Waiting on Wednesday (23)

Waiting on Wednesday is a weekly event hosted by Jill at Breaking the Spine that spotlights upcoming releases that we are eagerly anticipating. This is one of my favorite memes because not only is my TBR pile so much bigger at the end of the night but also the covers are always amazing!

Frost by Marianna Baer. September 13, 2011!

Leena Thomas's senior year at boarding school begins with a shock: Frost House, her cozy dorm of close friends, has been assigned an unexpected roommate: confrontational, eccentric Celeste Lazar. But while Leena's anxiety about a threat to her sanctuary proves valid, it becomes less and less clear whether the threat lies with her new roommate, with Leena's own mind, or within the very nature of Frost House itself. Mysterious happenings in the dorm, an intense triangle between Leena, Celeste, and Celeste's brother, and the reawakening of childhood fears, all push Leena to take increasingly desperate measures to feel safe. Frost is the story of a hunting. As to whether the demons are supernatural or psychological...well, which answer would let you sleep at night?

As I Wake by Elizabeth Scott. September 15, 2011!

Ava is welcomed home from the hospital by a doting mother, lively friends and a

crush finally beginning to show interest. There's only one problem: Ava can't remember any of them-and can't shake the eerie feeling that she's not who they say she is.

Ava struggles to break through her amnesiac haze as she goes through the motions of high-school life, but the memories that surface take place in a very different world, where Ava and familiar-faced friends are under constant scrutiny and no one can be trusted. Ava doesn't know what to make of these visions, or of the boy who is at the center of them all, until he reappears in her life and offers answers...but only in exchange for her trust.

What are you waiting for?

Review- Paranormalcy

Title: Paranormalcy

Author: Kiersten White

Publisher: HarperTeen

Rating: 4/5

Find it here: Amazon, Goodreads

Evie's always thought of herself as a normal teenager, even though she works for the International Paranormal Containment Agency, her ex-boyfriend is a faerie, she's falling for a shape-shifter, and she's the only person who can see through paranormals' glamours.

But Evie's about to realize that she may very well be at the center of a dark faerie prophecy promising destruction to all paranormal creatures.

So much for normal.

My thoughts:

I was so skeptical when I bought this book because of all the hype that it got. I've had a few bad experiences with a couple of really hyped up books so this book sat on my shelf for a little while before I gave it a chance. I am so glad I finally read it!

What I liked most about Paranormalcy was that it still had the seriousness of a book with supernatural characters with the light humor of a teenager. I also really enjoyed Evie's personality and the way she made me laugh during the dangerous times with vampires and other paranormal creatures being killed.

Kiersten White did a great job of webbing a story of secrets and exciting revelations. I was totally shocked by Evie's status in the Paranormal Containment Agency. I also thought that the story was very unique within the genre of paranormal and it wasn't assumed that all paranormal creatures are bad or killers by nature. In a lot of paranormal books, supernatural characters are bad and trained killers are going around staking vampires, but in Paranormalcy, almost all the supernatural beings are given a chance to prove themselves.

Evie is just awesome in general. She travels down faery paths around the world to catalog supernatural creatures while wearing high heels and leopard print mini dresses! I also loved the very honest relationship that she has with Lend. They show each other their true nature without any judgement and they accept each other for who they are.

Paranormalcy is such a unique story and I did not expect it to be so good. I'm super excited to see how this story continues in Supernaturally. And the covers are pretty awesome!

Teaser Tuesday (10)

Teaser Tuesday is a weekly bookish meme hosted by MizB at Should Be Reading. It includes two sentences from your current read without any spoilers!

Today I'm reading Spells by Aprilynne Pike!

"She didn't get far before she walked to the window and caught her breath at the view below her. Her room overlooked the biggest flower garden she had ever seen; rows of flower in every imaginable hue spread out below her in a cascade of color almost as big as the grounds in front of the Academy. Her fingers pressed against the glass as she tried to take in the whole sight at once. It struck her as a waste that a room with such a magnificent view had just been sitting, empty, for the last thirteen years." pg. 22

What are you reading today?

Review- The Dead-Tossed Waves

Title: The Dead-Tossed Waves

Author: Carrie Ryan

Publisher: Delacourte Books for Young Readers

Rating: 4/5

Find it here: Amazon, Goodreads

Gabry lives a quiet life. As safe a life as possible in a town trapped between a forest and the ocean, in a world teeming with the dead, who constantly hunger for those still living. She's content on her side of the Barrier, happy to let her friends dream of the Dark City up the coast while she watches from the top of her lighthouse. But there are threats the Barrier cannot hold back. Threats like the secrets Gabry's mother thought she left behind when she escaped from the Sisterhood and the Forest of Hands and Teeth. Like the cult of religious zealots who worship the dead. Like the stranger from the forest who seems to know Gabry. And suddenly, everything is changing. Once reckless moment, and half of Gabry's generation is dead, the other half imprisoned. Now Gabry only knows one thing: she must face the forest of her mother's past in order to save herself and the ones she loves.

My thoughts:

The Dead-Tossed Waves takes place about ten to fifteen years after the ending of The Forest of Hands and Teeth. All we know is that Mary has a daughter that she named Gabrielle, strangely after the fast one she found in her village and May has now become the keeper of the lighthouse, responsible for killing the Unconsecrated that wash up on the beach. Nothing is ever said about Gabry's father or what happened to Mary after she was found washed up on the shore. Well, not until the end, at least.

Gabry life parallels her mother in so many different aspects and the readers are presented with the sames themes in the Dead-Tossed Waves as in The Forest of Hands and Teeth. Both Mary and Gabry are very quiet but feel confined by the barriers that the authorities have set upon them. They are both well-intentioned individuals, led by their curiosity of the forest. And in the end, they are both forced into the forest to seek refuge by those who wish to end their lives or take away their freedom.

The Dead-Tossed Waves shows a lot more aspects of the Forest of Hands and Teeth that was not seen in the first book. We see the people who worship the Unconsecrated, make them their pets and even sacrifice their family members to them. Gross, right? And it's the first we see of someone being immune after being bitten. So, you're definitely going to get more side of the story of the forest and more to Gabry and Mary's story as well.

As much as I love young adult books and I'm completely addicted to the genre, I wonder why the main character of the book always starts off by being the one who never does anything right or doesn't think she has what it takes to be the one to save everyone. But in the end she always does and all the guys are in love with her. What about the characters who are super smart, have been studying their whole lives to be doctors and then they find the cure for cancer! Not that I want to read a book about someone who cures cancer cause that would be kind of boring. But what about the person who has been looking for the cure for the zombie disease? What about their story? Lately I feel like I've been reading the same base story over and over again with slight variations.

Overall, I have really enjoyed this series so far and I'm excited about getting my hands on The Dark and Hallow Places!

In My Mailbox (17)

In My Mailbox is an awesome way to connect with our blogger and reader friends and share which amazing books we received, bought or borrowed during the week! This weekly meme is hosted by Kristi at The Story Siren.



Review:

The Beginning of After by Jennifer Castle

Bought:

Bad Girls Don't Die by Katie Alender

The Vinyl Princess by Yvonne Prinz

Forgive My Finds by Tera Lynn Childs

Zombie Felties

Steampunk Softies: 8 Scientifically-Minded Dolls From a Past that Never Was

Won:

Beauty Queens by Libba Bray (Thank you Mindful Musings!)

What did you get in your mailbox? Let me know!

Review: It's Not Summer Without You

Title: It's Not Summer Without You

Author: Jenny Han

Publisher: Simon and Schuster Children's Publishing

Rating: 4/5

Find it here: Amazon, Goodreads

Last year, all of Belly's dreams came true and the thought of missing a summer in Cousins Beach was inconceivable. But like the rise and fall of the ocean tide, things can change-just like that. Suddenly the time she's always looked forward to most is something she dreads. And when Jeremiah calls to say Conrad has disappeared, Belly must decide how she will spend this summer: chasing after the boy she loves, or finally letting him go.

My thoughts:

It's Not Summer Without You is the second book in the Summer trilogy and so far I've really enjoyed this series. On the outside, it looks like you're picking up a fun, light summer read but what you get is a deep, heart-wrenching story about first love and loss and everything in between.

What I love most about this book is the raw, honest emotions that come from teenagers who are going through the hardest time of their short lives so far. We are able to read all of Belly's thoughts, her stupid mistakes and the over analyzing of every word that Conrad says to her. It really takes me back to when I was a teenager and I used over think everything that my friends would say to me. Like all the world is out to get you.

I also felt torn throughout the whole book when it came to Conrad and Belly's relationship. Part of me wanted her to accept the breakup and move on because he was a jerk to her for practically the entire book. But then I would remember why he was being so withdrawn and self-centered and he just needed her to give him time to open up when he was ready. But, of course, nothing works out or ends how you want it to and neither of those two scenarios happened.

Another theme that is so relevant to Young Adult books and teens in general is change. Change is hard to accept, but since it's always going to be a part of life, it's something that needs to be learned. Everything changes for the characters of the Summer trilogy and we see how each deal with the challenge of grieving and accepting loss differently.

New information is also revealed and Belly's feelings are possibly swayed towards another important figure in her life. It's Not Summer Without You continues the story of Belly, Conrad and Jeremiah. Though it ended differently than I would have hoped, it was still a very good, yet sad, read. I've enjoyed reading the Summer trilogy so far!

Blog Hop and Follow Friday (14)

Follow Friday is a really fun way to network your blog and meet some other really cool bloggers in the process! This weekly event is hosted at Parajunkee's View!

Q: In light of Summer Solstice, also known as Midsummer...What is your favorite fairy tale or story that revolves around the Fae?

A: When I was little my favorite fairy tale was the Little Mermaid. I've always been drawn to the mermaids and they still remain my favorite genre in Young Adult. As far as stories about the fae, my favorite, and well the only books I've read about the Fae is the Iron Fae series by Julie Kagawa.

The Book Blogger Hop is a place just for book bloggers and readers to connect and share our love for the written word. This incredibly awesome weekly event is hosted by Jennifer at Crazy for Books!

Q: When did you realize reading was your passion and a truly important part of your life?

A: Well, I really got into reading in elementary school when my friends and I would pass around R.L. Stine's Fear Street books and I would read one or two a weekend. I realized that I absolutely loved reading and especially horror books. Towards the end of high school I started reading the romance classics such as Wuthering Heights and Jane Eyre. After that, I started reading Stephen King and Ted Decker. While in undergrad, I saw Twilight at Walmart and picked it up not knowing what I was getting myself into. I read the whole series and found myself browsing the Young Adult section at the local bookstores. Ever since then, it's like I'm addicted and I just can't get enough.

Review- City of Ashes (Audio Book)

Title: City of Ashes

Author: Cassandra Clare

Publisher: Simon Pulse

Rating: 3/5

Find it here: Amazon, Goodreads

A murderer is loose in New York City...

...and the victims are Downworlder children. Clary Fray and her fellow Shadowhunters have a strong suspicion that Valentine, Clary's father, may be behind the killings. But if he is the murderer, then what's his true motive? To make matter worse, the second of the Mortal Instruments, the Soul-Sword, has been stolen, and the mysterious Inquisitor has arrive to investigate, with her eyes vigilantly targeted on Clary's brother, Jace.

Clary will need to face some terrifying demons and even more terrifying family decisions. No one said that the life of a Shadowhunter would be easy.

My thoughts:

After the horrible experience I had with the City of Bones audio book, I was dreading City of Ashes. As I have said before, the reader didn't do much to enhance the story. But lucky for me, City of Ashes has a different reader, one who does a much better job.

Even with a new reader, I'm still not a huge fan of this series. Clary seems to whinny, she has no idea what she's doing but she always insists on going out and being in the middle of the action. She just seems so stupid to me. If it wasn't for Jace and the other Shadowhunters, she would have died first action scene in the first book.

And don't even get me started on her guilt and how she constantly blames herself for everything that's happened. I just want to scream in her face and shake her until she understands that everything would have happened that way anyway, no matter what she did. I know that she is going to have a certain amount of guilt which is natural, but her's is just blown out of proportion. For some reason, Clary just really annoys me a lot. But I like the other characters in the book, especially Alec, Isabel and Magnus. I would be a lot happier if Isabel was the main character.

After saying all that, the plot of the story still interests me and curiosity makes me still want to know how the series is going to end. It was much better than City of Bones because the story was able to develop more and Cassandra Clare was able to get into the meat of the plot. There's just something fishy about who Jace and Clary are and whether or not they're truly related. There are also many mysterious facets that have yet to be explored that could be very entertaining if done the right way. I can feel that there is some big revelation that is yet to come in the next two books. And because I want to know, I will most likely listen to them, as well.

Fans of the Mortal Instruments series will most likely not enjoy this review. But that's not saying that I'm completely opposed to Cassandra Clare. I very much enjoyed Clockwork Angel and I'm eagerly anticipating Clockwork Prince. I know the stories are somewhat the same, but I just really like the steampunk setting of the Infernal Devices series. So, in my closing statement: to each his own!

Waiting on Wednesday (22)

Waiting on Wednesday is a weekly event hosted by Jill at Breaking the Spine that spotlights upcoming releases that we are eagerly anticipating. This is one of my favorite memes because not only is my TBR pile so much bigger at the end of the night but also because the covers are always amazing!

This week, I've chosen to spotlight Prized by Caragh M. O'Brien. Prized is the second in the Birthmarked series, the sequel to Birthmarked. It's a dystopian series where the citizens are forced to give the government a certain amount of babies a month. It will be released November 08, 2011.

Striking out into the wasteland with nothing but her baby sister, a handful of supplies, and a rumor to guide her, sixteen-year-old midwife Gaia Stone survives only to be captured by the people of Sylum, a dystopian society where women rule the men who drastically outnumber them, and a kiss is a crime. In order to see her sister again, Gaia must submit to their strict social code, but how can she deny her sense of justice, her curiosity, and everything in her heart that makes her whole?

What are you waiting for?

Teaser Tuesday (9)

Teaser Tuesday is a weekly bookish meme hosted by MizB at Should Be Reading. It includes two sentences from your current read without any spoilers!

This weeks teaser comes from Number by Rachel Ward:

"For years later, I watched a man in a scruffy suit write it down on a piece of paper: Date of Death: 10.10.2001. I'd found her in the morning. I'd got up, like normal, put my school things on, helped myself to some cereal. No milk, because it stank when I got out of the fridge. I left the carton on the side, put the kettle on, and ate my Coco Pops while it boiled. Then I made Mum a black coffee and carried it carefully into her room. She was still in bed, kind of leaning over. Here eyes were open, and there was stuff, sick, don her front and on the covers. I put the coffee down on the floor, next to the needle." pg. 4

Okay, definitely a lot more than just two sentences but this paragraph was just too good to cut it in half. Hope you enjoyed it!

Review- City of Bones (Audio book)

Title: City of Bones

Author: Cassandra Clare

Publisher: Margaret K. McElderry Books

Rating: 2/5

Find it here: Amazon, Goodreads

When fifteen-year-old Clary Fray heads out to the Pandemonium Club in New York City, she hardly expects to witness a murder-much less a murder committed by three teenagers covered with strange tattoos and brandishing bizarre weapons. Then the body disappears into thin air. It's hard to call the police when the murderers are invisible to everyone else and when there is nothing-not even a smear of blood-to show that a boy has died. Or was he a boy?

This is Clary's first meeting with the Shadowhunters, warriors dedicated to ridding the earth of demons. It's also her first encounter with Jace, a Shadowhunter who looks like an angel and acts a lot like a jerk. Within twenty-four hours Clary is pulled into Jace's world with a vengeance, when her mother disappears and Clary herself is attacked by a demon. Buy why would demons be interested in ordinary mundanes like Clary and her mother? And how did Clary suddenly get the Sight? The Shadowhunters would like to know...

My thoughts:

I have read so much about this book on the blogs until the point of "I need to get this book to find out what everyone is raving about!" The opportunity arose when I was driving my car from Virginia to California and I decided to get the audio book version. I had only listened to one audio book before City of Bones and I really enjoyed the experience. Knowing I would have a lot of listening time on my hands, I also got the City of Ashes audio book.

Listening to an audio book and reading a physical book are two very different experiences and can dramatically shape your opinion of the book depending on the reader. Physically reading a book allows the reader to make their own voices in their head and gives them time to imagine the setting, the tone and the pace. But when an audio book, all that is determined by the reader.

City of Bones audio book has a terrible reader. She made all the girl characters sound like they were wining and all the male characters sound too girly. She also didn't have much conviction behind her voice. When Clary was supposed to be screaming or yelling, she would hardly raise her voice. When there was action or someone was supposed to be out of breath, she talked the same way as the rest of the book. It was a very odd experience.

I had already known what to expect of the story since I had read Clockwork Angel, so I already knew about the different types of creatures. They story was definitely exciting and there was a lot of action but because of the reader I had a hard time feeling the chemistry between Clary and Jace, not that I should really want to knowing how it ended. The end left me really wanting to know what was going to happen with Clary and Jace and if her mom would wake up again.

Overall, I found City of Bones to be very addictive, constantly wanting to know what happened next. The story was very good, but as far as the audio book version goes, I would recommend that it's to be read instead of listened to.

In My Mailbox (16)

In My Mailbox is an awesome way to connect with our blogger and reader friends and share which amazing books we received, bought or borrowed during the week! This weekly meme is hosted by Kristi at The Story Siren.



Mentioned:

Starcrossed by Josephine Angelini

Desires of the Dead by Kimberly Derting

Nightshade by Andrea Cremer

The Crazy School by Cornelia Read

Miss Peregrine's Home for Peculiar Children by Ransom Riggs

Hush, Hush by Becca Fitzpatrick

Crescendo by Becca Fitzpatrick

For review:

Witches of East End by Melissa de la Cruz

Library:

The Devouring by Simon Holt

Spells by Aprilynne Pike

Blog Hop and Follow Friday (13)

Follow Friday is a really fun way to network your blog and meet some other really cool bloggers in the process! This weekly event is hosted at Parajunkee's View! The featured blogger this week is Rhiannon Paille.

Q: Genre Wars! What's your favorite genre and which book in that genre made it your favorite?

A: Right now it is a toss up between mystery/suspense and dystopia. I've always loved a good mystery that made me think about the "who done it" and "why". When I was in Jr. High I loved Agatha Christie, especially her novel And Then There Were None. After getting into blogging and YA, I kinda let mystery fall off the map for me until I picked The Body Finder by Kimberly Derting. It reminded me of why I like this genre and that it's so fun! I never really knew about dystopian books and the only one I ever read, unknowingly, was 1984 by George Orwell. But the books that really got me into the dystopian craze was Birthmarked by Caragh M. O'Brien. Now I just need to find a book that combines both of the genres!

The Book Blogger Hop is a place just for book bloggers and readers to connect and share our love for the written word. This incredibly awesome weekly event is hosted by Jennifer at Crazy for Books!

Q: How many books are currently in your to-be-read (TBR) pile?

A: OMG so many books! I've recently made an actual physical pile so that I won't lose track of which one I need to read next. This pile does not include the book I'm currently reading or the books for review on my nook! So many books and definitely not enough time!

Review- Cinder and Ella BLOG TOUR!

Title: Cinder and Ella

Author: Melissa Lemon

Publisher: Bonneville Books (Cedar Fort)

Publish Date: November 08, 2011

Rating: 4/5

Find it here: Amazon, Goodreads

Source: ARC via Netgalley

After their father's disappearance, Cinder leaves home for a servant job at the castle. But it isn't long before her sister Ella is brought to the castle herself-the most dangerous place is all the kingdom for both her and Cinder. Cinder and Ella is a Cinderella story like no other and one you'll never forget.

My thoughts:

First of all, I love re-tellings of old fairy tales, Greek Myths or true historical events with a fiction twist. This story was so unique and different from Cinderella and I really loved it.

I loved how Cinderella was broken up into two characters, Cinder and Ella, two sisters who are the most level headed and realistic two in the family. They are also the closest among all the sisters. Cinder, being the family's favorite of the two, is pretty much the main provider and will do anything for her family members. Ella is much more stubborn and doesn't let her sisters take advantage of her. When the two split up, Cinder working at the castle and Ella running to wherever she can go, her family begins to forget about Ella and pushes the two into one, Cinderella.

My absolute favorite part of the book is the story of the life tree. Everyone in their world is given a life tree at birth and they can ultimately live or die depending on the condition of their tree. It's just so creative and unique. Cinder and Ella has a lot more elements to it that make it so much more than just Cinderella.

It is truly a story about love, honor and family loyalty which is what I love most about Young Adult novels. It was so fun to read and to see Cinderella in a different light.

For more information and further tour dates, please visit the Cinder & Ella Blog Tour website.

Waiting on Wednesday (21)

Waiting on Wednesday is a weekly event hosted by Jill at Breaking the Spine that spotlights upcoming releases that we are eagerly anticipating. This is one of my favorite memes because not only is my TBR pile so much bigger at the end of the night but also because the covers are always amazing!

This week I chose The Girl of Fire and Thorns by Rae Carson. The cover is amazing. I love the blues and purples and it's another one of those books that comes out around my birthday! Release date: September 20, 2011.

Once a century, one person is chosen for greatness.

Elisa is the chosen one.

But she is also the younger of two princesses, the one who has never done anything remarkable. She can't see how she ever will.

Now, on her sixteenth birthday, she has become the secret wife of a handsome and worldly king-a king whose country is in turmoil. A king who needs the chosen one, not a failure of a princess.

And he's not the only one who seeks her. Savage enemies seething with dark magic are hunting her. A daring,

determined revolutionary thinks she could be his people's savior. And he looks at her in a way no man has ever looked at her before. Soon it is not just her life, but her very heart that it at stake.

Elisa could be everything to those who need her most. If the prophecy is fulfilled. If she finds the power deep within herself. If she doesn't die young.

Most of the chosen do.

A Beautiful Dark by Jocelyn Davies Release date: September 27, 2011

Skye never questioned the story of her life. Her Aunt Jo adopted her after the death

of her parents when she was just a child, and together they flip through memories the way some people flip through photo albums.

She never questions if the stories were true.

Until the night of her 17th birthday, when the arrival of two strangers intrudes on her cozy life. Polar opposites, like fire and ice, Asher is dark and wild, while Devin is fair, cold, and aloof. Skye has no idea what they want-only that their presence coincides with the beginning of some shockingly strange events. Events that Skye, is she dares to think it, might be responsible for causing.

High up in the mountains of Boulder, Colorado, Sky finds herself caught in the middle of an ancient battle, one that begun untold millennia ago. Torn between unpredictable Asher, who she loves, and the infuriating Devin, who she can't stay away from, her fate is murky as a starless night. And as the secrets of her true identity are revealed, Skye realizes that her destiny may reside in the Heavens-or somewhere darker.

What are you waiting for?

Review- Clarity

Title: Clarity

Author: Kim Harrington

Publisher: Scholastic

Rating: 4.5/5

Find it here: Amazon, Goodreads

When you see things others can't, where do you look for the truth?

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

And a curse.

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

My thoughts:

As I have said before, I've always been a sucker for a good mystery; something that makes me think and hope that I can solve it before the end. Which usually doesn't happen because I would make a terrible detective. But, suspense, mystery, and thrillers are always high on my list and I always enjoy them the most.

The synopsis does a very good job of hiding what the book is really about. To me, the synopsis of a book is a lot like the trailer of a movie and I really hate it when all the good or funny parts of the movie are in the trailer. The same goes for books and I get really upset when the majority of the book is in the synopsis. Clarity was so much more! There was action, psychic reading and the whole mystery of what happened to her dad!

I love, love, love when the main love interest is written as completely gorgeous because it is so much easier for me as the reader to feel the chemistry between the two. I end up rooting for him. I think that makes me sound kinda vain or shallow but it's true. It's harder for a character to win my heart when they are deliberately written as ugly or disgusting. Now, I don't mean those characters who are just average looking but are pure at heart; I love those kinds of characters. So I'm not going to sugar coat it, Gabriel is freakin hot and I wouldn't mind kissing him on the beach!

I really loved this book. The mystery was great, the love story hot and I just ate it up! I can't believe it has taken me this long to read Clarity. If you haven't read it....READ IT! You won't be sorry.

Teaser Tuesday (8)

Teaser Tuesday is a weekly bookish meme hosted by MizB at Should Be Reading. It includes two sentences from your current read without any spoilers!

This week my spoiler is coming from Misfit by Jon Skovron.

"No, what keeps her from getting out of bed is the fact that everything looks, sounds, and smells amazing. Last night she had been too distracted by the argument to really take it all in. But now, the way the sunlight glances through the window, the way dust motes drift through the air, and even the weaving cracks of the hardwood floor seem so fascinating that she can hardly tear herself away from them. It's as if these inanimate objects call to her in some strange way."

pg. 152

So, that's a little more than two sentences but that whole section was just amazing so I had to include it all! Hope you enjoyed it!!

On My Wishlist (2)

There are always so many books on my wishlist and since I don't have the money to buy them all, there are books that have been on my wishlist for quite sometime. This weekly event is hosted by Book Chick City.

This week on my wishlist:

An invisible, uncrossable physical barrier encloses the United States. The line is part of the border that lopped off part of the country, dooming the inhabitants to an unknown fate when the enemy used a banned weapon. It's said that bizaar creatures and superhumans live on the other side, in Away. Nobody except tough, old Ms. Moore would ever live next to the line.

Nobody but Rachel and her mother, who went to live there after Rachel's dad died in the last war. It's a safe and quiet life. Until Rachel finds a mysterious recorded message that could only have come from Away. The voice is asking for help.

Who sent the message? Why is her mother so protective? And to what lengths is Rachel willing to go in order to do what she thinks is right?

Josephine Angelini Book reading and Signing

I have never been to a book reading and signing, so when I saw on Twitter that Josephine Angelini, author of Starcrossed, was going to be at the Mission Viejo Library, I ran right out to get myself a copy of the book so that I could have my very own signed copy! If it wasn't for Allison of Reading Everywhere's tweet, I would never have known!

Josephine started off by telling us how she came up with her idea of the modern retelling of Paris and Helen as star-crossed lovers fated to start a war if they are together. She also read the first

couple pages of her book. It's so amazing to hear an author read their book because they know the characters in and out and they can use the tone the character was meant to use.

During her Q&A session, she really went into detail of how she writes and gave really good

pointers to those who wish to become published. She was so sweet. She signed everyone's book, took pictures with fans and gave all those that attended awesome swag bags! In the bag: a Starcrossed bookmark, bracelet, pen and chap stick. My sister on the left, me on the right and Josephine in the middle!

Authors seem so famous to me but she was so down to earth and was so excited to meet everyone. I was so nervous and felt so starstruck that I couldn't find any words. I just smiled and nodded to her when she signed my book! Hopefully, I won't be such a dork the next time I go to an author book reading and signing!

Book Blogger Hop and Follow Friday (12)

Follow Friday is a really fun way to network your blog and meet some other really cool bloggers in the process! This weekly event is hosted at Parajunkee's View! The featured blogger is Nicki J Markus!

Q: The magic book fairy pops out of your cereal box and says "you and your favorite character (from a book of course) can switch places!" Who are you going to switch with?

A: Well I just went to Josephine Angelini's signing of Starcrossed, a book I absolutely loved. So right now, as of today, I would like to switch places with Helen, the main character. Since Starcrossed is a trilogy, I'm super excited to see her grow into herself. But Starcrossed was so fun because she got to discover her abilities. She also discovered so much about her history and where she came from. And who would not want to be fated for Lucas Delos. Gorgeous!

The Book Blogger Hop is a place just for book bloggers and readers to connect and share our love for the written word. This incredibly awesome weekly event is hosted by Jennifer at Crazy for Books!

Q: Who is the one author you are dying to meet?

A: I can only choose one? There are so many I would love to meet! If I had to choose just a few I would start with Libba Bray because I love her Gemma Doyle series and I'm dying to read Beauty Queens. I would love to meet Melissa de la Cruz (which I'm going to this month!) because I love the Blue Bloods series and I'm super excited about her new book, Witches of East End! Then I would have to say Richelle Mead because her Vampire Academy series is AMAZING!!!!

Review- Hereafter

Title: Hereafter

Author: Tara Hudson

Publisher: HarperCollins

Rating: 3/5

Find it here: Amazon, Goodreads

Source: ARC via Netgalley

Can there truly be love after death?

Drifting in the dark waters of a mysterious river, the only thing Amelia knows for sure is that she's dead. With no recollection of her past life-or her actual death-she's trapped alone in a nightmarish existence. All of this changes when she tries to rescue a boy, Joshua, from drowning in her river. As a ghost, she can do nothing but will him to live. Yet in an unforgettable moment of connection, she helps him survive.

Amelia and Joshua grow ever closer as they begin to uncover the strange circumstances of her death and the secrets of the dark river that held her captive for so long. But even while they struggle to keep their bond hidden from the living world, a frightening spirit named Eli is doing everything in his power to destroy their new found happiness and drag Amelia back into the ghost world....forever.

My thoughts:

I felt there was something missing in this book. It was the typical boy meet girl, girl's a ghost and now they have to figure out how that's going to work. Well, I guess that's not so typical but I felt like that was the whole plot line. I also lacked the emotional connection to the characters that makes the story memorable. It didn't win a place in my heart.

My favorite parts of the story were the fact that she only knew her name and nothing else and her trying to figure out her life and how she died. I'm really a sucker for a good mystery so I was very intrigued when different aspects of her life started to be revealed.

Of course, there was a bad guy, Eli, and he was the spirit who was charged with watching over the river and meadow area where Amelia died. He wasn't all that scary and I expected Amelia to win out in the end now matter what happened. I didn't really worry for her like I have for other characters in stories I've read before. When I read this type of book, I want to be sitting on the edge of my seat, unable to anticipate the next move or the next scene. But I didn't feel that anxiousness in this book.

Even though the story line was really good and very interesting, I just didn't feel the chemistry between the two main characters; I couldn't get a solid sense of their feelings. Although I was left unsatisfied, I was intrigued enough to continue reading the series if it should continue.

Waiting on Wednesday (20)

Waiting on Wednesday is a weekly event hosted by Jill at Breaking the Spine that spotlights upcoming releases that we are eagerly anticipating. This is one of my favorite memes because not only is my TBR pile so much bigger at the end of the night but also because the covers are always amazing!

I just finished The Dead-Tossed Waves by Carrie Ryan yesterday and I'm on this zombie kick. I'm really interested in reading the various different and unique worlds of zombies that authors can create. So, this week I chose Dearly, Departed by Lia Habel. The cover is gorgeous and it sounds pretty good!

As far as romantic pairings go in the year 2195, you don't get much more unlikely than an upper-class schoolgirl and a poor minor from enemy tribes. Filter in the fact that he's a zombie, and you're definitely talking about star-crossed love.

Dearly, Departed is a cyber-Victorian/steampunk romance that takes place in the shadows of a new ice age. Nora Dearly, a mouthy teenage girl and apparent orphan, leaves school for Christmas-only to be dragged into the night by the living dead. Luckily for her, though, the good ones got to her first. From her reanimated rescuers she learns that not only zombies are roaming the countryside, but that her father is one-and that he's in terrible trouble. She also meets Captain Brian Griswold, a noble, strong, and rather sweet undead boy for whom she starts to fall.

Meanwhile, her best friend, Pamela Roe, is just trying to carry on with life as best she can in the wake of Nora's disappearance-when she ends up killing an evil zombie in self-defense. Pam is galvanized into action and ends up leading a group of survivors as the city of New London is thronged by the ravenous dead.

Upon hearing of Pamela's plight, Nora and Bram set out to rescue her friends, find her missing father, and maybe just save what's left of the world.

What are you waiting for?

Teaser Tuesday (7)

Teaser Tuesday is a weekly bookish meme hosted by MizB at Should Be Reading. It includes two sentences from your current read without any spoilers!

I'm just about to start Legacy by Cayla Kluver so I decided that I will just give you guys the first two sentences in the book!

"The first boy disappeared on the day of his birth, on a night when the pale yellow moon that ruled the sky turned red and bathed the heavens in the ghastly color of blood, the same night the Empire of Cokyri abruptly ceased its merciless attack. Across the land of Hytanica, in the villages, infant boys continued to vanish." pg. 11

I'm so excited to dive right into this book! It sounds amazing!!

Review- Ultraviolet

Title: Ultraviolet

Author: R.J. Anderson

Publisher: Orchard

Rating: 3/5

Find it here: Amazon, Goodreads

Source: ARC via Netgalley

Once upon a time, there was a girl who was special.

This is not her story.

Unless you count the part where I killed her.

Sixteen-year-old Alison has been sectioned in a mental institute for teens, having murdered the most perfect and popular girl at school. But the case is a mystery: no body has been found, and Alison's condition is proving difficult to diagnose. Alison herself can't explain what happened: one minute she was fighting with Tori-the next she disintegrated. Into nothing. But that's impossible. Right?

My thoughts:

I was completely unaware of what I was getting myself into when I started reading Ultraviolet. Not only was it a mystery, but it was a huge dive into the world of psychology. Have you ever wondered if numbers have personalities or if you could taste words or see sounds? I would have to say that the mixing of the senses was my favorite part of the book. The way that the main character would explain how different words would taste different and how numbers had personalities.

I'm not going to give away any spoilers or tell you how it ended, but I was completely surprised and I still haven't decided if it was good or bad. I was so caught off guard that I'm not sure how I feel about it. If the ending could be changed to be a little different I think this book would be absolutely amazing.

Not many books shed light on those who live on the margins of society and suffer from mental illnesses. I really give R.J. Anderson props for telling a story about teens in a mental institution and showing their perspective on life.

Review- Spellbound

Title: Spellbound

Author: Cara Lynn Shultz

Publisher: Harlequin Teen

Rating: 4/5

Find it here: Amazon, Goodreads

Source: ARC via Netgalley

What's a girl to do when

meeting The One means she's cursed to die a horrible death?

Life hasn't been easy on sixteen-year-old Emma Conner, so a new start in New York may be just the change she needs. But the posh Upper East side prep school she has to attend? Not so much. Friendly faces are few and far between, except for one that she's irresistibly drawn to-Brendan Salinger, the guy with the rock star good looks and the richest kid in school, who might just be her very own white knight.

But even when Brendan inexplicably turns cold, Emma can't stop staring. Ever since she laid eyes on him, strange things have been happening. Street lamps go out wherever she walks, and Emma's been having the oddest dreams: visions of herself in past lives-visions that warn her to stay away from Brendan. Or else.

My thoughts:

Spellbound was such a great love story! I really loved the past life tragedies and the fact that they were fated to be together. Brendan and Emma are drawn to each other in a way that they've never felt before. But their lives are possibly in danger if they act on their feelings.

As much as I loved this book, I expected there to be a lot of magic in it because of the name. I thought there was going to be unknown witch heritage, coven initiation and spells. But there was only one witch who did not know very much.

This Upper East side private high school full of snotty rich brats reminded me a lot of the high school I went to in Southern California. Kids with all the clothes they want, brand new cars and parents who just throw money at them.

I really loved the chemistry between Brendan and Emma. The writing was spectacular and sucked me right in from the beginning. I wanted them to end up together so bad and to break the spell. Of course I'm not going to tell you how it ended, so you're just going to have to read it for yourself!

May R.A.K Wrap-up

I know I'm a little late in wrapping up what I received from Random Acts of Kindness but the only thing that I've been doing for the past week is unpacking from moving from Virginia to California! It's been crazy and difficult to get back into the swing of things and to balance reading, blogging and family time. Anyway, without further ado, here's what I got:

Matched by Ally Condie

Anna and the French Kiss by Stephanie Perkins

Given by Kristen @ Bookworming in the 21st Century

Past Midnight by Mara Purnhagen
Given by Lillie @ Read My Mind

Numbers by Rachel Ward
Given by Jen @ Not Now...I'm Reading!

Thank you all so much for your kindness and generosity! I love being a part of this community! Book bloggers are the best :)

Random Acts of Kindness is hosted by Book Soulmates!