Waiting on Wednesday (11)

Waiting on Wednesday" is hosted by Jill at Breaking the Spine

I've fallen behind a couple of weeks with my WoWs ... So I'm going to put a couple here that I'm excited are coming up! I'm sure you can tell my theme here... vampire series, what?! :) So pumped these are almost here!

This week I'm waiting on:

Burned (House of Night #7)

by P.C. and Kristin Cast

Published: April 27, 2010

Summary from Baker and Taylor:

"In the highly anticipated seventh book in the New York Times and USA Today best-selling House of Night series, readers move deeper into the dark, sexy world of Zoey Redbird, Stevie Rae, Aphrodite and the rest of the cast as they deal with a powerful fallen angel, hateful enemies and jealous boyfriends as well as the most dangerous threat to the House of Night--and the world--yet."

Spirit Bound (Vampire Academy #5)

by Richelle Mead

Published: May 18, 2010

Summary from Baker and Taylor:

"Returning to St. Vladimir's after a heartbreaking journey to Dimitri's Siberian birthplace, Rose eagerly anticipates graduation in spite of her fears that Dimitri will not be able to resist his vampire drive to stalk and transform her."

Kiss of Death (Morganville Vampires #8 )

by Rachel Caine

Published: April 27, 2010

Summary from Baker and Taylor:

"Vampire musician Michael Glass has attracted the attention of a famous producer who wants him to cut a demo and play some gigs--which means Michael will have to enter the human world; for this, he's been assigned escorts that include both a dangerous immortal and Michael's all-too-human friends--with a mix like this, it's going to be a road trip from hell..."

I'm going to admit here that each of these books makes me squee!! I'm so excited about each one. I think Spirit Bound is the one I'm the most excited about, but it's only by a teeny tiny margin.

What are you waiting for??

Teaser Tuesday (12)

Teaser Tuesday is a bookish meme hosted byMizB at Should Be Reading. This week I'm reading:

Hourglass (Evernight) by Claudia Gray

"Apparently, when the engineers had abandoned this subway tunnel, they'd also abandoned a few old train cars. Our bunks sat on top of what had once been seats, and steel poles ran from the floor to the ceiling, like we were at stripper boot camp or something."

Page 43

I cheated a little bit this time because I chose that quote. I'm only just starting this book, but I loved that line when I read it. I'm a big fan of the rest of this series, so I'm hoping this one lives up to it. As of right now it's really heavy on the romance... so we'll see :).

The Poison Eaters by Holly Black

Title: The Poison eaters and other stories
Author: Holly Black
ISBN: 9781931520638
Publisher: Big Mouth House

Summary:
"In her debut collection, New York Times best-selling author Holly Black returns to her Modern Faerie Tale series (Tithe, Ironside, and Valiant) in two darkly exquisite new tales, "Going Ironside" and "The Land of Heart's Desire." In the first story, "Te Coldest Girl in Coldtown," a girl is drunk on the street - but for a reason you'd never guess. Then Black takes readers on a tour of a faerie market, introduces a girl poisonous to the touch, and another who challenges the devil to a competitive eating match.

These twelve stories, two of which are published here for the first time and each of which is illustrated by Theo Black, have been published in anthologies such as 21 Proms, The Faery Reel, and The Restless Dead, and have been reprinted in many "Best of" anthologies.

The Poison Eaters is Holly Black's much-anticipated first collection of stories, and her ability to stare into the void - and to find humanity and humor there - will speak to young adult and adult readers alike."
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First Lines:

From "Coldest Girl in Coldtown":
"Matilda was drunk, but then she was always drunk anymore. Dizzy drunk. Stumbling drunk. Stupid drunk. Whatever kind of drunk she could get."
Page 1
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Review:

Ever since Tithe, I've been a huge fan of Holly Black's books. I have (and will) read anything she puts out there. There's something so real and touchable in the way she writes characters who are faeries or elves or vampires... and so on. She also does a wonderful job giving them a voice that is not completely rooted in their classification - such as... her faerie characters aren't just thinking about trees and seasons and parties... they worry about other "real life" stuff like relationships. It's just a very cool way to see them.

I think my favorite story in this anthology is the very first one in the book - "The Coldest Girl from Coldtown." It's a story about a girl fighting the vampire disease, until she has to go searching for her friends in Coldtown. That was one that made me wish it was a full-length novel. Of course, it's a vampire story... so it was a little different from what I'm used to from Black. But I really liked it and thought the characters were crazily flawed, but wished I could get to know them more. Such a good one!

Another that I really liked was the one called "The Night Market." That one was about an elf who cursed a girl and her sister is set out to make it right. I think my favorite thing about this one is that it seemed built on folk tales - like, stories passed down by word of mouth. That could have come from the maid-like character. But I also liked that it was set in the Philippines and the language that was used. It made the story very exotic for me.

And the last one I'm going to mention is the title story, "The Poison Eaters." This is about a girl who can kill with one touch. I think one thing I really liked about this one was the story going in circles a little bit. It's almost still a mystery what happened and how. But it's very cool and I wouldn't mind reading a full-length novel based on this one too.

The rest of the stories were very well written as well (just don't want to bore you to much going into each one). There were a couple that weren't fantastic, but that doesn't mean they were bad. Perhaps it was just my love of other stories that some paled in comparison. Isn't that always the way when it comes to short story books?! :)

I would recommend this to anyone wanting to read more of Holly Black's stories. It's a great "anthology" and I look forward to reading more of her stuff - she has plenty coming up. Check out her website or her blog for more info on upcoming projects!
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Other Blog Reviews:

Teen Book Review Blog
Book Reviews and More
Pure Imagination
Reading Rat
Once Upon a Bookshelf

Musing Mondays (3)

Musing Mondays is a meme hosted by Rebecca at Just One More Page...! Just go to her blog to find her topic of the week.

Today’s MUSING MONDAYS post is about multitasking.
Do you – or are you even able – to do other things while you read? Do you knit, hold a conversation, keep an eye on the TV? Anything?

I would absolutely classify myself as a multitasker... at least most of the time. I always seem to have a few things going at the same time (yet, never two books... strange). I always use my computer and watch tv... or do crosswords while watching tv... The only time I can read while the tv is on is when my fiance is watching something I'm not really interested in (ex: Wrestlemania. yuck). At that point, I suppose I do keep an eye on the tv, but not really paying attention. Of course, it also depends on how good the books is - gotta keep my interest.

I don't know if this counts, but I read while I eat lunch every day. I know that sounds anti-social and such, but it's the only time of day at work when I get to NOT talk to people. It's nice. So I suppose the noise in the caf is more like background noise.

Is it even possible to knit while reading?! I can't imagine... but then again, I'm not a knitter.

What do you do while you're reading?

A Match Made in High School by Kristin Walker

Title: A Match Made in High School
Author: Kristin Walker
ISBN: 9781595142573
Publisher: Razorbill

Summary:
"CONGRATULATIONS! YOUR SCHOOL HAS INVITED YOU TO PARTICIPATE IN A REVOLUTIONARY MISGUIDED COURSE CALLED TRYING THE KNOT!

When a mandatory course forces Fiona to "try the knot" with super-jock Todd Harding, she's convinced life couldn't get any worse. Until her crush is paired with her arch-enemy (otherwise known as Todd's obscenely hot, slightly sadistic girlfriend). But that's nothing compaired to her best friend's fate - a year with the very goofy, very big Johnny Mercer.

A serious of hilarious pranks leaves Fiona wondering: Is there something her "best friend" hasn't told her? Could there be more to Johnny Mercer than an awesome music collection? And most intriguing, could Todd Harding have a heart beneath his pretty-boy exterior?"
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First Lines:

"I should have known. I should have known the minute I went to get my favorite White Stripes peppermint tee and found it not in the drawer, but temporarily forgotten in the back of my closet, curled up in a crusty ball. Caked with two-week-old, nuked syrup that had shot out of the bottle, bounced off my waffle, and splattered me like a sweet paintball."
Page 1
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Review:

I had read so many wonderful reviews of this book, I was super excited to get my hands on it. Lots of people said it was hilarious... and they were all right!

This book was a comic romp through the annoyances of high school. The whole marriage thing happened in my high school too... but that was only if you were taking a certain life skills course. I don't think any of those "relationships" were as hilarious and prank-filled as these were.

Most of the characters in this book are pretty typical high-school fare. Though I really liked that some of the parents were given a very specific personality as well (which, weirdly, there are authors that just skip over them). I did have trouble picturing the main character though - either I skimmed over her description or something... but I just couldn't put a look on her. So I spent most of the book going back and forth. But that was okay because so much was going on, I barely noticed.

The pranks throughout this book were really fun. The relationships are very similar to those I had in high school, so it was easy to relate to. Overall it was just a really fast, fun book that gives you a dose of humor and a little bit on the life lessons. I will definitely be recommending this one to girls looking for romance stuff.

Kristin Walker's website is really cool, so you should check that out. She's also a debut author this year, so I'm adding her to my list!
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Other Blog Reviews:

Shooting Stars Mag
The Book Butterfly
Bookalicious Rambling
Persnickety Snark
Chick Lit Teens
Frenetic Reader
And lots, lots more... So check it out!

Numbers by Rachel Ward

Title: Numbers
Author: Rachel Ward
ISBN: 9780545142991
Publisher: Scholastic

Summary:
"Since the day her mother died, Jem has known about the numbers.

Numbers that pop into her head when she looks into someone's eyes. They're dates, the numbers. Dates predicting with brute accuracy each person's death.

Burdened by such grim knowledge, Jem avoids relationships. Until she meets Spider, another outsider, and takes a chance. Maybe they can find happiness together, if only in the brief time that remains before his expiration date.

But on a trip to London, Jem foresees a chilling chain of events.

The city's a target. The clock's running out. The countdown is on to a blowup!"
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First lines:

"There are places where kids like me go. Sad kids, bad kids, bored kids, and lonely kids, kids that are different. Any day of the week, if you know where to look, you'll find us: behind the shops, in back lanes, under bridges, bu canals and rivers, 'round garages, in sheds, on vacant lots. There are thousands of us."
Page 1
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Review:

I truly enjoyed this book a lot more than I was expecting to. That's not to say I didn't think I would like it... I just wasn't expecting it to be the quick, crazy-interesting read that it is. There's something really intriguing about the concept of someone who can see death-dates. I mean, would you want to know if someone could tell you the date you would die?

This book did a really good job of portraying this sort of push and pull. On one hand, you want people to live their lives like today's their last day... on the other hand, people can fix what wrongs they've done if they knew how long they had. I dunno, it's just a really interesting concept.

The characters started out as really tough and jaded - but then you get to know them and realize what they're like from the inside. It's also cool to watch how each character reacts to things so differently. What they do in crisis... what they do in quiet times... what they do interpersonally... That's just a really big part of this book.

This book pulled me in from page one and really didn't let go until the ending. I'm not going to talk about the ending - but I just want to say that it's shocking. I may or may not have ended with a humongous gasp that weirded out the people around me. :). But this book is so fast-paced and cool that you barely realize the time is slipping by.

This is a great book for people who are into sci-fi concepts, but want a more realism in the story. I hesitate calling this sci-fi, because there are points in the story that you almost forget about her ability. But I'd say, perhaps 9th grade up... and I think guys will like this story just as much as girls would.

Check out Rachel Ward's website. This book was published first in the UK, and you can definitely feel the language... or lilt... or whatever. It's great :). I look forward to reading her next work!
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Other Blog Reviews:

Wondrous Reads
Book Love Affair
Book Crazy
Today's Adventure
Bart's Bookshelf
The Book Smugglers
Forever Young

Friday Fill-In (10)

Friday Fill-In is a fun meme that's hosted by Janet at the Friday Fill-In blog. Just fill in your answers!

1. The right word hangs out on the tip of my tongue... but never makes an appearance.

2. I dare you to leave angry and shut the door quietly, please.

3. Up town is where all the action happens. Supposedly.

4. Sprawled out on the bed with a book is where you'll find me.

5. Ooh! What is that going to do for me??

6. Looking both ways before crossing the street is a good idea.

7. And as for the weekend, tonight I'm looking forward to having a nice, quiet night with my fiance, tomorrow my plans include working and Sunday, I want to go shopping in the city!

The Hop!

This is a fun, friend-finding meme-ish thingy that is hosted by Crazy-for-Books. It's a way to get to know more book bloggers who are interested in the same stuff you are. I think it's a really cool idea!

This is my first time, so if you're seeing this from the hop... Welcome! *waves* Now I'm gonna go check out a few of the blogs listed. Nothing like adding to my blog reader!

The Iron King by Julie Kagawa

Title: The Iron King
Author: Julie Kagawa
ISBN: 9780373210084
Publisher: Harlequin Teen

Summary:
"Meghan Chase has a secret destiny - One she never could have imagined...

Something has always felt slightly off in Meghan's life, ever since her father disappeared before her eyes when she was six. She has never quite fit in at school... or at home.

When a dark stranger begins watching her from afar, and her prankster best friend becomes strangely protective of her, Meghan senses that everything she's known is about to change.

But she could never have guessed the truth - that she is the daughter of a mythical faery king and is a pawn in a deadly war. Now Meghan will learn just how far she'll go to save someone she cares about, to stop a mysterious evil no faery creature dare face... and to find love with a young prince who might rather see her dead than let her touch his icy heart."
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First Lines:
"Ten years ago, on my sixth birthday, my father disappeared. No, he didn't leave. Leaving would imply suitcases and empty drawers, and late birthday cards with ten-dollar bills stuffed inside."
Page 9
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Review:

It seems like I've ready a lot of faery stories lately - and I still have a few in my TBR stack. Perhaps that is why it took me a little time to get into this book. The whole faery thing is a really fun and interesting topic - and, as you see from this book, can take on a whole mariad of different faces.

I do admit that the story took me a little while to get into. It felt a little like a lot of other faery stories - but that's mostly because some of the vocab is recycled in every story - Seelie, Unseelie, fey, etc. It took me a minute to get my mind into this new world. But once the story was set - meaning what the adventures were going to entail - I really got a lot more involved in the story.

The whole concept of an iron king of iron fey is just really cool. I mean, that's taking the whole thing and turning it on its head. I appreciated that jump and definitely look forward to how the story is going to play out. Of course this is more than just one book - so I'm already hoping for the next book to come out sooner rather than later.

The characters were very well written, but were often changing. No one was exactly who you originally thought they were. Well, except for a few. But otherwise the characters keep you on your toes. You never know when one might change on you and make their roll a lot more embedded in the story. But that was one of the cool things about this book - it absolutely keeps you on your toes.

Now that the story is set, I really look forward to the second book. I'll be recommending this book to readers who love Holly Black's fey stories or even some fantasy-adventure lovers. There's lots going on and it's pretty constantly filled with battles, chases, and interpersonal drama. But that's just what makes the book so much fun!

Check out Julie Kagawa's website! She's also a 2010 debut author, so this one is going on my list!
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Other Blog Reviews:

Karin Librarian
Ink and Paper
Off My Bookshelf
Jenn's Bookshelves
Pure Imagination
Frenetic Reader

Teaser Tuesday (11)

Teaser Tuesday is a bookish meme hosted byMizB at Should Be Reading. This week I'm reading:

The Iron King by Julie Kagawa

"I didn't scream this time, but came very close. As it was, I nearly fell out of the tree. Hugging a branch, I looked around wildly, trying to determine the owner of the voice, but I glimpsed nothing but leaves and sickly gray light shining through the branches."

Page 93

I've got about 100 pages left in this book and I've really enjoyed it. The story is very interesting and full of adventure. It's taken me a little longer to read than I expected, but I'm looking forward to finding out what happens in the end.

Friday Fill-In (9)

Friday Fill-In is a fun meme that's hosted by Janet at the Friday Fill-In blog. Just fill in your answers!

1. Today I will be trying to organize my brain at work. Vacations make me confused.
2. My little brother just bought a house and I say why not?
3. What do you think of reading at work? I think it should be required :).
4. At Starbucks (!!) it's free Pastry Day til 1030 Friday! (This is insane. How could I have not heard about this?!)
5. People say that what we're all seeking is happiness and peace.
6. The image I cherish most is locked away in my scrapbook. But I don't know if I can pick just one.
7. And as for the weekend, tonight I'm looking forward to cleaning off some of my DVR, tomorrow my plans include doing my taxes, probably and Sunday, I want to do some scrapbooking!!

Secrets of Truth & Beauty by Megan Frazer

Title: Secrets of Truth & Beauty
Author: Megan Frazer
ISBN: 9781423117117
Publisher: Disney/ Hyperion Books

Summary:
"When Dara Cohen was little, she was a star. She was the cutest seven-year-old who ever sang Ella Fitzgerald, and it was no wonder she was crowned Little Miss Maine.

Now Dara's seventeen, and she's not so little anymore. So not little, that when her classmates find out about her illustrious resume, their jaws drop. That's just one of her problems. Another is that her control-freak mom won't get off her case about anything. Yet the one that hurts the most is the family secret: Dara has an older sister her parents tried to erase from their lives.

When a misinterpreted English project lands her in the counselor's office - and her parents pull her out of school to save face - Dara finally decides to reach out to the sister she's never met, who now lives on a collective farm in massachusetts. What follows is a summer of revelations, some heartbreaking, some joyous; of friendship, romance, a local beauty pageant; and choices. And as the autumn approaches, Dara finds she may have to let go of nearly all she's ever taken for granted in order to figure out who she really is and what family means."
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First Lines:

"It started with Mr. Fitz. Mr. Fitz was a great teacher. Really. He wanted to inspire us, challenge us, and make us into better people. I think he found his calling while watching one of those movies about a heroic educator going into an inner-city school and turning kids around."
Page 1
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Review:

This book is a really fun, inspirational story that takes you on quite the interesting adventure. Can you imagine finding out you have an older sister that your parents kept from you?! I think this is a wonderful story of a girl who is trying to find out more about her long-lost sister... but ends up finding out who she is and what she stands for.

One thing I really like is the musical accents throughout the book. The main character is a singer and I felt like I could almost hear her humming through the story. It's a wonderful touch and gave me a taste of who Dara was. I also really enjoyed her commentary on pageants and things that she had been involved in. It was also a really cool look at life on a goat farm - the chores, the cheese, the fairs. Just very fun!

The only thing that drove me a little batty about this book was the cover. I mean, it's a cool cover... sure. But there's something about the girl that just didn't look right. Dara is supposed to be overweight - like, obviously so. And it really seems like the girl on the cover very much isn't. Now, I did wonder throughout the book whether this was a body-image situation or something... but I'm honestly not sure. Still, the cover threw me off a little.

The characters in this book are really complex - there's about a million different things going on with each one. And some of them you never really figure out. It's almost like there's enough info to make this into a series. I, for one, would like to see where the characters end up - how things turn out for them. The two characters I had a hard time with were the parents. I pretty much hated them. There was something about the way they raised their girls that just made me so angry. Perhaps they were a bit too much. Too angry. Too self-involved. Too brash. I'm not sure - that could just be my take on them.

Check out Megan Frazer's website - her blog looks like a lot of fun. Not to mention she's a Librarian... which gives her about ten thousand cool points. I know this was her debut novel last year, so I hope to see lots more from her!
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Other Blog Reviews:

Ten Cent Notes
My Favorite Author
Queer YA
Frenetic Reader
Juiciliciousss Reviews
Reading Nook

Why I Let My Hair Grow Out by Maryrose Wood

Title: Why I Let My Hair Grow Out
Author: Maryrose Wood
ISBN: 9780425213803
Publisher: Berkley Jam

Summary:
"Sometimes you have to break away...
When my boyfriend dumped me on the last day of school, it was just the icing on a top layer my-life-sucks cake. Hacking off all my hair and dying the stubble orange seemed like the next logical step. Okay, I was acting out. But my parents freaked and called the travel agent and before you could say "Let's fix Morgan," I was being sent on a bike tour of Ireland. As if pedaling my way across an entire country with a bunch of losers in padded shorts is supposed to cheer me up?
... to find your way.

So I'm hating the Emerald Isle, hating my tour mates, like-yet-hating the cute redheaded guy who drives the luggage van - when a most unusual bike accident tosses me headfirst into some crazy, once-upon-a-time corner of the past... I'm talking faeries and wee folk and a hunky warrior dude named Fergus, who knows how to treat a girl who's part goddess. (Hmm, wonder who that might be?) Now, in addition to biking across the country, I have to help undo some evil curses and perform an impossible rescue. Some vacation, right? But in the middle of all this becoming-a-legend stuff, I'm realizing there's something growing that I need to do - and I don't mean my hair..."
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First Lines:

"The first thing I did was take scissors to my bangs. Snip, snip. Or maybe I should say, bang, bang. My heart was beating kind of hard."
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Review:

This book was a lot of fun. I mean, the main character is a bit wonky, so it's exciting being inside of her head. I can only imagine being shipped off to Ireland because your parents are worried about you. I would have been in heaven if that had happened! I wonder how many parents even consider something like that an option. I'd say not many, probably.

There were parts of this story that really reminded me of Wizard of Oz. Falling down the rabbit hole, persay. She falls into this other world where there are faeries and the land of "long ago." It just feels a lot like other stories. Her seeing real life characters in the unreal world makes it a lot like Oz as well. Not that I didn't enjoy those parts - they made up most of the action... it was just familiar. In a good way. The language in the other world seems a little weird - using words from today - but it's almost more fun that way.

Humor is a really big element of this story and it's done really well. There's also a nice little romance that takes some interesting twists and turns. I would recommend it to pretty much anyone reading YA stuff - realistic with a bit of magic thrown in. I'd almost call it an adventure - about a girl trying to figure out who she is and how to deal with crazy stuff that gets thrown at her.

There are two other books with these same characters, so I will have to see about getting my hands on those. Maryrose Wood has a blog that is a lot of fun, so take a look at that.
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Other Blog Reviews:

BookLoons
Read What You Know
Bookworm Readers
Mrs. Magoo Reads
Elegantly Bound Books

Friday Fill-In (8)

Friday Fill-In is a fun meme that's hosted by Janet at the Friday Fill-In blog. Just fill in your answers!

1. I am so looking forward to my trip to Tennessee next week. w000t for vaca!

2. I will be packing a lot later.

3. When you get this, I'll probably be heading to the cafe for lunch :).

4. The internet is (sadly) a big part of my life.

5. If you need anything, I'll beback on Wednesday.

6. Not that I have the money to pay for a trip.

7. And as for the weekend, tonight I'm looking forward to a quiet evening of reading and such, tomorrow my plans include work and probably packing and Sunday, I want to make it to Tennessee safely!

Waiting on Wednesday (10)

Waiting on Wednesday" is hosted by Jill at Breaking the Spine

This week I'm waiting on:

Movers and Fakers (Alphas #2)

by Lisi Harrison

Released April 6, 2010

Summary from Baker and Taylor:

"At OCD the losers are tormented.

At Alpha Academy, they're sent home.

Skye Hamilton has scored an invitation to the ultra-exclusive Alphas-only boarding school where beta is spelled LBR . What happens when the country's best, brightest, and hawtest begin clawing and scratching their way to the top?"

Before I read the first Alphas book, I hadn't read anything by this author. I was a little worried what it would be like because there are ten thousand of the Clique series. But I thought I would catch this series while it was new. I LOVED Alphas! It was so smart and sassy and well written. I was v. surprised, but now I'm eagerly waiting on the next installment. Hopefully it will live up to the first novel! I have faith that it will :).

Oh, and I got the cover image from Baker and Taylor, and it has a little black circle on it that says "cover not final." I, personally, like this cover... so I hope it stays the same. But if it changes - you've been warned!

Bleeding Violet by Dia Reeves

Title: Bleeding Violet
Author: Dia Reeves
ISBN: 9781416986188
Publisher: Simon Pulse

Summary:
"Love... can be a dangerous thing.

Hanna simply wants to be loved. with a head plagued by hallucinations, a medicine cabinet full of pills, and a closet stuffed with frilly violet dresses, Hanna's tired of being the outcast, the weird girl, the freak. So she runs away to Portero, Texas, in search of a new home.

But Portero is a stranger town than Hanna expects. As she tries to make a place for herself, she discovers dark secrets that would terrify any normal soul. Good thing for Hanna, she's far from normal. As this crazy girl meets and even crazier town, only two things are certain: Anything can happen and no one is safe."
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First Lines:

"The truck driver let me off on Lamartine, on the odd side of the street. I felt odd too, standing in the town where my mother lived. For the first seven years of my life, we hadn't even lived on the same continent, and now she waited only a few houses away."
Page 1
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Review:

This book was way more intense than I was expecting. When you read the summaries and such, it doesn't really seem like it's going to be more than a realistic fic book with a touch of magic or fantasy stuff. This book goes to a whole other level in the fantasy genre. I think I'm actually considering it horror - mostly because it was one of those really creepy books that almost reminded me of Stephen King novels.

I was also expecting this book to be more about the character Hanna... but instead it was really more about the town itself and the people/things that inhabit it. And then it's about Hanna's reaction to things and how she fits into the puzzle there. When I first started the book and thought about the main character, I couldn't even imagine how... crazy... she would be in real life. She's one of those people who are just really off their rocker and there's not much you can do about it. And it's that insanity that her reactions to things in the town are based on.

The first part of the book kept me really guessing - which I'm sure is intended - because you're introduced to all of these people in a fairly normal setting (school), but something is just horribly off as you get to know them. Which, I suppose, is why Hanna works in this setting without seeming way too over the top. And some of the things these people have to face are just way more intense and bloody and gorey and disgusting than you would ever expect.

I'm thinking about changing this book from fantasy to horror in my library collection. I do have to say that I really enjoyed it. At first, I was a little scared of its size. I just wasn't sure if I had the time to commit to a 400+ page book. But, really, the story flew and I didn't even notice rushing past the half-way point.

I would recommend this book to older teens - I can imagine a movie made from this book would firmly sit in the R category! It's bloody, gorey, and a bit sexual. But it's very well written and I think teens will love it. Surprisingly, I think guys will love it too - it's just that well done. I'm defintiely looking forward to the next book by this author.

Check out Dia Reeves' website. I love her description for her next book in the FAQs area. It sounds wonderful. And it's always nice to see a librarian being awesome :).
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Other Blog Reviews:

Steph Su Reads
GAL Novelty
The Neverending Shelf
Once Upon a Bookcase
The Hiding Spot
Pure Imagination

Teaser Tuesday (10)

Teaser Tuesday is a bookish meme hosted byMizB at Should Be Reading. This week I'm reading:

Bleeding Violet by Dia Reeves

"I went up to my room briely, then came down and stripped the covers from Rosalee's bed. With the needle and red silk thread I'd brought down, I stitched "I Love You" into her matress.

As I remade her bed and stretched myself across it, I imagined the words beneath my body seeping into her as she slept, weakening her resistance to me."

Page 92

I've been reading this book for a couple of days now and I have no idea where it's going to end up. I'm about 200 pages in and am still a little in the dark. It's kind of a creepy book so far - almost Stephen King-ish. But it's definitely interesting and my curiosity is piqued. I look forward to seeing where the story goes.

Musing Mondays (2)

Musing Mondays is a meme hosted by Rebecca at Just One More Page...! Just go to her blog to find her topic of the week.

"Today’s MUSING MONDAYS post is about dust jackets.
Do you prefer books with a dust jacket? What do you do with your dust jacket while reading? Leave it on or take it off? (Question courtesy of Kim from Page after Page)"

My answer to this question depends completely on where I get the book from. I mean, if I check out the book from the library, they've already secured the dust jacket to the book... so there's not I can do there. And that's where I get most of my books from, so I've kinda gotten used to having the dust jacket on there.

But if it's my own, personal book and the jacket hasn't been secured to the book... I tend to take it off. Mostly because I can't handle it slipping and sliding around. I'd probably lose it or ruin it. I'd rather keep my book intact instead of having a pretty cover on while I read the book.

What were your answers?

Very LeFreak by Rachel Cohn

Title: Very LeFreak
Author: Rachel Cohn
ISBN: 9780375857584
Publisher: Alfred A. Knopf

Summary:
"Meet Very LeFreak:
playlist maker, party planner, heartbreaker, good-time girl who can't get enough of a good time, especially when she's online (all the time). She's the girl everyone wants to know, the girl other girls want to be like, and the girl all the guys want to be with.

But underneath all of that is the real girl: Veronica. The Veronica who misses her mother, who wishes she cared more about school, and who wants to be a good friend.

It's just that, well, Very can't stop checking email, sending text messages, making playlists, updating her Web site, finding new online shopping sites to spend money she doesn't have. Her electronic addictions are getting in the way of everything else: her scholarship at Columbia is at risk, she's facing academic probation, her friends have just about given up on her. So what's a girl to do?

Why, escape, of course. To rehab at ESCAPE, Emergency Services for Computer-Addicted Persons Everywhere, in quiet, leafy Vermont. Where Very will be forbidden to use anything electronic: goodbye iPhone. So long, laptop. But maybe twenty-eight days of being unplugged will be just what the doctor/dean/great-aunt ordered to clear Very's head - and her heart."
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First Lines:

"It wasn't the fact that Starbucks did not - would not - serve Guinness with a raw egg followed by an espresso chaser that was ruining Very's hangover. Nor was Very concerned that she had stumbled into her campus Starbucks on the morning after an overnight "study session" with the beautiful engineering majo from Ghana whose name eluded her, although Very knew there were many hard consonants involved."
Page 3
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Review:

It's kind of funny to be blogging about a book written about a girl who has a technology addiction. I've often wondered if I have a bit of an addiction to tech stuff (which I probably do), but I figure reading itself cancels that out - right?! Right. Anyway, I definitely picked up this book because it sounded like a lot of fun. And I know that Rachel Cohn's books are fairly popular - even though I haven't read any of them before.

So as an intro to Rachel Cohn stuff, I really enjoyed it. I had a hard time trying to relate with the character because she is my very, total opposite - which isn't a bad thing. But it's a little hard to put myself in the shoes of the girl who is such a partier, she can barely think behind the next event she's going to host - or the next boy (or girl) she's going to be with, and all of that. But as the story goes along, you really get to know her and why she's the way she is. Then you begin to feel a lot more in touch with her.

Even though I had trouble relating with the character, there were times that I really felt her pain - or what my pain would be if I were going through what she was going through. If that makes any sense. I guess that's just the mark of a really well written character. I don't get her, but I feel for her. So that's one really awesome thing about this book. It's just really well written. It seemed to take me no time at all - and I constantly wanted to be back in the story.

I would absolutely recommend this book to girls - probably 10th grade and up. It's set in her freshman year of college, and there's a lot of sex, drugs, and language to contend with. It's honestly not trashy like that made it sound - you don't witness any scenes of anything... it's just very present in the story. Also, being set in college makes it better for that older teen who is thinking about college and what that might be like. So, recommended. Definitely a fun book. And it counts for my Chick Lit Challenge! woo hoo!

Here's Rachel Cohn's website - It's got a lot of fun stuff going on, so I'd check it out! :)
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Other Blog Reviews:

Youth Services Corner
Bildungsroman
Steph Su Reads
Reading Nook
Mrs. Magoo Reads
Faded Hat

Friday Fill-In (7)

Friday Fill-In is a kinda fun meme that's hosted by Janet at the Friday Fill-In blog. Just fill in your answers!

1. Why are you making me work so early this morning? I'm not impressed.
2. I want you to take a looong nap. Are we sensing a theme here?
3. Give me candy, then it will be on my terms. (not sure where that came from) :)
4. Make me play first-person shooter games and see what happens.
5. I could use a cup of coffee. That is... if I drank coffee. But I feel like it might help.
6. If only it would start blizzarding out there and then maybe I would get to go home to nap.
7. And as for the weekend, tonight I'm looking forward to not being at work :), tomorrow my plans include sleeping in, shopping, and laundry and Sunday, I want to relax and maybe scrapbook!

Firespell by Chloe Neill

Title: Firespell: A novel of the Dark Elite
Author: Chloe Neill
ISBN: 9780451228864
Publisher: Signet

Summary:
"As the new girl at St. Sophia's Boarding School, Lily Parker thinks her classmates are the most monstrous things she'll ever have to face - but oh, how wrong she is.

When Lily's parents decide to send her away to a fancy boarding school in Chicago, she is not happy. Lily's classmates are the ultrarich brat-pack type - and if that isn't enough, she's hearing and seeing bizarre things on St. Sophia's creepy campus.

The only thing keeping her sane is her roommate, Scout, but even Scout's a little weird - she keeps disappearing late at night. When a prank leaves Lily trapped in the catacombs beneath the school, Lily finds Scout, who's running from a real-life monster. Scout is part of a splinter group of rebel teens who protect Chicago from demons, vamps, and the gone-to-the-dark-side magic users called Reapers. She lets Lily in on her secret, even though Lily has no powers of her own... or at least none she's discovered yet."
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First Lines:

"They were gathered around a conference table in a high-rise, eight men and women, no one under the age of sixty-five, all of them wealthy beyond measure. And they were here, in the middle of Manhattan, to decide my fate."
Page 1
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Review:

Before I picked up this book, I had read several advanced reviews that said it was amazing. I'm glad I listened to them and finally read it. They were so right! This book was wonderful!

One thing I really loved about this book was the dialog. There was something about the way the characters played off of on another that reminded me a lot of that tv show Gilmore Girls a few years back. It was fast, funny, and they just worked so well with each other. That really goes for almost all of the characters - they are all wonderfully written. It was also really fun to get into their new friendship and how things progress. Doesn't everyone want a person to declare them friends on their first day of a new school? That's just really cool and the characters have a lot of depth to them. There is definitely romance, but it doesn't smack you in the face. It's just the right amount. *applause*

I thought the concept was really fun - not to mention in a cool setting. There's something about boarding schools that is so exotic. I know I love the idea of them :). Not to mention the urban fantasy aspect that's used in this story - nothing better than a spooky boarding school! It's just really cool and the descriptions are wonderful.

Mixing in the whole mystery aspect with the urban fantasy made this book a bit more deep than I was expecting. There are a lot of questions to be answered in the end, but some are left hanging a little bit. But i know there's another book on the horizon (like, January 2011), so I feel like I can wait for my answers. I am excited for the next book though because this one was so well done.

I'm definitely recommending this book to anyone loving paranormal stories - even when they're looking for romance. Fans of the Kelley Armstrong series will find this one interesting. But so will fans of vampire/werewolf stories. It's great for everyone! :) This one also counts for my Debut Author Challenge - even though she has written one series for adults. So maybe check those out to see her other stuff! Here's her website.
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Other Blog Reviews:

Sara's Urban Fantasy Blog
The Book Pushers
Pure Imagination
Ninja vs Pirate Book Reviews
Bookworming in the 21st Century
Book Crazy
Fresh Fiction
Katie's Book Blog

Waiting on Wednesday (9)

Waiting on Wednesday" is hosted by Jill at Breaking the Spine.

This week I have two books I'm eagerly anticipating because they both come out in the next week or so. Check it:

Fang: Maximum Ride

by James Patterson

Released: March 15, 2010

Summary from BN.com:

"Max and the Flock are flying high over Africa, but this time they're not alone. A sky full of cargo planes accompanies the team as they bring much-needed aid to the continent's poverty stricken regions. Among the volunteers is the mission's benefactor—the mysterious billionaire, Dr. Hans Gunther-Hagen. Max is intrigued by his generosity, but there's also something about him—and his intense scrutiny of the Flock—that makes her nervous.

But Dr. Hans isn't the only puzzling thing about their trip. The Flock also receives a cryptic message from a young girl, who tells them, "The sky will fall." Max and the Flock are ready to return home, still unable to make sense of her statement. But the surprises don't end with their departure, and something unbelievably momentous shakes up the Flock—pushing Max and Fang closer than ever. Will the team be able to stick together through the chaos?"

I've been in love with this series since the beginning. It's so fun and easy - granted the story is pretty steady and all... but I really do enjoy it. I'm so ready to get my hands on the next installment!

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The Body Finder

by Kimberly Derting

Released: March 16, 2010

Summary from amazon.com:

"Violet Ambrose is grappling with two major issues: Jay Heaton and her morbid secret ability. While the sixteen-year-old is confused by her new feelings for her best friend since childhood, she is more disturbed by her "power" to sense dead bodies—or at least those that have been murdered. Since she was a little girl, she has felt the echoes the dead leave behind in the world . . . and the imprints that attach to their killers.

Violet has never considered her strange talent to be a gift; it mostly just led her to find dead birds her cat left for her. But now that a serial killer is terrorizing her small town, and the echoes of the local girls he's claimed haunt her daily, Violet realizes she might be the only person who can stop him.

Despite his fierce protectiveness over her, Jay reluctantly agrees to help Violet find the murderer—and Violet is unnerved by her hope that Jay's intentions are much more than friendly. But even as she's falling intensely in love, Violet is getting closer and closer to discovering a killer . . . and becoming his prey herself."

Doesn't this sound amazing?! I am really excited to read this one - hopefully I will be able to get a copy when they come into the library. I've read awesome reviews of this one (Seems like everyone has read ARCs), so hopefully the hype will stand up! I'm ready to find out :).

Christina T Rocks My Socks

Miss Christina T over at Reading Extensively has bestowed a few awards on to me. I appreciate them greatly and look forward to passing them along to some of the blogs I've been keeping up with. Not to mention she's a Librarian. We gotta stick together! Thanks Christina - you rock my socks! :) Here are the awards:

There are a couple of rules for this award:

1. Every winner of the Prolific Blogger Award has to pass on this award to at least seven other deserving prolific bloggers. Spread some love!
2. Each Prolific Blogger must link to the blog from which he/she has received the award.
3. Every Prolific Blogger must link back to This Post, which explains the origins and motivation for the award.
4. Every Prolific Blogger must visit this post and add his/her name in the Mr. Linky, so that we all can get to know the other winners.

Here are the blogs I'm passing this award along to. Again, I haven't done any back-tracking to see if they've gotten this award already, so I apologize in advance if you've already receieved this one. Enjoy!

1. Steph Bowe's Hey! Teenager of the Year

2. Sophistikatied Reviews

3. Becky's Book Reviews

4. J. Kaye's Book Blog (Or should I now call it "Home Girl's Book Blog" - I know this blog has gotten this award before, but this is for the new management :))

5. Forever Young Adult

6. Just Your Typical Book Blog

7. Juiciliciousss Reviews

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This one is so cute, isn't it?! I have a few blogs I'd love to pass this one along to. Again, didn't check to see if they've gotten it and I apologize in advance if they have. These are all ones that inspire me and keep me very interested. Love you guys!:

1. Reading in Color
2. Brizmus Blogs Books
3. The Serpentine Library
4. Zoe's Book Reviews
5. One Librarian's Book Reviews

Teaser Tuesday (9)

Yesterday was crazy-busy, so I'm catching up a day late. Sorry about that :). I'm sure it's not too late to give you a teaser, right?

Teaser Tuesday is a bookish meme hosted byMizB at Should Be Reading. This week I'm reading:

Firespell: A Novel of the Dark Elite by Chloe Neill

"On the other hand, the dark circles beneath her eyes showed that she was still going somewhere at night, that something was going on, regardless of how oblivious the rest of the school was."

Page 63

This book has really sucked me in. I started it just a little while ago and I'm already absolutely addicted. I've heard great reviews on this one, so I have high hopes for the rest of the book. I'll let ya know how it is (obvs).

Ash by Malinda Lo

Title: Ash
Author: Malinda Lo
ISBN: 9780316040099
Publisher: Little, Brown and Company

Summary:
"In the wake of her father's death, Ash is left at the mercy of her cruel stepmother. Consumed with grief, her only joy comes by the light of the dying hearth fire, re-reading the fairy tales her mother once told her. In her dreams, someday the fairies will steal her away, as they are said to do. When she meets the dark and dangerous fairy Sidhean, she believes that her wish may be granted.

The day that Ash meets Kaisa, the King's Huntress, her heart begins to change. Instead of chasing fairies, Ash learns to hunt with Kaisa. Though their friendship is as delicate as a new bloom, it reawakens Ash's capacity for love - and her desire to live. But Sidhean has already claimed Ash for his own, and she must make a choice between fairy tale dreams and true love.

Entrancing, empowering, and romantic, Ash is about the connection between life and love, and solitude and death, where transformation can come from even the deepest grief."
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First Lines:

"Aisling's mother died at midsummer. She has fallen sick so suddenly that some of the villagers wondered if the fairies had come and taken her, for she was still young and beautiful."
Page 3
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Review:

I'm very much a sucker for the retold fairy tales. This one is no exception. It's always amazing to see how the stories are altered to the imagination of the author - they always seem to take twists and turns that I wouldn't have thought of (not that I'm an author by any stretch of the imagination). While many retold tales seem to take place in modern times or something completely different from the original story, this one seems to give you another take on a tale that could have been more accurate.

Cinderella is a story that pretty much everyone knows - I mean, are there people who really don't?! Anyway, this retelling takes the original and tosses it in a world where fairies are more reality than fiction. You would think that with the amount of fantasy in the original story (what with the fairy godmother and talking mice and all that), this wouldn't be much of a stretch. It really feels completely different. In a really good way.

I'm going to admit one thing: I had a hard time not picturing the 1998 movie Ever After while I was reading this book. There was just something similar about the way they were done - at least the home life and circumstances of "Cinderella." But I loved that movie, so I guess that's not a bad thing. Their house and such were exactly what I imagined her living in.

One thing that I found interesting in this story is the difference of the love interests from any version of cinderella I've ever read/watched. I really liked that Ash was not completely enthralled with royal life and dressing for balls and such. This Ash was a more realistic (to my mind) girl who just wanted to be away from where she ended up. I could identify a lot more with her than a girl who desired to be someone important. I hope that makes sense.

I really did enjoy this book and will be happy to give it to others to read. It's a great retelling of a classic story and I think it will find many, many fans. I know lots of bloggers have already read and written about this one and were impressed with the story. I want to add my name to that list. It's a great book - really well written.

Take a look at the author's website for a look at her blog and other info. Enjoy this one!
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Other Blog Reviews:

Bookworm Extraordinaire!
Steph Su Reads
Eva's Book Addiction
The Story Siren
Read This Book!
GAL Novelty
Even Meg Cabot reviewed this book!

Musing Mondays (1)

This is a meme that I found recently around the blogosphere and really liked the sound of it. I think the topics are always interesting and hopefully I will have something to say about them.

Musing Mondays is a meme hosted by Rebecca at Just One More Page...! Just go to her blog to find her topic of the week. I'm pretty excited to get this one going. Here's the topic:

"Today’s MUSING MONDAYS post is about a story format.
How do you feel about books written in a differing format – whether this be journals or letters (epistolary), verse novels, or any other form? Is this something you enjoy? Or do you prefer straight forward chapter prose."

I'm really a fan of different formatting styles. I'm particularly a fan of the blog-entry, chatting, or texting formats. I know that some people have a hard time with these, but there's something so fun and easy about reading books like that (maybe because I'm used to communication that way). I suppose these fall under the heading of "letters"... or "journals" maybe? I've been known to pick up these books regardless of what they're about. It's a dangerous practice, but I haven't been bitten yet :).

I have a little confession to make. I've never read a novel in verse. Now, I know which ones are out there. And I know which ones to recommend. I've just never picked one up. I think this is because of my years of shying away from poetry. I have a hard time getting things out of poetry (meanings, ideas, etc), so I've always assumed I would have problems with novels in verse. Care to talk me into reading one? I'm open to suggestions on how to do that.

This all makes me sound like I'm not a fan of straightforward prose. 'Tis not true! I love me some "regular" novels. Many books wouldn't work in alternate formats anyway, so I definitely don't limit myself to one format or another. Then I would miss out on all the incredibly great stuff out there!

Thanks to Rebecca at Just One More Page... for a wonderful topic this week. I look forward to next Monday!