The Wizarding World of Harry Potter

Hey everyone! I thought that since I was fortunate enough to get to go to Universal Studios Orlando and The Wizarding World of Harry Potter I should share my experience! It was really, really awesome!

Warning! Picture heavy post!

 This is the castle, how you see it when you're waiting to enter that part of the park. Isn't it amazing?

 Hogsmeade

 The welcome sign.

 The left says Hogwarts.

 The greenhouse when you're waiting in line for HP and the Forbidden Journey. Most of the line is out there.

 Mandrakes!

 House Points. This is one of the first things that you see when the line goes through the castle.

 The entrance to Dumbledore's office. You get to see his office while you're in line, but they hurry you along and you barely have time to take any pictures.

 A news paper with a moving picture.

 The Hogwarts Express! This is what you first see when you enter Hogsmeade directly. Well, that and the cart of butterbeer, but I didn't get a picture of that.

 That's me in front of Honeydukes. Sorry it's sideways.

 Me drinking butterbeer!

And me by the sign on the way out of the park, all gross and disgusting from being in 100 degree heat walking around all day!

There is so, so much more to see, but there were so many people and everyone was rushed. I didn't get to take as many pictures as I would have liked. The pictures don't do the place justice, it's just so cool! I really hope that you all get to go at least once!

Infinite Days by Rebecca Maizel

Title: Infinite Days
Author: Rebecca Maizel
Release Date: August 3rd, 2010
Source: Received for review from publisher
Synopsis from Amazon:
"Throughout all my histories, I found no one I loved more than you...no one."

Those were some of Rhode's last words to me. The last time he would pronounce his love. The last time I would see his face.

It was the first time in 592 years I could take a breath. Lay in the sun. Taste.

Rhode sacrificed himself so I, Lenah Beaudonte, could be human again. So I could stop the blood lust.

I never expected to fall in love with someone else that wasn't Rhode.

But Justin was...daring. Exciting. More beautiful than I could dream.

I never expected to be sixteen again...then again, I never expected my past to come back and haunt me...

This is one of my favorite books this year! I loved everything about it, especially Lenah, the protagonist. I really loved how I couldn't predict everything that happens in it, I couldn't predict much actually. It was a very nice change of pace.

I thought that it was very interesting that instead of Lenah wanting to be a vampire, she wanted to be human. In Maizel's world vampires lose all traces of humanity and are numb. They can't feel anything, only their memories tell them if things are soft or hard. When you put it like that it's not too difficult to imagine why you would want to be human. Too bad the coven Lenah created wouldn't support her decision and she had to become human in secret, then hide from them so they won't kill her.

Lenah was a great protagonist. She was very frank and had a dry humor that I liked. She adapted to things well, but it was funny when she didn't know what something was. In the short time Rhode was in the book I loved him. I think it was because even though he was a vampire he would sacrifice himself for the one person he loves the most to be happy. I loved Tony also, he was funny, nice, artistic, and had good intentions. I wasn't a big fan of Justin. I don't understand why Lenah liked him so much.

I loved the flashbacks scattered throughout the book. It was fun to read about Lenah as a vampire during different time periods, and to get to know the other vampires in her coven without them being present. By the second part of this book I was so invested in the characters that I couldn't hardly fathom what happened. It was heart wrenching for me to read. And the end...what an ending. I'm actually not really sure what happened in the last sentence, but I really want to know. When does the next one come out?

Basically, I loved this book! I'm definitely going to be rereading it sometime in the future!

Characters: 10/10
Plot: 10/10
Originality: 10/10
Writing: 10/10
Ending: 9/10
Overall: 49/50 A+
Cover/Title Comments: I love the cover! The tear is perfect, and the title font is awesome. The title itself is good too.

Book Blogger Hop 4!

It's that time again! Time to do the hop!

The Book Blogger Hop is hosted by Jenn at Crazy-for-Books!

A little about the hop from Jenn's blog:

In the spirit of the Twitter Friday Follow, the Book Blogger Hop is a place just for book bloggers and readers to connect and share our love of the written word!  This weekly BOOK PARTY is an awesome opportunity for book bloggers to connect with other book lovers, make new friends, support each other, and generally just share our love of books!  It will also give blog readers a chance to find other book blogs to read!  So, grab the logo, post about the Hop on your blog, and start HOPPING through the list of blogs that are posted in the Linky list!

This weeks question: 

Who is your favorite new-to-you author so far this year?

Well, that's hard to answer! I have a few:

• Rebecca Maizel, author of Infinite Days

• Melina Marchetta, author of Jellicoe Road

• Julia Hoban, author of Willow

• Maria V. Snyder author of the Poison Study.

I would read anything that any of those authors wrote, they are all so talented! Who's on your list?

If you are here from the hop, welcome! Please leave a comment with link to your blog so I can check it out!

Mini Reviews

These are just a few books that I've read this summer but didn't write full reviews for.


Title: Spells
Author: Aprilynne Pike
Published: May 2010
Synopsis from Goodreads:
Six months have passed since Laurel saved the gateway to the faerie realm of Avalon. Now she must spend her summer there, honing her skills as a Fall faerie. But her human family and friends are still in mortal danger--and the gateway to Avalon is more compromised than ever.

When it comes time to protect those she loves, will she depend on David, her human boyfriend, for help? Or will she turn to Tamani, the electrifying faerie with whom her connection is undeniable?

Well, this was a HUGE step up from Wings. I thought that Wings was only okay, but I really liked Spells! So much more happened in this book! I loved reading about the faerie world, and Tamani *swoon*. Laurel is probably my least favorite part, actually. 4 Stars!

 Title: Infinity
Author: Sherrilyn Kenyon
Published: May 2010
Source: Won
Synopsis from Goodreads:
At fourteen, Nick Gautier thinks he knows everything about the world around him. Streetwise, tough and savvy, his quick sarcasm is the stuff of legends. . .until the night when his best friends try to kill him. Saved by a mysterious warrior who has more fighting skills than Chuck Norris, Nick is sucked into the realm of the Dark-Hunters: immortal vampire slayers who risk everything to save humanity.

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

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

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

I thoroughly enjoyed this book! The world that Sherrilyn Kenyon created was a lot of fun to be in. Nick was a good character, though sometimes I thought that he was a little cliched. My favorite character was Bubba. He's just hilarious. The zombie aspect was fun to read, and completely unique. I just wish that there were less characters to keep track of, I got a little confused. 4.5 Stars!

 Title: The Reckoning
Author: Kelley Armstrong
Published: April 2010
Source: The Library
Synopsis from Goodreads:
Only two weeks ago, life was all too predictable. But that was before I saw my first ghost. Now, along with my supernatural friends Tori, Derek, and Simon, I’m on the run from the Edison Group, which genetically altered us as part of their sinister experiment. We’re hiding in a safe house that might not be as safe as it seems. We’ll be gone soon anyway, back to rescue those we’d left behind and to take out the Edison Group . . . or so we hope.

I was a little bit disappointed in this book. I absolutely adore the other two in the trilogy, but this one fell a bit flat. Instead of being on the run, a lot of the book is set in the same place. It really slowed the pace down. I liked the romance! There wasn't much in the first two books, but this one totally made up for it! I can't wait for her next trilogy! 4 Stars!
 

Waiting on Wednesday (27)

Waiting on Wednesday is a weekly meme hosted by Jill at Breaking the Spine where we showcase the books that we just can't wait to be released.

This week:

Rival by Sara Bennett Wealer

Release Date: February 15th, 2010

Synopsis from Goodreads:

Meet Brooke: Popular, powerful and hating every minute of it, she’s the “It” girl at Douglas High in Lake Champion, Minnesota. Her real ambition? Using her operatic mezzo as a ticket back to NYC, where her family lived before her dad ran off with an up and coming male movie star.

Now meet Kathryn: An overachieving soprano with an underachieving savings account, she’s been a social leper ever since Brooke punched her at a party junior year. For Kath, music is the key to a much-needed college scholarship.

The stage is set for a high-stakes duet between the two seniors as they prepare for the prestigious Blackmore competition. Brooke and Kathryn work toward the Blackmore with eyes not just on first prize but on one another, each still stinging from a past that started with friendship and ended in betrayal. As competition day nears, Brooke dreams of escaping the in-crowd for life as a professional singer, but her scheming BFF Chloe has other plans. And when Kathryn gets an unlikely invitation to Homecoming, she suspects Brooke of trying to sabotage her with one last public humiliation.

As pressures mount, Brooke starts to sense that the person she hates most might just be the best friend she ever had. But Kathryn has a decision to make. Can she forgive? Or are some rivalries for life?

Oooh, drama. Former friends turned enemies is always fun to read about! I think that 2011 is starting to look just as good as 2010 bookwise!

What are you waiting on?

Mini Reviews of Fall Releases

So, I've read a few ARCs for tour recently, ones that don't come out until fall. I don't think that it's fair to post the entire review yet, so I'm going to do a couple mini reviews so you know how I liked them!

Title: Virals
Author: Kathy Reichs
Release Date: November 2nd 2010
Source: Traveling ARC Tours
Synopsis from Goodreads:
Tory Brennan, niece of acclaimed forensic anthropologist Temperance Brennan (of the Bones novels and hit TV show), is the leader of a ragtag band of teenage "sci-philes" who live on a secluded island off the coast of South Carolina. When the group rescues a dog caged for medical testing on a nearby island, they are exposed to an experimental strain of canine parvovirus that changes their lives forever.

As the friends discover their heightened senses and animal-quick reflexes, they must combine their scientific curiosity with their newfound physical gifts to solve a cold-case murder that has suddenly become very hot if they can stay alive long enough to catch the killer's scent.

Fortunately, they are now more than friends they're a pack. They are Virals.

I love mysteries! You don't see a lot of them in YA, which is sad. This book had a great mystery, a great protag, and all around great characters! It also had a very unique element that I enjoyed. My only complaint is that it's slow in places. I can't wait to read more in the Virals series! 4 Stars!

Title: Girl, Stolen
Author: April Henry
Release Date: September 28th 2010
Source: Around the World ARC Tours
Synopsis from Goodreads:
Sixteen year-old Cheyenne Wilder is sleeping in the back of a car while her mom fills her prescription at the pharmacy. Before Cheyenne realizes what's happening, their car is being stolen--with her inside! Griffin hadn’t meant to kidnap Cheyenne, all he needed to do was steal a car for the others. But once Griffin's dad finds out that Cheyenne’s father is the president of a powerful corporation, everything changes—now there’s a reason to keep her. What Griffin doesn’t know is that Cheyenne is not only sick with pneumonia, she is blind. How will Cheyenne survive this nightmare, and if she does, at what price?

This book was a great thriller! Cheyenne is a very strong character who I really liked. It was very interesting reading through the eyes of a blind person. We also get to see some of Griffin's point of view, which I liked. My only complaint is that it was told in third person and I didn't connect to the characters as well as I would have liked to. 4 Stars!

Be on the lookout for the full reviews, Virals in October and Girl, Stolen in September! 

Manifest by Artist Arthur

Title: Manifest
Author: Artist Arthur
Release Date: July 27th
Source: Received for review from publisher.
Synopsis from Goodreads:
When fifteen-year-old Krystal Bentley moves to Lincoln, Connecticut, her mom's hometown, she assumes her biggest drama will be adjusting to the burbs after living in New York City.



But Lincoln is nothing like Krystal imagined. The weirdness begins when Ricky Watson starts confiding in her. He's cute, funny, a good listener—and everything she'd ever want—except that he was killed nearly a year ago. Krystal's ghost-whispering talents soon lead other "freaks" to her door—Sasha, a rich girl who can literally disappear, and Jake, who moves objects with his mind. All three share a distinctive birthmark in the shape of an M and, fittingly, call themselves the Mystyx. They set out to learn what really happened to Ricky, only to realize that they aren't the only ones with mysterious powers. But if Krystal succeeds in finding out the truth about Ricky's death, will she lose him for good?

Manifest was an interesting book. Not completely original, but it definitely put a new spin on things. Krystal is a medium, something that she's just learned about herself. And it freaks her out. A ghost (who she may or may not have a crush on) is asking her to help figure out who killed him, but she wants none of it. Things only get weirder when classmates Shasha and Jake reveal that they have strange powers too.

The mystery in this book was definitely not what I was expecting. It was creepy and original. Also original was the origin of the powers. It's something that I've never read before, which was interesting. Most of this book focuses on Krystals life and her problems including and not including her status as a medium. Her life was interesting, but I would have liked the mystery to be a bigger part of the book.

I really couldn't connect to Krystal very well. I thought that she was kind of whiny and a little bit selfish. She refused to see what was in front of her, and made other people feel bad. I guess that it's realistic, I just got kind of frustrated. I liked Sasha and Jake though. Jake was really down to earth, and Sasha was a drama queen but not in a bad way. I look forward to reading more about them.

Basically, I enjoyed this book, I just wish that there had been more mystery and that I could have connected to Krystal more.

Characters: 7/10
Writing: 8/10
Plot: 8/10
Originality: 7/10
Ending: 9/10
Overall: 39/50 C+
Cover/Title Comments: They both fit really well. I don't like the title font on the cover though. I think that it looks a little cheesy.

Top Shelf: The Specialists by Shannon Greenland

Top Shelf is a feature that I do every once in a while to highlight a book or series that I really enjoy.

Model Spy

Down to the Wire

The Winning Element

Native Tongue

Fight to the Finish (Couldn't find a picture, available online)

I love this series! It focuses around GiGi, an amazing hacker with an IQ of 191 who's been in foster care ever since her parents died on a plane crash. She's recruited by a special government agency called The Specialists, which is a group of teenagers who have special skills, ranging from speaking a ton of languages to having a way with chemicals. She gets to go on undercover missions with the other specialists to help bring down bad guys.

This series is just so fun! GiGi is a great protag, and I really wish that I had the hacker skills that she did. There are some (okay, a lot) of elements of these books that are too good to be true, but I don't even care! They are total escapism and I love reading about going undercover and all of the awesome gadgets that they get to use.

They sound like the Gallagher Girls books, but when you're reading them they're a lot different. They're really quick reads and have a quick moving plot. One thing that I like about these books is that even though GiGi is the protag of them all, she's paired with a different specialist each time and we get to know them throughout the book. My favorite is when she and the resident goth have to go undercover as cheerleaders!

So, if you're looking for total escapism fun, check these out!

Waiting on Wednesday (26)

Waiting on Wednesday is a weekly meme hosted by Jill at Breaking the Spine where we showcase the books that we just can't wait to be released.

This week:

 Through Her Eyes by Jennifer Archer

Release Date: April 1st, 2011

Synopsis from Goodreads:

Sixteen-year-old Tansy Piper moves with her grandfather and her mother, a horror writer, to the setting of her mother's next book--a secluded house ou...more

Sixteen-year-old Tansy Piper moves with her grandfather and her mother, a horror writer, to the setting of her mother's next book--a secluded house outside of a tiny, desolate West Texas town. Lonely and upset over the move, Tansy escapes into her photography and the dark, seductive poems she finds hidden in the cellar, both of which lure her into the mind and world of a mysterious, troubled young man who died sixty years earlier.

 

Sounds mysterious and spooky. I'm not sure how I feel about that cover, but April sure seems a long way away...
 
What are you waiting on? 

Vacation!

Okay, so tomorrow (21st) I'm going to Florida! I'll be there until the 28th. While I'm there I'm going to go to The Wizarding World of Harry Potter at Universal Studios Orlando! I'll be sure to take lots of pictures and post them when I get back! I have posts scheduled for while I'm in Florida, but I probably won't be able to get online.

From August 1st through 6th I'll be at band camp. NO INTERNET ACCESS. I've declared that week Favorites Week on my blog, because I wrote up Top Ten posts for while I'm there.

So that's what's happening here, I'm sorry if I don't reply to an email or comment while I'm away, it's probably because I can't.

Winner!

We have a winner! The winner of the $40 CSN Giftcard is...

Kelly H. of The Book Hunter!

Congrats Kelly! I will give your email to CSN so that they can contact you!

Lies by Michael Grant

Title: Lies
Author: Michael Grant
Published: May 2010
Source: The Library
Synopsis from Goodreads:
It happens in one night: a girl who died now walks among the living, Zil and the Human Crew set fire to Perdido Beach, and amid the flames and smoke, Sam sees the figure of the boy he fears the most - Drake. But Sam and Caine defeated him along with the Darkness - or so they thought. As Perdido Beach burns, battles rage: Astrid against the Town Council; the Human Crew versus the mutants; and Sam against Drake. And the prophetess Orsay and her companion, Nerezza, are preaching that death will set them all free. As life in the FAYZ becomes more desperate, no one knows who they can trust.

I don't think that I've ever read a more twisted series of books. Seriously. I read them the same way that you can't look away from a train wreck: with a horrible fascination and a sick feeling in your gut. They are so good, but I could only read so much at one time.

One thing that I really like about these books is also it's biggest drawback. I love all of the characters, how we get inside the head of a lot of them, not just the main ones. Michael Grant does a great job of keeping the characters realistic. It can be confusing, because it's hard to keep track of so many characters, what they look like, if they have a power, what it is. 


Michael Grant has one hell of an imagination. Seriously. What happens in these books is insane, yet always realistic. The way the children act, they way they feel, the horrible things that happen to them. It's all realistic, which is part of the reason why it's so terrifying. 


Basically, I really liked this book and thought that it was a great addition to the series. I only wish that it was easier to keep track of the characters.


Characters: 8/10
Plot: 8/10
Originality: 10/10
Writing: 9/10
Ending: 9/10
Overall: 44/50 B+
Cover/Title Comments: Both are great. I like how they use the same people on each cover. The title fits it well, as there are many lies told in this story.

In My Mailbox (25) Vlog!

In My Mailbox is a weekly meme hosted by Kristi at The Story Siren where were share the books that we bought, received, won, etc. the previous week.

I'm sorry that some of the covers are cut off!



Did I mention that those library bookstore books go for $1 per hardback and $0.50 per paperback? Yeah.

Not shown: On Saturday I got a second copy of Infinite Days by Rebecca Maizel for review from St. Martin's Press. No idea why, but you know what two copies means? Giveaway! Be on the lookout for that when I get back from vaca!

Bought:
The Game of Sunken Places by M.T. Anderson
If You Come Softly by Jaquelin Woodson
Queen of the Big Time by Adriana Trigiani
Monkey Business by Sarah Mlynowski
Water for Elephants by Sara Gruen
Sing Me to Sleep by Angela Morrison
Shadow Hills by Anastasia Hopcus
The Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins
Catching Fire by Suzanne Collins

From Around the World ARC Tours:
Girl, Stolen by April Henry

Won:
Claire de Lune Swag from Taryn at Super Librarian
Sea Change by Aimee Friedman
The Year My Sister Got Lucky by Aimee Friedman
South Beach by Aimee Friedman
French Kiss by Aimee Friedman
Hollywood Hills by Aimee Friedman

Special thanks to Taryn at Super Librarian, Alea at Pop Culture Junkie, and Scholastic for my wins!

13 to Life by Shannon Delany

Title: 13 to Life

Author: Shannon Delany

Published: June 22nd 2010

Source: Won from Young Adult Books Central

Synopsis from Goodreads:

Something strange is stalking the small town of Junction…

When junior Jess Gillmansen gets called out of class by Guidance, she can only presume it’s for one of two reasons. Either they’ve finally figured out who wrote the scathing anti-jock editorial in the school newspaper or they’re hosting yet another intervention for her about her mom. Although far from expecting it, she’s relieved to discover Guidance just wants her to show a new student around—but he comes with issues of his own including a police escort.

The newest member of Junction High, Pietr Rusakova has secrets to hide--secrets that will bring big trouble to the small town of Junction—secrets including dramatic changes he’s undergoing that will surely end his life early. 

13 to Life was not what I was expecting, at all. That's a great thing! I expected it to be good, just not in the way that it was. I've noticed that a lot of paranormal books rely on the paranormal aspect of the book to creat suspense, tension, and drama. This book did not. It did that using good old fashioned emotions, with smatterings of paranormal throughout.

Jess is a character that I can get behind. She's loyal to her friends, doesn't take crap from anybody, and is a generally good person. She likes Pietr, but so does her friend Sarah. Her friend who played a large role in the death of Jess's mother, but became a completely different person after it happened. So Jess convinces Pietr that she wants him to date Sarah. Despite this they can't stay away from each other.

I thought that Jess and Pietr worked well together. Their connection felt real, and I enjoyed their conversations. My favorite scenes were when they were together.

The aspect of Jess's mother's death was something that I wasn't expecting. I also wasn't expecting so much to be left until the very end. It wasn't a bad thing, I enjoyed getting to know the characters without the supernatural. I really liked Pietr's family, they were really interesting and I want to know more about them. I can't really say how original Shannon's take on werewolves is yet, because I really don't know much about hers.

Something that I didn't like was that some parts of the book were a bit slow. I also got a little frustrated when someone would reference an event that wasn't explained until later in the book. It made me feel like I was missing something.

Basically, I really liked this book, I just wish that a few things had been explained sooner and that it moved slightly quicker in a couple places.

Characters: 9/10
Plot: 8/10
Originality: 9/10
Writing: 9/10
Ending: 9/10
Overall: 44/50 B+

Book Blogger Hop (3) Plus a little surprise!

Hey all! It's that day again, yup, FRIDAY! You know what that means, it's time to HOP!

The Book Blogger Hop is hosted at Crazy for Books and is an awesome idea. I love it, and I hope that you participate!

From Crazy for Books:

About the Hop:
In the spirit of the Twitter Friday Follow, the Book Blogger Hop is a place just for book bloggers and readers to connect and find new book-related blogs that we may be missing out on! This weekly BOOK PARTY is an awesome opportunity for book bloggers to connect with other book lovers, make new friends, support each other, and generally just share our love of books! It will also give blog readers a chance to find other book blogs that they may not know existed! So, grab the logo, post about the Hop on your blog, and start HOPPING!

See? It's totally easy!

This weeks question: RIGHT THIS INSTANT, WHAT BOOK ARE YOU DYING TO GET YOUR HANDS ON (PAST, PRESENT, OR FUTURE)?

Well, there's more than one answer to that!
1. Mockingjay by Suzanne Collins: It's just over a month away, and it couldn't come any sooner! Just thinking about it makes me excited! Plus: Who will win? Team Gale or Team Peeta?

2. Clockwork Angel by Cassandra Clare: Shadowhunters? 19th Century? A love triangle? CASSANDRA CLARE? HECK YEAH!

3. Last Sacrifice by Richelle Mead: The end of this epically awesome series, and one of my favorite love triangles ever. Considering that the books seem to steadily get better, this one is going to be AMAZING!

If you're here from the hop, welcome! Please check out my $40 CSN Stores Giftcard Giveaway while you're here, you don't even have to be a follower!

I'm sensing a theme in my choices...Leave a comment of what it is and I'll pick a few random people to get (signed?) swag. Be sure to leave your email!

Jump by Elisa Carbone

Title: Jump
Author: Elisa Carbone
Published: June 2010
Source: The Library
Synopsis from Goodreads:
Jump. That is what P.K. has done. A totally wild, crazy jump from a restrictive life with her family into a life of total adventure—rock-climbing out west with a guy she barely knows. At first, everything’s amazing. Not only are they climbing in awesomely beautiful national parks like Yosemite but they seem awesomely made for one another. P.K. is in heaven. And then the cops show up . . . with an arrest warrant. And P.K. has to decide who to believe: this amazing guy whom she trusts with her life—or the cops, who want her to believe that he may take her life.

Oh my, what do I say about this book? I adored it, every page. I've never been climbing, and I doubt that I'm coordinated enough to pull it off, but this book made me really want to go! It didn't take long for me to get the gist of the climbing lingo, and I found myself envisioning the climbs easily.

This book is told in alternating POV's between Critter and P.K. Let me tell you, in the first couple of chapters I was really wary of Critter. Is he insane? A lot of what he was saying didn't make sense to me. Not to mention what he was doing in the first few chapters. But as I went along with the story I started to really get him. He has some very unique perspectives, and 'What would you do if you weren't afraid?' has become my new mantra. Within reason of course.

P.K. is very headstrong, and she has a good sense of what's right. Her parents want to ship her off to boarding school, but she doesn't want to go. So she decides to take off on a climbing trip for a while, until they change their minds. She's basically the exact opposite of me, but I still connected with her and understood her motivations.

The relationship between P.K. and Critter was wonderful. It was so honest, and so real. I loved following them on their adventure: meeting the people they met, climbing the rocks they climbed. It was fun, and yet there was always the little voice saying 'This can't last' that gave everything a more urgent feel. The chapters before the end were torture for me, as if I was going through what P.K. was going through. And the ending was just wow.

Basically, I absolutely loved this book! It was honest and interesting, and I wish that I could read more about Critter and P.K.!

Characters: 10/10
Writing: 10/10
Originality: 10/10
Plot: 9/10
Ending: 10/10
Overall: 48/50 A+
Cover/Title Comments: Both are very fitting. The boy and girl on the cover fit the descriptions of Critter and P.K., and of course climbing plays a huge role in the book.

Waiting on Wednesday (25)

Waiting on Wednesday is a weekly meme hosted by Jill at Breaking the Spine where we showcase the books that we are eagerly anticipating the release of.

This week:

You by Charles Benoit

Release Date: Septer 1st, 2010

Synopsis from Goodreads:

A note from the author:

It's easy to forget that we spend our early teens afraid. We're afraid of fitting in, standing out, or being ignored. We worry that we'll never get a date, never get into college, and never amount to anything. Just like everyone predicts.

It's also easy to discount these fears. Looking back, it seems impossible that we would have stayed awake all night worrying about what someone else thought of our clothes or that we ever doubted our abilities, our potential. But that's only because we know how the story ends.

I wanted to write a book that started with these fears as givens, bottling them in tight and capping them off with that artificial indifference genetically required of all teens. Kyle Chase is not a bad kid. He's not a good kid, either. He's a typical kid. He's any kid. And, at one point in your life, he was you.

Doesn't this sound so unique? It's told in second person, something that I haven't read an entire book in before. And this cover! The broken glass in the shape of a U on the black backround is stunning.

What are you waiting on?

Beautiful Malice by Rebecca James

Title: Beautiful Malice
Author: Rebecca James
Release Date: July 13th, 2010 (Today!)
Source: LibraryThing Early Reviewers
*I'm not sure if this is classified as YA or Adult, and it has a lot of very mature themes, so younger teens might want to skip it*
Synopsis from Goodreads:
Following a terrible tragedy that leaves her once-perfect family shattered, Katherine Patterson moves to a new city, starts at a new school, and looks forward to a new life of quiet anonymity.


But when Katherine meets the gregarious and beautiful Alice Parrie her resolution to live a solitary life becomes difficult. Katherine is unable resist the flattering attention that Alice pays her and is so charmed by Alice’s contagious enthusiasm that the two girls soon become firm friends. Alice’s joie de vivre is transformative; it helps Katherine forget her painful past and slowly, tentatively, Katherine allows herself to start enjoying life again.

But being friends with Alice is complicated – and as Katherine gets to know her better she discovers that although Alice can be charming and generous she can also be selfish and egocentric. Sometimes, even, Alice is cruel.

And when Katherine starts to wonder if Alice is really the kind of person she wants as a friend, she discovers something else about Alice - she doesn’t like being cast off.

This seems to be a book that you either love or you hate. On Goodreads there are a lot of 2 star ratings, and a lot of 5 star ratings. I gave it 5 stars. I loved this book. I couldn't put it down from the moment I started it. I can see why some people might not like it: it might seem boring to them. Not to me. This book was all about the characters, and they were great characters.

This book is told mostly from seventeen year old Katherine's POV, but there are snippets of her life five years later, as well as her life a year or so earlier. I felt a connection to Katherine. She lost her sister, her parents are still grieving, and the nature of her sisters death causes the media to hound her. She moves in with her aunt and takes a new last name, becomes more reserved, less her old popular self. That's why, when she meets Alice, she welcomes her into her life. Alice is vivacious and loves life, going about it without a care in the world, so much the opposite of Katherine.

Oh, Alice, Alice, Alice. Are there really people like you in the world? Yes, and that is a scary thought. Someone that you thought was your friend could be your worst enemy and you don't even know it. Alice wasn't all this book was about though. It was also about Katherine learning to live and love again, moving on with her life. Something that I found interesting was that most of the book is told in first person, but there are two sections told in second person, and it was those two sections that had the most impact on me, that made me gasp in horror or cry even though in both cases I knew what would happen.

Basically: I loved this book, though it's certainly not for everyone. If you're a big paranormal fan this probably isn't the book for you, but if you like realistic fiction you might want to give it a shot.

Characters: 10/10
Writing: 9/10
Originality: 10/10
Plot: 9/10
Ending: 10/10
Overall: 48/50 A
Title/Cover Comments: The title is fine, but I dislike this cover. It just doesn't appeal to me at all: the font, the colors, the eye, nothing works together right. I kind of like the concept of the rain though.

CSN Stores $40 Gift Card Giveaway!

Yep, you read that right, I have the opportunity to give away a $40 giftcard to CSN Stores! Whether you're looking for dining room furniture, bookshelves, something for your pet, or almost anything else, CSN has you covered.

*Almost everything in the store has free shipping in the US, though some charges may apply to Canadians.*

The Rules:

This giveaway is for US and Canadian residents only.

It will end at 11:59 PM on July 19th.

You do not need to be a follower to enter.

Please fill out the form below to enter.

A Quick Apology

Hey, I just thought that in case you've seen two WoW posts from me in the past half hour it's because I'm trying to pre-schedule my posts for my vaca, and for some reason my computer will post it now despite my scheduling. So, that's why it's happening, and that's why if you click on the link it will say that it's unavailable. Same for if it happens again! Thanks for putting up with me!

Glimpse by Carol Lynch Williams

Title: Glimpse
Author: Carol Lynch Williams
Published: June 2010
Source: The Library
Synopsis from inside cover:
In one moment

it is over.

In one moment

it is gone.

The morning grows

thin, grey

and our lives-

how they were-

have vanished.

Our lives have

changed

when I walk in

on Lizzie

my sister

holding a shotgun.

Glimpse is a heartbreaking and powerful novel that had me turning the pages as fast as possible near the end just to find out what happened. It's told in verse, and it only took me about an hour and a half to read. Oh, how I love novels in verse. Every word is important, everything has to work together or you're left confused with no idea what's happening. Carol Lynch Williams understands that and this was an exceptional novel in verse.

The characters really make this book. Hope is a strong girl, especially considering the way she lives. Her mother is a prostitute, her father is dead, and her sister is all she has. Until she tries to kill herself. Then Lizzie is taken to a mental hospital and Hope is left to figure out what happened. I really felt for Hope. Thinking of her life makes me feel slightly sick. From the get go I didn't like Hope and Lizzie's mother, and by the end I despised her. We don't see much of Lizzie, but there are flashbacks and they visit her a few times. I'm in awe of her and what she endured.

This book isn't for the faint of heart. A lot of it horrified me, because I know that right now, somewhere, this could be happening. It breaks my heart. I really enjoyed the writing in this book, a lot of it was beautiful. The only complaint is that sometimes I was confused about whether it was the past or present.

Basically: Go read this! It will break your heart in the best way!

Characters: 9/10
Plot: 8/10
Writing: 8/10
Originality: 9/10
Ending: 10/10
Overall: 44/50 B+
Cover/Title Comments: The title is absolutely perfect. I love the cover also, the way that the sun peeks through is gorgeous, and Hope rides her bike so it's relevant.

In My Mailbox (24) Vlog!

In My Mailbox is a weekly meme hosted by Kristi at The Story Siren where we share the books that we bought, checked out, received for review, etc, the past week.

I had a good week! I really need a video camera, my digital camera has crappy video. Anyway, enjoy!



Library:
The Reckoning by Kelley Armstrong
Glimpse by Carol Lynch Williams
Jump by Elisa Carbone
Lies by Michael Grant

Traveling ARC Tours:
Virals by Kathy Reichs

Won:
Dark Divine Nail Polish (Thanks Alexa!)
Nightshade by Andrea Cremer (Thanks Jess!)

Blogs Mentioned:
The Cozy Reader

So that's what I got! Link in the comments and I'll check out your mailbox!

Top Shelf: The Mortal Instruments Series by Cassandra Clare

Top Shelf is a feature that I do every once in a while to highlight some of my favorite books or series.

The Mortal Instruments by Cassandra Clare

I first read The Mortal Instruments last August, when I had just discovered the blogging world. It seemed that these were the books to read. I bought the first two in paperback, but I wasn't sure when I would get around to reading them so I refrained from buying City of Glass in hardback. This was a mistake. I tore through these books like nobodies business, and had them finished in less than a week, including the two day layover between City of Ashes and City of Glass, and these books average at about 500 pages each. The series has stuck with me ever since, and I've lent them to a few of my friends, who fell in love with them too.

Well, I reread them this week, and I loved them just as much. I can't believe how much I'd forgotten! It was almost like reading them for the first time again: I loved the characters just as much, the plot was still amazing, the twists and turns were still shocking, I even gasped in horror at a certain part of City of Glass despite knowing that the character was going to be fine. I'm in complete awe of the way that it was all planned out, every last shocking twist was planned from the beginning. Oh, and the emotions! The characters and how they deal is one of the best parts of this series, and some of it breaks my heart.

You can imagine how overjoyed I am about City of Fallen Angels, the unplanned fourth book in what was supposed to be a trilogy. Knowing what happens to the characters after these events will be amazing, especially considering how many things were left open ended. And yet, I'm a bit apprehensive. I have no doubt that Cassandra Clare is going to make it a wonderful book and a fitting part of the series, but I'm a little worried that it will ruin the whole experience that I, personally, have had. I didn't have to wait for each installment, I had them at my fingertips and I read them like one long book. I guess I'm worried that I'll read the next book like I did Breaking Dawn: with a surreal sense that I'm reading fanfiction and this isn't true. I think that this will turn out better than that though ;)

Now, Clockwork Angel is a different story. I think that I would give my right arm for a copy of that right now. I guess that a beginning is a lot less scary than an ending, especially when some of your favorite characters ever are concerned.

Oh, and one more thing. When I first read them I just pictured Jace as described, but rereading I pictured him as Alex Pettyfer. It's actually kind of strange how well he fits the description...

Blog Hop (2)

Hey everyone! The Book Blogger Hop is an awesome weekly event hosted by Crazy for Books that I love but sometimes don't have the time for. Here's a little about it:

In the spirit of the Twitter Friday Follow, the Book Blogger Hop is a place just for book bloggers and readers to connect and find new book-related blogs that we may be missing out on! This weekly BOOK PARTY is an awesome opportunity for book bloggers to connect with other book lovers, make new friends, support each other, and generally just share our love of books! It will also give blog readers a chance to find other book blogs that they may not know existed! So, grab the logo, post about the Hop on your blog, and start HOPPING through the list of blogs that are posted in the Linky list!

This weeks question: Tell us about some of your favorite authors and why they are your favorites!

Meg Cabot: I've read and loved every on of her YA books, and  I know that I can count on her to turn out books that are funny, swoon worthy, and have a kick butt heroine.

Sarah Dessen: Everything she touches turns to gold. I love all of her books, and they're all rereads for me. I can't get enough. I really don't know what else to say besides you can only know what I'm talking about if you've read her books.

John Green: All of his books are hilarious, extremely well written, and have an awesomely nerdy guy narrator (though the book he's working on now has a *gasp* GIRL narrator!). Plus, he and his brother do awesome vlogs three days a week here.

I have more, of course, but those are the first three off the top of my head.

If you're here through the hop WELCOME! Be sure to leave a comment and a link to your blog so that I can check you out!

Kiss It by Erin Downing

Title: Kiss It
Author: Erin Downing
Published: June 2010
Source: Received for review from author (Thanks Erin!)
Synopsis from Goodreads:
A girl's gotta do who a girl's gotta do.


Chastity Bryan has never been shy about going after what she wants. And when sexy, mysterious, so-not-from-this-town Sebastian walks into Chaz's life, she knows in an instant that what she wants next is him. Chaz has no intention of playing for keeps—but she most definitely has intentions. Who needs true love when you've got true lust?

Sebastian has no idea what he's in for—but maybe neither does Chaz


I loved this book! I know that some people don't like how much it mentions sex in it but it didn't bother me. It was a part of who Chaz was as a character, and as much a character trait as having blond hair. I didn't find it crude either, it was pretty realistic. Teenagers have sex and they don't always have it because they're in love, sometimes it's just to have sex. It kind of reminded me of Juno a little bit, actually.

Chaz and I are nothing alike, so I really enjoyed reading about her. She knows what she wants, and she's not afraid to go after it. The interactions between her and Sebastian were my favorite part, they were always so interesting. I liked the way that Chaz's family drama was a big part of this. It shook things up. There's one thing that I predicted straight off, but other than that this book kept me pretty much on my toes.

I thought that this book portrayed high school and teenagers and relationships in a very real and true way, which was refreshing. Not everything is perfect. Things don't always work out. I know that sounds bleak, but a lot of this book is really funny, especially Chaz's inner (and outer) snark. The ending of this book was perfect, but slightly unsatisfying to me. I like things to be wrapped up in a bow, but I guess that I can afford to use my imagination.

Basically I really liked this book and would recommend it if you're looking for a book that's original.

Characters: 9/10
Plot: 9/10
Originality: 10/10
Writing: 9/10
Ending: 9/10
Overall: 46/50 A-
Cover/Title: Perfect! I love the colors and the bunnies are cute. I love the title too.

Waiting on Wednesday (24)

Waiting on Wednesday is a weekly meme hosted by Jill at Breaking the Spine where we showcase the books that we can't wait to come out!

This week:

The Mockingbirds by Daisy Whitney

Release Date: November 2nd 2010

Synopsis from Goodreads:

Some schools have honor codes.
Others have handbooks.

Themis Academy has the Mockingbirds.

Themis Academy is a quiet boarding school with an exceptional student body that the administration trusts to always behave the honorable way--the Themis Way. So when Alex is date raped during her junior year, she has two options: stay silent and hope someone helps her, or enlist the Mockingbirds--a secret society of students dedicated to righting the wrongs of their fellow peers.

In this honest, page-turning account of a teen girl's struggle to stand up for herself, debut author Daisy Whitney reminds readers that if you love something or someone--especially yourself--you fight for it.

Um, wow. A secret society dedicated to justice who bases themselves off of To Kill a Mockingbird (which happens to be one of my all time favorites)? And it's set at a boarding school? Yes, please.

What are you waiting on?

BEA Bag of Awesome AKA Contest You Should Enter!

I know that I don't usually post about contests, but this is one that you NEED to enter! It's hosted by Chick Lit Teens and features some BEA swag, including 3 ARCs, a finished book, a Tshirt, and a bag!

Here's the info straight from the site!


One (1) very lucky reader will win....

•The Mockingbirds by Daisy Whitney (ARC)

•Firelight by Sophie Jordan (ARC)
•2 chapter preview of Tell Me a Secret by Holly Cupala
•Seth Baumgartner's Love Manifesto by Eric Luper
•The Duff by Kody Keplinger (ARC)
•Strand bookmark
•Class of 2k10 bookmark
•Change of Heart bookmark
•Perfect Chemistry series bookmark
•The Absolute Value of -1 bookmark
•Class of 2k10 official BEA t-shirt

Sounds great, right? Well it just wouldn't be BEA without a giant bag to carry your loot around in. If there's one thing I learned at the convention, it's that bags are your friends. Your best friends. So naturally, you'll need one of these...

An official BEA bag (posing with the lovely 2k10 t-shirt)!

What are you waiting for???

Go Enter!

Forgive My Fins by Tera Lynn Childs

Title: Forgive My Fins
Author: Tera Lynn Childs
Published: May 2010
Source: Won in contest
Synopsis from Goodreads:
Lily Sanderson has a secret, and it’s not that she has a huge crush on gorgeous swimming god Brody Bennett, who makes her heart beat flipper-fast. Unrequited love is hard enough when you’re a normal teenage girl, but when you’re half human, half mermaid like Lily, there’s no such thing as a simple crush.


Lily’s mermaid identity is a secret that can’t get out, since she’s not just any mermaid – she’s a Thalassinian princess. When Lily found out three years ago that her mother was actually a human, she finally realized why she didn’t feel quite at home in Thalassinia, and she’s been living on land and going to Seaview high school ever since, hoping to find where she truly belongs. Sure, land has its problems – like her obnoxious, biker boy neighbor Quince Fletcher – but it has that one major perk – Brody. The problem is, mermaids aren’t really the casual dating type – when they “bond,” it’s for life.

When Lily’s attempt to win Brody’s love leads to a tsunami-sized case of mistaken identity, she is in for a tidal wave of relationship drama, and she finds out, quick as a tailfin flick, that happily-ever-after never sails quite as smoothly as you planned.

Forgive My Fins was a perfect summer read! This is the first book that I've read about mermaids, and I really enjoyed it! It was a lot different than I thought it would be but in a good way. I love how it wasn't about Lily trying to adjust to human life, or someone finding out her secret. It was a book about a girl who just so happened to be a mermaid, and it was great.

Ahhh, I loved Quince. Hands down my favorite character. And the rest of the characters were great too! Strangely the one that I liked the least was Lily herself. I just thought that she was a bit too...thick sometimes. But that worked for the story in the end. The end! I loved loved loved the last chapter, but then the Epilogue gives you a kick in the butt.

Everything about this book was just cute and light. I loved the way that Tera Lynn Childs dealt with Lily being a mermaid. She just was. There was no introduction, she was just explaining things as she went, which suited me fine. And the whole underwater world was fantastic. I wish that I could go and visit there for a vacation, it sounded so beautiful.

Basically, I loved this book. If you're looking for something light and fun, this is the book for you!

Characters: 8/10
Writing: 9/10
Originality: 10/10
Plot: 9/10
Ending: 10/10
Overall: 46/50 A-
Cover/Title: They're both really cute! I actually love the makeup, and the colors work together well.

In My Mailbox (23)

In My Mailbox is a weekly meme hosted by Kristi at The Story Siren where we list the books that we got for review, bought, etc. the previous week.

I only got two books this week but they were good!

For Review:

Kiss It by Erin Downing (Thanks Erin!)

From the Library:

Spells by Aprilynne Pike

Both of these books were great! My computer is on the fritz and I don't have any posts scheduled for this week, so I don't know when I'm going to be able to post again. I'll post ASAP, but don't expect anything for a few days.

Sleepaway Girls by Jen Calonita

Title: Sleepaway Girls
Author: Jen Calonita
Published: May 2009
Source: Bought
Synopsis from Goodreads:
When Sam's best friend gets her first boyfriend, she's not ready to spend the summer listening to the two of them call each other "pookie." Sick of being a third wheel, Sam applies to be a counselor-in-training at Whispering Pines camp in the New York Catskills. But what she doesn't realize is that it's not going to be all Kumbaya sing-alongs and gooey s'mores. If Ashley, the alpha queen of Whispering Pines, doesn't ruin Sam's summer, then her raging crush on the surfer-blond and flirtatious Hunter just might. At least she has playful Cole, who's always teasing her, but is oh-so-comfortable to hang out with, and the singular gang of girls that become fast friends with Sam-they call themselves the Sleepaway Girls.

Sleepaway Girls is a book about summer camp that's just as fun as actual summer camp! Without all of the bugs, of course. Sam has never been to summer camp before, but decides to be a counseor-in-training at one so that she doesn't have to be the third wheel with her bestfriend and her boyfriend. Sam's a people pleaser, so it's really hard to leave her best friend alone for the summer. When she gets there, she immediately has a crush on the resident hottie of camp, and off limits senior counselor, and is hated by the resident mean girl. A lot of hilarity ensues.

I loved the way that Sams friendship with four of her bunkmates was portrayed. It was very realistic and made me want to hang out with my friends. I also liked the boy troubles that the girls had: it was really funny, but also sweet. I've never been to summer camp, but I thought that all of the activities and duties of a counselor-in-training were realistic. Something that wasn't realistic? ALL of the guys at camp were abercrombie model hot, ALL of them. That is very, very unlikely.

I thought that the book moved a nice pace, though there were times when it was a bit slow and too full of inner dialogue for my tastes. I was always eager to know what Sam would have to do next, and to see when she would run in to one of the guys.  All of the characters had very vibrant personalities. It was a little confusing in the beginning since a lot of the girls had common names and it was hard to tell a few of them apart. That got easier.

Basically, if you're looking for a fun, light summer read that will have you laughing, try this. If you're not a fan of some predictability, then this isn't the books for you.

Characters: 9/1k0
Plot: 8/10
Originality: 9/10
Writing: 8/10
Ending: 8/10
Overall: 42/50 B
Cover/Title Comments: The cover is really cute, I love how the t-shirt has the name of the camp on it. Love the title too!

Sea by Heidi R. Kling

Title: Sea
Author: Heidi R. Kling
Published: June 2010
Source: Won in contest
Synopsis from Goodreads:
Haunted by recurring nightmares since her mother’s disappearance over the Indian ocean three years before, fifteen-year old California girl Sienna Jones reluctantly travels with her psychiatrist father’s volunteer team to six-months post-tsunami Indonesia where she meets the scarred and soulful orphaned boy, Deni, who is more like Sea than anyone she has ever met.


She knows they can’t be together, so why can’t she stay away from him? And what about her old best friend-turned-suddenly-hot Spider who may or may not be waiting for her back home? And why won’t her dad tell her the truth about her mother’s plane crash? The farther she gets from home, the closer she comes to finding answers.

And Sea’s real adventure begins.

I don't even know what to say about this book. I thought that I would start it before bed and just read a little of it. Before I know it I was three quarters of the way through and unable to stop. It completely sucked me in, and I enjoyed every minute of it.

I really felt a connection to Sienna. I felt a connection to all of the characters. They were all real, three dimensional, and called out to me. Deni was an especially strong character, and his story broke my heart. A lot of this book broke my heart, but then it would put it back together again.

I feel like I know a lot more about the tsunami now that I've read this book. I was almost crying through some of it, it was so terrible. I really feel for the people who actually had to live through it.

I don't know what else to say, I loved this book so much. The only thing that I could want would maybe be more backstory of Sienna's life before she went to Indonesia. If the only complaint that I have is that I want more, I think that the book is pretty darn good!

Basically: I loved, loved, loved it!

Characters: 10/10
Plot: 10/10
Writing: 10/10
Originality: 10/10
Ending: 10/10
Overall: 50/50 A+
Title/Cover Comments: This cover is one of my favorite. It's beautiful and absolutely pefect. The title is very fitting as well. Gorgeous!