Snap by Carol Snow

Summary:

Madison Sabatini thought she knew who she was: an almost-sophomore with a bright future. The newest photographer on her school paper. A shopaholic with great hair and a fabulous wardrobe. Then, in a flash, everything changed.
Now she's stuck in Sandyland, a gloomy beach town in the middle of nowhere, living with her parents in a crappy hotel "suite." Instead of spending the summer with her friends at home, she's hanging out with pink-haired Delilah, an artist who works in a shop called Psychic Photo, and a skater boy named Duncan who's totally not her type. Except, maybe he is . . .

Determined to make the best of things, Madison throws herself into her one passion: photography. But when strange figures start appearing in her pictures—people who weren't there when she snapped the shots, people who are later reported dead—she begins to question everything about who she is . . . and who she wishes she could be.
 
Review:
 
Snap is a fun and light read making it perfect for a snowy, rainy, or even chilly day stuck at home.

While Madison's character is a bit of a spoiled brat in the beginning, she was an easy character to like ( and eventually root for) as she began to show growth in becoming someone who saw that money wasn't everything. Her friends, Delilah, Duncan, and Leo, on the other hand, were more favorable to me most of the time because they each were unique and interesting, making them an absolute blast to read about.

The plot was decent and pretty interesting, but I felt that it could have been a bit better if more depth had been added. Though, I did enjoy the ghost story line along with the little romance that was added in throughout the novel.

In all, Snap is an enjoyable read, that will leave you with a smile on your face by the end. I'm looking forward to reading Carol's previous novel, Switch, as well as her future novels. 

Grade: B

Snap is now out! Also, do check out the seven chapter preview Harper Collins' offers on their site here.

Source: Publisher for review. Thanks Melissa! :)

I was interviewed....

along with a couple of bloggers by Kate at Creating Discussion- A blog about young adult materials for research for her Seminar paper dealing with reading trends, favorite books, and such. So, go check it out if you have the time. Since, it actually was quite interesting to see everyone's responses to the questions and I'm not just saying that because I was part of it. :)  

In My Mailbox (11/23 to 11/28)

In My Mailbox was started by The Story Siren. Info can be found here.

All summaries are from goodreads/amazon/ exc. 

For Review:

None (This is the first time this has happended in MONTHS, but it's all okay with me, because I'm finally getting caught up with the huge TBR pile I have.)

The Bought:

Betrayls: A Strange Angels Novel by Lili St. Crow

She’s no angel . . .



Poor Dru Anderson. Her parents are long gone, her best friend is a werewolf, and she’s just learned that the blood flowing through her veins isn’t entirely human. (So what else is new?)


Now Dru is stuck at a secret New England School for other teens like her, and there’s a big problem— she’s the only girl in the place. A school full of cute boys wouldn’t be so bad, but Dru’s killer instinct says that one of them wants her dead. And with all eyes on her, discovering a traitor within the Order could mean a lot more than social suicide. . .

Can Dru survive long enough to find out who has betrayed her trust—and maybe even her heart?

While I was only slightly impressed with the first one, I keep hearing the most fantastic things about this which leaves me to totally want to read this one! :)


I also went shopping on Saturday and got some amazing deals on DVDs/CDs/ and such for presents, but since my family and friends read my blog, I don't think it's the best idea to post exactly what I got. Though, I did get a really cute shirt for myself at Kohls for only $7! 

The Borrowed:

None

Look at this!

Okay, so I was just browsing around on the internet when I found out that Meg Cabot has a brand new book coming out under Harper Collin's William Morrow Division which I find to be totally squeal worthy. Since, I loved every single one of adult series which include Queen of Babble Series (Seriously READ it!), Heather Wells Series (Again seriously READ it!), and Boy Trilogy (Amazing!). 

Anyway, here's all the info I could find. Though, please do be aware that this info may change, of course, over the time between now and it's publication date.

Insatiable by Meg Cabot

A brilliantly funny modern day sequel to Dracula with the kind of twist only New York Times bestselling author Meg Cabot can imagine!

Sick of vampires? So is Meena Harper.

But her boss is making her write about them anyway, even though Meena doesn’t believe in them.

Not that Meena isn’t familiar with the supernatural. See, Meena Harper knows how you’re going to die (not that you’re going to believe her; no one ever does).

But not even Meena’s precognition can prepare her for what happens when she meets—then makes the mistake of falling in love with—Lucien Antonescu, a modern-day prince with a bit of a dark side . . . a dark side a lot of people, like an ancient society of vampire-hunters, ould prefer to see him dead for.

The problem is, he already is dead. Maybe that’s why he’s the first guy Meena’s ever met that she could see herself having a future with. See, while Meena’s always been able to see everyone else’s future, she’s never been able look into her own.

And while Lucien seems like everything Meena has ever dreamed of in a boyfriend, he might turn out to be more like a nightmare.

Now might be a good time for Meena to start learning to predict her own future . . .

If she even has one.

Coming June 8, 2010! Exicted?!? I sure am!

T2T: Ice by Sarah Beth Durst

Summary:

When Cassie was a little girl, her grandmother told her a fairy tale about her mother, who made a deal with the Polar Bear King and was swept away to the ends of the earth. Now that Cassie is older, she knows the story was a nice way of saying her mother had died. Cassie lives with her father at an Arctic research station, is determined to become a scientist, and has no time for make-believe.

Then, on her eighteenth birthday, Cassie comes face-to-face with a polar bear who speaks to her. He tells her that her mother is alive, imprisoned at the ends of the earth. And he can bring her back -- if Cassie will agree to be his bride.

That is the beginning of Cassie's own real-life fairy tale, one that sends her on an unbelievable journey across the brutal Arctic, through the Canadian boreal forest, and on the back of the North Wind to the land east of the sun and west of the moon. Before it is over, the world she knows will be swept away, and everything she holds dear will be taken from her -- until she discovers the true meaning of love and family in the magical realm of Ice.

Review:

Ice was a magical and spellbinding novel from the very first page to the last.

The world Sarah Beth Durst created in this novel was simply amazing, I loved the idea of Munaqsris and atmosphere she created for them around it. Plus, she described everything in such vivid detail that was never too much or too little.

Further more, I adored (and envied at times) the love that Bear and Cassie shared, even if it was a bit strange. Since, it was just so real and wasn't that usual  love at first sight thing that you tend to get from Young Adult novels. Instead it was something that both worked towards achieving  by turning from slight enemies to friends to finally something romantic. Also, I adored how it was shown that both would go the end of the world for the other no matter what.

As I kind of mentioned above, Sarah's writing was so easy to get caught up in. Since, there was always a new twist, turn, or character added that simply changed everything around, leaving this to be one story that was a absolute pain to have to put down. 
 
In all, Ice was a fantastic story that I hope everyone will have the chance to read because it really is that great. 
 
Grade: A
 
Ice is now out!
 
* Source: Publisher in exchange for review for blog tour. Thanks Simon and Schuster!

This review was part of a Traveling To Teen Tour, to find out more about past and future tours as well as contests, please visit the website. Also, as you can tell, this post is a bit late. So, Yan, please do  forgive me for that.

Secrets Girls Keep: What Girls Hide (& Why) and How to Break the Stress of Silence by Carrie Silver-Stock

Summary:

Girls love secrets. In many ways, teen girls are trapped by the cult of secrecy that exists today. It is as part of this cult that so many girls hide their depression, eating disorders, pregnancies, and sexual relationships.

Secrets Girls Keep shows teens that when they help share their stories without judgment, they begin to break down the walls and ensure better and safer choices for their futures. Many girls today struggle with feelings of low confidence, loneliness, rejection, and depression and then look to unsafe sex, drugs and alcohol for comfort and answers. This book shares the personal stories of other girls as they share their secrets, showing the reader that she is not alone in her struggles. Each chapter tackles a separate issue that is relevant to teenage girls today along with stories and seven secrets they can use to overcome the issues discussed in each chapter.

The book helps girls to think for themselves and explore their own feelings about these issues and gives them ways to open dialogue with parents, teachers, and others. Secrets Girls Keep is easy to read, includes fun quizzes, and it is written through teen voices

Review:

 

Self help books ( which is what Secrets That Girls Keep is)  can go in a lot of ways. Some are way too preachy, some are just so annoying you want to throw them at a wall and never look back, and some are just the kind of book that you feel like everyone should read because of the greatness contained inside. Secrets Girls Keep was the last of the three, thankfully.

In Secrets Girls Keep there were a list called " Seven Tips Every Girl Needs to Deal with Any Problems" which I personally found to be really easy for any teen girl to apply to their own problems from Beauty to Boys to Funky Family Stuff. Plus, it even gave you a step by step look at they can be applied to every issue in the book which was helpful. Further more, I loved how Carrie included wide range of topics in the book that covered almost all the basses for every category.

Though, the one thing I wasn't too found of was how sometimes Carrie's tone could become a bit "preachy" ( which is a big no no for me as the reader which you can tell from above), but these little chunks were far and few, leaving it to be no that big of a nuisance.

In all, this book is a great read for teens, because I seriously doubt you won't be able to find at least one situation in the book that your dealing with currently or have in the past.

Grade: B

Secrets Girls Keep: What Girls Hide (& Why) and How to Break the Stress of Silence is now out!

 * Source: Publisher! Much thanks goes to BC!

My 2010 Debut Author Challenge List!

The Story Siren is hosting a 2010 Debut Author Challenge this upcoming year and since I participated in her 2009 one (and completed it!) I've decided to take part in this one, too! 

 

Here's some info about the challange directly form The Story Siren's site:

 

• The objective is to read a set number of YA (Young Adult) or MG (Middle Grade) novels from debut authors published this year.* I'm going to challenge everyone to read at least 12 debut novels! I’m hoping to read at least 30! You don’t have to list your choices right away, but if you do feel free to change them throughout the year. I will also be focusing on mostly Young Adult novels.
• Anyone can join, you don’t need a blog to participate. If you don’t have a blog you can always share your views by posting a review on Amazon.com/BarnesandNoble.com/GoodReads/Shelfari, or any other bookish site.
• The challenge will run from January 1, 2010- December 31, 2010. You can join at anytime!

 
So, if you would like to take part in the fun, please do head over to her blog and sign up.

Here's my list:

1. Tagged by Mara Purnhagen
2. Three Rivers Rising by Jame Richards
3. Nice and Mean by Jessica Leader
4. The Tension of Opposites by Kristina McBride
5. Bleeding Violet by Dia Reeves
6.  Harmonic Feedback by Tara Kelly
7. Shadow Hills by Anastasia Hopcus
8. The Rise of Renegade X by Chelsea Campbell
9. Shade by Jeri Smith-Ready
10. Iron King by Julie Kagawa
11. The Mark by Jen Nadol
12. Forget-Her-Nots by Amy Brecount White
13. Nevermore Kelly Creagh
14. Everlasting by Angie Frazier
15. The Cinderella Society by Kay Cassidy
16. The Line by Teri Hall
17. Under My Skin by Judith Graves
18. Split by Swati Avasthi
19. Leaving Gee's Bend by Irene Latham
20. Princess for Hire by Lindsey Leavitt
21. Faithful by Janet Fox
22. The Naughty List by Suzanne Young
23. Mistwood by Leah Cypess
24. Freaksville by Kitty Keswisk
25. The Body Finder by Kimberly Derting
26. Restoring Harmony by Joelle Anthony
27. Dirty Little Secrets Cynthia Omololu
28. Angel Star by Jennifer Murgia
29. The Stillburrow Crush by Linda Kage
30. The Absolute Value of 1 by Steve Brezenoff
31. Shooting Kabul by Naheed Hasnat
32. Losing Faith by Denise Jaden
33. Change of Heart by Shari Maurer
34. 13 to Life by Shannon Reinbold-Gee
35. The Ghost and the Goth by Stacey Kade
36. Nightshade by Andrea Cremer

 

*More Will be Added as Time Goes On*

Winners of Medina Hill!

The four lucky winners are:

Kelsey (krae991)
Good Golly Miss Holly

Sandra K321

Orchid

I've sent you all an email, so be sure to respond in the next 72 hours or I'll have to pick a new winner(s). Congrats!!

Didn't win? Well, be sure to test your luck again in any of the contests listed above! :)

Waiting on Wednesday: Week 54

The Education of Bet by Lauren Bartaz- Logsted

Bet is sixteen, very intelligent, but only knows as much as her limited education will allow. In Victorian England, girls aren't allowed to go to school.

Will is also 16, and though not related by blood, he and Bet act like brother and sister. In fact, they even look like brother and sister. And though they're both raised under the same roof, by the same kind uncle, Will has one big advantage over Bet: He's a boy, and being a boy means he isn't stuck in the grand house they call home. He gets to go out into the world--to school.

But that's not what Will wishes. He wants to join the military and learn about real life, not what's written in books.
So one night, Bet comes up with a plan. She'll go to school as Will. Will can join the military. And though it seems impossible, they actually manage to pull it off.

But once Bet gets to the school, she begins to realize the education she's going to get isn't exactly the one she was expecting.

I enjoyed Lauren's previous novel, Crazy Beautiful, so I'm hoping I'll like this one just as much, if not more. Though, I don't have an worries because the summary makes the book sound amazing and I LOVE the cover!
 
The Education of Bet will be released July 12, 2010!

In My Mailbox (11/16 to 11/20)

I am "stealing" this from The Story Siren. If you want to find out more about it click here. Anyway, these are books I got this week at the bookstore, library, and in the mail, of course.

For Review:

The Unwritten Rule by Elizabeth Scott (I'm reading it now and it's so freaking good!!!!)
The Dark Divine by Bree Despain (I've heard some very fantastic things about this.)
Of All Stupid Things by Alexandra Diaz ( Adore the cover of this one!)
Scones and Sensibility by Lindsay Eland ( Looks cute!)
Secrets Girls Keep by Carrie Silver- Stock ( Read this past week, so review should be coming soon.)

The Bought:

I ended up going to a book signing on Friday down in Doylestown at Doylestown Books and got to listen to three amazing authors talk about there books. Who were those authors you may ask? Well, the amazing people who have written many unforgettable novels- Jay Asher, Laurie Halse Anderson, and Lauren Myracle. It was so much fun listing to them talk and answer questions. 

Some things mentioned were:

• Before Lauren sold her first book she had gone through about 148 rejections! I really couldn’t believe that. Oh, and Laurie and Jay also stated that they had gone through a great deal themselves before finally selling their first books.
• Lauren passed around an ARC of one of her newest books ( due out in May 2010!), Thirteen Plus One, which continues Winnie's story ( the main character in Eleven, Twelve, and Thirteen) and let me tell you it has such a cute cover! Oh, and she also told us that because of bookstores lack of support in the title Fourteen ( Apparently it was TOO SCARY. lol.) the title morphed into Thirteen Plus One.
• Jay has the tendency to edit while writing and not go back and do so simply because if he doesn’t feel totally blown away when reading his previous day's work all he wants to do is through his hands up in the air and call it quits, while Laurie said she writes about seven drafts overall.
• All three talked about how long it takes them to write a book. Laurie said about a year, Lauren a couple of months, and it took Jay a couple of years, I think he said, to write 13 Reasons Why. Also, Lauren said that the book she currently is writing she started in June (??) and has to be turned in by December!
• Laurie said the success to finding time to write is not watching TV, much to the dismay of Lauren.
• Jay said that 13 Reasons Why was actually inspired by a true story in his life which included a relative trying to attempt suicide. Luckily, she was saved before she could do herself all harm, leaving her to tell her story to Jay over the years.
• Laurie's Wintergirls was also inspired by her life which caused this to be one of the hardest book she written and one that often left her in tears when working on it. 

While, there where many other things mentioned, I don't have the time to type more out. So, that's all. I was planning to post some pictures from the event, but my pictures didn't come out that well, sadly.

Though, Lauren Myracle posted some pics from the event here, Jay Asher did here, and here are pictures of the title pages of the books I got signed! :)

Thirteen Reasons Why by Jay Asher ( Such an amazing book!)

( It says: Everything affects everything; just in case you can't read what he wrote.)

TTYL by Lauren Myracle ( Another great book!)

( It says: Laurens of the world Unite! Yaaay!; ; just in case you can't read what she wrote)

Wintergirls by Laurie Halse Anderson ( One of the most amazing books I've read this past year!)

( It says: Taste Life!; ; just in case you can't read what she wrote)

Overall: What a fantastic week! :)

Leaving Paradise by Simone Elkeles

Summary:

Nothing has been the same since Caleb Becker left a party drunk, got behind the wheel, and hit Maggie Armstrong. Even after months of painful physical therapy, Maggie walks with a limp. Her social life is nil and a scholarship to study abroad-her chance to escape everyone and their pitystares-has been canceled. After a year in juvenile jail, Caleb's free . . . if freedom means endless nagging from a transition coach and the prying eyes of the entire town. Coming home should feel good, but his family and ex-girlfriend seem like strangers.
Caleb and Maggie are outsiders, pigeon-holed as "criminal" and "freak." Then the truth emerges about what really happened the night of the accident and, once again, everything changes. It's a bleak and torjourney for Caleb and Maggie, yet they end up finding comfort and strength from a surprising source: each other.
 
Review:
 
Leaving Paradise was a beautifully written and breathtaking story about finding hope and love when you think you have lost everything.


Caleb and Maggie were crafted in a way that made them truly jump of the page and come to life, allowing you to become intertwined in the story from the first page. I enjoyed reading about both equally. Since while both had major flaws at times, it was hard to not have the urge to root for them to overcome what people thought of them because of the accident.

Further more, I adored the plot which was filled with constant twists and turns that made you stop every once in a while and go "Wow! I can't believe this is happening." Also, it was interesting to see how a lot of Leaving Paradise was based on coincidences like how Caleb and Maggie ended up working for the same lady. My only complaint would have to be the ending, which I found to be a bit too  abrupt for my liking. Lucky for me and all the other readers out there who loved Leaving Paradise there's a sequel coming out next year! :)

Overall, all I can say is that you have to read this, because it's just that great! Oh, and fantastic job yet again Simone Elkeles! 

Grade: A+

Leaving Paradise is out every where and even has a snazy new cover that is featured above.

Source: Bought from a book store that goes by the name Barnes and Noble.

Waiting On Wednesday: Week 53

My pick this week is:

Faithful by Janet Fox

A gorgeous epic romance, ideal for fans of Eva Ibbotson and Luxe.

Sixteen-year-old Maggie Bennet’s life is in tatters. Her mother has disappeared, and is presumed dead. The next thing she knows, her father has dragged Maggie away from their elegant Newport home, off on some mad excursion to Yellowstone in Montana. Torn from the only life she’s ever known, away from her friends, from society, and verging on no prospects, Maggie is furious and devastated by her father’s betrayal. But when she arrives, she finds herself drawn to the frustratingly stubborn, handsome Tom Rowland, the son of a park geologist, and to the wild romantic beauty of Yellowstone itself. And as Tom and the promise of freedom capture Maggie’s heart, Maggie is forced to choose between who she is and who she wants to be.

Oooh, this book looks so good and the cover is soo gourgous, no? :) Plus, it even has a sequel called Indigo Blues coming out 2011, which is fantastic thing if it turns out I love Faithful as much as I think I will.

Faithfull will be released May 2010!

Contest for Five Minutes More and Responsible or Saving Grace and Rules for Life

Thanks to Darlene Ryan I have two awesome prize packs to give to two lucky winners!

Prize pack #1 will included the following books along with some other goodies:

Five More Minutes More

“I play the Five Minutes More game. Five minutes. I can stand anything for five minutes. Even my father being dead.”
D’Arcy desperately wants her father’s death to have been an accident. Then she learns the truth. Why would her father choose suicide? Why didn’t she see the signs? How will she manage alone? Then D’Arcy becomes friends with Seth. Now will things get back to normal or will she have to call on strengths she didn’t know she had to make a new kind of normal, five minutes at a time?
 

 Responsible

 
"Teachers, for the most part, don’t know anything about real life. If they did they’d have much better jobs than teaching geometry and the history of the stupid middle ages to a bunch of kids who aren’t listening anyway.”

Kevin Frasier is in a new high school—his fourth so far. When he falls in with Nick and his friends, Kevin ends up going along as they bully and threaten their way through the school. Then Nick starts tormenting Erin. When she stands up to him the harassment takes a dangerous turn and Kevin is forced to be responsible for his choices.

Prize Pack #2 will include the following books along with some other goodies:

Saving Grace

“I looked over toward the counter and saw a police officer standing there with his back to me. I couldn’t breathe and my feet seemed to be stuck to the ground."
Fifteen year-old Evie has kidnapped the child her father made her give up for adoption. On the run with her reluctant boyfriend and a sick baby, Evie struggles to figure out what being a mother really means.

Rules For Life
Rules # 41: If it’s dirty, wash it. If it’s hungry, feed it. If it’s broke, it’s Jason.
Izzy’s mother had a rule for every circumstance, and since her death Izzy has used those rules to get by. But now her dad is planning to get married—to a woman Izzy barely knows, her friend, Mrs. Mac, is sneaking contraband sausage and her big brother Jason is…well, being Jason. As Izzy tries to fix things she discovers that sometimes you have to make up the rules as you go along.
A touching, often funny story of love an acceptance, Rules for Life is a reminder that while we can’t choose the family we were born with, we can choose the people we take along for the ride.

How To Enter:

Fill out this form! Not filling out form equals no entry.

Extra Entries:

follower prior to the contest. (+2)

follower for the contest. (+1)

linked to this contest from Twitter, Sidebar, exc. (+1 for each time)

dedicated a whole post to this contest. (+5)

left a comment on the contest post. ( +1)

went to Darlene's website and tell me something you learned. (+1)

Ends:

December 8 and is open to USA and Canada!.

GOOD LUCK!!

Contest for EXPLORER X - Alpha and Poster!

Thanks to L.M. and her awesome publisher, I have a copy of Explorer X- Alpha to giveaway to one lucky person!

Here's the summary:

For most kids, a trip to space camp is a trip of a lifetime, for Aadi it was life altering. After receiving a camp immunization needed for travel to Mars, Aadi finds that the immunization is the catalyst of an insidious experiment. Lucky for him, he was engineered to survive, thrive, and dominate. Without realizing he is being trained to conquer worlds, and manipulated under the guise of a camp, he unfolds the plot too late for a change of fate. Aadi’s world is shaken upon the revelation that life before camp was not what it appeared. This solidifies his plan to save them all from the company that seeks to control him, only for his rescue to end abruptly due to a freak accident on a field trip to Mars. The full experiment is set in motion when he and his co-pilot, Eirena, crash in a distant galaxy called Shrenas, where they change and realize the full extent of their power. Holding onto his humanity, in the midst of turning into a god is Aadi's biggest battle yet. This turn of events causes him to put his childish thoughts away, forcing him to accept his change, and to decide to save a world, or to do what he was trained to do, dominate it. In the midst his struggles with his changes, his power is coveted by the warring leaders of Shrenas, and he is forced to choose sides to save a life, or to save himself. A decision that may prove just how much humanity he has left.

How to Enter:

Per L.M. Preston's  request, you have become a follower of her blog which is located here. Then please fill out the form: 

Extra Enteries:

They are continued within the form. Though, I thought that some of you may want to see them before hand, so here they are:

follower prior to the contest. (+2)

follower for the contest. (+1)

linked to this contest from Twitter, Sidebar, exc. (+1 for each time)

dedicated a whole post to this contest. (+5)

left a comment on the contest post. ( +1)

commented on L.M.'s guest post which is listed below contest post (+1)

counted up entries. (+1)

Ends:

December 7th. Is open to all United States residents, sorry international readers, though I will hopefully be having a contest for you all soon. Since, I do have over 500 followors now, which I personally think calls for celebration. =)

GOOD LUCK!!

Can Teenager's Really Fall In Love?: A Guest Post by Author L.M Preston!

L.M Preston is the debut author of Explorer X- Alpha which is coming out February 7, 2010! So, without a futher ado, here's L.M.'s guest post!

~~~~

CAN A TEENAGER FALL IN LOVE?


I was hunting around on my favorite writer’s hang out on AW (Absolute Write Forums) and the topic of teen love came up. The question alluded to, ‘Does a teenager really fall in love?’ My honest opinion, why couldn’t they? In my book EXPLORER X – Alpha I tease on some of the facets of pre-teen love as I remembered it.

QUALITIES OF TEEN LOVE

I remember being in love as a teenager only about three times. Yep, three times. Each love was so fascinating, intense, exciting, all consuming, obsessive and hurt so badly when it ended. I would write the boys name in my notebook over and over again. I would think about them every free moment of the day. When I kissed that boy, it felt as though he was the sun and the moon of my very life at that time.


If I could bottle that up and sell it, it would be called LOVE POTION #9.

QUALITIES OF ADULT LOVE

For me, love as an adult, was a lot slower to burn than teenaged love. As an adult, I only allowed myself to fall in love with one person. The difference between my teen love and my adult love was drastic. As an adult, I was cautious, skeptical, held back a lot of myself until the guy proved that he was trustworthy, worth my time, interesting enough to hold my interest, and sexy enough to keep me attracted.


Did it have the intensity of teen love? No, not because I didn’t feel the things I felt for my love as a teenager. I didn't have the hormone high that I did as a teenager, or the time to obsess on the boy I was in love with. Also, as an adult I was just too jaded, mistrustful, and too smart to let anyone consume me that didn’t show that they were truly interested. Not to mention, the end of those teenaged love affairs were just too darned painful.

MY ANSWER TO THE QUESTION

Yes, teenagers can fall in love. All love starts out as an infatuation. It starts with attraction, hunger, excitement, the chase, and hopefully ends in true love. True love, which consists of trust, passion, comfort, attraction, bonding, and most of all friendship, is worth the ride whether it ends badly or last forever.


In my case, a teen love became my adult love. As teenagers we broke up, but stayed friends. As adults we found that were a good match, and laughed at our antics in our relationship as teenagers. What ever happened to the boy I fell madly in love with at fifteen, broke up with, and stayed friends with? He is now my husband of seventeen years. Yes, at times I do allow myself to feel all those things for him I did as a teenager, but my adult ways still makes me cautious to let it totally consume me.

REFLECTIONS ABOUT LOVE

My motto is and will always be, live your life and enjoy the adventure of it all. That means whenever love is lost or you stumble along the way. Get up, dust off, plaster a smile on your face and focus on the exhilaration of the experience of love, of life, of failures, of pain, of recovery, and the adventure and experience of being able to live, learn, and to have loved.
 
~~~~
 
Thanks so much, L.M.!

In My Mailbox ( 11/9 to 11/14)

I am "stealing" this from The Story Siren. If you want to find out more about it click here. Anyway, these are books I got this week at the bookstore, library, and in the mail, of course.

For Review:

Nanny Returns by Emma Mclaughlin and Nicola Kraus ( Looking forward reading to this!)

Ten years after her original misadventures in babysitting, Nan returns to NYC in this saucy sequel to the phenomenal bestseller The Nanny Diaries. Now married and pondering motherhood herself, the recovering caregiver is about to get a whole new perspective on childrearing. Her trouble former charge bursts back into her life and her new consulting business introduces her to nannying's sophisticated older sister: private school. With the same biting wit and tender heart that marked the original, this long-awaited follow-up skewers the elite culture of "outsourced parenting" on the razor-sharp tip of a 21st-century Mary Poppins umbrella. It's as funny as it is affecting: call it chicklit with a conscience.

The Bought:

Ballads of Suburbia by Stephanie Kuehnert ( I've heard SO MANY great things about this one!)

Ballads are the kind of songs that Kara McNaughton likes best. Not the cliched ones where a diva hits her highest note or a rock band tones it down a couple of notches for the ladies, but the true ballads: the punk rocker or the country crooner telling the story of their life in three minutes, the chorus reminding their listeners of the numerous ways to screw things up. In high school, Kara helped maintain the "Stories of Suburbia" notebook, which contained newspaper articles about bizarre and often tragic events from suburbs all over and personal vignettes that Kara dubbed "ballads" written by her friends in Oak Park, a suburb of Chicago. Those "ballads" were heartbreakingly honest tales of the moments when life changes and a kid is forced to grow up too soon. But Kara never wrote her own ballad. Before she could figure out what her song was about, she was leaving town after a series of disastrous events at the end of her junior year. Four years later, Kara returns to face the music, and tells the tale of her first three years of high school with her friends' "ballads" interspersed throughout.

Shrinking Violet by Danielle Joseph ( Took me forever to finally get my hands on this. Ugh, bad Barnes and Noble. lol )

High school senior Teresa Adams is so painfully shy that she dreads speaking to anyone in the hallways or getting called on in class.

But in the privacy of her bedroom with her iPod in hand, she rocks out - doing mock broadcasts for Miami's hottest FM radio station, which happens to be owned by her stepfather. When a slot opens up at The SLAM, Tere surprises herself by blossoming behind the mike into confident, sexy Sweet T - and to everyone's shock, she's a hit!

Even Gavin, the only guy in school who she dares to talk to, raves about the mysterious DJ's awesome taste in music. But when The SLAM announces a songwriting contest -- and a prom date with Sweet T is the grand prize - Sweet T's dream could turn into Tere's worst nightmare...

 

And this isn't book related, but I'm still supper excited about it!!

 

Glee: The Music, Volume 1 

 

This is defnitly one of the best shows of the Fall '09 season which I personally think everyone should watch! :) My favorite songs from the soundtrack would probably be: Defying Gravity, Sweet Carolina, Alone, Maybe This Time..... well basically they all are my favorites. lol. So, are there any other Glee fans out there that read this blog?!?

 

The Borrowed:

  Charmed and Dangerous: The Rise of the Pretty Committee by Lisi Harrison ( Yes, I do read this series, don't laugh. lol. Though, I do seriously give props to Lisi for writing each and everyone of these herself and not handing it off to a ghost writer.)

Happy New Clique!

Once upon a time, in Westchester and Orlando, there were four betas just waiting for their alpha. It took a miracle to bring the Pretty Committee together--or rather, a New Year's Yves party. Because sometimes when you meet someone, it just cliques.

Massie Block: Is destined to lead, but trapped as a beta in the Ahnabees, the top clique at PMS (Presbyterian Middle School). She has ah-mazing ideas--Friday night sleepovers, Gossip Points, and atching charm bracelets. When will it be her time to rule.

Alicia Rivera: Is dying to lead the Body Alive Dance Studio Squad. With the captain on vaca­tion, BADSS's live performance on Merri Lee Marvil's New Year's Yves show is her chance to shine. Will she prove herself alpha-worthy--or will she need to find a whole new clique?

Dylan Marvil: Is done, done, and done with people kissing her teeny-tiny butt just because her mom is famous. But who would be brave enough to stand up to someone so Marvilous.

Kristen Gregory: Has made a New Year's reso­lution to make friends and get a life. Escape from Planet Loser starts . . . now!

Claire Lyons: Is psyched times ten to win a last-minute invitation to the New Year's Yves satellite party in Orlando. But first she needs to sneak out of the house. And the countdown to midnight begins in ten . . . nine . . . eight . . .

The Clique . . . the only thing harder than getting in is staying in.

Two Winners- Hold Still and Cleopatra’s Daughter!

I finally had the time the other night to tally up all the entries for my Hold Still and Cleopatra’s Daughter contests. So, without a further ado:

The winner of Cleopatra’s Daughter  is Rebecca of Rebecca's Book Blog!!

The winner of Hold Still is Maura!

Congrats you two!! :)

Contest for an ARC of Goth Girl Rising

Since, I recevied two copies of this, I have decided to give one away. :)

Here's the summmary:

Time is a funny thing in the hospital. In the mental ward. You lose track of it easily.


After six months in the Maryland Mental Health Unit, Kyra Sellers, a.k.a. Goth Girl, is going home. Unfortunately, she's about to find out that while she was away, she lost track of more than time. Kyra is back in black, feeling good, and ready to make up with the only person who's ever appreciated her for who she really is. But then she sees him. Fanboy. Transcended from everything he was into someone she barely recognizes. And the anger and memories come rushing back.


There's so much to do to people when you're angry. Kyra's about to get very busy.

How to enter:

Fill out the entry form below which is required for entry. Though, you can still leave a comment below for an extra entry, if you would like.

Ends:

November 27th and is open to all US and Canada residents.

GOOD LUCK!

How to Ruin your Boyfriends Reputation by Simone Elkeles

Summary:

Guess who’s jetting off to the Holy Land this summer!

Yes, it’s me—Amy Nelson-Barakmy Nelson-Barak. I’ve volunteered for ten days of military training in Israel with my friends. The Sababa brochure said it would be a “fun” summer experience. Okay, so I didn’t sign up to prove I’m not a princess…I did it to surprise my hot Israeli boyfriend stationed at the same base.

Too bad nobody told me:

- It’s hot in the Negev desert…like, so hot your makeup melts off and you get under-boob sweat spots.
- You can’t sleep in until 11 a.m.
- You shouldn’t kill bees with your flatiron—don’t ask.
- Peeing in a hole isn’t easy (when you’re a girl)—double don’t ask.

When I find out our team leader is my boyfriend Avi, I’m totally psyched…until I learn he has to treat me like all the other recruits. Can you say OY VEY!

Review:

How To Ruin your Boyfriend’s Reputation is yet another hilarious addition to Simone Elkeles' How To Ruin.. series. A series that I highly suggest all check out because of the following reasons.

For one, Amy is a character that is so easy to like and relate to which leaves me to personally think that Simone perfectly captures the teen voice within her. Plus, I like how Amy and Avi's relationship is realistic in the problems that they face, such as the long distance and staying true to one another. Oh, and Avi's sweetness/ hotness totally adds to how much I adore these books.

Another thing that I enjoy about this series is that the different plots that contained are ones that are never exactly alike. Since, seriously you get a whole new journey with every book.

In all, How To Ruin your Boyfriend’s Reputation is a cute and funny read that proves yet again just how great of a writer Simone is! Oh, and I really hope there's going to be a 4th book to this series that is coming out soon. :)

Grade: A+

How To Ruin your Boyfriend’s Reputation is now out!

Source of book: Bought from Barnes and Noble!

Waiting On Wednesady: Week 52

My pick this week is a book by one of my favorite authors ever:

The Lighter Side of Life and Death by C.K. Kelly Martin

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.


The Lighter Side of Life and Death is the sexy, soulful story of one confused boy, two girls, and all the complications that ensue—a romantic feel-good love story that celebrates friendship, first love, first lust, and second chances.

My Thoughts:

ME WANT, ME WANT, ME WANT! :)  Seriously, I'm dying to read this book, even more after seeing the amazing cover featured above and reading chapter 1 here.

The Lighter Side of Life and Death is coming to a store near you May 25, 2010!

Stunning Covers: Take One!

( This was partly inspired by The Story Siren's Books To Pine Posts, but mostly it's just me wanting to talk about books that are coming out in what seems like the way distant future. :) )

I recently came upon several Young Adult 2010 catalogs which are filled with SOOO many great books! Seriously, I think I've added over 200 books to my wishlist over the past couple of days. :)

Anyway, with this I decided to give you all I glance at some of the titles that I'm personally dying to read and would love to talk about!

The Extroaordinary Secrets of April, May, and June by Robin Benway ( This looks sooo fantastic!)

Three sisters, three extraordinary, life-changing powers!

I hugged my sisters and they fit against my sides like two jigsaw pieces that would never fit anywhere else. I couldn’t imagine ever letting them go again, like releasing them would be to surrender the best parts of myself.

Three sisters share a magical, unshakeable bond in this witty high-concept novel from the critically acclaimed author of Audrey, Wait! Around the time of their parents’ divorce, sisters April, May, and June recover special powers from childhood—powers that come in handy navigating the hell that is high school. Powers that help them cope with the hardest year of their lives. But could they have a greater purpose?

April, the oldest and a bit of a worrier, can see the future. Middle-child May can literally disappear. And baby June reads minds—everyone’s but her own. When April gets a vision of disaster, the girls come together to save the day and reconcile their strained family. They realize that no matter what happens, powers or no powers, they’ll always have each other.

Because there’s one thing stronger than magic: sisterhood.

 

Spells by Aprilynne Pike ( Haven't read the first one yet, but I coudln't resist posting the cover ( so pretty!) and summary)

Six months have passed since Laurel saved the gateway to the faerie realm of Avalon. Now she must spend her summer there and hone her skills as a Fall faerie. But Laurel quickly realizes that her human family and friends are still in mortal danger and the gateway to Avalon is more compromised than ever.

When it comes time to protect those she loves, will she depend on David, her human boyfriend, for help? Or will she turn to Tamani, the electrifying faerie with whom her connection is undeniable?

In this stunning follow-up to the #1 nationally bestselling Wings, Aprilynne Pike continues to weave Laurel’s story with unique magic, heartstopping action, and thrilling romance. Spells will leave teens breathlessly awaiting the next novel.

The Reckoning by Kelley Armstrong ( I adore this sereis!)

Chloe Saunders would love to be normal.

But she’s not.

For one thing, Chloe’s having a hard time dealing with her feelings for both an irritable, antisocial werewolf and his charming, sweet-tempered brother—who just happens to be a sorcerer—and she’s leaning toward the werewolf. Not normal.

She and her friends are also on the run from an evil corporation that wants to get rid of them—permanently. Definitely not normal.

In this final installment to the tremendously popular Darkest Powers trilogy, which includes New York Times bestsellers The Summoning and The Awakening, Kelley Armstrong delivers another irresistible combination of supernatural suspense and high-action thrills. This fast-paced finale is the best in the series!

And finally, Chloe is a genetically altered necromancer who can raise the dead, rotting corpses and all, without even trying. As far away from normal as it gets.

Brilliant by Rachel Vail ( I love Rachel's books!)

Consistently praised by readers and reviewers for her authenticity, warmth, wit, and penetrating insight, Rachel Vail brings her finely honed voice to the issues closest to the hearts of teen readers—friendship, school, family, love, and growing up.
In Brilliant, the conclusion to the Avery sisters trilogy, Rachel Vail delivers the ultimate summer story. Sixteen-year-old Quinn is in love, but it’s not that simple. Quinn is just about perfect: She doesn’t make a fuss—even when her family is facing the loss of their home and a financial meltdown; she doesn’t get angry—even when her younger sister screams her head off straight in Quinn’s direction; and she certainly does not fall head-over-heels for a guy totally out of her league and then mistakenly go off and kiss her sister’s boyfriend…till now.
Rachel Vail concludes her compelling sisterhood trilogy with her most dramatic story yet. Timely, poignant, witty, and heartwarming, Brilliant is the perfect conclusion to Vail’s interconnected and inspiring sister stories.

Stranded by J.T. Dutton ( Stunning cover!)

Who abandoned Baby Grace?
A farmer’s discovery in his cornfield thrusts a small farm town into a raging media frenzy—and Kelly Louise into a new home. Who knew a person could feel so completely stranded somewhere with national news coverage?
How is Kelly Louise supposed to shed her virginal status when the baby in the cornfield shadows her every hair flip, every wink? And the one boy around who rates anywhere near acceptable on the Maximum Man Scale only has eyes for her cousin, Natalie (who only has eyes for Jesus).
But Natalie has a secret. Everyone is so busy burying the truth about Baby Grace, they can’t see who they’re burying alive.
Welcome to Heaven, Iowa.

Compromised By Heidi Ayarbe ( Again, this looks great!)

With a con-man dad and a long-gone mom, the only thing that makes sense to Maya is science. In fact, every time her dad’s cons go wrong, she has a scientific way to fix it, to keep both of them safe and together.


Only this time Maya’s scientific method doesn’t work. She finds herself stuck in an orphanage, and then living on the street, where scientific laws don’t apply, with two unlikely allies, and she has to learn to live on instinct alone. But when Maya goes off in search of an aunt she’s never met in hopes of finding some semblance of stability in her chaotic world, she finds something even more important: her own strength.

Wayfarer by R.J. Anderson ( Oooh, I've been dying to read this since I read R.J.'s debut novel!)
 
The faeries of the oak are dying, and it's up to a lone fairy named Linden to find a way to restore their magic. Linden travels bravely into dangerous new territory, where she enlists the help of an unlikely friend—a human named Timothy. Soon they discover something much worse than the Oakenfolk’s loss of magic: a potent evil that threatens the fate of all faeries. In a fevered, desperate chase across the country, Timothy and Linden risk their lives to seek an ancient power before it’s too late to save everyone they love.
R. J. Anderson has artfully crafted a world of stunning magic, thrilling adventure, and delicate beauty, where a girl far from home must defeat the pervasive evil befalling her beloved faery realm.

Friend Is Not a Verb by Daniel Ehrenhaft ( What a great title)

From the author of the Edgar Award–winning The Wessex Papers comes a hilariously offbeat novel about Henry “Hen” Birnbaum, a teenage boy who dreams of becoming a rock star despite a minor setback, namely: his girlfriend just dumped him and kicked him out of their band. Now his social life consists of night after night of VH1 marathons with his best friend and next-door neighbor, the neurotic Emma Wood.
Then there’s the matter of Sarah, his sister, who mysteriously disappeared for a whole year and just as mysteriously returned. As the story unfolds, the reasons for her disappearance seem more unbelievable than Henry ever could have imagined. Maybe rock god status isn’t too farfetched for Henry. After all, crazier things have happened.

Lost For Words by Alice Kuipers ( Again interesting premise)

Ever since Sophie Baxter’s sister was killed in the London terrorist bombings, she has retreated into herself. But there’s only so long she can keep everything bottled up inside before she explodes, and Sophie comes to realize that she must confront the horror of her past before she can face the future.
Up-and-coming talent Alice Kuipers lets her teen sensibility, humor, and fresh perspective shine in this remarkable story of family, hope, and perseverance in the face of tragedy.

     

Whisper by Phoebe Kitanidis ( Love the sound of htis one!)

Joy is used to Hearing whispers—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 mysterious and frightening whisper from Jessica’s own mind, she knows she has to save her sister, even if it means running away with a boy she barely knows—a boy who may have a dark secret of his own.

Whisper is a thrilling debut novel from talented newcomer Phoebe Kitanidis.
 

Mistwood by Leah Cypess ( This has been compared to Graceling, which makes it a must read to me! )

Isabel is a shape-shifter, able to shift at will into any animal form. She senses that her power is great. She knows—deep in her soul—that she exists only to protect the king and the royal family. But when she awakens in Mistwood to the sound of approaching horses, she can’t remember anything and she flees. How long has she been in the forest? Who hurt her? Why is she hiding—because it is certain she is hiding. Who are these men riding after her with such determination? And most importantly, why can’t she shift?
Captured and thrust into the mysterious and dangerous royal court, Isabel must uncover her past, separate the truth of her heart from the legend of her magic, and, above all, keep the unbearably handsome new king safe. Even if protecting him means disaster for her. An astounding debut.

Since, I have some more to share, look for Part 2 coming soon! :)

* Please take note that covers and summaries are subject to change at any moment*