The Edumacation of Jay Baker by Jay Clark

The Edumacation of Jay Baker
Jay Clark
Publisher: Henry Holt & Company
Release Date: January 31, 2012
Pages: 240

Rating: 3.5 stars

Meet Jay Baker . . . or, as he is not-so-affectionately called by his opponent in the freshman class presidential election (and by members of the high school football team): Gay Baker.

A few important things to know about Jay:

1. He is in love with his best friend, cheerleading dynamo Cameo “Appearance” Parnell.

2. He is rocking an unfortunate case of Irritable Bowel Syndrome.

3. He has the largest storehouse of pop culture references, jokes, and puns in the history of fifteen-year-olds.

4. He is about to uncover a horrifying family secret that will turn his world upside down.

Root for Jay as he faces off against his mortal enemy, gets awkward around his dream girl, loses himself in a Bermudan love triangle, watches his parents’ relationship implode in a series of Maury Povich-inspired events, and, finally, learns to get real and be himself.

The Edumacation of Jay Baker was a cute read. It had a slow beginning, but once the story picked up I really enjoyed it. The Edumacation of Jay Baker was a story that I could realistically see going on in high school and was a lot of fun to read.

The first of half of this one was very slow. It took me awhile to get into the story. Once it picked up in the second half, I really enjoyed the story more. This book was definitely funny - I was laughing for a good part of the book. The funny parts are balanced with the serious undertone of the plot, dealing with divorce, family issues, and friend issues.

The characters were great. Even the characters like Alice, who only appeared in one scene, really stuck out in my mind. Abby, Cameo, and Caroline totally sold this book! They were just great characters. They all had their moments of vulnerability or a moment where they don't make the best decision, but I really liked the three of them! The faults in them made them that cooler of characters. Ms. Lambert was also a pretty cool character - definitely one of the best teachers you could have!

For me, this wasn't a superb read, but it was still a very promising debut and I'm curious to see more from Jay Clark. If you are looking for a book that is funny and tells a good story, then this is the one for you.

A Flight of Angels by Rebecca Guay

A Flight of Angels
Rebecca Guay, Bill Willingham Alisa Kwitney, Louise Haws, Todd Mitchell
Publisher: DC Comics
Release Date: November 8, 2011
Pages: 128

Rating: 3.5 stars

The diverse mythology of angels is explored in this lushly painted graphic novel from high-profile fantasy authors including Holly Black (The Spiderwick Chronicles) and Bill Willingham (FABLES).
Deep in the woods outside of a magical kingdom, a strange group of faeries and forest creatures discover a nearly dead angel, bleeding and unconscious with a sword by his side. They call a tribunal to decide his fate, each telling stories that delve into different interpretations of these winged, celestial beings: tales of dangerous angels, all-powerful angels, guardian angels and death angels, that range from the mystical to the mysterious to the macabre.
This original graphic novel spotlights the painted work of award-winning artist Rebecca Guay, whose other works include the Vertigo titles VEILS and DESTINY: A CHRONICLE OF DEATHS FORETOLD, as well as World of Warcraft, Magic: The Gathering and Dungeons and Dragons.

A Flight of Angels was a fun read that I quite enjoyed. Once I got a sense of the story, I read straight through, and when I finished the last page, I was sad to see it end!

I had a bit of a hard time following the story for the first chunk of the book. There wasn't a story set up, and then from there I had an issue grasping at the plot, since it wasn't fully developed. Basically, there was one long plot and shorter stories told by the characters interspersed within it.The third story told was my absolute favorite. It was so beautiful and touching. I didn't want it to end.

The pictures in this one were just GORGEOUS. I could sit here and look at them all day! This was a really fun read, despite the fact I had a bit of an issue following the story for a good portion of the book. I would definitely recommend this one.

Dark Inside by Jeyn Roberts

Dark Inside
Jeyn Roberts
Publisher: Simon & Schuster Children's Publishing
Release Date: November 1, 2011
Pages: 329

Rating: 3.5 stars

Since mankind began, civilizations have always fallen: the Romans, the Greeks, the Aztecs…Now it’s our turn. Huge earthquakes rock the world. Cities are destroyed. But something even more awful is happening. An ancient evil has been unleashed, turning everday people into hunters, killers, crazies.

Mason's mother is dying after a terrible car accident. As he endures a last vigil at her hospital bed, his school is bombed and razed to the ground, and everyone he knows is killed. Aries survives an earthquake aftershock on a bus, and thinks the worst is over when a mysterious stranger pulls her out of the wreckage, but she’s about to discover a world changed forever. Clementine, the only survivor of an emergency town hall meeting that descends into murderous chaos, is on the run from savage strangers who used to be her friends and neighbors. And Michael witnesses a brutal road rage incident that is made much worse by the arrival of the police--who gun down the guilty party and then turn on the bystanding crowd.

Where do you go for justice when even the lawmakers have turned bad? These four teens are on the same road in a world gone mad. Struggling to survive, clinging on to love and meaning wherever it can be found, this is a journey into the heart of darkness – but also a journey to find each other and a place of safety.

Dark Inside was a book I was really looking forward to. I had heard all sorts of brilliant praise and while it was a still a good book, it sadly did not live up to the hype I had heard.

I loved the idea behind Dark Inside. The book was told between many alternating perspectives which was cool. Aries storyline was definitely my favorite of the four. The others had their interesting moments, but I wasn't as into their storylines. I loved as the story got more chaotic, the storylines began to intersect.

I was hoping for more from the plot. I thought this one was supposed to be scary, and for me, it was a bit intense at times at the most.  This book took quite awhile to get into - it was after page 100 until the story picked up enough for me to be captivated enough to read more than a few pages at a time.

The characters were intriguing. I really want to know more about Daniel. He is so mysterious, never revealing much. I really liked Aries as well - she had spunk. Chickadee was another character who I really liked, even though she played a small role in the book. Some of the other characters bugged me at times.

This was a book I did enjoy overall, but I had a lot of issues along the way. I am curious about the sequel, more because I'm hoping for more questions to be answered. This was a promising debut, and I'm curious to see more from Jeyn Roberts in the future.

All Together Dead by Charlaine Harris

All Together Dead (Sookie Stackhouse #7)
Charlaine Harris
Publisher: Ace
Release Date:
Publisher: May 1, 2007
Pages: 323
Source: Bought

Rating: 3.5 stars

Louisiana cocktail waitress Sookie Stackhouse has her hands full dealing with every sort of undead and paranormal creature imaginable. And after being betrayed by her longtime vampire love, Sookie must not only deal with a new man in her life-the shapeshifter Quinn-but also contend with the long-planned vampire summit.

The summit is a tense situation. The vampire queen of Louisiana is in a precarious position, her power base weakened by hurricane damage to New Orleans. And there are some vamps who would like to finish what nature started. Soon, Sookie must decide what side she'll stand with. And her choice may mean the difference between survival and all-out catastrophe.

I enjoyed this one more than I had book 6, but it still did not live up to my love for the first 5 books. Regardless of that, this still is a really great series I would recommend.

While I don't think this was the best book in the series, there was definitely some interesting points in it. I am super curious to see how some of those new plot threads will play out in future books, if my suspicions are correct, I have a feeling Harris was revealing some things that may or may not be huge in future books. The end of the book in this one was huge.

I am still holding up big signs for Sookie that say DITCH QUINN ASAP. But she didn't see to see them, oh well. I enjoyed seeing Barry the Bellboy again in this book - he's a bit of an odd duck, but he's always fun. Eric always cracks me up, and him having to fill in for a priest in this book most definitely sent me over the edge. I could not stop laughing.

I found this book a lot more predictable than prior books. I totally pegged the bad guy chapters before we found out who, and in previous books I usually didn't end up doing that. Occasionally I'd have my suspicions, but I felt in this one there were big, flashing signs.

All Together Dead definitely left me with high hopes for From Dead to Worse, I am thinking what I was calling the middle of the series slump will come to the end and jump back into the loveliness that was the first 5 books. This series is really great.

From the Back of My Shelf (4): Lovestruck Summer by Melissa Walker

From the Back of My Shelf is a bi-monthly event, that happens on the 2nd and 4th Fridays of the month where you pull a book from the back of your shelf (with a 2009 release or prior) and review it. It's a way to read some of those books that have been gathering dust while new books came out. Feel free to join in and participate, and link your reviews up in the Mr Linky below. Check out more in my intro post here here.

Lovestruck Summer
Melissa Walker
Publisher: HarperTeen
Release Date: May 1, 2009
Pages: 272
Source: Won


Rating: 3.5 stars

Austin Music Fest

Yay, summer in Austin!

Good food, good times. Fun for everyone!

Okay, living with my sorority-brainwashed cousin, who willingly goes by "Party Penny," is not exactly what I had in mind.

All your favorite bands

But the cute musicians I've met totally make up for it . . . like Sebastian. Swoon.

All ages welcome

So why can't I stop thinking about Penny's friend All-American Russ and his Texas twang??

Saturday & Sunday, from noon to midnight

Don't wait up!

I have been hearing of Melissa Walker's amazingness for ages, and since I read Small Town Sinners I've been determined to remedy the fact that that was the only book by her I had ever read. I wasn't sure what to expect with this one, I had heard tons of praise but I wasn't sure by the premise if I would be on board or not.

I wasn't too crazy about Quinn as a main character - she was very self-motivated, which is great, but it was a bit too much. Plus, there was the whole I'm going to call at 3 AM about an internship - what was she thinking? Then lying about THAT to make herself look better. Those 2 things right off the bat made me not too crazy about her.

The other characters I absolutely loved. I loved Miss Tiara, the cross dressing dog. That was just too funny. I loved that Penny wasn't a stereotypical sorority girl, but instead this super fun character. Jade was another character I really liked.

The plot was a bit cliched, with girl goes for guy while the right guy is there but doesn't realize it, etc etc. It was still so much fun to read though! I loved seeing what Quinn and Russ would get up to next.

This was a super cute read, and definitely the right one for a nice summer day. I would totally recommend checking it out!

Blowout by Taylor Morris

Blowout (Hello, Gorgeous 1)
Taylor Morris
Publisher: Grosset & Dunlap
Release Date: April 14, 2011
Pages: 224

Rating: 3.5 stars

Now that she's had her thirteenth birthday, Mickey's finally old enough to work at her mother's super glam hair salon-Hello, Gorgeous! And true to the old cliche about people confiding in their hair stylists, Mickey starts getting an earful right off the bat. Customers love talking to her because she's so empathetic, but what happens when she starts getting overly involved in their dramas?

Blowout was a cute read, and a promising start to the series. I love the setting at the salon for so much of this book, it really makes for a fun read. Blowout is a fun read that you will simply breeze through.

I was not crazy about the choices Mickey was making in this one so she could ride the train to popularity. Stealing, telling people about private conversations at the salon? This was not the Mickey I had met in book 2, Foiled. Same goes with Lisabeth, she was an absolute monster to Mickey in this one, and I was just astounded. These 2 things aside, I really loved all the characters. Eve and Jonah are 2 characters that are particularly wonderful.

Mickey made some mistakes, but I did like that she went through amends to fix the, though some of those weren't the most honest choices either.

Blowout was a cute read, but definitely not my favorite. I much preferred Foiled to this one. These are the sort of books you read when you don't want to think a ton, but want a cute book to keep you entertained!

Cover Rating: A- I love the covers for this series. They are simply too cute! I love the design, the colors, and the actual picture itself :)

Once Every Never by Lesley Livingston

Once Every Never
Lesley Livingston
Publisher: Penguin Canada
Release Date: July 14, 2011
Pages: 312

Rating: 3.5 stars

Clarinet Reid is a pretty typical teenager. On the surface. She’s smart, but a bit of slacker; outgoing, but just a little insecure; not exactly a mischief-maker… but trouble tends to find her wherever she goes. Also? She unwittingly carries a centuries-old Druid Blood Curse running through her veins.

Now, with a single thoughtless act, what started off as the Summer Vacation in Dullsville suddenly spirals into a deadly race to find a stolen artifact, avert an explosive catastrophe, save a Celtic warrior princess, right a dreadful wrong that happened centuries before Clare was even born, and if there’s still time—literally—maybe even get a date.

This is the kind of adventure that happens to a girl once every… never.

I have been looking forward to Once Every Never, since the day I found out about that. Since then I sat counting the days until it was out. Once Every Never was definitely not what I thought it was, but was still a decent read.

I thought Once Every Never would be a quest-ish sort of book, and everything described in the summary would be parts of a quest. That was not the case, instead there was time-traveling, kidnapping, and magic. I also had a hard time reading it all at once, I could only read so many pages before I found I had to put it down. This is balanced withh the fact that there were sections of the books where I couldn't put it down.

I liked the plot, but I felt like a lot of things could've been explained a bit more. I thought the time period was really cool - with the Roman's and the Iceni. The whole kidnapping thing was kind of lame, I sat there thinking that the entire time.

I liked most of the characters. I thought Clare was an absolutely marvelous character. I loved Milo and Allie's geekines, Milo had quite the charm. I thought Stu was kind of a lame character. I wanted him to be more, do more. He was all talk, and even his talk was a bit lame.

I loved the whole magic aspect of the plot. There was so many cool things about that - it took me a bit to completely get a grasp on it, but once I did it was awesome. The whole blood magic concept was awesome.

This was a pretty decent read. It wasn't what I was expecting, and that definitely through me for a loop. I am curious to see where the next 2 books will go*. I am continually a fan of Livingston's works.

Cover Rating: A+++ I love this cover SO much. It is absolutely gorgeous, plus the actually book has sparkly star type things on the front.

*I definitely feel like this one would be a marvelous stand alone. There aren't enough stand alones the days and I felt like the story was nicely tied up.

Tour: Crush Control by Jennifer Jabaley

Crush Control
Jennifer Jabaley
Publisher: Razorbill
Release Date:
Pages:
Source: ARC Tour

Rating: 3.5 stars

So this book was a really fun read. I loved the characters, and while I didn't agree with some of the choices  characters made, it was a fast read that I read in one sitting.

The plot was fun - I loved the idea of hypnosis. I wasn't crazy about some of the applications, but I loved how it centered at basis of every plot point of the book. Being a topic I didn't know much about, I loved the little facts about it I learned as Willow went through her excursions.

Willow was a character whose decisions had me on edge - I didn't understand why you would choose to do such a thing, so therefore that part of the book I wasn't as crazy about. I loved Mia - she was a character I really liked getting to know. Georgia was a riot - she was just too fun. Max was just awesome.

The ending was so sweet and I absolutely adored it. This was another fun read by Jennifer Jabaley. I would suggest it for a summer day where you just want to sit back and read a fun story.

Cover Rating: B -  I love the similarity between Crush Control and Lipstick Apology with the face in the sky and the city along the bottom.

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)

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.

Scars by Cheryl Rainfield

Scars
Cheryl Rainfield
Publisher: Westside Books
Release Date: March 24, 2010 (BUT the paperback will be out May 25, so don't forget to check that out!!)
Pages: 250
Source: Copy for Review

Rating: 3.5 stars

Summary (Via Goodreads): Kendra, fifteen, hasn't felt safe since she began to recall devastating memories of childhood sexual abuse, especially because she still can't remember the most important detail-- her abuser's identity. Frightened, Kendra believes someone is always watching and following her, leaving menacing messages only she understands. If she lets her guard down even for a minute, it could cost Kendra her life. To relieve the pressure, Kendra cuts; aside from her brilliantly expressive artwork, it's her only way of coping. Since her own mother is too self-absorbed to hear her cries for help, Kendra finds support in others instead: from her therapist and her art teacher, from Sandy, the close family friend who encourages her artwork, and from Meghan, the classmate who's becoming a friend and maybe more. But the truth about Kendra's abuse is just waiting to explode, with startling unforeseen consequences. Scars is the unforgettable story of one girl's frightening path to the truth.

Scars was kind of like a car crash for me - you know that tragic accident that you pass, and have to slow down to look at, even though know you know you shouldn't? Scars was like that - an absolutely horrifying story and was really sad, yet I couldn't stop reading once I started.
The plot was really intriguing. It was incredibly tragic to think that that sort of thing happens, but it was one of those stories that needs to be read. Mixed with the sadder seens there were scenes that, while I was reading them, I just couldn't stop smiling! They were so heartwarming. At times, things seemed to work out too perfectly for Kendra. That would probably be my biggest fault of the book.
The characters were all very well written. Kendra was a really strong character and very easy to relate to, even though most people haven't gone through the same things she has. Rainfeld made is really easy to get into Kendra's head and understand her emotions. Meghan was kind of like the shining ray of light of the book I thought. I really admired her for her attitude and the way she stayed strong.
Scars was a really great read - I read it in 3 sittings. The story was intriguing and the characters were great. I would really recommend it.

Language of Love by Deborah Reber

Language of Love (Part of Love, Love, Love)
Deborah Reber
Publisher: Simon Pulse
Release Date: December 21, 2010
Pages: 452
Source: Copy for Review

Rating: 3.5 stars

In Language of Love, Janna is quickly adapting to life in Seattle as a high school exchange student from Hungary. Or at least Julian, the cute boy she met in a coffee shop, thinks she is. The truth is, he overheard Janna using a phony accent, and now she’s stuck playing the part….Will Julian want to be with the real Janna? Or will she discover that lies don’t always translate to love?

Predictable and fun, Language of Love is an adorable read that will be sure to entice readers. The plot was a bit elementary, as any girl should realize pretending to be someone you are not never ends up well. The plot was quite predictable, but that's part of the charm of the romantic story.

The plot was very cute, despite the initial drawbacks I had. The story was very easy to get caught up in, and it was a lot of fun. Deborah Reber does a really great job transporting readers right into the story.

I really connected with the characters. I enjoyed seeing Janna break out of shell and experience a little more with her wild side as the story went on. I think everyone has a Molly in their life, so she was a really fun character to follow. I think Emmett was my favorite character of the book, as he is the perfect best friend anyone would want. I really enjoyed his role in the story - the scenes with him were the best.

Language of Love is a wonderful addition to the collection of romantic comedies out there. They always are fantastic reads, that consume you from page 1 to the last.

Sleepless by Cyn Balog

Sleepless by Cyn Balog
Publisher: Delacorte Books for Young Readers
Release Date: July 13, 2010
Pages: 215
Source: Library

Rating: 3.5 stars

Eron DeMarchelle isn't supposed to feel this connection. He is a Sandman, a supernatural being whose purpose is to seduce his human charges to sleep. Though he can communicate with his charges in their dreams, he isn't encouraged to do so. After all, becoming too involved in one human's life could prevent him from helping others get their needed rest.



But he can't deny that he feels something for Julia, a lonely girl with fiery red hair and sad dreams. Just weeks ago, her boyfriend died in a car accident, and Eron can tell that she feels more alone than ever. Eron was human once too, many years ago, and he remembers how it felt to lose the one he loved. In the past, Eron has broken rules to protect Julia, but now, when she seems to need him more than ever, he can't reach her. Eron's time as a Sandman is coming to a close, and his replacement doesn't seem to care about his charges. Worse, Julia is facing dangers she doesn't recognize, and Eron, as he transitions back to being human, may be the only one who can save her. . . .
Even once they've become human again, Sandmen are forbidden to communicate with their charges. But Eron knows he won't be able to forget Julia. Will he risk everything for a chance to be with the girl he loves?
Sleepless was a book I enjoyed just as much as I had enjoyed Balog's first novel, Fairy Tale. It was a refreshing story, unlike anything I had read before. While I wasn't completely enthralled with it, I really enjoyed it.

The story line was very original, something I really appreciated. I found the lives of the sandmen extremely interesting, and the whole plot tying them together and offering people the chance to serve as a sandman for 100 years was really neat. All the characters were very well written. I think they were my favorite aspect of Sleepless. Eron was such a gentleman, and Julia was very intelligent.

Sleepless is a great read. The life of a sandman was very interesting and the plot just captivated me. While Sleepless didn't live 100% up to my expectations, it was still a really good read.

Where I Belong by Gwendolyn Heasley

Where I Belong
Gwendolyn Heasley
Publisher: Harper Teen
Release Date: February 8, 2011
Pages: 304
Source: Copy from friend

Rating: 3.5 stars

Via Goodreads: Meet Corrinne. She's living every girl's dream in New York City—shopping sprees at Barneys, open access to the best clubs and parties, and her own horse at the country club. Her perfect life is perfectly on track. At least it was. . . .

When Corrinne's father is laid off, her world suddenly falls apart. Instead of heading to boarding school, she's stripped of her credit cards and shipped off to the boonies of Texas to live with her grandparents. On her own in a big public school and forced to take a job shoveling manure, Corrinne is determined to get back to the life she's supposed to be living. She doesn't care who she stomps on in the process. But when Corrinne makes an unlikely friend and discovers a total hottie at work, she begins to wonder if her life B.R.—before the recession—was as perfect as it seemed.

I have been looking forward to Where I Belong for months, even more after I saw the gorgeous cover. I started reading, and I was let down. The plot was very slow and I wasn't completely captivated, about 2/3  the way through the book, something clicked and I was absolutely addicted.

My feelings on the characters were completely mixed. At first, I absolutely hated Corrinne. I thought she was a complete snob, and wanted to slap her. As the book went on, she really grew on me, and I really did like her by the end of the book. I really liked Kitsy throughout the whole novel, she was really fun and totally likable.

The plot was really fun. It was fun to see how Corrinne adapted after being thrown into a completely different lifestyle. Pampered princess to Texan. All the scenes with Corrinne's grandparents were absolutely lovely, and I really enjoyed them. I wish my grandma cooked like that all the time! I wasn't completely on board with the ending - it was nice, but I felt like there were still a few strings that weren't quite all tied up.

Where I Belong was a pretty decent read. I thought it was enjoyable, and you should read it should you have the opportunity. It wasn't amazing, but still quite a read.

Entice by Carrie Jones

Entice
Carrie Jones
Publisher: Bloomsbury USA Children's Books
Release Date: December 14, 2010
Pages: 288
Source: ARC for Review

Rating: 3.5 stars

Zara and Nick are soul mates, meant to be together forever. But that’s not quite how things have worked out.

For starters, well, Nick is dead. Supposedly, he’s been taken to a mythic place for warriors known as Valhalla, so Zara and her friends might be able to get him back. But it’s taking time, and meanwhile a group of evil pixies is devastating Bedford, with more teens going missing every day. An all-out war seems imminent, and the good guys need all the warriors they can find. But how to get to Valhalla?

And even if Zara and her friends discover the way, there’s that other small problem: Zara’s been pixie kissed. When she finds Nick, will he even want to go with her? Especially since she hasn’t just turned… She’s Astley’s queen.

When I finished Need, I instantly needed more. Captivate had me completely captivated the entire book. Entice left me less than enticed I could say. I felt it lacked that addictive quality that the previous two books had, and while still a good read, left me slightly disatisfied.

I continue to love the characters of this series. I think they are fun and extremely well written. They all are so lifelike and have their faults, which are commented on and only makes them stronger. I really wish I had a grandma like Grandma Betty - she is such a cool lady. Entice is also superbly well written. These books are some of the best written books.

I love the beginning of the chapters in Entice are little snippets of blog posts, status updates, or news reports about the happenings in Bedford. I love those little things Carrie Jones adds in such as that, which add so much to the book.

My big issue with Entice was the plot. It was good, but a bit slow for my liking. Things happened, but not a lot of things. I kept waiting for that push that would take the story to the next level, but it simply never came. I continue to love to see what Jones does with her pixies in the stories and the way she kind of plays around with mythology.

This was a good read, don't get me wrong, but I felt like it was more of a filler to pass the time to book four. The development of the story and the relationships between characters in Entice really builds what I'd imagine will be an absolutely smashing close to this series. The ending pulled out all stops and has me very eager to read book four.

Girls That Growl by Mari Mancusi

Girls That Growl
Mari Mancusi
Publisher: Berkley Trade
Release Date: October 2, 2007
Pages: 256
Source: Purchased

Rating: 3.5 stars

Rayne McDonald thought getting into the Blood Coven was the hard part. But now there's a new breed of trouble in town...and the former slayer and her vampire boyfriend may be the only ones who can stop it.

Now that she's an official vampire and full-fledged member of The Blood Coven, Rayne assumes her vampire slaying days are over. Sure, she doesn't have any vampire powers, thanks to a mutated blood virus, but she and Jareth can go out in the sun, which is a pretty good trade-off.

But just when Rayne's starting to enjoy her afterlife, she's contacted by Slayer Inc once again. It seems that a member of her high school's football team has disappeared—and the powers-that-be think the cheerleaders had something to do with it. Now Rayne has to infiltrate the squad before the cheerleaders have a chance to sink their teeth into someone else...

I really enjoyed this installment in the Blood Coven series more than the last. I found the characters to be more developed and the plot had more of a push to it.

I really found myself enjoying this book a lot more. I felt the plot had a point to reach and a bit more motive behind it than the previous book. There were several sub plots all going at once, and I really liked that.

Rayne was a character I found easier to like. In the last book, I found her underdeveloped and unlikable, but in Girls That Growl she branched out a bit more, and in doing so, became a character I could like to some extent. I still am not crazy about Rayne, and I think her immaturity has a lot of the reason behind that. Jareth was a character that you really get to know in Girls That Growl, and I found to really like him. Before now, I just got the idea that he was the hot, brooding guy, but this book really lets you get to know his character and what makes him tick.

This is a series I would highly suggest. It is unique and off the beaten track of vampire novels. It's filled with a full spectrum of fun characters and intriguing plots to keep you reading.

Blog Tour: Under My Skin by Judith Graves

Under My Skin

Judith Graves
Publisher: Leap Books
Release Date: March 27, 2010
Pages: 328
Source: Bought

Rating: 3.5 stars

All her parents wanted was for Eryn to live a normal life...

Redgrave had its share of monsters before Eryn moved to town. Mauled pets, missing children. The Delacroix family is taking the blame, but Eryn knows the truth. Something stalks the night. Wade, the police chief's son and Redgrave High's resident hottie, warns her the Delacroix are dangerous. But then so is Eryn--in fact, she's lethal.

But she can't help falling for one of the Delacroix boys, dark, brooding--human Alec. And then her world falls apart.

A normal life? Now that's the real fairytale.

I had been hearing about Under My Skin for quite some time, but for some reason I had not read it yet. Under My Skin was a refreshing read with a new spin on paranormal creatures and they function.

Under My Skin was a very enticing read, but at times I found myself slightly confused. There was a very clear overall plot arc, but I felt at times the plot strayed too far from this, never really explaining or giving answers to the questions readers have. This also caused me to be slightly confused as to what was happening in the story at times. This didn't keep me from reading at an insane speed though.

Another great thing about Under My Skin was the writing, which was exceptionally good. I felt instantly transported into Eryn's world, which was a place I really enjoyed being in. At times, there were times I felt attention was take away from the exceptional writing because of pictures randomly placed in the middle of pages.

I really loved the characters in Under My Skin. They were definitely my favorite aspect of the novel. Brit was a quirky, fun character who always provided a bit of fun to the scene. Alec was a big cutie. I really liked him. Eryn was a smart main character, which I really liked.

The ending didn't fully provide answers, but it definitely intrigued me for the promise of book 2. I will be sure to pick up Second Skin, to hear more of these wonderful characters' story. Under My Skin had a few flaws, but overall was a book I enjoyed greatly.

The Hollow by Jessica Verday

The Hollow
Jessica Verday
Publisher: Simon Pulse
Release Date: September 1, 2009
Pages: 513

Rating: 3.5 stars

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.

I have rather mixed feelings on this book. There were aspects of it I absolutely loved, while others I just was not a fan.

I really enjoyed the story, but it was very slow moving. It wasn't until almost 200 pages in something sort of "big" happened. But this didn't bug me while I was reading. It was when I hit the end of this 513 page book and I had come to no conclusion at all. I hadn't even solved a LITTLE piece of the mystery. I really did like the plot. It was very original. The setting was just so cool. Who would ever have thought of that?

The writing in The Hollow was very good. Verday used such vivid descriptions, and you could picture everything in your head.

Abbey was a character I liked for the majority of the book, but towards the end she got on my nerves. She was SO dependent on Caspian at times, was whiny, and got on my nerves. I just couldn't see anyone depending on someone that much, especially when they don't even know the person. Their relationship didn't seem all that real, I would much rather have seen Abbey with her friend Ben - where there was more chemistry than there was with her and Caspian.

I am intrigued for the next book, as I really am curious as to know how everything will turn out. I'm dying to know what happened with Kristen and who she was involved with, and how Capsian and Abbey will end up, and so much more. It is a really great read, the end just wasn't tied up very well. Now, to wait for The Haunted!

The Dead Girls' Dance by Rachel Caine

The Dead Girls' Dance
Rachel Caine
Publisher: NAL Jam
Release Date: April 3rd, 2007
Pages: 238

3.5 stars
Claire has her share of challenges. Like being a genius in a school that favors beauty over brains; homicidal girls in her dorm, and finding out that her college town is overrun with the living dead. On the up side, she has a new boyfriend with a vampire-hunting dad. But when a local fraternity throws the Dead Girls' Dance, hell is really going to break loose.
I wasn't quite as impressed with Dead Girls' Dance as I was with Glass Houses. Too much was just "save Shane" and it just got a bit annoying. I do on the other hand, love the politics and the entire layout of the town. I think it's really interesting. I continue to love the characters. They're all so different from one another. Definately can't wait to read book 3!

Swoon At Your Own Risk by Sydney Salter

Swoon At Your Own Risk
Sydney Salter
Publisher: Graphia
Release Date: April 5, 2010
Pages: 368

Rating: 3.5 stars

It’s the summer before senior year and Polly Martin has sworn off boys. Who needs the hurt and confusion? Five recent breakups have left her with an unnatural knowledge of NASCAR, the ultimate hiker’s outfit, a student council position, the sixth highest score on the Donkey Kong machine at the mall, and a summer job at Wild Waves with ex #2 Sawyer Holmes.
Success seems a sure thing when Polly’s grandmother, the syndicated advice columnist, Miss Swoon, moves in for the summer. Polly almost doesn’t mind sharing a room with her little sister, Grace. Think of all the great advice she’ll get!
Everything is going according to plan except... Miss Swoon turns out to be a man-crazy septuagenarian! And then there’s Xander Cooper. If only he wouldn’t keep showing up at Wild Waves with his adorable cousins every afternoon — and what is he writing in that little notebook?
No advice column in the world can prepare Polly for the lessons she learns when she goes on a group camping trip (with three too many ex-boyfriends). Polly is forced to see people for who they are — a blend of good and bad qualities that can’t be reduced to a list or a snappy answer in a Miss Swoon column.

Swoon At Your Own Risk is a quick, fun read!

I loved the characters. There a full spectrum of characters, all wonderfully written. One of my favorite characters had to be Sonnet, she was fun and had a BLOG. Xander was just oh my gosh. He was so sweet and a total cutie.

I do wish the plot had picked up a bit more. In the description, it talks about a camping trip with 3 ex-boyfriends. This didn't happen til near the end of the book, and what did happen wasn't much excitement. I wish the camping trip had been played up a bit more.

Swoon at Your Own Risk was really well written. The writing was light, and it was just overall really cute. At the end of every chapter there was a blog post from Sonnet or a Miss Swoon column or poetry. Those parts were my favorite!

Swoon At Your Own Risk would be the perfect spring break read. It's light, fun and totally cute.