera Lynn Childs
10. Goddess Boot Camp by Tera Lynn Childs
11. Scandal (Private #11) by Kate Brian
12. She's So Dead To Us by Keiran Scott
13. Something Like Fate by Susane Colasanti
14. The Secret Life Of Prince Charming by Deb Caletti
15. The Six Rules Of Maybe by Deb Caletti
16. Wish by Alexandra Bullen
17. Boys, Girls, And Other Hazardous Materials by Rosalind Wiseman
18. Little Miss Red by Robin Palmer
19. The Year My Sister Got Lucky by Aimee Friedman
20. Cindy Ella by Robin Palmer
21. Princess For Hire by Lindsey Leavitt
22. Swoon At Your Own Risk by Sydney Salter
23. My Big Nose And Other Natural Disasters by Sydney Salter
24. Airhead by Meg Cabot
25. Being Nikki by Meg Cabot
26. Runaway by Meg Cabot
27. Pool Boys by Erin Haft
28. Suite Scarlett by Maureen Johnson
29. Fake Boyfriend by Kate Brian
30. Geek High by Piper Banks
31. Something, Maybe by Elizabeth Scott


Bold=Own
Italics=Read/Reviewed
More will be added later once I complete all of these. =]

Waiting On Wednesday: Boys, Bears, And A Serious Pair Of Hiking Boots

Book: Boys, Bears, And A Serious Pair Of Hiking Boots by Abby McDonald

Release date: April 13, 2010

Publisher: Candlewick

Summary:
Can a boy-hungry Jersey girl survive the wilds of Canada with her eco-identity intact? A witty new YA novel from the author of SOPHOMORE SWITCH.

Jenna may hail from the ’burbs of New Jersey, but Green Teen activism is her life. So when her mom suggests they spend the summer at Grandma’s Florida condo, Jenna pleads instead to visit her hippie godmother, Susie, up in rural Canada. Jenna is psyched at the chance to commune with this nature she’s heard about — and the cute, plaidwearing boys she’s certain must roam there. But after a few run-ins with local wildlife (from a larger-than-life moose to Susie’s sullen Goth stepdaughter to a hot but hostile boy named Reeve), Jenna gets the idea that her long-held ideals, like vegetarianism and conservation, don’t play so well with this population of real outdoorsmen. A dusty survival guide offers Jenna amusing tips on navigating the wilderness — but can she learn to navigate the turns of her heart?

My reasons for wanting to read this:
1-I have read some really great reviews for Abby's first book and I bet that this one will be even better.
2-The cover for this one is so cute. It makes me think of summer and right now, I could go for some summer. =]
3-It just sounds good. I always like a good chick-lit book and this one seems right up that alley!

What are you waiting on this Wednesday?

Raiders' Ransom by Emily Diamand

Book: Raiders' Ransom by Emily Diamand

Release date: December 1, 2009

Publisher: Scholastic

From: Publisher

Summary:
It's the 22nd century and, because of climate change, much of England is underwater. Poor Lilly is out fishing with her trusty sea-cat when greedy raiders pillage the town--and kidnap the prime minister's daughter. Her village blamed, Lilly decides to find the girl. Off she sails, in secret. And with a ransom: a mysterious talking jewel. "If I save his daughter," Lilly reasons, "the prime minister's sure to reward me." Little does Lilly know that it will take more than grit to outwit the tricky, treacherous piratical tribes!

*****

If you love pirates, this is the book for you! Raiders' Ransom was a wonderful tale full of raiders, ransoms, and tons of mishaps. I know it probably wasn't meant to be as funny as I found it but there were times when I couldn't help but laugh. =]

Raiders' Ransom is the story of Lilly Melkun and how she tries to save her village. After raiders kidnap the prime minister's daughter, things go horribly wrong for her small fishing village. She knows that she is the only one left who could possibly prove the prime minister wrong so she and her seacat, Cat, set out to find the raiders and deliver them the ransom before a war is started.

Along the way Lilly meets some pretty unusual characters. She teams up with Zeph, knowing that he can take her to Alexandra. The only thing is, he doesn't know that he's taking her to Alexandra. Things get pretty crazy for these two before all is said and done.

The book is told from the points-of-view of both Lilly and Zeph which made it even better. It helped show both sides of the story and it made both their lives seem different than before. I guess looking at someone else's life from the outside changes everything about it. Also, the book is written in their dialect. They are both kind of uneducated so it made the writing kind of weird. It took some getting used too, and some time to figure out what each word meant but it was vital to the book. It just wouldn't have had the same effect if it was written in regular english.

What was really unique about Raiders' Ransom and what made it so cool is that it takes place in the 23rd century but it's like another "dark age." Technology has been killed off and people are living like they did in the past. It was a bit confusing to me at first but once I got used to it, it was really cool. It makes you wonder if things are going to be like that in the future.

Overall, Raiders' Ransom was an enjoyable read. It definitely takes a little time to get into the story but it's worth it in the end. And it gives you something to think about!

Writing: 8/10

Characters: 8/10

Plot: 9/10

Ending: 9/10

Originality: 10/10

Overall: 44/50=B+

Cover: 8/10=B-

It's Monday! What Are You Reading? (2)

Read this week:
-Raiders' Ransom by Emily Diamand
-Fallen by Lauren Kate
-Beautiful Americans by Lucy Silag

Reading now:
-Wanderlust (Beautiful Americans #2) by Lucy Silag

Up next:
-Revealers by Amanda Marrone
-Dawn by Kevin Brooks
-If We Kiss by Rachel Vail

Last week I read some really good books. I loved Fallen and Beautiful Americans was way better than I expected. I'm starting to get into Wanderlust so I might even be able to finish it tonight. =]

What are you reading this Monday?

Winner!

Thanks so much to everyone who entered, all my old and new followers. This was the biggest turnout I have ever had for a contest with over 500 total entries. Heck it was almost 600! Also, I found out what most of your favorite books were this year. The Hunger Games, Catching Fire, Fire, and Hush,Hush definitely topped that list. And I have to agree with people who said those. Well, except I haven't read Fire yet. =0

Okay so I know everyone wants to know who won so without further ado...

The winner is:

Mandy from MandyCanRead!!!

BTW I love the name of her blog. =]

I am just about to email Mandy and she will have 48 hours to get back to me before I pick another winner. And don't worry if you didn't win this contest. There are going to be tons of contests next month for my blogoversary!

Also, some people lost their entries for not following directions. Not many, but some. Next time try to read everything. Most of you guys followed directions perfectly buy about 5 to 10 people didn't.

In My Mailbox 44 (Christmas Edition!)

In My Mailbox is a meme created by The Story Siren and inspired by Alea of Pop Culture Junkie! It is a list of what books you have received over the previous week, either in the mail, from the bookstore, from the library, or from trades. =]

For review:
-Inside Out by Maria V Snyder (SIGNED)
-For Keeps by Natasha Friend (second copy)
-Bad Blood by Mari Mancusi
-Undead Much? by Stacey Jay
-The Naughty List by Suzanne Young (second copy)
-The Good Girl's Guide To Getting Kidnapped by Yxta Maya Murray (second copy)

Not pictured(doubles)-
-Beautiful Creatures by Kami Garcia and Margaret Stohl (my review)
-The River by Mary Jane Beaufrand
-Hearts At Stake by Alyxandra Harvey (my review)
-Captivate by Carrie Jones


Trades/Christmas Gifts/Bought:
-Geek High by Piper Banks (trade with Kelsey)
-Peace, Love, and Baby Ducks by Lauren Myracle (bought at thrift store!)
-Boys That Bite by Mari Mancusi (Christmas)
-Stake That by Mari Mancusi (Christmas)
-The Betrayal Of Natalie Hargrove by Lauren Kate (trade with Kelsey)
-When The Whistle Blows by Fran Cannon Slayton (trade with Kelsey)
-The Secret Rites Of Social Butterflies by Lizabeth Zindel (Christmas from Kelsey)
-Cruel Summer by Alyson Noel (Christmas from Kelsey)
-Girls That Growl by Mari Mancusi (Christmas)
-Bad Girls In Love by Cynthia Voigt (trade with Kelsey)

This week was amazing for me, even though I got a ton of doubles. I know those are going to come in handy with my blogoversary celebration next month! I also got some great gifts that I can't wait to read. All my books that I got this week were ones that I really wanted so yay!

Also, my contest is now over and I am just about to go add up entries. The winner will be posted sometime tonight!

What was in your mailbox this week?

Contest Ending!

Don't forget that my 12 Books of Christmas contest ends tonight at midnight. That still gives you a little time to enter!

I will be posting the winner along with a Christmas IMM tomorrow!

Hearts At Stake by Alyxandra Harvey

Book: Hearts At Stake (The Drake Chronicles) by Alyxandra Harvey

Release date: December 22, 2009

Publisher: Walker Books

From: Publisher

Summary:
On Solange’s sixteenth birthday, she is going to wake up dead. As if that’s not bad enough, she also has to outwit her seven overprotective older brothers, avoid the politics involved with being the only daughter born to an ancient vampire dynasty, and elude Kieran Black—agent of an anti-vampire league who is searching for his father’s killer and is intent on staking Solange and her entire family.

Luckily she has her own secret weapon—her human best friend Lucy—who is willing to defend Solange’s right to a normal life, whether she’s being smothered by her well-intentioned brothers or abducted by a power-hungry queen. Two unlikely alliances are formed in a race to save Solange’s eternal life—Lucy and Solange’s brother Nicholas, and Solange and Kieran Black—in a dual romance that is guaranteed to jump start any romance-lover’s heart.

Even fans of the genre who’ve seen it all will find a fresh read with kick-butt characters and family dynamics that ring true for all brothers and sisters—vampire or otherwise.

*****

Alyxandra Harvery's Drake Chronicles is going to be a great new vampire series. I can already tell that it's going to be popular with any paranormal fans. I don't usually like vampire books but this is one that I will make an exception for.

Hearts At Stake is the story of the youngest Drake, Solange. She is also the only vampire girl to be born in the past 800 years. Not only does that cause some worries about her bloodchange, it also causes some worries with the current vampire queen. It makes for quite the birthday celebration.

The book is actually told from both Solange's point-of-view and her human best friend Lucy's. Lucy is human but she had been friends with the Drake family since she was little. She is a kick butt teenager who is not afraid to fight for Solange's safety, even when it causes some problems with Solange's 7 older brothers. Lucy even seems to like causing problems with one certain brother.

The plot of Hearts At Stake is a little different than most recent vampire books. It wasn't nearly as cheesy as some of the books that have been popular lately. I liked that it was a more unique story about vampires that I wasn't able to predict from the very first page. =]

There were a ton of characters in Hearts At Stake but it wasn't overwhelming. All the members of the Drake family were great. All of the brothers had unique personalities but they all shared one thing: they were very protective of their little sister. It was the same with their parents. I loved them all.

Overall, Hearts At Stake was a very enjoyable read. It was full of humor, romance, intrigue, and some awesome fight scenes! If you are a fan of the vampire genre then add this one to your list.

Writing: 9/10

Characters: 9/10

Plot: 10/10

Ending: 9/10

Originality: 9/10

Overall: 46/50=A-

Cover: 9/10=A-

The Lonely Hearts Club by Elizabeth Eulberg

Book: The Lonely Hearts Club by Elizabeth Eulberg

Release date: December 29, 2009

Publisher: Point

From: Publisher

Summary:
Penny is sick of boys and sick of dating. So she vows: no more. It's a personal choice. . .and, of course, soon everyone wants to know about it. And a few other girls are inspired. A movement is born: The Lonely Hearts Club (named after the band from Sgt. Pepper). Penny is suddenly known for her nondating ways . . . which is too bad, because there's this certain boy she can't help but like. . . .

*****

Elizabeth Eulberg's debut novel is absolutely wonderful. It was super cute, funny, and such a light read but with real meaning behind it. It's one of my new favorite chick-lit books. =]

The Lonely Hearts Club is a story all about dating in high school. Or maybe I should say, not dating in high school. It was hilarious. All these girls join forces against the jerks who treat them like crap. That's my kind of girl power book. It was all about friendship and being true to yourself. More girls need to read this and take it to heart.

Penny Lane was a bit pitiful at first. She was one of those girls who assumed everything was her fault but once she got over that she was an amazingly strong heroine. And of course she had help. Tracy and Diane were the best but they were only two of many. The whole Lonely Hearts Club was such a strong support group and each member was a unique character!

The plot was a bit typical but it was still enjoyable. Elizabeth Eulberg added her own flair to the chick-lit genre and I think that The Lonely Hearts Club will stand out as something with a little more substance than all the rest.

Overall, The Lonely Hearts Club was a fun book with some real lessons in life and love included. It didn't take long to have me hooked and after that I just devoured it. Definitely add this one to you to-be-read list!

Writing: 10/10

Characters: 9/10

Plot: 9/10

Ending: 10/10

Originality: 8/10

Overall: 46/50=A-

Cover: 10/10=A++

Waiting On Wednesday: Change Of Heart

Book: Change Of Heart by Shari Maurer

Release date: Spring 2010

Publisher: Westside Books

Summary:
In a world where the most stressful thing seems to be winning a soccer game or what to wear in the morning, you take some really basic things for granted.

Like the love of your parents.

Or hanging with your friends.

Or the beating of your heart.

When you’re 16 years old, it never occurs to you that you might die. Emmi Miller’s got a fabulous life. She has tons of friends, does great in school and is an all-star soccer player who played in Europe last summer. It even looks like Sam Hunter, a totally cute baseball player, might be interested in her. And then she gets a virus. No biggy, right? Until the virus goes to her heart and weakens it so much that, without a transplant, Emmi will die.

Will Emmi get a heart in time? Is Sam too good to be true? What about her new friend Abe, who has also had a transplant and guides her through these scary times — is he just being supportive or is there more going on between them? And will Emmi realize it before it’s too late?

My reasons for seriously wanting to read this book:
1-It sounds so good. I haven't read anything about heart transplants in so long.
2-I think the cover is pretty! =]
3-Shari Maurer is a tenner! Isn't that enough?

What are you waiting on this Wednesday?

The Dark Divine Book Trailer!

So, as pretty much everyone knows, today is the release date for some awesome books. The Dark Divine, Scones and Sensibility, Stupid Cupid, Darklight, Of All The Stupid Things, Magic Under Glass, The Vinyl Princess, and possibly some others that I have forgotten about. (Sorry!) In honor of that, I am posting the trailer for The Dark Divine because that is the only trailer I can find that I haven't already posted. =]



PS. You can read my review in the post before this one.

The Dark Divine by Bree Despain

Book: The Dark Divine by Bree Despain

Release date: December 22, 2009

Publisher: Egmont USA

From: Publisher

Summary:
Grace Divine, daughter of the local pastor, always knew something terrible happened the night Daniel Kalbi disappeared--the night she found her brother Jude collapsed on the porch, covered in his own blood--but she has no idea what a truly monstrous secret that night held.

The memories her family has tried to bury resurface when Daniel returns, three years later, and enrolls in Grace and Jude's high school. Despite promising Jude she'll stay away, Grace cannot deny her attraction to Daniel's shocking artistic abilities, his way of getting her to look at the world from new angles, and the strange, hungry glint in his eyes.

The closer Grace gets to Daniel, the more she jeopardizes her life, as her actions stir resentment in Jude and drive him to embrace the ancient evil Daniel unleashed that horrific night. Grace must discover the truth behind the boy's dark secret...and the cure that can save the ones she loves. But she may have to lay down the ultimate sacrifice to do it--her soul.

*****

Bree Despain has written a wonderfully detailed tale of friendship, betrayals, and a love so true it can save even the most doomed of souls. It kept me reading late into the night and thinking about it long after I put it down.

The Dark Divine is a story with a little bit of everything mixed in. Not only did it have a wide variety of characters but it had a wide variety of messages. Messages about forgiveness, friendship, and the true meaning of love. It was more than I ever expected to get out of the book.

The characters in the book were really lovable. Grace was a just a confused teenage girl, torn between her love for her brother and her love for the boy from her childhood, the one Jude can never forgive. Jude was a little more complicated a character. He didn't know who he was anymore or how to fix what he'd done. Daniel was my favorite, of course. He looked at himself as a monster when really he was just a boy who had made some bad decisions that changed who he was. Grace was the only one who could help him, but doing so might cause her to lose herself.

Of course, there were some other characters but they weren't as important. Well I guess they were all important to the story but those three were the most important to me. The other ones just didn't have as big an impact on me.

Also, the mystery of what kind of monster Daniel was kept me flipping the pages. I kind of guessed at it early in the book but it wasn't confirmed until later. And it really wasn't what I expected. Bree Despain did a great job with this book. There wasn't anything predictable about it. I know it will keep you reading til you are done. And it will probably leave you wanting more. =]

Overall, The Dark Divine is another great book of 2009. It's definitely worth the money, in my opinion. I can't wait for more from Bree Despain and if it happens to be a sequel, I wouldn't complain!

Writing: 10/10

Characters: 10/10

Plot: 9/10

Ending: 10/10

Originality: 9/10

Overall: 48/50=A

Cover: 10/10=A+

Teaser Tuesday: Raider's Ransom

* Grab your current read.
* Let the book fall to a random page.
* Share two (2) "teaser" sentences from that page, somewhere between lines 7 and 12.
* Share the title of the book that you're getting your teaser from... That way people can have some great book recommendations if they like the teaser you've given!
* Please avoid spoilers!

From page 79 of Raider's Ransom by Emily Diamand:
"Everyone wants me to get married," I say to Cat, who looks at me, his ears flicked back. "They reckon you'll make a good dowry, and Lun Hindle'll get you for his seacat." His ears pull back a bit farther. "Lun probably won't even let me sail. And he smells. And what about Andy? What'll he say when he gets back?" A cold stone settles in my belly. "If he gets back."

I haven't read anything like this before and it's actually turning out to be pretty good. The writing style was a little hard to get used to at first but I think it's better for me now. Hopefully, I can finish the book today. It's definitely heating up and about to get even more interesting. =]

What are you reading this Tuesday?

Tangled by Carolyn Mackler

Book: Tangled by Carolyn Mackler

Release date: January 1, 2010

Publisher: HarperTeen

From: Trade

Summary:
Jena, Dakota, Skye, and Owen are all at Paradise—the resort in the Caribbean, that is—for different reasons, but in Paradise their lives become tangled together in ways none of them can predict. Over the course of four months, through four voices and four stories, what happened in Paradise will change them all.

In this extraordinary novel, the Printz Honor–winning author brings us her most accomplished work yet. Tangled is a story of the secrets we keep, the risks we take, and the things we do for love.

*****

I have read one of Carolyn Mackler's books in the past and I was really expecting more from Tangled. It was a good book but I don't think it lived up to it's full potential. Also, the summary was a bit misleading, at least it seemed that way to me.

Tangled is the story of four different teens who meet in Paradise. The summary makes it seem like the whole story takes place in Paradise and that the characters are all together throughout the book when really only a tiny part of the book actually takes place in Paradise. After the first fifty or so pages, everyone is back living their normal lives and the time spent in Paradise is only a minuscule part of that. Also, it seems more like the things that happened when they left Paradise had a bigger impact on their lives.

The story is told from four different point-of-views but it's not the typical way. Instead of switching characters by chapters, each section of the book is a different person's story. I didn't see how they had an impact on each other's lives when they barely knew each other.

Also, I felt like as the sections of the book switched characters, the characters kind of got lost. I didn't get to know the characters very well and when they showed up later in the book, they were completely transformed but it just seemed kind of magical. I never found out what made them change or how they changed but they were different. It was just poor character development.

I did like how the author connected these four people but they weren't exactly strangers to begin with. Jena and Skye went to Paradise together as did Owen and Dakota. And it wasn't like it was a coincidence how they met. It all seemed a little to planned out. I think I was expecting it to be more spontaneous.

Overall, Tangled was just okay. I like Carolyn Mackler's writing so I still enjoyed the book, it just wasn't what I expected. It was a pretty fun book and definitely an easy one to read so check it out sometime!

Writing: 9/10

Character: 7/10

Plot: 7/10

Ending: 8/10

Originality: 7/10

Overall: 38/50= C+

Cover: 9/10= A-

Win a Pair of Reading Glasses from Reading Glasses Shopper!

Reading Glasses Shopper was so awesome and they offered up two pairs of reading glasses to two of my readers. Of course, you get to pick the glasses that you want! And they are free so who wouldn't want those?

I know a lot of my readers are teens but if you have parents who need reading glasses, these would be great for them. I already got my mom a pair and she loves them! =]

To enter all you need to do is comment with your name, email address and the pair of glasses that you would want if you win. You can take a look at all the glasses offered at www.readingglassesshopper.com. You can also earn extra entries by becoming a fan on their Facebook page!

This contest ends on January 1, 2010 so start entering!

Reading Glasses Review!

Almost a week ago, I was contacted by Reading Glasses Shopper about reviewing a pair of reading glasses. I don't use reading glasses (yet) but my mom does and she offered to help me with my review. She would never turn down a pair of reading glasses, especially cute ones.

Here is a picture of the pair I picked out for my mom:


I got them earlier this week and they were exactly what I wanted. These are one of the more simple designs but Reading Glasses Shopper has tons of designs to choose from if you want something a little more detailed. These are really stylish, just plain black with some rhinestone detailing which I thought would be perfect. They match anything.

The pair that I chose is called The Joyce and they are great. My mom is always using reading glasses which means she is always buying them but sometimes they aren't very good quality and they break. These, on the other hand, have been great. They are sturdy and they come with a really cute case so she can just toss them in her purse and she doesn't have to worry about not being able to find them or them getting smashed by everything else. They have really come in handy this past week.

Overall, reading glasses are something I know I will probably need in the future so I am really glad I know where I can buy a good pair at a great price. Nothing is over twenty dollars so everything is super affordable and I have already picked out some super cute pairs that I wouldn't mind getting. And I know my mom has picked out pretty much every pair they offer as ones she wouldn't mind getting! =]

In the end, any pair that you get from Reading Glasses Shopper would be a great buy. And if you want to try a pair before buying I will be giving away two pairs to two lucky readers so stop back later for the form!

Rating: 5 Stars!!!

In My Mailbox 43

In My Mailbox is a meme created by The Story Siren and inspired by Alea of Pop Culture Junkie! It is a list of what books you have received over the previous week, either in the mail, from the bookstore, from the library, or from trades. =]

For review:
-Firespell by Chloe Neill
-Just Don't Fall by Josh Sundquist
-Wanderlust (Beautiful Americans #2) by Lucy Silag
-I So Don't Do Spooky by Barrie Summy
-The Pillow Book Of Lotus Lowenstein by Libby Schmais
-Wish by Alexandra Bullen

From contests:
-Demon Princess: Reign Check by Michelle Rowen (signed to me!!!)

Bought:
-Shiver by Maggie Stiefvater
-Love On The Lifts by Rachel Hawthorne
-Snow In Love by Claire Ray
-Snow Queen by Emma Harrison
-The Boys Next Door by Jennifer Echols

I am very proud of myself this week. I didn't actually buy any books. The ones listed are ones that I got with an Amazon giftcard so I didn't have so spend any of my very little money. =]

Also, I got some awesome books in the mail this week. Most of them were surprises and I love those. I'm really looking forward to Wish and Demon Princess sounds amazing. I can't wait to read them all.

What was in your mailbox this week?

Magic Under Glass by Jaclyn Dolamore

Book: Magic Under Glass by Jaclyn Dolamore

Release date: December 22, 2009

Publisher: Bloomsbury USA

From: Publisher

Summary:
Nimira is a music-hall performer forced to dance for pennies to an audience of leering drunks. When wealthy sorcerer Hollin Parry hires her to do a special act - singing accompaniment to an exquisite piano-playing automaton, Nimira believes it is the start of a new life. In Parry's world, however, buried secrets stir. Unsettling below-stairs rumours abound about ghosts, a mad woman roaming the halls, and of Parry's involvement in a gang of ruthless sorcerers who torture fairies for sport. When Nimira discovers the spirit of a dashing young fairy gentleman is trapped inside the automaton's stiff limbs, waiting for someone to break the curse and set him free, the two fall in love. But it is a love set against a dreadful race against time to save the entire fairy realm, which is in mortal peril.

*****

Magic Under Glass is Jaclyn Dolamore's debut novel and it does not disappoint, in any way. I was very pleased with the book and it was a super quick read that kept me entertained. It's not only that the books isn't very long, it's also just how good it is. It makes you want to read more.

Nimira was swept away by the sophistication of Hollin Parry. She had no clue what she was truly getting herself into. He was hiding so many things from her that put her in a quite a bit of danger. Luckily, she also got to meet Erris, a lost fairy prince trapped inside the body of an automaton. It definitely made the book interesting and unique from other fairy books that I have read in the past. I guess it's really just a unique story, not just from other fairy books but from all books.

The one thing that bugged me about Magic Under Glass was how easily everything fell into place. It seemed a little too perfect for me. I mean, Nimira fell in love with a robot without even being able to really talk to him. I don't think I would do that and it didn't seem very realistic. Then again, the book is set in a different age and world than the one we live it so it made it a little better.

Other than that, I thought the book was wonderful. There was a good mix of characters and some good surprises. There wasn't really one character that I liked more than another and that's because they were all really complex. They weren't what they seemed and that makes for great books. =]

Overall, Jaclyn Dolamore's debut novel is something to look out for. It's full of magic, suspense, and a love story unlike any I have read before. There was not a dull moment to be had in this book.

Writing: 9/10

Characters: 9/10

Plot: 9/10

Ending: 9/10

Originality: 10/10

Overall: 46/50=A-

Cover: 8/10=B-

Beautiful Creatures by Kami Garcia and Margaret Stohl

Book: Beautiful Creatures by Kami Garcia and Margaret Stohl

Release date: December 1, 2009

Publisher: Little, Brown

From: Publisher

Summary:
There were no surprises in Gatlin County.
We were pretty much the epicenter of the middle of nowhere.
At least, that's what I thought.
Turns out, I couldn't have been more wrong.
There was a curse.
There was a girl.
And in the end, there was a grave.

Lena Duchannes is unlike anyone the small Southern town of Gatlin has ever seen, and she's struggling to conceal her power and a curse that has haunted her family for generations. But even within the overgrown gardens, murky swamps and crumbling graveyards of the forgotten South, a secret cannot stay hidden forever.

Ethan Wate, who has been counting the months until he can escape from Gatlin, is haunted by dreams of a beautiful girl he has never met. When Lena moves into the town's oldest and most infamous plantation, Ethan is inexplicably drawn to her and determined to uncover the connection between them.

In a town with no surprises, one secret could change everything.

*****

I am going to state from the very beginning that this will probably be one of the highest rated books on my blog, especially with the new rating system. And if it's possible, this review might be a little too positive. I already that it's going to be all positive. There wasn't a single thing that I didn't like about Beautiful Creatures!

For starters, the writing si beautiful. Kami Garcia and Margaret Stohl are two debut authors that I now love. I can't wait for more from them. They are both amazingly talented writers that created this whole other world inside a tiny town named Gatlin. I was just blown away.

Gatlin was a town unlike any other. It was full of mysteries, secrets, legends, and more than a few prejudiced people. It was unbelievable how these people could be so against someone that was even a little different than them. It didn't help that Lena was more than a little different. And Gatlin was a true southern town, down home cooking included. Boy was I hungry while reading this. =]

Beautiful Creatures was full of spectacular characters that were amazingly well-developed. I don't even have a clue where to start. Ethan, Lena, Macon, Amma, Link, Ridley, Larkin, Aunt Del, Marian, and oh so many more. I loved both Lena's and Ethan's families. They were buried in problems that seemed impossible to fix but they remained strong and they remained together and that is what truly makes a family. They were there for each other when they were needed but sadly not all of them were as they seemed. That wasn't revealed til much later, though.

One of the most unique things about Beautiful Creatures is that it's a wonderful love story that's not told from the girl's point-of-view. Instead of going the traditional route and writing the book from Lena's POV, Kami and Margaret wrote the whole thing from Ethan's POV. It's not often that you get a book like this one that is actually good, yet honest. It's clear that these two women know how to get inside their characters' heads and portray everything they are feeling so clearly and realistically.

I guess with this book there wasn't going to be a satisfying ending. It's the first in a five book series but I still wasn't disappointed when it ended. Well, not disappointed with the book itself, but with the fact that it ended after such a mind-blowing climax. I wanted more and I really want it now!

Overall, Beautiful Creatures is on my top five list of 2009, maybe even ever. It was hauntingly beautiful and it will leave you breathless and wanting so much more. Don't let the size of the book scare you away because each and every page is captvating!

Writing: 10/10

Characters: 10/10

Plot: 10/10

Ending: 10/10

Originality: 10/10

Overall: 50/50=A+++

Cover: 10/10=A+++

Shadowland (The Immortals #3) by Alyson Noel

Book: Shadowland (The Immortals #3) by Alyson Noel

Release date: November 17, 2009

Publisher: St.Martin's Press

From: Bookstore

Summary:
At the start of this breathtaking novel, Damen and Ever travel to Summerland in search of an antidote to reverse a powerful poison. But instead of the cure they seek, they find something far more sinister: the truth about their existence and the fate lying in wait of an immortal’s soul.

Now, with Damen fighting to save them from the Shadowland, Ever turns to magick, hoping to break Damen’s curse. Along the way Ever encounters the mysterious Jude, finding herself drawn to him in a way that will test her love for Damen like never before . . .

*****

SPOILER ALERT: If you haven't read the previous two books in this series this review will contain spoilers.

Shadowland continues the story of Ever and Damen right where Blue Moon left off. After completely loving Blue Moon, I figured that this one could only improve on their story. Sadly, I was wrong.

The beginning of the book was so boring I could barely read it. It didn't seem like anything was happening and when something finally did happen, it didn't seem to have any impact on the story. Everything was just kind of random and there was a ton of unnecessary stuff that had no real part in the story. It was such a drastic change from the last two books.

Then there was Ever. She really got on my nerves. She was so stupid half the time and pretty annoying for the other half of the time. And really, the only two people she cares about are herself and Damen. All the other people in the book don't deserve happiness, apparently. Oh and I cannot stand to read any more about how perfect Damen is and how much she wants to sleep with him. It gets old real quick.

Also, there were some new characters introduced but I barely knew anything about them. They were just there but they weren't important enough to be explained in depth. And the whole thing with Jude was just confusing. Was he good or bad?

Overall, I'm really hoping Dark Flame is better than this one. I think this was probably setting the stage for the next book and that may be why there were so many questions left unanswered. Even though this was pretty bad, I am not giving up on the series. I just recommend checking this one out from the library. =]

Writing: 8/10

Characters: 5/10

Plot: 5/10

Ending: 7/10

Originality: 8/10

Overall: 33/50=D

Cover: 8/10=B-

What I Wore To Save The World by Maryrose Wood

Book: What I Wore To Save The World by Maryrose Wood

Release date: December 1, 2009

Publisher: Berkley JAM

From: Publisher

Summary:
Senior year's coming up fast and Morgan still has no clue about college, or a career-the whole rest of-her-life thing is basically a blank. Maybe it's because she spent her junior year obsessing about Colin, the hot Irish guy she fell for last summer (that was right around the same time she discovered she's a half- goddess from the days of Irish lore... you had to be there). She even saved Colin from a nasty enchantment, but he doesn't know that. Colin doesn't believe in magic, not even a little.

But then a mysterious message reunites her with Colin, who turns out to be caught up in the biggest faery-made disaster ever. We're talking the end of reality-not just reality TV. To save the world, she's going to have to tell Colin the truth about her half-goddess mojo. But if he doesn't believe in magic, how will he ever believe in her?

*****

SPOILER ALERT: If you haven't read the first two books in the series stop reading this review or it may contain slight spoilers.

Wow, oh wow! This is the perfect end to the series. At least, I think it's the end. I would love more about Morgan and Colin but if not, this ending pretty much summed up everything and in just the right way. =]

Morgan and Colin are back on the same side of the ocean again, this time to save the world. Morgan doesn't know what's going on, all she knows is that she is the only one who can fix it, once again. And if that means telling Colin about her half-goddess nature, well then so be it! Right?

I think this book was the craziest out of the three. Morgan had to do some pretty odd things to fix the trouble her faery queen mother had created but this time Colin might actually have to find out about it. I was super glad about that fact. I hated how Morgan always had to lie to him and it was about time that it was out in the open. It changed their whole relationship but I won't tell you about that part.

Also, in this one, Morgan isn't nearly as whiny and pathetic. In the first two books she spent a ton of timing pining away for Colin and she definitely didn't do that so much in this book. Oh and her problems seem to be a bit more serious this time around. She's trying to choose a college and a career path while fighting to save the world. I could relate to the college and career path part and was cheering for her all through the saving the world part!

Overall, it's just one of those books you have to read for yourself. Once again, Maryrose Wood has written a fantastic book that was fun, clever, magical, and filled with romance. What more could a girl ask for in a book for a lazy day, or maybe just any day?

Writing: 9/10

Characters: 9/10

Plot: 9/10

Ending: 10/10

Originality: 10/10

Overall: 47/50=A-

Cover: 10/10=A+

Waiting On Wednesday: Tagged

Book: Tagged by Mara Purnhagen

Release date: March 1, 2010

Publisher: Harlequin

Summary:
Kate Morgan is just as confused as the rest of her classmates when she arrives at Cleary High to find six life-size gorillas spray painted on the side of a building. Could the culprit be one of her friends or classmates? And is the kind-of-amazing creation really vandalism, or a work of art? She's tempted to stay out of it, mostly because, as the police chief’s daughter, she's always accused of being a snitch. But when gorillas start appearing throughout the state, her investigative instincts kick in.

Now Eli, Kate’s favorite co-worker at the local coffee shop, is MIA. With her best friend, Lan, preoccupied with her own boy troubles, Kate needs to figure out some things on her own. Like why she can’t stop thinking about Eli. And what she will do when all clues about the graffiti point to someone she knows...

My reasons for wanting this book right now:
1-I haven't read any book about graffiti, ever. I know there are some other books about it but I haven't read them so this one should be unique for me.
2-The cover for this is really pretty. I love all the colors and the title written in graffiti.
3-It's a debut novel. I think it might even be on my debut author challenge but if it's not I will just have to add it. =]

How I Found The Perfect Dress by Maryrose Wood

Book: How I Found The Perfect Dress by Maryrose Wood

Release date: May 6, 2008

Publisher: Berkley Jam

From: Author

Summary:
On a bike tour of Ireland last summer, Morgan Rawlinson fell for Colin, the hunky guide, and entered a portal that turned her into the goddess Morganne. Now she’s back to her painfully normal life and her relationship with Colin has fizzled to the occasional e-mail…until he writes saying he’s coming to Connecticut—just in time for the prom.

But when he arrives, he’s exhausted. It seems that when Morgan crossed the portal as Morganne, a spell was cast on Colin. In his dreams he’s being forced to dance ’til dawn with the faeries, who want to boogie with him for eternity. Somehow she has to break the spell on her date, help plan the prom, and find the perfect dress. Oh, what a night…

*****

SPOILER ALERT: If you haven't read the first book in the series, stop reading this review. It might contain some slight spoilers.

Maryrose Wood had done it again! How I Found The Perfect Dress was a wonderful blend of comedy, romance, frienship, and mythological creatures. Once again, I couldn't stop reading about Morgan's crazy life.

Morgan is back in the United States this time and Colin shows up too. He has somehow been affected by Morgan's half-goddess powers and it has made him sick. Now Morgan has to find a way to stop her faery family from tormenting him and find the perfect dress for her junior prom, all at the same time.

I didn't think this one could be better than the first book but it was so cute and funny that it just might have been. I would have loved to see more of Colin but then again, who wouldn't? I was just glad to know that he was still in the picture and that he hadn't changed much from the first book. Oh and that his feelings for Morgan hadn't changed much from the first book.

Also, Morgan has definitely done some growing up since the previous book. She seemed to be a lot wiser and much more mature. I loved all the changes in her personality and that it was all done realistically. Even though the book was a fictional story full of magical creatures, it was all done quite realistically. I just devoured this whole book from beginning to end in one sitting.

Overall, How I Found The Perfect Dress was a wonderful sequel but it can also be read as a standalone if you don't feel like reading the first book. I do highly recommend them both, though. This one was just as cute and it was another one that had me laughing-out-loud multiple times. I would add this to the list of books that isn't well-suited for reading in public! =]

Writing: 9/10

Characters: 9/10

Plot: 8/10

Ending: 8/10

Originality: 10/10

Overall: 44/50=B+

Cover: 10/10=A+

Why I Let My Hair Grow Out by Maryrose Wood

Book: Why I Let My Hair Grow Out by Maryrose Wood

Release date: March 6, 2007

Publisher: Berkley Trade

From: Author

Summary:
Being sent to your room is one thing. But being sent to another country? Morgan's boyfriend dumped her on the last day of school-it seemed the only thing to do was to hack off her hair and dye the stubble orange. Unfortunately, Morgan's parents freaked and decided a change of scenery would do her good. So they're sending her off on a bike tour of Ireland. But Morgan gets more than she bargained for on the Emerald Isle-including a strange journey into some crazy, once upon a time corner of the past. There, she meets fairies, weefolk, and a hunky warrior-dude named Fergus, and figures out that she's got some growing to do-and she doesn't just mean her hair.

*****

Why I Let My Hair Grow Out was such a fun book! It had me laughing out loud quite a few times and it had me reading straight through to the very end. I seem to be a reading a ton of good books lately and this is just another one that I have to add to the list.

At first, I hated Morgan with a passion. When her boyfriend, who was a huge jerk, dumped her, she assumed it was all her fault and got all mopey. That was when she chopped off her hair and got sent to Ireland as punishment. Well, not really punishment, more like mental help. I just hate girls that put themselves down for their boyfriends and I was glad that she finally grew up. She changed into a great character after she spent some time in Ireland.

Surprisingly, the book didn't have a ton of magic in it. Some of Morgan's time in Ireland was spent in the present and some of her time was spent in the past. It made the story so unique and enjoyable. I also found it cool that the characters from the past were all based on people from the future. They were all the members of the bike tour that she is on. It was a very clever idea.

Ooh and then there was Colin. He was absolutely adorable. He was the perfect Irish boy. Well, more of a man but still. He was sweet, funny, and his accent was to die for. I loved everything about him, especially because he was such a gentleman to Morgan. I can't wait to learn more about their relationship in the next two books.

Overall, Why I Let My Hair Grow Out is unlike any book I have read and I expect that the next two books in the series will be just as good, if not better. If you are looking for a laugh-out-loud funny book then you should definitely pick up a copy of this one. =]

Writing: 9/10

Characters: 8/10

Plot: 10/10

Ending: 9/10

Originality: 10/10

Overall: 46/50=A-

Cover: 10/10=A+

Ballad by Maggie Stiefvater

Book: Ballad by Maggie Stiefvater

Release date: October 1, 2009

Publisher: Flux

From: Publisher

Summary:

In this mesmerizing sequel to Lament: The Faerie Queen's Deception, music prodigy James Morgan and his best friend, Deirdre, join a private conservatory for musicians. James' musical talent attracts Nuala, a soul-snatching faerie muse who fosters and feeds on the creative energies of exceptional humans until they die. Composing beautiful music together unexpectedly leads to mutual admiration and love. Haunted by fiery visions of death, James realizes that Deirdre and Nuala are being hunted by the Fey and plunges into a soul-scorching battle with the Queen of the Fey to save their lives.

*****

SPOILER ALERT: If you haven't read Lament, this review may contain spoilers.

When I first started Ballad, I admit to being a bit skeptical. I really loved Lament and I wasn't sure that this one could be anywhere near as good as the first. And in the beginning, I didn't think it was. Then, of course, I really got into the story and it just took off. It got way better after that.

Where Lament was the story of Dee and Luke, Ballad is the story of James and Nuala. It was really more of a companion novel to Lament than it was a sequel. It's not necessary that you read Lament before you read this one to know what is going on but it really did help. I think that if you didn't read Lament you would question a couple things but you would be okay. =]

James was a really great character. He was egotistical, cocky, a bit crazy, and all together totally lovable. He was so cute, I just fell for him. He was just as cute in Lament but you didn't really get to know him much in Lament whereas this whole book was about him. Well, I guess it's about Nuala too. At first, I didn't like Nuala. She seemed really cruel and kind of heartless but she began to grow on me and she really was the perfect match for James.

The one thing that I really hated about this book was Dee. In Lament, she was a strong heroine who could fend for herself. In Ballad, she seemed to have gone off the deep end after losing Luke. I didn't like what she turned into but as the book went on I realized that it all had to do with the storyline. Which, by the way, was even more pulse-pounding than Lament. I never knew what was going to happen next and the ending was a total shocker!

Overall, Ballad blew me away just as much as Lament. So far I haven't read a single book by Maggie Stiefvater that I haven't completely enjoyed and I hope that continues with her future works. Well, actually with this track record, I highly doubt she could disappoint me. Also, I am hoping that there might be a third book after Ballad. This one introduced some characters that I would love to know more about and I felt that the ending could be added to. It didn't feel closed to me. Hopefully, it didn't feel closed to Maggie and she will want to continue with the series. I think that if you read this one, you will know exactly what I mean. So go read it! I really want to know if you guys agree with me. =]

Writing: 10/10

Characters: 8/10

Ending: 9/10

Plot: 9/10

Originality: 10/10

Overall: 46/50=A

Cover: 9/10=A

Anyone want?

I have an extra ARC of The Lonely Hearts Club by Elizabeth Eulberg if someone wants to trade me for it. I also have a bigger list of books in my left sidebar if you want to check that out. I try and update regularly.

If you have a book you think I might want, email me at katieb206[at]gmail[dot]com

Some books that I am really interested in are:
-Eighth Grade Bites by Heather Brewer
-Me, My Elf, and I by Heather Swain
-Unclaimed Heart by Kim Wilkins
-Academy 7 by Anne Osterlund
-The September Sisters by Jillian Cantor
-Goddess Boot Camp by Tera Lynn Childs
-Hottie by Jonathan Bernstein

=]

In My Mailbox 42

In My Mailbox is a meme created by The Story Siren and inspired by Alea of Pop Culture Junkie! It is a list of what books you have received over the previous week, either in the mail, from the bookstore, from the library, or from trades. =]


For review:

-Fallen by Lauren Kate (HC)


-The Lonely Hearts Club by Elizabeth Eulberg (HC)

From trades:

-Before Midnight: A Retelling of Cinderella by Cameron Dokey (PB)

Yay! That is all I got this week. I am trying my hardest to get caught up and I will be very soon. I am still reading Beautiful Creatures and it is so amazing. It is definitely going on my favorites list but I will tell you more about that in the review.

Also, if there aren't as many posts this week, it's because I am trying to get everything ready for Christmas. I will have one or two more contests, though. Check back soon for those.

What was in your mailbox this week?

Lament by Maggie Stiefvater

Book: Lament by Maggie Stiefvater

Release date: October 1, 2008

Publisher: Flux

From: Bookstore

Summary:
Sixteen-year-old Deirdre Monaghan is a painfully shy but prodigiously gifted musician. She's about to find out she's also a cloverhand - one who can see faeries. Deirdre finds herself infatuated with a mysterious boy who enters her ordinary suburban life, seemingly out of thin air. Trouble is, the enigmatic and gorgeous Luke turns out to be a gallowglass - a soulless faerie assassin. An equally hunky - and equally dangerous - dark faerie soldier named Aodhan is also stalking Deirdre. Sworn enemies, Luke and Aodhan each have a deadly assignment from the Faerie Queen. Namely, kill Deirdre before her music captures the attention of the Fae and threatens the Queen's sovereignty. Caught in the crossfire with Deirdre is James, her wisecracking but loyal best friend. Deirdre had been wishing her life weren't so dull, but getting trapped in the middle of a centuries-old faerie war isn't exactly what she had in mind . . .

*****

Wow! I didn't think that this book could be better than Shiver but in the end, I think it might have been. I just really, really loved it. I haven't read very many good books about fairies but this one was. It was also amazingly unique and wonderfully written.

Deirdre Monaghan is a very talented musician but it's not really a known fact. That's because her fear of performing tends to stop her from doing it very often. All that changes when she meets Luke Dillon, the very guy of her dreams(literally). =]

Dee and Luke really had an instantaneous attraction that was amazing, to say the least. At first I was a bit skeptical because he just showed up out of nowhere and Dee went with anything he said without questioning a single thing. That doesn't seem to happen a lot in society today because people are taught not to trust strangers but I guess it went with the story pretty believably. Well, also this isn't really a book that you would take literally and expect to happen in real life. The best thing about it was that I even though I know it couldn't, I believed it could. Maggie Stiefvater has a way of making the most unbelievable of situations seem believable. I just love her writing and I can't wait to dive into Ballad, the sequel. I hope it's as good as this one was.

Another thing about Lament is that it has your typical young adult love triangle. The one boy the girl can't resist and the best friend who has been secretly pining away for years. It was a tad predictable but it just added to the story and I loved both of the boys. Luke was really sexy and mysterious while James was the loving, goofy friend. They both helped make the book as good as it was.

Overall, I loved it! It is really such an extraordinary fairy tale and all I have to say to you guys is: READ IT! It's worth it and I am so glad that I did. This is definitely a book I can see myself reading over and over again.

Writing: 10/10

Characters: 9/10

Ending: 9/10

Plot: 10/10

Originality: 10/10

Overall: 48/50=A

Cover: 9/10=A