Hello Lovelies!

So this month, love is on everyone's mind! It's at the grocery store, on the radio, in the theater. So my good friend Loretta from Between the Pages , and I decided to do a little something special! We read and discussed The Lover's Dictionary by David Levithan. The book was incredible and we had a total blast! So keep on reading to find out my thoughts on the book in my mini review, and make sure you scroll down to my Q&A with the lovely Loretta. Don't forget to stop by her blog as well to see what her thoughts on the book were, as well as to read my Q&A answers.

The Lover's Dictionary by David Levithan

   

basis, n. 

There has to be a moment at the beginning when you wonder whether you’re in love with the person or in love with the feeling of love itself.

If the moment doesn’t pass, that’s it—you’re done. And if the moment does pass, it never goes that far. It stands in the distance, ready for whenever you want it back. Sometimes it’s even there when you thought you were searching for something else, like an escape route, or your lover’s face.
How does one talk about love? Do we even have the right words to describe something that can be both utterly mundane and completely transcendent, pulling us out of our everyday lives and making us feel a part of something greater than ourselves? Taking a unique approach to this problem, the nameless narrator of David Levithan’s The Lover’s Dictionary has constructed the story of his relationship as a dictionary. Through these short entries, he provides an intimate window into the great events and quotidian trifles of being within a couple, giving us an indelible and deeply moving portrait of love in our time.

When Loretta approached me with the idea of doing this review, I was really excited! I have been dying to read this book, and it sounded like so much fun!

I honestly did not expect to fall in love with a book about love, but I did! This book was short, but sweet and to the point. It expressed through a unique style of writing, the true meaning of love! Love with all of it's ups and downs, pro's and con's. It wasn't just a story of love and happily ever after. It was so real, everything from that first time you meet, to the crazy butterflies the size of elephants in the pit of your stomach, to the first time you say I love you and are frightened the other person doesn't feel it too, to the first fight, and everything else in between!

I loved David' Levithan's style of writing and his unique approach and style he used when writing this. At time's things got a bit confusing when he'd jump from the present to the past to tell a story. And yes, there were many time's when I had to look up a word in the dictionary to get the real meaning of it, but who couldn't stand to expand their vocabulary a little?

All in all, I loved this book! It was a super fast read, that I found to be extremely refreshing! It captures the true meaning of love in it's entirety and I highly recommend it!

The Lover's Dictionary Q&A with Loretta from Between The Pages

Did you learn some new words from reading The Lover's Dictionary?

Oh yeah. I learned a slew of new words I never even knew. Honestly, I was dumbfounded (haha, yes this was used, & I KNEW what it meant ;]) at some of the words that were used. I had to GET a dictionary to read some words & figure it out. I know after you read the passage after the word you kinda get it. BUT, I wanted to know how to SAY the word. Yeah, it was crazy.

What do you think the meaning of the book was?

TO teach us new words?

No, I am kidding.. kinda! I think the meaning was to show you the different ways love works. The different phases. Love is love. To get a vision of how love is at times. 

The book also leaves you wondering how it ends.. but we never really know in our own love how it is going to end. Right?!

What were your feelings on the character's both as a whole, and also individually?

The MC was very into the relationship. I thought that he was sweet. Oh course he has his hesitations. But, what love don't. After sleeping alone for some times it is quite annoying to have someone in your space.

The girlfriend on the other hand was rather.....different. Yes, different. Things she did, said & how she acted was rather annoying. Her as a person I could not like as an individual. She just didn’t seem to really BE in the relationship.

As a whole I think it was how love is at times. I mean I cannot sit here and think people do not fight. They do. Who wants someone all in there space 24/7? Not me. But, I feel at times that their relationship was real. And at times, even I felt uncomfortable when they did in certain situations.

What was your favorite quote from the book?

“corrode v.

I spent all this time building a relationship. Then one night I left the window open and it started to rust.”

There were so many, but this is the one that stood out to me the most. It was that moment of realization for the MC, that his relationship maybe wasn't what he thought it to be.

Has this book changed your definition of love?

It hasn't. I have always been a believer in love. I mean come on. I married my High School Sweetheart.. BUT, I am not blind either. Love does not stop you from hurting someone. Love does not stop you from making mistakes. But, Love does make you want to change all of them things..

The book shows you how love really is. RAW

 With love being on everyone's mind right now, what are some of your favorite romantic reads?

A Need So Beautiful by Suzanne Young.

Maybe this is not your average "Happy Ending" book. But the love between the MC & her boyfriend (Harlin) was real. So real. & not over.

Thank you so much Loretta for stopping by. I had a blast reading this book and discussing it with you! Don't forget to hop on over to Loretta's blog to read her thoughts on it, as well as to find out my answers to the Q&A!

Around Town- Febuary 2012 Events

Hello Lovelies! 

It is time for another Around Town post. There are sooo many amazing events going on over the next few months in Houston. I'm seriously so giddy in anticipation. In this post I will however mostly focus on the events going on this month. Although I will mention a few others just because I am so excited I can't keep it to myself! hehe

First up Alex Flinn will be signing at Blue Willow at February 18th! I am so excited about this one. You guys have nooo idea! I loved Beastly so much and I cannot wait to get my hands on  Bewitching and get all my books signed. You can find details at the Blue Willow site here

Next on February 18th the Winter Dark Days 2012 tour will be stopping by the amazing Blue Willow! It will be featuring authors Cynthia Hand of Hallowed and Unearthly. Courtney Allison Moulton author of Wings of the Wicked. Debut authors Jodi Meadows who wrote Incarnate, and also Brodi Ashton author of Everneath. You can stop by to list to the panel of authors speak and get your books signed. The 4 authors coming totally blew me away. I honestly cannot believe they will all be in the same room at the same time! Again you can find details on this event at the Blue Willow site here

And last but not least, on February 22nd  the Breathless Reads 2012 Tour will be stopping by Blue Willow. Can you guys see why this is totally my favorite book store EVER??? Anyways, enough gushing about the amazingness that is Blue Willow. This tour features yet another amazing set of authors! Debut authors Marie Lu author of Legend, and Jessica Spotswood author of Born Wicked. Andrea Cremer of Bloodrose, Wolfsbane and Nightshade will also be there along with Beth Revis author of A Million Suns and Across the Universe. You can find the details for this event here

There will also be some equally amazing events going on in Houston in March and April. Just a few of the 2 dozen authors coming that I am really excited about seeing are Marissa Meyer's author of Cinder, Lauren DeStefano author of Wither and Fever, as well as Lauren Conrad who will be promoting her brand new YA series The Fame Game! I am super excited about all the amazing events! I can't wait to tell you about the rest of the amazing authors coming to Houston, but I didn't want to over whelm you at one time! haha So stay tuned for more updates on who else is coming to Houston. Trust me, you will want to make sure you are there!

Fracture

Fracture by Megan Miranda
Release Date: January 17,2012
Publisher: Walker Childrens
Age Group:  YA
Pages: 272
Format: Hardback
Source: Own
Interest: Debut Author
Challenge: 2012 Debut Author Challenge. 2012 Reading Challenge
Buy The Book: Amazon

Eleven minutes passed before Delaney Maxwell was pulled from the icy waters of a Maine lake by her best friend Decker Phillips. By then her heart had stopped beating. Her brain had stopped working. She was dead. And yet she somehow defied medical precedent to come back seemingly fine-despite the scans that showed significant brain damage. Everyone wants Delaney to be all right, but she knows she's far from normal. Pulled by strange sensations she can't control or explain, Delaney finds herself drawn to the dying. Is her altered brain now predicting death, or causing it?

Then Delaney meets Troy Varga, who recently emerged from a coma with similar abilities. At first she's reassured to find someone who understands the strangeness of her new existence, but Delaney soon discovers that Troy's motives aren't quite what she thought. Is their gift a miracle, a freak of nature-or something much more frightening?

Fellow book blogger, Mindy highly recommended this one to me. It was definitely on my to read list, when Mindy sent me a signed copy it was the final push I needed to finally give it a shot. 

Just as Mindy predicted, I loved it! Fracture is such an amazing debut novel! 

I LOVED that this book was a stand-alone! It seems like every time I read a YA book, they are quickly turned into trilogies, series, etc. Then before you know it, prequels, and in-between-quels pop up. It gets frustrating at times, keeping up with the story and the release dates of everything. So I thoroughly enjoyed reading a stand-alone novel for a change!

The story hooked me right from the beginning. Right away from the first 5 pages they get right into the heart of it, which I loved! I hate stories that drag on endlessly and take forever to get to the part of the story that we all read about on the jacket sleeve. Does anyone else hate that too?

Anyways, I totally got sucked into the story and the emotions of the character's. I felt so bad for Delaney and how over protective her family is of her after the accident. At times it was totally ridiculous and I don't think I could've handled it as well as she did. If my mother told me I wasn't allowed to turn on the oven, I think I would've had a fit the size of Texas! I felt so sorry for Decker, and couldn't imagine the guilt and mental anguish he went through. Knowing if he hadn't made Delaney cross the ice with him, that never would've happened! And then there was the whole love story issue. *sighs* Three love interests at ONE time??? That poor, poor girl! It's shocking that she didn't go right back into a coma from the emotional overload! 

Okay, I'll stop myself there, because I love this book and I could literally go on and on talking about the amazing plot. But, I won't bore you! But I WILL encourage you go out and read it for yourself!

Fracture was such a refreshing break and an incredible debut novel! It was unpredictable, emotional, suspenseful, and raw. I can't recommend this one enough!

Waiting On Wednesday (10)

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

In the Tudor age, ambition, power and charismatic allure are essential and Catherine Howard has plenty of all three. Not to mention her loyal best friend, Kitty Tylney, to help cover her tracks. Kitty, the abandoned youngest daughter of minor aristocracy, owes everything to Cat – where she is, what she is, even who she is. Friend, flirt, and self-proclaimed Queen of Misrule, Cat reigns supreme in a loyal court of girls under the none-too-watchful eye of the Dowager Duchess of Norfolk. 

When Cat worms her way into the heart of Henry VIII and becomes Queen of England, Kitty is thrown into the intoxicating Tudor Court. It’s a world of glittering jewels and elegant costumes, of gossip and deception. As the Queen’s right-hand-woman, Kitty goes from the girl nobody noticed to being caught between two men – the object of her affection and the object of her desire. 

But the atmosphere of the court turns from dazzling to deadly, and Kitty is forced to learn the difference between trust and loyalty, love and lust, secrets and treason. And to accept the consequences when some lessons are learned too late.

I am DYING to read this book! You have no idea! I can barely stand the wait. The cover is enticing and the story *sighs* don't even get me started! Look for this one to hit stores on May 15th!

What books are you waiting for? 

In My Mailbox (16)

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!

Hello my Lovelies! I hope you all had a fantastic week/weekend! Your all most likely watching the superbowl, cheering on your teams and chowing down on awesome superbowl snacks! 

For some reason my video is dragging this week. Literally! Apologies for that, but at least the sound came out!

Gifted

Fracture by Megan Miranda

Cinder by Marissa Meyer

Thank you to Mindy at Magical Urban Fantasy Reads!!! I LOVED it!!!! Eeeek!

Bought

Endless Summer by Jennifer Echols

Beastly by Alex Flinn

Wildthorn by Jane Eagland

Leave me a comment and let me know what you go in your mailbox this week. Hope you all had a fantastic weekend and I will see you back here next week.

XOXO

Fever

Fever by Lauren DeStefano
Release Date: February 21, 2012
Publisher: Simon and Schuster
Age Group: Young Adult
Pages: 352
Format: ARC
Source: Own
Interest : Dystopian
Challenge: 2012 Reading Challenge
Buy The Book: Amazon

The second book in The Chemical Garden Trilogy reveals a world as captivating—and as dangerous—as the one Rhine left behind in Wither. Rhine and Gabriel may have escaped the beautiful prison of Wither’s mansion, but they are far from escaping danger. First they’re chased for stealing a getaway boat, and then the fleeing pair ends up in the eerie den of Madame, an old woman who collects girls and sells them to the highest bidders. Worst of all, Vaughn, Rhine’s sinister father-in-law, seems to be on her trail every step of the way. Rhine remains determined to get to her brother in Manhattan—but the road they are on is long and perilous.

Now that Rhine has finally regained her freedom, what lengths will she need to go to in order to keep it?

I was so nervous about reading this book. It has been highly anticipated by many people for quite a while, and I was afraid it wouldn't live up to the expectations or hype. I had also heard quite a few negative things, and was really anxious about it.

The beginning of this book took off and I couldn't put it down. I loved the setting, and found myself intrigued by the whole circus theme. I was able to get more into the story and enjoy it than I had with the previous book. For one, the whole, 13 year old girls getting pregnant by 20 year old men, wasn't quite so in your face. Thank goodness, because at times I wanted to vomit! Even though I fully understood why this was taking place, I am the kind of person who visualizes everything as I read a story, so there were times when Wither was really hard for me to stomach.

In Wither a lot of time was spent on the character development, and getting to know each character. Who they were, where they came from, why they felt and acted the way they did. With the ground work already laid, Fever was able to focus more on the story itself and not so much on the backgrounds of each individual character.

For some reason, during the last 100 pages the story kinda fizzled out for me. I also found myself disappointed with the love story, or lack of ( at least to me!) . I've heard many complaint's about the ending, and talk of a huge cliff hanger that left people more frustrated than excited. That honestly kept me leery of reading this book, but I am so glad that I decided to find out for myself! While there is a cliff hanger ( let's face it, what trilogy , or series, doesn't have one? ) I felt like it wasn't a big deal. Basically, something happens that we've known for about 500 pages now, would happen at some point! When it finally did happen, I was actually excited, ( in  a good way) to read the next book and find out how Lauren will play this all out in the final book.

DeStefano yet again delivered another fantasy rich world that I couldn't tear myself away from! I loved the circus theme, with it's rich and colorful descriptions that made me feel like I was living inside of the book! All in all I really enjoyed the development of the story, and the intriguing setting. I would've liked to have seen more romance, but despite that, I found myself enjoying this even more than I did Wither!

Steals and Deals: Barnes and Nobel 50% off Teen Book Sale!

 Hello Lovelies!

It is time for another one of my favorite features, Steals and Deals! Squeee!!! So right now I should be posting my review for Fever, but I was so excited about this amazing sale, that I HAD to share it with all of my amazing readers!

Some of you may recall, that last month, Barnes and Noble had a killer 50% off sale on all YA books! My inner fan girl nearly passed out from all the excitement! Be still my beating heart!  I, like many other book nerds took advantage of the sale.

I am on a fairly, okay let's be honest, seriously limited budget! I rarely ever get to buy new books, muchless ones I REALLY want. I typically wind up buying whatever the bargain book is that month, or whatever my local used book store has. I squealed with delight when I checked my pay stub today and found some extra money! Wooo!! How often does that happen? So I decided to reward myself for all of my hard work, and what better way for my inner book nerd to do it, then to buy new books!

After carefully selecting two books that I could afford on my budget, I scoured the internet for coupon's. Hey, every little bit helps! After quite some time scouring, I was shocked to find a coupon code for 50% off ALL teen books. I had to actively send signals to my brain to NOT scream out loud and frighten everyone. 

YA book lover's rejoice! Barnes and Nobel's 50% off teen books is back baby! But  not for long! So here are the details... 

If you use coupon code R4R9M8F at checkout you will receive 50% all all TEEN books. This includes hardbacks, and paperbacks alike, and also applies to pre-order's as well! Keep in mind, before you go crazy loading up your cart, this is 50% off of the list price, NOT the sale price! For instance, if a hardback originally $17.99 is on sale for $10 you will not get it for $5 ( I wish! ) you will get it for $8.99. 

This does work on pre-order's, I already tried it out. Don't forget this coupon code only works once, and as of right now I only know of the one, so make sure you have everything you want in your cart before you check out. The sale started on January 31st, and will end on Febuary 7th, or is it the 6th? Anyways...act fast!!!

There are some great books coming out this month, so make sure you take advantage of this sale while it lasts! As I mentioned, it DOES work on pre orders so you will definitely want to take advantage of that! For instance, you can order copies of 

for $8.99 a piece! You know you are dying to read them, so what are you waiting for? 

Are you dying to know what I ordered? I was able to snag 7  books for $33.41! And here is what I got..

What books are you going to be buying during this incredible sale? I'd love to know, so let me know in the comments!

Happy Reading!

XOXO