Intertwined by Gena Showalter

Intertwined
Gena Showalter
Publisher: Harlequin Teen
Release Date: September 1, 2009
Pages: 440

Rating: 4 stars

There's something about the new guy at Crossroads High…
Most sixteen-year-olds have friends.

Aden Stone has four human souls living inside him:

One can time travel.
One can raise the dead.
One can possess another human.
One can tell the future.

Everyone thinks he's crazy, which is why he's spent his entire life shuffled between mental institutions and juvie. All of that is about to change, however. For months Aden has been having visions of a beautiful girl—a girl who carries centuries-old secrets. A girl who will either save him or destroy him.

Together they'll enter a dark world of intrigue and danger…but not everyone will come out alive.

Intertwined was a really great read. I thought it was a very unique paranormal. The story kept building and building, getting better and better as the story went on which was great.

I liked the characters. I thought that some of them could have been a bit more filled out. I really liked Penny - I know she didn't play the hugest role in this book, but I hope she shows up more in the next books. Riley was probably my favorite character of the book. I really admired his character and thought he was a total softie until his tough act.

The plot was super intriguing. The story was getting better with each page I turned. With that being said, there were a few spots that I felt could have been developed a bit better or explained more. I loved the entire idea with Mary Ann and Aden - I'm super curious to find out even more about each of their abilities and histories and answers to the questions I have that didn't get answered in this book.

Intertwined is a fast read that will definitely appeal to fans of paranormal. While it has a few flaws, it still is a joy to read. I am super excited to see where this story goes in the next books in the series.

Abandon by Meg Cabot

Abandon (Abandon #1)
Meg Cabot
Publisher: Point
Release Date: April 26, 2011
Pages: 320
Source: Publisher

Rating: 5 stars

Though she tries returning to the life she knew before the accident, Pierce can't help but feel at once a part of this world, and apart from it. Yet she's never alone . . . because someone is always watching her. Escape from the realm of the dead is impossible when someone there wants you back.

But now she's moved to a new town. Maybe at her new school, she can start fresh. Maybe she can stop feeling so afraid.

Only she can't. Because even here, he finds her. That's how desperately he wants her back. She knows he's no guardian angel, and his dark world isn't exactly heaven, yet she can't stay away . . . especially since he always appears when she least expects it, but exactly when she needs him most.

But if she lets herself fall any further, she may just find herself back in the one place she most fears: the Underworld.

Oh my gosh was this book absolutely fantabulous! I am absolutely fascinated by mythology, and I love even more the modern takes on the myths and seeing how authors make them their own and tweak them. Abandon was one of the best books based on mythology I have read in a long time. I haven't read a Meg Cabot book in quite awhile, and after finishing Abandon it makes me wonder why I was crazy enough not to pick up Abandon the day it came out!

I loved the plot. It was so fun to see where the story would go next. Meg Cabot did a really great job of posing all these questions that the readers would want answer, and would actually answer most of them. There were a lot of twists and turns that I really would not have guessed would be coming.

The characters were great. I really liked Pierce, I thought she was a really great character. I couldn't help but to love John. I really hope that Richard Smith makes an appearance in the next book as he was a really cool guy. He just had so much enthusiasm. I'm also looking forward to seeing more Alex, Kayla, and Uncle Chris in the next book. I thought all three were quite interesting, and didn't get enough of them in this book.

The end was so good, but oh so bad, as it meant waiting a year until the next book would be out. It is a bit of a cliff hanger ending, but it is absolutely adorable. The lead up to end is simply unpredictable. I am really excited to see where Meg Cabot goes with the next book in the trilogy, Underworld. Wherever she takes Pierce and John, I am sure it will be fabulous.

Also, can you say cover love? Abandon's cover is just so gorgeous! The picture, the design, the lettering -everything. Abandon is a must read. It's a book that everyone should drop everything and run and get. I have yet to read anything by Meg Cabot I haven't liked, but Abandon definitely was my favorite by her thus far.

In My Mailbox (100)

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:

Review:
All You Desire by Kirsten Miller (Amazon) (Goodreads)
Shelter by Harlan Coben (Amazon) (Goodreads)

Won:
Fortune's Folly by Deva Fagan (Amazon) (Goodreads)

Mooch:
Charmed Thirds by Megan McCafferty (Amazon) (Goodreads)

What did you guys get?

The Education of Bet Tour: Interview with Lauren Baratz-Logsted

I am so happy to have Lauren Baratz-Logsted by the blog today for an interview! Lauren is the author of seven Young Adult titles and many others. Her favorites animals are cats and penguins. The Education of Bet is out in paperback. (I loved The Education of Bet - you can see my review here)

So the characters of The Education of Bet get stuck on a deserted island. Who is the one to get them off the island? Who would fare the best? The worst?

Bet definitely is the one to get them off the island. Look how resourceful she is in her own story - she even learns how to fence! She's the daughter of the maid, orphaned at age four, and yet she still finds a way to get the things she wants most in the world. As for who would fare worst, I hope it would be the bully Hamish MacPherson. With his on the island, things would take a "Lord of the Flies" turn for the worse, but I like to think the good characters would find a way to eventually contain him.

What would you say was your favorite character to write in The Education of Bet?

I've gotten to the point where I really love writing male characters so while it's tough to pick favorites, I'd have to say James Tyler. He was the most fun because there's something very complex about James. But then of course there's Bet - the cross-dressing! The fencing! It really is hard to choose between the two.

If you could travel back to one point in history for a day, where would you go?

Victorian England. Clearly I have a passion for that time and place, having featured it in three novels - the adult novel Vertigo and the YA novels The Education of Bet and The Twin's Daughter - but if I go, I'd really like to take good indoor plumbing with me.

Which line do you find more difficult to write? The first or the last?

There's no option to say the middle??? I almost always know the first line before I even start writing - and I frequently know the last shortly after that! - but if I have to choose, I'll say the first. Sometimes you start a book and later wonder if you started in exactly the right place. Of course last lines come with their own brand of difficulty - sure, it's exhilarating to realize you've gone the distance, but there's always a sadness at leaving behind characters you've lived with so intensely.

What books have you recently read and loved?

The last adult novel that I loved was Alice I Have Been by Melanie Benjamin which imagines the life of the real-life Alice that Alice in Wonderland was based on. The last YA novel I loved was Will Grayson, Will Grayson by John Green and David Levithan which is about two very different teenage boys who are both named - you guessed it! - Will Grayson.

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Thanks so much for stopping by the blog Lauren! You can find Lauren on the web at her website and twitter.

Don't forget to check out the other stops on the tour:

Monday, May 23: Val at Truth Be Told (Review)
Tuesday, May 24: Nicole at Word for Teens (Interview)

Wednesday, May 25: Corrine at Lost for Words (Author Books Picks)

Thursday, May 26: Andye at Reading Teen (Character Interview- Bet)

Saturday, May 28: Serena at Pensive Bookeaters (Tens List)

Sunday, May 29: Kelsey at The Book Scout (Guest Post- Women Disguised as Males in Movies and Literature & Giveaway)

Waiting on Wednesday (101) - Prized by Caragh O'Brien

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!

Prized (Birthmarked #2) by Caragh O'Brien
Coming November 8th from Roaring Book Press

In the thrilling follow up to Birthmarked, sixteen-year-old midwife Gaia Stone has fled from the Enclave and now must fight for her baby sister’s survival in the matriarchal society of Sylum.
Striking out into the wasteland with nothing but her baby sister, a handful of supplies, and a rumor to guide her, 16-year-old midwife Gaia Stone survives only to be captured by the people of Sylum, a dystopian society where women rule the men who drastically outnumber them, and a kiss is a crime. In order to see her sister again, Gaia must submit to their strict social code, but how can she deny her sense of justice, her curiosity, and everything in her heart that makes her whole?

Birthmarked was an absolute brilliant read, and I am really excited to find where Gaia's story will lead to in Prized. I thought Birthmarked was one of the best dystopians I have ever read, and I am so excited for Prized to be out.

What are you guys waiting on?

Exposed by Kimberly Marcus

Exposed
Kimberly Marcus
Publisher: Random House Books for Young Readers
Release Date: February 22, 2011
Pages: 288

Rating: 2.5 stars

In the dim light of the darkroom, I'm alone, but not for long.
As white turns to gray, Kate is with me.
The background of the dance studio blurred, so the focus is all on her
legs extended in a perfect soaring split.
The straight line to my squiggle,
my forever-best friend.


Sixteen-year-old Liz Grayson is photogirl—sharp, focused and ready to take the world by storm with her camera. But Liz's entire life is called into question when her brother is accused of a crime—and the accuser is Liz's own best friend. As the aftershocks from that accusation rip through Liz's world, everything she thought she knew about photography, family, friendship and herself, shifts out of focus. And for the first time in her life, Liz finds herself unable to trust her own point of view. Told in stunning, searingly raw free verse, Exposed is Kimberly Marcus's gut-wrenching, riveting debut and will appeal to fans of Ellen Hopkins, Laurie Halse Anderson and Virginia Euwer Wolff.


Exposed's premise intrigued me from the start. My first thought after reading it was actually, oh maybe it'll be like Speak! And then I noticed it would be in verse and I thought - hey cool, kind of like Ellen Hopkins. I really wanted to like Exposed more but it just came up short of my expectations I had for it.

My big thing with Exposed was that I had trouble connecting with the story and characters. I am not huge on poetry, and I refused to pick up any books in verse until last semester I had to read Impulse by Ellen Hopkins for my YA Lit class at school. Exposed just didn't make me feel anything for the characters - and with the situation at hand, I thought it'd be an emotional fiesta.

 Now that's not to say the writing wasn't good - I absolutely loved the writing of the verse. There were so many beautiful phrasings that when I read them I just smiled.

I also had a bit of an issue with the relationships in the book. None of them felt authentic. I found Liz and Kate's friendship really odd. The one relationship that seemed to work in the book was Liz and Brian. I found them adorable in the few appearances Brian made.

I really like the cover - It's quite eerie and it's a cover that really makes me think for a second when I look at it. Exposed is a fast read - I read it in about an hour and a half. I just didn't feel much of anything and I just breezed by the pages. For me it's a book that I'd suggest waiting to get from the library or borrowing from a friend.

While I wasn't super crazy about this one, here are some reviews of others that were:

Good Choice Reading
Stacked Books
Y.A. Love

Tour: The A Circuit by Georgina Bloomberg and Catherine Hapka + Giveaway

The A Circuit
Georgina Bloomberg and Catherine Hapka
Publisher: Bloomsbury USA Children's Books
Release Date: May 24, 2011
Pages: 272
Source: Publisher

Rating: 3.5 stars

The A Circuit is the top of the top when it comes to horse shows. It's a world with its own rules and superprivileged lifestyles. Teens travel the circuit all year, showing horses that cost as much as some homes.


Tommi, Kate, and Zara are all elite competitors on the circuit, but they come from totally different backgrounds. Tommi is a billionaire heiress trying to prove she has real talent (not just deep bank accounts). Kate puts the working in working student—every win has been paid for with hours of cleaning stalls. She's used to the grueling schedule, but Fitz, the barn's resident hot guy, is about to become a major distraction. And then there's Zara. She's the wild child of a famous rockstar, but she's ready to take riding seriously. Can a party girl really change her ways?


Readers who enjoy peeking into the elite world of Gossip Girl or The A-List will feel right at home in this new series with its friendships, drama, and privilege set against the backdrop of competitive horseback riding.

The A Circuit was a very fun book. Horses have always been animals I have absolutely loved, but I've never actually ridden more than 2 times since I have really severe allergies. I substitute that for just reading about horses whenever I can :) It was a slower read, but a good one none the less.

The were a lot of characters. At first, it made things a bit confusing as I was trying to keep everyone straight. Once I had that time, it made the book that much more fun to read - as there were so many stories and they were all so different. I really liked Kate. She was so sweet and was just a really good person.Tommi was a lot of fun as well. When the story involved Kate or Tommi I found those to be my favorite sections. Dani was a total riot - I absolutely loved her. She lightened the story every time she walked on to the page. I was not a fan of Zara at all - even when the story moved over to her thoughts she came off to witchy for me to like her.

I loved the plot. It was really cool how in depth it got into the world of the A Circuit. Everything was really well explained so I didn't ever get confused. The plot takes you into the characters home lives and stable lives which was nice.

I would have liked a bit more closure at the end. I felt the ending was a bit abrupt - like I was reading, and then all at once there was no more. I really love the cover - I think the hot pink writing is quite nice and the rest of the cover is just so pretty.

I haven't read anything by Catherine Hapka before now and obviously not by Georgina Bloomberg as this is her first book, but I am very excited to see more from both of these authors. I would love to see what this fabulous duo may come up with next!

The A Circuit was a really enjoyable read. It may not be a book I would rush out to read this instant, but it's definitely worthy of your time in the near future. It was slower to start out, but as the book went on the story picked up more and more. By the end, I didn't want it to end and was disappointed to turn the page and find out there was nothing more.

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I have a copy of The A Circuit to give away! It will be open until June 5th and US only. Comment on my review to receive an extra entry (but no comments like "Great review" will be counted)

In My Mailbox (99)

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:



Review:
Best Kept Secret by Amy Hatvany
Sweet Venom by Tera Lynn Childs
My Life Undecided by Jessica Brody
All These Things I've Done by Gabrielle Zevin

Book Expo America and Book Blogger Con!

Next week marks when Book Expo of America, Book Blogger Con, and more bookish events happen! And tomorrow morning I  will be on a plane there! I am so excited to head there - for meeting people, books, meeting authors, seeing Wicked, and everything else that will go down this week :)

If anyone else is going - make sure to drop me an email if you'd like to be in touch or drop me a DM on twitter @thebookcellarx and we can exchange numbers.

I am not sure how much I'll be posting next week - I have a few scheduled but after that, not sure. I just wanted to let everyone know :)

And if you are attending, I hope to meet you all! :)

Shade by Jeri Smith-Ready

Shade
Jeri Smith-Ready
Publisher: Simon Pulse
Release Date: May 4, 2010
Pages: 309

Rating: 5 stars

Love ties them together. Death can't tear them apart.


Best. Birthday. Ever. At least, it was supposed to be. With Logan's band playing a critical gig and Aura's plans for an intimate after-party, Aura knows it will be the most memorable night of her boyfriend's life. She never thought it would be his last.


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


Well, sort of.


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


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


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


I had been looking forward to Shade for ages. Since then, I have heard nothing but wonderful things. Some crazy part of me hasn't allowed myself to read it before now, and now I'm sitting here going WHY? Shade was absolutely amazing and completely original.

I love love loved the concept of this one. It was completely unlike anything I have ever read before and I absolutely loved it! I loved the twists and turns the plot took - I could never really guess what would happen. I always had guesses, and a few times my guesses were even right - but for the most part it was just read as fast as I could so I could see what would happen next.

The characters were an absolute joy to read about. Aura was a great character. I loved  I can't wait to see more of Eowyn in Shift - she was such a fascinating character who I totally think has some bigger role in the next book. I fell for Zachary right away - I loved the accent!

Shade is a book you do not want to miss. It is a super promising start to a great new series. The concept is fresh and new and the plot will keep you reading! I couldn't put it down once I started - I read up late into the night so I could finish. Absolutely brilliant.

Waiting on Wednesday (100) - Dearly, Departed by Lia Habel

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!

Dearly, Departed by Lia Habel
Coming December 6th from Del Ray Books

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



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


Meanwhile, her best friend, Pamela Roe, is just trying to carry on with life as best she can in the wake of Nora's disappearance - when she ends up killing an evil zombie in self-defense. Pam is galvanized into action, and ends up leading a group of survivors as the city of New London is thronged by the ravenous dead.
Upon hearing of Pamela's plight, Nora and Bram set out to rescue her friends, find her missing father, and maybe just save what's left of the world.

Dearly Departed looks really interesting! I'll be interested to see what I think of it, as books with zombies in it are very hit and miss for me. I know the cover was revealed not too long ago, and I think it is absolutely gorgeous. I love the parasel!

What are you guys waiting on?

2 New Shows This Fall!

I don't usually post about non book related things, but I was really excited when I heard about these! So ABC just announced 2 new shows for the fall: Charlie's Angels and Once Upon a Time!
Here's a bit about Once Upon a Time

Welcome to a world where fairytales are real. Anna Swan is like any

other 28 year old, until she discovers she's a lost princess destined
to save her world from darkness. Experience the passion project of
executive producers/creators Edward Kitsis and Adam Horowitz (Lost,
Tron). Once Upon A Time is a thrilling twist of our most beloved
stories.

And about Charlie's Angels

Get ready for the knockout hit of the year. Charlie's Angels is back

and hotter than ever. Meet three ex-bad girls who are earning their
wings by busting the really bad guys. Together with legendary producer
Leonard Goldberg and Drew Barrymore, Smallville's Alfred Gough and
Miles Millar re-imagine the popular 1970's series with more action,
more eye candy and more heart than ever before.





Both sound awesome - especially Once Upon a Time! I will definitely be checking out both this fall. I haven't heard of most of the actors in both either, so I'll be curious to see how they do. What do you guys think of the sounds of them?

Trailer Tuesday: A Need So Beautiful and The Faerie Ring

I am not usually a big poster of trailers - but these two have caught my eye. They are absolutely fantastic. I was already looking forward to both books, but the trailers have intensified my want for them!!!





If you haven't heard about these two fabulous titles, I'm linking to the Goodreads pages for both, A Need So Beautiful and The Faerie Ring :)

In My Mailbox (98)

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.




People Mentioned in this Vlog:
Christine Johnson
Julia Karr
Sarah Rees Brennan
Saundra Mitchell
Lisa and Laura Roecker
Leah Clifford
Courtney Allison Moulton
Sara Bennett Wealer
Kristi of The Story Siren
Heidi of YA Bibliophile
Kristen of Book Worming in the 21st Centry
Scott Tracey

Review:

Beauty Queens by Libba Bray (Goodreads) (Amazon)
Fateful by Claudia Gray (Goodreads) (Amazon)

Deadly Cool by Gemma Halliday (Goodreads) (Amazon)

The Very Thought of You by Rosie Alison (Goodreads) (Amazon)

Shift by Jeri Smith-Ready (Goodreads) (Amazon)
Bought:

The Goddess Test by Aimee Carter (Goodreads) (Amazon)

The Liar Society by Lisa and Laura Roecker (Goodreads) (Amazon)

XVI by Julia Karr (x2) (Goodreads) (Amazon)

Linger by Maggie Stiefvater (Goodreads) (Amazon)

Die For Me by Amy Plum (Goodreads) (Amazon)
Bookmooch:

The Good Ghoul's Guide to Getting Even by Julie Kenner (Goodreads) (Amazon)
I also got a SCOTT TRACEY bookmark for Witch Eyes. How cool is that? (I forgot to put it in the vlog :D)

What did you guys get?

I Heart S&S Read A Thon

So Muggle-Born.Net is hosting a S&S read-a-thon. The goal - read as many S&S books as possible in the month of June. You can find more info here. I thought that was pretty awesome - as I'm a huge Simon and Schuster fan. Sounds like total fun! My goal is going to be at least 10 S&S Books.

Books:

1.

2.

3.

4.

5.

6.

7.

8.

9.

10.

Is anyone else participating?

Blog Tour: Tempest Rising by Tracy Deebs

Tempest Rising
Tracy Deebs
Publisher: Walker Books for Young Readers
Release Date: May 10, 2011
Pages: 352
Source: Publisher

Rating: 5 stars

Tempest Maguire wants nothing more than to surf the killer waves near her California home; continue her steady relationship with her boyfriend, Mark; and take care of her brothers and surfer dad. But Tempest is half mermaid, and as her seventeenth birthday approaches, she will have to decide whether to remain on land or give herself to the ocean like her mother. The pull of the water becomes as insistent as her attraction to Kai, a gorgeous surfer whose uncanny abilities hint at an otherworldly identity as well. And when Tempest does finally give in to the water's temptation and enters a fantastical underwater world, she finds that a larger destiny awaits her—and that the entire ocean's future hangs in the balance.


I absolutely loved this book! Tempest Rising was such a refreshing read, it was different from anything else I have read lately. Mermaids are one of my favorite mythical creatures, so I cannot tell you how excited I was for this book. I had high expectations for it, and it surpassed my every expection. Absolutely brilliant.

I loved that Deebs really look liberties with her story - a lot of the mermaid aspects of the book were so different from everything else I have read about mermaids. I loved it! It was one aspect that kept me reading so fast - it was just so different.

The plot also took so many twists and turns, I couldn't guess where most things were going. Yes, the obvious sort of land marks I could guess, but after that I really wasn't sure where Tracy Deebs would take the story. It was also very well written. The story was just beautifully woven.

The characters in Tempest Rising were awesome. I loved Mark and Kai both. They were both different from each other, yet alike. Tempest was a really great character as well, I loved her witt and snark. Her insecurities that came out were almost a bit much at times, and did marr my image of her.

The ending was perfect. As the last 50 pages came up, I sat there thinking to myself, "How on earth will she tie this up well?" There was a ton going on, and I was honestly worried that I wouldn't be happy with the ending, and there would be loose ends. There was none of that - Deebs ties up everything that needs to be perfectly, while leaving enough open to sort of imagine what happens next. With the way she ended the story, I will be very interested if there will be a sequel or if it will merely stand alone - either would work marvelously.

I absolutely loved Tempest Rising. I couldn't put it down, and when I had to, I was constantly trying to sneak in a few more pages. With a kick-ass plot and an awesome cast of characters, Tempest Rising is a book you will not want to miss. I definitely see this one falling among my top books of the year. It was simply amazing.

Flawless by Lara Chapman

Flawless
Lara Chapman
Publisher: Bloomsbury
Release Date: May 10, 2011
Pages: 272
Source: Publisher

Rating: 4 stars

Sarah Burke is just about perfect. She's got killer blue eyes, gorgeous blond hair, and impeccable grades. There's just one tiny-all right, enormous-flaw: her nose. But even that's not so bad. Sarah's got the best best friend and big goals for print journalism fame.
On the first day of senior year, Rock Conway walks into her journalism class and, well, rocks her world. Problem is, her best friend, Kristen, falls for him too. And when Rock and Kristen stand together, it's like Barbie and Ken come to life. So when Kristen begs Sarah to help her nab Rock, Sarah does the only thing a best friend can do-she agrees. For someone so smart, what was she thinking?
This hip retelling of Cyrano de Bergerac is filled with hilariously misguided matchmaking, sweet romance, and a gentle reminder that we should all embrace our flaws.
 
Flawless was an adorable read that would be perfect for the beach, with the warm weather that is approaching! It was absolutely entertaining and had a very light feel to it, the book was over far too soon - all at once I felt like I have flipped the last page, and it was done.
 
I loved how Lara Chapman made the retelling of Cyrano de Bergerac completely her own! The plot was so fun to read - I just wanted to see how things would pan out for one character or another. The sort of sign posts along the way were obvious, but I never would have guessed a lot of the events that happened more towards the end.
 
The characters were very real - I found myself connecting with them all, particularly Sarah. While at first I wanted to just ask Sarah what on EARTH she was thinking, to agree to help Kristen to get the guy she wanted, she really grew on me. I found all the insecurities she had very easy to relate to.

I really love the cover of Flawless - I think it is simply gorgeous. Flawless is a book to make sure to check out. It would be a perfect summer read, on the beach, outside, or in the comfort of your air conditioned house. The characters are fun, and while the plot is quite predictable, it's just quite the charm.

Waiting on Wednesday (99) - The Beginning of After by Jennifer Castle

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!

The Beginning of After by Jennifer Castle
Coming September 6 from Harper Teen

Sixteen-year-old Laurel's world changes instantly when her parents and brother are killed in a terrible car accident. Behind the wheel is the father of her bad-boy neighbor, David Kaufman, whose mother is also killed. In the aftermath of the tragedy, Laurel navigates a new reality in which she and her best friend grow apart, boys may or may not be approaching her out of pity, overpowering memories lurk everywhere, and Mr. Kaufman is comatose but still very much alive. Through it all, there is David, who swoops in and out of Laurel's life and to whom she finds herself attracted against her better judgment. She will forever be connected to him by their mutual loss, a connection that will change them both in unexpected ways.

This one sounds so great! Harper has so many awesome sounding books coming out in the next few months! This one, to me, has a sort of feel like Salvaged, and if that's the case, I am sure I will absolutely love it! I can't wait til it is out.

What are you guys waiting on?

Rival by Sara Bennett Wealer

Rival
Sara Bennett Wealer
Publisher: HarperTeen
Release Date: February 15, 2011
Pages: 336
Source: Bought

Rating: 4.5 stars

What if your worst enemy turned out to be the best friend you ever had?

Meet Brooke: Popular, powerful and hating every minute of it, she’s the “It” girl at Douglas High in Lake Champion, Minnesota. Her real ambition? Using her operatic mezzo as a ticket back to NYC, where her family lived before her dad ran off with an up and coming male movie star.

Now meet Kathryn: An overachieving soprano with an underachieving savings account, she’s been a leper ever since Brooke punched her at a party junior year. For Kath, music is the key to a much-needed college scholarship.

The stage is set for a high-stakes duet between the two seniors as they prepare for the prestigious Blackmore competition. Brooke and Kathryn work toward the Blackmore with eyes not just on first prize but on one another, each still stinging from a past that started with friendship and ended in betrayal. With competition day nearing, Brooke dreams of escaping the in-crowd for life as a professional singer, but her scheming BFF Chloe has other plans. And when Kathryn gets an unlikely invitation to Homecoming, she suspects Brooke of trying to sabotage her with one last public humiliation.

As pressures mount, Brooke starts to sense that the person she hates most might just be the best friend she ever had. But Kathryn has a decision to make. Can she forgive? Or are some rivalries for life?

Rival was a book I was looking forward to months and months. And for some reason even once it was out, I didn't read it until now. What a stupid move. Rival was absolutely amazing in so many ways, and has made me very excited for whatever Sara Bennett Wealer comes up with next!

Rival is set up in a really neat way. First, there are the two main characters - Brooke and Kathryn. The story is told through alternating points of view with them. But the book also jumps back and forth from present (senior year) to the previous / junior year. It would be a nice chunk of the book in one year, then switch back to the other. I think it does that four times. It was really fun to read - I love alternating POVs and Wealer pulled it off very well. I would have to say I thought the Brooke chapters were more fun for me to read, as I thought her story was a bit more interesting.

I found the characters to be very relatable, particularly Brooke and Kathryn. I am a singer, so all the dramas they go through are all too familiar. I really liked Matt - I thought he was a great. guy and the perfect best friend :) My sole issue with Rival was Kathryn, and it was only in the last 1/4 of the book. She came off almost a bit self-centered, and I wasn't too crazy about that. She also made a few poor choices.

I really loved that Wealer finally wrote the music book I have been waiting for. It was a typical high school story, but that element of music being such a central point to the story was awesome. Drama in the music department is so much more than regular high school drama, so seeing that on the pages was really amusing to read about.

I would really recommend Rival. It is a really great read whose characters you will be sure to love and a plot you will absolutely enjoy. I cannot wait to see what Sara Bennett Wealer comes up with next.

Instructions for a Broken Heart by Kim Culbertson

Instructions for a Broken Heart
Kim Culbertson
Publisher: Sourcebooks Fire
Release Date: May 1, 2011
Pages: 320
Source: Publisher
Rating: 4 stars

Three days before her drama club's trip to Italy, Jessa Gardner discovers her boyfriend in the costume barn with another girl. Jessa is left with a care package from her best friend titled "Top Twenty Reasons He's a Slimy Jerk Bastard," instructing her to do one un-Jessa-like thing each day of the trip. At turns hilarious and heartwrenching, Instructions for a Broken Heart paints a magical Italy in which Jessa learns she must figure out life-and romance-for herself.

This was a really cute book - I loved the setting and all the theater involvement in it. The characters were fun, and it was a major page turner.

While I really enjoyed essentially everything about this book, I had an issue with the character of Mr. Campbell. He is their drama teacher who takes them on this trip, and the way he was written I felt like he was one of the kids on the trip. He spoke and felt like a 15 year old or so. He just didn't feel like his was in an authority position or anything.
That aside, I really did enjoy everything else about it. The plot was so fun - I loved the constant changing scenery. The were traveling city to city, so it was always changing. I also loved the idea of the 20 envelopes, it was absolute fun seeing Jessa and Tyler and the others carry them out. Instructions for a Broken Heart was really well written - I loved the music and poetry that simply flowed with the story throughout.

The characters were really well written and seemed very real. There were a few characters that didn't capture this quality right away, but by the end I was connected and could sympathize with them. Jessa was a fun character, though at a few times she seemed almost a bit self centered. I thought that the characters, even the minor ones, really held to their own. I remember the minor characters just as well, no one really seemed to fade into the wallpaper.

I would really recommend Instructions for a Broken Heart. It was a fun read that I read in one sitting - I didn't want to put it down. It surprised me, and blew me away in so many ways. Jessa wants you to read her story, or who knows what she may do - you may get an orange soda thrown on your white shirt ;)

Winners!!

I have some winners to announce

First off the winner of The Discovery of Witches is

*drum roll*

Danielle D, whose favorite witch is Hermione! :)

The winner of The Near Witch is ....

Tina! Whose favorite hat is this one (I couldn't figure out a way to save the picture :D)

And finally the winner of the Near Witch prize pack of a teddy bear, cookies, White Cat, and Red Glove is ...

Ash! This is here favorite hat


Congrats to all the winners! You should have received emails from me :)

In My Mailbox (97)

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 a ton of books I'm super excited about! :)

For Review:

Love Story by Jennifer Echols - I love her books so much, so I am so excited for this one! (Goodreads) (Amazon)
Tomorrow Girls: Behind the Gates by Eva Gray (Goodreads) (Amazon)
The Lovely Shoes by Susan Shreve (Goodreads) (Amazon)
From Willa, With Love by Coleen Murtagh Paratore (Goodreads) (Amazon)
The Eternal Sea by Angie Frazier - I absolutely loved Everlasting, so I can't wait for this one! (Goodreads) (Amazon)

Bought:
Rival by Sara Bennet Wealer (Goodreads) (Amazon)
Claire de Lune by Christine Johnson (Goodreads) (Amazon)
Bite Club by Rachel Caine (Goodreads) (Amazon)

What did you guys get? Let me know in the comments :)

So Much Closer by Susane Colasanti

So Much Closer
Susane Colasanti
Publisher: Vikings Children Books
Release Date: May 3, 2011
Pages: 256
Source: ARC for Review

Rating 3.5 stars

When Brooke's crush, Scott, moves from their suburban town to New York City, she decides to follow him there. Living with her formerly estranged dad and adapting to a new school are challenging, and things go from bad to worse when Brooke learns that Scott already has a girlfriend. But as she builds her new life, Brooke begins to discover a side of herself she never knew existed. And as she finds out, in the city that never sleeps, love can appear around any corner...


So Much Closer was a great read, but it didn't live up to the love that I have had for all of Susane Colasanti's other books. I really enjoyed the plot and characters, but I just wasn't as captivated with it as I have been with her other books. It was still a lot of fun to read, and page turner that I read in only 2 sittings.

The biggest issue I had with So Much Closer was the fact that the main character moves cities to be with a guy who has never talked to her much. It just didn't seem realistic at all to me. I could never picture anyone I know doing that. That aside, I really enjoyed the plot otherwise. It was very cute. I loved how so much of the book felt almost like a behind the scenes tour to New York City.

I really enjoyed the characters as well. I think the characters were the strongest part of the book, and this is something I have seen in all of Colasanti's books thus far. It's part of what makes me love her books so much. I am a big character girl, so if I don't like the characters, the book probably won't be my thing.

Sadie and John were my favorite characters of the book. They were both absolutely lovely, and I loved Sadie with her "warm fuzzies". I would have liked to see April and Candace a bit more developed. I felt like I really got to know all the characters pretty well, except for those two. I know they played a more minor role in the book, but they just seemed so important yet. I really admired Brooke's strength and confidence. The way she views herself was something I thought was a really admirable quality, and I wish I had a tenth of the confidence she has in herself.

I love the cover of So Much Closer. Susane Colasanti's books always have the funnest covers, with fun scenes between characters. I absolutely love them. While this wasn't my favorite Susane Colasanti book, it is still a very worthy read. Susane Colasanti simply has a way with words, and I find myself counting down the days until her next release.

Waiting on Wednesday (98) - Eve by Anna Carey

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!

Eve by Anna Carey
Coming October 4 from HarperTeen

The year is 2032, sixteen years after a deadly virus—and the vaccine intended to protect against it—wiped out most of the earth’s population. The night before eighteen-year-old Eve’s graduation from her all-girls school she discovers what really happens to new graduates, and the horrifying fate that awaits her.
Fleeing the only home she’s ever known, Eve sets off on a long, treacherous journey, searching for a place she can survive. Along the way she encounters Caleb, a rough, rebellious boy living in the wild. Separated from men her whole life, Eve has been taught to fear them, but Caleb slowly wins her trust...and her heart. He promises to protect her, but when soldiers begin hunting them, Eve must choose between true love and her life.
 
Oh my gosh. This one looks absolutely fantastic! And the cover is to die for! I simply cannot wait - I will be counting down the days til it is out! :)

Near Witch Rap + Giveaway + Mini Interview with Victoria Schwab

So, TODAY MARKS THE THREE MONTH MARK UNTIL THE NEAR WITCH IS RELEASED. And we have a treat for you! First, Victoria was kind enough to answer a few questions:

Describe The Near Witch in 5 words or less :)

--Bewitching wind-strewn ghost story.

What was your favorite character to write in The Near Witch?

--The sisters, Magda and Dreska. I have so, so much fun writing them. I actually love writing sibling dynamic in general (maybe because I'm an only child, and I always coveted that bond) but writing them in particular has been a blast. One is a stick and the other a stone, are very, very old, and they have their own language, a language of bodies and looks.

Do you have any writing rituals you have to follow?

--I want to have rituals. I also want to lie and say I have them. The truth is I have rituals I TRY to follow and promptly fail at. Life just gets in the way. I do try to write every single day, and when I'm home in Nashville, I try to write some in the morning, and some at night when the world goes quiet, but I don't get much more specific than that, unfortunately. It just changes depending on the weather, my mood, whether I'm editing or drafting or rocking back and forth in a corner cursing my book and looking through job ads.

Now. Here is the NEAR WITCH RAP! For your enjoyment (or extreme laughter, whichever you prefer).



Now, the giveaway. I am giving away 3 of Victoria's favorite things: Cookies, a teddy bear, and White Cat by Holly Black. And because it's a series, I am throwing in an ARC of Red Glove too! You can ALSO win a SIGNED FINISHED EDITION of Near Witch (But they won't be received until closer to August). This is open to US only and will end May 7 at 8 PM CST. To enter, share a link to your favorite hat in the form AND in a comment! Two winners

1 winner will receive the first prize pack and 1 winner will recieve the SIGNED FINISHED EDITION of Near Witch.



Make sure to head over  to everyone elses blogs for their release, for more fun questions with Victoria and more giveaways of Victoria's favorite things! And also don't forget to head over to Victoria's blog - as she is having AN EPIC GIVEAWAY!!!

Dani / DJ Spark
Gangsta G / Gail
Nikamon / Nikki
Jen (Our lovely videographer!)
Dani / Da'Baller D

Free E-book Alert: Songs of a Teenage Nomad

I am excited to share with you that Sourcebooks is offering a FREE ebook of Kim Culbertson's novel: Songs of a Teenage Nomad starting TOMORROW! It is only available May 3 - May 9 so act quickly!

To get the E-Book click here

Also, make sure to check back next week for my review of Culbertson's next novel, Instructions for a Broken Heart! :)

In My Mailbox (96)

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:



Review:
Ten Things We Did (And Probably Shouldn't Have) by Sarah Mlynowski
The Near Witch by Victoria Schwab
Dark Territory by J Gabriel Gates and Charlene Keel
The Magnolia League by Katie Crouch
BitterEnd by Jennifer Brown

Bookmooch:
Far From Xanadu by Julie Ann Peters
Academy 7 by Anne Osterlund
Secret Society by Tom Dolby

Chelsea:
Boy Proof by Cecil Castellucci
Summer of the Geek by Piper Banks
Revenge of the Geek by Piper Banks
Saving Maddie by Varian Johnson
America's Next Top Model: Eye Candy by Taryn Bell
America's Next Top Model: Face Value by Taryn Bell
Chasing Brooklyn by Lisa Schroader
Two Moon Princess by Carmen Ferreiro-Esteban
Notes From The Blender by Trish Cook and Brendan Halpin
Please Ignore Vera Dietz by AS King
Gone by Lisa McMann
The Fire Opal by Regina McBride
Unfriended by Katie Finn
Break by Hannah Moskowitz

Bought:
Impossible by Nancy Werlin