Waiting on Wednesday: Misfit by Jon Skovron

Button from Bewitched Bookworms

Waiting on Wednesday is a weekly meme by Breaking the Spine that allows bloggers a chance to spotlight upcoming books that we are dying to read.

This week I’m waiting on:

 

Releasing:

August 2011 by Amulet

Goodreads:

Jael Thompson has never really fit in. She’s changed schools too many times to count. The only family she’s ever known is her father, a bitter ex-priest who never lets her date and insists she attend the strictest Catholic school in Seattle. And her mother—well, she was a five thousand year old demon. That doesn’t exactly help.

But on her sixteenth birthday, her father gives her a present that brings about some unexpected changes. Some of the changes, like strange and wonderful powers and the cute skater boy with a knack for science, are awesome. But others, like the homicidal demon seeking revenge on her family? Not so much.

Steeped in mythology, this is an epic tale of a heroine who balances old world with new, science with magic, and the terrifying depths of the underworld with the ordinary halls of high school.

Why I'm waiting:

Have I mentioned how much I love mythology? No, well I’m quite in love. Also Jael sounds like a heroine that is going to be rocking it! I don’t usually read books by male authors so that’s another draw to this book as I want to expand my horizons in reading.

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Queen Bee of Bridgeton: Character Interview: Sasha + Giveaway

Leslie has been kind enough to offer a copy to one lucky winner a copy of Queen Bee of Bridgeton, look below for info on entering into this giveaway.

I would like to welcome Sasha from the Queen of Bridgeton. 

What event or series of events led you to start mothering Sonya?

I think big sisters always take care of little sisters to some degree. It’s like we’re programmed that way. But I really started looking out for Sonya when we moved to Venton Heights. The kids there were a lot…tougher than Sonya was used to. I knew I had to protect her.

There are likely a multitude of private schools with stellar recommendations. What made Bridgeton the school of your choosing?

I know people aren’t supposed to judge a book by its cover, but that’s exactly what I did with Bridgeton. I saw a brochure of the campus and it was absolutely beautiful. I mean, perfectly manicured lawns, gorgeous ivy on the walls and columns, marble flooring in the picturesque dining hall. Besides being a top notch school, I felt rich just walking on its campus. I knew it was the place I wanted to be.

How do you handle people like LaPorshe?

Not with violence. That’s the mistake most people make when dealing with bullies. It’s very hard to get the upper hand with someone physically. Even when you do, it’s ridiculously easy to lose that advantage during your next encounter. What if they come back with a weapon? No, the best way to deal with bullies is blackmail. Plain and simple. I know secrets about everyone and I use them when I need to. For example, with LaPorscha I know who the real father of her baby is. She will do anything to keep me from telling Tyrell.

Do you regret any of the decisions you made while attending Bridgeton?

My only regret…getting caught.

Do you feel as though you've made any friends during your time at Bridgeton?

If by friends you mean people who wouldn’t stab me in the back at the first beneficial opportunity…then no.

Comment with e-mail addy to enter! USA only, ends July 7th!

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Winner of the Comment Giveaway

Marjie Pride at A Reelfoot Hoodrat's Thoughts has won the Comment Giveaway.

You have 48 hours to respond to verify which book you would like to receive. 

The books to pick from are: 

Divergent by Veronica Roth 

Shift by Jeri Smith-Ready 

The Magnolia League by Katie Crouch 

Die For Me by Amy Plum 

Angel Burn by L. A. Weatherly 

Starcrossed by Josephine Angelini 

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Spellbound by Cara Lynn Shultz

On June 21st, I'll have an interview with Cara Lynn Shultz!

June 28th 2011, Harlequin Teen

384 pages, E-galley
Netgalley and for tour
Young Adult

From Goodreads:

What's a girl to do when meeting The One means she's cursed to die a horrible death?

Life hasn't been easy on sixteen-year-old Emma Conner, so a new start in New York may be just the change she needs. But the posh Upper East Side prep school she has to attend? Not so much. Friendly faces are few and far between, except for one that she's irresistibly drawn to—Brendan Salinger, the guy with the rock-star good looks and the richest kid in school, who might just be her very own white knight.

But even when Brendan inexplicably turns cold, Emma can't stop staring. Ever since she laid eyes on him, strange things have been happening. Streetlamps go out wherever she walks, and Emma's been having the oddest dreams: visions of herself in past lives—visions that warn her to stay away from Brendan. Or else.

Opinion:

I am so conflicted about this book. On one hand I loved the characters, I cared so much about each and every one of them. Scared but spunky Emma, sweet niave Ashley, Aunt Christine who took Emma out of her bad environment, and Brendan was brave and loving. I fell in love with them, but…

I was bored. The plot moves incredibly slow and there are only two “Oh my gosh, what is gonna happen next?” moments within the entire book. Since I’m more interested in character in development than action this was all right for me, but I would have liked to see more action.

I would have loved to see more of Ethan, more magic between Emma and Angelique, more anything that moved the plot forward in an exciting way.

The snubbing by Brendan at the beginning of the book was not explained in a way that made it seem reasonable or acceptable, but he made up for it in the end. Other than that the characterization was amazingly crafted.

This is a great read for those who are more into the characters than the paranormal plotline. An excellent read for a rainy day, but not one for the beach as it is not a lighthearted read. It is one that makes you feel most of that feeling is love for the characters. Shultz gets an A+ for characterization. 


I read the entire book in one night, because I simply had to know if Emma would have it easier by the end. She is such a lovely character that I was truly invested in her story.

Rating:

Btw, how beautiful is this cover? I love the breaking glass and bridge.

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Week Wrap-up

Hey there! This has been one crazy week with blogger not cooperating, and a ton of awesome posts! So let’s do a week wrap-up.

This Week:


Sunday-Massive IMM

Monday- Conversation with Finley from The Girl in the Steel Corset

Tuesday-Review of The Girl in the Steel Corset

Wednesday- WoW- The Mephisto Covenant

Thursday-Interview with Trisha from Eclectic/Eccentric

                          Review of Friday Night Lights

Friday- Blog Hop with some awesome questions!0

Saturday- Interview and Giveaway with C.C. Hunter author of Born at Midnight



Current Giveaways:

Comment Giveaway- Comment on any post that’s not a meme within the month of May and you are eligible to enter until May 31st! U.S. only

Born at Midnight Giveaway- Read the interview and entire the giveaway until June 4th. U.S. only

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Giveaway and Interview with C.C. Hunter

I recently read and reviewed Born at Midnight, which was beyond amazing and today I have a interview with the wonderful author, C.C. Hunter.





Can you tell me about your book in 20 words or less?



C.C.:  Twenty words or less?  I guess now would be a good time to tell you that I’m from the South.  We’re naturally long-winded people, so describing Born at Midnight in only 20 words is hard but I’ll give it a try.  How about . . .

For 16 years, Kylie tried to figure out who she is, only to discover she doesn’t know what she is. 

Which of the supernaturals would you chose to be? A vampire, witch, fae, god, etc?

C.C.:  Oh, boy.  This is probably one of the questions I get asked most, but no matter how many times I’m asked it, it’s still hard for me to answer.   I’ve made some changes to the mythology for many of my supernaturals in the Shadow Falls series.  Some of them, like vampires, shape-shifters, and werewolves, can be scary but once you get to know them as characters, you’ll realize they all have some good qualities.   I think that’s what makes it so hard for me to choose—I don’t want to be unfaithful to any of my characters.  LOL.  But if I had to choose, I’d probably go with either a witch or a fae.  I think these characters offer the most options . . . although I think it would be totally cool to be able to fly like a vampire does.  LOL.

At the core of this book it's about friendship. How has friendship influenced your life?

C.C.:  Great question!  For me, my friends are the family I got to pick.  LOL.  I have so many really good friends.  Girls that I know would be here for me in a snap.  Friends who care about me, who laugh with me through the good times and cry with me through the bad.  Girls who help me see the positive side of life.  We all support each other and we’re as close as sisters.  Having those kind of friendships have definitely influenced my life and my writing.

What is your current WIP (Work in Progress)? Can you tell me a little about it? 

C.C.:  Right now, I’m polishing Taken at Dusk, book 3 of my Shadow Falls series, which should be released in the spring of 2012.  Now, every time I finish a book, I think it’s my favorite and Taken at Dusk is no exception.  But I really do love this book. Kylie is learning more about herself, about how she fits in the supernatural world of Shadow Falls.  While she does get some answers, she also gets more questions.  Taken at Dusk was a very emotional book for me to write, and I think it will be an emotional read. 

Do you have a favorite place to sit and write? Where is your favorite place to read? 

C.C.:  If I’m traveling, I take my laptop and will write in hotel rooms, a coffee shop or any place where I can carve out a few minutes to myself.  When I’m home, I always write in the same place.  I have an office, which is really more of a study.  In addition to my desk and chair, I have floor to ceiling bookshelves filled with my favorite books and a comfy sofa and a couple of arm chairs that my cats all think were put there for their exclusive use.  I have these beautiful French doors that lead outside to the patio and backyard, so when I find myself at a loss for inspiration, I can usually find it by taking a peak out those doors.


As for reading, I do most of that in bed.  Just ask my hubby about the huge TBR stack of books in my bedroom.  LOL.  Seriously, though, I like to end my day by reading because it helps me to “shut down” my over-active imagination.



If your house was on fire (everyone was safe), what one book would you rescue? 

C.C.:  This is too hard.  I have so many keeper books that I couldn’t decide upon just one.  Can I just say my arms would be extra full? 

As a reader do you read in the same genre as you write? What is your current paranormal obsession? 

C.C.:  Good question.  I read across a wide array of fiction genres, as well as non-fiction.  Actually, I will read almost anything if it captures my attention.  And I do that because I actually write fiction and non-fiction.  In addition to writing my YA paranormal series Shadow Falls as C.C. Hunter, I also write humorous romantic suspense novels for adults as Christie Craig, as well as non-fiction books and freelance non-fiction articles on a variety of topics.  One thing about my job, I never get bored!  LOL.

As for my current paranormal obsession?  Hmm, I just read Unearthly and fell in love with the idea of angels.    But I have to admit I’ve always been fond of ghost and ghost stories.  That’s why I had to work in ghosts in my series. 

Anything you’d like to add?


C.C.:  Yes.  First, I’d like to thank you for having me visit Mission to Read today.  I’ve had a great time.  If your readers are interested in learning more about my Shadow Falls series, they can visit my website. Make sure you check out Della’s story, Turned at Dark, which is available for free download at all major online retailers, as well as my publisher.    I can also be found on Facebook at and at Twitter at @CCHunterBooks.   Awake a Dawn, Book 2 of my Shadow Falls series, will release in October, so mark your calendars!

C.C. Hunter is also offering a copy of Born at Midnight to one lucky winner. 

U.S. only, ends June 4th.

How to enter:
Fill out the form!
Extra Points:
+1 Follow @CCHunterBooks
+1 Follow CC Hunter’s Facebook
+1 Follow @missiontoread
+1 Follow Mission to Read through GFC
+1 Tweet (just click and the tweet is ready!)

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Follow Friday

Blogger's follow gadget isn't working so every comment will be returned and a follow of twitter and blog is highly likely.

Follow Friday is a blog hop hosted by Parajunkee's View.

This week's question:

How many books do you read in a week? And in what format do you read them, or listen to them?

Answer:

I read 2 or 3 books a week. Currently all are hard copies, but it’s usually one e-book to 2 hard copies.

 

This week's question is:

What book-to-movie adaption have you most liked? Which have you disliked?

Answer:


I haven't watched one in so long, but my favorite would probably be The Last Song by Nicholas Sparks. My least favorite I actually have no clue perhaps Alice in Wonderland the original Disney adaptation or the newest version of Charlie and the Chocolate Factory.

This week’s question:

 In 2011 which new/old authors have you discovered & loved?

Answer:


There are so many!

Kiersten White (Paranormalcy)- Evie is so fierce! I love Paranormalcy in it's pink sparkly-ness.

Saundra Mitchell (The Vespertine)- Mixing paranormal elements with a heartbreaking romance and history is a surefire way of making me fall in love.

C.C. Hunter (Born at Midnight) - I don't usually stay up all night reading, but this one would not let me go once I'd started.

Aimee Carter (Goddess Test)- I was not really expecting to love this book, but I fell in love.

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Friday Night Bites by Chloe Neill

 

October 6th 2009, Penguin NAL Trade
357 pages, Paperback
Won from Lori @ Romancing the Darkside
Second in Chicagoland Vampires Series
Adult Fiction

From Goodreads:

Ten months after vampires revealed their existence to the mortals of Chicago, they're enjoying a celebrity status usually reserved for the Hollywood elite. But should people learn about the Raves-mass feeding parties where vampires round up humans like cattle-the citizens will start sharpening their stakes.

So now it's up to the new vampire Merit to reconnect with her upper class family and act as liaison between humans and bloodsuckers, and keep the more unsavory aspects of the vampire lifestyle out of the media. But someone doesn't want peace between them-someone with an ancient grudge...

Opinion:

Firstly, I do like this book and this series. It is a fun read and the adventures Merit goes on are almost always enjoyable.

But…she seems immature. I’m 5 years younger than she is supposed to be and I’m like “Hey, teenager, wake up!” At times Merit is selfish, childish and self-centered. She holds grudges long after they are done with.

One great example of Merit being selfish is the fact that the entire book she is still stringing along, Morgan, the guy that she started leading on in the previous book. And this isn’t a boy that’s all infatuated. It’s a master vamp that is willing stand up for her even when she has seemingly betrayed him.

She’s like a grown up version of Bella. She’s narcissistic and thinks she’s hilarious when in actuality it comes off as her being a spoiled child that is throwing a fit about not getting her way.

I get that she wants Ethan and doesn’t think it’s an acceptable match, and that she’s lacking oneness with her new identity, but her new self and old self don’t align.

Everyone’s about the change. The glamorous change, but it didn’t change her for the better. In the first book she was strong going against what her patriarchal father said, going to university against his wishes, not moving in to the House right away. It seems as though she lost all her strength with that one vow.

So in summation:

Merit acts like a more annoying Bella, but her job is awesome and she can be fierce and funny, so I do recommend this series to those that aren’t annoyed by Bella. I will be reading the entire series.

Rating:

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Armchair BEA Interview

For the Armchair BEA I am interviewing Ecletic/Eccentric.

 
MTR: Why did you start your blog?


E/E: eclectic / eccentric began as a sort of strange dare from two of my real life friends. I posted randomly for awhile before finding the book blogging community. From there on out, I was hooked. Becoming a part of a group of people dedicated to and in love with reading felt like a dream come true.  My blog went from random to focused, and I found myself once more excited to read a variety of genres and to really interact with the books I was reading.


MTR: What is your favorite part of blogging?


E/E: Meeting new people takes the cake as my favorite part of blogging. The diverse population of the book blogging community means there is always a new book, a new genre, a new style to discover. When I first started blogging, I was stuck in a rut. After the intensity of my Masters program, I was vegging out with super-easy reads, primarily romance novels and YA series. But being back among more 'literary' readers really inspired me to (re) widen by reading, filling in the gaps with literary fiction, classics, graphic novels, and so on. I love diversity in people and in reading, and blogging really helps with that.


What book is your current obsession? (The one that you're so in love with at the moment)


E/E: Alma Katsu's The Taker is definitely occupying a large chunk of mental book-fantasizing, but my wish list is disturbingly long. I'm very impatiently waiting for Cassandra Clare's Clockwork Prince and Gail Carriger's Heartless. Even the idea of reading Chine Mieville's Embassytown gets me shaking with excitement. And on a completely different note, I keep staring at Vladimir Nabokov's Lolita as I plan on reading it next month!


MTR: What do you when you aren't blogging or reading?


E/E: I am a college professor, teaching composition, literature, and film to (mostly) eager undergraduate students, so a great deal of my time is taken up preparing lesson plans and grading papers. I am lucky though in that preparing lesson plans involves a lot of reading books and watching movies (who can complain about that?) When I'm not working, reading, or blogging, I watch an obscene quantity of television (typically back-to-back episodes instantly streamed through Netflix). Currently I am watching Friday Night Lights, Rescue Me, and a throwback from my youth, Roswell. I am really looking forward to the season premieres of White Collar and Leverage this summer.


Please link any posts you'd like to give more attention.


E/E: I am the Director of the Speculative Fiction category for the Independent Literary Awards this year. If you have any suggestions for new release Spec Fic reads, please head over and leave your suggestions! Be sure to check out the Indie Lit Awards website as well for more information.
More information about yours truly can be found on my About Me page or on my Armchair BEA welcome post.

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Waiting on Wednesday: The Mephisto Covenant

Button from Bewitched Bookworms

Waiting on Wednesday is a weekly meme by Breaking the Spine that allows us wonderful bloggers a chance to spotlight upcoming books that we are dying to read.

This week I’m waiting on:

 

Goodreads:

Sasha is desperate to find out who murdered her father. When getting the answer means pledging her soul to Eryx, she unlocks a secret that puts her in grave danger—Sasha is Anabo, a daughter of Eve, and Eryx’s biggest threat.

A son of Hell, immortal, and bound to Earth forever, Jax looks
for redemption in the Mephisto Covenant—God’s promise he will find peace in the love of an Anabo. After a thousand years, he’s finally found the girl he’s been searching for: Sasha.

With the threat of Eryx looming, Jax has to keep Sasha safe and win her over. But can he? Will Sasha love him and give up her mortal life?

Why I'm waiting:

The cover is beautiful. The blurb I’m not sure I understand fully, but it sounds interesting with demons, God’s promise and a mate that he’s been searching for thousand’s of years.

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The Girl in the Steel Corset by Kady Cross

 

May 24th 2011, Harlequin Teen
336 pgs,E-galley
Netgalley
First in the Steampunk Chronicles series
Young Adult

From Goodreads:

In 1897 England, sixteen-year-old Finley Jayne has no one…except the "thing" inside her.

When a young lord tries to take advantage of Finley, she fights back. And wins. But no normal Victorian girl has a darker side that makes her capable of knocking out a full-grown man with one punch….

Only Griffin King sees the magical darkness inside her that says she's special, says she's one of them. The orphaned duke takes her in from the gaslit streets against the wishes of his band of misfits: Emily, who has her own special abilities and an unrequited love for Sam, who is part robot; and Jasper, an American cowboy with a shadowy secret.

Griffin's investigating a criminal called The Machinist, the mastermind behind several recent crimes by automatons. Finley thinks she can help—and finally be a part of something, finally fit in.

But The Machinist wants to tear Griff's little company of strays apart, and it isn't long before trust is tested on all sides. At least Finley knows whose side she's on—even if it seems no one believes her.

Opinion:

While this book had an interesting concept and a couple of interesting characters it was also slow in the plot department leaving me to be slightly bored, but fully in love with a couple of characters.

Jack Dandy was probably the most entertaining character in the book and as always I fell for the bad boy this was not a surprise. Griff was great as well, but perhaps a little bit too refined for my tastes.

I couldn’t get a good grasp on the character that is Finley. She was so distant throughout that it was hard to get an accurate feel for the character, but the distance is part of who she is. Who she has been formed into from fear of herself and fear of the next attack. But this aspect of her personality left me with a sense of not knowing the character.

I did not like Sam, although I was pulling for Emily to get the guy she wanted. I found Sam to be incredibly selfish and ungrateful, not to mention naïve.

Kady Cross is highly intelligent and this came across in her writing, but I felt the plot could have benefited from moving more quickly and not as much foreshadowing. I had the ending pegged within the first half of the book.

I didn’t hate it, but I didn’t love it either.

Rating:

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The Girl in the Steel Corset: Character Interview: Finley

MTR: What reaction did you have when you first experienced your abilities and darker side?

Finley: Well, I reckon I was shocked. Who wouldn't be surprised to discover she had a monster inside her? Although, it was extremely satisfying to hit that fellow who was making sport of my dress. Flew a good twenty feet, he did. Mum was quite upset -- of course I didn't know my father had been like me. Silas pretended to be angry, but he gave me a sweet and a book on pugilism after that.

MTR: What was your childhood like with your mother and step-father?

Finley: I never knew my real father, so Silas is the only one I've had. He's a good man, and loves my mum to distraction. It was odd at first, but once I learned to read and fell in love with books he and I got on just fine. I always wondered about my real dad, though. I think Mum thinks about him too. She and Silas would fight about him sometimes. That was the only time I ever heard the two of them go at one another -- when my father came up. 

MTR: What draws you to oriental fashion?

I quite fancy the look of it, plus the slits up the sides of the skirts make it right easy to do a high-kick. I'm not the kind of girl who likes all those layers of skirts and petticoats -- too cumbersome. And honestly, I think my bum looks big in trousers. 

MTR: Why did you become a servant and not simply work in your parents shop?

Don't tell Silas I said this, but I'm not sure he could afford to pay me. I didn't want to live off him and Mum. I wanted to make my own way and be independent. Besides, I made more as a lady's maid than Silas could ever pay me. Or rather, I made more while the job lasted. Can you imagine what might happen if my darker self came out while in Silas's shop? What if I hurt one of his customers? I don't want to think about it. 

MTR: Can you tell me what drew you to each of your suitors, Dandy and Grif?

Well, Jack's just a bit of naughty - what girl wouldn't like that? He's quite pretty as well, with those dark eyes of his. Jack accepts me for what I am -- or at least the darker part of me. Griffin... Griffin's gorgeous -- and very much out of my sphere, but he's so very loyal to those he loves. And he wants to help me become who I am meant to be.

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In My Mailbox

I'm skipping On My Wishlist this week, because I equal exhausted. I had an incredibly good week with a total of 12 books. As always all links go to goodreads.



As always Youtube had to chose the worst possible  pic!
Books Mentioned:
Won:
From Tynga's Reviews:Hex Hall by Rachel HawkinsDemon Glass by Rachel HawkinsT-shirtTote bag
From Lori @ Romancing the Darkside: Some Girls Bite by Chloe NeillFriday Night Bites by Chloe NeillTwice Bitten by Chloe Neill
From Beastie Books: Two Moon Princess by Carmen Ferreiro-Esteban
From Reading Housewives:Unearthly by Cynthia Hand
From Reading Teen:Eternal Ones by Kirsten Miller

For Review via the author:Heavenly by Jennifer Laurens

Bought:Strange Angels by Lili St. CrowPossessions by Nancy HolderIf I Stay by Gayle Forman

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Saturday’s Discussion: Illegal Substances

Disclaimer: I am NOT suggesting that we ban books. I am not suggesting we tell authors what they can write about. I am saying books need a rating system just like every other type of media.

Why yes, I am going to say there is a line drawn in the sand that one shouldn’t cross. This is the line I think YA shouldn’t cross in a positive manner. You can disagree. Btw…that’s the ENTIRE point of these discussion posts to disagree, to converse, to have logical discussions.


If you’ve read my review of Glimmerglass, you’ll know I have a problem with the way alcohol is treated in such a blasé way at such a young age with alcoholic parents. And if you’ve read my more recent review of Magnolia League you’ll know I have serious issues with the very blasé way marijuana is treated in this book.


Alcohol:


I don’t have conservative views on alcohol consumption. I think the legal drinking age should be lowered to 18. But should there be warnings? Hey, kids if you make this decision it can turn out this way. If you drink too much, too often you can become addicted, an alcoholic. And if you have an alcoholic mother your risk is 4 times greater than the average person to become an alcoholic yourself. (NIAAA)


Marijuana:


If you smoke pot you can lose your short term memory, mental illness (such as schizophrenia), and raise your heart rate. You can lose all ambition. Not to mention the toll it takes on your loved ones. The impaired judgment of a drugged mind can kill relationships.


Should these illegal behaviors be allowed to be shown in positive manners with no warnings whatsoever? No! Absolutely not. Should it be allowed to be shown in a positive social atmosphere with ways to get help on the book and warnings clearly written somewhere on the book? I don’t know. I’m not saying YA fiction should be a public service announcement, but it should certainly show that life isn’t perfect with these substances.


I’d love for pot to be legalized. Let’s get this stuff regulated and taxed. Laced pot can ruin a person.


Harder stuff:


I’m not getting into the harder stuff. I wouldn’t read a book with teens doing hard drugs. Especially if it was shown in a positive light. Oh, I know teens are doing everything and anything. Simply don’t need to read about it.


(I included alcohol because for those 21 and under in the U.S. it is an illegal substance)


Today’s Question:


Do illegal substances have a place in YA? Should illegal substances be portrayed positively with no warnings of their various side effects? As I feel that books should NOT be banned, should there at least be some kind of rating system as there with music, movies, videogames, etc? What are your opinions in general about illegal substances in YA fiction?

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Follow Friday

Follow Friday is a blog hop hosted by Parajunkee's View.

This week's question:

Can you tell us FIVE quirky habits or things about you? We all have them...

Answer:

Wow, umm, this is gonna be a hard one.

1) I check my email before I even get out of bed

2) My sleep schedule changes dramatically during the course of one week. When I have class I wake up at 4:30 with my husband, when I don’t have class I go to sleep at 4:30 when I wake him up. That’s why you’ll find me on twitter at super random hours. Since I’m out for the summer (first time since I was a sophomore in high school) I’m attempting to keep my schedule a day one.

3) I like body piercings and got my first one at 14 when I got my belly button pierced. I’ve since had 5 piercings. All of these are currently closed although I’ll probably get my nose re-pierced within the next year.

4) You’ll likely find me in flip-flops year round even in snow.

5) I love to change my hair. It’s been black to white with pink highlights. I haven’t seen my natural haircolor since I was 10. The roots are medium blonde. I currently want to dye it dark with blue and purple highlights underneath.

This week's question is: 


"If you were given the chance to spend one day in a fictional world (from a book), which book would it be from and what would that place be?"

Answer:



Because I've just finished these books they are at the tip of my brain, but I would love to be the Sentinental in the Chicagoland series and I would adore spending a day at the supernatural camp in Born at Midnight.

This week’s question:

What was the first book you reviewed on your blog?

Answer:

The first book in the Night Huntress series, Halfway to the Grave, by Jeaniene Frost.

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Born at Midnight by C.C. Hunter

 

  March 29th 2011, St. Martin's Griffin
416 pages, Paperback
Won from Seeing Night Reviews
First in the Shadow Falls Series
Young Adult

From Goodreads:

Don’t miss this spectacular new series that will steal your heart and haunt your dreams,  Welcome to Shadow Falls camp, nestled deep in the woods of a town called Fallen…

One night Kylie Galen finds herself at the wrong party, with the wrong people, and it changes her life forever.  Her mother ships her off to Shadow Falls—a camp for troubled teens, and within hours of arriving, it becomes painfully clear that her fellow campers aren’t just “troubled.”  Here at Shadow Falls, vampires, werewolves, shapshifters, witches and fairies train side by side—learning to harness their powers, control their magic and live in the normal world.

Kylie’s never felt normal, but surely she doesn’t belong here with a bunch of paranormal freaks either.  Or does she?  They insist Kylie is one of them, and that she was brought here for a reason. 

 As if life wasn’t complicated enough, enter Derek and Lucas.  Derek’s a half-fae who’s determined to be her boyfriend, and Lucas is a smokin’ hot werewolf with whom Kylie shares a secret past.  Both Derek and Lucas couldn’t be more different, but they both have a powerful hold on her heart. 

Even though Kylie feels deeply uncertain about everything, one thing is becoming painfully clear—Shadow Falls is exactly where she belongs…

Opinion:

The blurb does not do this book justice. This is a book about family, friends, facing your fears, and accepting yourself.

When we meet Kylie she is going through a ton of problems that fell onto her in a short amount of time. Her boyfriend breaks up with her because she won’t put out, her grandmother dies, and then her parents announce that they are getting a divorce and the father that she so loves is moving out. Not to mention the fact that she has to see a shrink after seeing things that her mother can’t and having nightmares that wake up the entire house to her screams.

The real action begins when she is sent to camp. There is no shortage of supernaturals at this camp.

Kylie is the peacemaker of her group, which consists of a vampire and witch. This book is not about romance it’s about friendship and it’s something I find lacking in YA. Kylie is devoted to her friends and her friends to her. Holiday the camp advisor is also one of her close friends as she is the only one that is like Kylie. The only annoying thing about this book is the fact that we don’t find out what Kylie is, but I’m assuming we will soon.

I could go on and on about this book as it is simply one of my favorite reads. I definitely recommend this book to anyone and everyone.

Rating: 

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Queen Bee of Bridgeton by Leslie DuBois

 

May 17th 2011, Little Prince Publishing
244 pgs., Paperback
Tour Copy from author and Teen {Book} Scene
First in the Dancing Dream Series
Young Adult Fiction

From Goodreads:

When fifteen-year-old Sonya Garrison is accepted into the prestigious Bridgeton Academy, she soon discovers that rich girls are just as dangerous as the thugs in her home of Venton Heights. Maybe more so. After catching the eye of the star, white basketball player and unwittingly becoming the most popular girl in school, she earns the hatred of the three most ruthless and vindictive girls at Bridgeton. Can she defeat the reigning high school royalty? Or will they succeed in ruining her lifelong dream of becoming a world class dancer?

Opinion:

This is so far from my usual genre I wasn’t sure I would enjoy it. What I found was a book, that I not only enjoyed, but truly loved..

Sonya is such a sweet girl with her eyes set on one goal. To be a dancer, not for the money that would help get her out of the horrible surroundings, but because of the love of dance.

She is loyal to a fault and is truly courageous, which not only makes her likable but relatable when she takes revenge on those who have damaged her reputation.

Will is an amazing partner to her internal gracefulness. He is consistently kind and doesn’t care about the poverty she was raised in. The most telling scene of his goodness involves a cow roaming the halls of the school.

I can’t wait to read the next in the series.

Rating: 4.5/5

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