Hello Lovelies!

I hope you all had a fantastical weekend! I am having a blast at ALA! I am tired and every bone in my body hurts from lugging around bags full of books. Literally! Even my rib cage hurts! :0 Tomorrow is the last day and I will soon be home. YAY! How I miss my bed!

I haven't done an IMM in 2 weeks. Life has been crazy hectic and I've been sick as well. Unfortunately I have lots to show you but my books are in a bit of disarray at the moment. When we built our house, I chose my bedroom because it was supposed to have 2 sets of built in book cases. In our haste to move in, we just shoved my desk into an alcove and a bought book case into the other. Through the years, and the blogging, it wasn't working anymore. So last weekend I said bye bye to the desk and went book case supply shopping with my Pops at Home Depot. Unfortunately we didn't have time to start building, as life seems to have gotten in the way. So all of my lovely books are in boxes piled in the living room where I date not even try to go through. 

So in the meantime you shall just have to look at what I got this week in the mail. I have one last day at ALA tomorrow and then I make my journey home. I should have an ALA vlog up Tuesday or Wednessday. Lots of friends have been asking so I will post it. But beware it WILL be long!

Now on to the books!

First up, Egmont sent me a book in the mail, and it totally made my week! Things could only go up from here!

 Then I opened it up and found out it was autographed to me! Squeee!!

Then I got Dead To You by Lisa McMann which I devoured in ONE sitting. It was AMAZING and my review is already posted.  So go read it because this is a MUST READ!

THen my lovely friend Amy sent me this amazing package! I LOVE dystopians so she sent me an audio book of Legend and some awesome Incarnate swag. Thanks Amy! I love you bunches!!!

Then my lovely friend Loretta who is sweet as pie gifted me an ebook of The Lover's Dictionary by David Levithan which I have been dying to read! Thanks so much Loretta! Your a doll! :)

I also got a copy of The Rook along with a temporary tatoo. I believ this came from Little Brown possible...who knows. It's late, I'm tired and my books are at home! lol 

When I get home and life gets back in order,  or my bookshelves anyways...I'll post a more accurate IMM and hopefully a blog and my usual stills. In the meantime I'd LOVE to hear what you got in YOUR mailbox this week. Make sure you leave me a comment. I LOVE to check them out. Don't forget to stalk my blog this week for a special edition ALA IMM vlog!

In the meantime, Happy Reading!

XOXO

Another Author Crosses Over Into YA

Hello Lovelies!

I'm sure like me, ya'll have been fans of YA books for many years. And if your like me, you never quite outgrew them! As the popularity of Young Adult books grows the audience has changed quite a bit. YA isn't just for teens anymore. It's for anyone who loves to read!

I think many popular series that were made into box office hits were what got the attention of youth and adults alike! Adults who couldn't get enough picked up the books and then sought out what else the YA genre had to offer, and soon they were hooked!

As the popularity for YA books has exploded many Adult fiction authors have crossed over and created books and even new series for Young Adults. Among the growing list of authors crossing over is Candace Bushnell, Kathy Reichs, John Grisham and many more!

Another hugely sucessful and uber popular adult fiction author is crossing over and joining the ranks of the YA authors. Jodi Picoult. Squee! Contemporary fans rejoice!

Jodi Picoult has written some really amazing books many of which have been turned into movies. So imagine my excitment when I heard she will co-writing a YA book calle Between The Lines which will debut on June 26th 2012.

I love the cover and the story sounds amazing! I will for sure be stalking the stores when this book comes out!

What about you? Will you be checking out this book when it hits the shelves? I know I will!

Dead To You

Dead To You  by Lisa McMann
Release Date: February 7, 2012
Publisher: Simon Pulse
Age Group: Young Adult
Pages: 256
Format: ARC
Source: OWN
Interest : YA Contemporay
Challenge: 2012 Reading Challenge, 2012 YA Contemporary Challenge
Buy The Book: Amazon

A page-turning realistic novel with a shocking twist from bestselling author Lisa McMann.


Ethan was abducted from his front yard when he was just seven years old. Now, at sixteen, he has returned to his family. It’s a miracle…at first. Then the tensions start to build. His reintroduction to his old life isn’t going smoothly, and his family is tearing apart all over again. If only Ethan could remember something, anything, about his life before, he’d be able to put the pieces back together. But there’s something that’s keeping his memory blocked. Something unspeakable...

Surprisingly I have never picked up a Lisa McMann book before, that is until Dead To You arrived at my door. Boy have I been missing out! Lisa did an incredible job with this novel. It was mind blowing amazing and easily a big time contender for my favorite book of 2012! Which is saying a whole lot, considering we aren't very far into the year!

Dead To You is the story of Ethan DeWilde. When he was 6 years old he got into a car with total strangers and was abducted, sending not only himself but also his family, into a total nightmarish whirlwind. 9 years later, after scouring the internet in search of his family, Ethan finally finds his way back home. Unfortunately for Ethan and his family, his return isn't quite the happy ending he was hoping for. Unable to remember anything that happened before he was abducted, Ethan is searching for answers to his many questions. Will he uncover something that he wished had stayed hidden?

The author did such an amazing job of weaving the story together along with the character development and all of the raw emotion of what these character's are feeling. I could feel his parent's heartbreak from the loss of their son, and the shock of his return. Their struggle in how to best handle the situation while getting to know their son all over again, without neglecting their other two children. I felt Blake's jealousy when suddenly his long lost brother returns and gains the attention of everyone around them. There was definitely some major middle sibling issues Blake was dealing with, and at times I wanted to reach my hand through the pages and slap some sense into him. I even felt for little Gracie as she struggles to get to know a brother she never met or even knew she had!

Mostly though, my heart ached for Ethan. I cried for the little boy who was taken from his family and far from home. I wanted to hug the young man who no one trust, and who everyone blames for getting in that car in the first place. His struggles with adjusting to his new life and his family were compelling. I felt like I wanted to protect him from all of the anxiety plaguing him.

The ending left me completely and utterly breathless. I couldn't move, or even breathe! I just sat there in shock, completely speechless. This book really blew me away!

Dead To You is a masterfully written journey into the life of a young man who is simply trying to find his way home. This book was so amazing I devoured it in one sitting and I now want to run out to the store and buy up every Lisa McMann book ever written. Make sure you grab a copy for yourself when this one hits the stores. Trust me, you will not regret it!

Waiting On Wednesday (7)

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

When plain and unpopular Annie Nutter gets zapped by one of her dad’s whacked-out inventions, she lands in a parallel universe where her life becomes picture-perfect. Now she’s Ayla Monroe, daughter of the same mother but a different father—and she’s the gorgeous, rich queen bee of her high school.


In this universe, Ayla lives in glitzy Miami instead of dreary Pittsburgh and has beaucoup bucks, courtesy of her billionaire—if usually absent—father. Her friends hit the clubs, party backstage at concerts, and take risks that are exhilirating . . . and illegal. Here she’s got a date to lose her V-card with the hottest guy she’s ever seen.


But on the insde, Ayla is still Annie.


So when she’s offered the chance to leave the dream life and head home to Pittsburgh, will she take it?


The choice isn’t as simple as you think.

Don't You Wish by Roxanne St. Claire will be out July 10, 2012. What books are you eagerly awaiting? 

Around Town 1/17

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!