We'll Always Have Summer(Summer #3) by Jenny Han

It's been two years since Conrad told Belly to go with Jeremiah. She and Jeremiah have been inseparable ever since, even attending the same college-- only, their relationship hasn't exactly been the happily ever after Belly had hoped it would be. And when Jeremiah makes the worst mistake a boy can make, Belly is forced to question what she thought was true love. Does she really have a future with Jeremiah? Has she ever gotten over Conrad? It's time for Belly to decide, once and for all, who has her heart forever.


My Thoughts/Review:

Wooo! The first series I've completed and reviewed on my blog! Exciting times.

So, there's really only so much you can say about one set of characters, because they never really change. They grow, maybe they get married, but they're always the same character. Belly's just as stubborn and opinionated as she was before, Conrad is just as sure that he's doing the right thing by letting her go. Jeremiah is still sweet, but he's changed just a bit. He's done some things that he shouldn't have to Belly.

He hurt her almost as bad as Conrad did. And guess what? I don't think he really even cares. It just kills me how he is the sweetheart, and in my mind, Conrad never really even did anything wrong. He just thought that Belly could do better than him. Maybe she could've, if he could have let go. I won't tell you what happens, but if you've been reading them along with me, you know where I stand.

Maybe you stand somewhere else. But it doesn't really matter. What matters is this: She got the one who was for her. She fell in love with the right one for her. I still really think that her mom is awesome, but that Taylor Jewel is kind of a crappy best friend. Maybe she's not, she just puts off a bad vibe, to me. She was never really there when Belly needed her, and now she's there for her. It's kind of sucky.

But I am so, so happy that this book went the way I expected it to. It ends perfectly, and it makes me just want to soak it up all over again, every year in the summer. So, all in all, I'd say I enjoyed this book a lot, because it's my favorite in the series. What I'm saying is, I want you to read the series. :)


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Favorite Quote:I've only ever loved two boys--both of them with the last name Fisher. Conrad was first, and I loved him in a way that you can really only do the first time around. It's the kind of love that doesn't know better and doesn't want to--it's dizzy and foolish and fierce. That kind of love is really a one-time-only thing.

Let's Face It by Jodi R. Moore

We’ve all seen the commercials – a pretty pop star promises your skin will be clear if you just . . . For fifteen-year-old Kaylin Bidwell, it doesn’t matter what they say. She knows the truth. Those products won't clear up her acne. She even proved it for a science fair project, hoping to win a spot at science camp with the guy she’s had a crush on for 20% of her life. But the only kind of spot she may end up with this summer are the ones on her face. Kaylin is determined to find a solution, even if it means interning for a company that makes acne products that never work. Could Kaylin help make something better? What she really wants is something better than better – a cure.


My Thoughts/Review:

This book is just so darn cute. The characters are cute, the story is cute, the entire book is cute. It was the perfect read for me right now. Less hardcore, more cute. I really liked the character of Kaylin, even though I don't understand her like of science, because I always hated science. But even though she talked about science all the time, she did it in a very easy to understand way, not in a 'Haha, I'm smarter than you and I know all about science' way, which trust me, was a plus. My favorite thing about Kaylin though, was her drive. She was driven to cure acne. One of the most impossible ventures in the world, and she was all about doing it. No fear.

The author wrote it in a way that it was believable, but also very hard sounding, with you never knowing whether she will succeed or not. It's just one of those things, you won't know if you don't try. I thought that Kaylin and Charlie's friendship was just adorable, and that it made the story better. Charlie was so willing to just be there for Kaylin, and to be a great friend for her, when her other friends maybe weren't.

I liked the research that Kaylin did about acne medications and acne washes, and how all of them can't possibly work for everyone. Nothing works for everybody, and Kaylin communicates that very well. I've never actually thought about interning at a science company, (hello, where would I find one in Po-Dunk, Arkansas?) but even if I had the chance, I'm pretty sure that I wouldn't.

Yet again, I admire Kaylin's drive. I also admire the way that she grew in this story. She really grew into a nicer, sweeter girl. She stopped worrying about all of her problems, and more about the world's problems. (Even if the world's problem, in this case, was acne.)

So, all in all, I definitely enjoyed it, and I recommend it for younger girls especially. :)



*Book Provided by Author for review*
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Favorite Quote:That's why I liked talking to Charlie. He always made me feel better. Like he was on my side. Rooting for me. Wanting me to be happy.

Twined Part 1 by A.L Collins & Giveaway!

Hey guys, today I'm participating in the Twined blog tour. *Yay!*

I am doing a review, and a giveaway!

It will be my first giveaway, but I'm hoping that it will go well.

*Review*

Avalin Marsh is used to disappointment. When her mother murdered a woman in the kitchen of her home on her eleventh birthday, Avalin decided that the people in your life were only there to let you down. She built up walls over the years making a mental fortress impervious to disappointment, heartache and sadness. However it also isolated her from others, making her bitter... and lonely.


When her mother was diagnosed with schizophrenia after the murder, Avalin began to see and experience things that she couldn't explain. She thought she could handle these episodes by pushing them back into her mind. Until the day she sees one of her classmates morph into a monster right in front of her eyes. Pushed to the brink of paranoia, Avalin truly believes she's insane. Then a mysterious man named Albert comes into her life. She's wary of his motives yet for some reason finds herself drawn to him even though they've never met. What's even more inexplicable is that Albert knows who Avalin is. She's the daughter of the famous Abigail Marsh. Her mother.



Now the two of them will need to put their differences aside and trust one another. If Avalin can't let her guard down long enough to let Albert in, then there might be dire and far reaching consequences in store for them.



It turns out Avalin Marsh isn't as crazy as she thought.



My Thoughts/Review:

I enjoyed this book, but there were a few things that I would've changed. For one, I would have changed the bits in the sentences where the author should have added commas. Because a lot of the sentences seemed a little bit run on and, well, comma less. But if you make pause at the appropriate places, it isn't so bad.

When I first started this book, I was kind of expecting a different kind of story than I got. It drew me in immediately, and kept me reading until the very end. And the end is a freaking cliffhanger! Authors must be trying to kill us with those. It's their super secret plan for infiltrating our very thoughts. It's working. I think about sequels to books all the time.

I really liked the character of Avalin, but it just seemed like she was a guy sometimes. She said stuff that no girl would say. Girls don't call themselves 'Jack-asses'. It's just one of the many differences between guys and girls. Other than that, Avalin was a terrific character, and I can definitely relate to her. She's kick-ass, and she definitely says exactly what she thinks. There were a few moments when I wished she was less 'Moan, moan, my mother is gone' and more peppy. She was kind of depressed.

I also liked the character of Albert, aside from the awful name, I mean. He seemed so sweet, and willing to protect Avalin, and he also seemed pretty funny. Some of the supernatural themes that were added to this book were interesting, but I don't think I'll really get them until I read the second book. Hopefully it will be more explanatory, and less cliffhanger ending. Maybe I can get on the tour for the second one too. ;)

I liked the insane headlong jump into the world of the Twined, but I found that I didn't understand all of the references made. So, all in all, I would say that this book was nonstop action from start to finish, and I would definitely recommend it, if you're willing to wait for the second book to come out.






*Book Provided by Author for Review*

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Favorite Quote:We don't celebrate birthdays now. We don't really celebrate anything anymore. My life has been hollow, been empty and filled with broken promises and destroyed dreams, so nothing nowadays receives much glee.
*Author Bio*

I'm a character enthusiast and lover of storytelling. I've spent most of my life listening to the tales that people tell and studying what makes a book or characters alive and interesting. Writing is my love and the details the flavor. I hope that people enjoy what I can create.

Links:

                                              Website

Twitter

                              Goodreads

*Giveaway*This giveaway is international, and has all of this cool swag!The swag pack includes a copy of  A.L. Collin's book Twined (Signed!) , a signed poster, a signed bookmark, a signed postcard, one ink pen, two Twined candles, and a little author's bio card. :)

a Rafflecopter giveaway
The author is also having another giveaway for a $50 Amazon Gift Card!
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Starters(Starters #1) by Lissa Price

Callie lost her parents when the Spore Wars wiped out everyone between the ages of twenty and sixty. She and her little brother, Tyler, go on the run, living as squatters with their friend Michael and fighting off renegades who would kill them for a cookie. Callie's only hope is Prime Destinations, a disturbing place in Beverly Hills run by a mysterious figure known as the Old Man.


He hires teens to rent their bodies to Enders—seniors who want to be young again. Callie, desperate for the money that will keep her, Tyler, and Michael alive, agrees to be a donor. But the neurochip they place in Callie's head malfunctions and she wakes up in the life of her renter, living in her mansion, driving her cars, and going out with a senator's grandson. It feels almost like a fairy tale, until Callie discovers that her renter intends to do more than party—and that Prime Destinations' plans are more evil than Callie could ever have imagined. . . .



My Thoughts/Review:

I liked the character of Callie, but her story is one that I found a tad bit unbelievable. It's ok, all the best dystopians are. Unbelievable, because it has yet to happen. It was a very interesting story in the way that it was told, because all the Starters had to be perfect. Imagine this: All of the people over 18 and under 65 were wiped out in the spore wars, so rich Enders are paying to take over the body of a Starter. They're using these kids bodies for their own means. They're skydiving, car racing, and endangering some poor teenage kid's body.

Can you imagine how much it would suck to be a starter? Hey, some old person's gonna rent my body for as long as they wish, and I'm gonna paid for it. It's okay though, because I need the money. Scary. But it happens, in this world that Price has created. I thought it was awful hows these kids were being used, then she went and made it even scarier. She added politics, and evil plans involving some people that are pretty high up in the system. I never, ever saw it coming.

Callie's character interests me, because she wasn't afraid to go under the knife, and become perfect, so she could get paid. She needed to get paid because her brother needed the money for medical reasons. How many people can say that they would do that to save their brother? Not many, I'd bet. So, to end this about Callie, I'd say that she was pretty kick-ass.

I don't really understand why Michael was a character, because he didn't get very much development, or really any time at all, compared to the other characters. I wish that there was more of him, because I quite liked him when he was around. So, all in all, I'd say that I enjoyed it, and that I'll be reading Enders.


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Favorite Quote:One moment, his face was that of a popular star from the turn of the century, the next it was that of a poet from decades ago, or some unknown man. Because it was three-dimensional, its effect was eerie, not silly like a flat costume mask, but not so smooth that it could pass for a real face. It was something in between, artificial but captivating.

In My Mailbox #10

In my Mailbox is a weekly meme hosted by Kirsti, over at the Story Siren.
So guys, this week I didn't get very much, but it's still pretty good. I got a TBR pile to get to anyway. ;)
In the Mail:
Let's Face It was provided by the author for review.
Borrowed from my awesome friend Hannah:
Netgalley: I cannot wait to read this one!
So, what did you guys get this week?Leave your link, and I'll check it out. :)

The One That I Want by Jennifer Echols

Gemma can’t believe her luck when the star football player starts flirting with her. Max is totally swoon-worthy, and even gets her quirky sense of humor. So when he asks out her so-called best friend Addison, Gemma’s heartbroken.

Then Addison pressures Gemma to join the date with one of Max’s friends. But the more time they all spend together, the harder Gemma falls for Max. She can’t help thinking that Max likes her back—it’s just too bad he’s already dating Addison. How can Gemma get the guy she wants without going after her best friend’s boyfriend?

My Thoughts/Review:

I'm not really sure what I think of this book, because on the one hand, I liked it a lot, but on the other, it seemed like the story didn't get all the development time that it could have had. I loved the character of Gemma, but her and Max's relationship could've been so much better. They could've had more time, to really get to know each other. But they didn't. I guess I'm just more of a fan of Echols's more dramatic work. ;)

Gemma and Max's relationship is good, but I really, really wish that they had been together for just a bit longer before the book ended. Again, I just wanted a little bit more relationship development. I didn't understand how they could like each other so much, yet want to make the other so jealous that they wanted to strangle each other. So on, and so forth.

When I first started this book, I was a little worried, because I wasn't into it right away, and I started thinking, 'Well, crap, Echols has lost her mojo'. I was wrong, but I was also kind of right. Maybe it's because I've never read any of her contemporary books before. I enjoyed it, but it wasn't amazing. So, all in all, I give you a go to read it, and maybe love it more than I did.



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Favorite Quote:"Your friendship is hard now. Before, it might not have been good, but it was easy. All your relationships were easy. You knew your place with everybody. And that was important to you."

Memorable Monday #2

Hey guys, I stumbled across this meme on Escape in a Book. My quotes for this week are from.......Anna Dressed in Blood by Kendare Blake, which I really loved. :) “You make me want things I can't have.”   “But hey, at least we’ll have this strange story to tell, love and death and blood and daddy-issues. And holy crap, I’m a psychiatrist’s wet dream.” “She's my purpose and we're going to save each other. We're going to save everyone. And then I'm going to convince her that she's supposed to stay here. With me.” “Yes. Smashing. You’ll be just like those four chaps in the movie. You know the one, with the oversized marshmallow.” 
 “I’ve seen most of what there is to be afraid of in this world, and to tell you the truth, the worst of them are the ones that make you afraid in the light. The things that your eyes see plainly and can’t forget are worse than huddled black figures left to the imagination. Imagination has a poor memory; it slinks away and goes blurry. Eyes remember for much longer.” So, what do you guys think?
     

It's Not Summer Without You(Summer #2) by Jenny Han

Can summer be truly summer without Cousins Beach?It used to be that Belly counted the days until summer, until she was back at Cousins Beach with Conrad and Jeremiah. But not this year. Not after Susannah got sick again and Conrad stopped caring. Everything that was right and good has fallen apart, leaving Belly wishing summer would never come.


But when Jeremiah calls saying Conrad has disappeared, Belly knows what she must do to make things right again. And it can only happen back at the beach house, the three of them together, the way things used to be. If this summer really and truly is the last summer, it should end the way it started--at Cousins Beach.


My Thoughts/Review:

This book ends on such a bittersweet note, it makes you want to cry. It's so sad. It makes you want to cry because if you're like me, maybe if you read a sad scene in a book, your heart breaks, just a little. You want a book that can do that, but you also want a book that can't, because if you break you heart too often, what will be left? I don't want to answer that question, because it's guaranteed to be an answer I don't like.

I still really love the character of Belly, because she's so straightforward about her feelings and what she wants. And I think she wants Conrad. I'm all for that. I like Jeremiah, because he just seems like a huge sweetheart, but I also know how the trilogy ends, and lets just say that it doesn't end the way you'd think it would. That ought to keep you guessing. Belly is my favorite character, but her mom comes in a really close second. She has a kick-ass mom. She's as stubborn and opinionated as her daughter is.

Conrad is my favorite love interest, because Jeremiah is just too much of a sweetheart. He just puts off too much of a sweetie vibe. It just kills it for me. Conrad puts off such an angst ridden man vibe, kind of tortured, but that just works on some characters. Not all, but you know what I mean. Sometimes it just works. I think that it was really cool how all the added elements in this book worked out, and you didn't really see it coming. You've got to love that in a book.

I also really liked how the author told little bits of the story in Jeremiah's point of view. I really loved reading in his point of view, and wish there was a couple more chapters in his view. He told little pieces from the past, and little snippets from the present. The author did a good job with that. There's a little bit of a twist in the end, so you don't want to miss even a little bit of this book. It's amazing. So, all in all, I'd say to read the first book, then hit this one too.


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Favorite Quote:All I knew was, I wanted her to look at me like that. After that day, I was done for. I liked her, as more than a friend. I maybe even loved her. There have been other girls. But they weren't her.

The Beautiful Blogger Award!

Hey Guys! I'm back to tell you that Angelique from On a Faraway Bookshelf has nominated me for the beautiful blogger award! (Aww, thanks Angelique!) And since I'm so excited to have received this, I'm gonna answer the questions, and send out some nominations! :)
So, first, I believe there is Seven questions that need to be answered about me.They are......Seven things you never knew about me (and probably never need to know.)
1. My best friend and I have an ongoing joke that has to do with a boy that we were standing next to, when we suddenly started saying 'rubber duck' back and forth at each other. (Yes, we're weird.)
2. I collected coins when I was younger, but stopped because I was running out of room to put them.
3. I love cereal. Always have, always will. it doesn't even really matter what kind of cereal.
4. I am the biggest fan of hard rock. Make that music in general. All music. Love it. :)
5. My favorite movie of all time is Troy.
6. Umm........I have a three legged dog named Bubby, and he is the cutest, sweetest dog ever. :)
7. My pickup truck is currently sitting outside, gutted, waiting for me and my Daddy to fix it up and make it driveable. :)
So, who do I nominate for this award?Cheyenne from {This Girl Reads}Zhanna and Witcha from A Match Made in YA FictionTristen from Totally Booked SolidCalamity and Chaos from Muggle MadnessDarkitty from Ebony Ink ReviewsKristy1504 from A Little Shelf of HeavenBeth from Beth Art From the Heart
So, who will you nominate?

The Summer I Turned Pretty(Summer #1) by Jenny Han

Belly measures her life in summers. Everything good, everything magical happens between the months of June and August. Winters are simply a time to count the weeks until the next summer, a place away from the beach house, away from Susannah, and most importantly, away from Jeremiah and Conrad. 


They are the boys that Belly has known since her very first summer--they have been her brother figures, her crushes, and everything in between. But one summer, one terrible and wonderful summer, the more everything changes, the more it all ends up just the way it should have been all along.

My Thoughts/Review:

I really love this book. It's just so sweet, and it has a great beach read feel, which is what I need right now. Kind of like a vacation. Belly is such an amazing character, because I can imagine the way she is, and to be honest, she's a lot like me. She's stubborn, and opinionated. That's the only things that make her like me, but that's enough for me to love her. All great female protagonists should be stubborn and opinionated. People are so much better when they have actual opinions.

The Conrad/Jeremiah/Cam love triangle was kind of a lot, but Belly really didn't have any feelings toward Cam at all. Jeremiah and Conrad's aspect is actually very interesting, because in a way, she loves them both. She's known them her entire life, so she loves them both as brothers, but with you know, a bit of romance for one of them. Cause you can't really love someone as a brother and want to date them, can you? That would be really weird.

I really like the entire beach house aspect, because I've never actually been to the beach. Or seen the ocean. So, I read as many books as I can about the ocean, so I can feel closer to it. So when there is a book about the ocean, and I really love it, it makes it seem more real, and definitely better, based on the descriptions. So, this book is a really sweet read, with a bit of a twist in it that you may not expect. I love those kinds of endings. They just make the story. So, all in all, I'd say it was a read that I'll recommend to you.



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Favorite Quote:The thing is, Susannah was right. It was a summer I'd never, ever forget. It was the summer everything began. It was the summer I turned pretty. Because for the first time, I felt it. Pretty, I mean. Every summer up to this one, I believed it'd be different. Life would be different. And that summer it finally was. I was.

The Fine Art of Truth or Dare by Melissa Jensen

Pretty in Pink meets Anna and the French Kiss in this charming romantic comedy.


Ella is nearly invisible at the Willing School, and that's just fine by her. She's got her friends - the fabulous Frankie and their sweet cohort Sadie. She's got her art - and her idol, the unappreciated 19th-century painter Edward Willing. Still, it's hard being a nobody and having a crush on the biggest somebody in the school: Alex Bainbridge. Especially when he is your French tutor, and lessons have started becoming, well, certainly more interesting than French ever has been before. But can the invisible girl actually end up with a happily ever after with the golden boy, when no one even knows they're dating? And is Ella going to dare to be that girl?


My Thoughts/Review:

I started this book out with very high expectations of what would happen. Were they met? No, not really. The story was cute enough, I suppose, but I was prejudiced from the very start. I guess the love interest was okay, but he kind of annoyed me. He never apologized for a number of things that he did, and he seemed to expect everything to fall at his feet. For all we know, he never even declared that they were together. I don't know, maybe I missed something, but he didn't seem very swoon-worthy, or even worthy of Ella. He was just who got picked.

I honestly did not see any of the chemistry in this book with anybody but one of the side characters that only really showed up for the shock factor. I mean, when a guy shows up only three or four times in the entire book, well, that makes me think the author didn't know what to do, so she wrote in a completely unrelated character, that I honestly thought should be Ella's love interest. Throughout the entire book, I was hoping that somehow, he'd end up being the one. He was the one with the best character, and the best character development, even though he was only there three or four times.

He was the completely out there bad boy. And I really wish I would've gotten to read a lot more about him, because he was the best character. Sexy, bad-ass, all the essential guy qualities. He could have been great as the love interest, because there was a lot more chemistry between those two than there was Alex and Ella. I would have much rather it had been Daniel and Ella. It so would have worked. Shy, invisible girl, with hot, tattooed, rebel guy. Don't you think it would have worked well?

Now, to be honest, this met with one expectation: Truth or Dare. But not in the way that I was expecting. The Truth or Dare in this book was mediocre at best. She played it with her two best friends, not with the guy. That's what I was expecting. Truth or Dare with the guy. Played in a slightly dangerous way. Look at that cover, it just puts off a slight cute romance/con artist vibe. So, all in all, I enjoyed it, but it really wasn't my thing. It was just kind of....meh.



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Favorite Quote:I dropped my hand. "Yeah right." I sagged against him a little. For being skinny as he is, Frankie's really solid. "It's never me."

Memorable Monday #1

Hey guys, I stumbled across this meme on Escape in a Book, and decided that it might be fun. So I'm gonna try it this once, and if I don't like doing it, I won't do it again. Maybe I can do it monthly. :)

So, my quote is from Catching Jordan by Miranda Kenneally, which I completely loved. (Wait. How many quotes can I have? Hmmm.)

“One thing I learned a long time ago is that even if you think you're meant to be with someone, that doesn't necessarily mean you get to be with them.” 


“Sometimes friendship is just that, just being with someone.”

“I kiss his forehead. "You are a wimpy idiot. But...I still love you."

"I love you too, Woods.” 

“This must be the weirdest thing a football coach has ever seen: two quarterbacks making out.”

“Are you still scared of Mike's room?" I say, giggling.

He falls face first onto the pillow I just threw at him. In a muffled voice he replies, "No, I'd rather just stay with you.”

“You want me?"

"Every bit of you," he mumbles.” 

“Any chance that you're pregnant?' the technician says as he pulls the X-ray lamp over my swollen knee.

'No,' Henry and Dad say at the same time.”

"Why were you watching me change?" I explain. "Uh, 'cause I'm a guy?" He flips the pillow and slaps it, fluffing it. Then he rolls over and closes his eyes again.” 

“I think JJ will tell me that he loves me soon," Lacey says to Kristen. 

"He definitely will," Kristen says. "I can tell by the way he looks at you."

I force myself to cough so I don't laugh. JJ stares at Lacey the way he stares at every one of the Titans' cheerleaders. It's the same way he stares at cheese fries, for that matter.” 

“Woods? Do you have a sec?" Ty asks.

"Sure."

"Alone?" Ty eyes Henry and Jerry Rice, and I jerk my head at Henry.

"Fine," Henry says, rolling his eyes. "Divorce me if you must, Woods. I can't believe I've only been married half an hour and I'm already a single parent." Ty holds the door to the gym open so Henry can get the stroller through. I giggle at the sight of him carrying those diaper bags across the gym.” 

::::

So guys, do you think that was a little too much?
I wanna see what you guys think. :)

Where I Belong by Gwendolyn Heasley

Meet Corrinne. She's living every girl's dream in New York City—shopping sprees at Barneys, open access to the best clubs and parties, and her own horse at the country club. Her perfect life is perfectly on track. At least it was. . . .


When Corrinne's father is laid off, her world suddenly falls apart. Instead of heading to boarding school, she's stripped of her credit cards and shipped off to the boonies of Texas to live with her grandparents. On her own in a big public school and forced to take a job shoveling manure, Corrinne is determined to get back to the life she's supposed to be living. She doesn't care who she stomps on in the process. But when Corrinne makes an unlikely friend and discovers a total hottie at work, she begins to wonder if her life B.R.—before the recession—was as perfect as it seemed. 



My Thoughts/Review:

I enjoyed this book, but there were a few things that could've been changed with no loss, because Corrinne was a good enough character, but I really wasn't interested in reading about her until halfway through the book, when she stopped be such a brat, and grew a conscience. There were a few things that I found really distracting, though. For one, all of the kids have names like 'Jenny Jo' and 'Kitsy Kidd'. It was kind of demeaning towards country folks. It was kind of a 'you've judged us and made your decision without ever having met us' kind of feeling. I hate those feelings. You'd be surprised how often you get them working for a living.

Another thing was 'Bubby'. That was a boy's name. That is my dog's name. I am not kidding. I could understand Bubba, but not Bubby. Everytime I read that name, I just got this picture of a really dopey looking guy, because my dog is just so cute and dopey. It was awful. So, when I finally got over that entire prejudiced section right there, I started to like the book. Corrinne was growing up, Bubby's name wasn't quite as distracting, and the annoying brat talk was gone. Because the book was so much more enjoyable with out the bratty gossip girl persona. It was also very different than what I was expecting, because look at that cover, I thought it was going to be romantic fluff.

It wasn't. It was definitely a book geared towards growing up, and finally making your way into life. Because Corrinne got a job, learned how to drive a truck, made some friends, and got a crush on one certain guy that wasn't worth it. Then she wised up and got a crush on a boy that was. I really sympathized with Corrinne about filtering her words though, because I automatically say the honest thing, and the thing I'm thinking right then. It's a curse, being able to tell people exactly what you think, without ever thinking about until you've said it. Gets me in heaps of trouble, and I'm not very good at getting out of it.

Some of the scenes in this book were just too cute. Really. Also, redneck people do have tailgate parties, and bale hay. (Hay season is right now! The air smells great, like fresh cut hay!) We go to rodeos. We wear cowboy boots, and jeans most of the time. But where I'm from, we sure ain't got no football team. Our towns just too small. (Twelve graduates this year!) So, all in all, I liked it, but it was flawed for said reasons. Read it on a rainy day.


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Favorite Quote:"Waverly," Tripp says, "your fortune is 'Tough times don't last, tough people do.' Can I eat the cookie?"

In My Mailbox #9

In my Mailbox is a weekly meme hosted by Kirsti, over at the Story Siren.

Hey guys, this week I got a ton.
Here's the list. :)
Against All Odds and Twined were provided by the author for review purposes.I won Lexapros and Cons as part of the SAR Challenge.Thanks to Naiche at The Book Girl Reads for my copy of Lovetorn.And the rest, I bought. :) Netgalley:
 What did ya'll get?Post your link, and I'll check it out. :)

Against All Odds by Aliaa El-Nashar

The Story revolves around:


-A boy called Damien who seems to have it all. He's rich, good-looking and athletic. He's also arrogant, obnoxious and a major player. Damien is one of 5 children who seem to not get along, until one day Damien meets Alexis and his life is turned inside out.


-A girl called Alexis who has trust issues due to her parents. Her best friends mean the world to her, and she refuses to date anyone that doesn't fit completely in her 'Perfect Guy' list.


They're thrown together a lot and start to face inner demons they've hidden away for so long.



My Thoughts/Review:

The first few chapters of this book were really rough, like a first draft. But once I got to about the third chapter, there was no turning back. I was gonna read the entire thing. So, I continued along, on my own sweet time, in reading this book. I enjoyed it. There were a few things that I found annoying, but they stopped bothering me after the first quarter of the book. That was when I realized, that based on the culture differences of the author and me, that there was going to be stuff that I viewed as a typo, or grammatical error, that would be viewed differently in Egypt.

There was going to be things that I thought were worded weird, or seemed strange, that really weren't. They were completely normal. So it stopped bothering me, and I really got into the story of Damien and Alexis. It was just so darn cute. There were several little subplots/love stories that the author plans on making a series out of! It may have seemed just a little much to have so many characters in one book, without as much character development as they could have had, but it all just kind of worked. I would have loved to have seen more of William, and I also would have loved to have gotten to read more about Damien and Alexis. They were just so adorable!

I loved all the cute little banter between all the characters. I literally laughed out loud at a few of the scenes. Especially 'Mrs. Brocklehurst' you'll have to read it to find out what that's about. And you'll want to know, trust me. And if you find yourself laughing out loud, just know, that I told you so. All in all, it's definitely worth a look. If you can get past the grammatical differences without correcting them all in your head, that is. Which I did, so it should be no problem for ya'll.

♠♠♠
Favorite Quote:"Not at all, I believe I was mocking your walking manner, we all know that you can't walk straight without bumping into someone," Alexis told her in a matter-of-fact tone."Just mind your own business, ok?""I quite was, before you pushed me"

Abraham Lincoln: Vampire Hunter by Seth Grahame-Smith

Indiana, 1818. Moonlight falls through the dense woods that surround a one-room cabin, where a nine-year-old Abraham Lincoln kneels at his suffering mother's bedside. She's been stricken with something the old-timers call "Milk Sickness."


"My baby boy..." she whispers before dying.


Only later will the grieving Abe learn that his mother's fatal affliction was actually the work of a vampire.


When the truth becomes known to young Lincoln, he writes in his journal, "henceforth my life shall be one of rigorous study and devotion. I shall become a master of mind and body. And this mastery shall have but one purpose..." Gifted with his legendary height, strength, and skill with an ax, Abe sets out on a path of vengeance that will lead him all the way to the White House.


My Thoughts/Review:

This is completely weird, and ya'll won't believe me, but I find myself wondering if this is true. Because if it isn't, this guy is a dang good storyteller. One of the best. The book is written in a way that it might be mistaken for a biography, because it switches from Lincoln's journal, to the author's point of view, to an unnamed person's view, so I really don't know how the author made this work. Possibly because he's a really good storyteller. Abe Lincoln's character can't really be capitalized on, because mostly, he wasn't the character leading the book. I don't really know how else to describe it. It was weird.

It was totally awesome, though. Who doesn't love a good old-fashioned vampire hunting Abe Lincoln? That is just too cool. I couldn't pass up the chance to read something like that. I just couldn't. You understand, of course. Now, I can honestly say that I enjoyed the middle part of the book best, because that's where all the action was, and when most of the Vampire hunting took place. In the third part of the book, Lincoln doesn't really hunt as much, for fear of getting killed, and leaving his wife and kids alone. I suppose I could understand that.

The best part of the book was when you finally got to understand Lincoln's reasons for starting the civil war, and why he seemed to have no problems sending thousands of men out to battle with no training whatsoever. Like I said, this book was so well researched, that I found myself wondering if it was true. It'd be awesome, yet scary, if it was. I especially loved all the pictures showing supposed 'fangs' and black eyed assailants. So, all in all, I'd say it was an action packed read, that I definitely enjoyed. And it had a really surprising ending.


♠♠♠
Favorite Quote:Abe didn't say a word. He made straight for his journal and wrote down a single sentence. One that would radically alter the course of his life, and bring a fledgling nation to the brink of collapse.I hereby resolve to kill every vampire in America.

Dreamland Social Club by Tara Altebrando

Jane has traveled the world with her father and brother, but it's not until her fractured family-still silently suffering from the loss of Jane's mother many years before-inherits a house and a history in Coney Island that she finally begins to find a home. With the help of a new community of friends, a mermaid's secrets, and a tattooed love interest with traffic-stopping good looks, the once plain Jane begins to blossom and gains the courage to explore the secrets of her mother's past.


Colorful characters, beautiful writing, and a vibrant, embattled beachfront backdrop make this the perfect summer read for anyone who has ever tried to find true love or a place to call home.



My Thoughts/Review:

I really enjoyed this book, because, as I've said before, I love magic realism. I liked the characters of Jane, Babette, Leo and Marcus (not necessarily in that order), because it seemed so cool that they all had their own little quirks. Jane thought she was incredibly boring, so that meant she couldn't go by her given name, Luna, because she wasn't worthy of it. I have never had that problem, but my name isn't Luna. It was also interesting that Jane slowly grew to love herself throughout the book, until she was wearing what she wished (vintage clothes), and she finally decided that she was worthy of her name.

Marcus was kind of an ass, but just a little bit. Not really bad. I think that Babette was awesome, though. Anyone that is a goth dwarf gets a vote in my book. Give them something to stare at, right? (If someone's looking at you funny, you give them something to stare at, don't you?) I wish that Legs and Rita would have gotten more character development, because they could have been really great characters, if they were given the time. Leo was an interesting character, and I liked him, but he is just so....oblivious. It drives you a bit insane. He's in his own little world.

The plot moved quick enough, but not very fast. It was entertaining, but not a-million-things-are-happening-at-once. I kind of hate that in a plot. I don't want to read about a million different unconvincing scenarios within fifteen pages. It's just too much. So this was just perfect for my mood today. Slow, but entertaining. All in all, I'd say it was a perfect read for a rainy day. Light and entertaining.




 ♠♠♠
 Favorite Quote:"Sometimes I wonder." He lifted his elbows, and put his hands in his jeans pockets. "I wonder if maybe she was preparing us for something. For the bad stuff.""Well, it didn't work," Jane said. "I wasn't prepared.""Maybe you were and you just don't know it yet."

Lexapros and Cons by Aaron Karo

Chuck Taylor’s OCD has rendered him a high school outcast. His endless routines and habitual hand washing threaten to scare away both his closest friend and the amazing new girl in town. Sure he happens to share the name of the icon behind the coolest sneakers in the world, but even Chuck knows his bizarre system of wearing different color “Cons” depending on his mood is completely crazy.
            
In this hilariously candid debut novel from comedian Aaron Karo—who grew up with a few obsessions and compulsions of his own—very bad things are going to happen to Chuck. But maybe that’s a good thing. Because with graduation looming, Chuck finds himself with one last chance to face his inner demons, defend his best friend, and win over the girl of his dreams. No matter what happens, though, he’ll have to get his hands dirty.



My Thoughts/Review:

I liked this book, but it's maybe not something I'll be reading over and over. Who knows, I might. It might come back to me in a month or so. I liked the character of Chuck Taylor, because for all his OCD impulses and his weirdness, he was actually really funny. And in my mind, you just can't beat funny. Because funny is just the kingpin in YA literature. Funny. I would never have guessed that OCD was so serious. It's just insane how serious it is. It's like having anxiety attacks. Serious, right?

Chuck Taylor was really odd, but I found myself rooting for him just the same. Nothing in his life just ever seemed to go right, and once in a while, something should go right for everybody, no matter who they are, or what they've done. Chuck Taylor (I can't type Chuck without typing the entire thing. It just has a great ring to it.) was so out there and willing to try or say almost anything. He blurted out " You're pretty" to a girl in the middle of class. Could it get any worse than that? I 'spose it could, but it wouldn't be nearly as funny.

You know that your not going to be able to put a book down when the first sentence literally makes you laugh out loud. Because, really, how many books can you say have made you laugh immediately? Not many, probably. I've never read a book about an OCD character, and if this is the kind of stuff they do (choosing shoes based on moods, etc.) I'm really not sure I could handle very many of these kinds of books. So, all in all, I liked it, but I might never get back to it.

♠♠♠
Favorite Quote:My name is Chuck. I'm seventeen years old. And OCD be damned, I'm going camping.

Anna Dressed in Blood(Anna #1) by Kendare Blake

Just your average boy-meets-girl, girl-kills-people story...


Cas Lowood has inherited an unusual vocation: He kills the dead. 


So did his father before him, until his gruesome murder by a ghost he sought to kill. Now, armed with his father’s mysterious and deadly athame, Cas travels the country with his kitchen-witch mother and their spirit-sniffing cat. Together they follow legends and local lore, trying to keep up with the murderous dead—keeping pesky things like the future and friends at bay.


When they arrive in a new town in search of a ghost the locals call Anna Dressed in Blood, Cas doesn’t expect anything outside of the ordinary: move, hunt, kill. What he finds instead is a girl entangled in curses and rage, a ghost like he’s never faced before. She still wears the dress she wore on the day of her brutal murder in 1958: once white, but now stained red and dripping blood. Since her death, Anna has killed any and every person who has dared to step into the deserted Victorian she used to call home.


And she, for whatever reason, spares his life.



My Thoughts/Review:

I just love the characters of Cas and Anna, and really, really can't wait for the second book, so I can devour it too. Cas was kind of cocky, and a little full of himself, (of course) but he was very focused on what he was going to do, and he usually knew when he had screwed up. Anna was freaking amazing. I am not just saying that. She was. She had this problem of trying to kill anyone that entered her house, and for whatever reason, she tried really, really hard not to kill Cas.

The story moved really fast, and I didn't want to put the book down at all. Sometimes I just feel this overwhelming need to put a book down for whatever reason, but I usually soldier on, and the book comes out with a two or three star rating because of it. I can honestly say that this book was very surprising, and very interesting. Voodoo is not a subject that we regularly deal with in YA fiction. Don't know why, but if I had to guess, I would say it's because it's a hard subject to write on. I loved how this book had so many twists and turns, and never, not once, did I feel the need to run screaming into the night.

Another element that was interesting, was the early death of someone Cas meets, and my thoughts that Cas and Will might become friends. I am obviously biased against characters named Will. I expect them all to either be sweethearts, or bad-asses. They usually are, in my defense. So, all in all, I absolutely, positively, loved it. And hope that the sequel comes out soon. I haven't checked yet. :)

♠♠♠♠
Favorite Quote:Because I am going to get Anna, no matter what she thinks. Both because I've never failed before, and also because in the moment she told me she couldn't let me kill her, she sounded like she sort of wished she could. Her awareness makes her special in more ways than one. Unlike the others, Anna regrets.

The Peach Keeper by Sarah Addison Allen

It’s the dubious distinction of thirty-year-old Willa Jackson to hail from a fine old Southern family of means that met with financial ruin generations ago. The Blue Ridge Madam—built by Willa’s great-great-grandfather and once the finest home in Walls of Water, North Carolina—has stood for years as a monument to misfortune and scandal. Willa has lately learned that an old classmate—socialite Paxton Osgood—has restored the house to its former glory, with plans to turn it into a top-flight inn. But when a skeleton is found buried beneath the property’s lone peach tree, long-kept secrets come to light, accompanied by a spate of strange occurrences throughout the town. Thrust together in an unlikely friendship, united by a full-blooded mystery, Willa and Paxton must confront the passions and betrayals that once bound their families—and uncover the truths that have transcended time to touch the hearts of the living.



My Thoughts/Review:

I just can't help but love the way that Allen writes. It's all magical realism, and romance, and just a touch of the unknown. I love the way she weaves the lives of four or even five different people all together, and even does different points of view for all of them. Some of them only get a paragraph. Some get chapters upon chapters. But what really matters, is that all of them seem very well developed, and real, but also just a bit distant, like they're still trying to find themselves.

I found that I really enjoyed all of the characters in this novel, as opposed to hating them all, or liking a side character. *Yay!*I love it when I can say that I loved all the characters. That just makes the book so much better for me. I loved the way that the plot is mostly centered around Willa and Paxton, but there was little side notes here and there about Willa's dad's death, and Paxton's home life, their love interests, and the dead body. All put together in a way that just made it completely magical for me. I love magical realism. It's amazing.

Another thing that I really liked was the mystery of it all. The dead body, the peach keeper, all of it was very mysterious, and really added to the overall tone of the story. So, in short, because I don't want to bore you all to death with my thoughts, I loved it. I'll read it again. It has gone on my To-Buy list. Was that enough to convince you?



     ♠♠♠♠
Favorite Quote:
He reached out and pushed some hair behind her ears. The gesture was tender, but it hit her with an unexpected force, like when you're in the ocean and a wave hits you. It's so soft and cool that it surprises you that it has such strength. Water seems so harmless that way.

Kings & Queens Promotion!!

Hey guys, today I'm participating in the book tour for Courtney Vail's book, Kings & Queens. I am just dying to read this book, so maybe I can make you guys share a little of my pain. :P

First, we have the very cool, gorgeous cover. It's pretty cool, isn't it? :)


Seventeen-year-old Majesty Alistair wants police to look further into her father’s fatal car wreck, hopes the baseball team she manages can reclaim the state crown, aches for Derek…or, no…maybe Alec…maybe. And she mostly wishes to retract the hateful words she said to her dad right before slamming the door in his face, only to never see him again. 


All her desires get sidelined, though, when she overhears two fellow students planning a church massacre. She doubts cops will follow up on her tip since they’re sick of her coming around with notions of possible crimes-in-the-works. And it’s not like she cries wolf. Not really. They’d be freaked too, but they’re not the ones suffering from bloody dreams that hint at disaster like some crazy, street guy forecasting the Apocalypse. 


So, she does what any habitual winner with zero cred would do…try to I.D. the nutjobs before they act. But, when their agenda turns out to be far bigger than she ever assumed, and even friends start looking suspect, the truth and her actions threaten to haunt her forever, especially since she’s left with blood on her hands, the blood of someone she loves.


Now, after reading that blurb, you can't tell me that you aren't just drooling over it now. You can't.

I have the authors info all right here, and she seems great. :)

COURTNEY VAIL writes totally twisted YA and adult suspense. She enjoys braiding mystery, suspense & romance with some kind of weirdness. Her addictions to crazy coffee concoctions, Funny Bones, Ben & Jerry's, and bacon keep her running and writing. She currently lives in New England with a comedian stud and a wild gang of kidlets.




Now then, we have *the moment you've all been waiting for* the book trailer!!

Now that you've watched the trailer (and I have too), I really want to read this now, what about ya'll?
Tell me in the comments if your interested. :)

Lovetorn by Kavita Daswani

When Shalini’s father gets a new job in L.A., she is torn away from her life in India and the boy to whom she’s been betrothed since she was three. L.A. is so different, and Shalini dresses and talks all wrong. She isn’t sure she’ll survive high school in America without her fiancé, Vikram, and now she has to cope with her mom’s homesickness and depression. A new friend, chill and confident Renuka, helps Shalini find her way and get up the courage to join the Food4Life club at school. But she gets more than just a friend when she meets Toby—she gets a major crush. Shalini thinks she loves Vikram, but he never made her feel like this.
In Lovetorn, Shalini discovers that your heart ultimately makes its own choices, even when it seems as if your destiny has already been chosen.


Author Kavita Daswani has always been fascinated by child marriages and betrothals, and this story of a traditional girl from India, who is exposed to so many more freedoms and experiences after being dropped in a completely alien culture, is a fresh and contemporary look at the subject.


My Thoughts/Review:

When I first started this book, I had fairly high expectations, and thought that it was going to be a cute feel good romance. I was wrong, because to me, there wasn't very much romance, and the main character's feelings were much more than love, it was mostly affection that she felt for Vikram. You can't live almost your entire life engaged to a boy without at least feel a flicker of affection. Her feelings with Toby were slightly different, but it struck me as a crush, mostly. That's just the way I feel, but you may feel completely different.

Shalini herself was a very interesting character, because you don't read very many books where the main character is Hindi. At least I haven't. I would love to read more about their culture and customs, but I'm a reader of fictions. :P

Something that struck me as different was the way that Shalini (what a pretty name) treated her elders and her superiors. She was being teased mercilessly, and through it all she was just the sweetest girl imaginable. She had a few character flaws, but we were all put on this earth with flaws. Another thing, is that the boy choices weren't really capitalized on, and really didn't get very much character development, or really any romance at all, and again, I thought this was a romance. Nothing really happened between Shalini and Toby, or Shalini and Vikram. And I think that if your going to market your YA book as romance, at least put just a little in it. I can't say that I loved this book, but I definitely enjoyed it.
                                                                   ♠♠♠
                                                            Favorite Quote:
These images used to be crystal clear, precise. But today they were faded and remote, like scenes from a movie I had seen long ago, scenes from someone else's life.

First Day on Earth by Cecil Castellucci

 

A startling, wonderful novel about the true meaning of being an alien in an equally alien world.


"We are specks. Pieces of dust in this universe. Big nothings. 


"I know what I am."


Mal lives on the fringes of high school. Angry. Misunderstood. Yet loving the world -- or, at least, an idea of the world. 


Then he meets Hooper. Who says he's from another planet. And may be going home very soon.



My Thoughts/Review:

I liked this book, but it wasn't really something I'll be raving about, so beware. It was very metaphorical, I would say, because of all the weird stuff that happened, and the weird stuff that could've happened, if you know what I mean. It was set up to be weird. It succeeded. Unfortunately.

It was definitely a very fast read, topping out at 150 pages. (?!) I really, really don't like extremely short books. It seems like there isn't enough development time, enough time to really get to know the characters. It's kind of like your only reading a rough draft of the characters, instead of a finished copy. It just kills me. I liked the character of Mal, but he was really odd, and actually kind of self centered. He's always complaining, and saying how other people were ruining his life, but it really starts to chap on you after while, reading that.

I really don't understand the point of this book, or some of the elements that were in it, but if I had to guess, I would say that it's the author that ruins these books for me. She's very odd, in the way that she writes her books. I just don't really identify with the characters, or any of the situations that she thrusts on them. I probably wont be reading anymore by Cecil Castellucci.

                                                                        ♠♠ 
                                                              Favorite Quote: 
Those women, the way they talk about her, that's what's really crazy.
You would never know that they used to be her friends. Her best friends.
There isn't one friendly thing about them.

Kill Switch by Chris Lynch

All Daniel wants to do is spend one last summer with his grandfather before he moves away for college and his grandfather’s dementia pulls them apart. But when his dear old Da starts to let things slip about the job he used to hold—people he’s killed, countries he’s overthrown—old work “friends” show up to make sure he stays quiet. Was his grandfather really involved in a world of assassinations and coups, or are the stories just delusions of a crumbling mind? On the run from the police (and possibly something worse) before he has time to find out, Daniel may have to sacrifice everything to protect his grandfather from those who would do him harm.


My Thoughts/Review:

I really liked this book, but there were a few flaws. For one, there was not enough back story before they threw you head first into the  telling of the run from a kill switch. He didn't draw the story out at all, which I would have loved it if he had, because like I said, it was enjoyable. Daniel was interesting character, because he seemed so sweet in the beginning, but towards the end you realize that he is ready to do anything to keep his grandfather safe. I can't decide whether I like that, or if it freaks me out. His grandfather, being the center of the story, is also always the center of attention. He's always telling wild stories, that Daniel is not sure whether he should believe or not.

This book finished very quickly, leaving a few loose ends that you probably wont understand. I know I didn't. But that's really not the point, because what you really want to hear about was the actual story. Which was good, by the way. One thing that could have been better, was the length. It's just too dang short for anyone to be able to really get into. It's like skimming the top of water, knowing that you can't just jump in and swim it, because it will be over too quickly.

One thing I really like was the running from the law aspect, because as you know, I completely dig that in a book. I was left wondering sometimes how I got from Point A to Point B in the book, because it seemed that nothing happened to get me there. I enjoyed it, but I might never read it again.

                                                                   ♠♠♠
                                                            Favorite Quote: 
"If I am a killer," I say, turning and confronting him flat footed, "maybe it's the other way around. Maybe I am a killer because you loved me best."

In My Mailbox #8

In my Mailbox is a weekly meme hosted by Kirsti, over at the Story Siren.

So guys, this week I recieved an amazing swag pack from the SAR Challenge, which included some signed swag bookmarks, some unsigned ones, some pens and pins, and some stickers! I wish you could see them all, but I don't got a camera. :(
If I did, I would post their beauty right here. Then you could understand the jumping up and down while screaming that happened when I realized they were signed! I was excited. :)

The first, (and only) book I got this week was........

Amelia Anne is Dead and Gone by Kat Rosenfield

I am super excited about reviewing this one, because I'm done with it and it is amazing! I won it in a giveaway on LibraryThing.

Well, I completely forgot about getting back on Netgalley, (in which I hate reading ebooks) but I've decided to give it another try. I'm only doing one ebook at a time, but there was so many great titles, I just couldn't help myself.

So, in ebooks, (which I wont be doing very often).

One Moment by Kristina McBride



What I didn't Say by Keary Taylor



and last, but not least.....

Scars by Cheryl Rainfield

So, what did ya'll get this week? Leave a link, and I'll check it out! :)