Waiting on Wednesday (94)

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

My pick this week is:

Abandon by Meg Cabot

She knows what it's like to die. Now Death wants her back.

Seventeen-year-old Pierce knows what happens to us when we die.

That's how she met John Hayden, the mysterious stranger who's made returning to normal life—or at least life as Pierce knew it before the accident—next to impossible.

Though she thought she escaped him—starting a new school in a whole new place—it turns out she was wrong. He finds her.

What does John want from her? Pierce thinks she knows... just like she knows he's no guardian angel, and his dark world isn't exactly heaven. But she can't stay away from him, either, especially since he's always there when she least expects it, but exactly when she needs him most.

But if she lets herself fall any further, she might find herself back in the place she fears the most.

And when Pierce discovers the shocking truth, that’s exactly where John sweeps her:

The Underworld.

Meg Cabot is one of my favorite authors ever, so it's a given that I would be looking forward to her newest book Abandon.  Making things even better, the cover is amazingly pretty and the summary makes it sound like it will be fascinating!

Abandon will be released in April 2011!

Insatiable by Meg Cabot

Summary/Cover Image taken from Publisher's Website:

Sick of hearing about vampires? So is Meena Harper.

But her bosses are 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. It's a dark side a lot of people, like an ancient society of vampire hunters, would prefer to see him dead for.

The problem is, Lucien's already dead. Maybe that's why he's the first guy Meena's ever met whom 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.

Review:

Wanna know a secret? Well, I'm a huge (and I mean huge) Meg Cabot fan!

Wait, that's not really a secret, now is it? Oh well. Anyway, getting back to the subject at hand, I love Cabot's books. Sure they are not the best written, substance filled books, but they are fun, fast reads that contain happy endings, something I'm nearly always happy to have.

And now the question on everybody’s mind: What about Insatiable; how was it? Well, it was just the same, of course, and if you love funny main characters, fast-moving plots, and new twists to a redundant subjects like I do, you're sure in for quite the treat with this one.

Have you ever had a bad week? Well, I doubt it's as bad as the one Meena Harper is facing. Not only does she have to write about Vampires now for her job (A subject she detests), but the position at her work, one she's been coveting for just about ever, is going to her archenemies. Plus, when you throw in the fact that her new love interest turns out to be one of those shiny, sparkly vampires, and the Palestine guard is hammering on her door...well, even the brightest out there would burst from the pressure.

Meena was someone I instantly adored and rooted for. She was funny and sweet; someone I could definitely see myself being friends with in real life. And even though she is a bit naive about certain sparkly things, I still had her back no matter what. Adding to this, the rest of the main characters were just as fun, and I loved learning more about them with the switching narratives Cabot brought into this. My favorite out of the bunch would have to be Alaric, and all I'll say for now, is that I'm definitely on Team Alaric. Plus, I loved Mary-Lou and Meena's best friend, because they never failed to bring funny to the story.

One of Insatiable only faults was the fact that it took about 50 pages to get into, but after that point it was smooth sailing; one book that proved to be yet another un-put-a-down-able addition to Vampire Lit. I always had a blast seeing all the different things that occurred because of the characters' choices, as well as seeing how Meena's ability to tell when people were going to die was tied in. Lastly, the ending has left me craving for more about Meena and her friends. Luckily, there's already a second in the series planned for next year.

In all, if you have any fears that Insatiable will not leave up to Cabot's previous books, don't, since I'm sure you'll love it if you're already a fan of Cabot's or the fantasy/vampire genre in general.

Grade: B+

Insatiable is now out! Also, for more Insatiable related fun head on over to Meg's site ASAP.

Source: Pam at HarperCollins. Thanks! :)

Contest for TWO Airhead Prize Packs!

Thanks to Chelsy at Big Honcho Media I have two sets of the Airhead Prize Pack to giveaway. Those sets include paperback copies of Airhead and Being Nikki, so you'll be set to read Runaway when it comes out! And to find out more about this series as well as Meg head over to the offical Airhead Series website.

Here's the summaries for Airhead and Being Nikki as well as Runway:

Airhead

It’s about modeling. Gaming. And corporate greed. With hot guys. Oh, and a poodle. Airhead is the first book in a new trilogy by #1 New York Times best-selling author Meg Cabot. With Cabot’s signature wit, Airhead is pitch perfect for teen summer reading.

One day she’s a brainiac. The next she’s…not herself. Emerson Watts isn’t your average sixteen-year-old girl. She loves playing video games and hanging out with her best friend Christopher, and has made peace with her less-than-supermodel-esque looks. But when she’s involved in a mysterious accident, she finds herself…not herself at all. Who’s behind it? What’s their motive? And how can she get Christopher to realize she’s still the same person inside? One thing’s for sure: Em Watts is gone. Nikki Howard is here to stay.

Being Nikki

(Spoilers may be present. Be aware!)

Emerson Watts was pretty sure there couldn’t be anything worse than being a straight A student whose brain had been transplanted into the body of a teenage supermodel. But it turned out she was wrong: Because that supermodel could turn out to have a mother who’s mysteriously gone missing, a brother who’s shown up demanding answers, and a British heartthrob who’s written a song about her that’s topping the charts. Now Em’s got to deal with all that, plus a lingerie fashion show, a crush who’s intent on destroying the company she works for to avenge the death of his lost love; and a boss that seems to be turning to the dark side….But then, nobody said it was going to be easy being Nikki.

Runaway

(Spoilers may be present. Be aware!)

High fashion with a touch of sci-fi. In Runaway, the dramatic conclusion to the bestselling and acclaimed Airhead novels by Meg Cabot, Emerson Watts is on the run: from school, from work, from her family, from her friends, from herself.

With everyone she loves furious with her for something she can’t explain, and nothing but the live Stark Angel fashion show on New Year’s Eve to look forward to, Em’s reached the end of the rope…what’s thepoint of even going on?

But when she discovers the truth about Nikki’s secret, she knows there’s only one person she can turn to. Will Christopher be able to put aside his personal feelings and help her expose her employer to the world? Is it even fair to get Christopher involved—since if he agrees, there’s every chance that Stark Enterprises will try to have them both killed—this time, permanently?

Maybe it would be better for Em to just keep on running.

To enter, please fill out the form below. This contest is US ONLY, AGES 13 OR OLDER, and will close on 4/23! Good luck!



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Runaway by Meg Cabot

Summary:

Emerson Watts is on the run: from school, from work, from her family, from her friends, from herself.

With everyone she loves furious with her for something she can't explain, and nothing but the live Stark Angel fashion show on New Year's Eve to look forward to, Em's reached the end of her rope. . .what's the point of even going on?

But when she discovers the truth about Nikki's secret, she knows there's only one person she can turn to.

Will Christopher be able to put aside his personal feelings and help her expose her employer to the world? Is it even fair to get Christopher involved--since if he agrees, there's every chance that Stark Enterprises will try to have them both killed--this time, permanently?

Maybe it would be better for Em to just keep on running.

Review:

If you're having any doubts about Runaway not living up to the previous two books in this superb series by Cabot, well, let me tell you, Runaway is just as addicting and fab as the previous two, if not more; leaving me to think Runaway will be a runaway hit. (haha)

Em, as well as her other wacky, adorable chums, proved to be a riot to read about, yet again. It was a blast reading Lulu's laugh-out-loud funny lines and all about the different situations the characters got themselves in to trying to figure out what Stark Enterprises was up to.

The plot, as well as the writing, kept this book at a fast pace, which allowed me to finish Runaway in less than a day. I loved all the twists and turns Meg Cabot added in to the story, and the resolution to what exactly Stark was hiding behind the sceanes. It was definitely something I didn't see coming. Plus, I loved all the different hook-ups between characters that I hoped would fall for each other in the end.

The ending was the typical and happy ending Cabot usually has at the ends of her books. Though, it didn't detract to my love of the book one bit; actually it added to it. Since, I personally tend to love those type of endings, especially when Meg's the one behind them.

In all, Runaway is a great ending to a trilogy I have come to love, and while I'm extremely sad to see it end, it left off on a great note. Plus, maybe we'll get lucky and Meg will write more. :)

Grade: A+

Runaway will be realeased April 20, 2010.

Source: Scholastic for review! Thanks!

To find out more about this series and/ or read a exceprt from this novel, head on over to Meg's website.

Being Nikki by Meg Cabot

Summary:

Things aren't pretty for Emerson Watts.

Em was sure there couldn't be anything worse than being a brainiac the body of a teenaged supermodel.

But it turned out she was wrong. Because that supermodel could turn out to have a mother who's gone mysteriously missing, a brother who's shown up on her doorstep demanding answers, a former best friend who's intent on destroying Stark Enterprises to avenge the death of his lost love, and a British heartthrob who's written a song about her that's topping the charts.

How can Em balance all that with school, runway shows, and weekend jaunts to St. Johns — especially when she's got ex-boyfriends crawling out of the woodwork who want more than just a photo op; a sister who is headed to the high school cheerleading championships; a company she represents that seems to be turning to the dark side...
Not to mention trying to convince the love of her life that models aren't really airheads after all...especially one model in particular.

But then, nobody said it was going to be easy being Nikki.
 
Review:
 
After reading and loving Airhead, the prequel to this, I was eager to see how Being Nikki would measure up. As it turned out, Being Nikki was just as great, if not better, leaving this to be my favorite addition to the trilogy so far.

While it took a while for it to get going, once I was past the fortieth page the rest went by in a flash because of all the fun new twists and turns Meg added to keep this story fun and exciting. My favorite plot aspects of this one ranged from getting to see more about Nikki's family to seeing Em and Christopher's relationship finally get the kick it needed.

Further more, the characters still continued to be very likable in this one. Well, expect for the 'villain', but there’re not exactly put there to be liked. Lulu still provided to be a riot, Em was still the sweet and timid girl who I continued to root for, Frida was a fun addition, and Christopher was just well Christopher. :)

And the ending was just an all around WOW! I simply couldn't believe what was happening and the cliff hanger was one that definitely makes me want to run out to get Runway, the next addition, as soon as it's out.

In all, Being Nikki provides to be a classic Meg Cabot read in the sense that it's fun, adorable, and a read that calls to be eaten up like candy after Halloween.
 
Grade: B+
 
Being Nikki is now out!
 
Source: Publisher/Author. Thanks Meg/Scholastic!
 
Meg Cabot Talking About Being Nikki:
 

 
Other links:
 
Excerpt from Being Nikki
Meg's Website

Airhead by Meg Cabot

Summary:

No one cares what’s inside.

EM WATTS IS GONE.

Emerson Watts didn’t even want to go to the new SoHo Stark Megastore grand opening. But someone needed to look out for her sister Frida, whose crush, British heartthrob Gabriel Luna, would be singing and signing autographs there—along with the newly appointed Face of Stark, teen supermodel sensation Nikki Howard.

How was Em to know that disaster would strike, changing her—and life as she’d known it—forever? One devastating accident later, and Em Watts, always the tomboy, never the party princess, is no longer herself. Literally.
Now getting her best friend Christopher to notice that she’s actually a girl is the least of Em’s problems.
But what Em’s pretty sure she’ll never be able to accept might just turn out to be the one thing that’s going to make her dream come true….

 NIKKI HOWARD IS HERE TO STAY

It’s what’s outside that matters.

Review:

I've probably mentioned this a hundred times before, but I'll say it again, just in cause, I absolutely LOVE Meg Cabot's books. Since her books are seriously my 'drug' of choice because once I read one, I want to read another, and so on. Airhead, of course, was no different.

I loved the premise a ton. Though, while I'm not going to say much because I don't want to spoil anything, I'll say that it's certainly is an extremely unique and interesting one that I'm really looking forward to seeing more of in the next two books. Plus, Meg's writing is the type that's easy to fall into in the way that before you know it you've read 100 pages and so on.
 
Em is a character that I liked a ton and could totally see myself being friends with if she was real. Since she was smart, funny, deep (something that I didn't think she would be because of the summary), and just someone who lived high above her outcast status. Christopher was the same way, and because of that, I'm really looking forward to seeing more of him in the future books! The one character that surprised me the most, though, was Lulu because at first glance she seems like she's going to be the typical mean girl, but that's far from the truth. Since she was an awesome friend to Em and so funny ( I ADORED the scene between her and the delivery guy; it had me laughing so hard!).

My only complaint was that Airhead had the tendency to lag at times. Though, it was a venial issue because first book series are usually that way, at times, because of build up.

In all, Airhead is a fun, fast paced, and fantastic novel! I'm really looking forward to reading Being Nikki along with Runaway!

Grade: B+
 
Airhead is now out!
 
Trailer:
 

 
Other Links:
 
Excerpt
Meg's Site