Hope's Bookshelf

I Am Sad To Announce...

2011-08-31T20:52:00.000-05:00

...that Hope's Bookshelf will soon be no more.

I am getting to the point that reading lately seems like a chore, instead of a fun hobby. I want to get myself back to the point where reading is fun again, and the only way I think I can do this is to stop this blog.

There will be a few more posts within the next month. There will be some blog tour posts and some author interviews that I already agreed to that I won't back out of.

If you want to still read my reviews, go to my goodreads page. I will be reviewing all of the books I read - including all of the review books I have now - on my goodreads.

So, a few posts of author interviews and blog tours, there will be no more posts on Hope's Bookshelf, but I will be keeping the blog up so people can read the old posts that I have on here.

It's been a great two years, guys! I hope to see all of you on my goodreads page.

Contest Winners!

2011-08-30T11:35:00.000-05:00

Listed below are the contest winners for the Bloodlines swag!

The ultimate grand prize winner is:
Ronda C!

The following people also won Bloodlines tattoos:
Kelsey F.!
Mable L.!

Your winnings will be mailed to you within the next week. :)

Review: Chain Reaction by Simone Elkeles

2011-08-29T06:31:00.000-05:00

Summary:

Luis Fuentes has always been sheltered from the gang violence that nearly destroyed his brothers’ lives. But that didn’t stop him from taking risks—whether he’s scaling a mountain in the Rockies or dreaming of a future as an astronaut, Luis can’t stop looking for the next thrill.

Nikki Cruz lives her life by three rules—boys lie to get their way, don’t trust a boy who says “I love you,” and never date a boy from the south side of Fairfield. Her parents may be from Mexico, but as a doctor’s daughter, she has more in common with her north-side neighbors than the Latino Blood at her school. Then she meets Luis at Alex’s wedding, and suddenly, she’s tempted to break all her rules.

Getting Nikki to take a chance on a southsider is Luis’s biggest challenge, until he finds himself targeted by Chuy Soto, the new head of the Latino Blood. When Chuy reveals a disturbing secret about Luis’s family, the youngest Fuentes finds himself questioning everything he’s ever believed to be true. Will his feelings for Nikki be enough to stop Luis from entering a dark and violent world and permanently living on the edge?

Review:

Simone Elkeles is one of my favorite authors. Whenever I see that she has another book coming out, I immediately go and pre-order it because I just have to read it. The Perfect Chemistry series is a favorite series of mine.

I absolutely fell in love again with this novel. Simone Elkeles is a genius. I'm not even kidding. The way she writes makes you fall in love with the characters. While reading these books, I laugh, cry, and get so mad I want to throw them against the wall. (And I have to say, I did almost throw this one against the wall a few times lol.) I get so connected to these characters that I never want the story to end.

Chain Reaction is a must read for any young adult reader. My only hope is that Simone Elkeles will continue on the Perfect Chemistry series with the Fuentes' brothers children, because I definitely do not want this series to end anytime soon. As you can tell, this one is a definite recommendation from me. You just can't go wrong with Simone Elkeles... I am anxiously awaiting her next novel already.

Grade: A+

Week in Perspective (4)

2011-08-27T07:44:00.000-05:00

What I Read:

1. Sweetly - Jackson Pearce (finished)
2. The Unwanteds - Lisa McMann
3. One for the Money - Janet Evonovich
4. Chain Reaction - Simone Elkeles
5. The Shattering - Karen Healey (started)

What I Posted:

On Monday, I posted a contest for some Bloodlines swag. Don't forget to enter - you only have until Monday!

On Tuesday, I posted a review for Sweetly by Jackson Pearce.

On Thursday, I posted a review for Between by Jessica Warman.

Review: Between by Jessica Warman

2011-08-25T17:07:00.000-05:00

Summary:

Elizabeth Valchar --- pretty, popular and rich --- wakes up the morning after her 18th birthday on the yacht where she’d been celebrating with her closest friends. A persistent thumping noise has roused her. When she goes to investigate, she finds her own drowned body is hitting the side of the boat. Liz is dead. She has no memory of what happened to her, and can only observe in horror the fallout of her death.

She’s also soon joined by Alex Berg, a quiet boy from her high school who was killed by a hit-and-run driver. The two keep each other company, floating in and out of memories and trying to piece together the details of what happened to each of them.

In her regular life, Liz was a runner. It wasn’t abnormal for her to run 8-10 miles per day. But as memories from closer to her death begin to surface, Liz finds that she’d been running much more than normal, and that she’d all but stopped eating. Liz’s mother, who died when Liz was nine, had battled with anorexia as well, and those around her worried that Liz was following in her mother’s footsteps. But something more sinister was consuming Liz from the inside out..

Review:

I don't know where to start with this review. This book was awesome. I mean, really, really awesome. I don't know why I didn't know about this book sooner or why I didn't read it sooner!

Liz is one of those main characters that you love to hate. She is one of those "popular" girls. What makes this different is that after she dies, she gets stuck with someone she and her crowd used to make fun of. Yeah, major twist in the story there! She is written wonderfully and by the end of the novel, you will be sympathetic toward her.

The plotline was very unique. I was really happy with it. If a book can have a few twists and turns in it that I don't see coming, it's wonderful. This book had many of those twists and turns. I figured out only one of them toward the middle of the book, but besides that, I was as clueless as Liz. I still can't get over how unique it was and how it was presented, as far as the timeline of it goes. I don't want to get into any spoilers, but it was just wonderful.

Though the subject is a serious one, this is a nice, fast read that everyone will enjoy. I am recommending this to everyone. Get your hands on it as quick as you can, it really is wonderful!

Grade: A+

Review: Sweetly by Jackson Pearce

2011-08-23T12:01:00.000-05:00

Summary:

SWEETLY is a modernization of Hansel and Gretel and a companion book to SISTERS RED.

Twelve years ago, Gretchen, her twin sister, and her brother went looking for a witch in the forest. They found something. Maybe it was a witch, maybe a monster, they aren’t sure—they were running too fast to tell. Either way, Gretchen’s twin sister was never seen again.

Years later, after being thrown out of their house, Gretchen and Ansel find themselves in Live Oak, South Carolina, a place on the verge of becoming a ghost town. They move in with Sophia Kelly, a young and beautiful chocolatier owner who opens not only her home, but her heart to Gretchen and Ansel.

Yet the witch isn’t gone—it’s here, lurking in the forests of Live Oak, preying on Live Oak girls every year after Sophia Kelly’s infamous chocolate festival. But Gretchen is determined to stop running from witches in the forest, and start fighting back. Alongside Samuel Reynolds, a boy as quick with a gun as he is a sarcastic remark, Gretchen digs deeper into the mystery of not only what the witch is, but how it chooses its victims. Yet the further she investigates, the more she finds herself wondering who the real monster is, and if love can be as deadly as it is beautiful.

Review:

A little while ago, I read and fell in love with Sisters Red by Jackson Pearce, which is the companion novel to Sweetly. I had very high expectations for Sweetly because of how much I loved Sisters Red. And I have to say, I was a little bit disappointed with this one.

The thing that really hurts this book is the pacing of it. If this book didn't have a pacing issue, it would be wonderful. However, the first 200 to 250 pages are extremely slow. A few events happen during this period, but not enough to make you want to keep reading and find out what happens. It wasn't until around page 200 that I really started getting interested in the storyline and actually wanted to keep reading to find out what happens.

Like I said, besides the pacing issue, this book is wonderful. It has the same effects as Sisters Red, with the sister element, the romance element, and a paranormal element with the werewolves. The sister element in this novel is different, however there is a brother in this novel. Grentchen and Ansel are extremely close and it is a nice example of a brother/sister relationship.

The romance element was good - once it kicked in. Since the pacing wasn't the greatest in this novel, it took a while to kick in. However, once the romance started showing up, it happened so fast in some cases that it was like, "Waiiiit! Slow down! Where's this coming from?!" Even with this, I loved the romance aspect of the novel.

And now onto the paranormal bit. As in Sisters Red, Jackson Pearce keeps up with traditional Fenris storytelling, and I love that. While I don't think the werewolves show up as much in this novel as they do in Sisters Red, they still play an extremely important part in the novel, and it's a wonderful part in the novel.

Overall, if you read and liked Sisters Red, I recommend reading this novel. If you like modern retelling of fairytales, I also recommend this novel. Just go into remembering that the pacing is slow and it will take a while to get into it.

Grade: B-

Contest: Bloodlines swag!

2011-08-22T06:43:00.000-05:00

So, to brighten up a dreary Monday, I have a contest for you!

It is for some Bloodlines swag, and there will be multiple winners!

The grand prize winner will win:
-The Vampire Academy tote bag
-The rose
-One Bloodlines tattoo

There will be five follow up winners who will win one Bloodlines tattoo, each.

To enter:
-You must live in the United States.
-You must be 13 years or older.
-You must fill out the form below completely.

The contest will end in one week on August 29th and winners will be posted then.

Good luck!

Here's the form to fill out:

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Cover Love (3)

2011-08-19T05:45:00.000-05:00

Cover Love is a weekly feature in which I share with you the cover of an upcoming book I have found and have fallen in love with.

This cover is gorgeous. I just finished this book this week (look for a review soon!) and I love how the cover matches up with the book nicely. What do you think of it?

Review: The Duggars: 20 and Counting!

2011-08-18T18:34:00.000-05:00

Summary:

The Duggars: 20 and Counting! is a behind-the-scenes look at the supersize family that fascinates millions of television viewers around the world. From Idaho to Istanbul, people want to know how Arkansas parents Michelle and Jim Bob Duggar efficiently and lovingly manage seventeen (soon to be eighteen) happy, homeschooled children without going into debt -- or losing their minds!This, the Duggars' first book, is an entertaining and enlightening collection of stories, photos, recipes, tips, traditions, and practical ideas designed to answer the questions of the curious, such as:

- Why do you have so many children?- How do you provide for your family financially?
- How do you handle mealtimes? Transportation? Laundry? Birthdays?
- How are your children so well behaved?
- Why do all your children have names that begin with J?

Since their first documentary broke viewership records on the Discovery Health Channel, the Duggars have appeared in American and international news media, sharing their rock-solid faith and their overriding belief that "children are a blessing from God." In these pages, Jim Bob and Michelle share their story, beginning with their own childhoods. They reveal how their growing-up years shaped their philosophy of parenting. It continues with tales of their big, busy family, whose televised documentaries and frequent appearances in news shows and newspapers have created an international following.
The Duggars share, with humility and humor, the family routines and guidelines they've learned through biblical study and trial and error -- ideas that can help make your home a place of peace, love, and support:
- Financial lessons for debt-free living- Organizing systems for a clutter-free home
- Homeschooling methods and schedules
- Training tips for little ones
- Relationship builders for older children
- Favorite Duggar family resources
Reading The Duggars: 20 and Counting! is like visiting this big, busy family right in their home: fascinating, inspiring -- and fun.

Review:

I really don't know what my fascination with this family and how it runs is. We got rid of our cable a few months back - and yet I still watch re-runs of this show on youtube. (Very pathetic, I know.) It's just such a huge family - most families can't run with only two kids, so how can this one run so well with nineteen of them? (And only one out of the house.)

This was a very good book, in my opinion. Jim Bob and Michelle explained how they met, fell in love, and married (Michelle was only seventeen!). It also explained their choice in having such a large family.

I found it very interesting how they make their own laundry soup. It is a great way to save money (we're making our own in my household now), and it lasts a while.

The receipes that were included also looked really yummy! I have noticed a lot of people saying that they eat like crap, but come on... a lot of us eat stuff like that. It's yummy, and quick to make. And, look at their kids - I don't think they are suffering from it at all. They are all looking very nice and healthy.

So, overall, I loved this and recommend it. :)

Grade: A+

Waiting on Wednesday (4)

2011-08-17T06:45:00.000-05:00

Waiting on Wednesday was started by Jill at Breaking the Spine.

This week I am waiting for Bewitching by Alex Flynn.

"It is the story of Kendra and her first 300 or so years of life. In Bewitching, Kendra ponders whether to help out a modern day plain-looking stepsister, while also reflecting on her experiences in the 1666 British plague, the court of Louis XV, and on the Titanic."

---And that's all we get! Between that and the cover it's going to be hard to wait until February 14, 2012 to read this one!

Trailer Tuesday: Legend by Marie Lu

2011-08-16T06:00:00.004-05:00

Legend will be released by Penguin Young Readers on November 29. What do you think of this trailer?

(Mini) Review: She's Got the Beat by Nancy Krulik

2011-08-15T06:00:00.006-05:00

Summary:

SHE BANGS! SHE BANGS!

Miranda was the quiet type...until she moved to Austin. Home of the hippest college rock bands, Austin, Texas, is a scene. And Miranda is dying to break out of her small-town shell. So she decides to do something totally un-Miranda: learn to play the drums.

When crashing the cymbals, the girl's a wild child! Plus there's a perk to her new gig: a cute bass player. Unfortunately Mr. Bass Man isn't exactly looking for love. Can this rocker chick change his tune? Or does finding her own rhythm mean sacrificing true love?

Review:

This will be a nice short mini-review. This was a Simon Rom-Com, which are my guilty pleasure books of choice. I found this book to be the typical Simon Rom Com - girl meets boy, boy and girl fall in love, happily ever after. This one was great with incorperating the music part of the story in with the romance. Overall, it was a cute novel (like all the other Simon Rom Coms), and it was a fast read.

Grade: C+

Review: My Not-So-Still Life by Liz Gallagher

2011-08-12T06:32:00.000-05:00

Summary:

Vanessa is wise beyond her years. She's never really fit in at school, where all the kids act and dress the same. She's an artist who expresses her talent in the wacky colors she dyes her hair, her makeup and clothes. She's working on her biggest art project, and counting the days until she's grown up and can really start living. That adult world seems closer when Vanessa gets her dream job at the art supply store, Palette, where she worships the couple who runs it, Oscar and Maye. And she's drawn to a mysterious guy named James, who leads her into new, sometimes risky situations. Is she ready for this world, or not?

Review:

I loved Liz Gallagher's first novel, The Opposite of Invisible. I gobbled it up - I read it in one day. However, I was a little bit disappointed with this novel.

I didn't have a problem connecting with the characters. I connected with all the main characters and could understand where they were coming from when they were talking. That wasn't a problem.

The other thing I didn't have a problem with was the setting. The setting was wonderfully described and I could picture it clearly in my head as I was reading, which I love.

Now, unto a few problems I saw with the novel. It dragged along for a good portion of the novel. I had a hard time connecting with the plot line itself because it just moved slowly throughout the novel.

I also felt that the plot line was a little weak and that a little more needed to be added to the story. I'm not exactly sure what exactly needed to be added, but I know that something was missing.

Overall, this book was a nice, short, predictable read with great characters and setting.

Grade: B-/C+

Review: The Near Witch by Victoria Schwab

2011-08-08T21:06:00.000-05:00

Summary:

The Near Witch is only an old story told to frighten children.

If the wind calls at night, you must not listen. The wind is lonely, and always looking for company.

And there are no strangers in the town of Near.
These are the truths that Lexi has heard all her life.

But when an actual stranger—a boy who seems to fade like smoke—appears outside her home on the moor at night, she knows that at least one of these sayings is no longer true.

The next night, the children of Near start disappearing from their beds, and the mysterious boy falls under suspicion. Still, he insists on helping Lexi search for them. Something tells her she can trust him.
As the hunt for the children intensifies, so does Lexi’s need to know—about the witch that just might be more than a bedtime story, about the wind that seems to speak through the walls at night, and about the history of this nameless boy.

Part fairy tale, part love story, Victoria Schwab’s debut novel is entirely original yet achingly familiar: a song you heard long ago, a whisper carried by the wind, and a dream you won’t soon forget.

Review:

This is going to be a kind of short, mini-review. I was really excited to read this book. Like, really, really excited. However, even though almost everyone else was raving about it, I couldn't make it through the novel. The idea was so interesting and I managed to make it until about page seventy. However, when I was reading the novel, it felt like a chore. I would dread sitting down and having to read this book.

All in all, this sums up my personal feelings on this book (even though most disagree with me): It has a wonderful premise, but the plot moves along slow and I feel that the writing seems forced.

Grade: D+.

Review: The Maze Runner by James Dashner

2011-08-03T06:40:00.000-05:00

Summary:

Imagine waking up one day in total darkness, unsure of where you are and unable to remember anything about yourself except your first name. You're in a bizarre place devoid of adults called the Glade. The Glade is an enclosed structure with a jail, a graveyard, a slaughterhouse, living quarters, and gardens. And no way out. Outside the Glade is the Maze, and every day some of the kids -- the Runners -- venture into the labyrinth, trying to map the ever-changing pattern of walls in an attempt to find an exit from this hellish place. So far, no one has figured it out. And not all of the Runners return from their daily exertions, victims of the maniacal Grievers, part animal, part mechanical killing machines.

Thomas is the newest arrival to the Glade in this Truman-meets-Lord of the Flies tale. A motley crew of half a dozen kids is all he has to guide him in this strange world. As soon as he arrives, unusual things begin to happen, and the others grow suspicious of him. Though the Maze seems somehow familiar to Thomas, he's unable to make sense of the place, despite his extraordinary abilities as a Runner. What is this place, and does Thomas hold the key to finding a way out?

In The Maze Runner, Dashner has crafted a creative and engaging novel that's both mysterious and thought provoking.

Review:

I actually started reading this book because of school. Yes, school. I had to find an outside reading book that I could read within a week to get my project done. (I have a bit of a procrastination problem.) This book fit into the category that I needed it to, and I thought, "Well, it's been sitting on my bookshelf forever, I mind as well read it for my English class." So I did. And I was definitely not disappointed. I actually wondered why it had taken me so long to read this on in the first place!

Now, I am going to start with the one minor problem I had with this book: in the beginning, it did move slow. It took me about fifty to seventy pages before I got really interested in the story, because it was there that the action really started happening. After that, however, I could not put the book down.

The plot, after that fifty to seventy page mark, is really action filled and interesting. I have been reading for a long time, and I am usually good at making predictions while reading the book that usually end up right. However, I failed with this book. Almost everything that I guessed was wrong! WRONG! It was a nice surprise to read a book and find that I am not guessing what is going to happen!

The characters will appeal to boys who want to read this. The main character is a boy, as well as all the other characters except for one girl character. And even though there is one girl character in the book, she doesn't always play an active role in the novel. (I put it that way to avoid any spoilers.)

Overall, this book is a wonderful addition to young adult literature that I think is sometimes overlooked by many people. I loved this novel, and I can't wait until I get the chance to read the second book. I definitely recommend this novel for male readers, because of the fact that it has a strong main character that is a boy.

Inteview: Julia Platt Leonard

2011-07-26T06:24:00.000-05:00

Today I have the lovely Julia Platt Leonard here with me for an interview. Julia is the author of the recently released middle grade novel, Cold Case.

-------

Why did you want to be an author?

The short answer is that I love to read. I’ve always loved books and think that reading is one of the most amazing things you can do. I wanted to write a book that people would enjoy reading – like the books I love.

What was your inspiration for Cold Case?

I started out writing a book about time travel, Victorian England and a pair of silver candlesticks. But it just didn’t work. I was out in Santa Fe on a hike and I asked myself what I really cared about. The answer was pretty simple: food (I worked as a professional chef), Santa Fe, and mysteries. So I thought, what could happen in a restaurant? And then an idea popped in my head: what if you found a dead body in a walk-in refrigerator? And it took off from there.

Do you listen to music when you write? If so, what kind of music? If not, why not?

I don’t listen to music. I’d love to but I get distracted easily and find I work best if it’s absolutely silent. I’m working on a book now that may have a cello player in it so I’m thinking about downloading a bunch of Bach but we shall see…

What was your publication process like? Was it any different than what you thought it would be?

When my agent told me that Simon & Schuster was interested in Cold Case I was thrilled. But they told me the editor liked to be very hands-on. I was afraid they were going to want massive changes but it wasn’t like that at all. Actually everything they suggested made sense – tightening up plot lines, making sure character’s actions were believable – that kind of stuff. It made Cold Case a better book and the process was enjoyable. I learned a lot.

What is your writing process like?

I stare out the window. A lot. My office faces the back garden and I find myself looking outside when I’m trying to figure something out – what a character would do or how to get the plot moving. I also do a lot of thinking when I’m walking. I find that I can get ‘work’ done in my head first and then translate it on to the page. I do a lot of preliminary work – plot lines, synopses – that kind of thing. It’s not because I have a great system for writing but because I find the first bits difficult and I need to write my way into the story. At times, it feels like words fly on the page but most of the time it feels like a lot of hard work. I’m in a writer’s group which helps. When they like a chapter it puts a smile on my face.

What is a typical day in your life like?

I get up around 6:30 or 7:00 a.m. Breakfast with my husband and daughter and then the school run. We walk to school through a lovely wooded area on a small river. For London, it’s actually quite full of nature – moorhens, ducks and even a heron. After I drop her off I head home and work for the rest of the morning. Lunch, emails and then copywriting or food consulting in the afternoon. A workout or swim at the gym, collect my daughter then back home. The homework/dinner routine then I try to get in a bit more work in before my husband comes home. After dinner it’s television – anything thriller or crime-related – and needlepoint (it’s a bit like meditation for me). A couple of squares of dark chocolate and in bed with a good book.

Using five words, describe yourself.

1. Inquisitive
2. Funny
3. Creative
4. Voracious (food & books)
5. Easy-going

What are your favorite books?

That’s a tough one. I often have three books on the go at any one time. I’m usually reading something related to what I’m writing. So for Cold Case I read a great biography of Robert Oppenheimer, the man who headed up the Manhattan Project. I’m always reading a MG or YA book. I just finished a book by an English author named Annabel Pitcher. It’s called My Sister Lives on the Mantelpiece and it’s the story of a 10-year old boy whose sister was killed in a terrorist bombing. It sounds dark and parts of it are but it’s also incredibly funny and moving. And I usually have a mystery by my bedside too. I love lots of different kinds but especially noir writers – Raymond Chandler, Ross Macdonald, James Ellroy.

My favorite all-time books? I loved To Kill a Mockingbird. I love Virginia Woolf (To the Lighthouse and Mrs. Dalloway) and Thomas Pynchon (Gravity’s Rainbow). I just re-read the Odyssey and adored it.

You said you live in London... what is that like? What is different there from the US?

London is amazing. I’ve lived here 14 years and love it. Before London we lived in a small town north of Boston. I thought I’d never want to live in a big city again but here I am. The neat thing about London (actually one of many) is that it’s really a series of villages. Each one has its own character and the entire city is layered with history from Roman and pre-Roman to modern day. Incredible museums, fantastic restaurants and easy access to the country.

Ask yourself a question and answer it. :)

If you could be anything, what would you be?

How cool would it be to be a flamenco dancer? I’d wear an amazing ruffled dress and strut across the stage to the mad applause of the audience.

---

Thank you, Julia!

You can check out Cold Case on Amazon or Goodreads. Find out more about Julia on her blog.

Week in Perspective (3)

2011-07-23T21:44:00.000-05:00

What I Read:

1. Battle Hymn of the Tiger Mother by Amy Chua (finished)
2. Escape by Carolyn Jessop (started, and will hopefully be finished tonight.)

What I Posted:

Monday: A review of Battle Hymn of the Tiger Mother by Amy Chua.

Tuesday: A guest vlog by Melissa Walker!

Wednesday: Waiting on Wednesday for Crossed by Ally Condie.

Friday: A review of The Time-Traveling Fashionista by Bianca Turnetsky.

Review: The Time-Traveling Fashionista by Bianca Turnetsky

2011-07-22T06:34:00.000-05:00

Summary:

When Louise Lambert receives a mysterious invitation to a traveling vintage fashion sale in the mail, her normal life in suburban Connecticut is magically transformed into a time traveling adventure.

After a brief encounter with two witchy salesladies and donning an evening gown that once belonged to a beautiful silent film star, Louise suddenly finds herself onboard a luxurious cruise ship in 1912. As Alice Baxter, the silent film star, Louise enjoys her access to an extensive closet of gorgeous vintage gowns and begins to get a feel for the challenges and the glamour of life during this decadent era. Until she realizes that she's not just on any ship-- she's on the Titanic!

Will Louise be able to save herself and change the course of history, or are she and her film star alter ego, destined to go down with a sinking ship in the most infamous sea disaster of the 20th century?

Information:
Pages: 272
Publisher: Poppy
Release Date: April 5, 2011
Source: Sent for review.
Goodreads | Amazon

Review:

What a cute book! Oh my goodness! When I started reading this, I will admit that I had my worries about it. I'm not too much of a fashion girl, so when I see a title like this, I immidiately think that I'm going to be lost in name brands and style trends. However, that was not the case, and I ended up really enjoying The Time-Traveling Fashionista.

The way that history is incorperated into the book is something that I really loved. Turnetsky had a very creative idea by putting history and fashion together. One second we're in the present-day, and the next we are sucked back to the Titanic. The Titanic is always a part of history that has interested me, so to have a book with a character that is on the Titanic was awesome and Turnetsky did a wonderful job writing it.

Were there name brands? Yes. Were there some style trends talked about, too? Yes. But they were presented in a wonderful way. There were also really nice pictures throughout the novel showing off the dresses and what they looked like. They are beautiful, but they also help the fashion clueless (like me) get a good look at what the styles really looked like.

Overall, this is a cute, fast read. It will be enjoyed by many. The way that history is incorperated into the novel with fashion is excellent. Turnetsky did a wonderful job with the novel, and I'm very glad that I read it.

Grade: A-

Waiting on Wednesday (3)

2011-07-20T06:32:00.000-05:00

Waiting on Wednesday was started by Jill at Breaking the Spine.

Today I am waiting for: Crossed by Ally Condie

The hotly awaited second book in the dystopian Matched trilogy.

In search of a future that may not exist and faced with the decision of who to share it with, Cassia journeys to the Outer Provinces in pursuit of Ky - taken by the Society to his certain death - only to find that he has escaped, leaving a series of clues in his wake.

Cassia's quest leads her to question much of what she holds dear, even as she finds glimmers of a different life across the border. But as Cassia nears resolve and certainty about her future with Ky, an invitation for rebellion, an unexpected betrayal, and a surprise visit from Xander - who may hold the key to the uprising and, still, to Cassia's heart - change the game once again. Nothing is as expected on the edge of Society, where crosses and double crosses make the path more twisted than ever.

Guest Vlog: Melissa Walker

2011-07-19T06:00:00.000-05:00

I'm happy to say that I am hosting a guest vlog today by the lovely and talented Melissa Walker. Melissa is the author of the Violet series (Violet on the Runway, Violet by Design, and Violet in Private) and also the standalone novel Lovestruck Summer. Her latest title, Small Town Sinners, is released today!

Thank you, Melissa!

For more on Melissa, visit these sites:
Her website.
I Heart Daily, which she helps run.
Her Twitter.

You can also buy Small Town Sinners on Amazon today! :)

Review: Battle Hymn of the Tiger Mother by Amy Chua

2011-07-18T22:00:00.000-05:00

Summary:

An awe-inspiring, often hilarious, and unerringly honest story of one mother's exercise in extreme parenting, revealing the rewards-and the costs-of raising her children the Chinese way.

All decent parents want to do what's best for their children. What Battle Hymn of the Tiger Mother reveals is that the Chinese just have a totally different idea of how to do that. Western parents try to respect their children's individuality, encouraging them to pursue their true passions and providing a nurturing environment. The Chinese believe that the best way to protect your children is by preparing them for the future and arming them with skills, strong work habits, and inner confidence. Battle Hymn of the Tiger Mother chronicles Chua's iron-willed decision to raise her daughters, Sophia and Lulu, her way-the Chinese way-and the remarkable results her choice inspires.

Here are some things Amy Chua would never allow her daughters to do:

-have a playdate
-be in a school play
-complain about not being in a school play
-not be the #1 student in every subject except gym and drama
-play any instrument other than the piano or violin
-not play the piano or violin

The truth is Lulu and Sophia would never have had time for a playdate. They were too busy practicing their instruments (two to three hours a day and double sessions on the weekend) and perfecting their Mandarin.

Of course no one is perfect, including Chua herself. Witness this scene:

"According to Sophia, here are three things I actually said to her at the piano as I supervised her practicing:

1. Oh my God, you're just getting worse and worse.
2. I'm going to count to three, then I want musicality.
3. If the next time's not PERFECT, I'm going to take all your stuffed animals and burn them!"

But Chua demands as much of herself as she does of her daughters. And in her sacrifices-the exacting attention spent studying her daughters' performances, the office hours lost shuttling the girls to lessons-the depth of her love for her children becomes clear. Battle Hymn of the Tiger Mother is an eye-opening exploration of the differences in Eastern and Western parenting- and the lessons parents and children everywhere teach one another.

Information:
Pages: 237
Publisher: Penguin Press
Release Date: January 11, 2011
Goodreads | Amazon

Review:

First off, before I even start with this review: I know this isn't a young adult novel. It's an adult non-fiction. However, me being who I am, I felt the need to read it and put my review up here for the world to see.

I wanted to read this book because of all the controversy it was stirring up, to be honest. If a book can get articles in People magazine, Time magazine, and the Wall Street Journal all in the same week, this is something good that I need to get my hands on and read.

This isn't so much going to be a review. It's basically just going to be some thoughts typed out for you to read - it seems wrong to "review" somebody's life.

I loved this read. Yes, I admit it. Did I agree with everything Amy did while parenting her daughters? No. But that's just the thing - everybody parents differently. There isn't a rule book to parenting; it's something that the parents need to decide how to do and what works effectively for their own family.

Chua takes parenting to an all new level, as you can see from the summary. She writes out her struggles wonderfully. It's a fast-paced novel that keeps you laughing, but at the same time, you wonder how she could do some of these things to her own child.

However, her parenting style seems to have worked for her kids. They are teenagers now, and her oldest played piano in Carnegie Hall at the age of fourteen. Fourteen! Do you know how incredibly hard it is to get into Carnegie Hall?! I also saw in an interview that when her oldest daughter was asked by a reporter if she had all straight-A's during high school, she replied this (and I quote): "No. I had one A- sophomore year in Calculus." First of all: Calculus sophomore year. I don't know about you're school, but here in good ole Michigan, Calculus is something you take as a senior -- if you take it at all! Second of all: A- doesn't get you straight A's? Third: That's the worst grade she got all throughout high school?! That's crazyinsane.

Chua's second daughter has also been a major success. She's an excellent student. She excelled at the violin before she took up tennis, and is now a wonderful tennis player also.

Overall, I recommend this book. I loved hearing Amy's challenges as she raised her kids. It was a very unique look into the life of a Chinese immigrant family (Chua's parents immigrated to the US from China) and the expectations and parenting style in a Chinese household.

Grade: A+.

Source: borrowed from my library.

In My Mailbox (3)/What I Read This Week

2011-07-17T06:51:00.001-05:00

In My Mailbox was started by Kristi and inspired by Alea.

So here's what I got this week! All links take you to the goodreads page for that book.

From Hachette Book Group:

Now is the Time for Running by Michael Williams

From Penguin:

The Probability of Miracles by Wendy Wunder
Shelter by Harlan Coben
The Name of the Star by Maureen Johnson

From Disney Hyperion:

Vanished by Sheela Chari
From Bad to Cursed by Katie Alender
Sharks and Boys by Kristen Tracy (they sent me a finished copy this time - a few weeks ago they also sent me an ARC.)

From the library:
Dead on the Delta by Stacey Jay
My Not-So-Still Life by Liz Gallagher
Battle Hymn of the Tiger Mother by Amy Chua
Escape by Carolyn Jessop
Even Now by Karen Kingsbury

What I Read This Week:

1. The Time Traveling Fashionista by Beth Turetsky (started and finished.)
2. She's Got the Beat by Nancy Krulik (started and finished.)
3. Battle Hymn of the Tiger Mother by Amy Chua (started, read 160 pages out of 230.)

Cover Love (2)

2011-07-15T06:00:00.000-05:00

Cover Love is a weekly feature in which I share with you covers of upcoming books I have found and have fallen in love with.

After Obsession by Carrie Jones

Aimee and Alan have secrets. Both teens have unusual pasts, and abilities they prefer to keep hidden. But when they meet each other for the first time, in a cold Maine town, they can’t stop their secrets from spilling out. Strange things have been happening lately, and they both feel strongly that something, or someone, is haunting them. They’re wrong. Despite their unusual history and powers, it’s neither Aimee nor Alan who is truly haunted. It’s Alan’s cousin Courtney who, in a desperate plea to find her missing father, has invited a demon into her life—and into her body. Only together can Aimee and Alan exorcise the ghost. And they have to move quickly, before it devours not just Courtney, but everything around her…. Filled with heart-pounding romance, paranormal activity, and rich teen characters to love—and introducing an exciting new YA voice in Steven Wedel—this novel is exactly what Carrie Jones fans have been waiting for. Meet your next obsession.

After Obsession is being released on September 5 by Bloomsbury. The goodreads page is located here.

The Glass Swallow by Julia Golding

Rain

She designs exquisite stained glass for the windows of her city. But the law is clear — it is forbidden for girls to be part of the glassmaker's guild. To keep her secret hidden, she leaves home and travels to the strange new country of Magharna.

Peri

When he witnesses Rain's capture by a gang of bandits, both his fate and his heart becomes tied to hers. They escape the outlaws, but Peri and his family of falconers are untouchables who are scorned by all, and Rain is not allowed to be part of their lives.

Can Rain and Peri's love survive the prejudices against them? And with the city on the brink of disaster will they be able to stop their world from smashing apart?

The Glass Swallow is being released on October 28 by Marshall Cavendish Children's Books. The goodreads page is located here.

What do you think about these covers?

Review: Fixing Delilah by Sarah Ockler

2011-07-14T06:00:00.000-05:00

Summary:

Things in Delilah Hannaford's life have a tendency to fall apart.

She used to be a good student, but she can't seem to keep it together anymore. Her "boyfriend" isn't much of a boyfriend. And her mother refuses to discuss the fight that divided their family eight years ago. Falling apart, it seems, is a Hannaford tradition.

Over a summer of new friendships, unexpected romance, and moments that test the complex bonds between mothers and daughters, Delilah must face her family's painful past. Can even her most shattered relationships be pieced together again?

Rich with emotion, Sarah Ockler delivers a powerful story of family, love, and self-discovery.

Information:
Publisher: Little, Brown Books for Young Readers
Release Date: December 1, 2010
Pages: 320
Source: Bought.
Goodreads page here.

Review:

Delilah's life isn't what it used to be. She isn't getting good grades anymore. She can't seem to find a "good" boyfriend, and her mother will not discuss what caused her family to fall apart. That all changes when one phone call delivers news that her grandmother died. Delilah and her mother are forced to go to Red Falls to sort out the estate and plan the funeral. What happens is something Delilah does not expect - she has a summer of fun, new friendships, romance, and family.

I devoured Ockler's first novel, Twenty Boy Summer. I read it in a day and completely fell in love with the way Ockler can writes o beautifully. Fixing Delilah was no different. Ockler brought to us a new set of characters that were as amazing as her first.

Delilah and Patrick were a good pair. Ockler is good at not rushing romance, but letting it just set in gradually, which is something I enjoy and do not find a lot in young adult. Ockler also focuses on the Hannafords as a family. And a true family at that - they are a family with secrets and lies, like any other family. She displays them wonderfully. They have conversations that mirror conversations I've had with my parents at some points.

As far as characters go, the only thing I wish is this: Delilah is kind of "me me me me" ish. Everything is about her. If Ockler didn't have her this way, it would be easier to see a change in the other family members. When readers get to the end, it's kind of like, oh my goodness, where did this change come from? Other than that, the characters and relationships are wonderful.

One other little note, too. I also loved the setting. It was so summer-y and fun. :)

Overall, the book is a must read. I loved it! I can't wait to see what Ockler comes up with next.

Grade: A+.

Waiting on Wednesday: Everybody Sees the Ants by A.S. King

2011-07-13T06:00:00.001-05:00

Waiting on Wednesday was started by Jill at Breaking the Spine.

This week's pick is for Everybody Sees the Ants by A.S. King. It will be released on October 3rd by Little, Brown Books for Young Readers.

Lucky Linderman didn't ask for his life. He didn't ask his grandfather not to come home from the Vietnam War. He didn't ask for a father who never got over it. He didn't ask for a mother who keeps pretending their family is fine. And he certainly didn't ask to be the recipient of Nadar McMillan's relentless bullying, which has finally gone too far.

Lucky has a secret—one that helps him wade through the daily dysfunction of his life. Grandad Harry, trapped in the jungles of Laos, has been visiting Lucky in his dreams—and the dreams just might be real: an alternate reality where he can be whoever he wants to be and his life might still be worth living. But how long can Lucky remain in hiding there before reality forces its way inside?

Printz Honor recipient A. S. King's distinctive, smart, and accessible writing shines in this powerful novel about learning to cope with the shrapnel life throws at you, and then taking a stand against it.

Trailer Tuesday: Imaginary Girls

2011-07-12T06:00:00.001-05:00

Trailer Tuesday is a weekly feature that will be hosted here at Hope's Bookshelf. As we all know, book trailers are becoming more important as we are in a more digital age now. Book trailers can sometimes, in my opinion, even make or break a book. So, each week I will feature a book trailer that I think is good. Feel free to share your thoughts and opinions on it in the comments section. :)

This week's pick is the trailer for Imaginary Girls which was released June 14th.

So what do you think?

Review: Babe in Boyland by Jody Gehrman

2011-07-11T06:00:00.001-05:00

Summary:

When high school junior Natalie - or Dr. Aphrodite, as she calls herself when writing the relationship column for her school paper - is accused of knowing nothing about guys and giving girls bad relationship advice, she decides to investigate what guys really think and want. But the guys in her class won't give her straight or serious answers. The only solution? Disguising herself as a guy and spending a week at Underwood Academy, the private all-boy boarding school in town. There she learns a lot about guys and girls in ways she never expected - especially when she falls for her dreamy roommate, Emilio. How can she show him she likes him without blowing her cover?

Information:
Publisher: Dial
Release Date: February 17, 2011
Pages: 292
Source: Library
Goodreads page here.

Review:

All I can say is: HOW CUTE.

Now that that random outburst is done... Babe in Boyland was just that - a cute, fun, and funny novel. Natalie has a great sense of humor, and reading her thoughts made me think I was going along on her journey at an all boys school with her.

I have heard people relate this to the movie, She's The Man. And while the storylines are similar - girl goes undercover as guy and goes to an all guys school - that is the end of the similarities. Besides that, the book and the movie are worlds apart.

Gehrman's novels are such guilty pleasures. They make you laugh, they don't make you think a lot while you're reading them, and they are very romantic with happy endings. This one is no exception.

I don't really have too much more to say about this one. It was quite forgettable - if someone asked me about this novel in a year, all I would probably remember is that it was cute and funny. This one is recommended if you are looking for something with romance that will make you laugh out loud while reading.

Grade: B-

In My Mailbox (2)

2011-07-10T19:06:00.000-05:00

In My Mailbox was started by Kristi and inspired by Alea.

Only one this week!

Cold Case by Julia Platt Leonard

When 13-year-old Oz Keillor finds a dead body in his family restaurant, he is soon caught up in a mystery where the stakes are high. His older brother is the prime suspect, and Oz quickly finds out that the murder may be tied to the death of their father years earlier, who was accused of selling nuclear secrets to rouge governments.

With the fate of his family in balance, it's up to Oz to try and crack the case, with the help of his best friend, Rusty. It's a quest that has more twists and turns than the dusty roads of New Mexico—with the answer being closer to home than Oz ever could have imagined.

Week in Perspective (2)

2011-07-09T08:58:00.000-05:00

Week in Perspective is my weekly feature where I tell you what I read, what I posted on the blog, and also show you what books were released in the past week.

What I Read:
1. Finished Lola and the Boy Next Door by Stephanie Perkins.
2. Read Head Games by Keri Mikulski.
3. Started The Near Witch by Victoria Schwab.

What I Posted:

On Tuesday, I posted a review of So Much Closer by Susane Colasanti.

On Wednesday, I posted my Waiting on Wednesday post for Dead to You by Lisa McMann, being released on February 7, 2012.

On Thursday, I posted a review for Desires of the Dead by Kimberly Derting. (The second novel in The Body Finder series.)

Finally, on Friday, I posted my first weekly meme that I started called Cover Love, in which I show you covers that I just fell in love with when I saw.

Released This Week:
All links take you to the Goodreads page for that novel.

Lost Voices (Lost Voice, #1) - Sarah Porter
Falling for Hamlet - Michelle Ray
Twisted (Pretty Little Liars #9) - Sara Shepard
Overbite (Insatiable, #2) - Meg Cabot
Sirensong (Faeriewalker, #3) - Jenna Black
Original Sin (Personal Demons #2) - Lisa Desrochers

Cover Love (1)

2011-07-08T08:26:00.000-05:00

Cover Love is a new feature that I'm starting every Friday where I will feature a few upcoming books that have covers that I just love. :)

Love can never die.
Love conquers all, so they say. But can Cupid’s arrow pierce the hearts of the living and the dead—or rather, the undead? Can a proper young Victorian lady find true love in the arms of a dashing zombie?

The year is 2195. The place is New Victoria—a high-tech nation modeled on the manners, mores, and fashions of an antique era. A teenager in high society, Nora Dearly is far more interested in military history and her country’s political unrest than in tea parties and debutante balls. But after her beloved parents die, Nora is left at the mercy of her domineering aunt, a social-climbing spendthrift who has squandered the family fortune, and now plans to marry her niece off for money. For Nora, no fate could be more horrible—until she’s nearly kidnapped by an army of walking corpses.

But fate is just getting started with Nora. Catapulted from her world of drawing-room civility, she’s suddenly gunning down ravenous zombies alongside mysterious black-clad commandos and confronting “The Laz,” a fatal virus that raises the dead—and hell along with them. Hardly ideal circumstances. Then Nora meets Bram Griswold, a young soldier who is brave, handsome, noble . . . and dead. But as is the case with the rest of his special undead unit, luck and modern science have enabled Bram to hold on to his mind, his manners, and his body parts. And when his bond of trust with Nora turns to tenderness, there’s no turning back. Eventually, they know, the disease will win, separating the star-crossed lovers forever. But until then, beating or not, their hearts will have what they desire.

In Dearly, Departed, steampunk meets romance meets walking-dead thriller, spawning a madly imaginative novel of rip-roaring adventure, spine-tingling suspense, and macabre comedy that forever redefines the concept of undying love.

Deeply, Departed is being released October 18 by Del Ray Books. Goodreads page is located here.

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.

Eve is being released on October 4 by HarperCollins. The Goodreads page is located here.

Those are the two covers I have for you guys this week. What do you think about them?

Review: Desires of the Dead by Kimberly Derting

2011-07-07T10:28:00.002-05:00

Summary:

Violet can sense the echoes of those who've been murdered—and the matching imprint that clings to their killers. Only those closest to her know what she is capable of, but when she discovers the body of a young boy she also draws the attention of the FBI, threatening her entire way of life.

As Violet works to keep her morbid ability a secret, she unwittingly becomes the object of a dangerous obsession. Normally she'd turn to her best friend, Jay, except now that they are officially a couple, the rules of their relationship seem to have changed. And with Jay spending more and more time with his new friend Mike, Violet is left with too much time on her hands as she wonders where things went wrong. But when she fills the void by digging into Mike's tragic family history, she stumbles upon a dark truth that could put everyone in danger.

Info:
Other Books in Series: The Body Finder
Publisher: Harper Teen
Release Date: February 15, 2011
Source: Bought
Goodreads page: here.

Review:

As you can tell by my review of The Body Finder, the first novel in the series, I loved it. Desires of the Dead was no exception. I went in with high expectations for it, and for the most part, they were met and exceeded.

Derting has this way of writing that just draws you in. Once you start reading, you cannot stop. You have to keep reading to find out what happens. The characters are easy to relate to. Violet is a great main character. I can understand why she thinks as she does and why she takes action the way she does.

These novels are very thrilling. The first one was so thrilling that I read the novel in just about two days. However, I think the thrill for this one fell a little short for me. While I still had to find out what happened, I felt that there were a few dull, slow-paced points in the novel. I feel as if this did not take anything away from the novel - it was still amazing.

And then there's Jay. *sigh* He deserves is own paragraph for being so cute and loving towards Violet. He is really what makes the romance as great as it is in these novels.

Overall, I recommend this series to everyone. It's one of the best young adult series out there, and I can't wait until the third book comes out in 2012!

Grade: A!

Waiting on Wednesday (2)

2011-07-06T06:49:00.000-05:00

Waiting on Wednesday was started by Jill at Breaking the Spine.

This week's pick is Dead to You by Lisa McMann.

Ethan was abducted from his front yard when he was just seven years old. Now, at sixteen, he has returned to his family. It's a miracle... at first. Then the tensions start to build. His reintroduction to his old life isn't going smoothly, and his family is tearing apart all over again. If only Ethan could remember something, anything, about his life before, he'd be able to put the pieces back together. But there's something that's keeping his memory blocked. Something unspeakable..

I love Lisa McMann's writing and that summary just makes me want to read this now! Too bad we have to wait until February 7, 2012!

Review: So Much Closer by Susane Colasanti

2011-07-05T06:11:00.000-05:00

Summary:

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..

Review:

This review has been hard for me to write. Let me start by saying that I absolutely LOVE Susane Colasanti's previous novels. I mean, I adore them. I re-read them all the time, and I love them every single time. I can always expect Colasanti's novels to be fun, flirty, and cute.

However, So Much Closer let me down. I found it to be very unrealistic. How many teenage girls would really follow a guy to New York City after she had just talked to her once? I know I wouldn't uproot my whole life just for a guy that didn't know I existed.

I also found it very hard to relate to the main character. Her thinking was just so... weird. I didn't understand why she was acting the way she was, and her thinking was never really supported in the novel. She just didn't make sense sometimes.

I guess those were my two main issues in this novel. The one positive that I did enjoy was that Colasanti had the setting described extremely well. While I was reading, even though I couldn't relate to any of the characters, I felt as if I could see everything they were seeing, because the setting was described very well.

Overall, if you want to read a Susane Colasanti novel, I don't recommend this one. It was just very unrealistic, and I couldn't relate to the characters. That being said, I do recommend all of her previous novels.

Short Review:

This disappointed me. Read Colasanti's other books instead of this one.

Grade: C-.

Week in Review (1)

2011-07-02T08:00:00.016-05:00

This week I read the following:

1. Luminous by Dawn Metcalf (had started last week, finished this week.)
2. Lola and the Boy Next Door (started, not finished yet.)

On the Blog:

On Tuesday, I reviewed Top Ten Uses for an Unworn Prom Dress by Tina Ferraro.

On Wednesday, I posted my Waiting on Wednesday, which was for All You Desire by Kirsten Miller, the sequel to The Eternal Ones.

On Thursday, I posted my review of Luminous by Dawn Metcalf.

Finally, on Friday, I posted my review of City of Fallen Angels by Cassandra Clare.

Review: City of Fallen Angels by Cassandra Clare

2011-07-01T06:00:00.000-05:00

Summary:

City of Fallen Angels takes place two months after the events of City of Glass. In it, a mysterious someone’s killing the Shadowhunters who used to be in Valentine’s Circle and displaying their bodies around New York City in a manner designed to provoke hostility between Downworlders and Shadowhunters, leaving tensions running high in the city and disrupting Clary’s plan to lead as normal a life as she can — training to be a Shadowhunter, and pursuing her relationship with Jace. As Jace and Clary delve into the issue of the murdered Shadowhunters, they discover a mystery that has deeply personal consequences for them — consequences that may strengthen their relationship, or rip it apart forever.

Meanwhile, internecine warfare among vampires is tearing the Downworld community apart, and only Simon — the Daylighter who everyone wants on their side — can decide the outcome; too bad he wants nothing to do with Downworld politics. Love, blood, betrayal and revenge: the stakes are higher than ever in City of Fallen Angels.

Review:

**NOTE: If you haven't read the other books in this series, I wouldn't read this review! I cannot guarantee that this review is spoiler free!**

Just when I thought the Mortal Instruments series was over after City of Glass, Cassandra Clare comes out with a fourth book! I was hesitant to read it, honestly, because City of Glass had closure to it, and I like how it had ended there. However, City of Fallen Angels was yet another wonderful installment to this series.

City of Fallen Angels takes place two months after City of Glass ended. Everything is going great back in New York between Clary and Jace, and Simon's well, too. Then Shadowhunters start turning up dead around the City, and no one seems to have a reason as to why this is happening.

City of Fallen Angels has mystery, romance, action, adventure, and, of course, family and friend problems. This seems like a lot to pack into one novel, but Cassandra Clare does it fantastically, as always. The plot is well developed, as are all the characters and sub plots. You can tell that she plans every little detail that happens in the novel so nothing will be wrong or confusing for readers.

This series is one of the best series in young adult literature, overall, and I recommend this series to everyone. I can't say enough how great Cassandra Clare's writing is. Even if these genres aren't usually your "thing" to read, I still think it has a little of everything for every reader to enjoy.

I can't wait for the fifth installment of this series... why is 2012 so far away?!

Short Review:

Read this book now. If you haven't read the series, read the series now!

Grade: A+

Review: Luminous by Dawn Metcalf

2011-06-30T11:24:00.000-05:00

Summary:

As reality slips and time stands still, Consuela finds herself thrust into the world of the Flow. Removed from all she loves into this shifting world overlapping our own, Consuela quickly discovers she has the power to step out of her earthly skin and cloak herself in new ones-skins made from the world around her, crafted from water, fire, air. She is joined by other teens with extraordinary abilities, bound together to safeguard a world they can affect, but where they no longer belong.

When murder threatens to undo the Flow, the Watcher charges Consuela and elusive, attractive V to stop the killer. But the psychopath who threatens her new world may also hold the only key to Consuela's way home.

Review:

Luminous was definitely a... different read. There were a few things that I found were well done with the novel... however, there were also many things that made this novel just okay.

Dawn Metcalf has beautiful writing. It is very rhythmic and poetic like. It reminded me of poetry, just in prose form. It really was one of a kind, and I did enjoy that part of the novel.

On the other hand, I found many of the characters to be distant. I couldn't really connect with them. While Metcalf's writing had me knowing what they were feeling or thinking, I couldn't connect with them and feel like I was in their place, going along with what they were thinking, which is something that I look for in a novel, no matter what it is.

I also felt as if the story could have been described better. With Metcalf creating her own world for this story, it really needs to be described and be described well so readers can understand it. I felt as if it was not, and the idea of the Flow sometimes left me confused. There were also some scenes that I felt were not described very well that also left me confused and having to go back and re-read over and over to understand.

I also felt as if the pacing was a little slow. I didn't feel as if the story got moving until the last hundred pages, which I did find that I enjoyed.

Even though this review makes it sound like I am bashing the novel, I did enjoy the idea of it. If I could have connected with the characters more, this novel would have been astounding. There is a lot of promise for Dawn Metcalf as an author. She is very creative and comes up with interesting ideas.

Short Review:

Promising premise and idea, just not described well and hard to connect with characters.

Grade: C.

Waiting on Wednesday (1)

2011-06-29T06:37:00.000-05:00

I know that I have done this meme previously, but it's been a while, so I'm just starting back at one. :)

Today, I am waiting for:

All You Desire by Kirsten Miller

Haven Moore and Iain Morrow have been living a blissful life in Rome, an ocean way from the Ouroboros Society and its diabolical leader. But paradise is not to last. The mysterious disappearance of Haven's best friend, Beau, sends the pair running back to New York, where they encounter the Horae, an underground group of women who have spent centuries scheming to destroy Adam Rosier. Only they can help Haven uncover the secret to Beau's whereabouts in one of her past lives. But their help comes at a price: Haven must infiltrate the Ouroboros Society, charm Adam Rosier, and lure him into a trap. It's a plan the Horae believe will save the world-but Haven and Iain fear that it may destroy the happiness they've been chasing for two thousand years.

This is the second novel in the Eternal Ones series. I loved the first one, and have been anxiously awaiting this installment, which is due out August 9th from Razorbill. I don't know what I think about the cover though.... it's not my favorite. I liked the first cover much better.

What are you waiting for on this Wednesday?

Review: Top Ten Uses for an Unworn Prom Dress by Tina Ferraro

2011-06-28T06:35:00.000-05:00

Summary:

Sophomore year, Nicolette Antonovich was dumped two days before prom by the hottest guy at school. As a result, she became the proud owner of one unworn, perfectly magical pink vintage dress. But Nic is determined to put that night behind her for good. She's a junior now— older, wiser, and completely overwhelmed by a new set of problems: (1) The bank's ready to foreclose on her childhood home. (2) Her father's too busy with his "replacement" daughter to care. (3) Her best friend's brother is an eternal thorn in her side. (4) Her best friend isn't exactly the rose attached to that thorn. (5) Rumors are flying around school that could get her kicked off the volleyball team, which would (6) ruin all chances of a college scholarship. (7) She still likes the boy who dumped her in the first place. (8) And what in the world do you do with an unworn prom dress, anyway? Strangely, it's getting to the bottom of this last dilemma that just might hold the answer to all Nic's problems.

Review:

This book summed up in one word is this: cute. It somewhat reminded me of a Simon Rom Com book, where everything is just really cute, and there is always the perfect ending, because the characters are just destined to be together.

While I love those kind of novels, they also have their disadvantages. First of all, there are some unrealistic events, even though they are supposed to be realistic novels. Second, the characters are cliched and cheesy at times. Both of these were problems that I saw in Top Ten Uses for an Unworn Prom Dress.

Overall, though, this novel was really cute and I did enjoy it. It is a fast paced novel, and it is very easy to connect with the main character, Nic. If you are a fan of romance novels, cute novels, or Simon Rom Coms, you will enjoy this novel.

Short Review: Cute and fast paced.

Grade: C+

In My Mailbox (June 19-25)

2011-06-26T20:49:00.000-05:00

In My Mailbox was started by Kristi and inspired by Alea.

For Review:

From Simon Pulse:
The Lost Crown by Sarah Miller

From Disney Hyperion:
Sharks and Boys by Kristen Tracy
The Near Witch by Victoria Schwab
Girl Wonder by Alexa Martin
Mercy by Rebecca Lim

From Penguin:
Away by Teri Hall
Stay With Me by Paul Griffin
Lola and the Boy Next Door by Stephanie Perkins

I also went on a spending spree and got the following books:
The Girl in the Steel Corset by Kady Cross
Where I Belong by Gwendolyn Heasley
Head Games by Keri Mikulski

Oh, and my Calc I book came from Amazon. Fun stuff! haha. :)

Any thoughts on any of these books? I'd love to hear them. :)

Review: But I Love Him by Amanda Grace

2011-06-25T10:57:00.000-05:00

Summary:

Tonight was so much worse than anything before it. Tonight he didn't stop after the first slap.

At the beginning of senior year, Ann was a smiling, straight-A student and track star with friends and a future. Then she met a haunted young man named Connor. Only she can heal his emotional scars; only he could make her feel so loved - and needed. Ann can't recall the pivotal moment it all changed, when she surrendered everything to be with him, but by graduation, her life has become a dangerous high wire act. Just one mistake could trigger Connor's rage, a senseless storm of cruel words and violence damaging everything - and everyone - in its path.

This evocative slideshow of flashbacks reveals a heartbreaking story of love gone terribly wrong.

Review:

But I Love Him is a fast paced story told in reverse order. That, and the subject matter, is what first got me interested in this novel. Amanda did a great job writing the novel in reverse order. Through Ann's flashbacks, we really get to see and feel her heartbreak - and why she cannot just walk away from the relationship.

However, I think that is really one of the only good things about the novel. Though the storyline seemed developed, I felt the characters were not. There was so much possibility with the characters of Ann and Connor, but I felt as if they could have just been background characters in their own story. I felt as if I did not get to know them enough, that there was just so much more that could have been said about them and their story that just... wasn't.

Though I still feel that this is a powerful novel, I also felt as if it was unfinished and a lot was left unsaid at the end of it. If the characters, and a few of the subplots, would have been more developed, this novel would have so much going for it.

Short Review:

Powerful, but it still needs a little work.

Rating: C.

Review: Between Here and Forever by Elizabeth Scott

2011-06-16T08:45:00.000-05:00

Summary:

Abby accepted that she can’t measure up to her beautiful, magnetic sister Tess a long time ago, and knows exactly what she is: Second best. Invisible.

Until the accident.

Now Tess is in a coma, and Abby’s life is on hold. It may have been hard living with Tess, but it's nothing compared to living without her.

She's got a plan to bring Tess back though, involving the gorgeous and mysterious Eli, but then Abby learns something about Tess, something that was always there, but that she’d never seen.

Abby is about to find out that truth isn't always what you think it is, and that life holds more than she ever thought it could...

Review:

Before I start this review, I want it to be known that Elizabeth Scott is one of my favorite authors. With that being said, I have very high expectations for her novels. They have to really impress me. And I feel that Between Here and Forever did not impress me as much as I thought it would.

The storyline was wonderful. I felt it was very original, and it was something that would tug on readers heartstrings. However, the beginning was slow. It took me a while before I got interested in the story enough to want to keep reading it. Honestly, the only reason I DIDN'T give up on reading it was because it was written by Elizabeth Scott.

The characters were just...okay to me. None of them really stuck out as an awesome character in my mind, yet somehow it worked for the novel. It's a hard thing to explain. I didn't really like any of the characters, but I wanted to see how their story turned out and what would happen to them.

Overall, the novel is great but not Elizabeth Scott great. I look forward to reading her next no novel and seeing what she does with that one. I still recommend this novel to anyone who thinks it sounds interesting and who has read Elizabeth Scott before.

Overall:

It was okay. Storyline: great, but with slow pacing; characters: not so great.

Rating: 8/10

Review: Bitter End by Jennifer Brown

2011-06-15T07:57:00.000-05:00

Summary:

When Alex falls for the charming new boy at school, Cole, a handsome, funny, sports star who adores her, she can't believe she's finally found her soul mate-someone who truly understands her and loves her for who she really is.

At first, Alex is blissfully happy. Sure, Cole seems a little jealous of her relationship with her best friends, Zack and Bethany, but what guy would want his girlfriend spending all of her time with another boy? But as the months pass, Alex can no longer ignore Cole's small put-downs, pinches, or increasingly violent threats. As Alex struggles to come to terms with the sweet boyfriend she fell in love with and the boyfriend whose "love" she no longer recognizes, she is forced to choose - between her "true love" and herself.

Review:

Jennifer Brown is a wonderful author. I had very high expectations going into this book after reading and loving Hate List, her first novel. (I even went quite fangirly before I was even done with the novel.)

But, after reading Bitter End, I think I like it even more than I did Hate List. The pacing was great. I didn't feel as if it was slow at any point in time. Even though the novel was 350 pages long, it flew by quickly.

The characters were also great. Many of us girls say, "If I was ever in a situation where my boyfriend was hitting me, I would be gone!" but with Bitter End being written from Alex's point of view, readers can really see how they think and why they stay in the relationship. Readers really sympathize with Alex during the novel. Cole was also written wonderfully. Though at times I felt as if he could be a little cheesy, that is actually how abusers are.

The other thing that I really liked about Bitter End was that even though it is a novel of abuse, and thhere is abuse described in the novel, it is described in a nice way. (If that makes sense.) What I'm trying to say is that, yes, the abuse is descibed, but Jennifer Brown describes it in a way where it is not too graphic, which is really nice.

Jennifer Brown really did her research with this novel. It is great. It really is a must read for everyone, and it comes highly, highly recommended from me.

Overall (aka "The Quick Review"):

It's wonderful and a must read. Go buy it now!

Grade: A+

hope.

Review: Anna and the French Kiss by Stephanie Perkins

2011-06-01T13:09:00.000-05:00

Summary:

Anna is looking forward to her senior year in Atlanta, where she has a great job, a loyal best friend, and a crush on the verge of becoming more. Which is why she is less than thrilled about being shipped off to boarding school in Paris—until she meets Étienne St. Claire: perfect, Parisian (and English and American, which makes for a swoon-worthy accent), and utterly irresistible. The only problem is that he's taken, and Anna might be, too, if anything comes of her almost-relationship back home.

As winter melts into spring, will a year of romantic near-misses end with the French kiss Anna—and readers—have long awaited?

Review:

I don't even know where to begin when I talk about this book. Basically, I fell in love with it. It was awesome. Amazing. Fantastic.

Perkins brings a main character who actually thinks like us teenage girls do. It was very easy to keep reading, because the voice was excellent. I couldn't put this book down at all. EVen the other characters were well described and thought out. Each one had their own trait that made them seem so real. These characters are easy to relate to and they act like us teenagers do.

Now, the setting. Let me just say that I have never been to Paris. I have seen pictures, but never actually been there. When Perkins was describing popular tourist sites, I was thinking, "Wow, this is great. I feel like I'm actually in Anna's shoes seeing this." It's just written beautifully.

Don't let the cutesy cover let you think that this isn't a serious book. Yes, it is a romance novel, but it is also so much more than that. Each character has a problem that they are going through. Some of them are huge problems, too: best friends betraying you, sick parents. There's some deep stuff in this novel.

So, overall, Anna and the French Kiss is a great addition to any bookshelf. I fell in love with it from the first page. Anna is a character that is very easy to relate to, and the setting is gorgeous. Go buy this one... it's definitely worth it.

Overall Rating: 5/5.

So....

2011-05-30T10:39:00.001-05:00

...hello everyone.

It has been awhile since I have visited you.

But, I am proud so say that I am going to try and get back into a blogging mood. I am done with school (my graduation is on Friday! eeekk), and I am going to start getting back into my reading groove now.

So, start looking for more posts tomorrow, and I am going to be working on updating the site also!

I am glad to be back... and I hope you all are still reading this. ;)

Hope.

Break...

2010-09-25T13:34:00.000-05:00

Hello all,

I am sorry to tell you all that I need to take a hiatus from blogging for a while. I'm just way too busy with school and work to keep up with running the blog, too.

I will still be reviewing, it just won't be very regular.

hope.

Blog Teaser Tour: Where She Went by Gayle Forman

2010-08-20T08:00:00.036-05:00

If I Stay fans: You know what Mia and Adam went through after the Hall family’s accident, but have you ever wondered what happened ever? Well the wait is almost over—New York Times bestselling author Gayle Forman has written a sequel to If I Stay (read my review of If I Stay here). It’s called Where She Went, and it comes out April 2011, but right now she’s doing a teaser tour to give If I Stay fans the scoop on what they can expect from Mia and Adam’s new chapter.

Teaser Number 2:

The story takes place three years later. There are many reasons why I moved the story three years after the events of IF I STAY. But you find out most of the important things that happened to Adam and Mia in the intervening years.

Here's the If I Stay paperback trailer:

Preorder your copy of Where She Went on Amazon by clicking here.

Here are more links for more information on the author and the books:
Read my review of If I Stay here.
See my interview with Gayle Forman here.
Visit Gayle's website here.
Visit the If I Stay official website here.

To see all the other tour posts, here's the tour schedule:
August 19: Persnickety Snark
August 20: that's this post! :)
August 23: Bookworming in the 21st Century
August 24: The Story Siren
August 25: Sarah's Random Musings
August 26: The Compulsive Reader
August 27: The Book Scout
August 30: Frenetic Reader
August 31: Book Chic
September 1: Presenting Lenore

Review: Tweet Heart by Elizabeth Rudnick

2010-08-19T09:12:00.000-05:00

Summary:

Claire is a #hopelessromantic.
Lottie is determined to set up her BFF with Mr. Perfect.
Will wants his #secretcrush to finally notice him.
Bennett is a man with a plan.

Claire can’t believe it when her dream guy starts following her on Twitter. She never thought he noticed her, and suddenly he seems to understand her better than almost anyone.

But the Twitterverse can be a confusing place, especially when friends act differently online than they do in person. Things get even more complicated when Claire realizes she’s falling for someone else, the last person she ever would have expected….

Told in an innovative format combining tweets, emails, and blogs, Tweet Heart is a contemporary romantic comedy that will set your heart atwitter.

Review:

What ultimately made me want to read this book was it's format. I mean, come on - a novel written only in tweets, direct messages, e-mails, and blogs? Sign me up! That is pretty much my language right there. That is the one thing that really sets this book apart is the format. Rudnick did a great job setting it up.

Of course with this kind of format, you lose some aspects of the normal novel. You don't really get to see into the whole characters life, just a certain part of it. One thing I like about novels is how you get to know the characters, and with this format you lose that a little bit. However, Rudnick did a great job, and you still understood a lot about the characters.

This book is a great Valentine's Day book. It is cute to the max. Claire's in love with this popular guy that doesn't know she exists, while one of the characters is in love with her... Lottie goes through guys like no one I know, and Bennett can't get a girl to save his life. The main focus of this novel is the romance. And, yes, some of it is very cheesy romance.

Overall, though, I loved the format. Rudnick did a great job with that. However, it was just another cute book that I'll probably forget about eventually. B+.

The Contemps

2010-08-18T08:26:00.000-05:00

Hey, guys! I have a really cool thing to share with you today. :) They are called The Contemps.

Basically a group of twenty one young adult contemporary fiction authors got together and they created this really cool and awesome website called The Contemps supporting contemporary fiction. These authors are both debut authors and authors that have been around for a while such as Sarah Ockler, Elizabeth Scott, Melisa Walker, and Courtney Summers.

The Contemps are doing amazing things on their site... but their website isn't the only place you can find them.

They are blogging.
They are also tweeting.
AND they are facebooking, too!

So check out their official website here, and find out what The Contemps are all about! And you can also join in on their Contempts challenge to win all twenty one of the authors books!

hope.

Review: The Eternal Ones by Kirsten Miller

2010-08-15T10:12:00.001-05:00

Summary:

Haven Moore has always lived in the tiny town of Snope City, Tennessee. But for as long as she can remember, Haven has experienced visions of a past life as a girl named Constance, whose love for a boy called Ethan ended in a fiery tragedy.

One day, the sight of a notorious playboy Iain Morrow on television brings Haven to her knees. Haven flees to New York City to find Iain and there, she is swept up in an epic love affair that feels both deeply fated and terribly dangerous. Is Iain her beloved Ethan? Or is he her murderer in a past life? Haven asks the members of the powerful and mysterious Ouroboros Society to help her unlock the mysteries of reincarnation and discover the secrets hidden in her past lives, and loves, before all is lost and the cycle begins again.

But what is the Ouroboros Society? And how can Haven know who to trust?

(Summary from review copy.)

Review:

I really enjoyed this book. Reincarnation isn't something you see to much about in young adult books today, but Miller does a great job writing about it.

There were two things that I didn't like about this book. First, there were a few points in the book I felt dragged on. The beginning starts moving great, but before the second part, it just seems to slow down as far as the pace goes. That annoyed me a little bit, but I got over it and kept reading.

The second thing that I didn't much care for was how Haven was so hot and cold with Iain. I understand that she didn't really trust him, but one second she loved him so much she couldn't leave, and the other she hated him and didn't want to be in the same room with him. These moments happened quite frequently, and I feel that the book would've been even better than it is if Haven's emotions had been more... calm, I think is what I'm trying to say, and not so hot and cold.

Other than that, though, the book was wonderful. The description in the book was fantastic, and I felt like I could see everything that Haven was seeing. It was suspenseful and besides the one part that dragged on, I was hooked and I couldn't put it down.

Overall, this book was great, with just a few things that I didn't really like. Reincarnation is an interesting topic, and I'm glad Kirsten Miller decided to tackle it in a young adult book. A/A-.

For more information on Kirsten Miller, read my interview with her.

Winner: Penguin Big Five Slipcase

2010-08-11T08:21:00.000-05:00

The winner of the awesome Penguin Big Five Slipcase is Natalie M!

Congrats Natalie!

Indigo Blues - Danielle Joseph

2010-08-06T16:04:00.001-05:00

Summary:

Indigo:
I never asked to be famous—or infamous. Such is my fate for briefly dating (and dumping) Adam Spade. Yes, the Adam from the indie rock band Blank Stare who wrote "Indigo Blues"—the song that gave the band overnight success, propelled them to New York City, and stole my precious anonymity. Now I'm pawed by fans, stalked by reporters, and pegged as a vicious heartbreaker. And Adam is still calling me. Doesn't he have better things to do?

Adam:
With a hit single and a promising career, I should be on top of the world. People on the street are beginning to recognize me, which is cool. And scary. The band is counting on me to write another hit, but I can't stop thinking about Indigo. Why won't she answer the phone?

Review:

I have very mixed feelings on this book. On one hand, it was okay. On the other, it just... wasn't. I read Danielle Joseph's debut, Shrinking Violet, and I absolutely loved it. I had very high expectations on this book, and they just weren't met.

First of all, it was a lot like Audrey, Wait! I know that this probably is just coincidence, but it tainted the book for me. While reading, I was like, Audrey, Wait!, Audrey, Wait! There were so many things that were similar between the two.

However, Robin Benway pulled it off better than Danielle Joseph did. I didn't feel bad for Indigo. At some points, I was just like, "Is she REALLY going to whine like this the whole book?" I didn't feel like I could relate to Indigo at all, whereas I could relate to Audrey in Audrey, Wait!

That being said, there were parts of this book that were okay. I loved that you could read from Adam's point of view as well as Indigo's. It gave the book a cool perspective. Also, like Shrinking Violet, I had trouble putting the book down and I wanted to keep reading and keep reading until I was done.

Overall, it was an okay book, though it could've been better, especially if it didn't remind me of Audrey, Wait! C/C-.

Author Interview: Kirsten Miller + Contest

2010-08-04T10:08:00.001-05:00

Today here at Hope's Bookshelf, I'm lucky to have an author interview with Kirsten Miller. Kirsten is the author of the upcoming book The Eternal Ones, coming August 10, and of the Kiki Strike series.

----

When did you know you wanted to be an author?

It was never a conscious decision. I’ve always written crazy stories, but until my first book was published, I never thought anyone would ever get a chance to read them. I figured I’d just stuff all my manuscripts into an old bureau where they’d eventually be discovered by one of my descendants, who would then start to wonder what kind of screwed-up genes I might have passed on.

To this day, I don’t know if I’d consider myself an “author.” I’m just someone who has gotten very, very lucky. (Wow, that sounds really disingenuous, but it’s TRUE!)

Where did your inspiration for The Eternal Ones come from?

I’ve always been fascinated by stories of very small children who claim they were once someone else. Such tales are far more common than one might imagine. Unfortunately, the kids’ recollections are usually dismissed as flights of fancy. (And sometimes they’re not. Just google James Leininger.)

I personally know someone who says she remembered a previous life when she was a small child. She would tell her siblings that she had once been “a mommy” who lived in a certain town (can’t remember the name) with her four children. When challenged, my acquaintance was absolutely adamant. She could even remember the names of the kids she’d once had. Apparently she scared the heck out of her present family.

Do you listen to music when you write? If yes, what kinds? If no, why?

I wish I could listen to music as I write, but I need absolute silence in order to concentrate. I mean absolute—I wear earplugs to block out all background noise. Plus, I’m one of those people who always listens to the lyrics, so if I had music on while I wrote, I’d probably end up inadvertently plagiarizing Britney Spears. (Just an example. I’m not a huge fan of Ms. Spears.)

Why did you choose to write for young adults and not adults or children?

I’d like to think I write for everyone. My books are labeled YA because the protagonists are young and the writing is fairly accessible, but I think adults would get a kick out of them as well. After all, I write to entertain myself, and I’m an adult. (I think.)

Are you working on any more books at the moment?

I just turned in the first draft of the sequel to The Eternal Ones. Now I’m finishing the third Kiki Strike book, The Darkness Dwellers. Once that’s done, I’m going to take a very, very long nap!

In five words, how do you describe yourself?

Tough, impetuous, funny (I hope), fair, and eccentric.

What are your favorite books?

A Little History of the World, by EH Gombrich
Rebecca, by Daphne du Maurier
The Works, by Kate Ascher
The Poisons and Antidotes Sourcebook, by Carol Turkington
His Dark Materials (trilogy) by Philip Pullman

What was the weirdest time you ever got inspiration for a story?

This is a great question. My life is filled with weird little moments. (Thank goodness.) But I also find inspiration in my dreams. Especially the nightmares. Somehow my sleeping brain is able to concoct the most terrifying scenarios imaginable. I have a few that I’m dying to work into a book someday. (I’d tell you what they are, but I don’t want to shock you!) In fact, I’m thinking of writing a horror novel as soon as I’m finished with my current projects!

Is anything in The Eternal Ones based (even loosely) on things in your life?

It’s my autobiography. (JK) My books are all filled with characters and incidents from my life. But I share more with Haven Moore, the main character in The Eternal Ones, than I do with most of my heroines. Haven and I both grew up in small Southern towns that left us feeling a bit claustrophobic. Much like Haven, I always had a hunch that there was someone or something out there that I needed to find. And we both packed our bags and set off for New York to search for it.

Unlike Haven, I didn’t discover a billionaire playboy who claimed to have known me in countless lives. But I think I found what I was looking for!

Ask yourself a question and answer it. :)

If you won the lottery, what would you do?

Devote my life to writing strange books, lending a hand on archaeological digs, and searching for Bigfoot.

---

Before you leave, I have a few other cool things related to The Eternal Ones to share with you:

First is the trailer for the book:

And to learn more about the book, visit these sites:
The Eternal Ones Website
The Ouroboros Society Website

Be on the watch for The Eternal Ones, coming to a bookstore near you on August 10.

Also, as an added bonus, I have a contest for you today to! The contest is for on of Penguin's Big Five slipcases. I do believe I mentioned what was in it a while back, but just in case I didn't, here's the five books it includes:

1. The Eternal Ones by Kirsten Miller

2. Sapphique by Catherine Fisher (sequel to Incarceron)

3. The Replacement by Brenna Yovanoff

4. Matched by Allie Condie

5. Nightshade by Andrea Creamer

I've read most of these books already, and I can tell you right now that the ones I've read are fantastic.

Now, the rules to enter:
1. You must be a US resident to enter.
2. You must be over the age of 13 to enter. - If you are under the age of 13, I need your parents approval for you to enter.
3. Fill out the form below. :)

Hex Hall by Rachel Hawkins

2010-08-03T09:35:00.000-05:00

Summary:

Three years ago, Sophie Mercer discovered that she was a witch. It's gotten her into a few scrapes. Her non-gifted mother has been as supportive as possible, consulting Sophie's estranged father--an elusive European warlock--only when necessary. But when Sophie attracts too much human attention for a prom-night spell gone horribly wrong, it's her dad who decides her punishment: exile to Hex Hall, an isolated reform school for wayward Prodigium, a.k.a. witches, faeries, and shapeshifters.

By the end of her first day among fellow freak-teens, Sophie has quite a scorecard: three powerful enemies who look like supermodels, a futile crush on a gorgeous warlock, a creepy tagalong ghost, and a new roommate who happens to be the most hated person and only vampire on campus. Worse, Sophie soon learns that a mysterious predator has been attacking students, and her only friend is the number-one suspect.

As a series of blood-curdling mysteries starts to converge, Sophie prepares for the biggest threat of all: an ancient secret society determined to destroy all Prodigium, especially her.

Review:

This book turned out nothing like I thoughth it would. And before I continue, that is a very good thing. I got this book from my library mainly because a friend of mine kept raving about how good it was. So, I get it, and started reading it, hoping that it would get me out of my reading slump. And, oh, it did get me out of that slump.

Once you read the first page of this book, you will not want to put it down. Sophie has a very good personality and she's a really good narrator. This book mixes history, mystery, and romance all together perfectly in this book.

While you're reading, you think you have things figured out, and then you get to the end, and realize you really don't. I sat there for about five minutes after reading this book, just thinking, oh my gosh, did that REALLY happen?!

The only thing I really have a compliant about is that I felt like some of the minor characters, such as Sophie's roommate and some of the other girls at her school, could've been described more, and made more real, instead of just being there sometimes.

Oh, and my second complaint: Where's book two, 'cause I want it now! Solid A for this one. :)

THE LINEUP: Penguin

2010-07-26T11:43:00.001-05:00

Hey everyone! I'm starting a mini-feature here at Hope's Bookshelf that will last the next few weeks. I'm calling it "The Lineup." Basically what it will be is this: I'm finding what I think are the sweet looking books from each publishers early 2011 line-up. Simple and fun, right? :)

Today I have the cool looking books from Penguins early 2011 lineup. These books will publish between January and April 2011.

Before I start, I just want to make it known that I have not read these books, nor do I have any of these books. They only things I've read about them are their summaries, and that's how I picked which ones would be put on this list.

So, without further ado, here is my lineup for Penguin:

Close to Famous by Joan Bauer

There’s nothing like a warm muffin for curing the blues!

Foster McFee dreams of having her own cooking show like her idol, celebrity chef Sonny Kroll. Macon Dillard’s goal is to be a documentary filmmaker. Foster’s mother Rayka longs to be a headliner instead of a back-up singer. And Miss Charleena plans a triumphant return to Hollywood. Everyone has a dream, but nobody is even close to famous in the little town of Culpepper. Until some unexpected events shake the town and its inhabitants—and put

their big ambitions to the test. Full of humor, unforgettable characters, surprises, and lots and lots of heart, this is Joan Bauer at her most engaging.

Release Date: February 3, 2011 from Viking.

Leverage by Joshua Cohen

The playing field becomes a battlefield in a highly charged debut.

There’s an extraordinary price for victory at Anooka High. It is paid on—and off—the football field. And it claims its victims without mercy—including the most innocent bystanders. An unlikely friendship between Kurt, a talented but emotionally damaged fullback, and Danny, a promising gymnast, is at the heart of an increasingly violent, steroid-infused power struggle.

When the unthinkable happens, they must look to each other for salvation in a heart-pounding, gut-wrenching story that will stay with readers long after they turn the last page.

Told in alternating voices and with unapologetic truth, Leverage illuminates the fierce loyalty, flawed justice, and hard-won optimism of two young athletes.

Release Date: February 17, 2011 from Dutton.

Where She Went by Gayle Forman (sequel to If I Stay.)

It’s been three years since the devastating accident . . . three years since Mia walked out of Adam’s life forever. Now living on opposite coasts, Mia is Juilliard’s rising star and Adam is LA tabloid fodder, thanks to his new rock star status and celebrity girlfriend. When Adam gets stuck in New York by himself, chance brings the couple together again, for one last night.

As they explore the city that has become Mia’s home, Adam and Mia revisit the past and open their hearts to the future—and each other. Told from Adam’s point of view in the spare, lyrical prose that defined If I Stay, Where She Went explores the devastation of grief, the promise of new hope, and the flame of rekindled romance.

(The cover is not final at this time.)

Release Date: April 19, 2011 from Dutton.

Head Games (A PrettyTOUGH novel) - Keri Milkulski

(Other novels in the series: Pretty Tough and Playing with the Boys.)

The PrettyTOUGH series is back—and this time, the girls take it to the hoop!

Taylor is calm, cool, collected, and ferocious on the basketball court. A total all-star. Not so much in real life. She may be tall, gorgeous, and an incredible catch, but just try telling her that!

And lately, Taylor doesn’t know which way to turn: The summer showcase game is almost here. Her BFF Hannah roped her into a fashion show (eek!). And she can’t decide between Zach—the super-popular, super-tall, super-off-limits basketball dynamo—and Matt—the sweet boy from her math class (who may just be dating her BFF’s older sister). It’s enough to

make any girl’s head spin!

Can Taylor strike a pose, land the boy of her dreams, and win the game?

(Cover not yet final.)

Release Date: January 6, 2011 from Razorbill.

Subject Seven by James A Moore

Impossibly strong. Brutally violent. Smarter than his captors. Subject Seven has escaped.

Years ago, scientists began developing the ultimate military weapon: deadly sleeper assassins housed within the bodies of teenagers. Now, Subject Seven, the dangerous alter-ego living inside a 16-year-old boy, has escaped the lab and is on a mission.

His objective? To seek out others like him and build an army capable of destroying their creators. Hunter, Cody, Gene, Tina, and Kylie: five teenagers leading typical lives, until the day they each receive a call from a mysterious stranger—and learn that their destinies are intertwined. Subject Seven holds the key that connects them all. And a vicious, bloody
battle for their lives is just beginning.

Release Date: January 25, 2011 from Razorbill.

The Locket by Stacey Jay

The Locket promises a second chance…but at what cost?

On her seventeenth birthday, Katie discovers a locket and decides to wear it for good luck. But when her boyfriend Isaac finds out she cheated on him— with their mutual best friend Mitch, no less—he dumps her, leaving her devastated.

And then a miracle happens. The locket burns on Katie’s chest and she feels herself going back two weeks in time, to the night she cheated with Mitch. At first, Kate is delighted to be a better girlfriend to Isaac this time around. But as other aspects of her life become inexplicably altered, she realizes that changing the past may have had a dangerous effect on her present.

Can she make things right before the locket destroys everything—and everyone—she loves?

Release Date: February 3, 2011 from Razorbill.

Babe in Boyland by Jody Gehrman

Find out what boys really think!

When high school junior Natalie—or Dr. Aphrodite, as she calls herself when writing the relationship column for her school paper—is accused of knowing nothing about guys and giving girls bad relationship advice, she decides to investigate what guys really think and want. But the guys in her class won’t give her straight or serious answers.

The only solution? Disguising herself as a guy and spending a week at Underwood Academy, the private all-boy boarding school in town. There she learns a lot about guys and girls in ways she never expected—especially when she falls for her dreamy roommate, Emilio. How can she show him she likes him without blowing her cover?

Release Date: February 17, 2011 from Dial.

So there you go! Those are the books I'm looking forward to very much from Penguin's Spring 2011 line-up. :)

hope.

Review: Glass by Ellen Hopkins

2010-07-24T18:10:00.002-05:00

Crank. Glass. Ice. Crystal. Whatever you call it, it's all the same: a monster. And once it's got hold of you, this monster will never let you go.

Kristina thinks she can control it. Now with a baby to care for, she's determined to be the one deciding when and how much, the one calling the shots. But the monster is too strong, and before she knows it, Kristina is back in its grips. She needs the monster to keep going, to face the pressures of day-to-day life. She needs it to feel alive.

Once again the monster takes over Kristina's life and she will do anything for it, including giving up the one person who gives her the unconditional love she craves -- her baby.

The sequel to Crank, this is the continuing story of Kristina and her descent back to hell. Told in verse, it's a harrowing and disturbing look at addiction and the damage that it inflicts.

This is probably going to end up being another pretty short review for Ellen Hopkins. Because once again, she's done it. This book is fantastic. I'm not going to say anything more than if you've never read Ellen Hopkins before, you need to. Her books are just fantastic. I can't tell you enough how much I love them.

Hopkins brings the real stuff into young adult fiction. The stuff she writes about is the real deal. This novel deals with drugs - and not just any drug, but crank... that's hardcore stuff. It's not candy coated and topped with a cherry, it's the real deal. It's gritty and not always fun to read, but it's a true story about something that might happen.

Again, all I can say is that if you've never read Ellen Hopkins before, you have to now. Her books are just amazing, and I can't praise them enough. A+++.

See Ellen Hopkins talk about Crank and Glass in this video:

Guest Blog: Sean McCartney

2010-07-23T12:18:00.000-05:00

Today with us we have author Sean McCartney, author of The Treasure Hunters Club: Secret of the Magical Medallions, which is his first book.

----

First off I would like to thank Hope for allowing me to talk with all of you. This is my first blog so it is quite exciting for me.

My name is Sean McCartney and I’m currently on a blog tour to promote my new young adult action adventure novel entitled THE TREASURE HUNTERS CLUB: SECRETS OF THE MAGICAL MEDALLIONS. It’s being released on July 6th, 2010 from Mountainland Publishing.

The story is about Tommy Reed and his treasure hunting friends Shannon McDougal, Jackson Miller and Chris Henderson. One day Tommy receives a rather ordinary looking medallion from his very famous treasure-hunting uncle “Diamond” Jack Reed and finds himself the object of an evil treasure collector named Manuel de la Ernesto. Now Tommy and his friends must find the secret behind the medallion before Manuel can get to them and the medallion.

When I set out to write The Treasure Hunters Club: Secrets of the Magical Medallions I wanted to pull together all the things from books and movies that I liked. The mystery of the Hardy Boys and Encyclopedia Brown, the adventure of Percy Jackson, a little magic from Harry Potter and the action and history of the movies Indiana Jones and National Treasure.

Though this is the first book in the Treasure Hunters Club series, with your help to make it a success, the next books will follow. I have planned six treasure hunting books as they follow the club through the 8th grade and into high school. Of course, as they get older their treasure hunts get more dangerous and more exciting.

I have been asked why I created a series around treasure hunting. The truth is I believe treasure hunting is something everyone can do. You don’t need super powers just a desire to do research and find where to look. Also treasure hunting touches on the sidebars of history, the stuff not in the textbooks. That is usually the most interesting and provides a solid building block for the series.

My goal has always been to be published and have a series that kids can enjoy and have a lot of fun reading. I was lucky to find a publisher who believes in the series as much as I do. What I was surprised to find out was how much the publishing world has changed since I started this journey toward “being published.” The emergence of ebooks has shaken the publishing world like never before and I believe we have only scratched the surface of what this new technology can do to help promote reading.

In the meantime, I hope you take a moment to check out my website www.treasurehuntersclubbook.com and learn more about the series and read some short stories about the characters.

Thank you again for this opportunity and allowing me to be here and I hope you enjoy the book and the series.

Thanks,

Sean

Summer Camp Documentary - Global Garbage Can

2010-07-18T11:36:00.001-05:00

For the last week, I was at a summer camp at Alma College. The camp was a week-long Summer Leadership Academy. Basically, we discussed the issue of clean drinking water and made a short documentary on it using Final Cut Studio. They split us up into groups and we made the videos in the groups, and here is my group's video:

If you would like to see the other videos (which I encourage you to do, they're all amazing), click here.

hope.

PAYA: Bring YA To Pennsylvania

2010-07-10T09:34:00.000-05:00

My good friend Harmony over at Harmony Book Reviews is helping to run something that's called PAYA.

Basically the Pennsylvania library budget was cut dramatically, and Harmony and a group of other bloggers are running this program which is raising money and getting donations for the Pennsylvania libraries young adult collections.

For more information, click here to visit PAYA's site.

Guest Blog: Saundra Mitchell

2010-06-28T20:07:00.001-05:00

Today at Hope's Bookshelf, I'm lucky enough to have Saundra Mitchell guest blogging as apart of her 30 Days of Summer blog tour.  Saundra is the author of Shadowed Summer, which was released in paperback just recently.  To the left is the cover of Shadowed Summer.  To look more into or to purchase Shadowed Summer, you can visit Indiebound, Book Depository, Powell's, or Amazon.  Now, enough of me, here's what Saundra has to say!

One of the best parts about being part of the literary community is
getting sneak peeks at upcoming books. Hope has been kind enough to let
me guest blog today, and I'd like to share four books that I can't wait
to read.

I've been a longtime fan of historical fiction, and I especially enjoy
gender-swap stories, ghost stories, and chilling gothic tales. These
books have those elements, and that's why they're on my "must read" list!

THE EDUCATION OF BET by Lauren Baratz-Logsted - July 2010 from Houghton
Mifflin

 It's Victorian England, and Bet wants to go to school; her dear friend
Will wants to join the army. Bet conspires to impersonate Will- he'll go
off to see the world, and she'll take his place at school.

 Disguised as a boy, Bet soon discovers that the education she was
expecting is not exactly the education she gets.

 THE HOUSE OF DEAD MAIDS by Clare B. Dunkle - September 2010 from Henry Holt

In this prelude to WUTHERING HEIGHTS, young Tabby Ackroyd takes a
position as a nursemaid at Seldom House, watching over a savage
foundling boy.

But Seldom House is haunted by its dead maids and masters, and the ghost
of the last maid won't leave Tabby alone. Why is this house full of
ghosts- and is this foundling boy truly doomed?

 WILDTHORN by Jane Eagland - September 2010 from Houghton Mifflin

 Louisa Cosgrove is a Victorian doctor's daughter with dreams of becoming
a doctor herself, who ends up locked in an insane asylum, renamed and
called a lunatic.

She must unravel the mystery of her incarceration, and find a way to
free herself- and if she falls in love with one of the asylum guards
along the way...

 THE REVENANT by Sonia Gensler - Spring 2011 from Knopf

 In 1896, Willemina Hammond plans to start over. She steals the identity
of a schoolteacher and heads out west to the Cherokee Female Seminary,
where she thinks she'll have a much easier life. But tensions are high
at the seminary, which seems more like a castle on the prairie than a
school. And like many castles, it seems to be haunted.

 A student's murder casts a long shadow, and Will finds herself in
danger- of exposing her real identity, and quite possibly losing her own
life- as she dares to investigate further.

SHADOWED SUMMER
by Saundra Mitchell

In paperback June 8, 2010

www.shadowedsummer.com

1 ARC Tours

2010-06-28T20:01:00.000-05:00

Hey everyone!

I'm just popping in real quick to tell you that 1 ARC Tours is up and running again, and there's lots of great books up for tour right now if you want to sign up! :)

hope.

Review: The Tension of Opposites by Kristina McBride

2010-06-25T17:42:00.000-05:00

Summary:

When Tessa's best friend Noelle disappears right before the start of eighth grade, Tessa's life changes completely--she shies away from her other friends and stops eating in the cafeteria. Now, two years later, Noelle has escaped her captivity and is coming home, in one piece but not exactly intact, and definitely different. Tessa's life is about to change again as she tries to revive the best-friendship the two girls had shared before Noelle--now Elle--was kidnapped; puts up a futile resistance to the charming new guy at school; pursues her passion for photography while trying to build the bravado to show her photos to the public; and tries to balance her desire to protect and shelter Elle with the necessity to live her own life and put herself first.

Review:

This book is amazing! It's definitely a must-read of 2010.

In the beginning, McBride gets you into the book. Within the first chapter, you have questions and you're wondering what is going to happen. You're hooked from the first page of the book, until the very end.

The characters were very well written. McBride keeps you wondering about a few of their deep, dark secrets. She doesn't just hand over why they act the way they do on a platter, you have to keep reading and guessing to figure it out.

This book is something that I've never read before. Lately, as many of you know, it seems like I've just been reading the same old thing. There hasn't seemed to be anything different. However, The Tension of Opposites offers up something different that I don't think any other book really has. It has mystery, suspense, and romance. It's just not something you see in books too much anymore.

Overall, this book is absolutely amazing. I recommend it to everyone, and it is most definitely a 2010 must read. A+++.

hope.

Review: Sisters Red by Jackson Pearce

2010-06-08T14:11:00.000-05:00

Scarlett March lives to hunt the Fenris--the werewolves that took her eye when she was defending her sister Rosie from a brutal attack. Armed with a razor-sharp hatchet and blood-red cloak, Scarlett is an expert at luring and slaying the wolves. She's determined to protect other young girls from a grisly death, and her raging heart will not rest until every single wolf is dead.

Rosie March once felt her bond with her sister was unbreakable. Owing Scarlett her life, Rosie hunts ferociously alongside her. But even as more girls' bodies pile up in the city and the Fenris seem to be gaining power, Rosie dreams of a life beyond the wolves. She finds herself drawn to Silas, a young woodsman who is deadly with an ax and Scarlett's only friend--but does loving him mean betraying her sister and all that they've worked for?

This is my new favorite book. I read this book just in awe. It is so amazing. Jackson Pearce is an amazing author, and now I can't wait to read both the next book in this series and her previous published novel.

This book seems like it has it all. Two sisters, who have had a rough life, which adds a real life element to the story. A cute and sweet romance. Werewolves, which add the paranormal effect. I mean, what more could you want in a book? :)

The thing that I really liked about Sisters Red is that it's different. So many paranormal books that are published today display things in all the same way. This book doesn't display werewolves in the same way as every other book I've read that has werewolves in them. Another thing that I really liked about this novel is that it's from a different perspective. You don't have the perspective of the werewolf, you have the perspective of the werewolf hunter.

Overall, I wouldn't change one thing about this book. It's wonderful just like it is, and I can see almost everyone enjoying it. :) A+, highly recommended by me.

hope.

New Layout? + Survey

2010-06-07T17:28:00.001-05:00

So I've been fooling around with the layout and all the new features that blogger has been offering, and I'm really starting to like this new layout. :) Feel free to comment on this post about your thoughts!

I've also made a little survey in Google Docs that I'd love for you to fill out. I need some more feedback on things that are going on. There are going to be some questions about things like your age range and where you're from - if you don't feel like answering those, don't! They're just for me to see where my readers are from, and what will appeal to them. :)

Click here to fill out the survey. Thank you!

hope.

Review: Forgive My Fins - Tera Lynn Childs

2010-06-06T18:34:00.000-05:00

Lily Sanderson has a secret, and it's not that she has a huge crush on gorgeous swimming god Brody Bennett, who makes her heart beat flipper-fast. Unrequited love is hard enough when you're a normal teenage girl, but when you're half human, half mermaid, like Lily, there's no such thing as a simple crush.

Lily's mermaid identity is a secret that can't get out, since she's not just any mermaid—she's a Thalassinian princess. When Lily found out three years ago that her mother was actually a human, she finally realized why she didn't feel quite at home in Thalassinia, and she's been living on land and going to Seaview High School ever since, hoping to find where she truly belongs. Sure, land has its problems—like her obnoxious biker-boy neighbor, Quince Fletcher—but it has that one major perk: Brody. The problem is, mermaids aren't really the casual dating type—the instant they "bond," it's for life.

When Lily's attempt to win Brody's love leads to a tsunami-sized case of mistaken identity, she is in for a tidal wave of relationship drama, and she finds out, quick as a tailfin flick, that happily ever after never sails quite as smoothly as you planned.

I absolutely fell in love with this book! From the first sentence until the last page, I was completely into the story. I read this book so fast just because it was so cute and I needed to know what happened. :]

I got really connected with the characters in this novel. Quince and Lily were amazing characters. I felt like they could be people who went to my school. They weren't just fictional characters in a fictional setting. Everything really just came to life while reading.

Yes, this is pretty much a predictable summer beach read. However, that doesn't stop the reader from getting connected to the characters and wishing the best for them. You basically know what is going to happen early in the book, however that doesn't stop you from getting into the novel and feeling bad when something happens to Lily, or being happy when something good happens to her.

Overall, this book is so cute! Fans of books like the Simon Rom Coms will love it. It's one of those novels you'll want to read sitting by the beach or after your exams because you don't have to think too much about it. B+.

hope.

Blog Tour: Lauren Baratz-Logsted

2010-06-01T16:24:00.000-05:00

Today I am lucky to have the wonderful Lauren Baratz-Logsted here on her blog tour. She's started a new idea, and each blog she visits just has one question on it, so it's really cool and unique!

What kind of music do you listen to when you write? Why do you listen to this music? If you don't listen to music while writing, why not?

I almost never listen to music when I'm writing. It's not that I'm anti-music - I'm practically singing as I'm writing this! - but while TV in the background or people talking doesn't distract me from working on a novel, the different moods evoked by music do. Or maybe 'distract' is the wrong word. Maybe what I'm talking about is influence, the idea that the mood of the music would affect the mood of the novel. The one notable exception was when I was writing the first draft of the adult novel Vertigo in fall 2000. It's a dark suspense story set in the Victorian era and I listened to the soundtrack of The Piano over and over again while writing it because the mood matched perfectly. When I say 'over and over' I mean over and over, like 55 days of over and over. Maybe that's the real reason I don't listen to music while writing a novel: I'm so obsessive that once I start I can't stop.

To see yesterday's question, click here to visit Bloody Bookaholic.

To visit tomorrow's question, click here to visit Lauren's Crammed Bookshelf.

hope.

Review: The Heart is Not a Size by Beth Kephart

2010-05-18T16:46:00.000-05:00

Georgia knows what it means to keep secrets. She knows how to ignore things. She knows that some things are better left unsaid. . . . Or are they?

When Georgia and her best friend, Riley, travel along with nine other suburban Pennsylvania kids to Anapra, a squatters' village in the heat-flattened border city of Juarez, Mexico, secrets seem to percolate and threaten both a friendship and a life. Certainties unravel. Reality changes. And Georgia is left to figure out who she is outside the world she's always known.

Beth Kephart paints a world filled with emotion, longing, and the hot Mexican sun.

I have very mixed feelings on this book. In some ways, I loved it. In others, I just really didn't like it at all.

I love how Kephart creates wonderful settings and characters. Both Georgia and Riley are amazing characters. They aren't fake characters - they have problems, and they aren't afraid to admit that. The one thing that I really love about Kephart's characters is that they aren't all perfect. They know that they have physical flaws, and personality flaws, and they don't think that they're perfect.

The only thing that I didn't really like about this book was how slow and forced it was. I couldn't get into the storyline until halfway through the book. And throughout the whole thing, the writing seemed forced. I don't know what it is about it, but it just didn't seem natural to me.

Overall, it's an amazing book if you can get past the forced writing and slow beginning. C+.

hope.

The Cinderella Society by Kay Cassidy

2010-05-07T16:47:00.000-05:00

Jess Parker is just a sixteen year old girl. She doesn't have any friends since her archenemy makes everyone at her school hate her for something she didn't even do. But then she gets a once in a lifetime chance: the chance to join the Cinderella Society, a secret club with members that are some of the most popular girls in her school. She's even more excited when she finds out makeovers are one of the first deals of business.

But then the Wickeds, who just happen to be led by Jess' archenemy, start targeting innocent girls at their high school. Jess is finding herself apart of a centuries old battle between good and evil. The Cindys need Jess on a special assignment... but are the Cindys worth destroying the life she always thought she had?

I loved this book. Cassidy created a very original book with a whole new world. At first, you're wondering where the book is going to. Jess seems like just a normal girl with nothing going on until she gets the invitation.

After Jess gets the invitation and gets into the Cindys, however, it's almost like you're on information overload. If I could change one thing about this book, I would make it a little more clear. There were a few parts I had to read through two or three times before I understood what was going on, because there's just so much going on.

Jess is a very relatable character. Many of the decisions Jess made, I would've made myself. I could see where she was coming from on a lot of things. I could see her being a teenager that went to my school, she was just that realistic.

Overall, Cassidy has created a wonderful, different novel. I'm anxiously awaiting the sequel which is coming out in spring of next year... which is too far away! Grade: A.

Source: Author
Publisher: EgmontUSA
Release Date: April 13, 2010

hope.

PS - I started writing my own summaries again. What do you think? Yes? No? Maybe so? Let me know! :)

Mini Reviews (2)

2010-05-06T13:15:00.000-05:00

I have a few more mini-reviews for you! I'm very behind on my reviewing, so I'm trying to get all caught up by doing these mini-reviews. :)

Title: Star Shack
Author: Lila Castle
Release Date: June 1, 2010
Publisher: Sourcebooks Fire
Pages: 224

Summary: Annabelle and Pete have been summer friends for forever. Fell in love summer before. Then Annabelle becomes obsessed with astrology. Pete hates this. Annabelle dares him to open an astrology shack with her over the summer to prove to him it works. He can't say no to dares, so he agrees. And so the story begins.

Review: I loved this book! It's not something that I would usually read, but I gave it a try. Castle's writing is very addicted. I read the first chapter and I was hooked - I couldn't put it down. It is a bit predictable, but besides this the book has everything going for it: it's fast paced, it's enjoyable, and the characters are awesome. I can't wait to read more by Castle in the future. Grade: A.

Title: Party
Author: Tom Leveen
Release Date: April 27, 2010
Publisher: Random House Books for Young Readers
Pages: 240

Summary: It's a story told from eleven different perspectives of the same party on the last day of school in Santa Barbara.

Review: I just didn't understand the point of this book. There were eleven different characters, why? I was wondering that quite a few times for the part of the book I read. I couldn't even make it to the end. I read to page fifty, and when I found out I wasn't liking it, I just gave up on it. My main thing that I didn't like about it was I just didn't get the importance of some of the characters. Why have a whole part about that particular character when they don't really matter? I also didn't like the author's writing style. I probably would've enjoyed the book more if I liked the style of it better. Grade: F (Couldn't Finish.)

Title: The Family Greene
Author: Ann Rinaldi
Release Date: May 24, 2010
Publisher: Harcourt Children's Books
Pages: 256

Summary: Historical fiction novel about love and family.

Review: I love historical fiction novels. The Family Greene was a good historical fiction novel. The setting and storyline were awesome. Those were the best two things of this book. However, I found it to be very slow throughout. The plot would be slow, then it would speed up and get exciting, but then it would slow down again. Rinaldi would've had an even better book on her hands if the plot was worked out a little better to make it smoother. I feel like a few of the characters were lacking, also. I would've liked to see the characters have more personality so they weren't so bland. Grade: C.

Title: Deception
Author: Lee Nichols
Release Date: June 8, 2010
Publisher: Bloomsbury
Pages: 336

Summary: Emma's parents go on a mysterious business trip, and instead of being the rebellious teen she wants to be, she ends up having visions and fearing for her life.

Review: Nichols truly does have a wonderful novel on her hands. I devoured this book. Emma is a character that is very easy to read about, and Nichols has a wonderful style. My only complaint is the cliffhanger at the end! I need the next book pronto! Grade: A.

All of these novels were reviewed as apart of Around the World Tours.

hope.

Contest: Digital Room Posters

2010-05-05T12:34:00.001-05:00

So, first I need to let you guys know the winners of The Dark Divine Nail Polish giveaway from ages ago.

The four winners are: Mable L., Amanda F., Carrie M., and Erin D.

Now for this contest. First: I'm not apart of Digital Room's blogger sponsorship program, so I'll be having contests through them a lot. This is the first one! Whoo! :)

There will be ONE poster done for ONE winner. The winner will get an 18x24 poster, and you can get high gloss or semi gloss paper.

Here's a few things to note:
-It's free shipping through UPS Ground.
-You can only enter if you live in the United States.
-You have to be eighteen years old to enter. <-- Note that this is different from my usual contests!

For more information on Digital Room click here or here.

This contest ends on Wednesday, May 12 at midnight eastern time.

Fill out the form below to be entered.

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In My Mailbox - May 1st

2010-05-03T11:25:00.000-05:00

I'm back! Kind of. :) Hoping to be fully back this week. :)

Books!

2010-04-30T09:15:00.002-05:00

Just to let everyone know there's one day left on most of the eBay auctions! Click here to see them all (they're in the left sidebar)!

hope.

Book Sale!

2010-04-25T19:21:00.000-05:00

Hey guys! I'm sorry for being gone so much lately. I'd love to say that I'll be back soon, but it'll be hit and miss from now until the end of school. The teachers finally decided that they should all assign massive loads of homework and projects, so it's been harder for me to read and post. :(

I am here today to tell you something though! And it's something very important. :) My library had a young adult book sale this weekend. We had loooots of leftovers (we were battling with a track meet, a tennis match, AND the opening day of Little League!). We made a decision to put a lot of the leftovers on eBay, which I'm in the process of doing now.

So please check it out! There's TONS of amazing stuff up, and my library would appreciate it. :) Feel free to spread this link onto anyone who loves reading young adult books! :D

Click me! --> then go to the left sidebar and you can click on the link to see all the listings! :)

Thanks so much!

hope.

Mini Reviews

2010-04-12T12:22:00.000-05:00

Today I'm going to bring you two mini-reviews.

The first is for Restoring Harmony by Joelle Anthony.

The year is 2041, and sixteen-year-old Molly McClure has lived a relatively quiet life on an isolated farming island in Canada, but when her family fears the worst may have happened to her grandparents in the US, Molly must brave the dangerous, chaotic world left after global economic collapse—one of massive oil shortages, rampant crime, and abandoned cities.

Molly is relieved to find her grandparents alive in their Portland suburb, but they’re financially ruined and practically starving. What should’ve been a quick trip turns into a full-fledged rescue mission. And when Molly witnesses something the local crime bosses wishes she hadn’t, Molly’s only way home may be to beat them at their own game. Luckily, there’s a handsome stranger who’s willing to help.

Restoring Harmony is a riveting, fast-paced dystopian tale complete with adventure and romance that readers will devour.

Grade: A

I totally LOVED this book. It has a very creative storyline, and I couldn't put it down at all. I usually don't do well with dystopian novels, but I devoured this one. The bottom line: it was amazing.

The second is for Queen of Secrets by Jenny Meyerhoff.

This year, Essie Green’s life is going to be different. She’s made the cheerleading squad and caught the eye of the captain of the football team. However, she didn't expect her estranged cousin to join the football team. Micah is instantly branded a freak for praying during games, and Essie doesn’t want anything to do with him. As the football team’s teasing of Micah shifts into hazing, Essie is forced to make a choice between the boy she might love and the cousin she barely knows.

Grade: D

I didn't really enjoy this book at all. When I read it I felt like I had read this story before. It's very overdone. It has one original aspect: the Jewish aspect. The characters were also really hard to read about - they were very stereotypical. I'd recommend getting this one from the library if you still want to read it.

Both of these books were reviewed for Around the World Tours.

hope.

Contest: The Dark Divine Nail Polish

2010-04-11T17:26:00.000-05:00

Hey guys!

Sorry about being MIA for the past week, I was on vacation to Washington D.C.! Things got crazy before I left so I never got to post before I left... sorry! :)

The winner of the last contest posted, the Vlad Tod Prize Pack, is Lauren G.! Lauren, you'll be getting your prize pack soon!

Now, for this week's contest. :)

I have four bottles of The Dark Divine nail polish to give away. :) The color is gorrrgeous -- it's the purple color from the cover!

To Enter:
-You must live in the US.
-You must be 13 or above -- if you're not, I need your parents approval.
-You must fill out the form below!

Contest ends next Sunday. :)

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Review: Before I Fall by Lauren Oliver

2010-04-01T08:40:00.000-05:00

Hey guys! Sorry about my absence this week, it's been a crazy busy week. But I'm back! :)

Summary:

What if you had only one day to live? What would you do? Who would you kiss? And how far would you go to save your own life?

Samantha Kingston has it all: the world's most crush-worthy boyfriend, three amazing best friends, and first pick of everything at Thomas Jefferson High—from the best table in the cafeteria to the choicest parking spot. Friday, February 12, should be just another day in her charmed life.
Instead, it turns out to be her last.

Then she gets a second chance. Seven chances, in fact. Reliving her last day during one miraculous week, she will untangle the mystery surrounding her death—and discover the true value of everything she is in danger of losing.

Grade: A

Review:

After reading this book, I was just sitting there saying, "Wow." Literally. This book was so amazing. Samantha is a very realistic main character. I haven't read a main character in a long time that seemed as real as Samantha was to me. I could understand where she was coming from with her decisions and why she did most things the way she did.

There's so much emotion in this book... it takes you by surprise when you're first reading it. What made it even better was that Oliver writes in a way that makes you feel all the emotion, not just read about it.

Overall, Before I Fall is a wonderful debut novel that I recommend you to read. :)

hope.

This book was reviewed as apart of Around the World Tours. I was in no way, shape, or form paid for writing this review.

New Contest: Vlad Tod Prize Pack

2010-03-28T18:07:00.000-05:00

The winner of last week's contest is Lauren R.

This week's contest is for a Vlad Tod Prize Pack.

What's in the prize pack:
-Eighth Grade Bites (Book One)
-Ninth Grade Slays (Book Two)
-Tenth Grade Bleeds (Book Three)
-Eleventh Grade Burns (Book Four) - ARC
-Vlad Tod tote bag
-Vlad Tod Buttons.

To Enter:
-You must live in the US.
-No PO boxes allowed on this one!
-You must be 13 or older. If you're not, you must have a parent contact me saying it's okay for you to enter this contest.
-Fill out the form!
-Ends next Sunday. =)

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Week in Perspective.

2010-03-27T14:10:00.000-05:00

What I Posted:

On Monday, I posted a review of Sing Me to Sleep Angela Morrison.

On Tuesday, I posted my In My Mailbox, because I didn't on Saturday. =)

Then, we jump all the way to Friday, when I posted my review of Brightly Woven by Alexandra Bracken.

What I Got in the Mail:

I didn't get any review books this week! The only books I got were for my fundraiser at my library. For more information on that, or how you can help me out, click here.

Review: Brightly Woven by Alexandra Bracken

2010-03-26T14:34:00.000-05:00

Summary:

When Wayland North brings rain to a region that's been dry for over ten years, he's promised anything he'd like as a reward. He chooses the village elder's daughter, sixteen-year-old Sydelle Mirabel, who is a skilled weaver and has an unusual knack for repairing his magical cloaks. Though Sydelle has dreamt of escaping her home, she's hurt that her parents relinquish her so freely and finds herself awed and afraid of the slightly ragtag wizard who is unlike any of the men of magic in the tales she's heard. Still, she is drawn to this mysterious man who is fiercely protective of her and so reluctant to share his own past.

The pair rushes toward the capital, intent to stop an imminent war, pursued by Reuel Dorwan (a dark wizard who has taken a keen interest in Sydelle) and plagued by unusually wild weather. But the sudden earthquakes and freak snowstorms may not be a coincidence. As Sydelle discovers North's dark secret and the reason for his interest in her and learns to master her own mysterious power, it becomes increasingly clear that the fate of the kingdom rests in her fingertips. She will either be a savior, weaving together the frayed bonds between Saldorra and Auster, or the disastrous force that destroys both kingdoms forever.

Grade: A

Review:

I have fallen in love with this book. By the time it was over, I was thinking, "Noooo! I need more Sydelle and North! It cannot be over!" There have been so many fantasy type books written lately, that when I see another one, I start wishing and hoping that when I read it, it brings something different to the table that I haven't read before in a fantasy novel. Brightly Woven did that.

It takes a totally different spin on wizards and humans and magical abilities. Bracken creates a whole new world that you just get sucked into. When you're reading this novel, you can feel the emotions, you can see the land, you just know what these people's lives are like - which is odd, becase the whole world in this novel is different than ours.

The characters in this novel were outstanding. By the end of the book, you could definitely see the change that they had and that they grew, and I love seeing that in books. =)

This is definitely a wonderful novel. I'm recommending it to everyone to read because it's just that good.

hope.

This book is being reviewed as a part of 1 ARC Tours. I was in no way, shape, or form paid for writing this review.

In My Mailbox

2010-03-23T18:30:00.000-05:00

Yes, it's Tuesday. But I didn't get this up on Saturday sooo it's going up today.

Shade by Jeri Smith-Ready

When her boyfriend dies a most untimely death, Aura--who can see ghosts--is forced to reconsider her relationship with the living and dead in SHADE.

Morpheus Road by D.J. MacHale

#1 NYT bestselling author D.J. MacHale's Morpheus Road trilogy brings readers down an ethereal pathway between the worlds of the living and dead.

The Tension of Opposites by Kristina McBride

So that's what I got last week. Sorry for the really short summaries (or no summaries at all!) that's all that Amazon had for me. =)

hope.

Review: Sing Me to Sleep by Angela Morrison

2010-03-22T17:09:00.000-05:00

Summary:

THE TRANSFORMATION

Beth has always been “The Beast”—that’s what everyone at school calls her because of her awkward height, facial scars, and thick glasses. Beth’s only friend is geeky, golden-haired Scott. That is, until she’s selected to be her choir’s soprano soloist, and receives the makeover that will change her life forever.

THE LOVE AFFAIR

When Beth’s choir travels to Switzerland, she meets Derek: pale, brooding, totally dreamy. Derek’s untethered passion—for music, and for Beth—leaves her breathless. Because in Derek’s eyes? She’s not The Beast, she’s The Beauty.

THE IMPOSSIBLE CHOICE

When Beth comes home, Scott, her best friend in the world, makes a confession that leaves her completely torn. Should she stand by sweet, steady Scott or follow the dangerous, intense new feelings she has for Derek?

THE HEARTBREAK

The closer Beth gets to Derek, the further away he seems. Then Beth discovers that Derek’s been hiding a dark secret from her …one that could shatter everything.

Grade: A

Review:

Oh my goodness. This book was reallllly good. In the beginning, I will admit, I was a little hesitant because it seemed slow to me. However, as it kept going I was hooked and I couldn't stop reading it.

This is one of those novels where it's like you kinda sorta know what's coming, but when it comes you're still like OH MY GOODNESS, WHAT?! I know that happened to me a few times. And I was also thinking 'why did that have to happen?! nooo!' haha. =)

This is also one of those stories that will have you bawling your eyes out by the last chapter. I know I did... definitely keep your box of tissues nearby for this one.

This is a retelling story at it's best. All the similarities to Beauty and the Beast are there, especially with how Beth sees herself... she actually calls herself "The Beast" for a good majority of the novel.

Morrison's writing is very poetic and I enjoyed reading Sing Me to Sleep very much. I can't wait until I can get to reading Morrison's previous novel, Taken by Storm. Overall, Sing Me to Sleep was an amazing novel, and I definitely recommend it to you.

hope.

Contest: Little Miss Red Prize Pack

2010-03-21T17:48:00.000-05:00

Hey everyone! I'm back for another contest Sunday!

Last week's winner's are:
4 winners of a bookmark and a sticker: Emily, Julie, Alicia, and Katie.
1 winner of the signed poster: Tasha

Your prizes will be mailed to you early this week. :]

This week's contest is for a Little Miss Red prize pack. Included in this prize pack is a paperback copy of Little Miss Red by Robin Palmer, and the t-shirt that's shown in the picture (note that the t-shirt comes in sizes small and medium only).

Summary of book: (from amazon.com)

Sophie Greene gets good grades, does the right thing, and has a boyfriend that her parents— and her younger brother—just love. (Too bad she doesn’t love him.) Sophie dreams of being more like Devon Deveraux, star of her favorite romance novels, but, in reality, Sophie isn’t even daring enough to change her nail polish. All of that changes when Sophie goes to Florida to visit her grandma Roz, and she finds herself seated next to a wolfishly goodlooking guy on the plane. The two hit it off, and before she knows it, Sophie’s living on the edge. But is the drama all it’s cracked up to be?

Contest Rules:
-You must live in the US or have a US address to enter.
-No PO boxes, please!
-You must be 13 or older. If you are under the age of 13, I need a parents e-mail address and their approval.
-The contest ends Saturday at midnight eastern time.
-Fill out the form to enter!

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Book and a Chat Tonight!

2010-03-19T14:35:00.002-05:00

Hey everyone!

Just stopping in real quick to let you all know that I'm going to be on Barry Eva's Book and a Chat Blog TV show TONIGHT! :]

Tune in here at 7:30 PM (eastern time)... there's also a time for you to call in and ask me questions! :]

hope.

Guest Blog: Angela Morrison

2010-03-18T12:28:00.001-05:00

Today we are lucky enough to have Scott from Angela Morrison's latest novel, Sing Me to Sleep, here with us. :]

--

Hi Hope and friends,

Scott here. Angela's off having a nervous breakdown over her editor leaving Razorbill and the big boss man giving Michael and Leesie's next book a massive thumbs down, so I stepped up and took over--because what is IMPORTANT right now is my book, okay our book, SING ME TO SLEEP, is flying off the shelves, and so many uber-smart readers are digging ME way more than pretty boy Derek.

Duh. I'm the real deal. Not some stupid fantasy Beth dreamed up in Switzerland. Not to say Derek isn't real. Crap. The guy is way too real for me. And he's such a massive jerk. I'm not just saying that because he stole the only girl I've every even looked at right from under my nose. He makes her miserable. She won't admit it, but I have eyes.

Some kid called me a stalker and suggested I give it up and stay away from Beth. Like that's going to happen. I've planned my whole life around her. That kid has obviously never loved anyone like I love Beth. It's deep down in the roots of my soul. That's not something you can turn on and off. It's something that makes you kind of crazy.

I'm not Mr. Violent or anything, but the first time I saw Derek ALL OVER HER, it was all I could do not to beat the snot out of him. Yeah, I've had the snot beaten out of me at least twice a year since kindergarden, but I've been working out. I could take Derek easy. The guy is a rake. Skin and bones. Artsy musician type. What does she see in him? I know she's liking what she sees in me these days. Even short math nerds grow up.

Anyway, I'm here today to tell you that if Angela can get her act together, she should have SING ME TO SLEEP's Epilogue (it got cut from the finished book) posted on CHATSPOT by today. She's also working on a tribute to Matt, the real life, fun (non-Derek) guy who inspired Angela to write our story. BIG WARNING: These posts are massive spoilers. Don't read them until you've read all about me, the girl I love, and the guy who messed it all up in SING ME TO SLEEP!

P.S. If you love the music from the trailer, you're in luck. Amabile is releasing "Beth's Song" on iTunes any day now.

----

Thank you for stopping in Scott, and make sure to get Sing Me to Sleep by Angela Morrison, which was released today! :]

hope.

Waiting on Wednesday (3/17/10)

2010-03-17T04:00:00.008-05:00

First of all, happy St. Patrick's Day! I'm wearing my green, and all you other Irish folk out there better be too. ;) Anyone else looking forward to their corned beef and cabbage tonight? :]

Today's pick for Waiting on Wednesday is The Lighter Side of Life and Death by C.K. Kelly Martin.

Acclaimed YA author C. K. Kelly Martin offers a sexy, soulful story of one confused boy, two girls, and all the complications that ensue in this romantic feel-good love story that celebrates friendship, first love, first lust, and second chances.

Sixteen-year-old Mason Rice is having the night of his life. He's just delivered an incredible performance in the school play, basked in celebratory afterglow vibes at the party of the year, and lost his virginity to one of his best friends—the gorgeous but previously unobtainable Kat Medina. His dreams are coming true, and the future looks golden.

Unfortunately, Kat sees things very differently. Crossing the friendship line was a big mistake, and all she wants is to forget it and move on, even if that means forgetting Mason altogether. What's a guy to do? Well, if you're Mason, you hang your hopes on the first attractive twenty-three-year-old you cross paths with. At first Mason wonders if he's imagining the chemistry . . . until Colette invites him over to her apartment. Suddenly Mason's living in a whole new world.

This book is being released on May 25th by Random House BFYR.

hope.

Review: Princess for Hire by Lindsey Leavitt

2010-03-16T12:22:00.000-05:00

Summary:

When an immaculately dressed woman steps out of an iridescent bubble and asks you if you'd like to become a substitute princess, do you

a) run
b) faint
c) say Yes!

For Desi Bascomb, who's been longing for a bit of glamour in her Idaho life, the choice is a definite C--that is, once she can stop pinching herself. As her new agent Meredith explains, Desi has a rare magical ability: when she applies the ancient Egyptian formula "Royal Rouge," she can transform temporarily into the exact lookalike of any princess who needs her subbing services. Dream come true, right?

Well, Desi soon discovers that subbing involves a lot more than wearing a tiara and waving at cameras. Like, what do you do when a bullying older sister puts you on a heinous crash diet? Or when the tribal villagers gather to watch you perform a ceremonial dance you don't know? Or when a princess's conflicted sweetheart shows up to break things off--and you know she would want you to change his mind?

In this hilarious, winning debut, one girl's dream of glamour transforms into something bigger: the desire to make a positive impact. And an impact Desi makes, one royal fiasco at a time.

Info:
Pages: 256
Publisher: Hyperion
Release Date: March 16, 2010

Grade: A-/B+

Review:

Princess for Hire was a very nice, original book. It's a very fast read, and once you get into the story, it'll be very hard to put it down. Leavitt creates a book with a main character who isn't too cliched, which is very nice.

Desi was a very normal teenager. She's a character that many teenagers will be able to relate to. And while Desi is a younger teenager, and this is more of a pre-teen book, I still loved it.

If you're the kind of girl who always wanted to be a princess, this is a great book for you to read. Desi is basically in that whole situation. I looved reading about the sticky situations Desi got into. They were so original, and even sometimes funny. I found myself laughing so many times.

Overall, Leavitt has created a very original book with Princess for Hire. I would recommend it especially to younger teens, though I think anyone could read it. :]

hope.

I was not in any way, shape, or form paid for this review.

Review: The Unwritten Rule by Elizabeth Scott

2010-03-15T12:41:00.000-05:00

Summary: (from goodreads.com)

Everyone knows the unwritten rule: You don't like your best friend's boyfriend.

Sarah has had a crush on Ryan for years. He's easy to talk to, supersmart, and totally gets her. Lately it even seems like he's paying extra attention to her. Everything would be perfect except for two things: Ryan is Brianna's boyfriend, and Brianna is Sarah's best friend.

Sarah forces herself to avoid Ryan and tries to convince herself not to like him. She feels so guilty for wanting him, and the last thing she wants is to hurt her best friend. But when she's thrown together with Ryan one night, something happens. It's wonderful...and awful.

Sarah is torn apart by guilt, but what she feels is nothing short of addiction, and she can't stop herself from wanting more...

Info:
Publisher: Simon Pulse
Pages: 224
Release Date: March 16, 2010

Grade: B+

Review:

Elizabeth Scott is one of my favorite authors. I haven't read one of her books that I haven't liked and The Unwritten Rule wasn't any different. I don't know how Elizabeth Scott does it, but she can write very real, very serious books like Living Dead Girl, and then she can go and write this book, which is a very cute book.

If you're looking for a serious book, The Unwritten Rule isn't it. It's not one of those reallllly cutesy books, like the Simon Rom Coms, but it's not a really serious novel either. It's kind of in the middle, leaning more towards a cutesy type novel.

This didn't disappoint however. I still loved The Unwritten Rule. It's not a situation every girl has been in, but I can still see lots of girls being able to relate to Sarah's character, even if they haven't been in her situation.

I would say there are only two downfalls to this book. First, it's not Scott's usual style. If you're a big fan of Scott, it's still the same writing style - you'll still like it - it just doesn't have that serious tone to it. Second, the size... you get so into the book when you're reading it, that by the time it's over, you'll want more! :]

Overall, The Unwritten Rule is a great read. If you've read Scott before, definitely read this one! And if you've never read Elizabeth Scott before, where have you been living?! Must read any of her books, pronto! :]

hope.

I received this book for review, and I was in no way, shape, or form paid for writing this review.

Contest: The Body Finder Swag

2010-03-14T16:33:00.000-05:00

The winner of last week's contest for a copy of The Sky is Everywhere is Bianca. Bianca, your book will be on it's way to you soon! :]

This week's contest is for some swag for The Body Finder.

Up for grabs:

14 people will win The Body Finder stickers.

4 people will win a signed Body Finder bookmark

1 person will win a signed Body Finder poster

This contest will end next Sunday. You can only enter if you live in the US and if you are over the age of 13. If you are younger than that, I need your parents e-mail and they have to say it's okay for you to enter. Fill out the form to enter. :]

Week in Perspective.

2010-03-13T16:12:00.000-06:00

On the Blog:

Sunday, I posted this week's contest which is for The Sky is Everywhere by Jandy Nelson. You have until tomorrow to enter! I also posted a guest blog by Amy Brecount White as a part of her blog tour.

On Monday, I posted a review of Hourglass by Claudia Gray, which I got for a tour through Around the World tours.

On Tuesday, I did a video review (nooo, I'm rambling to the computer again! lol) of The Sky is Everywhere by Jandy Nelson.

On Wednesday, I posted a Waiting on Wednesday post for My Double Life by Janette Rallison.

Thursday, Rhonda Stapleton stopped in and answered a few questions.

And, finally, yesterday I posted a review of As Simple as it Seems by Sarah Weeks, which I also got as a tour book through Around the World Tours.

In the Mailbox:

I had a pretty slow week this week. Only got one book, for a 1 ARC Tour. :]

Before I Fall by Lauren Oliver.

What if you had only one day to live? What would you do? Who would you kiss? And how far would you go to save your own life?

Samantha Kingston has it all: the world's most crush-worthy boyfriend, three amazing best friends, and first pick of everything at Thomas Jefferson High—from the best table in the cafeteria to the choicest parking spot. Friday, February 12, should be just another day in her charmed life.

Instead, it turns out to be her last.

Then she gets a second chance. Seven chances, in fact. Reliving her last day during one miraculous week, she will untangle the mystery surrounding her death—and discover the true value of everything she is in danger of losing.

hope.

Review: As Simple as it Seems by Sarah Weeks

2010-03-12T13:04:00.000-06:00

Summary:

Verbena Colter knows that she's bad news.Trouble from the get-go. How could she not be, with parents like hers? But Verbie doesn't want to be mean. She wishes she could be somebody else, anybody other than who she is. Enter Pooch, a flatlander boy visiting for the summer. When Pooch and his mom rent the house next door, Verbie takes the opportunity to be someone else entirely. And what starts out as a game leads Verbie into a surprising and heartwarming journey of self-discovery.

Grade: 2 hearts.

Review:

When I started in on this book, I didn't realize that it was a middle grade book. Some middle grade books I can read, and I'm fine with. Others, I just can't read for some reason. This one was one of those that I could read, but this was just very... weird. I didn't really see what the purpose of the book was.

When the book is first starting out, it's very boring. You're basically just getting background on Verbie's life. There's nothing that's really interesting, and there's nothing there that would really make you want to keep reading, either.

Then the big secret is revealed right in the middle. Once it's revealed, it doesn't seem that bad. It's just like... "Okay. So what?" kind of a Big Secret. Then the book kind of just spirals downward from that point. After that is revealed, there's somewhat of a plot, but to me it just seemed pointless.

The book's one main feature was the town and people that Weeks created. They're very original and that was my favorite aspect of this book.

Overall, this wasn't the greatest. I would recommend you getting this book from the library when it comes out instead of buying it if you still want to read it. :]

As Simple as it Seems is released on June 15.

hope.

This was reviewed as a part of Around the World Tours. No cover has been released yet.

Interview: Rhonda Stapleton

2010-03-11T16:59:00.000-06:00

Rhonda Stapleton is the author of Stupid Cupid, which was released in December, and the upcoming sequel, Flirting with Disaster, which is availiable now!

Why did you want to be an author?

I love reading, a lot. And I love making people laugh. So naturally, the two fused together in an unholy union...

What was your inspiration for the Stupid Cupid series?

I wanted to write about a teen with a really weird job. I think this qualifies. :D

How many books are going to be in the series? What are the ones that you know about now going to be about (if you can tell us)? Do you plan on ever having any other standalone novels?

There are 3 novels in the series--book 2 released on March 9. Book 3 will be May 18 (and I don't want to say what's in it so I don't give away spoilers!). And yes, I am definitely planning more standalone novels.

What kind of writer are you? Do you outline? Do you let it fly? What's your writing process like?

I'm definitely a plotter. I can't just wing it--I like to know where I'm going. But I still allow time/room for inspiration to hit. When I write, I try to write 3-6 pages a day, 5 days a week. It gives me steady progress.

What's a day in your life like?

OMG it's madness. Up for teaching, then go to work, then come home and eat, clean, write, etc. And in there, try to find time to breathe, LOL.

What was the weirdest time you've ever gotten inspiration?

Hmmmm this is a good question! Probably while driving in the car, or in the middle of a totally unrelated conversation. That's always fun to explain--why you suddenly have to run for a pencil and paper...

Do you listen to music when you write? If yes, what kind? If no, why not?

Yes, I do! I listen to any kind of music--I pick it based on what tone and emotion it pulls out of me. It helps me dig into the scene better.

Why did you decide to write for young adults and not children or adults?

I love writing for teens. I think there's more flexibility in what you can write, because teens are open to all kinds of storylines. Plus, I love teen novels.

1) When I was a kid, I used to look for unicorns in the woods. 2) I once tried to rub off my fingerprints, because someone told me that's what thieves did. 3) I ate 6 hot dogs at one time when I was in high school. 4) I love old-school country music. 5) I talk to myself WAY more than anyone could possibly know.

Ask yourself a question and answer it!

Q: Rhonda, why do you hate blue food? A: Because it just tastes wonky to me. Plus, you don't find blue in nature (blueberries are purple, so there! Don't judge me). :D

---

Make sure to check out Stupid Cupid and Flirting with Disaster! :]

hope.

Waiting on Wednesday (3/10/10)

2010-03-10T14:55:00.000-06:00

Today's pick is My Double Life by Janette Rallison.

Her whole life, Alexia Garcia has been told that she looks just like pop star Kari Kingsley, and one day when Alexia’s photo filters through the Internet, she’s offered a job to be Kari’s double. This would seem like the opportunity of a lifetime, but Alexia’s mother has always warned her against celebrities.

Rebelliously, Alexia flies off to L.A. and gets immersed in a celebrity life. Not only does she have to get used to getting anything she wants, she romances the hottest lead singer on the charts, and finds out that her own father is a singing legend. Through it all, Alexia must stay true to herself, which is hard to do when you are pretending to be somebody else!

My Double Life is to be released on May 13 by Putnam Juvenile. :]

hope.

Summary from goodreads.com.

Review: The Sky is Everywhere by Jandy Nelson

2010-03-09T19:21:00.002-06:00

Here's my review for The Sky is Everywhere by Jandy Nelson. It's a video review! Going to start to do these more. :]

hope.