Book Review- The Mark

I just finished reading The Mark by Jen Nadol.

From Goodreads:

Sixteen year old Cassandra Renfield has seen the mark since forever: a glow around certain people as if a candle were held behind their back.

The one time she mentioned it to someone else, the mark was dismissed as a trick of the light. So Cassie has kept quiet, considering its rare appearances odd, but insignificant. Until the day she watches a man die. Mining her memories, Cassie realizes she can see a person's imminent death. Now how or where, only when: today.

Cassie searches her past, her philosophy lessons, even her new boyfriend for answers, answers, always careful to hide her secret. How does the mark work? Why her?

Most importantly: if you know today is someone's last, should you tell them?
 
I thought that I had read The Mark, but when I read the summary for the next book, The Vision, I realized that I hadn't and I went and found it right away.  And really enjoyed it!
 
Such an important question: if you knew that today was someone's last day, should you tell them?  I honestly don't know what I would do in that person's shoes.  I know that for me, personally, I would want to know.  I would want to call everyone I knew just to say goodbye and I would want to do a few more things on my bucket list.
 
But anyways.  Cassie.  I really liked her.  I thought she was a great and sympathetic character.  I can't imagine being in her shoes, both in the fact that she lost everyone in her family and seeing the mark and the responsibilty that came with it.  As for Lucas.  Blah!  I so liked him in the beginning but what a jerk!  He seemed so condescending and towards the end only into Cassie to feed his own interest in what she could see.
 
There were a few twists in the book, but I could see a few of them coming.  I don't feel like the premise of the book was new, but that didn't stop me from being fully interested in the book.
 
There were no cliffhangers in the book.  It could easily have been a stand alone book.  But I'm glad it's not and that's I've got the sequel, The Vision, to read next!
 
I gave this book a rating of 4/5.
 
This book fulfills items in the following challenges:
2011 A to Z Challenge: N
2011 100+ Reading Challenge: 87
2011 ARC Reading Challenge: 69
2011 Young Adult Reading Challenge: 68
 
*FTC Disclosure: This book was given to me for free by Bloomsbury USA for a honest review.

Book Review- Jenna & Jonah's Fauxmance

I just finished reading Jenna & Jonah's Fauxmance by Emily Franklin & Brendan Halpin. 

From Goodreads:

Fans of romance don't need to look any further than the fauxmance brewing between teen idols Charlie Tracker and Fielding Withers-known on their hit TV show as Jenna and Jonah, next-door neighbors flush with the excitement of first love. But it's their off-screen relationship that has helped cement their fame, as passionate fans follow their every PDA. They grace the covers of magazines week after week. Their fan club has chapters all over the country. The only problem is their off-screen romance is one big publicity stunt, and Charlie and Fielding can't stand to be in the same room. Still, it's a great gig, so even when the cameras stop rolling, the show must go on, and on, and on. . . . Until the pesky paparazzi blow their cover, and Charlie and Fielding must disappear to weather the media storm. It's not until they're far off the grid of the Hollywood circuit that they realize that there's more to each of them than shiny hair and a winning smile.


This was a cute teeny-bopper type book.  For some reason I could totally see this being turned into a movie.  And for some reason, although I've only ever seen one episode of the show, it kept making me think of Hannah Montana.  I think maybe I enjoyed it because when I was a teen, I wanted to be an actor. 
 
This was definitely a light book--nothing heavy about it.  But I thought it was fun.  Predictable, yes, but I still enjoyed it. 
 
I gave this book a rating of 3.5/5.
 
This book fulfills items in the following challenges:
2011 A to Z Challenge: F
2011 100+ Reading Challenge: 86
2011 Young Adult Reading Challenge: 67
2011 YA Contemporary Challenge: 15
 
*FTC Disclosure: This book was given to me for free Bloomsbury Children's Books/ Walker Books for Young Readers for a honest review.

Challenge Uncompleted- 2010 A to Z Challenge

A to Z Challenge

January 1, 2010 to December 31, 2010.

How does this reading challenge work? Choose the option that works best for you...
Authors -- Read alphabetically by author. Commit to 26 books.
Titles -- Read alphabetically by title. Commit to 26 books.
Authors & Titles -- Commit to reading 52 books.

I will be doing the Authors challenge this year.  ( for Q, X, Z which I will count if it is anywhere in the last name.)

**So close, yet so far--I only needed 4 more authors!

A. Armstrong, Kelley The Summoning
B. Benjamin, Melanie Alice I Have Been
C. Crewe, Megan Give Up the Ghost
D. Dolamore, Jaclyn Magic Under Glass
E. Ellsworth, Loretta In A Heartbeat
F. Friend, Natash For Keeps
G. Ganek, Danielle The Summer We Read Gatsby
H. Holden, Wendy Beautiful People
I. Inara Scott The Candidates (Delcroix Academy #1)
J. Jones, Carrie Need
K. Kitanidis, Pheobe, Whisper
L. Leavitt,  Lindsey Princess For Hire
M. McMann, Lisa Gone
N. Nelson, Jandy The Sky is Everywhere
O. Oliver, Lauren Before I Fall
P. Preston, LM Explorer X-Alpha
Q.
R. Rayburn, Tricia Siren
S. Scott, Elizabeth The Unwritten Rule
T.
U.
V. Viguie, Debbie & Holder, Nancy Crusade
W. Walker, Kristin A Match Made in High School
X. MaXwell, Robin O, Juliet
Y. Young, Suzanner The Naughty List
Z.

A to Z Challenge- December Update

A to Z Challenge

January 1, 2010 to December 31, 2010.

How does this reading challenge work? Choose the option that works best for you...
Authors -- Read alphabetically by author. Commit to 26 books.
Titles -- Read alphabetically by title. Commit to 26 books.
Authors & Titles -- Commit to reading 52 books.

I will be doing the Authors challenge this year.  ( for Q, X, Z which I will count if it is anywhere in the last name.)

A. Armstrong, Kelley The Summoning
B. Benjamin, Melanie Alice I Have Been
C. Crewe, Megan Give Up the Ghost
D. Dolamore, Jaclyn Magic Under Glass
E. Ellsworth, Loretta In A Heartbeat
F. Friend, Natash For Keeps
G. Ganek, Danielle The Summer We Read Gatsby
H. Holden, Wendy Beautiful People
I. Inara Scott The Candidates (Delcroix Academy #1)
J. Jones, Carrie Need
K. Kitanidis, Pheobe, Whisper
L. Leavitt,  Lindsey Princess For Hire
M. McMann, Lisa Gone
N. Nelson, Jandy The Sky is Everywhere
O. Oliver, Lauren Before I Fall
P. Preston, LM Explorer X-Alpha
Q.
R. Rayburn, Tricia Siren
S. Scott, Elizabeth The Unwritten Rule
T.
U.
V. Viguie, Debbie & Holder, Nancy Crusade
W. Walker, Kristin A Match Made in High School
X. MaXwell, Robin O, Juliet
Y. Young, Suzanner The Naughty List
Z.

A to Z Challenge- November Update

A to Z Challenge

January 1, 2010 to December 31, 2010.

How does this reading challenge work? Choose the option that works best for you...
Authors -- Read alphabetically by author. Commit to 26 books.
Titles -- Read alphabetically by title. Commit to 26 books.
Authors & Titles -- Commit to reading 52 books.

I will be doing the Authors challenge this year.  ( for Q, X, Z which I will count if it is anywhere in the last name.)

A. Armstrong, Kelley The Summoning
B. Benjamin, Melanie Alice I Have Been
C. Crewe, Megan Give Up the Ghost
D. Dolamore, Jaclyn Magic Under Glass
E. Ellsworth, Loretta In A Heartbeat
F. Friend, Natash For Keeps
G. Ganek, Danielle The Summer We Read Gatsby
H. Holden, Wendy Beautiful People
I. Inara Scott The Candidates (Delcroix Academy #1)
J. Jones, Carrie Need
K. Kitanidis, Pheobe, Whisper
L. Leavitt,  Lindsey Princess For Hire
M. McMann, Lisa Gone
N. Nelson, Jandy The Sky is Everywhere
O. Oliver, Lauren Before I Fall
P. Preston, LM Explorer X-Alpha
Q.
R. Rayburn, Tricia Siren
S. Scott, Elizabeth The Unwritten Rule
T.
U.
V. Viguie, Debbie & Holder, Nancy Crusade
W. Walker, Kristin A Match Made in High School
X. MaXwell, Robin O, Juliet
Y. Young, Suzanner The Naughty List
Z.

Book Review- The Candidates

I just finished reading The Candidates (Delcroix Academy #1) by Inara Scott for an Around the World ARC Tour.

From Goodreads:

Dancia Lewis is far from popular. And that's not just because of her average grades or her less-than-glamorous wardrobe. In fact, Dancia's mediocrity is a welcome cover for her secret: whenever she sees a person threatening someone she cares about, things just...happen. Cars skid. Structures collapse. Usually someone gets hurt. So Dancia does everything possible to avoid getting close to anyone, belieiving this way she can supress her powers and keep them hidden.

But when recruiters from the prestigious Delcroix Academy show up in her living room to offer her a full scholarship, Dancia's days of living under the radar may be over. Only, Delcroix is a school for diplomats' kids and child geniuses--not B students with uncontrollable telekinetic tendencies. So why are they treating Dancia like she's special? Even the hottest guy on campus seems to be going out of his way to make Dancia feel welcome.

And then there's her mysterious new friend Jack, who can't stay out of trouble. He suspects something dangerous is going on at the Academy and wants Dancia to help him figure out what. But Dancia isn't convinced. She hopes that maybe the recruiters know more about her "gift" than they're letting on. Maybe they can help her understand how to use it...But not even Dancia could have imagined what awaits her behind the gates of Delcroix Academy.
 
I didn't immediately sign up for this ARC tour, but after reading a few reviews, I decided to and boy am I glad that I did.  I really enjoyed this book!
 
Once again, it wasn't anything too new.  A teenager has a special power and is learning how to deal with it.  But it was just all of the parts of the books that added up to make it great.
 
  I really liked the main characters.  Dancia (cool name!) seemed like such a normal teen.  Not perfect, but not bad either.  And I couldn't decide about Cam and Jack.  Which guy was good and which guy was bad?  And which guy did I like better?  I kept going back and forth throughout the book and I'm honestly not sure I could pick even now! 
 
And the ending surprised me.  I kinda had an inkling as to the ending but not in the exact way.  It surprised me and I liked that it wasn't what I thought!

The only complaint I have is that I would want to know more about Dancia's powers. How did she get these powers? Was it hereditary in some way or was she just special?

And I think this is the beginning of a series. The next book called The Watchers is due out in August of 2011 and I can't wait!

I gave this book a rating of 4.5/5.
 
This book fulfills items in the following challenges:
A to Z Challenge: I  ( I can't find an author that I'd enjoy whose last name starts with an "I" so I am counting this book since the author's first name starts with an "I")
2010 100+ Reading Challenge: 133
2010 Young Adult Reading Challenge: 100
2010 Debut Author Challenge: 36
ARC Reading Challenge 2010: 96
 
*FTC Disclosure: I was given this book for free for an honest review as part of the Around the World Tours.

A to Z Challenge- October Update

A to Z Challenge

January 1, 2010 to December 31, 2010.

How does this reading challenge work? Choose the option that works best for you...
Authors -- Read alphabetically by author. Commit to 26 books.
Titles -- Read alphabetically by title. Commit to 26 books.
Authors & Titles -- Commit to reading 52 books.

I will be doing the Authors challenge this year.  ( for Q, X, Z which I will count if it is anywhere in the last name.)

A. Armstrong, Kelley The Summoning
B. Benjamin, Melanie Alice I Have Been
C. Crewe, Megan Give Up the Ghost
D. Dolamore, Jaclyn Magic Under Glass
E. Ellsworth, Loretta In A Heartbeat
F. Friend, Natash For Keeps
G. Ganek, Danielle The Summer We Read Gatsby
H. Holden, Wendy Beautiful People
I.
J. Jones, Carrie Need
K. Kitanidis, Pheobe, Whisper
L. Leavitt,  Lindsey Princess For Hire
M. McMann, Lisa Gone
N. Nelson, Jandy The Sky is Everywhere
O. Oliver, Lauren Before I Fall
P. Preston, LM Explorer X-Alpha
Q.
R. Rayburn, Tricia Siren
S. Scott, Elizabeth The Unwritten Rule
T.
U.
V. Viguie, Debbie & Holder, Nancy Crusade
W. Walker, Kristin A Match Made in High School
X. MaXwell, Robin O, Juliet
Y. Young, Suzanner The Naughty List
Z.

A to Z Challenge- September Update

A to Z Challenge

January 1, 2010 to December 31, 2010.

How does this reading challenge work? Choose the option that works best for you...
Authors -- Read alphabetically by author. Commit to 26 books.
Titles -- Read alphabetically by title. Commit to 26 books.
Authors & Titles -- Commit to reading 52 books.

I will be doing the Authors challenge this year.  ( for Q, X, Z which I will count if it is anywhere in the last name.)

A. Armstrong, Kelley The Summoning
B. Benjamin, Melanie Alice I Have Been
C. Crewe, Megan Give Up the Ghost
D. Dolamore, Jaclyn Magic Under Glass
E. Ellsworth, Loretta In A Heartbeat
F. Friend, Natash For Keeps
G. Ganek, Danielle The Summer We Read Gatsby
H. Holden, Wendy Beautiful People
I.
J. Jones, Carrie Need
K. Kitanidis, Pheobe, Whisper
L. Leavitt,  Lindsey Princess For Hire
M. McMann, Lisa Gone
N. Nelson, Jandy The Sky is Everywhere
O. Oliver, Lauren Before I Fall
P. Preston, LM Explorer X-Alpha
Q.
R. Rayburn, Tricia Siren
S. Scott, Elizabeth The Unwritten Rule
T.
U.
V. Viguie, Debbie & Holder, Nancy Crusade
W. Walker, Kristin A Match Made in High School
X. MaXwell, Robin O, Juliet
Y. Young, Suzanner The Naughty List
Z.

Book Review- Crusade

I just finished reading Crusade by Nancy Holder & Debbie Viguie for a Book It Forward ARC Tour.

From Goodreads:

The ultimate battle. The ultimate love.

For the past two years, Jenn has lived and trained at Spain's Sacred Heart Academy Against the Cursed Ones. She is among the few who have pledged to defend humanity or die trying. But the vampires are gaining power, and the battle has only just begun.

Forced to return home after death takes a member of her family, Jenn discovers that San Francisco is now a vampire strong-hold. As a lone hunter apart from her team, Jenn is isolated—and at risk. She craves the company of her fighting partner, Antonio: his protection, his reassurance, his touch. But a relationship with Antonio comes with its own dangers, and the more they share of themselves, the more Jenn stands to lose.

Then Jenn is betrayed by one who was once bound to protect her, causing her to doubt all she had held as true. To survive, Jenn must find the courage to trust herself—and her heart.

This was an interesting take on vampires. I think this is the first book I have read where vampires have actually pretty much taken over the world. It was kind of freaky to read about.

The characters were only okay for me. I couldn’t really connect with any of them. I don’t feel that we really got close to any of them. They were all at a distance.  While I think Jenn was the main character, she didn't really stand out to me.  I didn't really care about her.

The ending is a surprise and not one that I'm sure that I understand.  But it definitely sets up nicely for a sequel.

I gave this book a rating of 3/5. 

Crusade will be released on September 7, 2010

This book fulfills items in the following challenges:
A to Z Challenge: V
2010 100+ Reading Challenge: 104
2010 Young Adult Reading Challenge: 75
ARC Reading Challenge 2010: 73

*FTC Disclosure: I was given this book for free for an honest review as part of the Book It Forward ARC Tours.

A to Z Challenge- August Update

A to Z Challenge

January 1, 2010 to December 31, 2010.

How does this reading challenge work? Choose the option that works best for you...
Authors -- Read alphabetically by author. Commit to 26 books.
Titles -- Read alphabetically by title. Commit to 26 books.
Authors & Titles -- Commit to reading 52 books.

I will be doing the Authors challenge this year.  ( for Q, X, Z which I will count if it is anywhere in the last name.)

A. Armstrong, Kelley The Summoning
B. Benjamin, Melanie Alice I Have Been
C. Crewe, Megan Give Up the Ghost
D. Dolamore, Jaclyn Magic Under Glass
E. Ellsworth, Loretta In A Heartbeat
F. Friend, Natash For Keeps
G. Ganek, Danielle The Summer We Read Gatsby
H. Holden, Wendy Beautiful People
I.
J. Jones, Carrie Need
K. Kitanidis, Pheobe, Whisper
L. Leavitt,  Lindsey Princess For Hire
M. McMann, Lisa Gone
N. Nelson, Jandy The Sky is Everywhere
O. Oliver, Lauren Before I Fall
P. Preston, LM Explorer X-Alpha
Q.
R. Rayburn, Tricia Siren
S. Scott, Elizabeth The Unwritten Rule
T.
U.
V.
W. Walker, Kristin A Match Made in High School
X.
Y. Young, Suzanner The Naughty List
Z.

A to Z Challenge- July Update

A to Z Challenge

January 1, 2010 to December 31, 2010.

How does this reading challenge work? Choose the option that works best for you...
Authors -- Read alphabetically by author. Commit to 26 books.
Titles -- Read alphabetically by title. Commit to 26 books.
Authors & Titles -- Commit to reading 52 books.

I will be doing the Authors challenge this year.  ( for Q, X, Z which I will count if it is anywhere in the last name.)

A. Armstrong, Kelley The Summoning
B. Benjamin, Melanie Alice I Have Been
C. Crewe, Megan Give Up the Ghost
D. Dolamore, Jaclyn Magic Under Glass
E. Ellsworth, Loretta In A Heartbeat
F. Friend, Natash For Keeps
G. Ganek, Danielle The Summer We Read Gatsby
H. Holden, Wendy Beautiful People
I.
J. Jones, Carrie Need
K. Kitanidis, Pheobe, Whisper
L. Leavitt,  Lindsey Princess For Hire
M. McMann, Lisa Gone
N. Nelson, Jandy The Sky is Everywhere
O. Oliver, Lauren Before I Fall
P. Preston, LM Explorer X-Alpha
Q.
R. Rayburn, Tricia Siren
S. Scott, Elizabeth The Unwritten Rule
T.
U.
V.
W. Walker, Kristin A Match Made in High School
X.
Y. Young, Suzanner The Naughty List
Z.

Book Review- The Sky is Everywhere

Last night I finished reading The Sky is Everywhere by Jandy Nelson for an Around the World Tour.

From Goodreads:

Seventeen-year-old Lennie Walker, bookworm and band geek, plays second clarinet and spends her time tucked safely and happily in the shadow of her fiery older sister, Bailey. But when Bailey dies abruptly, Lennie is catapulted to center stage of her own life—and, despite her nonexistent history with boys, suddenly finds herself struggling to balance two. Toby was Bailey’s boyfriend; his grief mirrors Lennie’s own. Joe is the new boy in town, a transplant from Paris whose nearly magical grin is matched only by his musical talent. For Lennie, they’re the sun and the moon; one boy takes her out of her sorrow, the other comforts her in it. But just like their celestial counterparts, they can’t collide without the whole wide world exploding.

This remarkable debut is perfect for fans of Sarah Dessen, Deb Caletti, and Francesca Lia Block. Just as much a celebration of love as it is a portrait of loss, Lennie’s struggle to sort her own melody out of the noise around her is always honest, often hilarious, and ultimately unforgettable.
 
Wow, I really enjoyed this book.  I feel like I had been a mini-reading  slump lately but this book brought me out of it.  It had a little bit of everything--humor, grief, sympathetic characters, and great writing.
 
First off, I loved the writing.  I usually don't tend to like books that deviate from the norm when it comes to writing styles, but this book was a change for me.  Almost every chapter started or ended with something that Lennie had written somewhere in town about what she was feeling.  It was like reading part of her journal.  And then just the way that the rest of the story was written and flowed was beautiful.
 
And the characters were great.  You could really feel what Lennie was feeling.  You felt her grief over losing her sister and her joy (and guilt) of falling in love.  And the boys were great too.  While I definitely loved Joe more (who wouldn't love a happy-go-lucky boy was crazy about you), but I loved Toby too and could tell how heartbroken he was and how in love he was with Bailey.  And the side charaters of Gram and Sarah were great too.  (Big was just a tad too weird for me though.)
 
This was a beautiful story and it will make you laugh and cry!
 
I gave this book a rating of 4/5.
 
This book fulfills items in the following challenges:
A to Z Challenge: N
2010 100+ Reading Challenge: 84
2010 Young Adult Reading Challenge: 63
2010 Debut Author Challenge: 25
ARC Reading Challenge 2010: 62
 
*FTC Disclosure: I was given this book for free for an honest review as part of the Around the World Tours.

Book Review- The Summer We Read Gatsby

I finished reading The Summer We Read Gatsby by Danielle Ganek last night.

Summary from the back cover:

Half sisters Cassie and Peck could not be more different.  Cassie is a newly divorced journalist with her feet firmly planted on the ground; Peck is a vintage-obsessed actress with her head in the clouds.  In fact, the only thing they seem to have in common is their inheritance of Fool's House, a run-down cottage left to them by their beloved Aunt Lydia.  But Cassie and Peck can't afford the house, and they can't agree on anything, much less what to do with the place.  Plus, they've inherited an artist in residence and self-proclaimed genius named Biggsy, who seems to bring suspiciously bad luck wherever he goes.  As these two likeable sisters try to understand their aunt's puzzling instructions to "seek a thing of utmost value" from within the house, they're both distracted by romantic entanglements with men from their pasts.  The Summer We Read Gatsby, set in the end-of-an-era summer of 2008, is filled with fabulous parties, eccentric characters, and insider society details that showcase Ganek's pitch-perfect sense of syle and wit.

Ugh...this book just so did not do it for me. I couldn't get into any part of it--not the characters, the setting or the plot. 

I really didn't care about any of the characters.  The sisters were too eccentric and I really didn't like Peck.  I couldn't see why Cassie felt so strongly for her when most of the times she was mean and even degrading.  The only character who I even sort of like was Finn, who seemed like genuine sweetheart.

The plot was just okay, although I felt that there were some things that just didn't fit.  I mean, who would really think that letting the Biggsy character stay on, especially with all the suspicious things he did and said?  I just didn't care about anything that happened and I didn't find any parts funny at all.

I expected this story to have a light, gossipy, summery feeling.  But for me, it didn't.  It wasn't heavy, exactly, but it was just there.  I don't know, I just didn't enjoy it.

I gave this book a rating of 2.5/5.

This book fulfills items in the following challenges:
A to Z Challenge: G
2010 100+ Reading Challenge: 76
ARC Reading Challenge 2010: 55

*FTC Disclosure: I received this book for free from Engelman & Co for an honest review.

A to Z Challenge- June Update

A to Z Challenge

January 1, 2010 to December 31, 2010.

How does this reading challenge work? Choose the option that works best for you...
Authors -- Read alphabetically by author. Commit to 26 books.
Titles -- Read alphabetically by title. Commit to 26 books.
Authors & Titles -- Commit to reading 52 books.

I will be doing the Authors challenge this year.  ( for Q, X, Z which I will count if it is anywhere in the last name.)

A. Armstrong, Kelley The Summoning
B. Benjamin, Melanie Alice I Have Been
C. Crewe, Megan Give Up the Ghost
D. Dolamore, Jaclyn Magic Under Glass
E. Ellsworth, Loretta In A Heartbeat
F. Friend, Natash For Keeps
G.
H. Holden, Wendy Beautiful People
I.
J. Jones, Carrie Need
K. Kitanidis, Pheobe, Whisper
L. Leavitt,  Lindsey Princess For Hire
M. McMann, Lisa Gone
N.
O. Oliver, Lauren Before I Fall
P. Preston, LM Explorer X-Alpha
Q.
R. Rayburn, Tricia Siren
S. Scott, Elizabeth The Unwritten Rule
T.
U.
V.
W. Walker, Kristin A Match Made in High School
X.
Y. Young, Suzanner The Naughty List
Z.

A to Z Challenge- May Update

A to Z Challenge

January 1, 2010 to December 31, 2010.

How does this reading challenge work? Choose the option that works best for you...
Authors -- Read alphabetically by author. Commit to 26 books.
Titles -- Read alphabetically by title. Commit to 26 books.
Authors & Titles -- Commit to reading 52 books.

I will be doing the Authors challenge this year.  ( for Q, X, Z which I will count if it is anywhere in the last name.)

A. Armstrong, Kelley The Summoning
B. Benjamin, Melanie Alice I Have Been
C. Crewe, Megan Give Up the Ghost
D. Dolamore, Jaclyn Magic Under Glass
E. Ellsworth, Loretta In A Heartbeat
F. Friend, Natash For Keeps
G.
H. Holden, Wendy Beautiful People
I.
J. Jones, Carrie Need
K. Kitanidis, Pheobe, Whisper
L. Leavitt,  Lindsey Princess For Hire
M. McMann, Lisa Gone
N.
O. Oliver, Lauren Before I Fall
P. Preston, LM Explorer X-Alpha
Q.
R. Rayburn, Tricia Siren
S. Scott, Elizabeth The Unwritten Rule
T.
U.
V.
W. Walker, Kristin A Match Made in High School
X.
Y. Young, Suzanner The Naughty List
Z.

Book Review- Siren

I just finished reading Siren by Tricia Rayburn for an Around the World Tour.

From Goodreads:

Seventeen-year-old Vanessa Sands is afraid of everything—the dark, heights, the ocean—but her fearless older sister, Justine, has always been there to coach her through every challenge. That is, until Justine goes cliff-diving one night near the family’s vacation house in Maine, and her lifeless body washes up on shore the next day.


Though her parents hope that they’ll be able to find closure back in Boston, Vanessa can’t help feeling that her sister’s death wasn’t an accident. After discovering that Justine was keeping a lot of secrets, Vanessa returns to Winter Harbor, hoping that Justine’s boyfriend might know more. But Caleb has been missing since Justine’s death.

Soon, it’s not just Vanessa who’s afraid. All of Winter Harbor is abuzz with anxiety when another body washes ashore, and panic sets in when the small town becomes host to a string of fatal, water-related accidents in which all the victims are found, horrifically, grinning from ear to ear.

Vanessa turns to Caleb’s brother, Simon, for help, and begins to find herself drawn to him. As the pair try to understand the sudden rash of creepy drownings, Vanessa uncovers a secret that threatens her new romance—and will change her life forever.

A seductive paranormal romance full of unexpected twists, Siren is certain to make a big summer splash.
 
This is a unique and interesting story.  Right from the first chapter, I was hooked!  I felt that the writing flowed so well and I flew through it.
 
I have only read a couple of books about mermaids, but I don't think any of them had been about Siren.  The story just enthralled me and there were a couple of twists in the story, which I always love.
 
I really liked all of the characters.  I thought that they all had depth to them and seemed real. I found myself rooting for the main characters, and even the secondary characters.
 
The only thing that I didn't like is that there seemed to be some loose ends at the end of the story--I won't say what so that I don't spoil it.  I'm not sure if this book is going to be part of a series or not, but I sure hope so!
 
I gave this book a rating of 4/5.

Siren will be released on July 13, 2010
 
This book fulfills items in the following challenges:
A to Z Challenge: R
2010 100+ Reading Challenge: 46
2010 Young Adult Reading Challenge: 34
ARC Reading Challenge 2010: 32
 
*FTC Disclosure: I was given this book for free for an honest review as part of the Around the World Tours.

Book Review- Beautiful People

I just finished reading Beautiful People by Wendy Holden.

From Goodreads:

A witty, utterly addictive novel from bestselling author Wendy Holden, Beautiful People is a tale wicked in its observations yet buoyant at its heart: an irresistible confection you'll want to devour immediately.


Darcy-a struggling English rose actress when The Call comes from L.A. An Oscar-tastic director. A movie to make her famous. The hunkiest costar in Hollywood. So why doesn't she want to go?


Belle-a size-zero film star but she's in big, fat trouble. Hotter than the earth's core a year ago, she's now Tinseltown toast after her last film bombed. Can she get back to the big time?


Emma-a down-to-earth, down-on-her-luck nanny trying to weather London's cutthroat childcare scene and celebrity mom whirlwinds. What will it take for her to get back in control of her own life?


Jet to London, Hollywood, and Italy; toss in a passionate star chef, a kindhearted paparazzo, and a reluctant male supermodel; and find Wendy Holden at her best-a smash international hit.

This was a light, frothy, gossipy book--just what I needed after reading several heavier books.  It was pure fun.  I felt like I was reading a tabloid or a gossip magazine. 

While I found some characters annoying like Belle and Christian (although I think we are supposed to dislike them) I liked several of the other characters such as Darcy, Marco, Emma, and Orlando.  I liked how, at the beginning the stories all seemed to be separate and then at the end the lives of the characters were all intertwined.

If you're looking for a light, fun read then you will probably enjoy this book!

I gave this book a rating of 3.5/5.

This book fulfills items in the following challenges:
A to Z Challenge: H
2010 100+ Reading Challenge: 40
ARC Reading Challenge 2010: 27
2010 Chick Lit Challenge: 5

*FTC Disclosure: I was given this book for free by Danielle from Sourcebooks for an honest review.

A to Z Challenge- April Update

A to Z Challenge

January 1, 2010 to December 31, 2010.

How does this reading challenge work? Choose the option that works best for you...
Authors -- Read alphabetically by author. Commit to 26 books.
Titles -- Read alphabetically by title. Commit to 26 books.
Authors & Titles -- Commit to reading 52 books.

I will be doing the Authors challenge this year.  ( for Q, X, Z which I will count if it is anywhere in the last name.)

A. Armstrong, Kelley The Summoning
B. Benjamin, Melanie Alice I Have Been
C. Crewe, Megan Give Up the Ghost
D. Dolamore, Jaclyn Magic Under Glass
E. Ellsworth, Loretta In A Heartbeat
F. Friend, Natash For Keeps
G.
H. Holden, Wendy Beautiful People
I.
J. Jones, Carrie Need
K. Kitanidis, Pheobe, Whisper
L. Leavitt,  Lindsey Princess For Hire
M. McMann, Lisa Gone
N.
O. Oliver, Lauren Before I Fall
P. Preston, LM Explorer X-Alpha
Q.
R.
S. Scott, Elizabeth The Unwritten Rule
T.
U.
V.
W. Walker, Kristin A Match Made in High School
X.
Y. Young, Suzanner The Naughty List
Z.

Book Review- Whisper

I just finished reading Whisper by Phoebe Kitanidis for an Around the World Tour.

From Goodreads:

I’d love a cup of coffee. I wish she knew how pretty she was. I wish I could drop this kid in the dryer sometimes. I just want her to be happy. I hope she didn’t find out what Ben said about her. I wish I knew how many calories were in a bite of muffin…

Joy is used to hearing Whispers. She’s used to walking down the street and instantly knowing people’s deepest, darkest desires. She uses this talent for good, to make people happy and give them what they want. But for her older sister, Jessica, the family gift is a curse, and she uses it to make people’s lives—especially Joy’s—miserable. Still, when Joy Hears a frightening whisper from Jessica's own mind, she knows she has to save her sister, even if it means deserting her friends, stealing a car and running away with a boy she barely knows—a boy who may have a dark secret of his own.
 
Being able to hear people's thoughts is a new power for me to read about.  I mean, I know in some books, vampires have this ability, but this is the first time that I have read a book where this is the main characters only power.  I have always said that if I had the choice, my superpower would be to read minds.  But after reading this book, I would have to add that I would want to be able to switch this power on and off.  I wouldn't want to always have other's thoughts in my head like Joy did in this story.  I think it would drive me crazy!
 
I have read mixed reviews about this story so I wasn't too sure what to expect going into it.  But I enjoyed it.  I liked the character of Joy and I liked to hate her sister "Icka" (although towards the end I just felt sorry for her).  Most of the story is a character story, until the action at the end, but that's fine with me. 
 
I thougth the story flowed well and went quickly for me.  If you're looking to read about a new power in the world of YA paranormal, then I think you should check this one out.
 
I gave this book a rating of 3.5/5.

Whisper will be released on April 27, 2010.

This book fulfills items in the following challenges:
A to Z Challenge: K
2010 100+ Reading Challenge: 38
2010 Young Adult Reading Challenge: 28
2010 Debut Author Challenge: 11
ARC Reading Challenge 2010: 26
 
*FTC Disclosure: I was given this book for free for an honest review as part of the Around the World Tours.

Book Review- For Keeps

I just finised reading For Keeps by Natasha Friend for an Around the World Tour.

From Goodreads:

Josie’s never met her dad, and that’s fine with her. To Josie, Paul Tucci is just a guy who got her mom pregnant and then moved away. It all happened sixteen years ago, when Josie’s mom was still a teenager herself. But now Paul Tucci is back in town, and Josie has to deal with not one but two men in her life—her father and her first boyfriend, who Josie fears will hurt her just like Paul hurt her mother.

Okay, so after reading this book, for some reason, I keep picturing the Gilmore Girl chacters in my head.  Especially Paul Tucci--I keep seeing him as Christopher from the TV shower.  I see a lot of similarities in the way that the mother-daughter bond is in both the tv show and the book.**

This was a pretty good book for me.  Nothing spectacular, but I enjoyed it.  I felt that the characters and the story line seemed very real.  I think that having a mom dating again is an ordeal (not sure if this is the right word) that many teenagers go through if they live with a single mom.  And I think that the romance between Riggs seems pretty real too.  (I know some bloggers are having problems with Josie forgiving him for something too easily, but honestly, I probably would have done the same thing.)

The only thing that I didn't like is that I felt that the ending was too soon.  I want to know more about what happened with Paul Tucci and with the guy Josie's mom was dating.  And I want to know more about Josie and Riggs' relationship.

If you want a cute, "real" read, then I think you would enjoy this one.

**Okay, after posting this and then going to read other reviews of this book, I see that I am not alone in thinking that the book resembles Gilmore Girls.

I gave this book a rating of 3.5/5.

For Keeps will be relased on April 6, 2010.

This book fullfills items for the following challenges:
A to Z Challenge: F
2010 100+ Reading Challenge: 31
2010 Young Adult Reading Challenge: 22
ARC Reading Challenge 2010: 22

*FTC Disclosure: I was given this book for free for an honest review as part of the Around the World Tours.