Waiting on Wednesday (23)

Waiting on Wednesday is hosted by Jill from Breaking the Spine.

The View from the Top
by Hillary Frank

Release Date:
May 13th, 2010

Description:
Eighteen-year-old Anabelle’s last few months in her coastal hometown are bittersweet. Instead of the quiet precollege summer she expects, Anabelle makes some surprising discoveries about herself as she navigates romantic entanglements and changing friendships. Through shifting points of view in seven interconnected stories, we glimpse the limits of how well her friends really know Anabelle . . . and how little she grasps about the way they see her.

With wry observations and quirky humor, critically acclaimed novelist Hillary Frank gives voice and depth to six unique characters whose stories intertwine to form a complete picture of one shared summer.

Justine's Thoughts: Remember Me? by Sophie Kinsella

Remember Me?

By Sophie Kinsella

Pages:

389

Book Description:

When twenty-eight-year-old Lexi Smart wakes up in a London hospital, she’s in for a big surprise. Her teeth are perfect. Her body is toned. Her handbag is Vuitton. Having survived a car accident -- in a Mercedes no less -- Lexi has lost a big chunk of her memory, three years to be exact, and she’s about to find out just how much things have changed.

Somehow Lexi went from a twenty-five-year-old working girl to a corporate big shot with a sleek new loft, a personal assistant, a carb-free diet, and a set of glamorous new friends. And who is this gorgeous husband -- who also happens to be a multimillionaire? With her mind still stuck three years in reverse, Lexi greets this brave new world determined to be the person she...well, seems to be. That is, until an adorably dishevelled architect drops the biggest bombshell of all.

Suddenly Lexi is scrambling to catch her balance. Her new life, it turns out, comes complete with secrets, schemes, and intrigue. How on earth did all this happen? Will she ever remember? And what will happen when she does?

A quote:

How can anyone live in a house that’s more complicated than NASA? Why does a house have to be intelligent, anyway? Why can’t it be nice and stupid?

Any thoughts:

I loved the concept Sophie Kinsella decided to take on in Remember Me?. She places Lexi, a young woman with amnesia, into a life and works backwards from there. It is one I have never come across before, and it is fascinating and exhilarating at the same time to join Lexi on her journey to try and remember the life she has been living.

The creative plot certainly captured me from the start. I was intrigued, willing to know more about everything. It also helps that Lexi is an enjoyable and loveable character -- spirited, caring, hilarious, smart, and who always seems to do everything wrong but in a funny way. You can’t help but giggle at some situations she gets herself into and the way she reacts.

But beneath all the fluff lies the seriousness of amnesia. Lexi suddenly awakes one day with three years of her life missing. I can’t imagine how tough it is to get back into that life and try to relearn everything you’ve been doing for the past few years, knowing that you’ve never done it before. Especially when you’re a totally different person. In Lexi’s life, a lot has changed. She finds herself in a life one has always dreamed of...and realizes it’s not so perfect after all.

Remember Me? is a perfect read to escape reality and enter a fun, light world which is guaranteed to entertain and get a few laughs from you. Because it certainly did to me.

Daily Dose (19)

This new meme is hosted by Holly from Good Golly Miss Holly, where inspirational pictures are posted to enlighten your day.

In My Mailbox (15)

In My Mailbox is held weekly by Kristi at The Story Siren. Click here for details on how to participate.

My, it's been quite a while since I've gotten new books. The ones this week are sort of similar to the ones in my last IMM. Deep reads are awesome!

Justine:


The Last Song
by Nicholas Sparks

Seventeen year old Veronica "Ronnie" Miller's life was turned upside-down when her parents divorced and her father moved from New York City to Wilmington, North Carolina. Three years later, she remains angry and alientated from her parents, especially her father...until her mother decides it would be in everyone's best interest if she spent the summer in Wilmington with him. Ronnie's father, a former concert pianist and teacher, is living a quiet life in the beach town, immersed in creating a work of art that will become the centerpiece of a local church.The tale that unfolds is an unforgettable story of love on many levels--first love, love between parents and children -- that demonstrates, as only a Nicholas Sparks novel can, the many ways that love can break our hearts...and heal them.

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So I haven't watched the movie for this one (because it's not yet released, haha), which is something I'm happy about.

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Nineteen Minutes
by Jodi Picoult

Sterling is an ordinary New Hampshire town where nothing ever happens--until the day its complacency is shattered by an act of violence. Josie Cormier, the daughter of the judge sitting on the case, should be the state's best witness, but she can't remember what happened before her very own eyes--or can she? As the trial progresses, fault lines between the high school and the adult community begin to show--destroying the closest of friendships and families. Nineteen Minutes asks what it means to be different in our society, who has the right to judge someone else, and whether anyone is ever really who they seem to be.

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Change of Heart
by Jodi Picoult

One moment June Nealon was happily looking forward to years full of laughter and adventure with her family, and the next, she was staring into a future that was as empty as her heart. Now her life is a waiting game. Waiting for time to heal her wounds, waiting for justice. In short, waiting for a miracle to happen.

For Shay Bourne, life holds no more surprises. The world has given him nothing, and he has nothing to offer the world. In a heartbeat, though, something happens that changes everything for him. Now, he has one last chance for salvation, and it lies with June's eleven-year-old daughter, Claire. But between Shay and Claire stretches an ocean of bitter regrets, past crimes, and the rage of a mother who has lost her child.

Would you give up your vengeance against someone you hate if it meant saving someone you love? Would you want your dreams to come true if it meant granting your enemy's dying wish?

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*happy sigh* I love these two authors.

Contests - It's Spring!

But where I am, it's still so cold...

• Vampire Diaries by L.J. Smith Book Set at Amy Reads. Open internationally. Ends March 29, 2010. Click here to enter.
  
• 100+ Followers Contest Xtravaganza! at Southern Princess. Open to US and Canada. Ends March 31, 2010. Click here to enter.
  
• March Madness Book Contest at A Lush Budget ProductionTales of a Ravenous Reader. Open internationally. Ends March 31, 2010. Click here to enter.
• Win Guardian of the Dead at I Should Be Writing. Open internationally. Ends April 1, 2010. Click here to enter.
  
• Jekel Loves Hyde International Giveaway at La Femme Readers. Open internationally. Ends April 8, 2010. Click here to enter.
  
• 500 Followers Contest at Books At Midnight. Open internationally. Ends April 9, 2010. Click here to enter.
• Mega Swag + More Giveaway at Extreme Reader Book Reviews. Open internationally. Ends April 10, 2010. Click here to enter.
• Win a Few Books at Princess Bookie. Open internationally. Ends April 11, 2010. Click here to enter.
• Amazon.com Gift Card Card Giveaway at Simply Stacie. Open internationally. Ends April 12, 2010. Click here to enter.
• 250 Followers Contest at Read Into This!. Open internationally. Ends April 15, 2010. Click here to enter.
• 'Death by Denim' Birthday Bash Giveaway at Roboloblyn's Universe of Books. Open to US and Canada. Ends April 15, 2010. Click here to enter.
• YA Contest That Will Blow You Away at La Femme Readers. Open internationally. Ends April 15, 2010. Click here to enter.
• Blogoversary Giveaway at Read This Book!. Open internationally. Ends April 20, 2010. Click here to enter.
• Random Big Giveaway at Juiciliciousss Reviews. Open internationally. Ends April 21, 2010. Click here to enter.
• Mega International and Fantastic YA Box Contest at The Bookologist. Open internationally. Ends April 26, 2010. Click here to enter.
• Massive Book Giveaway at Steph Bowe's Hey! Teenager of the Year. Open internationally. Ends April 30, 2010. Click here to enter.

Good luck!

Friday's Finest (11)

Friday's Finest is a new meme hosted by Steff & Justine from A Bookful of Thoughts.

Rules:
~Post a quote that really stuck to you after reading it in a book.
~Make sure it isn't a spoiler!
~If you'd like, expand on what you think it means and why you chose it.

"Take it from me: love has all the lasting permanence of a rainbow - beautiful while it’s there, and just as likely to have disappeared by the time you blink."

"...You don't love someone because they're perfect," she says. "You love them in spite of the fact that they're not."

My Sister's Keeper by Jodi Picoult

Oh, I just love quotes on love in general. They're so deep and thoughtful.

Waiting on Wednesday (22)

Waiting on Wednesday is hosted by Jill from Breaking the Spine.

Angel Star
by Jennifer Murgia

Release Date:
May 18th, 2010

Description:
Seventeen-year-old Teagan McNeel falls for captivating Garreth Adams and soon discovers that her crush has an eight-point star etched into the palm of his right hand-the mark of an angel.
But where there is light, dark follows, and she and Garreth suddenly find themselves vulnerable to a dark angel's malicious plan that could threaten not only her life, but the lives of everyone she knows.

Divinely woven together, Angel Star takes readers on a reflective journey when one angel's sacrifice collides with another angel's vicious ambition in a way that is sure to have readers searching for their own willpower.

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Ooh, I like the topic of angels.

Teaser Tuesday (12)

Teaser Tuesday is a weekly meme hosted by Should Be Reading.

The rules are:

• Grab your current read
• Open to a random page
• Share two (2) “teaser” sentences from somewhere on that page
• DO NOT INCLUDE SPOILERS.

My teaser:

That was what Sam was: transient. A summer leaf clinging to a frozen branch for as long as possible.

~pg. 208 "Shiver"
by Maggie Stiefvater

I really like the word "transient". When I came across it, I just started saying out loud, curious as to how it is actually pronounced. Then I wondered what the word meant. It turns out, you say it as "tran-shunt" and it means temporary, as in it doesn't last. Interesting, but sad.

Daily Dose (18)

This new meme is hosted by Holly from Good Golly Miss Holly, where inspirational pictures are posted to enlighten your day.

Friday's Finest (10)

Friday's Finest is a new meme hosted by Steff & Justine from A Bookful of Thoughts.

Rules:
~Post a quote that really stuck to you after reading it in a book.
~Make sure it isn't a spoiler!
~If you'd like, expand on what you think it means and why you chose it.

"Because horror on Earth is real and it is every day. It is like a flower or like the sun; it cannot be contained."

The Lovely Bones by Alice Sebold

I agree with this quote. Horror does happen everyday. Sometimes, in our lives, and sometimes, in others. Most often we ignore it, and most often, I wonder how we can even do that.

Justine's Thoughts: Beautiful Creatures by Kami Garcia & Margaret Stohl

Beautiful Creatures
By Kami Garcia & Margaret Stohl

Pages:

563

Book Description:

Lena Duchannes is unlike anyone the small Southern town of Gatlin has ever seen, and she’s struggling to conceal her power and a curse that has haunted her family for generations. But even within the overgrown gardens, murky swamps, and crumbling graveyards of the forgotten South, a secret cannot stay hidden forever.

Ethan Wate, who has been counting the months until he can escape from Gatlin, is haunted by dreams of a beautiful girl he has never met. When Lena moves into the town’s oldest and most infamous plantation, Ethan is inexplicably drawn to her and determined to uncover the connection between them.

In a town with no surprises, one secret could change everything.

A quote:

Any book is a Good Book, and wherever they keep the Good Book safe is also the House a the Lord.

Any thoughts:

Beautiful Creatures is one that is brilliantly woven and contains everything you could possibly ever want in a novel -- romance, paranormal, mystery, a wonderful setting, and history.

...Though the history part slowed me down. I have to be honest but I’m not really into those kinds of things like the Civil War, which is most likely the reason why it took me about a week to finish it. The first two hundred pages or so are meant to be understood because those facts will come up for sure later on in the story. That’s why I slowed down to let it all sink in. But that doesn’t mean I didn’t like the overall novel, because I really did.

First of all, the writing is astounding, and seeing everything through Ethan’s eyes made it better. He is such a nice, kind, really caring boy. I think I’ve got a new literary crush. Lena is also a great character. She was a big mystery to me at first -- still is, but less of a mystery -- and I’m still a little anxious to know her better, especially the thing about her real name. The rest of the characters are amazing, too! Amma, The Sisters, Macon Ravenwood, Marian, Link...they are all very likeable. I hope to read more about them in the sequel and I hope to find out more about Ridley, who seemed to change my opinion of her in the end.

The storyline is amazingly creative. With high school drama, not-so-normal family gatherings, a person in town who is looked upon as Boo Radley from To Kill a Mockingbird, and a newly moved-in girl who Ethan has dreamt about but never met...you can’t go wrong. And the end was...strange yet incredible.

Also, one thing I kept thinking about while reading was the five senses. You know -- touch, feel, smell, hearing, sight? Each one of them is included so I visualized the setting and everything else in the tiniest of details, making it all a wonderful scenario. Garcia and Stohl have created a world that is unique and imaginative. Beautiful Creatures is probably one of the most beautiful novels I’ve ever read. When I say beautiful, I mean both inside and out because have you seen the cover? So gorgeous.

Teaser Tuesday (11)

Teaser Tuesday is a weekly meme hosted by Should Be Reading.

The rules are:

• Grab your current read
• Open to a random page
• Share two (2) “teaser” sentences from somewhere on that page
• DO NOT INCLUDE SPOILERS.

My teaser:

On a really dark night, you can see between 1,000 and 1,500 stars, and there are millions more that haven't been discovered. It is so easy to think that the world revolves around you, but all you have to do is stare up at the sky to realize it isn't that way at all.

~pg. 43 "My Sister's Keeper"
by Jodi Picoult

Daily Dose (17)

This new meme is hosted by Holly from Good Golly Miss Holly, where inspirational pictures are posted to enlighten your day.

Friday's Finest (09)

Friday's Finest is a new meme hosted by Steff & Justine from A Bookful of Thoughts.

Rules:
~Post a quote that really stuck to you after reading it in a book.
~Make sure it isn't a spoiler!
~If you'd like, expand on what you think it means and why you chose it.

Our story has three parts: a beginning, a middle, and an end. And although this is the way all stories unfold, I still can't believe that ours didn't go on forever.

Dear John by Nicholas Sparks

There are first loves, second loves, and thirds. Each one will have their own separate memories. We'll never know whether they'll last forever or not, but what I do know is, there will come a time when we find our own forever with someone.

Aha, I'm so cliché.

Waiting on Wednesday (21)

Waiting on Wednesday is hosted by Jill from Breaking the Spine.

Losing Faith
by Denise Jaden

Release Date:
September 7th, 2010

Description:
When Brie's sister, Faith, dies in a fall from a cliff, Brie's world falls apart. As she goes through the bizarre and devastating process of mourning the sister she never understood, Brie must also contend with increasingly distant parents, her boyfriend's betrayal, and her sudden outcast status at school. And once she's over the initial shock of Faith's death, Brie is encountering more questions than closure: Certain facts about the way Faith died just don't line up. She soon uncovers Faith's role in a dark and twisted religious cult...a cult that now wants Brie as a member.

Recreate A Cover (Princess Bookie Contest) Entry!

The Recreate A Book Cover Contest~ (at PRINCESS BOOKIE!)

How To Enter:
-Recreate A Book cover of a 2010 Young Adult Book (your choice, book must be released in 2010-no reprints)

Rules:
-One Entry Per Person
-First 50 People To Enter (no more than this because it would be too hard to calculate)
-First Come First Serve- First 50 in linky will be entered!
-You can not reuse your cover from last year!!! No re-entries!
-However You CAN use a fan art Friday, as long as YOU made it! (I'll know when you link it from your blog)
Open Internationally but if you win and your international, you will win $10 giftcard from book depository.

How does voting work?
We vote in rounds.
-First 50 entered. Voting In Weeks. (first 50 to vote in voting round)
- 20 Go On To Round 1
-10 Go On To Round 2
-5 Go On To Round 3
Voting Winner Round 4

Prize
$10.00 gift certificate from Book Depository, one surprise book, one surprise ARC from ME, AND one arc from the box. (aka giftcard+ 3 books total) You pick a number you get that arc (each one has a post it note)
-Titles in Box: Spells, Lies, Siren, Jekel Loves Hyde, Extra-ordinary Secrets Of April, May, June, Summer Girls, Cinderella Society, Rules Of Attraction, White Cat, This World We Live In, Early To Death Early To Rise, Forgive My Fins, Wereling, Friend Is Not A Verb, Amy Roger Epic Detour, Winter Longing (Choice Of ARC-random #- Donated by Liz and Marie (and a few of mine) for this contest)
FYI: International:Open Internationally but if you win and your international, you will win $10 giftcard from book depository.

Due Monday 3/15 11:59 PM Or when we hit 50 entries! (Only one winner this year-1st place)

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So here's my cover of THE SUMMER OF SKINNY DIPPING by Amanda Howells:

picture credit can be found here.

And here's the original:

If you'd like to enter, go ahead and create a cover! The blog post at Princess Bookie can be found here. Good luck! :)

Justine's Thoughts: Fallen by Lauren Kate

Fallen
By Lauren Kate

Pages:

452

Book Description:

There’s something achingly familiar about Daniel Grigori.

Mysterious and aloof, he captures Luce Price’s attention from the moment she sees him on her first day at Sword & Cross boarding school in sultry Savannah, Georgia. He’s the one bright spot in a place where cell phones are forbidden, the other students are all screw-ups, and security cameras watch every move.

Even though Daniel wants nothing to do with Luce -- and goes out of his way to make that very clear -- she can’t let it go. Drawn to him like a moth to a flame, she has to find out what Daniel is so desperate to keep secret...even if it kills her.

A quote:

She sensed more than heard it call to her, calming her, like a lullaby in the middle of a warzone.

Any thoughts:

Written somehow wonderfully yet hauntingly, Fallen is quite the paranormal romance told in great detail on two star-crossed lovers.

...though not everything is explained, which leaves me with more questions than answers in the end.

The book starts out slowly, making its way up to the important parts of the story where we learn a little bit of the truth about Luce’s past and most especially, the truth about Daniel. Once there, I was instantly hooked and I could not stop reading.

What also engaged me in the plot was the love triangle. It was difficult to know who to side with at first, but as time passed and we got to know more about both men, it was clear to me who I like better. The minor characters were captivating as well, keeping me interested in their personality and their secrets.

Luce, our heroine, seems a little fragile to me, of course given with what she had to deal with in the past and the ability to constantly see and sense shadows. She may also be deemed as crazy to her parents and classmates back home. She’s likeable, a decent protagonist and a great friend. But she irked me a few times because of the decisions she made. They’re not always the right ones, but I realized that they were realistic and that was what most people would probably do.

The writing was so beautiful that I felt emotionally drawn to the whole thing. I was compelled to what’s happening, feeling pain, sadness, despair at the right times. Kate has brilliantly captured my attention as a reader and successfully engaged me into a paranormal adventure. It is obvious to say that I’m excited for the next book -- Torment.

(first review of 2010)

Daily Dose (16)

This new meme is hosted by Holly from Good Golly Miss Holly, where inspirational pictures are posted to enlighten your day.

In My Mailbox (14)

In My Mailbox is held weekly by Kristi at The Story Siren. Click here for details on how to participate.

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Justine:


My Sister's Keeper
by Jodi Picould

Anna is not sick, but she might as well be. By age thirteen, she has undergone countless surgeries, transfusions, and shots so that her older sister, Kate, can somehow fight the leukemia that has plagued her since childhood. The product of preimplantation genetic diagnosis, Anna was conceived as a bone marrow match for Kate -- a life and a role that she has never challenged...until now. Like most teenagers, Anna is beginning to question who she truly is. But unlike most teenagers, she has always been defined in terms of her sister -- and so Anna makes a decision that for most would be unthinkable, a decision that will tear her family apart and have perhaps fatal consequences for the sister she loves.

My Sister's Keeper examines what it means to be a good parent, a good sister, a good person. Is it morally correct to do whatever it takes to save a child's life, even if that means infringing upon the rights of another? Is it worth trying to discover who you really are, if that quest makes you like yourself less? Should you follow your own heart, or let others lead you? Once again, in My Sister's Keeper, Jodi Picoult tackles a controversial real-life subject with grace, wisdom, and sensitivity. An amazing read and an incredible experience.

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Dear John
by Nicholas Sparks

An angry rebel, John dropped out of school and enlisted in the Army, not knowing what else to do with his life--until he meets the girl of his dreams, Savannah. Their mutual attraction quickly grows into the kind of love that leaves Savannah waiting for John to finish his tour of duty, and John wanting to settle down with the woman who captured his heart. But 9/11 changes everything. John feels it is his duty to re-enlist. And sadly, the long separation finds Savannah falling in love with someone else. "Dear John," the letter read...and with those two words, a heart was broken and two lives were changed forever. Returning home, John must come to grips with the fact that Savannah, now married, is still his true love--and face the hardest decision of his life.

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One word for these two books: FINALLY!
They're both my first books by the authors, and I am finally reading them. They're library books, although I wish I could own them. And yes, they're very deep reads, but that is what I love, and it has been a long time since I've cried when reading!

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Before I Fall
by Lauren Oliver

What if you had only one day to live? What would you do? Who would you kiss? And how far would you go to save your own life?

Samantha Kingston has it all—looks, popularity, the perfect boyfriend. Friday, February 12th should be just another day in her charmed life. Instead, it’s her last. The catch: Samantha still wakes up the next morning. In fact, she re-lives the last day of her life seven times, until she realizes that by making even the slightest changes, she may hold more power than she had ever imagined.

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This one arrived on Friday, and am I ever so glad for it! A huuuuuuge thanks to the lovely people at Page Turners!