Hello Lovelies~

It's time for another monthly wrap up! I can't believe we are already 5 months into this year! WOW! Time has really flown by!

I've been able to work on my blog goals for this year and am definitely making progress! I've been able to find more of a balance between personal life, work, and blogging. I've been able to read more, without neglecting other things. Yay!!!

Last month I started doing a comments contest each week, which I credit to my good friend Jen. She does this on her blog and it seemed like so much fun. The response has been incredible! And I have decided comments contest is here to stay!

For the month of April I read a total of 8 books and one novella. This is 2 more than last month, and I actually exceeded my goal of 8 books a month. Eeek! Definite proress! . I had a total of 19 posts, which included 7 review posts. While my posts are down from last month, my reviews are up so I couldn't be happier!  

Thank you to everyone who supports my blog, stops by to read my posts, and for your awesome comments which I adore! Hopefully May will bring some more fun and exciting things!

The Books

Elemental ( Elementals #0.5) by Brigid Kemmerer
7 Clues To Winning You by Kristin Walker

Gilt by Katherine Longshore

Take A Bow by Elizabeth Eulberg

Mister Death's Blue-Eyed Girls by Mary Downing Hahn

Keep Holding On by Susan Colasanti

Hemlock (Hemlock #1) by Kathleen Peacock
Lucy In The Sky by Anonymous
The Sweetest Spell by Suzanne Selfors
Miracle by Elizabeth Scott

The Challenges

• I read 9 books towards my goal of 100 for the 2012 Goodreads Reading Challenge. Bringing me up to a total of 32 books for the year. I am 1 books behind and I plan on catching up and hopefully getting ahead in May!
• I also read 3 books towards my goal for the 2012 YA Contempoary Challenge. Bringing my total to 13 books towards my goal of 15
• I read 2 books towards my 2012 TBR Pile Challenge bringing me to a total of 7 books towards my goal of 24. I definitely need to step it up on the TBR books! But these review books are sooo distracting!
• Last but not least, I read 2 books towards my 2012 Debut Author Challenge bring me to a total of 12 for the year!

Random Act's of Kindness

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I went to the Houston Teen Book Con 2012 where there were some incredible authors! Sadly Lauren DeStefano cancelled last minute, but I still had an amazing time! There were so many amazing authors, and panels. And Michelle Zink totally made my day by her kind words and her awesome hugs! :)


I met some really amazing people at TLA 2012 and had a total blast!!! I promise at some point I will try to do a Vlog of all the awesome I got there, if my YouTube will ever work! I had a blast hanging out with some awesome bloggers, talking books, meeting publicists and authors. TLA 2012 ROCKED!

This month I also got some really amazing books from publishers and it totally made it an incredible month for me! And a HUGE thanks to HMH Publishing for hosting my Prom Theme Giveaway! It was so much fun and I enjoyed every minute of it!

So what are your goals for May?  Will you be attending any fun events? Planning an awesome vaction?  I'd love to know, so leave me a comment and let me know!

Happy Reading!

XoXo

Prom Prizepack Winner and Comment Contest Winners

Hello Lovelies!

I hope you all had a great week and even more amazing weekend! My weeks seem to get busier, and busier. So I am a bit behind, and have lots of winners to announce! 

Veronika Briseno is the winner of the Prom Theme Prize Pack. Eeek! Are you excited??? I know I am! It is on it's way to you and I hope you enjoy it! I had a blast with this giveaway!

Okay so the last week in March I announced that I would be doing a comments contest giveaway. I've been extremely busy, and am just now getting around to choosing winners. Yes, winners, as in multiples! haha

From March 26th to April 1st there were 49 entries ( each comment gets you an entry! ) and the winner was Kristan from Lost Amongst The Shelves 

From April 2nd to April 8th there were 18 entries and the winner is Kary from The Once and Future Librarian and she chose The Disenchantments by Nina LaCour

Next week I will pick winners from April 9th through May 6th! 

Don't forget, every comment you make gives you one entry in the comments contest. Between now and May 6th when you comment on my review of Lucy In The Sky you will get THREE entries into the comments contest! Yes, I am bribing you! That poor post is sad and needs a little love! haha

And just a reminder, if you don't have a way for me to reach you on your blog ( contact me email, twitter handle, etc) then your welcome to leave your email addy so I can get ahold of you. 

If you didn't win this time, don't fret! I will be picking another set of winner's next week and one of them just might be YOU!

XOXO

Review: Lucy In The Sky

Lucy In The Sky
Release Date: May 1, 2012
Publisher: Simon Pulse
Pages: 288
Buy The Book: Amazon

A riveting first-person tale of addiction, in the tradition of Go Ask Alice and Jay’s Journal.The author of this diary began journaling on her sixteenth birthday. She lived in an upper middle class neighborhood in Santa Monica with her mom, dad, and Berkeley-bound older brother. She was a good girl, living a good life...but one party changed everything. One party, where she took one taste—and liked it. Really liked it. Social drinking and drugging lead to more, faster, harder... She convinced herself that she was no different from anyone else who liked to party. But the evidence indicates otherwise: Soon she was she hanging out with an edgy crowd, blowing off school and everything she used to care about, all to find her next high. But what goes up must come down, and everything—from her first swig, to her last breath—is chronicled in the diary she left behind.

This book really caught my attention. The fact that this is a true story, told from a teen's journal really grabbed my attention. Partying, alcohol and drugs were never something I got into as a teen or even experimented with. Many teens around me however, did. This was a serious and fatal issue when I was a teen, and sadly this has not changed any.

I think what makes this book even more touching is the fact that this isn't just a story. It's a true story. Everything that this girl went through, and did, really happened. A young teen with a whole life ahead of her, did in fact get caught up in the wrong crowd. She spiraled out of control into a world full of drugs, alcohol and other abusive behavior.

This book chronicles the real feelings of teens that can lead them down that twisted path. What it is that attracts them to this and makes it so addicting for them. It also hopefully, gives friends and family warning signs to look for in their behavior and patterns to look for. This was a very real ( probably  because it is!) and gritty look at a teen's addiction to drugs, alcohol and partying and the all too real and fatal affects this can have!

It's a real wake up call to everyone out there and I really recommend this book, especially to teens!

Waiting On Wednesday (20)

"Waiting on Wednesday" is a weekly meme, hosted by Jill at Breaking the Spine, that spotlights upcoming releases that we're eagerly anticipating. 

Erasing Time by C.J Hill

In this high-action and romantic futuristic adventure, there is no escape from the future for two contemporary girls pulled out of their own time.

When twins Sheridan and Taylor wake up 400 years in the future, they find a changed world: domed cities, no animals, and a language that’s so different, it barely sounds like English. And the worst news: They can’t go back home.

The twenty-fifth-century government transported the girls to their city hoping to find a famous scientist to help perfect a devastating new weapon. The moblike Dakine fights against the government, and somehow Taylor and Sheridan find themselves in the middle. The only way to elude them all is to trust Echo, a guy with secrets of his own. The trio must put their faith in the unknown to make a harrowing escape into the wilds beyond the city.

Full of adrenaline-injected chases and heartbreaking confessions, Erasing Time explores the strength of the bonds between twins, the risks and rewards of trust, and the hard road to finding the courage to fight for what you believe in.

Can I just OMG I am so excited for this book!!! I adore the cover and the story sounds action packed and totally gripping! I love stories about twins, they have always fascinated me and I am so looking forward to reading this one! It hits stores on August 28,2012 and it just can't get here soon enough!

What books are you looking forward to?

Review: Hemlock

Hemlock by Kathleen Peacock
Release Date: May 8, 2012
Publisher: Kathleen Tegen Books
Pages: 400
Buy The Book: Amazon

Mackenzie and Amy were best friends. Until Amy was brutally murdered.

Since then, Mac’s life has been turned upside down. She is being haunted by Amy in her dreams, and an extremist group called the Trackers has come to Mac’s hometown of Hemlock to hunt down Amy’s killer: A white werewolf.

Lupine syndrome—also known as the werewolf virus—is on the rise across the country. Many of the infected try to hide their symptoms, but bloodlust is not easy to control.

Wanting desperately to put an end to her nightmares, Mac decides to investigate Amy’s murder herself. She discovers secrets lurking in the shadows of Hemlock, secrets about Amy’s boyfriend, Jason, her good pal Kyle, and especially her late best friend. Mac is thrown into a maelstrom of violence and betrayal that puts her life at risk.

Kathleen Peacock’s thrilling novel is the first in the Hemlock trilogy, a spellbinding urban fantasy series filled with provocative questions about prejudice, trust, lies, and love.

There are an abundance of werewolf and vampire books out there on the market. I typically tend to avoid these, they just aren't my cup of tea! Hemlock enticed me in with its beautiful and captivating cover. I found myself wondering about the girl on the cover in the beautiful dress. Wondering why she looked so sad and what was going on inside her head.

I have to say, Hemlock is so much more than just a pretty cover! Kathleen Peacock ( don't you just LOVE her name?!?!?) did a really incredible job with this story. It was unique and original, and stands out in the sea of werewolf tales. I loved how she gave a voice to werewolves and gave them a heart and a soul. They weren't just monsters, they were people who had been infected by Lupine Syndrome. They wanted a normal life, just like everyone else. Above all they were people, with a soul, a heart, and feelings just like you and I.

I loved the way she wrote the character's. The main character was strong and I loved her for it! She's been through a lot and lost a great deal, but she's a stronger person because of it! She is determined to find her best friend's murderer, and I believed with every fiber of my being that she would!

There was a really great love triangle going on, and I enjoyed every minute of it! My heart was torn between the both of them. It's not very often that you see a really well written love triangle, but Kathleen Peacock did it!

There were so many plot twists and turns that I never saw coming! This book surprised me ( in a good way!) in more ways than one. It was such an amazing book and I can't recommend it enough. This is a truly stunning debut from Kathleen Peacock!

She masterfully combined werewolves, murder, mystery, suspense, and action. This book captured my attention from the cover to the very last page. I could not put this book down and I'll bet that you won't be able to either! Hemlock will go down in history as one of my all time favorite reads and I highly recommend it!

In My Mailbox (25)

Hello Lovelies!

In My Mailbox is a weekly Meme hosted by Kristi the Story Siren. This is where us bloggers get a chance to show you what we got this week! Bookish related of course!

My IMM is going up late this week. AGAIN! I was at TLA all week and at a Lauren Conrad signing yesterday. Eeek! I was overwhelmed by all the amazing book events this week and had so much fun!!!! I'm still having YouTube issues so sorry about the weird noises. I'm hoping next week it'll be back to normal!

For Review

Lucy In The Sky

Hanging By A Thread by Sophie Littlefield

Bought

The Fame Game by Lauren Conrad

Thank you so much to Scholastic and Random House for the awesome review books!!! And a huge thank you to Blue Willow Books for organizing yet another incredible event! I had such a blast! You guys Rock My Socks!

I hope you all had an amazing week as well! I can't wait to hear about all of the amazing thins you did this week, and the wonderful books you read! Until next time...

Happy Reading!

XOXO

Waiting On Wednesday (19)

"Waiting on Wednesday" is a weekly meme, hosted by Jill at Breaking the Spine, that spotlights upcoming releases that we're eagerly anticipating.

Crewel (Crewel World #1) by Gennifer Albin

Incapable. Awkward. Artless.

That’s what the other girls whisper behind her back. But sixteen year-old Adelice Lewys has a secret: she wants to fail.

Gifted with the ability to weave time with matter, she’s exactly what the Guild is looking for, and in the world of Arras, being chosen as a Spinster is everything a girl could want. It means privilege, eternal beauty, and being something other than a secretary. It also means the power to embroider the very fabric of life. But if controlling what people eat, where they live and how many children they have is the price of having it all, Adelice isn’t interested.

Not that her feelings matter, because she slipped and wove a moment at testing, and they’re coming for her—tonight.
Now she has one hour to eat her mom’s overcooked pot roast. One hour to listen to her sister’s academy gossip and laugh at her Dad’s stupid jokes. One hour to pretend everything’s okay. And one hour to escape.

Because once you become a Spinster, there’s no turning back. 

I have been pining for this book for what feels like forever! I love the cover and the story sounds totally epic! I was beyond excited when I got a copy of this yesterday. I'd like to say that I will be patient and wait to read it, but who am I kidding? That is sooo not happening! Look for this one to hit stores near you on October 16th!

What books are you waiting for?

Review: The Girl In The Park

The Girl In The Park by Mariah Fredericks
Release Date: April 24, 2012
Publisher: Random House Children's Books
Age Group: Young Adult
Pages: 224
Format: ARC
Source: Southern Book Bloggers ARC Tours
Interest: YA Mystery
Challenge: 2012 Goodreads Reading Challenge
Buy the Book: Amazon

When Wendy Geller's body is found in Central Park after the night of a rager, newspaper headlines scream,"Death in the Park: Party Girl Found Strangled." But shy Rain, once Wendy's best friend, knows there was more to Wendy than just "party girl." As she struggles to separate the friend she knew from the tangle of gossip and headlines, Rain becomes determined to discover the truth about the murder. Written in a voice at once immediate, riveting, and utterly convincing, Mariah Frederick's mystery brilliantly exposes the cracks in this exclusive New York City world and the teenagers that move within it.

I first read Mariah's work in 2007 when I read Crunch Time and was completely taken with her ability to weave amazing stories. Mariah is definitely back at it again with The Girl In The Park!

I've always said, there are never enough good old fashioned mystery's in YA. Many of them spiral off into the paranormal and sometimes just plain weird. The Girl In The Park was the perfect dose of mystery and suspense and I had a hard time putting it down!

I loved the main character, Rain and her conviction to defend Wendy and bring her killer to justice. Wendy may not have been the best role model, but she was above all things, honest, loyal and a true friend. I loved how Rain stood up for Wendy, and did everything in her power to find out what happened, even if that meant putting herself in harm's way.

I enjoyed the gritty portrayl of how a brutal killing affects the lives of everyone. From family and friends, to teachers and class mates, rocking everyone to their core. Even more than that, I enjoyed the harsh reality of the media and what lengths they will go to, to get their next story.

I loved the pacing of the story and constantly found myself wanting to skip ahead to find what happens next. This was a great mystery that had me guessing and  gasping the whole way through! This was a wonderfully paced, and simple yet elegantly written mystery that I was totally engrossed in. I look forward to being captivated by Mariah's cleverly woven story telling yet again!

In My Mailbox (24)

Hello Lovelies!

In My Mailbox is a weekly Meme hosted by Kristi the Story Siren. This is where us bloggers get a chance to show you what we got this week! Bookish related of course!

My IMM is going up super late this week!I had major issues with YouTube this week! And then my laptop decided to flake out on me. :(  I literally filmed this 10 times before it came out! I was having some serious issues with YouTube. Has anyone else been having YouTube troubles? If I seem a little frustrated in my IMM, it's because I am! lol So needless to say the first minute is....well screwed up! But thankfully it straightened up after that!

For Review

Reunited by Hilary Weisman Graham

Such A Rush by Jennifer Echols

When You Were Mine by Recbecca Serle

Such Wicked Intent by Kenneth Oppel

The Deadly Sister by Eliot Schrefer

The Wicked and The Just by J. Anderson Coats

Underworld by Meg Cabot

Hemlock by Kathleen Peacock

Miracle by Elizabeth Scott

Bought

Gaurdian of The Gate by Michelle Zink

Circle of Fire by Michelle Zink

A Temptation Of Angels by Michelle Zink

Thanks to Simon and Schuster, HMH publishing, and Scholastic for the awesome books! Thanks to Krystal for sending me books she knew I was dying to get ahold of! :) You rock girl! And a BIG thank you to all the many amazing authors who came to Teen Book Con 2012 and to everyone who  put in so much hard work into making it happen. I had a total blast!!!

I hope you all had a good weekend! And stop back by later this week to see what awesome stuff I get ahold of at TLA! ;)

Happy Reading!

XOXO

Review: Mister Death's Blue-Eyed Girls

Mister Death's Blue-Eyed Girls by Mary Downing Hahn
Release Date: April 17, 2012
Publisher: Clarion Books
Age Group: Young Adult
Pages: 330
Format: Hardback
Source: Own
Interest: Young Adult, Murdery Mystery
Challenge: 2012 Goodreads Reading Challenge
Buy The Book: Amazon

Based on an actual crime in 1955, this YA novel is at once a mystery and a coming-of-age story. The brutal murder of two teenage girls on the last day of Nora Cunningham's junior year in high school throws Nora into turmoil. Her certainties, friendships, religion, her prudence, her resolve to find a boyfriend taller than she is - are shaken or cast off altogether.

Most people in Elmgrove, Maryland, share the comforting conviction that Buddy Novak, who had every reason to want his ex-girlfriend dead, is responsible for the killings. Nora agrees at first, then begins to doubt Buddy's guilt, and finally comes to believe him innocent - the lone dissenting voice in Elmgrove.

Told from several different perspectives, including that of the murderer,Mister Death's Blue-Eyed Girls is a suspenseful page-turner with a powerful human drama at its core.

I am a huge fan of murder mystery books, especially those based on true stories. So when I found out this book was based on a murder that took place in the 50's and was told from multiple point's of view, including the killer's, I knew it was a must read for me!

I was so blown over by this book. It was incredible and from the very first page I could tell I was going to love it! It was amazing and is for sure one of my all time favorite books!

The story is set in the 1950's, which is when the actual murder took place. From the first sentence I read, I felt like I was instantly transported to that time era. I could see clear skies, hear Fats Domino and Elvis playing on the juke box, see the Five and Dime and smell the old fashioned milk shakes. I pictured hot summer days, wearing short shorts and driving up and down the town square in a converatable, hanging out at the drive in movies on the weekends. The author did an incredible job telling the story and making you feel like you were right there in the heart of it.

Even though the story is told from multiple point's of view, it never got confusing. It was easy to follow and clear and concise. I enjoyed seeing different takes on different event's, from the victum's friends and ex boyfriends to the murderer.

This was an incredible story about love and loss and coming of age. It went through the cycles of loss and grieving as well as how a tragic event like this affects everyone. It dealt with depression, losing faith in God, anger, and so much more.

This was an incredible story that that will forever haunt me! I can't recommend this one enough.

Waiting On Wednesday (18)

"Waiting on Wednesday" is a weekly meme, hosted by Jill at Breaking the Spine, that spotlights upcoming releases that we're eagerly anticipating. 

Eve and Adam by Michael Grant

Sixteen-year-old Evening Spiker lives an affluent life in San Francisco with her mother, EmmaRose, a successful geneticist and owner of Spiker Biotech. Sure, Evening misses her father who died mysteriously, but she’s never really questioned it. Much like how she’s never stopped to think how off it is that she’s never been sick. That is, until she’s struck by a car and is exposed to extensive injuries. Injuries that seem to be healing faster than physically possible.
 
While recuperating in Spiker Biotech’s lush facilities, she meets Solo Plissken, a very attractive, if off-putting boy her age who spent his life at Spiker Biotech. Like Evening, he’s never questioned anything...until now. Solo drops hints to Evening that something isn’t right, and Emma-Rose may be behind it. Evening puts this out of her mind and begins her summer internship project: To simulate the creation of the perfect boy. With the help of Solo, Evening uncovers secrets so big they could change the world completely.

This sounds like a really gripping sci-fi/dystopian and I am absolutely bursting to read this one! I have a feeling I will be pre-ordering this one and loving it!

Look for this one to hit shelves in October!

What books are you waiting for?

Review: Unraveling

Unraveling by Elizabeth Norris
Release Date: April 24, 2012
Publisher: Balzer + Bray
Age Group: YA
Pages : 445
Format: ARC
Source: Own
Interest: Sci-fi
Challenge: 2012 Goodreads Reading Challenge, 2012 Debut Author Challenge
Buy the Book: Amazon

Two days before the start of her junior year, seventeen-year-old Janelle Tenner is hit by a pickup truck and killed—as in blinding light, scenes of her life flashing before her, and then nothing. Except the next thing she knows, she's opening her eyes to find Ben Michaels, a loner from her high school whom Janelle has never talked to, leaning over her. And even though it isn't possible, she knows—with every fiber of her being—that Ben has somehow brought her back to life.

But her revival, and Ben's possible role in it, is only the first of the puzzles that Janelle must solve. While snooping in her FBI agent father's files for clues about her accident, she uncovers a clock that seems to be counting down to something—but to what? And when someone close to Janelle is killed, she can no longer deny what's right in front of her: Everything that's happened—the accident, the murder, the countdown clock, Ben's sudden appearance in her life—points to the end of life as she knows it. And as the clock ticks down, she realizes that if she wants to put a stop to the end of the world, she's going to need to uncover Ben's secrets—and keep from falling in love with him in the process.

From debut author Elizabeth Norris comes this shattering novel of one girl's fight to save herself, her world, and the boy she never saw coming.

I have been pinning away for this book for what feels like forever! I was so excited to finally get a copy, and I threw myself into it immediately. For some reason I just didn't really connect with the book until I was about 100 pages in, and then boy was I hooked! I really loved the story itself, I felt like it was unique and very intruiging!

Janelle's life was complicated and multi faceted. Her father works for the FBI, how cool is that? Unfortunately he's really great at his job and spends so much time catching bad guys, that he's not always around too much. While Janelle's mother suffers from bi-polar disorder, and goes through manic highs and lows. Much responsability is left to Janelle, like taking care of her brother and cooking meals for the family. But she handles it all like a pro, and I loved how close she was to her family! They had such a strong relationship and bond, where most kids would've resented their parents. I loved the witty banter between Janelle and her father, all the x-files quotes. ( I'm a huge X-Files fans myself tooo!) And her best friend Alex, is possibly the absolute best "best friend" character ever written in YA! I mean, I would totally steal him for my bestie!

Even when someone close to Janelle dies, while it rocks her world, she doesn't let it destroy her. She keeps going, taking care of the people she loves and racing to fight the ticking clock before something terrible happens. The story was seriously epic! I couldn't put it down and I literally had an inner fight within myself to constantly stop myself from flipping forward to see what happens next. There is nothing I can say that will do this book justice. It's just THAT good!

So to sum it up, I loved this book so much and I highly recommend it! Although, I will warn you there is some heavy cursing and a whole lot of f-bombs being dropped. But despite that I loved this book and found it to be unique, intense, thrilling, and full of action! It's such an incredible debut novel and I look forward to reading much, much more from this author!

In My Mailbox (23)

Hello Lovelies!

In My Mailbox is a weekly Meme hosted by Kristi the Story Siren. This is where us bloggers get a chance to show you what we got this week! Bookish related of course!

For Review

Tiger Lily by Jodi Lynn Anderson

Those That Wake by Jesse Karp

Croak by Gina Damico

First Comes Love by Katie Kacvinsky

Mister Death's Blue-Eyed Girls by Mary Downing Hahn

Thanks so much to HMH publishing for the box of awesome! And to Harper Teen for Tiger Lily. I had so much awesomeness in my mailbox this week!!!!

I hope you all are having a fantastic weekend and I hope you got some amazing books in as well. Make sure to leave me a link to your IMM so I can come and drool over all the amazing books you got in! 

Happy Reading!

XOXO

Review: Take A Bow

Take A Boy by Elizabeth Eulberg
Release Date: April 1, 2012
Publisher: Point
Age Group: Young Adult
Pages: 278
Format: ARC
Source: Own
Challenges: 2012 Goodreads Reading Challenge, 2012 YA Contemporary Challenge
Buy The Book: Amazon

From the fantastic author of The Lonely Hearts Club and Prom & Prejudice comes a story of all the drama and comedy of four friends who grow into themselves at a performing arts high school.

Emme, Sophie, Ethan, and Carter are seniors at a performing arts school, getting ready for their Senior Showcase recital, where the pressure is on to appeal to colleges, dance academies, and professionals in show business. For Sophie, a singer, it's been great to be friends with Emme, who composes songs for her, and to date Carter, soap opera heartthrob who gets plenty of press coverage. Emme and Ethan have been in a band together through all four years of school, but wonder if they could be more than just friends and bandmates. Carter has been acting since he was a baby, and isn't sure how to admit that he'd rather paint than perform. The Senior Showcase is going to make or break each of the four, in a funny, touching, spectacular finale that only Elizabeth Eulberg could perform.

I have always been secretly fascinated by the world of the performing arts. Those that can't perform, watch? Or something like that... Anyways a performing arts Young Adult book? I am totally in!

I honestly loved this book! I think even if I weren't such a fan of the performing arts scene, I'd still fall head over heels in love with it. It's such a captivating book you can't help but get totally sucked into the story and all of the character's. The story is told from the point of view of Emme, her best friend Sophie, Sophie's boyfriend and child actor star Carter and Emme's best guy friend Ethan. You'd think between their four stories as well as those of the other character's in the book you'd get totally flipped around. But each character had such a distinct story and style that it was never an issue.

I loved the main character Emme. She was someone I could totally identify with and she reminded me so much of myself! She's the kind of person you feel honored to know and proud to call your best friend. She will go to the moon and back for those she loves and puts everyone before herself and her own happiness. Sophie was the total opposite, but then again, what bestie's aren't? She is self centered, spoiled, and completely selfish. I often wondered what these two ever saw in each other. Then there's Carter, the heart throb actor who is dating Sophie, of course! He was breathtakingly fresh and totally unlike what you'd expect of a child star. He had soul, heart and depth and I loved finding out what made him tick as his layers were peeled away. Ethan was brooding, quiet, supportive and totally unexpected.

I loved the cast of character's and how they fed off of one another and supported each other. I loved the details of their day to day lives and routines. It was expressed so vividly I felt like I was there walking the halls of CPA and warming up my vocal chords. This book was seriously amazing! I couldn't put it down until I was finished and it literally took my breath away. It's about love, friendship, and finding yourself. The story of friendship and love was so beautiful and it had one of the most epic confessions of love I've ever read! It left me in tears, in a totally good way!

This book was fast paced, heartfelt and flawless from beginning to end. I think Elizabeth deserves a standing ovation for this one!

Review: 7 Clues To Winning You

7 Clues To Winning You by Kristina Walker
Release Date: April 26, 2012
Publisher: Razorbill
Age Group: Young Adult
Pages: 317
Format: ARC
Source: arc Tour
Challenges: 2012 Goodreads Reading Challenge, 2012 YA Contemporary Challenge
Buy The Book: Amazon

When a humiliating picture of Blythe goes viral, she's instantly the target of ridicule at her new school. To salvage her reputation, Blythe teams up with Luke to win the Senior Scramble scavenger hunt. But Luke is an unlikely ally and potentially can't be trusted.

Perhaps it's his Shakespearean witticisms that reel Blythe in despite her better judgment . . . or maybe she just craves the thrill of the game. But as the hunt progresses, their relationship heats up. Soon their madcap mischief spirals out of control. Blythe is faced with arrest and expulsion, among other catastrophes - until Luke shows her what the Scramble (and love) is really about.

When I started reading this book I really didn't know what to expect. I thought the premise sounded really cute but I had no idea that I was going to love this book so much! This book is like, the perfect rom com! It reminded me in some ways of one of my fave movies, 10 Things I Hate About You. *sighs* ohhh that Heath Ledger. Anyways...enough drooling and back to the book! It's entertaining, laugh out loud funny, and the romance will make the tips of your toes curl up!

I really liked the main character Blythe. She suddenly feels like her whole world is changing, being moved to a new school, trying to make new friends. Even though it's not that far away, it's a world of a difference to her! I could totally identify with that. Because, when I was her age the exact same thing happened to me! Minus the embarassing nose picking picture. She starts to really resent her parents for it, especially her dad. And might I add, that if my dad were the principal at my new school, I'd have curled up and died on the spot! Okay, maybe not literally, but still! Blythe put on her very best "lady look" and kept going.

My favorite character's in the book were miss Franny and Miss Eulaili, those two old coots stole the show! They had me laughing so hard people stared at me like I was postal! I loved "the lady look". You know,  the one you put on when you don't want to let on how mad you are at the woman who just asked you if your pregnant when your not. You know what I'm talking about. Yeah, that one! Blythe and her mother are pro's at the "lady look" and I wish they'd teach me how to hone my lady look skills! I also really loved Luke, who gave Blythe a run for her money and quoted shakespeare. There was so much more to him than what meets the eye, and I loved finding out more as the layers were peeled away.

All in all I loved this book! It was the perfect escape that I needed. A wonderful blend of romance, comedy, high school hi-jinx's and so much  more!

Waiting On Wednesday (17)

"Waiting on Wednesday" is a weekly meme, hosted by Jill at Breaking the Spine, that spotlights upcoming releases that we're eagerly anticipating. 

Monument 14 by Emmy Laybourne

Your mother hollers that you’re going to miss the bus. She can see it coming down the street. You don’t stop and hug her and tell her you love her. You don’t thank her for being a good, kind, patient mother. Of course not—you hurdle down the stairs and make a run for the corner.

Only, if it’s the last time you’ll ever see your mother, you sort of start to wish you’d stopped and did those things. Maybe even missed the bus.

But the bus was barreling down our street, so I ran.

Fourteen kids. One superstore. A million things that go wrong. 

In Emmy Laybourne’s action-packed debut novel, six high school kids (some popular, some not), two eighth graders (one a tech genius), and six little kids trapped together in a chain superstore build a refuge for themselves inside. While outside, a series of escalating disasters, beginning with a monster hailstorm and ending with a chemical weapons spill, seems to be tearing the world—as they know it—apart.

This sounds like an action packed, blow-your-mind amazing debut novel that I can't wait to read! Is it too early to pre-order?

Look for this one to hit shelves on June 5th

What books are you waiting for? 

Frost Launch Party

Hey Guys!

Welcome to the Launch Party for Frost by Kate Avery Ellison. I'm really excited about this book! It sounds amazing and the cover is to die for! 

In the icy, monster-plagued world of the Frost, one wrong move and a person might end up dead—and Lia Weaver knows this better than anyone. After monsters kill her parents, she must keep the family farm running despite the freezing weather and threat of monster attacks, or risk losing her siblings to reassignment by the village Elders. With dangers on all sides and treachery just one wrong step away, she can’t afford to let her emotions lead her astray. So when her sister finds a fugitive bleeding to death in the forest, a young man from beyond the Frost named Gabe, Lia surprises herself and does the unthinkable.

She saves his life.

Giving shelter to the fugitive could get her in serious trouble. The Elders have always described the advanced society of people beyond the Frost, the “Farthers,” as ruthless and cruel, and her village has nothing to do with them. But Lia is startled to find that Gabe is empathetic and intelligent…and handsome. She might even be falling in love with him.

But time is running out. The monsters from the forest circle her farm at night. The village leader is starting to ask questions. Farther soldiers are searching for Gabe. Lia must locate a secret organization called the Thorns to help Gabe escape to safety, but each move she makes puts her in greater danger. Is compassion—and love—worth the risk?

My guest post topic is. . .

Creating chemistry in your novel especially in a dystopian setting 

Dystopian novels often involve a great deal of danger, secrets, and taboos. Whether it’s forbidden books, forbidden speech, or forbidden association between certain groups of people, there are lines that aren’t supposed to be crossed and rules that aren’t supposed to be broken.

Two characters who fall in love in a dystopian setting often experience serious obstacles that are beyond their control. Their feelings for each other might be against the rules of their society, or their love might be impossible due to circumstances of their world or situation (like with Lia and Gabe). This helps heighten the chemistry between them, I think, as often things that we cannot have become all the more intriguing and irresistible. Also, the elements of fear and danger can add extra sizzle to the love story as a tale of love becomes all the more urgent and tragic when lives are at stake.

Wrong expectations due to fear or misinformation can create conflict and heighten character chemistry, too. For instance, in Frost, the main character Lia is afraid of Gabe at first because she’s been told her whole life that all Farthers are ruthless and cruel. Yet Gabe is intelligent, sensitive, and unwilling to harm her even when he thinks she is the enemy. He’s everything but what she’s been told, so her ideas about the world and the Farthers are challenged, and she is intrigued. Lia’s also attracted to him anyway, but in this setting she isn’t free to simply pursue that attraction—not without consequences. Loving the enemy is a dangerous path to take.

Adding extra conflicts like forbidden elements, secrets, and a sense of danger to the equation is a great way to add spark to a novel (and a love story) in a dystopian setting.
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Thanks so much for stopping by my blog Kate! I hope ya'll enjoyed it, and don't forget to stop by other stops on the Launch Party Tour, where you will be able to enter to win a copy of the book! You can find the entire schedule for it HERE

And while your at it, don't forget to follow the author on Twitter , and stop by her blog HERE

March 2012 Wrap-Up

Hello Lovelies~

I can't believe it's time for another monthly wrap up post! It seems like March just started and I was eyeing spring/summer titles. Not April is here and I'm drooling over the fall titles! So many books, so little time..

Some of my goals for 2012 have been to read more, be more diligent about visiting other blogs and commenting. And of course, to try to make my blog better! I've worked really hard on all of these this month, and hopefully I'm doing better!

Health wise, March was a MUCH better month for me! I had to buckle down and be more strict with myself, and develop a routine, but the results have been amazing! Half way through the month I finally found my footing. Better health has also allowed me more time to read and I've read some truly incredible books this month! I've becoming even closer to my blogger friends and gotten to know many of my readers better!

I was very disappointed in myself last month, and how little I read. So as I began feeling better I did everything I could to fit in time to read. It was hard, there were a lot of things to catch up on! Cleaning, laundry ( oh.. that laundry pile!) and of course work. But I did manage to increase my reading and I am very happy about that!

For the month of March I read a total of 7 books. Just shy of my personal monthly goal of 8. I had a total of 24 posts, which included 5 reviews ( I plan on making that better next month!) a few ebook steals and deals, and a Trends in Ya post. 

Thank you to everyone who supports my blog, stops by to read my posts, and for your awesome comments which I adore! I have some fun and exciting things planned for April and I hope you'll stop by to enjoy it!

The Books

Still Waters by Emma Carlson Berne

The Girl In The Park by Mariah Fredericks

Pretty Crooked by Elisa Ludwig

For Darkness Shows the Stars by Diana Peterfreund

Slide by Jill Hathaway

Unraveling by Elizabeth Norris

A Midsummer's Nightmare by Kody Keplinger

The Challenges

• I read 7 books towards my goal of 100 for the 2012 Goodreads Reading Challenge. Bringing me up to a total of 21 books for the year. I am 3 books behind and I plan on catching up in April!
• I also read 2 books towards my goal for the 2012 YA Contempoary Challenge. Bringing my total to 10 books towards my goal of 15
• I read 2 books towards my 2012 TBR Pile Challenge bringing me to a total of 5 books towards my goal of 24. I definitely need to step it up on the TBR books! But these review books are sooo distracting!
• Last but not least, I read 3 books towards my 2012 Debut Author Challenge bring me to a total of 10 for the year!

Random Act's of Kindness

This month so many people were incredibly sweet to me! My friend Amber sent me an arc of Breath of Eyre by Eve Marie Mont that I'd been dying to read!

Loretta from Between the Pages bought me kindle books of Half Blood and Obsedian by Jennifer L. Armentrout. Thanks girl! You rock my socks!

Kevin Emerson sent me a letter and a signed arc of his debut novel, The Lost Code.

And I also got some really awesome books from publishers. So thank you to everyone! You helped make March an incredible month!!!

So what are your goals for April? I'd love to know, so leave me a comment and let me know!

Happy Reading!

XoXo

Prom Theme Giveaway!

Hello Lovelies!

I am so excited about this giveaway! I can hardly contain my excitement! Squee!!!

Prom season is officially upon us, so to help get teens ( and the rest of us too! ) ready for the big night, the awesome folks at HMH have a provided an awesome prize pack of books for one lucky reader! *cheers and throws confetti* It's totally amazing right?!?!?

For my giveaway HMH will be giving away copies of the following books

This will be open to US residents only, and you are not required to be a blog follower to enter this contest, although it is appreciated! Just fill out the raffle copter to enter!

Make sure you follow HMH on Twitter @HMHTeen for more awesome prom theme'd stuff! They will be giving away a package of books, a gift card for prom accessories (eeek!!!) and more! So add them as a buddy on twitter and keep your eyes peeled for more awesome giveaways coming up!

a Rafflecopter giveaway

In My Mailbox (22)

Hello Lovelies!

In My Mailbox is a weekly Meme hosted by Kristi the Story Siren. This is where us bloggers get a chance to show you what we got this week! Bookish related of course!

Traded

Unraveling by Elizabeth Norris

Storm (#1 in the Elemental Sereis) by Brigid Kemmerer

Fury by Elizabeth Miles ( signed! )

Pushing the Limits by Katie McGarry

For Review

All These Lives by Sarah Wylie

Just Flirt by Laura Bowers

Monument 14 by Emily Laybourne

Thank you to Amanda, Kelsey and Vivienne for the great books! And a HUGE thanks to MacMillan for the review books. As well as HMH for the awesome Prom Themed Book Prize Pack giveaway. Eeek! I am so excited! You guys totally rock my socks!

I got some really awesome books this week that I can't wait to dive into. I hope you had a great week in books as well and are having a wonderful weekend. Don't forget to leave me a link to your IMM so I can come by and drool over all the awesome you got!

Happy Reading and I will see you next week!

XOXO