Blog Hop and Follow Friday (15)

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. This week's featured blogger is Erika at Let's Talk About Books!

Q: Your favorite book/movie character (example: Hermione Granger played by the Emma chick) just walked into the room. Who is it and what would be your first reaction?

I love, love, love Harry Potter and all the movies and if Ronald Weasley/Rupert Grint walked into the room, I'm pretty sure my heart would stop and I wouldn't be able to breath! Once I regained control of myself (which would take so long he probably would have left the room), I would probably walk up to him and not be able to say a single word. It would also include a few other things like smiling awkwardly, continuing to nod my head and staring at him like I was his creep stalker. But if Patch from the Hush, Hush series by Becca Fitzpatrick walked into the room, I would try as fast as I can to shove my hands up the back of his shirt, touch the scars of his wings and see where it would take me! It would be amazing just to touch Patch!

The book blogger hop is a place just for book bloggers and readers to connect and share our love for the written word. The book blogger hop is brought to us by Jennifer at Crazy For Books!

Q: What keeps you reading beyond the first few pages of a book, and what makes you want to stop reading a book and put it back on the shelf?

A: The main reason I continue reading a book after the first few pages is that it usually sucks me in and I'm already wanting to know what happens next. That's how it is when I'm starting the first book in a series. If it's a series that I really love, then I give the next few book more time than I usually would to get the story going. I already love the characters and I've already invested my time in them, so I already know that I'm going to enjoy the story. I put a book down after 50 pages or so when I don't feel an emotional connection with them and I don't care what happens to them in the story.

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!