Review: The Lonely Hearts Club by Elizabeth Eulberg

Publisher: Point

Released: December 29, 2009

Hardcover, 320 pages

ISBN-13: 978-0545140317

Recommended for: everyone, guys included as they could really learn something here! LOL

Teaser quote:
I wondered if it would've been too subtle to wear a T-shirt that said THANK YOU FOR YOUR INTEREST, BUT I AM NO LONGER DATING.

I knew Todd wasn't a huge fan of reading, but he did like to stare at my shirts.

My rating: 5 /5

My thoughts:

After being crushed by the guy she's loved since she was a kid, Penny Lane decided it was time to avoid boys thus avoid all the troubles that come with them. She creates The Lonely Hearts Club (named after a Beatles song) and soon two good friends join, then a few more until almost all the female high school population is in on it. As time goes on, they soon figure out that maybe cutting off boys completely isn't the solution after all...the most important thing is each others friendship & support.

It is predictable at times but not in a bad way, more in a "oooohh, I see where this is going & can't wait to see how this plays out!" kinda way. The story carries such a few important messages and really sticks to them from beginning to end...stay true to yourself, don't change for others, the importance of friends. I loved the character development, seeing everyone draw strength from each other. My favorite characters: Penny is the perfect leader, Tracy the strong & funny best friend everyone needs, Diane who discovered who SHE wanted to be and worked to get there and Ryan, swoon, does such a guy truly exist?

I loved her quirky parents who are total Beatles fanatics (hence their kids names Penny Lane, Rita & Lucy). Having grown up myself with a huge Beatles fan, my Dad, I loved catching lines from their songs incorporated into the story. I really hope the teens that read this can appreciate the awesomeness that is Beatles & catch the references. Did you know that the cover art is a play on The Beatles Abbey Road album cover?

This should seriously be required reading before entering high school. A fabulous debut that everyone must read...I know I'm going to be gushing about this for a while :)

Review: Scones and Sensibility by Lindsay Eland

Publisher: EgmontUSA

Released: December 22, 2009

Hardcover, 320 pages

ISBN: 978-1606840252

Reading level: Ages 9-12

Recommended for: lovers of all things cute

Teaser quote:
"Do not fear, Clementine," I whispered. "I will unite you with your one true love."
Indeed, I will bear the task with pride.
Hearing her mourning made me even more assured that I needed to rid my sister of boring Clint and introduce her to her soul's one true mate. (pg. 70)

My rating: 4 /5

My thoughts:

Polly's love for all things romantic takes over as she decides to use the knowledge she's gained from reading Jane Austen's Pride & Prejudice & Lucy Maud Montgomery's Anne of Green Gables series to play matchmaker. There's her sister whose current boyfriend is not good enough for her, her best friends father who is looking for love in all the wrong places (the Internet) and two people in town that are single. Using deliveries from her parent's bakery as a guise, she sets out to ensure everyone finds their true love.

This was such a cute story that had me smiling from beginning to end. I couldn't help but giggle at Polly's conversations with others, as she tries so hard to sound like she's from a Jane Austen novel. She really was in her own little world, wanting to right things that weren't wrong and sticking her nose in places it doesn't belong. After a few traumatic events, she realizes that not everyone will be the same as the characters in her favorite books. A great debut novel by Lindsay that shows how cute & innocent kids can be.

Fun times with the Class of 2K10

Ever wonder "when did you know you were an author?"

CLICK HERE to check out my fun 'interview' with the awesome authors from the Class of 2K10.

Remember what your teachers always said...don't be afraid to ask questions, as chances are others want to know the answer too. Want to know more about the group or a specific author? Leave a comment and we'll see what we can muster up for you.

Come by, say "Hi' and support these fine YA debut authors :)

"Waiting on" Wednesday - January 27, 2010

This weekly event is hosted by Jill at Breaking the Spine that spotlights upcoming releases that we're eagerly anticipating.

I can't wait to read Under My Skin by Judith Graves. A paranormal romance - I'm in!!


Release Date: March 27, 2010

Publisher: Leap Books

From publisher:

All her parents wanted was for Eryn to live a normal life...

Redgrave had its share of monsters before Eryn moved to town. Mauled pets, missing children. The Delacroix family is taking the blame, but Eryn knows the truth. Something stalks the night. Wade, the police chief's son and Redgrave High's resident hottie, warns her the Delacroix are dangerous. But then so is Eryn--in fact, she's lethal.

But she can't help falling for one of the Delacroix boys, dark, brooding--human Alec. And then her world falls apart.

A normal life? Now that's the real fairytale.

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What are you waiting on?

Teaser Tuesday - January 26, 2010

Teaser Tuesdays is a weekly bookish meme, hosted by MizB of Should be Reading. Anyone can play along! Just do the following:

Grab your current read

Open to a random page

Share two (2) “teaser” sentences from somewhere on that page

BE CAREFUL NOT TO INCLUDE SPOILERS! (make sure that what you share doesn’t give too much away! You don’t want to ruin the book for others!)

Share the title & author, too, so that other TT participants can add the book to their TBR Lists if they like your teasers!

"Yes indeed, the only suitable choice was Miss Wiskerton. She was to be the lucky woman." (pg 69)

Review: Mr. Fitzwilliam Darcy: The Last Man in the World

Publisher: Sourcebooks

Trade Paperback, 256 pages

Release Date: January 10, 2010

ISBN: 9781402229473

Recommended for: Pride and Prejudice fans

My rating: 4 /5

My thoughts:

What happens when you take a famous scene from an incredibly popular novel and change it up? Abigail Reynolds does just that in this Pride and Prejudice variation novel. This is the story of what would have happened had Lizzy said 'yes' when Mr. Darcy proposed the first time.

There where times that I wanted to shake Lizzy for being so stubborn & Darcy for being so tactless. They do not lead a happily ever after from the beginning, but then did you ever expect that of them? They play games, there are misunderstandings and it was fun to see the relationship develop. There is one steamy scene included (which of course I happened to be reading on my train ride home from work) so just be forewarned! Abigail's love of Jane Austen's Pride & Prejudice shines through. This was an easy, fun read that I would suggest to all P&P fans.

It's Monday! What are you reading? January 25, 2010

It's Monday! What are you reading this week? is a weekly event to celebrate what we are reading for the week as well as books completed the previous week. Feel free to join in this weekly event if you'd like as well as use the photo/pic/button above. Thanks J. Kaye for hosting!

Last week I finished:

Magic Under Glass by Jaclyn Dolamore - loved this story though took a bit to get into. (click for review)

Mr. Fitzwilliam Darcy The Last Man on Earth by Abigail Reynolds - this was a fun Pride & Prejudice variation story (review will be posted tonight)

This week:

I'm finishing Scone and Sensibility by Lindsay Eland - very cute & makes me giggle!

Next up is Fade and Gone both books by Lisa McMann. I read Wake earlier this month (click for review) and loved it! I can't wait to finish the WAKE trilogy :)

What are you reading this week?

Review: Magic Under Glass by Jaclyn Dolamore

Hardcover, 240 pages

Publisher: Bloomsbury USA Children's Books

Released: December 22, 2009

ISBN: 978-1599904306



Recommended for: magic & faerie story lovers


My rating: 4 /5


My thoughts:

Nimira is performing as a trouser girl when Hollin Parry approaches her with an offer to sing with a clockwork man. She jumps at the opportunity, seeing it as a chance to be saved. Little does she know the secrets that Mr. Parry has been hiding and how her life will change. It turns out, Nimira is not the only one who needs to be saved!

I have to admit that one third of the way in and I was worried that nothing had grabbed me yet. By the halfway point though I couldn't put the book down! In the end, I still didn't connect with the characters as much as I'd like to but found the plot was strong enough to make this a real page-turner.

Nimira was head over heals in love but it was nice to see that it didn't make her weak, in fact it made her stronger. She was a smart, courageous character that carries Mr. Parry, who is a lost soul. You've got to love the role reversal, having a strong female character saving the group! I think it was harder to feel for the clockwork man because, well...he is a machine who only comes to 'life' partway through the book.

A beautiful story about the lengths one will go to save the one they love. If you love stories of sorcery, faeries, love, devotion & deception then check this out! A great debut novel Jaclyn, I hope to read more!


UPDATE: Bloomsbury is ceasing to supply copies of the US edition of Magic Under Glass. The jacket design has caused offense and we apologize for our mistake. Copies of the book with a new jacket design will be available shortly. (source: Bloomsbury website)

Review: The Swan Thieves by Elizabeth Kostova

Hardcover, 576 pages

Publisher: Little, Brown and Company

Released: Jan 12 2010

ISBN: 978-0316065788

Recommended for: mystery & fiction fans

My rating: 3.5 /5

My thoughts:

Artist Robert Oliver is stopped short of attacking a painting at the National Art Gallery. He is referred to Psychiatrist Andrew Marlowe, in hopes that their common love of painting will help bring Robert out of his self-imposed silence. With Robert refusing to speak, Marlowe is forced to search his past to find out what took him over the edge. As Marlowe meets the women in Robert's life, he discovers there's a mystery woman that seems to haunt Robert. Using letters Robert carries with him, Marlowe uncovers a tragic past that not only releases Robert from the hell he's been living but alters art history.

Elizabeth seamlessly weaves two stories into one through the use of 19th century letters and how they relate to Robert's story. Adding another layer to the story, chapters are told from alternating points of view as we learn about Robert from Marlowe, his ex-wife and his girlfriend. This story is filled with things that transcend time - love, anger, passion & mystery.

One of the things I love when reading is being given clues along the way & trying to guess the ending - boy, was I thrown for a loop with this one. Although everything wraps up nicely in the end, as Robert's actions & how they relate to the past were ultimately explained, I feel Robert's story was cut short. Now that we know the cause, is he 'cured'?

A read I really enjoyed at the time, but the more I think of it, the more I find things now that frustrate me in the story.

"Waiting on" Wednesday - January 20, 2010

This weekly event is hosted by Jill at Breaking the Spine that spotlights upcoming releases that we're eagerly anticipating.

I can't wait to read Spirit Bound by Richelle Mead. I'm getting way ahead of myself here, having just recently read VA#1 but I know I'm going to zip right through books 2-4 soon. Thankfully the wait is less then 4 months!



Release Date: May 18, 2010

Publisher: Razorbill (Penguin)

Dimitri gave Rose the ultimate choice. But she chose wrong...

After a long and heartbreaking journey to Dimitri's birthplace in Siberia, Rose Hathaway has finally returned to St. Vladimir's-and to her best friend, Lissa. It is nearly graduation, and the girls can't wait for their real lives beyond the Academy's iron gates to begin. But Rose's heart still aches for Dimitri, and she knows he's out there, somewhere.

She failed to kill him when she had the chance. And now her worst fears are about to come true. Dimitri has tasted her blood, and now he is hunting her. And this time he won't rest until Rose joins him... forever.

What are you waiting for?

Review: Wish by Alexandra Bullen

Hardcover, 336 pages

Publisher: Point

Released: Jan 1 2010

ISBN: 978-0545139052

Recommended for: YA fans who like HEA

My rating: 3 /5

My thoughts:

Life is different for Olivia after losing her twin sister, Violet, to a tragic accident. Violet was the outgoing one and now Olivia is having to make new friends and living in a new town with her withdrawn parents. When Olivia brings a dress of Violet's to the local seamstress for repair, a new dress is returned to her instead - a magical one . She wishes for her sister and thanks to the dress, it comes true. Lucky for her, she is granted two more wishes.

We can all relate to growing up, the awkwardness of trying to fit in while at the same time discovering who you are. I enjoyed seeing Olivia develop into a stronger, more confident person. There were a couple of things that bothered me while reading the book though. First, I know it was to portray the 'bad girl' image but smoking rubs me the wrong way. The other is founding too many current trends/names mentioned which make me question how long of a life the book has (as trends change, will the reader connect the same way we do now?) This is a cute but predictable story of self-discovery with a HEA ending but it just didn't WOW me.

Review: The Dark Divine by Bree Despain

Hardcover, 384 pages

Publisher: EgmontUSA

Released: Dec 22 2009

ISBN: 978-1606840573

Recommended for: paranormal romance lovers

Teaser quote:

A frightened shiver rushed through my body. Part of me wanted to climb back into my room and lock the window. But most of me wanted to take him in my arms and run away from everyone and everything. (pg 182)

My rating: 5 /5

My thoughts:

It's been three years since Grace Divine last saw Daniel. Daniel lived next door, was her brother, Jude's, best friend and was taken in by the Divine's when his abusive father took off. But something happened between Daniel & Jude; Daniel disappeared and the family refuses to talk about it or him. Then out of the blue, Daniel returns & Grace wants to be friends again or at least lend him some help. Unfortunately Jude wants her as far away from Daniel as possible. While the subject is off limits with her family, Grace has always wondered what happened to cause such a drastic shift.

This is not just your typical "good girl falls for bad boy" story. Grace is not a weak character. Her major flaw is innocence but she makes up for it with being stubborn yet open-minded when necessary. You can't help but feel for Daniel and what he had to endure growing up. He is fighting to prove he's better than where he came from. Throughout the book, I really felt the characters' emotions & was deeply drawn into the amazing story Bree created. Although much is wrapped up plot-wise & there's a satisfying ending, you can't help but wonder what happens next and it's easy to see that Bree has so much more in store for these characters. I'm really hoping for a sequel, can you tell?!

I know it's early in the game, but I think it's safe to say this is going to end up being a top 10 read for 2010. Yay, Bree on writing such an awesome debut!

On a side note: You know you've read an amazing book when days later, you wake up and remember a dream you just had when you hardly remember your dreams...then you realize it was probably brought on by the story you just finished. I woke up almost in tears after a dream where I was talking with my old neighbor. I haven't seen the family in ages and here I was talking to Eric's mom. When I was younger, Eric, was my best friend, we did everything together. He even tried to teach me how to pee standing up like him - hey I was three. Talk about true love LOL.

Teaser Tuesday - January 19, 2010

Teaser Tuesdays is a weekly bookish meme, hosted by MizB of Should be Reading. Anyone can play along! Just do the following:

• Grab your current read
• Open to a random page
• Share two (2) “teaser” sentences from somewhere on that page
• BE CAREFUL NOT TO INCLUDE SPOILERS! (make sure that what you share doesn’t give too much away! You don’t want to ruin the book for others!)
• Share the title & author, too, so that other TT participants can add the book to their TBR Lists if they like your teasers!
  
  

"Only due to the skill of his builders. And my reputation as a sorcerer hasn't helped. People are far too eager to believe sorcerers enchant everything we touch, but good sorcerers know magic is dangerous." (pg 31)

(due to the recent controversay, I have put up the alternate cover , I've always liked it better BUT feel so much more strongly about now, sigh)

Review: Wake by Lisa McMann

Paperback, 224 pages

Publisher: Simon Pulse

Released: Dec 23 2008

ISBN: 978-1416974475

Recommended for: all YA readers

Teaser quote:

Carrie sits up in her sleeping bag and screams.

Janie screams too, but it catches in her throat.

Her voice is horse.

Her fingers are numb.

Her body shakes from the nightmare.

My rating: 4 /5

My thoughts:

Ever since Janie was a kid, she knew she was different. When in close enough proximity to someone who's sleeping, she gets sucked into their dreams (or nightmares). She finds it frustrating to be only an observer. Since discovering her "talent", she can't enjoy sleepovers and is even finding school hard now that she's older and people are falling asleep in class! When Caleb comes into her life, he is exactly what she needs. As he learns more about her ability, he shows her she has more control than she thought. And Caleb, well, he sure isn't the type of person she thought he was!

All this talk about the upcoming release of Fade had me running to the store to start with book one of the series, Wake. The writing style (short, choppy sentences told in third person) had me a bit worried in the beginning but didn't take long to get used to and soon enough I was hooked! This is a real page turner that makes for a quick read. Set aside a few hours to read this as, once you pick it up, you won't want to put it down. Then as soon as you finish, you'll be looking for books #2 (Fade) & #3 (Gone - to be released Feb 9 2010).

I would have given it a 5 but there was one part of the plot that bugged me. You know when something happens/doesn't happen & you are scratching your head wondering why the character did/didn't do something that seemed so obvious, ya that happened. I'm sure it'll come up in Fade but still, why say nothing here?! Grrr.

It's Monday! What Are You Reading? - January 18, 2010

It's Monday! What are you reading this week? is a weekly event to celebrate what we are reading for the week as well as books completed the previous week. Feel free to join in this weekly event if you'd like as well as use the photo/pic/button above. Thanks J. Kaye for hosting!

Last week I finished:

The Dark Divine by Bree Despain - loved it!
Wish by Alexandra Bullen - it was cute.

(both reviews will be posted this week)

This week:

I'm finishing Magic Under Glass by Jaclyn Dolamore - I'm about a third of the way and in it's just starting to grab me :(

Next up is Mr. Fitzwilliam Darcy The Last Man on Earth by Abigail Reynolds -this is a "what would have happened if Lizzy accepted his first proposal?" variation on Pride & Prejudice.

I'm finally getting my first reviews of 2010 up this week too. My goodness, never again will I wait that long! My new rule is review before moving onto the next book:)


What are you reading this week?

WISH - A Virtual Backpacking Tour

Every once and a while, a book takes place in your home town or one that you live near. It's kind of cool when that happens because you can relate to the sights and sounds. Most of the time, though, we have to rely on images or our imagination to visualize what's going on throughout a story. I've created here a virtual backpacking tour of the people, places and things you'll find within WISH by Alexandra Bullen.

As we start our day, we head out with backpack in hand and head to the corner store to pick up maps. We'll need one for cable car routes as well as for the landmarks of the city. And we're off...

The Locale:

WISH takes place in San Francisco and if you're anything like me it's on the list of places to visit. Here's why:

With place like the Golden Gate Bridge, The Haight, The Presidio and Alcatraz, this won't be a dull day. Of course, it wouldn't be complete without a ride on the famous cable cars!

The Fashion:

The story really begins to take root when Olivia takes her sister's vintage Pucci dress to have it repaired. That's when things get interesting...

So since we don't have our own dress, we head out looking for awesome boutiques. If available, we could leave the backpack behind and hop in a limo, cause the "magical" dresses we're looking for have high end prices tags! Feast your eyes on these:

It wouldn't be right if we didn't include a few Pucci's for your viewing pleasure:

The Music:

After a full day of site-seeing and shopping, we hit a cafe featuring live music. We grab a chai latte and our favourite organic snack, sit back and prepare for auditory relaxation. In fact, there's a band featured in the book that gets compared to some of the hottest bands around right now, so for your listening/viewing pleasure, check this out:

We hope you enjoyed your tour!

Interview with Alex Bullen, author of WISH

Today, I am excited to share with you an interview with Alexandra Bullen. Her debut novel, WISH was just released this week.



Click here for a chance to win 1 0f 3 copies!



The main characters in WISH are twins. Why did you choose twins over siblings or best friends?

I have always been fascinated by the special relationship all of the twins I’ve known have seemed to share. I grew up with brothers, and, though I can’t imagine life without them, often fantasized about having a sister. Having a twin sister just seemed like the ultimate—you had somebody going through absolutely everything with you at exactly the same time.

So when I was thinking about characters, and about a girl who had lost somebody she was very close to, my thoughts immediately turned to twins. It just seemed like the most devastating hole to even begin to try and fill.

I am a huge Happily Ever After fan & love fairytales, what was your favorite growing up & do you see a trace of it appear in WISH?

I was always really afraid of fairy tales growing up. I remember watching Snow White and Sleeping Beauty and being absolutely terrified. I don’t really remember why, probably the evil queens. And something about being put to sleep for eternity. Now that I think about it, there’s a lot to be afraid of!

I did really love The Princess Bride, mostly because I was fairly certain I would grow up to marry Wesley. Not sure how that helped with WISH, but…what was it that Wesley said to Buttercup all the time? Wasn’t it “As you wish…”?

Do you have any advice that you'd like to pass along to other aspiring writers?

I think the best advice I’ve gotten is to pay attention to what inspires you, and seek it out when you’re feeling stuck. For me, reading certain passages or poems always get me thinking in a way that leads to wanting to write. For some other writers I know, it’s listening to a certain type of music, or going to a favorite museum, or even just going out for a walk. Whatever it is, I think it’s really important to know what works for you, and to take the time to do it.


Thanks Alex for taking the time to stop by!

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For this and many more debut author spotlights, interviews, guest posts and contests visit YA Roundup at yaroundup.blogspot.com

"Waiting on" Wednesday - January 13, 2010

This weekly event is hosted by Jill at Breaking the Spine that spotlights upcoming releases that we're eagerly anticipating.

I can't wait to read 13 to Life by Shannon Delany.



Release Date: June 22, 2010

Publisher: St. Martin's Press







from Goodreads:

Something strange is stalking the small town of Junction…

When junior Jess Gillmansen gets called out of class by Guidance, she can only presume it’s for one of two reasons. Either they’ve finally figured out who wrote the scathing anti-jock editorial in the school newspaper or they’re hosting yet another intervention for her about her mom. Although far from expecting it, she’s relieved to discover Guidance just wants her to show a new student around—but he comes with issues of his own including a police escort.

The newest member of Junction High, Pietr Rusakova has secrets to hide--secrets that will bring big trouble to the small town of Junction—secrets including dramatic changes he’s undergoing that will surely end his life early.


What are you waiting on?

Giveaway: WISH by Alexandra Bullen

Nothing can change the fact that Olivia Larsen's twin sister, Violet, is gone . . . until a mysterious, beautiful gown arrives on her doorstep. The dress doesn't just look magical—it is magical. It has the power to grant her one wish, and the only thing Olivia wants is her sister back.

Olivia's wish will be granted.

With Violet again by her side, both girls get a second chance at life. And as the sisters soon discover, they have two more dresses and two more wishes left.


Thanks to the awesome people at Scholastic Canada, YA Roundup has three copies share with their readers. Click here to enter!

What would you WISH for?

Happy Book Birthday!

In Wish by Alexandra Bullen, Olivia discovers a dressmaker who specializes in...well magical dresses! With each dress comes one wish.

Of course, there are rules Olivia must follow & so should you:

• no wishing for ridiculously unattainable and universal things, like world peace or and end to hunger and poverty
• no wishing for the same thing twice
• no wishing for more wishes

If you were fortunate enough to be granted three wishes, what would you wish for?

OK, well I guess I should be the first to answer...

1. have the opportunity to go back to school and become a teacher
2. have the opportunity to say goodbye to my Grandma. She passed away suddenly when I was five and I still think of her to this day
3. my BFF meets 'the perfect guy' who sweeps her off her feet - she really deserves this and more :)
   
   

Want to know more about the story? Check out this interview with Alexandra Bullen as she talks about her debut novel Wish:

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For this and many more debut author spotlights, interviews, guest posts and contests visit YA Roundup at yaroundup.blogspot.com

Debut Spotlight: WISH by Alexandra Bullen

This weeks debut author spotlight is Alexandra Bullen, author of Wish.


Release Date: January 12, 2010
Publisher: Point
Hardcover: 336 pages



Where to buy:
Amazon.com
Chapters.ca
The Book Depository.com




The story . . .

Nothing can change the fact that Olivia Larsen's twin sister, Violet, is gone . . . until a mysterious, beautiful gown arrives on her doorstep. The dress doesn't just look magical—it is magical. It has the power to grant her one wish, and the only thing Olivia wants is her sister back.

Olivia's wish will be granted.

With Violet again by her side, both girls get a second chance at life. And as the sisters soon discover, they have two more dresses and two more wishes left.

About the author...

Alexandra Bullen has been a playwright, waitress, barista, gardener, script reader, yoga instructor and personal assistant. She grew up in Massachusetts, went to college in New York City, and lives most of the year on Martha’s Vineyard (except when she’s visiting San Francisco.) WISH is her first novel for young adults.

Book Trailer



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For this and many more debut author spotlights, interviews, guest posts and contests visit YA Roundup at yaroundup.blogspot.com

In My Mailbox - January 10, 2010

In My Mailbox is a meme hosted by The Story Siren

It's been a while since my last IMM post!!! My goodies this week:


I took this out from the library, then luck would have it got a copy the next day!!! A sign or what that I really have to read this LOL.

Grace Divine, daughter of the local pastor, always knew something terrible happened the night Daniel Kalbi disappeared--the night she found her brother Jude collapsed on the porch, covered in his own blood--but she has no idea what a truly monstrous secret that night held.

The memories her family has tried to bury resurface when Daniel returns, three years later, and enrolls in Grace and Jude's high school. Despite promising Jude she'll stay away, Grace cannot deny her attraction to Daniel's shocking artistic abilities, his way of getting her to look at the world from new angles, and the strange, hungry glint in his eyes.

The closer Grace gets to Daniel, the more she jeopardizes her life, as her actions stir resentment in Jude and drive him to embrace the ancient evil Daniel unleashed that horrific night. Grace must discover the truth behind the boy's dark secret...and the cure that can save the ones she loves. But she may have to lay down the ultimate sacrifice to do it--her soul.



I love the premise of this one!!

Penny is sick of boys and sick of dating. So she vows: no more. It's a personal choice. . .and, of course, soon everyone wants to know about it. And a few other girls are inspired. A movement is born: The Lonely Hearts Club (named after the band from Sgt. Pepper). Penny is suddenly known for her nondating ways . . . which is too bad, because there's this certain boy she can't help but like. . . .



I hope I don't have nightmares after reading this one ;)

Rayne can't wait to start her summer job at a remote country mansion, far from the crowded, noisy London she so desperately wants to escape. But the retreat soon turns into a nightmare -- the mansion is creepy, the legends of ghosts keep Rayne up at night, and she doesn't feel safe anywhere.
Can Rayne figure out why she's so freaked -- before she becomes a ghost story herself?



I'm a numbers person (but not like Jem!) so this looks like a fun/freaky read.

Ever since she was child, Jem has kept a secret: Whenever she meets someone new, no matter who, as soon as she looks into their eyes, a number pops into her head. That number is a date: the date they will die. Burdened with such awful awareness, Jem avoids relationships. Until she meets Spider, another outsider, and takes a chance. The two plan a trip to the city. But while waiting to ride the Eye ferris wheel, Jem is terrified to see that all the other tourists in line flash the same number. Today's number. Today's date. Terrorists are going to attack London. Jem's world is about to explode!

and with my Christmas gift cards, I finally bought these two books I'm super excited to read....

What goodies did you get this week?

"Waiting on" Wednesday - January 6, 2010

This weekly event is hosted by Jill at Breaking the Spine that spotlights upcoming releases that we're eagerly anticipating.

I can't wait to read The Body Finder by Kimberly Derting.



Release Date: March 16, 2010

Publisher: HarperCollins

A serial killer on the loose.

A girl with a morbid ability.

And the boy who would never let anything happen to her.

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I've had my eye on this for a while - with that blurb & cover, how could I not be anxious, lol.

What are you waiting on?

2010 Reads

This post will keep track of books read in 2010. This is more of a way for me to keep myself accountable & on target for the challenges but feel free to comment with any support,motivation or book suggestions!

I am participating in the following challenges:

YA Reading Challenge (YA)
YA Debut Challenge (Deb)
Support Your Local Library Challenge (Lib)

*If the book counts towards one or more of my challenges, I will include the challenge in brackets.

1. Wake by Lisa McMann (YA)
2. The Swan Thieves by Elizabeth Kostova
3. The Dark Divine by Bree (YA, Deb)
4. Wish by Alexandra Bullen (YA, Deb)
5. Vampire Academy by Richelle Mead (YA)
6. Scones & Sensibility by Lindsay Eland(YA, Deb, Lib)
7. Magic Under Glass by Jaclyn Dolamore(YA, Deb)
8. Mr. Fitzwilliam Darcy: The Last Man in the World by Abigail Reynolds
9. The Lonely Hearts Club by Elizabeth Eulberg(YA, Deb)
10. The Secret Year by Jennifer Hubbard(YA, Deb)
11. Double Eagle (YA)
12. Fade by Lisa McMann (YA)
13. Gone by Lisa McMann (YA)
14. Before I Fall (YA, Deb)
15. The Mark (YA, Deb)

Teaser Tuesday - January 5, 2010

Teaser Tuesdays is a weekly bookish meme, hosted by MizB of Should be Reading. Anyone can play along! Just do the following:

- Grab your current read
- Open to a random page
- Share two (2) “teaser” sentences from somewhere on that page
- BE CAREFUL NOT TO INCLUDE SPOILERS! (make sure that what you share doesn’t give too much away! You don’t want to ruin the book for others!)
- Share the title & author, too, so that other TT participants can add the book to their TBR Lists if they like your teasers!

"She feels instead the artist himself, ageless and in the midst of long accumulated life. His presence goes through her like the unexpected sound of a bell, so that she cannot catch her breath after all."

2010 Support Your Local Library Challenge!

Hosted by the awesome J. Kaye, here are the details:

1. Anyone can join. You don't need a blog to participate.

--Non-Bloggers: Post your list of books in the comment section of the wrap-up post. To learn how to sign up without having a blog, click here.

2. There are four levels:

--The Mini – Check out and read 25 library books.

--Just My Size – Check out and read 50 library books.

--Stepping It Up – Check out and read 75 library books.

--Super Size Me – Check out and read 100 library books.

(Aim high. As long as you read 25 by the end of 2010, you are a winner.)

3. Audio, Re-reads, eBooks, YA, Young Reader – any book as long as it is checked out from the library count. Checked out like with a library card, not purchased at a library sale.

4. No need to list your books in advance. You may select books as you go. Even if you list them now, you can change the list if needed.

5. Crossovers from other reading challenges count.

6. Challenge begins January 1st thru December, 2010.

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With all the challenges for 2010, my wallet is going to need this break! I'm signing up for the mini but hoping to break through 25!

Here is my list of checked out books:

1. The Dark Divine by Bree Despain (due back Jan 22 - returned)
   
2. Scones & Sensibility by Lindsay Eland (due back Feb 7 - returned)
3. Fallen by Lauren Kate (due back Feb 2 - returned unread)
4. Indy's Adventures (due Feb 18)* for my son
5. The Spiderwick Chronicles (reader) (due Feb 18)* for my son
6. The Summoning by Kelley Armstrong (due back Feb 24)
7. Some Girls Are by Courtney Summers (due back Feb 24)

It's Monday! What are you reading? January 4, 2010

It's Monday! What are you reading this week? is a weekly event to celebrate what we are reading for the week as well as books completed the previous week. Feel free to join in this weekly event if you'd like as well as use the photo/pic/button above. Thanks J. Kaye for hosting!


This week:

I'm finishing The Swan Theives by Elizabeth Kostova - about 1/3 in & loving it!

Next up is The Dark Divine by Bree Despain


What are you reading this week?