Split Blog Tour and Auction Announcement

Throughout the month of October the book Split by Swati Avasthi is going to be on blog tour, but it's not an ordinary tour: each stop will have an auction to raise money for the Domestic Violence Organization and for every comment received while on the tour Swati will donate $1.

Here's an official blurb:
To honor National Domestic Violence Awareness month, author Swati Avasthi has combined a blog tour for her debut novel, Split, with a charity auction. Over 40 authors, agents and editors have donated manuscript critiques, personalized books, and more to an online auction that anyone –reader, writer, booklover -- can bid on and buy.  All proceeds go to the Family Violence Prevention Fund. In addition to the auction, Avasthi is donating $1/comment on her 26-stop, month-long blog tour, coordinated by Kari Olson at Teen Book Scene. If she reaches her goal and cap of $250, she will double the donation.  Follow the tour, get stuff you want, and make a difference.

My stop is scheduled for October 19th, so if you're at all interested in helping out this charity please stop by! It's as easy as leaving a comment!

If you want to follow the tour or want more information please visit the Teen Book Scene Tour Details page.

Waiting on Wednesday (36)

Waiting on Wednesday is a weekly meme hosted by Jill at Breaking the Spine.

This week:

The Lost Saint by Bree Despain

Release Date: December 28th, 2010

Synopsis from Goodreads:

Grace Divine made the ultimate sacrifice to cure Daniel Kalbi. She was infected with the werewolf curse while trying to save him, and lost her beloved brother in the process. When Grace receives a haunting phone call from Jude, she knows what she must do. She must become a Hound of Heaven.
Desperate to find Jude, Grace befriends Talbot—a newcomer to town who promises her that he can help her be a hero. But as the two grow closer, the wolf grows in Grace, and her relationship with Daniel is put in danger—in more ways than one.
Unaware of the dark path she is walking, Grace begins to give into the wolf inside of her—not realizing that an enemy has returned and a deadly trap is about to be sprung.

I loved The Dark Divine, and it looks like this one is going to be even more intense than the first! Plus the cover is gorgeous.

What are you waiting on?

Life, After by Sarah Darer Littman

Title: Life, After
Author: Sarah Darer Littman
Published: July 2010
Source: Traded
Synopsis from Goodreads:
Everything changes for Dani and her family when a truck loaded with explosives detonates outside the AMIA building in Buenos Aires, Argentina, killing her beloved aunt and unborn cousin. Because of the ensuing political upheaval, economic hardship, and emotional toll, Dani's family moves to the U.S. It is a terrifying place--new school, new language, new hardships--and Dani's angry father is turning into a stranger, more so everyday. Just when Dani thinks she is about to lose it, she befriends Jessica, one of the girls who has been cruelly teasing her since she arrived.

It is the most unlikely of friendships. Jessica is wealthy, groomed, spoiled. But Jessica has a past that only Dani can understand. She lost her father in 9/11. It is a friendship that allows them both to heal in unexpected and surprising ways, and changes them and their families forever.

I'm really happy that I decided to trade for this book, I liked it even more than I thought I would! I hadn't read anything else by this author, but if I come across one of her other books I'll definitely check it out!

I must confess that I didn't know anything about the AMIA bombing in Argentina before reading this book. It makes me sad that I didn't since affected many people there the same way that 9/11 did here. I could really feel what Dani was feeling and understand her pain. She was such a real character and I really got to know her by the end of the book.

I thought that the author portrayed moving to a new country perfectly. She didn't make it seem like it was no big deal, but she didn't make it seem too unbearably horrible either. The whole time all that I could think about was what I would be like if I had to move to Spain. I would probably curl up in fetal position screaming "No se! No se!" Dani was really strong to get through it.

I liked most of the supporting characters, but something that I didn't like was that sometimes their relationships with Dani didn't seem fully formed. Or a character would be introduced but then we wouldn't really see them again. It was small stuff, but still noticeable.

Basically I really enjoyed this book and would recommend to people who like contemporary!

Characters: 8/10
Plot: 9/10
Originality: 9/10
Writing: 9/10
Ending: 9/10
Overall: 44/50 B+
Cover Comments: I really like this cover, it's cute. It doesn't really have much to do with the story though.

Reviews: Where's My Stuff? and The Dictionary of High School B.S.

Title: Where's My Stuff? The Ultimate Teen Organizing Guide
Author: Samantha Moss with Lesley Schwartz
Published: 2010
Source: Received for review from Zest Books

I like to think of myself as a pretty organized person. I can find most of my things without searching the house for them, I keep track of my homework pretty well, and my parents aren't constantly nagging me to clean my room. That doesn't mean that I didn't benefit from reading this book.

The book is divided into three sections: School Stuff, Time and Activities, and Your Room. In School Stuff I learned how to keep my binders more organized, in Time and Activities I learned how to conquer a big job (like cleaning your room when you've neglected it for a couple months) without freaking out, and in Your Room I learned how to make better use of my space.

Basically, even if you think you're organized, I bet you can find something in this book that will make you even more organized and your life easier.

Title: The Dictionary of High School B.S.
Author: Lois Beckwith
Published: 2008
Source: Received for review from Zest Books.

This book does a pretty good job of catering to two audiences. 1) Freshman. I would view this book as an almost invaluable resource if it's your first year of high school. 2) Those in, or who used to be in, high school (AKA everyone but the freshmen). As someone in high school, though I understood what most of the terms meant before I read the book, I really enjoyed reading the definitions. They are humorous but informative at the same time. I was chuckling about a lot of them because they are so, so true.They way they are delivered suggest that the author doesn't take any of the b.s. too seriously and neither should we.

So, if you're either entering high school, dragging yourself through it, or want to look back on it and laugh, then you should give this book a try.

In My Mailbox (33)

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

For Review:

 Halo by Alexandra Adornetto (Finished Copy!!!)

Thank you SOOO much MacMillan!

The Dictionary of High School B.S. by Lois Beckwith

Where's My Stuff? by Samantha Moss

Thank you Zest!

That's it for me this week. What did you get?

Girl, Stolen by April Henry

Title: Girl, Stolen
Author: April Henry
Release Date: September 28th, 2010
Source: Around the World 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?

Oh, what a book. I tore through this, I wanted to know what happened! It was really interesting reading through the eyes of a blind girl. We also got inside Griffin's head, which I wasn't expecting. What happened to Cheyenne is terrible, and I hope that it never happens to anyone, but it was oh so fun to read about!

Cheyenne has been blind for three years, ever since an accident that killed her mother. She's used to it now, but misses her sight. Griffin is the son of a stolen parts dealer who will do anything to make his temperamental father happy. So when he steals a car he thinks that it will show his father that he's ready for the big leagues. That is until he realizes that there's a girl in the back. Instead he gives his father someone to hold for ransom, something that he'd never expected. Will his father let her go? Or will he kill her? Why does he care?

I really liked Cheyenne. She was resourceful and smart. She was always thinking of a way out. I felt bad for Griffin. He's a victim of circumstance. He's a good person, but his father doesn't tolerate good: he'll do whatever it takes to get the job done, and a lot of times it's less than legal. I love the way that Cheyenne and Griffin connected throughout the book, it was sweet.

This book moved along at a steady pace and was relatively short. It didn't take long to read, which is good because I could have gone crazy waiting for the end. One problem that I had is that some parts of the book were kind of...boring. Those parts didn't last very long though, and it always picked up fast. I felt a bit disconnected from the characters throughout this book also. It was probably because it was told in third person.

Basically, I really liked this book, I was just slightly disconnected with the characters. If you like suspense then you might want to try this!

Characters: 8/10
Writing: 9/10
Originality: 9/10
Plot: 8/10
Ending: 9/10
Overall: 43/50 B
Cover/Title Comments: I think that they are both perfect! I love the way the girls hands are covering her eyes, and how her nails are painted.

Waiting on Wednesday (35)

Waiting on Wednesday is a weekly meme hosted by Jill at Breaking the Spine.

This week:

Dash and Lily's Book of Dares

By:

Rachel Cohn and David Levithan

Release Date: October 26th, 2010

Synopsis from Goodreads:

“I’ve left some clues for you.
If you want them, turn the page.
If you don’t, put the book back on the shelf, please.”

So begins the latest whirlwind romance from the New York Times bestselling authors of Nick & Norah’s Infinite Playlist. Lily has left a red notebook full of challenges on a favorite bookstore shelf, waiting for just the right guy to come along and accept its dares. But is Dash that right guy? Or are Dash and Lily only destined to trade dares, dreams, and desires in the notebook they pass back and forth at locations across New York? Could their in-person selves possibly connect as well as their notebook versions? Or will they be a comic mismatch of disastrous proportions?

Rachel Cohn and David Levithan have written a love story that will have readers perusing bookstore shelves, looking and longing for a love (and a red notebook) of their own.

If the synopsis doesn't sell you, (which I'm pretty sure is impossible), then the authors are so worth it. Nick and Nora's Infinite Playlist and Naomi and Ely's No Kiss List are both excellent reads that I would recommend. I love their individual works as well, but something about them together just works. I am so, so looking forward to reading this book!

What are you waiting on?

Mini Review: Clockwork Angel by Cassandra Clare

Title: Clockwork Angel
Author: Cassandra Clare
Published: August 2010
Source: Bought
Synopsis from Goodreads:
Magic is dangerous—but love is more dangerous still.

When sixteen-year-old Tessa Gray crosses the ocean to find her brother, her destination is England, the time is the reign of Queen Victoria, and something terrifying is waiting for her in London's Downworld, where vampires, warlocks and other supernatural folk stalk the gaslit streets. Only the Shadowhunters, warriors dedicated to ridding the world of demons, keep order amidst the chaos.

Kidnapped by the mysterious Dark Sisters, members of a secret organization called The Pandemonium Club, Tessa soon learns that she herself is a Downworlder with a rare ability: the power to transform, at will, into another person. What's more, the Magister, the shadowy figure who runs the Club, will stop at nothing to claim Tessa's power for his own.

Friendless and hunted, Tessa takes refuge with the Shadowhunters of the London Institute, who swear to find her brother if she will use her power to help them. She soon finds herself fascinated by—and torn between—two best friends: Jem, whose fragile beauty hides a deadly secret, and blue-eyed Will, whose caustic wit and volatile moods keep everyone in his life at arm's length...everyone, that is, but Tessa.

As their search draws them deep into the heart of an arcane plot that threatens to destroy the Shadowhunters, Tessa realizes that she may need to choose between saving her brother and helping her new friends save the world...and that love may be the most dangerous magic of all.

I don't even know where to begin with this book, I loved it so much! I'm a huge fan of The Mortal Instruments series, but it's not just that series, it's Clare's writing and the world she's created. I really liked learning about Shadowhunters, demons, and the like in present day New York, but I LOVED learning about it in Victorian England. I was really happy that the characters aren't all like the characters in TMI. Except for Will, but I was happy about that similarity ;) I must say that Cassandra Clare is the queen of unexpected plot twists. There was a time when I was just staring at the page going whaaa...? By the end I understood, though it was unsettling. Oh, she's also the queen of cliffhangers by the way.


Definitely 5 stars for this one!

In My Mailbox (32)

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

For Review:

 Bella Should Have Dumped Edward Edited by Michelle Pan

Thank you Ulysses Press for the review copy!

Review here.

Freefall by Mindi Scott

Thanks so much Simon and Schuster! I've been wanting to read this for such a long time!

That's it for me this week, but it was a pretty good one! What did you get?

The Deathday Letter by Shaun David Hutchinson

Title: The Deathday Letter
Author: Shaun David Hutchinson
Published: June 2010
Source: Bought
Synopsis from Goodreads:
The clock is ticking.

Ollie can't be bothered to care about anything but girls until he gets his Deathday Letter and learns he's going to die in twenty-four hours. Bummer.

Ollie does what he does best: nothing. Then his best friend convinces him to live a little, and go after Ronnie, the girl who recently trampled his about-to-expire heart. Ollie turns to carloads of pudding and over-the-top declarations, but even playing the death card doesn't work. All he wants is to set things right with the girl of his dreams. It's now or never?

When I first heard about this book I didn't pay much attention to it. Yeah, it sounded okay, but I didn't feel a pull to read it. Then I started seeing all of these five star reviews for it and I changed my mind, I HAD to have it. So I bought it. Well, then it sat on my shelf for a few months until I finally picked it up and wondered why I didn't read it sooner.

Ollie has got to be the most real teenage boy character that I've read. I mean, I've read plenty of books with real sounding guy characters. Or so I thought. How should I know, I'm a girl! I'm pretty sure that this one is the most realistic. I mean, I probably will never look at those other books and think, "Wow, that gave me so much insight into a guys mind." This one totally does.

This book is also hilarious. Laugh out loud, I really shouldn't be reading this in public funny. I love books that make me laugh, and boy did this make me laugh! It had some heart too, as is to be expected when dealing with a book where the main character dies at the end. Which is such a weird concept. This is the first book that I've read that outright tells you that the main character is going to die. I'm pretty grateful for that, or I probably would have spent the book wondering what happens so he doesn't die and then being crushed when he does.

The concept of the Deathday letter is really interesting, and also puzzling. The thing is that if Ollie hadn't gotten his Deathday letter, he probably wouldn't have been where he was when he died. Does that mean that the letter caused his death? Or was it inevitable that he would die at that time in some way no matter where he was? It made me think, and there's no way of really knowing the answer.

Basically I really loved this book. It's so original, funny, thought provoking, and sweet. Definitely read it if you have the chance!

Character: 10/10
Plot: 9/10
Originality: 10/10
Writing: 9/10
Ending: 10/10
Overall: 48/50 A
Cover comments: I love it! As Hutchinson recognizes in his acknowledgments, this is a cover that a fourteen year old boy would not be embarrassed to be seen reading. Which is good, because that's the audience that would probably get the most out of the book.

Bella Should Have Dumped Edward: Edited by Michelle Pan

Title: Bella Should Have Dumped Edward: Controversial Views and Debates on the Twilight Saga.
Edited by: Michell Pan
Published: May, 2010
Source: Received for review from publisher.
Synopsis from Goodreads:
The fourth Twilight book is out, but many controversial issues remain unresolved and open to debate. Now the devoted Twihards at BellaAndEdward.com argue passionately about what really happened and what should have happened.
Who should Bella have ended up with, Jacob or Edward? Should Bella have become a vampire?

Going into this I wasn't really sure what to expect. I used to be a Twilight FANATIC, but then I got over it, and I was a little apprehensive as to whether I would enjoy reading so much about a series that I'm kind of luke-warm about now. I shouldn't have worried, if anything this book brought me back to the first times that I read the books and reminded me why I loved them.


The book is divided into sections, each section is a question with a few responses by fans and then The Final Call made by the editor. I enjoyed this format. If there was a question that I didn't really care to read all of the responses to I could just read The Final Call for a summary. I liked most of the questions, especially the ones that made me think. The question "How would the book be different if Edward were the human and Bella the vampire" actually made my head hurt a little trying to wrap my mind around all of the different scenarios. 


Something that I noticed throughout the book is that most of the answers are by the same people. There are some others randomly thrown in, but I saw the same names a lot. I'm not sure if this is because they answered the questions more completely than others, if they worded them better, if they answered every question or what.


I also found it odd that they decided to compile this book when only two of the five movies were out. There were quite a few questions about the movies in here, and I think that it might have made more sense to wait until they were all out. I guess that the demand wouldn't be as high if they did that though.


Basically this was enjoyable. It changed my mind on a few points and validated my opinions on others. And then there are the ones that I just plain don't agree with. Read it if you like or have ever liked The Twilight Saga.

4 Stars! 

Waiting on Wednesday (34)

Waiting on Wednesday is a weekly meme hosted by Jill at Breaking the Spine.

This week:

Anna and the French Kiss by Stephanie Perkins

Release Date: December 2nd, 2010

Synopsis from Goodreads:

Anna was looking forward to her senior year in Atlanta, where she has a great job, a loyal best friend, and a crush on the verge of becoming more. So she's less than thrilled about being shipped off to boarding school in Paris — until she meets Étienne St. Clair. Smart, charming, beautiful, Étienne has it all . . . including a serious girlfriend.

But in the City of Light, wishes have a way of coming true. Will a year of romantic near-misses end with their long-awaited French kiss? Stephanie Perkins keeps the romantic tension crackling and the attraction high in a debut guaranteed to make toes tingle and hearts melt.
I have seen so many glowing reviews of this already that it's impossible for me to not be waiting on it! It looks so cute! And the cover is really cool. I can't wait for it to come out!

What are you waiting on?

The Healer's Apprentice by Melanie Dickerson

Title: The Healer's Apprentice
Author: Melanie Dickerson
Release Date: October 1st, 2010
Source: Received for review from publisher.
Synopsis from Goodreads:
Two Hearts. One Hope.Rose has been appointed as a healer's apprentice at Hagenheim Castle, a rare opportunity for a woodcutter's daughter like her. While she often feels uneasy at the sight of blood, Rose is determined to prove herself capable. Failure will mean returning home to marry the aging bachelor her mother has chosen for her---a bloated, disgusting merchant who makes Rose feel ill.When Lord Hamlin, the future duke, is injured, it is Rose who must tend to him. As she works to heal his wound, she begins to understand emotions she's never felt before and wonders if he feels the same. But falling in love is forbidden, as Lord Hamlin is betrothed to a mysterious young woman in hiding. As Rose's life spins toward confusion, she must take the first steps on a journey to discover her own destiny.

It's no secret that I love historical fiction. In fact, it says so right on my sidebar! I also love fairytale retellings. Since this is a combination of the two I was really excited to have the chance to review it. What I didn't know about this book is that it's also considered Christian fiction. I'm not generally a reader of Christian fiction, but for the most part the religious aspect didn't distract from the main storyline.

This book is in third person and alternates mostly between focusing on Lord Hamlin and Rose. Third person isn't generally my favorite, but it worked well with this book. I enjoyed seeing both sides of their relationship. Rose was a great main character, she was very releateable and was very realistic. Lord Hamlin had a large sense of duty, and it was interesting to read the way he was warring with himself.

I really enjoyed the historical details of this book. Melanie obviously did her research, going as far as making the political titles of her characters historically accurate despite the minor confusion it might have caused. Though it is a retelling of  Sleeping Beauty it is very loose, and very much its own story. I loved the plot line with Lord Hamlin's brother and the addition of Rose's best friend.

I have only a couple complaints. This is a fairytale retelling so it is expected for the book to be predictable, but at times I found it a bit too predictable. There were quite a few times where I correctly guessed the outcome of certain things way before they happened. I also found some parts of it a bit cliche or overdone.

Basically I really enjoyed this novel, especially the historical aspect. I did find it a bit too predictable though. I would recommend it if you like historical, fairy tale retellings, or Christian fiction.

Characters: 9/10
Plot: 8/10
Originality: 9/10
Writing: 8/10
Ending: 9/10
Overall: 43/50 B
Cover Comments: I love this cover! The dress, the window, the way the model is standing all work together perfectly.

In My Mailbox (31)

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

Bought:

Clockwork Angel by Cassandra Clare

Just Listen by Sarah Dessen (On sale, and it's a favorite)

That's all for me this week, it was kind of slow. What did you get?

Shade by Jeri Smith-Ready

Title: Shade
Author: Jeri Smith-Ready
Published: May 2010
Source: Bought
Synopsis from Goodreads:
Best. Birthday. Ever. At least, it was supposed to be. With Logan's band playing a critical gig and Aura's plans for an intimate after-party, Aura knows it will be the most memorable night of her boyfriend's life. She never thought it would be his last.

Logan's sudden death leaves Aura devastated. He's gone.

Well, sort of.

Like everyone born after the Shift, Aura can see and hear ghosts. This mysterious ability has always been annoying, and Aura had wanted nothing more than to figure out why the Shift happened so she can undo it. But not with Logan's violet-hued spirit still hanging around. Because dead Logan is almost as real as ever. Almost.

It doesn't help that Aura's new friend Zachary is so understanding--and so very alive. His support means more to Aura than she cares to admit.

As Aura's relationships with the dead and the living grow ever complicated, so do her feelings for Logan and Zachary. Each holds a piece of Aura's heart...and clues to the secret of the Shift.

So, I've had this book for a while. Since it came out, actually. I kept putting it off and putting it off. I really have no idea why I waited so long! It was so good.

I loved the whole concept of the Shift and how mysterious Aura's connection to it is. The Shift basically means that anyone born after a certain date can see ghosts. That means that everyone sixteen and under can see ghosts, and no one over that can even if they were able to before. Isn't that cool? The ghosts can Shade, or be overcome by darkness. They want to avoid doing that because if they do that they are detained.

I'm not too sure how I feel about Aura. There were parts when I really liked her and parts when I didn't understand her. She had some very mixed feelings and sometimes it was hard to keep track of them. There were a few times when I was confused about how she felt about things and what they meant for her outside her head.

When Logan died I was more sad that his awesome sounding band wouldn't get a record deal than that he as a person was dead. That was probably done on purpose, since we don't have much time to get to know him. Zach I liked. A lot. Probably a bit too much for a fictional character. 


The supporting characters were kind of touch and go. There were some that were really well developed, some that were partly well developed, and then some where I couldn't even place their name. Not the most important part of the book, but when I couldn't place which brother was which and who this person was without thinking about it I got a little annoyed.


When I read books there's always something that I want to happen, what really happens, and what would plausibly happen. A lot of times in this book what I wanted to happen and what did happen were the same, but what would plausibly happen didn't really add up. Does that make sense? I guess I just felt like some things happened that most likely wouldn't in real life, and that made the story more distant to me.

Basically I really liked it, but I wish that the supporting characters had been a little more fleshed out and that some things were a little less unrealistic. I would definitely recommend it if you love paranormals!

Character: 8/10
Writing: 9/10
Originality: 9/10
Plot: 9/10
Ending: 10/10
Overall: 45/50 A-
Cover Comments: I've seen it described as a mix between Bleeding Violet and Eclipse. I couldn't agree more! The colors red and purple play a large part in the book, so it makes sense, but it doesn't really stand out much.

Waiting on Wednesday (33)

Waiting on Wednesday is a weekly meme hosted by Jill at Breaking the Spine.

Dust City by Robert Paul Weston

Release Date: September 30th, 2010

Synopsis from Goodreads:

Who's afraid of the big bad wolf?

His son, that's who.

Ever since his father's arrest for the murder of Little Red Riding Hood, teen wolf Henry Whelp has kept a low profile in a Home for Wayward Wolves . . . until a murder at the Home leads Henry to believe his father may have been framed.

Now, with the help of his kleptomaniac roommate, Jack, and a daring she-wolf named Fiona, Henry will have to venture deep into the heart of Dust City: a rundown, gritty metropolis where fairydust is craved by everyone and controlled by a dangerous mob of Water Nixies and their crime boss leader, Skinner. 

 

I just think that this sounds so awesome! I'm all for twisted fairytales, and boy does this sound twisted! What are you waiting on?

Forget You by Jennifer Echols

Title: Forget You
Author: Jennifer Echols
Published: July, 2010
Source: Won in contest
Synopsis from Goodreads:
WHY CAN’T YOU CHOOSE WHAT YOU FORGET . . .  AND WHAT YOU REMEMBER?  There’s a lot Zoey would like to forget. Like how her father has knocked up his twenty-four- year old girlfriend. Like Zoey’s fear that the whole town will find out about her mom’s nervous breakdown. Like darkly handsome bad boy Doug taunting her at school. Feeling like her life is about to become a complete mess, Zoey fights back the only way she knows how, using her famous attention to detail to make sure she’s the perfect daughter, the perfect student, and the perfect girlfriend to ultra-popular football player Brandon.  But then Zoey is in a car crash, and the next day there’s one thing she can’t remember at all—the entire night before. Did she go parking with Brandon, like she planned? And if so, why does it seem like Brandon is avoiding her? And why is Doug—of all people— suddenly acting as if something significant happened between the two of them? Zoey dimly remembers Doug pulling her from the wreck, but he keeps referring to what happened that night as if it was more, and it terrifies Zoey to admit how much is a blank to her. Controlled, meticulous Zoey is quickly losing her grip on the all-important details of her life—a life that seems strangely empty of Brandon, and strangely full of Doug.

I think that I am in love with Jennifer Echols' writing. It is so, so hard to put down her books once you pick one up. I had really high expectations for this book, and it definitely met them! I finished it in record time.


I loved the whole premise of this book. Zoey loses her memory of the night she crashes her car, and doesn't get it back. Nothing big could have happened in those few hours, right? Wrong, Zoey finds her life turned upside down, but she has no idea why. It was kind of frustrating that we didn't know what Zoey didn't know. I felt just as frantic as Zoey was, trying to piece things together.


Zoey annoyed me. She was very blind to a lot of things, especially when they had to do with Brandon. And Doug, she was very blind about Doug also. How I loved Doug. He was so swoon worthy and sweet. I felt bad for him, and I do even more now that I know what did happen that night and how Zoey acted...anyway, no spoilers here!


Basically I loved this book and couldn't put it down, but Zoey did some things that really annoyed me.


Characters: 8/10
Plot:8//10
Originality: 9/10
Writing: 9/10
Ending: 10/10
Overall: 44/50 B+
Cover Comments: I love this cover! It's beautiful, and portrays Zoey and Doug perfectly.

Confessions of the Sullivan Sisters by Natalie Standiford

Title: Confessions of the Sullivan Sisters
Author: Natalie Standifor
Published: September, 2010
Source: 1 ARC Tours
Synopsis from Goodreads:
The Sullivan sisters have a big problem. On Christmas Day their rich and imperious grandmother gathers the family and announces that she will soon die . . .and has cut the entire family out of her will. Since she is the source of almost all their income, this means they will soon be penniless.
Someone in the family has offended her deeply. If that person comes forward with a confession of her (or his) crime, submitted in writing to her lawyer by New Year's Day, she will reinstate the family in her will. Or at least consider it.

And so the confessions begin....

I really, really enjoyed this book! It was so refreshing because it's not like anything I've read before! The whole premise was wonderful, and the execution was done well. I probably should have, but I didn't expect the book to be the letters that the girls wrote to their grandmother. I loved it!








 The book is broken up into three parts: Norrie's letter, Jane's letter, and Sassy's letter. I enjoyed Norrie's the most, probably because out of the three I'm most like her. And her's was such a love story. Jane's was very comical, Jane herself very cynical and snarky. Sassy's was odd. I'm not really sure what to make of both Sassy and her story. 


I loved how each girls voice was very unique, as were their stories. It was easy to forget that the girls were writing to their grandmother, but then they would reference 'you' and apologize for bad language and you'd remember. I guess that the believability factor is low, but I was having way too much fun to care.


I guess that my only complaint is that by the time I got to Sassy's story I was a bit  burned out. Reading each girls story is basically reading a different side of the same thing. 


Basically I really, really enjoyed this book! Check it out if you're looking for something heartwarming, funny, and different!


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

In My Mailbox (30)

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

From 1 ARC Tours:

Confessions of the Sullivan Sisters by Natalie Standiford (review soon)

For review:

The Healer's Apprentice by Melanie Dickerson (SQUEE! It looks sooo amazing!)

Won:

Stolen by Lucy Christopher (from John at Dreaming in Books)

BIG thanks to Melanie and Zondervan for The Healer's Apprentice, and to John and Scholastic for Stolen!

What did you get?

Trailer for Through Her Eyes

So, I just found this cool mini trailer for a book that I'm really excited to read and thought I would share it with you:


Through Her Eyes _ Book Trailer from Emily Greaser on Vimeo.

More about the book:

Through Her Eyes by Jennifer Archer. 
Release Date: April 5th 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 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.

Two-Way Street by Lauren Barnholdt

Title: Two-Way Street
Author: Lauren Barnholdt
Published: June 2007
Source: Bought
Synopsis from Goodreads:
There are two sides to every breakup. This is Jordan and Courtney, totally in love. Sure, they were an unlikely high school couple. But they clicked; it worked. They're even going to the same college, and driving cross-country together for orientation. Then Jordan dumps Courtney -- for a girl he met on the Internet. It's too late to change plans, so the road trip is on. Courtney's heartbroken, but figures she can tough it out for a few days. La la la -- this is Courtney pretending not to care. But in a strange twist, Jordan cares. A lot. Turns out, he's got a secret or two that he's not telling Courtney. And it has everything to do with why they broke up, why they can't get back together, and how, in spite of it all, this couple is destined for each other.

Two-Way Street was exactly what I was in the mood for when I read it: a fast, light romance. It was a perfect end of summer read because it's set at the end of summer, before the main characters college orientation. 


One thing that I absolutely loved about this book was the alternating POVs. We got Courtney's side, and then we got Jordan's side. I loved both of them. I also really liked how developed each of their best friends were. They had a lot of personality and added a lot of laughs to the book.

The book is divided not just by the POV of Courtney or Justin, but also by Before, During, and After the road trip. I really liked reading a chapter about how they got together, then reading one where they're on the road. That way the story slowly unraveled instead of it being chronological, and which you might think is confusing but it really isn't.


I guess that a complaint is that there wasn't much depth. Which in this case is good because I wasn't looking for much, but when compared to other books isn't a good thing.  I also thought that the writing was a bit cliched at parts.


Basically, I really liked it and recommend it if you're looking for something light, without much depth.


Characters: 9/10
Plot: 8/10
Originality: 8/10
Writing: 8/10
Ending: 10/10
Overall: 43/50 B
Cover Comments: I love this cover! I think that it conveys the tone of the book really well.

Trailer for Halo by Alexandra Adornetto!

More about the book:

Three angels are sent down to bring good to the world: Gabriel, the warrior; Ivy, the healer; and Bethany, a teenage girl who is the least experienced of the trio. But she is the most human, and when she is romantically drawn to a mortal boy, the angels fear she will not be strong enough to save anyone—especially herself—from the Dark Forces.

Some info about the author:

Alexandra Adornetto was fourteen when she published her first book, The Shadow Thief, in Australia. Alex lives in Melbourne, Australia; Halo marks her U.S. debut.

Doesn't this book look fantastic? It's available now, so if you're interested you should go buy it!

Waiting on Wednesday (32)

Waiting on Wednesday is a weekly meme hosted by Jill at Breaking the Spine.

I have a feeling that my choice is going to be a popular one this week!

Fall for Anything by Courtney Summers

Release Date: December 21st, 2010

Synopsis from Goodreads:

When Eddie Reeves’s father commits suicide her life is consumed by the nagging question of why? Why when he was a legendary photographer and a brilliant teacher? Why when he had a daughter who loved him more than anyone else in the world? When she meets Culler Evans, a former student of her father’s and a photographer himself, an instant and dangerous attraction begins. He seems to know more about her father than she does and could possibly hold the key to the mystery surrounding his death. But Eddie’s vulnerability has weakened her and Culler Evans is getting too close. Her need for the truth keeps her hanging on… but some questions should be left unanswered.

I loved Cracked Up To Be, so I know that I love the author. Even if I didn't I think that I would be drawn by that synopsis. And the cover, which is beautiful.

What are you waiting on?