Hold Still by Nina LaCour

Hold Still
Nina LaCour
Release Date: October 15, 2009
Publisher: Dutton Juvenile
Pages: 230

Rating: 4.5 Stars

An arresting story about starting over after a friend’s suicide, from a breakthrough new voice in YA fiction.
dear caitlin, there are so many things that i want so badly to tell you but i just can’t.

Devastating, hopeful, hopeless, playful . . . in words and illustrations, Ingrid left behind a painful farewell in her journal for Caitlin. Now Caitlin is left alone, by loss and by choice, struggling to find renewed hope in the wake of her best friend’s suicide. With the help of family and newfound friends, Caitlin will encounter first love, broaden her horizons, and start to realize that true friendship didn’t die with Ingrid. And the journal which once seemed only to chronicle Ingrid’s descent into depression, becomes the tool by which Caitlin once again reaches out to all those who loved Ingrid—and Caitlin herself.

Hold Still is a heartbreaking, beautiful novel about the touching story of Caitlyn and her struggle to deal with life after her best friend commits suicide. Hold Still was a book that simply comes alive. All the characters were so realistic. You hear their voices in your head as if they were standing next to you. The plot was great, but there were a few moments I was just confused as to why certain things came about. They seemed to come out of no where. Hold Still takes a few pages to really hook you in, but then a sense of need to keep reading at a ridiculous speed kicks in.

I loved how Nina LaCour has the book in sections by season. It served well as a marking period for Caitlyn's growth as she continues on in her struggle. You also get passages of Ingrid's diary along the way which adds so much to the story. You not only get what's going on in Caitlyn's world, but how Ingrid had seen that same world as well. There were so many moments that were simply heartbreaking, and had me tearing up. Nina LaCour's such a talented writer and her style was a joy to read.

Hold Still is a powerful debut that I'd highly recommend; it has a powerful message, beautiful characters, and a story worth reading. Nina LaCour is a talented new voice in the world of Young Adult literature.

Dairy Queen Contest Winner!

First I'd like to apologize for taking so long to post a winner - school's had me insanely busy!

But there were 69 total entries, and the winner was....


*Drum Roll*


#44 SARAH


Congrats! I'll be emailing you for your address soon :)

Waiting on Wednesday (25) - Heist Society by Ally Carter

Waiting on Wednesday is a topic brought to life by Jill over at Breaking the Spine. With Waiting On Wednesday you get to introduce to everyone upcoming books you're excited about.

Heist Society
Ally Carter
Release Date: February 9, 2010
When Katarina Bishop was three, her parents took her on a trip to the Louvre...to case it. For her seventh birthday, Katarina and her Uncle Eddie traveled to Austria...to steal the crown jewels. When Kat turned fifteen, she planned a con of her own--scamming her way into the best boarding school in the country, determined to leave the family business behind. Unfortunately, leaving "the life" for a normal life proves harder than she'd expected.

Soon, Kat's friend and former co-conspirator, Hale, appears out of nowhere to bring her back into the world she tried so hard to escape. But he has good reason: a powerful mobster has been robbed of his priceless art collection and wants to retrieve it. Only a master thief could have pulled this job, and Kat's father isn't just on the suspect list, he the list. Caught between Interpol and a far more deadly enemy, Kat's dad needs her help.

For Kat there is only one solution: track down the paintings and steal them back. So what if it's a spectacularly impossible job? She's got two weeks, a teenage crew, and hopefully just enough talent to pull off the biggest heist in history-or at least her family's (very crooked) history.

What're you guys waiting on?

Dark Secrets 1: Legacy of Lies and Don't Tell by Elizabeth Chandler

Dark Secrets 1: Legacy of Lies and Don't Tell
Elizabeth Chandler
Release Date: August 4, 2009
Publisher: Simon Pulse
Pages: 431

Two girls haunted by the past...and destined to relive it

In Legacy of Lies, Megan has to stay with the uptight grandmother she wants nothing to do with. She's determined to get through the visit without any drama, but when she falls into a twisted love triangle with potentially fatal consequences, Megan may be caught up in her family's legacy in more ways than she realizes.

In Don't Tell, Lauren knows that by returning to the town where her mother drowned seven years ago, she'll be reliving one of her most haunting memories. When she arrives, she is propelled into a series of mysterious events that mimic the days leading up to her mother's death. Maybe her mother's drowning wasn't an accident after all...and maybe Lauren is next.

Elizabeth Chandler does a wonderful job with both of these stories.

Legacy of Lies - 5 stars Legacy of Lies was a great mystery with an enticing plot! It's short and takes you on twists and turns so you have no clue where you're going. I fell in love with all the characters, and when it was over I was sad because I could've read about the characters for many more pages! The ending leaves readers truly happy. Elizabeth Chandler's writing keeps readers on edge the entire time.

Don't Tell - 4 stars Don't Tell is a book to really get your spine a' chilling. In Don't Tell, Elizabeth Chandler leads you on another journey through a plot with unexpected results. She really knows how to build the suspense. You meet characters like Nora and Lauren, who all have such strong qualities. All throughout Don't Tell, you never know quite who to trust which really makes you edgy and suspicious of the true intent of characters actions.

I love how they reprinted these 2 into one novel with the new cover. I absolutely love the new cover - it's very eye catching.

Overall I would highly recommend picking up a copy of Dark Secrets 1 if you're looking for a short and sweet suspenseful read!

Cover Remake Contest

So Cindy over a Princess Bookie is hosting a cover remake contest.

Here's mine for The Unwritten Rule.


And this is my cover I made for Something Like Fate

24 Hour Readathon: Wrap Up Post

Pages read: 665
Time spent reading: 9 hours
Number of Books read: 2 and a bit more
I'm kinda bummed, I think I could've done better - I fell asleep after hour 19 and woke up now just after the official finish.


1. Which hour was most daunting for you?
Hour 18 and beginning of 19

2. Could you list a few high-interest books that you think could keep a Reader engaged for next year?


3. Do you have any suggestions for how to improve the Read-a-thon next year?
No - I think it went very smoothly.

4. What do you think worked really well in this year’s Read-a-thon?


5. How many books did you read?
2/3 Completed. One book was 2 books reprinted in one addition so I'm not sure if you count that as 1 or 2. But I Finished that book and 1 other so 2.

6. What were the names of the books you read?
Dark Secrets: Legacy of Lies and Don't Tell by Elizabeth Chandler
Top 10 Uses For an Unworn Prom Dress by Tina Ferraro

7. Which book did you enjoy most?
I enjoyed them both equally - they were such different genres.

8. Which did you enjoy least?
I really liked both.

9. If you were a Cheerleader, do you have any advice for next year’s Cheerleaders?
I wasn't a cheerleader, but they were all amazing!!!

10. How likely are you to participate in the Read-a-thon again? What role would you be likely to take next time?
I definately will partcipate again! I think I will read agian, but maybe do some cheerleading too :)

Mini Challenge: My 8 Favorite Things

So for a mini challenge over at Cindy's blog we're supposed to make a list of our top 8 things. Make sure to check it out!

My list o' Love:

1. ♥ Show Choir ♥
2. Music
3. My bunnies
4. Legolas
5. Icecream
6. Food as a whole
7. Sleep zzzz.....
8. Ummm.... Books. DUH!

In My Mailbox (17)

In My Mailbox was started by Kristi over at The Story Siren! In My Mailbox is a way to share the books you received each week.

So I did another vlog this week :)


People Mentioned:
Hold Still Trailer
April of Good Books and Wine
Harmony of Harmony Book Reviews
Chelsea of The Page Flipper
Khy of The Frenetic Reader

For Review:
Hold Still by Nina LaCour
Cashing In by Susan Colebank
The Betrayal of Natalie Hargrove by Lauren Kate
The Sky is Everwhere by Jandy Nelson
Little Miss Red by Robin Palmer

Won:
Twisted by Laurie Halse Anderson (From Chelsea)
Paper Towns by John Green (From YA Reads)
Soul Catcher by Deborah Smith (From BBAW)


The received:
Map of Known World by Lisa Ann Sandell (From Harmony)

Bookmooch:
Evernight by Claudia Gray
The Pretty One by Cheryl Klam

24 Hour Readathon: Give Me 5 Mini Challenge

So Lynn at InfantBibliofile is hosting the Give Me 5 Mini Challenge which consists of listing your top 5 children's books (I'm going with like picture books)

For Hour 17: "Go to your blog and post a list of five favorite children's books. They don't have to be THE five end-all-be-all of your favorites, because then you'll just agonize over which ones to pick, and we want this to be easy. Just list five off the top of your head that you enjoyed as a child, or that your children enjoy."

Mine are
1. If you give a pig a pancake
2. If you give a mouse a cookie
3. Where The Wild Things Are
4. Green Eggs And Ham
5. A Very Hungry Catepillar

24 Hour Read-a-Thon

So the Read-A-Thon began at 7AM my time... I didn't wake up til around 9 and started reading around 9:30. I'm reading Dark Secrets: Legacy of Lies and Don't Tell by Elizabeth Chandler. It's now around 10:15, so I'm off to read more :)

Update 1: I'm creeping up on 2 hours, and I've ony gotten around 90 pages read. It's been really loud around my house and hard to concentrate but people should quiet down soon hopefully! I'm still reading Dark Secrets: Legacy of Lies and Don't Tell.

Update 2: Wow! Up to 4 hours already. I'm not doing as well as I'd hope... I keep gettign distracted lol, and almost falling asleep though I did manage to get a few mini challenges done and read another 80 pages. Hopefully I can kinnda focus now, we'll see....

Update 3: So this is about 7 hours for me. I've read for about 4.5 of those hours (I'll have to add up the times on my log I've been keeping later), the others were me getting sidetracked online and doing mini challenges or eating/showering/whatever. I put down Dark Secrets for a bit, and decided to re-read 10 Ten Uses For An Unworn Prom Dress. I love that book - it's so cute! I'll finish that one in the next 30 min at most, then I will be picking up Dark Secrets again and hopefully finishing that within the next hour (maybe?).

Update 4: I'm now up to just over 9 hours! I've been reading for about 6.5 hours. I finished Top 10 Uses for an Unworn Prom Dress and am about 330/431 pages through Dark Secrets :) I'll probably update in another hour and so, and hopefully I'll have finished Book #2. In a few minutes it'll be 1/2 way through the entire readathon, so you figure about 6.5 hours of reading / 12 isn't bad at all. Lets see how I do the 2nd half!

Update 5: So now this is my hour 10 which is really like 12.5 in the actual read a thon lol. I'm up to 7.5 hours of reading. I've finished 2 books which is a total of 654 pages. I'm about to take a few minute break to write up a few reviews, then I'm starting Hold Still by Nina LaCour.

Update 6: So epic fail. I'm in hour 11 (really hour 13.5) in the actual read a thon and I haven't read at all in the lasat hour BUT I will be starting back up now with Hold Still by Nina LaCour. So I'm still at 7.5 hours of reading. I also did YOGA!!!

Update 7: So now onto hour 13 since I started ( 15.5 in reality) and I haven't done much the past time. I'm at about 8.5 hours of reading, then other time I was starting to dose off which isn't good. I'm gonna go get some caffeine or something. No way am I falling asleep!

24 Hour Readathon: Mid Event Survey

1. What are you reading right now?
Hold Still by Nina LaCour

2. How many books have you read so far?
2

3. What book are you most looking forward to for the second half of the Read-a-thon?
Hold Still by Nina LaCour (I'm JUST starting it, and I've been DYING to read it for ions)

4. Did you have to make any special arrangements to free up your whole day?
Yes I did actually.

5. Have you had many interruptions? How did you deal with those?
I had so many interruptions. I just kind of tried to read through them or do mini-challenges while there were interruptions, then go back to reading.


6. What surprises you most about the Read-a-thon, so far?
How much fun it really is!

7. Do you have any suggestions for how to improve the Read-a-thon next year?
Nope! I love it

8. What would you do differently, as a Reader or a Cheerleader, if you were to do this again next year?
I would find a lot of really short books. I read one book that was over 400 pages, and while I absolutely loved it - reading for hours on end with long books isn't as fun.

9. Are you getting tired yet?
NO WAY! I haven't even been awake 12 hours yet.... I'll probably start to droop in about 5 hours, when there's about 6 hours left.

10. Do you have any tips for other Readers or Cheerleaders, something you think is working well for you that others may not have discovered?
Not really....

24 Hour Readathon: Mini Challenge

In answer to the Feed Me Seymour! Mini-Challenge over at Linus's Blanket, I'm posting a description of food from Legacy of Lies by Elizabeth Chandler.

"You may carry out the meat and biscuits. The rest will get cold if Matt-well, it's about time," she told him as he came through the door.

"It's three minutes to six," he replied mildly, then joined her at the stove and began dishing ou the greens. I may as well have been a kitchen stool he walked past.

I carried out the platter of meat, then biscuits. He and Grandmother brought the soup and green beans. Grandmother sat at the head of the talbe with Matt at her right, which left me the seat across from him. As luck would have it, I was also across from the goriest deer of the hunting series.


There's part of what they're eating for dinner in the above passage :)

24 Hour Read-a-Thon: Intro Meme

Where are you reading from today?
My house.

3 facts about me …

I'm a vegetarian
I'm a theater child
I'm in a show choir.

How many books do you have in your TBR pile for the next 24 hours?

I'm shooting for 3-4 at least... but I'm not sure how far I'll get.

Do you have any goals for the read-a-thon (i.e. number of books, number of pages, number of hours, or number of comments on blogs)?

Yes - I'm shooting to read at least 3 books (but more would be much better!

If you’re a veteran read-a-thoner, Any advice for people doing this for the first time?

I'm a first timer! :)

24 Hour Read-a-Thon Giveaways!

Cindy over at Princess Bookie is having oodles and oodles of contests in celebration of the 24 Hour Read-A-Thon this weekend! Go check it out!!

Give Up the Ghost by Megan Crewe

Give Up the Ghost
Megan Crewe
Release Date: September 15, 2009
Publisher: Henry Holt
Pages: 244

Rating: 5 stars

Cass McKenna much prefers the company of ghosts over "breathers." Ghosts are uncomplicated and dependable, and they know the dirt on everybody... and Cass loves dirt. She's on a mission to expose the dirty secrets of the poseurs in her school.

But when the vice president of the student council discovers her secret, Cass's whole scheme hangs in the balance. Tim wants her to help him contact his recently deceased mother, and Cass reluctantly agrees.

As Cass becomes increasingly entwined in Tim's life, she's surprised to realize he's not so bad--and he needs help more desperately than anyone else suspects. Maybe it's time to give the living another chance...

I had been looking forward to Give Up the Ghost since I first heard about it! I wasn't exactly sure what to expect, but what I found I absolutely loved! I simply fell in love with the story and the characters. What a spectacular debut from Megan Crewe!

Give Up the Ghost had everything going for it! There was a bit of everything - humor, sadness, serious moments, happiness, and a bit of romance.

Right away I fell in love with the main character Cass. She was the outsider after an incident in middle school, and now is the opposite of her perfect sister. She was funny and powerful character, never afraid to speak her mind. Tim is another character you see an awful lot of, and I loved him as well. Tim's friends with Cass ex-best friend who was responsible for her becoming an outsider, so right away you see the tension towards Tim from Cass. There were times I really would've liked to see Tim open a bit more. Two other characters I really enjoyed were the 2 ghosts that "haunt" Cass's high school - Norris and Bitzy. They both cracked me up to no end, and brought so much to the story.

The whole plot of the story intrigued me. I loved hearing all the gossip the ghosts had to report. There were times I had no clue where the plot was going with its little twists and turns. One aspect I do wish Megan Crewe had explored a bit more was how Cass came to have her powers. You do find out, but a bit more would've been really interesting.

Give Up the Ghost is a book to be read when you have quite a bit of time to read, because let me tell you, it is quite the gripping page turner. I cannot wait for another book by Megan Crewe!

Little Black Lies by Tish Cohen

Little Black Lies
Tish Cohen
Release Date: October 13, 2009
Publisher: Egmont USA
Pages: 320

Rating: 4 stars

Sara Black is tiptoeing across a fraying tightrope.
As the new eleventh grader at Anton High – the most elite public school in the country – she sticks out like an old VW bus in a parking lot full of shiny BMWs. But being the new kid also brings a certain advantageous anonymity.
In Anton High’s world of privilege, intelligence, and wealth, Sara can escape her family’s tarnished past and become whomever she wants.
And what’s the harm in telling a few little black lies when it can lead to popularity? That is, until another it girl at Anton becomes jealous of Sara’s social climbing.
With her balance evaporating, one small push could bring Sara crashing down.

Little Black Lies was a light read that a wide range of teens will enjoyable. It's a well written book that is 100% believable. That was one reason I enjoyed it so much, there was never a moment where you were thinking, "That'd never happen."

Each chapter opens with a random fact about ants, which comes from Anton students referring to themselves as "ants". I thought that was so unique! Tish Cohen created a main character you can sympathize for and also connect with, but I found myself frustrated at Sara at times. One lie would build into another, and she was a character that had nothing but great things for her. Though I do understand her struggle to balance school and family life. The other characters really grow on you as the novel goes on. There were a few characters I was not crazy about in the beginning, but were my favorites by the end.

I loved the underlying romance throughout the entire novel. I would have liked to see a little more of it, as I fell in love with the boy and would've liked to know a bit more about him. I liked the involvement of OCD with Sara's father. It really makes you understand how living with someone with ODC can affect your life. Little Black Lies ends with an ending to make you go "Awww"

Little Black Lies was a novel I really enjoyed reading, and should Tish Cohen decide to continue Sara and the other characters story, it'd be a book I'd be first in line to buy.

Waiting On Wednesday (24) - Firespell by Chloe Neill

Waiting on Wednesday is a topic brought to life by Jill over at Breaking the Spine. With Waiting On Wednesday you get to introduce to everyone upcoming books you're excited about.

Firespell
Chloe Neill
Release Date: January 5, 2010
As the new girl at the elite St. Sophia’s boarding school, Lily Parker thinks her classmates are the most monstrous things she’ll have to face…

When Lily’s guardians decided to send her away to a fancy boarding school in Chicago, she was shocked. So was St. Sophia’s. Lily’s ultra-rich brat pack classmates think Lily should be the punchline to every joke, and on top of that, she’s hearing strange noises and seeing bizarre things in the shadows of the creepy building.

The only thing keeping her sane is her roommate, Scout, but even Scout’s a little weird—she keeps disappearing late at night and won’t tell Lily where she’s been. But when a prank leaves Lily trapped in the catacombs beneath the school, Lily finds Scout running from a real monster.

Scout’s a member of a splinter group of rebel teens with unique magical talents, who’ve sworn to protect the city against demons, vampires, and Reapers, magic users who’ve been corrupted by their power. And when Lily finds herself in the line of a firespell, Scout tells her the truth about her secret life, even though Lily has no powers of her own—at least none that she’s discovered yet…

What're you guys "waiting" on?

Never After by Dan Elconin

Never After
Dan Elconin
Release Date: October 20, 2009
Publisher: Simon Pulse
Pages: 320

Rating: 5 stars

There is no place like a dysfunctional home.

Leaving everything behind for the Island was Ricky's dream come true. When his happily ever after is not quite what it seems, he discovers that running away means running toward bigger problems.

Trapped on the Island, Ricky must join together with the only people he can trust to help him face his fears and return home. But the only way off the Island is to confront the person who trapped Ricky and his friends in the first place. With countless enemies and true peril staring them down, Ricky's mission to leave this so-called paradise will become a battle for their very lives.

Generally with books, within the first few pages you get a feel of how a book will be. With Never After, my initial thoughts were, "Wow, this'll be good!" but it outlived every expectation I had for it and more! Never After was so enjoyable because it was such a twist on the classic Peter Pan and was filled with loads of humor!

Never After is a book to keep you flipping pages at an insane speed, needing to know what'll happen next. Every page is jam packed with action, humor, adventure, and a bit of romance. I found myself laughing out loud at so many points in the book, especially whenever you found a twisted part of the classic.

Dan Elconin really mastered the art of making you feel as if you're in the story, standing right next to all the characters. I simply fell in love with all the characters! Mariah was my favorite character though. She was such a great character - you didn't get to know her all at once, rather you got a piece here, and a piece there along the way.

Reading Never After makes you feel like you can have an escape to The Island, along with Ricky, Nigel and the others. I cannot wait to see what Dan Elconin has planned next. If it's anything like Never After, it'll be amazing.

An adventure in Chicago AKA Stephanie Kuehnert's signing!

So Saturday I ventured down to the land of Chicago for Stephanie Kuehnert's signing, and it was a total blast!

I ended up driving to Kristen's house, and she drove to Chicago from there. We had lunch at her house, and I drooled our her ARC of FALLEN! I tried to steal it... but no luck.


Anyways, then we headed down to the Borders in Oak Park. I finally bought my copy of I Wanna Be Your Joey Ramone. We then headed to the lower level where the signing was, and STEPHANIE KUEHNERT was already sitting there talking to someone in the like 2nd row. We sat down behind her, and when she headed to the front - Kristen and I moved to the front row.

She did a reading from Ballads of Suburbia. And had me hanging on every sentence she read - Stephanie reading Ballads made it so much stronger than when I had read it, which obviously makes sense as she wrote it. After she read from Ballads of Suburbia, there was a Q&A. I asked her what her favorite character to write from Ballads of Suburbia was: Stacey and Adrian. (Would now be the time to confess I love Adrian as well, he was my favorite character of Ballads!) Kristen and I then talked to Stephanie for a few minutes and she signed our books. Stephanie was so cool! :) :)

After her signing, we headed to an Indie Bookshop to look around there. And then we had our cookie/dog treat experience which you all know about if you've seen my IMM vlog from this week.

It was a superfun day, filled with books, books, and more books :)

Doubles Contest Winner!

So there was 2 way to enter my contest - 1 was to guess the number of doubles I found in my collection of books and the other was to guess the number of Nancy Drew books I have.

I found 17 doubles, and 2 people got that number Chloe and Iluvhersheys_andbooks

And I had 157 Nancy Drew books and no one got that, so I just did a random number. It was 1 to 25, and Random.org picked #25 which was Yan.

I'll be emailing you guys, and first choice goes to whoever emails me first.

In My Mailbox (16)

In My Mailbox was started by Kristi over at The Story Siren! In My Mailbox is a way to share the books you received each week.

YAY! I did a vlog this week (Please don't laugh at me lol) :)


People/things mentioned:
Kristen of Bookworming in the 21st Century
Stephanie Kuehnert and her fantastic signing (post about it coming soon)

Books for Review:
The Line by Teri Hall (For 1 ARC Tours)
Dark Secrets by Elizabeth Chandler
Kissed By an Angel by Elizabeth Chandler
Little Black Lies by Tish Cohen
Gringolandia by Lyn Miller-Lachmann

The Won:
Prada and Prejudice by Mandy Hubbard
Poison Ink by Christopher Golden
Dream Spinner by Bonnie Dobkin

The Bought:
I Wanna Be Your Joey Rammone by Stephanie Kuehnert
The Summoning by Lynn Ewing
The Looking Glass Wars by Frankt Beddor
Magic Study by Maria V. Snyder
Rich Boys by Jenny O'Connell
Ordinary Ghosts by Eireann Corrigan
The Falconer's Knot by Mary Hoffan
Wildwood Dancing by Juliet Marillier
Fourth Comings by Megan McCaffrey

Mooched:
Generation Dead by Daniel Waters
White Is For Magic by Laurie Faria Stolarz
The Boy Book by E. Lockhart
French Kiss by Aimee Friedman

So question for you guys - Should I keep doing vlogs? Or go back to regular posts?

What'd you guys get this week?

Cracked Up To Be by Courtney Summers

Cracked Up To Be
Courtney Summers
Release Date: December 23, 2008
Publisher: St. Martins Griffin
Pages: 214

Rating: 5 stars

What's the worst thing you've ever done?

When "Perfect" Parker Fadley starts drinking at school and failing her classes, all of St. Peter's High goes on alert. How has the cheerleading captain, girlfriend of the most popular guy in school, consummate teacher's pet, and future valedictorian fallen so far from grace?

Parker doesn't want to talk about it. She'd just like to be left alone, to disappear, to be ignored. But her parents have placed her on suicide watch and her counselors are demanding the truth. Worse, there's a nice guy falling in love with her and he's making her feel things again when she'd really rather not be feeling anything at all.

Nobody would have guessed she'd turn out like this. But nobody knows the truth.

Something horrible has happened, and it just might be her fault.

I simply devoured this book - I started it and read straight through late into the night. Cracked Up To Be was off the usual track for YA novels, and was just simply amazing. Cracked Up To Be is a book that will speak to you.

Parker was a great character. She had attitude and had messed up her life so much, yet I still found myself smirking at her comments she had. Parker was a character the majority of readers can connect with in some way. Jake, oh how I loved you! From the first page Jake walked onto the page, I absolutely loved him! All the characters were amazing!

The mysterious aspect was great! You knew something terrible had happened to Parker, but you didn't know WHAT. The mystery unravels, piece by piece throughout the book. You get little snippets of the book as you read Cracked Up To Be, and try to piece together what happened that has made Parker do a 180.

Cracked Up To Be is a spectacular debut! Basically meaning drop what your doing and run to the store to get it! Courtney Summers is definately an author I will be reading more of!

Blood Promise by Richelle Mead

Blood Promise
Richelle Mead
Release Date: August 25, 2009
Publisher: Razorbill
Pages: 503

Rating: 5 stars

DIMITRI'S HEART HAS GONE DARK

Now Rose must journey to the ends of the earth to find--and kill--her one true love...

Or has the time come to join him?

BOUND BY LOVE, BUT SWORN TO KILL...

The rest of the world had considered Dimitri dead. And to a certain extent, he was. But I hadn't been able to forget a conversation he and I had once had. We'd both agreed that we'd rather be dead—truly dead—than walk the world as Strigoi. It was time to honor our words.

Guardian Rose Hathaway's life will never be the same.

The recent attack on St. Vladimir's Academy devastated the entire Moroi world. Many are dead. And, for the few victims carried off by Strigoi, their fates are even worse. A rare tattoo now adorns Rose's neck, a mark that says she's killed far too many Strigoi to count. But only one victim matters . . . Dimitri Belikov. Rose must now choose one of two very different paths: honoring her life's vow to protect Lissa—her best friend and the last surviving Dragomir princess—or, dropping out of the Academy to strike out on her own and hunt down the man she loves. She'll have to go to the ends of the earth to find Dimitri and keep the promise he begged her to make. But the question is, when the time comes, will he want to be saved?

Now, with everything at stake—and worlds away from St. Vladimir's and her unguarded, vulnerable, and newly rebellious best friend—can Rose find the strength to destroy Dimitri? Or, will she sacrifice herself for a chance at eternal love?

***If you haven't read the first Vampire Academy books, this review could be sort of spoilerish****

Seriously, my first words upon finishing Blood Promise were O.M.G. Richelle Mead doesn't let readers down with this next installment of the series! She hooks you in, and doesn't let you eat, sleep, whatever until the book is done - it's that addicting!

Once you got into it, there was no putting it down. The suspense, the story, and action just kept you reading. The need to know what's happening to Dimitri, will Rose carry out her plans is so overwhelming. Blood Promise definately plays with your emotions throughout the entire book.

In Blood Promise you see everyone favorite characters continue to grow as the series progresses. I was happy Richelle Mead found a way to include all the characters, even while Rose is off in Russia. The new characters you meet, like Abe and Sydney, are characters I hope to see in future books!

I now need Spirit Bound NOW! The wait until May is going to be agonizingly long!

Waiting On Wednesday (23) - Nothing Like You by Lauren Strasnick

Waiting on Wednesday is a topic brought to life by Jill over at Breaking the Spine. With Waiting On Wednesday you get to introduce to everyone upcoming books you're excited about.


Nothing Like You
Lauren Strasnick
October 20, 2009
"You think he’s yours but he’s not, I thought. You think he’s yours but really he’s mine.”

When Holly loses her virginity to Paul, a guy she barely knows, she assumes their encounter is a one-night stand. After all, Paul is too popular to even be speaking to Holly, and he happens to have a long-term girlfriend, Saskia. But ever since Holly’s mom died six months ago, Holly has been numb to the world, and she’s getting desperate to feel something, anything—so when Paul keeps pursuing her, Holly relents. Paul’s kisses are a welcome diversion, and it’s nice to feel like the kind of girl that a guy like Paul would choose.

But things aren’t so simple with Saskia around. Paul’s real girlfriend is willowy and perfect… and nothing like Holly. To make matters worse, she and Holly are becoming friends. Suddenly the consequences of Holly’s choices are all too real, and Holly stands to lose more than she ever realized she had.

W.O.W. - Ha, these were my thoughts after reading this description of the book. It sounds simply amazing!

What are you guys "waiting" on?

Traveling to Teens Tour: The Kindling of GreenFyr by Mark Freeman

The Kindling of GreenFyr
Mark Freeman
Release Date: August 11, 2008
Publisher: Publish America
Pages: 556

Rating: 3.5 stars

The Kindling of GreenFyr is the story of Owen McInish, an awkward fourteen-year-old bullied at school and friendless except for his pet cat, Piper. That is until a snow leopard is chased through the woods behind his house by three huge gray dogs with glowing green eyes. Owen saves the leopard from her pursuers, but the animal escapes him as well, only to return later. The cat’s behavior is peculiar, nothing like a wild animal, making Owen even more curious as to its origin. Eventually, the cat allows Owen to pet her. Owen finds himself experiencing friendships as he has never before. Adventures as he has never imagined. And political intrigue as two worlds, long separated, begin to collide.

The Kindling of GreenFyr was a great tale set in a vivid world filled with all the creatures of fairy tales. It had almost a Lord of the Rings-esque feel to it. When I picked it up, I had NO idea what to expect, but it turned out being fantastic! I simply fell in love with the world and characters. All the characters brought something different to the table. I love Aiya - she was a strong elf maiden and totally interesting! I also loved Winter - he was such a great character. One character I would've liked to know more about was Lilian, the witch queen. You hear only a little from her - and I would love to know more about her and the role she plays. Boone was another character that was just great! He just brought the story to life.

The plot was very unique. It was definately one to keep you guessing what would happen next. I loved the Vrok - it was such an interesting creature.

My only issue with GreenFyr was the length. It was a book with a great plot, but it was so long! At times it caused the book to drag. It seemed there was a bit too much description at times, and that took away from the book overall.

I really like the cover. A snow leopard in a forest just has an awesome appeal and illusion to it if you ask me.

The end really picked up and I had trouble putting it down! The ending sets the stage for an amazing book 2, and leaves readers begging for more!

Marvelous Monday: Author Interview with Kiera Cass

I'm very excited to introduce Kiera Cass who is joining us today for another Marvelous Monday!

Kiera Cass is the author of the wonderful novel, The Siren (see my review here). You can visit her on the web at http://www.kieracass.com!

Where'd you get the inspiration for The Siren?
It's kind of typical, but I got the idea after a nap. I must have been dreaming about something in the water, because that's what was on my mind when I woke up. I thought the sirens' world would be a fun one to write about except I didn't have a purpose for these girls, and that really bothered me. Then I got the idea that the Ocean ate people and needed this army of beautiful women to draw people in. That was it! And The Siren was born.

Have you visited any of the places Kahlen and the other sirens frequent?
Two. The beach in Pawleys Island is a real place that's tucked away at the end of a road. It's beautiful at night and kind of a special secret among some friends of mine. And I went to Port Clyde, Maine. I knew that Kahlen's love interest would need to be close to water, and I picked that town randomly out of a book. Once I knew I was going to really dive into this story, I had to go see it myself. What if I got it wrong?! It turns out Port Clyde was everything I hoped it would be. I have pictures of the town up at my website, www.KieraCass.com

If you had to listen to one song for the rest of your life, what would it be?
Oh, now that is a problem... I might go crazy. I could probably whittle it down to Fly by Eddie From Ohio or Dark Blue by Jack's Mannequin.

Where are your favorite places to write?
There used to be this great cookie shop in town called Crumb and Get It. I loved writing there; it smelled so nice! But nowadays I do most of my writing at home. I'm seven months pregnant and WAY too many smells bother me to hang in coffee shops.

Do you have any writing rituals or routines you have to follow?
Yes. I feel kind of silly about this, but I start all of my projects in a notebook and then transfer the chapters to my computer. Every story absolutely has to have the right notebook and the right color pen. I wrote The Siren in green. You thought it would be blue, didn't you? :)

Are you currently working on any other projects?
Yes! I'm working on something called The Selection. It's a little too early for me to talk about the plot, but I will share that the notebook has a crest on it, and I wrote it in purple.

What's the best book you've read lately?
My reading has slowed a bit lately. Mostly due to Baby making me tired and my writing so much. I really enjoyed Shiver by Maggie Stiefvater and, even though it was a little wordy, The Morning Gift by Eva Ibbotson.

I hope you all enjoy The Siren. If you've already read it (or read it soon), stop by my YouTube channel (www.youtube.com/user/kieracass) because there are some contest going on. I love giving away stuff!

Thanks so much Kiera for taking the time to being interviewed :)

In My Mailbox (15)

In My Mailbox was started by Kristi over at The Story Siren! In My Mailbox is a way to share the books you received each week.

This week I got:

WTF - Peter Lerangis
Two parties, six alternating points of view, and three letters that says it all--WTF!

Never After - Dan Elconin
There is no place like a dysfunctional home.

Leaving everything behind for the Island was Ricky's dream come true. When his happily ever after is not quite what it seems, he discovers that running away means running toward bigger problems.

Trapped on the Island, Ricky must join together with the only people he can trust to help him face his fears and return home. But the only way off the Island is to confront the person who trapped Ricky and his friends in the first place. With countless enemies and true peril staring them down, Ricky's mission to leave this so-called paradise will become a battle for their very lives.

Possessed - Kate Cann
Rayne can't wait to start her summer job at a remote country mansion, far from the crowded, noisy London she so desperately wants to escape. But the retreat soon turns into a nightmare -- the mansion is creepy, the legends of ghosts keep Rayne up at night, and she doesn't feel safe anywhere.

Can Rayne figure out why she's so freaked -- before she becomes a ghost story herself?

Wolves of the Beyond: Lone Wolf by Kathryn Lasky
A wolf mother has given birth, but the warm bundle snuffling next to her brings only anguish. The pup, otherwise healthy, has a twisted leg, and the mother knows what the harsh code of the pack demands. Her pup will be taken from her and abandoned on a desolate hill. The pack cannot have weakness - the wolf mother knows that her pup is condemned to die.

But alone in the wilderness, the pup, Seeker, does not perish. This his story - a story of survival, of courage, and of love triumphant. This is Seeker's story, the wolf pup who rose up to change forevever the Wolves of the Beyond.

Raiders' Ransom - Emily Diamand
It's the 22nd century and, because of climate change, much of England is underwater. Poor Lilly is out fishing with her trusty sea-cat when greedy raiders pillage the town--and kidnap the prime minister's daughter. Her village blamed, Lilly decides to find the girl. Off she sails, in secret. And with a ransom: a mysterious talking jewel. "If I save his daughter," Lilly reasons, "the prime minister's sure to reward me." Little does Lilly know that it will take more than grit to outwit the tricky, treacherous piratical tribes!


Your Novel Proposal by Blythe Camenson and Marshall J. Cook (From the Teen Author Challenge contest over at the lovely Kay Cassidy's blog

Crazy Beautiful - Lauren Baratz-Logsted
In an explosion of his own making, Lucius blew his arms off. Now he has hooks. He chose hooks because they were cheaper. He chose hooks because he wouldn’t outgrow them so quickly. He chose hooks so that everyone would know he was different, so he would scare even himself.

Then he meets Aurora. The hooks don’t scare her. They don’t keep her away. In fact, they don’t make any difference at all to her.

But to Lucius, they mean everything. They remind him of the beast he is inside. Perhaps Aurora is his Beauty, destined to set his soul free from its suffering.

Or maybe she’s just a girl who needs love just like he does.

Triple Fault - Lessica Burkhart
THREE STRIKES, THEY'RE ON THE OUTS...
ONE: Heather pretending to date Jacob, just to mess with Sasha.

TWO: A new girl who is so competitive, she makes Heather look tame.

THREE: A former BFF with a new hobby: stealing boyfriends.


Trade with Kelsey:
Secrets of My Hollywood Life - Jen Calonita
Beauty Shop For Rent - Laura Bowers

Bookmooch:
The Bermudez Triangle - Maureen Johnson
Perfect You - Elizabeth Scott
Something, Maybe - Elizabeth Scott
You Are So Undead To Me - Stacey Jay
How To Build a House - Dana Reinhardt
Who Needs Boys? - Stephie Davis
The Host - Stephenie Meyer
I decided to give this one another chance - I had started it and didn't care for it much.

The Library:
Lament - Maggie Stiefvater
Wings - Aprilynne Pike
Realm of Possibility - David Levithan
Love is the Higher Law - David Levithan

What'd you guys get?

Crazy Contest!

Ok, I usually do not post about contests on other blogs - but you must check this one out! Cindy is hosting a crazy contest at her blogPrincess Bookie, where 4 different winners will win anywhere from 1 ARC to 6 ARCs to 4 Hardcover books!

***Note - Make sure to enter at her blog, not here. ***

Fire Trailer!

Have you guys seen the Fire trailer? If not you really must watch it! It's simply filled with awesome!

Waiting On Wednesday (22) - All Unquiet Things by Anna Jarzab

Waiting on Wednesday is a topic brought to life by Jill over at Breaking the Spine. With Waiting On Wednesday you get to introduce to everyone upcoming books you're excited about.

All Unquiet Things
Anna Jarzab
Release Date: January 12, 2010
Carly: She was sweet. Smart. Self-destructive. She knew the secrets of Brighton Day School’s most privileged students. Secrets that got her killed.

Neily: Dumped by Carly for a notorious bad boy, Neily didn’t answer the phone call she made before she died. If he had, maybe he could have helped her. Now he can’t get the image of her lifeless body out of his mind.

Audrey: She’s the reason Carly got tangled up with Brighton’s fast crowd in the first place, and now she regrets it—especially since she’s convinced the police have put the wrong person in jail. Audrey thinks the murderer is someone at Brighton, and she wants Neily to help her find out who it is.

As reluctant allies Neily and Audrey dig into their shared past with Carly, her involvement with Brighton’s dark goings-on comes to light. But figuring out how Carly and her killer fit into the twisted drama will force Audrey and Neily to face hard truths about themselves and the girl they couldn’t save.

What are you guys "waiting" on?

Marvelous Monday: Interview With Becca Fitzpatrick

I'm very excited to introduce Becca Fitzpatrick who is joining us today for another Marvelous Monday!

Becca Fitzpatrick debut novel, Hush, Hush (see my review here) hits stores October 13th! You can visit Becca on the web at http://beccafitzpatrick.com/

Everyone's been buzzing about Hush, Hush. As the author how to does it
feel to have readers everywhere so excited for your book months before
its release?
I first started writing and submitting Hush, Hush in 2003, but it
didn't sell until five years later. After so many years of rejection,
I wasn't expecting much from Hush, Hush, but I loved it too much to
shelve it. Days before the book sold, I told a neighbor I'd sell it
for five dollars – I just wanted to see it in print. Hopefully that
gives you an idea of how wild this ride has been for me – after years
of rejection, there are people out there who are actually anticipating
reading it. It's so unexpected and just plain awesome!

How did you come up with the title for Hush, Hush?
I had to scratch the original title of the book, because during the five years it took me to sell the book, a popular YA novel came out with the same title.
So I went back to the drawing board. I don't remember having a
Eureka! moment when I knew I had to call the book Hush, Hush, but I do
remember thinking the foundation of the book is about secrets Patch is
keeping from Nora. Since the definition of the word hush is “to keep
concealed,” it just seemed to fit.

What was the hardest part of writing Hush, Hush for you?
The frustration of thinking I'd never get the story right! I spent five
years writing, submitting to agents, rewriting. Rinse and repeat.
During that time, I got a lot of positive feedback, but almost
everyone had problems with the plot. Plot is hard! Anyone who says
otherwise is lying :)

What's been the most surprising thing for you along your route to
publication?
In March 2008, after years of struggling with the book's
plot, I attended Left Coast Crime, a conference for mystery and
suspense writers. After Left Coast Crime, all the jumbled story
pieces I'd tried unsuccessfully to fit together in the past suddenly
lined up in order. I swear it was magic. I spent just over two
months rewriting the story based on the vision in my head, and
immediately signed with my agent.

Could you tell readers a little of what to expect with Crescendo, the
sequel?
Patch and Nora's romance is punchier and sexier, and Nora
finds herself doing the favor from hell for Patch. A few minor
characters return with much larger roles. Also, we learn what really
happened the night Nora's dad was murdered...

If you could meet any writer in history who would it be?
Laura Ingalls Wilder. I can relate to her life story, and I love that we
both grew up on the prairie. I <3 the Midwest! Anything else you'd like to share?
Just to say thanks so much for interviewing me at The Book Cellar, Erica!

In My Mailbox (14)

In My Mailbox was started by Kristi over at The Story Siren! In My Mailbox is a way to share the books you received each week.


Front and Center
Catherine Gilbert Murdock
After five months of sheer absolute craziness I was going back to being plain old background D.J. In photographs of course I’m always in the background . . .

But it turns out other folks have big plans for D.J. Like her coach. College scouts. All the town hoops fans. A certain Red Bend High School junior who’s keen for romance and karaoke. Not to mention Brian Nelson, who she should not be thinking about! Who she is done with, thank you very much. But who keeps showing up anyway . . .


Stupid Cupid
Rhonda Stapleton
(From a contest at Sharon's blog)
Felicity's no ordinary teen matchmaker...she's a cupid!
Felicity Walker believes in true love. That's why she applies for a gig at the matchmaking company Cupid's Hollow. But when Felicity gets the job, she learns that she isn't just a matchmaker...she's a cupid! (There's more than one of them, you know.)

Armed with a hot pink, tricked-out PDA infused with the latest in cupid magic (love arrows shot through email), Felicity works to meet her quota of successful matches. But when she bends the rules of cupidity by matching her best friend Maya with three different boys at once, disaster strikes. Felicity needs to come up with a plan to set it all right, pronto, before she gets fired?and before Maya ends up with her heart split in three.


Say The Word
Jeannine Garsee(Also from Sharon)
Who is the “real” Shawna Gallagher?

“Perfect” Shawna, a mature, responsible high school senior who caters to her controlling father, and plans to attend medical school instead of exploring her talent as an artist?

“Pathetic” Shawna, who still stings from the betrayal of her former best friend, and lusts painfully after a guy who’s obviously out for one thing?

Or “Evil” Shawna, whose unexpected snarky comments make the other Shawnas shrivel with embarrassment, and who resents the fact that her estranged, openly gay mom deserted her years ago?

Her life explodes when her mom suddenly dies, leaving behind a long-time lover, Fran, and Fran’s two sons. Seventeen-year-old Arye makes no attempt to hide his disdain for Shawna, while his quirky little brother Schmule takes an inexplicable liking to her—two “stepbrothers” who knew and loved Shawna’s mom in a way she never had a chance to.

When Shawna discovers the secret of Schmule’s origin, the chain of events that follow lead to a “new” Shawna who questions everything she once took for granted: her desire to be perfect, her sexuality, the meaning of friendship—and even her love for her father whose single act of violence she can’t forget.


Food, Girls & Other Things I Can't Have
Allen Zadoff
(From Kristi the great)
What’s worse than being fat your freshman year?
Being fat your sophomore year.

Life used to be so simple for Andrew Zansky–hang with the Model UN guys, avoid gym class, and eat and eat and eat. He’s used to not fitting in: into his family, his sports-crazed school, or his size 48 pants.

But not anymore. Andrew just met April, the new girl at school and the instant love of his life! He wants to find a way to win her over, but how? When O. Douglas, the heartthrob quarterback and high-school legend, saves him from getting beaten up by the school bully, Andrew sees his chance to get in with the football squad.

Is it possible to reinvent yourself in the middle of high school? Andrew is willing to try. But he’s going to have to make some changes. Fast.

Can a funny fat kid be friends with a football superstar? Can he win over the Girl of his Dreams? Can he find a way to get his mom and dad back together?

How far should you go to be the person you really want to be?

Andrew is about to find out.


Hate List
Jennifer Brown
(Also from Kristi the great)
Five months ago, Valerie Leftman's boyfriend, Nick, opened fire on their school cafeteria. Shot trying to stop him, Valerie inadvertently saved the life of a classmate, but was implicated in the shootings because of the list she helped create. A list of people and things she and Nick hated. The list he used to pick his targets.

Now, after a summer of seclusion, Val is forced to confront her guilt as she returns to school to complete her senior year. Haunted by the memory of the boyfriend she still loves and navigating rocky relationships with her family, former friends and the girl whose life she saved, Val must come to grips with the tragedy that took place and her role in it, in order to make amends and move on with her life.


The Hollow
Jessica Verday
(Also from Kristi the great)
When Abbey's best friend, Kristen, vanishes at the bridge near Sleepy Hollow Cemetery, everyone else is all too quick to accept that Kristen is dead?and rumors fly that her death was no accident. Abbey goes through the motions of mourning her best friend, but privately, she refuses to believe that Kristen is really gone. Then she meets Caspian, the gorgeous and mysterious boy who shows up out of nowhere at Kristen's funeral, and keeps reappearing in Abbey's life. Caspian clearly has secrets of his own, but he's the only person who makes Abbey feel normal again...but also special.
Just when Abbey starts to feel that she might survive all this, she learns a secret that makes her question everything she thought she knew about her best friend. How could Kristen have kept silent about so much? And could this secret have led to her death? As Abbey struggles to understand Kristen's betrayal, she uncovers a frightening truth that nearly unravels her—one that will challenge her emerging love for Caspian, as well as her own sanity.


Demon Princess: Reign or Shine
Michelle Rowen (Bookmooch)
As if trying to fit in at a new school isn't stressful enough, sixteen-year-old Nikki Donovan just found out that her long-lost father is, in fact, the demon king of the Shadowlands—the world that separates and protects us from the Underworld. When she is brought there by the mysterious—and surprisingly cute—messenger Michael, she learns that her father is dying, and he wants her to assume the throne. To complicate matters, a war is brewing between the Shadowlands and the Underworld, her half-demon qualities are manifesting, and her growing feelings for Michael are completely forbidden. Ruling a kingdom, navigating a secret crush, and still making it home by curfew—what's a teenage demon princess to do?

What'd you guys get?

Poison Study by Maria V. Snyder

Poison Study
Maria V. Snyder
Publisher: MIRA Books
Release Date: 2005
Pages: 416

Rating: 5 stars

Choose: A quick death and hell or slow poison and hell.
About to be executed for murder, Yelena is offered an extraordinary reprieve. She'll eat the best meals, have rooms in the palace and risk assassination by anyone trying to kill the Commander of Ixia.
And so Yelena chooses to become a food taster. But the chief of security, leaving nothing to chance, deliberately feeds her Butterfly's Dust and only by appearing for her daily antidote will she delay an agonizing death from the poison.
As Yelena tries to escape her new dilemma, disasters keep mounting. Rebels plot to seize Ixia and Yelena develops magical powers she can't control. Her life is threatened again and choices must be made. But this time the outcomes aren't so clear.

When I started reading Poison Study, I had no clue what I would think. I knew it was a premise that could be amazing or could lack majorly - Poison Study just blew my mind away! I have nothing I did not like about it. Poison Study is a fantasy reader's dream book - it has amazing characters, an enticing plot, a perfect romance, and a vidid world.

The plot has so many twists and turns, you have no idea where it's leading you. Every element of a great story is present. Maria V. Snyder's writing weaves memories into the writing, without disturbing the story.

Yelana has worked her way up into my favorite protagonists. She is strong, intelligent, and talented. Even in her weakest moments, she stays strong and keeps her head high. While I loved Yelana, my favorite character of the book would have to be Valek. Oh Valek - he starts out so cold, but soon starts to warm up.

Poison Study is a book for those looking for a fresh idea in an world filled with stunning characters, conspiracy, and unforgettable romance.

Vampire Academy Winner!

So I finally got around to counting up the entries for the signed copy of Vampire Academy which ended on September 25. There were 49 different people entered and 263 total entries. The winner is ****DRUMROLL****

#50 BAM Reviews (Arielle)


Congratulations! I'll be emailing you for your contact information :)

Win a SIGNED copy of Dairy Queen!

So last night, I had the pleasure of going to Catherine Gilbert Murdock's book signing! She was so nice and totally hilarious! She told us a story about how when she first came to Wisconsin, she could not say Waupaca right - so a lady pulled her aside and said my sons learned karate and say Wau-PAC-A and kick out. She said she can now say Waupaca correctly :) She had a Q&A and also did a reading - I always love author readings, to me it feels like the story's so much more alive because it's being read how it was intended to be as the author's the one who wrote it.

I purchased a copy of Front and Center, book 3 of the Dairy Queen Trilogy (early might I add - it officially doesn't come out until October 19 and I absolutely cannot wait to read it!). I also got a copy of Dairy Queen to give away and Catherine Gilbert Murdock signed it! I got the first one, because everyone needs to read Dairy Queen - It's such an amazing book!

Entries:
+1 Comment with an email (no email, no entry)
+2 Already a follower
+1 New Follower
+1 Link to this contest (Leave a link)


Ends October 19 (The official release date for Front and Center!) **US Only**

Jessica's Guide to Dating on the Dark Side by Beth Fantaskey

Jessica's Guide to Dating on the Dark Side
Beth Fantaskey
Release Date: February 1, 2009
Publisher: Harcourt
Pages: 351

Rating: 5 stars

The undead can really screw up your senior year . . .

Marrying a vampire definitely doesn't fit into Jessica Packwood's senior year "get-a-life" plan. But then a bizarre (and incredibly hot) new exchange student named Lucius Vladescu shows up, claiming that Jessica is a Romanian vampire princess by birth—and he's her long-lost fiancé. Armed with newfound confidence and a copy of Growing Up Undead: A Teen Vampire's Guide to Dating, Health, and Emotions, Jessica makes a dramatic transition from average American teenager to glam European vampire princess.
But when a devious cheerleader sets her sights on Lucius, Jess finds herself fighting to win back her wayward prince, stop a global vampire war—and save Lucius's soul from eternal destruction.

Debut author, Beth Fantaskey, delivers a spectacular book with a twist on dating a vampire. Jessica's Guide to Dating on the Dark Side is a book to keep you reading late into the night - I read straight through it!

The characters were fantastic! I loved Lucuis, right off the bat he gives a vibe that you shouldn't like him, but you cannot help yourself. Jess was your typical American girl. When she first saw Lucuis, she didn't just throw herself at Lucuis like a majority of girls would do.

Jess and Lucuis's relationship developed nicely. At first, there was resentment on both parts, but more with Jess. As time went on you saw both shed that resentment, and day by day grow closer and eventually fall in love.

Lucuis writes letter to his uncle throughout the book, and every one had me laughing. The letters also allow you to see Lucuis grow as a character, and grow away from the duty he was entrusted and turn it to love for Jess.

The ending was adorable, and left me wanting more (though it's totally satisfying as a stand-alone novel too)! I cannot wait for more from Beth Fantaskey.