I've decided to make a new feature on the blog called Around Town. There are so many amazing events going on in Texas, but specifically the Houston area on a regular basis. As I find out about the events I will be posting them in an "Around Town" post for any fellow Texans, or anyone else who would like to come out and enjoy!

So let's get started! This week there are a LOT of amazing event's going on and I am so sad that I won't be able to make them all. I wish I could clone myself so I could be at them all, but alas, I can't.

First up on Friday January 20th John and Hank Green will be in Houston doing a signing with Blue Willow Bookshop. And here is the info on that, be sure to click on the link for more information.

Blue Willow Bookshop at Pasadena High School

206 South Shaver

Pasadena, TX

Tickets: www.bluewillowbookshop.com

(281) 497-8675

On Saturday January 21st there are a whole bunch of awesome events going on, so you may have to prioritize.

John Green will be at the performing art' s center

Austin, TX – Saturday, January 21st – 7:00 PM

BookPeople at Westlake Community Performing Arts Center

4100 Westbank Drive

Austin, TX 78734

Jennifer Zeigler will be at Irving Publib

Teen Shiver will be at Barnes and Noble Lincoln Center in Dallas

And the one I am most disappointed about missing is the Eighth Annual Montgomery County Teen Book Festival. There are going to be lots of amazing authors there, including the extremely talented Gayle Forman ( Squeee!) Melody Carloson, Cinda Williams Chima, and many more! This will be held in the Woodlands and you can find more info on the event HERE

On Sunday January 22nd Jay Asher and Carolyn Mackler will be at Blue Willow Bookshop co signing together! They areboth incredible authors and this is another event I am broken hearted about missing. So if your going to be in the area this weekend, go and check it out and squee a little for me! 

And last but not by all means, least, ALA Mid Winter will be held in Dallas this year! Eeek! It starts on Friday and ends on Monday. I will be there and having a blast! So I will be absent from my blog for a few days while I attend. You can click on the button bellow for more info on attending.

I hope you will be able to take advantage of some of the amazing events going on in Texas this weekend! 

And as always, until next time, Happy Reading!

XOXO

New Girl

New Girl by Paige Harbison

Release Date: January 31 ,2012
Publisher: Harlequin Teen
Age Group: Young Adult
Pages: 304
Format: egalley
Source: NetGalley
Intrest: Young Adult
Challenge: 2012 Reading Challenge 2012 Debut Author Challenge
Buy the Book: Amazon

Welcome to Manderley Academy

I hadn't wanted to go, but my parents were so excited…. So here I am, the new girl at Manderley, a true fish out of water. But mine's not the name on everyone's lips. Oh, no.

It's Becca Normandy they can't stop talking about. Perfect, beautiful Becca. She went missing at the end of last year, leaving a spot open at Manderley—the spot that I got. And everyone acts like it's my fault that infallible, beloved Becca is gone and has been replaced by not perfect, completely fallible, unknown Me.

Then, there's the name on my lips—Max Holloway. Becca's ex. The one boy I should avoid, but can't. Thing is, it seems like he wants me, too. But the memory of Becca is always between us. And as much as I'm starting to like it at Manderley, I can't help but think she's out there, somewhere, watching me take her place.

Waiting to take it back.

When I read a review of this by a fellow blogger friend of mine  I was immediately excited about it! I am a HUGE fan of the classic Rebecca, the book, the movie, I love them all! This story has always captivated me, and I really can't explain why. I'm drawn like a moth to the flame! So when I found out this was a retelling of the classic Rebecca I couldn't wait to start reading it.

I won't waste your time telling you a lot about the plot of this book. Many of you I'm sure have already read the classic, Rebecca, so you get it! For those of you who haven't read it, here's a short recap of New Girl.

New Girl is the story of a young girl who has always dreamed of getting into the prestigous Manderly Academy, and has finally been accepted when a slot unexpectedly opens up. Once she arrives at Manderly she struggles to fit in with the other students. There is her roomate, the deeply troubled Dana Veers ( Mrs. Danvers anyone? ) the wickedly handsom Max, and his best friend Johnny who is a bit of a bad boy but devestatingly handsome. Once she get's to Manderly, New Girl ( yes that is her name the entire book ) realizes she was only accepted because the queen bee of Manderly herself, Becca ( Rebbeca!) has gone missing for several months. New Girl, who even resembles Becca, is living in Becca's constant shadow. From rooming with Becca's roomate, dating her boyfriend, and having all the same friends, she is constantly being compared to the all too perfect Becca. Will the infamous Becca return to Manderly to and reclaim her queen bee status, or will the mystery and rumours surrounding her disappearance pull her and Max apart and sever ties with her fellow schoolmates? And what really did happen to Becca? Well you will have to read New Girl to find out!

I absolutely adored this book and couldn't put it down. The author did a really great job bringing the classic tale of Rebecca into the modern world. The character's were true to the original with a modern twist. Max is still the handsome gentleman that he always was, Johnny is still the good looking resident bad boy, Becca is still the quentissential mean girl (who I hated just as much as the original!) , Dana Veer's aka Mrs. Danvers is still Becca's somewhat obsessed and mentally unstable bestie who freaked me out just as much as she did in the classic! While "New Girl" who is also nameless in the original, continues to remain shy, quiet, and as always nameless, that is until the last few pages of the book.

My only complaint is that I would only recommend this book to older teens as there is "partying" going on with underage drinking, and the f word is used quite a few times.

All in all I can't express how much I loved this book! It was full of mean girls, friendships, bad boy cuties, mystery, forbidden love, and lots drama! So make sure you go check this book out when it hits stores at the end of the month, especially if your a Rebecca fan like me!

To Verse, or Not To Verse, That Is The Question!

So as many of you know, I am a YA book blogger. Duh! In my short, ok 5 months to be exact, of blogging I have read about many bloggers and also readers, who have never read a novel in verse. Now that's crazy talk! I totally get it tho. I really do! For a very long time I held back on reading stories told in verse. I always felt that I wasn't intellectual enough to get them. In short, I was scared of the unknown!

I finally put my fears aside, gave them a try, and a new love quickly blossomed. Now I am a HUGE fan of stories told in verse. So much so that if you describe a book to me, and start with "told in verse"  I will stop you after those 3 words and snatch the book out of your hands, without even knowing what the story is about! Yes, I Cristina, have a love affair with stories told in verse. And so should YOU!

Here's the thing I love about books in verse. They are so simple. They really are! It's all about the story telling. No fluff or needless descriptions that go on, and on. That's one thing that I can't stand, endless descriptions about things we could care less about. Do I really care that her chestnut hair blew in the wind as he gazed into her lavender eyes, and her breath caught in her throat from his intense gaze? Umm...NO! I know, I know, your thinking, WOW lavender eyes exist? I don't know, probably not! I totally just made that sentence up. But it's just an example, you get the idea.

In short, don't be afraid to try something new, especially when it comes to stories told in verse. I promise you it won't go over your heard or be "weird" or anything like that! The main reason why I adore them so much is because of their simplicity. It's just the true heart of the story told in a simple yet beautiful way.

So why not try one out this weekend, you may start a whole new love affair in one afternoon!

Waiting On Wednesday (6)

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

(BOOK TWO) After parting ways with her troubled mermaid tribe, Luce just wants to live peacefully on her own. But her tranquility doesn’t last long: she receives news that the tribe is on the verge of collapse and desperately needs her leadership. Anais, the tribe’s cruel queen, wants Luce dead. Dorian, the boy Luce broke mermaid law to save, is determined to make her pay for her part in the murder of his family. And while the mermaids cling to the idea that humans never suspect their existence, there are suddenly ominous signs to the contrary.

But when Luce and Dorian meet, they start to wonder if love can overpower the hatred they know they should feel for each other. Luce’s new friendship with an ancient renegade mermaid gives her hope that her kind might someday change its murderous ways. But how can Luce fulfill her rightful role as queen of the mermaids without sacrificing her forbidden romance with Dorian?

Waking Storms by Sarah Porter will be out July 3, 2012. What books are you eagerly awaiting? 

Irises

Irises by Francisco X Stork

Release Date: January 1 ,2012
Publisher: Arthur A Levine Books
Age Group: Young Adult
Pages: 304
Format: ARC
Source: Own
Intrest: Young Adult
Challenge: 2012 Reading Challenge
Buy the Book: Amazon

Two sisters discover what's truly worth living for in the new novel by the author of MARCELO IN THE REAL WORLD.

TWO SISTERS: Kate is bound for Stanford and an M.D. -- if her family will let her go. Mary wants only to stay home and paint. When their loving but repressive father dies, they must figure out how to support themselves and their mother, who is in a permanent vegetative state, and how to get along in all their uneasy sisterhood.

THREE YOUNG MEN: Then three men sway their lives: Kate's boyfriend Simon offers to marry her, providing much-needed stability. Mary is drawn to Marcos, though she fears his violent past. And Andy tempts Kate with more than romance, recognizing her ambition because it matches his own.

ONE AGONIZING CHOICE: Kate and Mary each find new possibilities and darknesses in their sudden freedom. But it's Mama's life that might divide them for good -- the question of *if* she lives, and what's worth living for.

IRISES is Francisco X. Stork's most provocative and courageous novel yet.

I had been dying to read this book and was excited to finally get the chance to read it. The story wasn't quite what I thought it would be, but still good. I was expecting more of a... mysterious novel with a lot of hidden elements. This novel dealt more with family, love, loss and faith than anything else.

Irises is the story of sisters Kate and Mary who live with their  controling father who is a pastor at the local church, and their mother who has been in a vegetative state for years. The girls find themselves thrown into a world full of choices with the sudden death of their father. The girls are suddenly forced to take care not only of themselves, but also their mother, in the best way that they know how. 

Kate and Mary's character's are very different from one another. Kate's dream is to become a doctor, she makes top grades and has earned a full paid scholarship to Stanford, the school of her dreams. Kate being the older sister is practical, studious and dependable. Mary on the other hand is a very talented painter, and much like an artist she is sweet, emotional and impetuous. 

After the death of their father, the responsability of taking care of their mother, is resting solely on the girls shoulders. They must decide how far they are willing to go to keep her alive, or will they pull the plug? With so many decisions to make, will the hardships bring the girls closer together, or will this decision potentially tear the girls apart forever?

I really felt for these girls as they were dealt one hardship after another. I loved, respected, and admired their sense of family and their inner strength, especially Mary's , to not give up! It tested their love, friendship and faith! 

Overall, it was a fast paced read with a lot of thought provoking events that really make you wonder what you would do if you were in these girls shows. This book was more of a darker story, because of everything that happens to the girls, but despite this I still enjoyed the story!

Bout of Books TBR Picture

Hello Lovelies~

As some of you may know, I am participating in the Bout of Books 3.0 Reading Challenge. Today's challenge is to post a picture of our TBR pile for the read-a-thon. This time around I didn't make a pre set list of books to read, because I wanted to be able to read whatever I felt in the mood for. So here are some of the books I've been wanting to read and will try to work my way through during this read-a-thon.

As you can see, I have a pretty good pile of books to try to read through. And I am extremely excited about each and every one of them! 

If you are participating in the Read-a-thon I would love to see your TBR pile! If not just leave me a comment and let me know what books you want to try to get to from your TBR pile this week. I'd love to know!

XoXo

Pretty Little Liars #2: Flawless by Sara Shepard

Pretty Little Liars #2: Flawless by Sara Shepard

Release Date: December 28,2012
Publisher: Harper Teen
Age Group: Young Adult
Pages: 368
Format: Paperback
Source: Own/gifted
Intrest: Young Adult
Challenge: 2012 Reading Challenge
Buy the Book: Amazon

Four pretty little liars have been very bad girls.

Spencer stole her sister's boyfriend. Aria is brokenhearted over her English teacher. Emily likes her new friend Maya . . . as much more than a friend. Hanna's obsession with looking flawless is making her sick. But their most horrible secret yet is so scandalous that the truth would ruin them forever.

And why shouldn't I tell? They deserve to lose it all. With every crumpled note, wicked IM, and vindictive text message I send, I'll be taking these pretty little liars down. Trust me, I've got enough dirt to bury them alive.

The first book in this series definately left me wanting more. The second book in the series, Flawless, picks right up where book 1 left off. The drama was there from the very  begining,! The mystery and suspense grabbed my attention and had my hooked from the first 5 pages!

In Flawless we get to learn even more about Hanna, Aria, Spencer and Emily. We find out more about their personalities and their "flaws", which only deepened my sympathy for them. I just wanted to hug Hanna and give her a real parent, let Spencer know it is okay to just be herself and not someone else's idea of perfect. I wanted to tell Emily it's ok, and she will always be loved no matter what. I wanted to hug Aria and tell her no parent should ever put her in that position, it isn't her job to be anything but a kid! *sighs* Oh these poor troubled girls...

A definately kicks things up a notch and gets down and dirty in this book! She, or is it a he? finally makes good on some threats and gets back at the girls in a scandalous way! This book had me flipping pages as fast as I could to find out what would happen next and left me gasping in all the right places. I can't wait to start on the third book in this series and find out what other games A has up her/his sleeve!