Waiting on Wednesday (85)

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

Without Tess
by Marcella Pixley

Release Date:
October 11th, 2011

Tess and Lizzie are sisters, sisters as close as can be, who share a secret world filled with selkies, flying horses, and a girl who can transform into a wolf in the middle of the night. But when Lizzie is ready to grow up, Tess clings to their fantasies. As Tess sinks deeper and deeper into her delusions, she decides that she can’t live in the real world any longer and leaves Lizzie and her family forever. Now, years later, Lizzie is in high school and struggling to understand what happened to her sister. With the help of a school psychologist and Tess’s battered journal, Lizzie searches for a way to finally let Tess go.

May Monday Be Merry: The Vinyl Princess

So last week, I saw a post on Free People's blog (the clothing site) that spotlighted a book and posted beautiful pictures along with quotes from it. It's their "Free People Book Club" feature and I was inspired to create this meme for the Young Adult genre. It's also related to the previous meme Daily Dose, but with the additions of quotes from books.

This week's featured book is...

The Vinyl Princess

by Yvonne Prinz

"Music is love."

"Should I have taken him by the hand and led him over to the Zappa? No. I won't spoon-feed the customers. If you don't know your alphabet, you have no business leaving your house, let alone shopping for premium music."

"The cool thing about being best friends is that you can make big plans even if there's only a slim chance in hell that they'll ever happen."

The Blog Hop (13)

Follow Friday is a weekly meme hosted by Parajunkee and Alison Can Read.

In books like the Sookie Stackhouse (True Blood) series the paranormal creature in question "comes out of the closet" and makes itself known to the world. Which mythical creature do you wish would come out of the closet, for real?

Hmmmmm, such a good question!! I'd have to say a witch...or MAYBE a shapeshifter...Ahhh, I cannot decide!

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Book Blogger Hop is a weekly meme hosted by Crazy for Books.

Non-book-related this week!! Do you have pets?

One Shihtzhu! Her name is Cali and she's black and white all over. She's a barky one, that girl. :P

Friday's Finest (75)

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.

Peace, Love, and Baby Ducks
by Lauren Myracle

"Hey. What is it that famous person said? 'It'll all work out in the end, and if it doesn't, that means it's not the end yet'?"

Justine's Thoughts: Heist Society by Ally Carter

Heist Society
[Heist Society Book 2]
By Ally Carter

Source: Library
Pages: 287
Book Description:

When Katarina Bishop was three, her parents took her to the Louvre...to case it. For her seventh birthday, Katarina and her Uncle Eddie traveled to Austria...to steal the crown jewels. When Kat turned fifteen, she planned a con of her own--scanning her way into the best boarding school in the country, determined to leave the family business behind. Unfortunately, leaving “the life” for a normal life proves harder than she’d expected.

Soon, Kat’s friend and former co-conspirator, Hale, appears out of nowhere to bring her back into the world she tried so hard to escape. But he has good reason: a powerful mobster’s priceless art collection has been stolen and he wants it returned. Only a master thief could have pulled off this job, and Kat’s father isn’t just the suspect list, he is the list. Caught between Interpol and a far more deadly enemy, Kat’s dad needs her help.

For Kat there is only one solution: track down the paintings and steal them back. So what if it’s a spectacularly impossible job? She’s got two weeks, a teenage crew, and, hopefully, just enough talent to pull off the biggest heist in her family’s (very crooked) history--and with any luck, steal her life back along the way.

A quote:

It is an occupational hazard that anyone who has spent her life learning how to lie eventually becomes bad at telling the truth.

Any thoughts:

The only book I’ve read by Ally Carter is the first book in the Gallagher Series. I still haven’t read the second book due to some library issues so it has been an awful while. Now that I had the chance to read Heist Society, I must say that I was a bit disappointed; I didn’t like it as much as I thought I would.

The plot overall is enjoyable. The only trouble I faced was the beginning. It starts off with Kat being interrogated by The Colgan School Honour Board. It took me some time to adjust and get into it but when the suspense comes in, I couldn’t help but turn the pages. The writing was smooth and in third person and the pacing was quick. While I felt that some aspects were repetitive, I believe it gave a mysterious atmosphere but the connection between me as a reader and the story was lacking. Character-wise, Carter has created a team of great, interesting, and talented teens. Kat is a strong, petite girl who I can admire and Hale, her best friend, is charming (which I love). Add to that a quirky pair of brothers, a super intelligent boy, and a girl who has the ultimate potential to be a model, then what you’ve got is the perfect set of characters. I only wish we had the chance to see more into them and their background.

While Heist Society didn’t live up to my expectations, I did quite enjoy it and am definitely going to check out the sequel.

Waiting on Wednesday (84)

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

How to Save a Life
by Sara Zarr

Release Date:
October 18th, 2011

Jill MacSweeney just wants everything to go back to normal. But ever since her dad died, she's been isolating herself from her boyfriend, her best friends--everyone who wants to support her. You can't lose one family member and simply replace him with a new one, and when her mom decides to adopt a baby, that's exactly what it feels like she's trying to do. And that's decidedly not normal. With her world crumbling around her, can Jill come to embrace a new member of the family?

Mandy Kalinowski knows what it's like to grow up unwanted--to be raised by a mother who never intended to have a child. So when Mandy becomes pregnant, she knows she wants a better life for her baby. But can giving up a child be as easy as it seems? And will she ever be able to find someone to care for her, too?

Critically acclaimed author and National Book Award finalist Sara Zarr delivers a heart-wrenching story, told from dual perspectives, about what it means to be a family and the many roads we can take to become one.

Teaser Tuesday (54)

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

From pg. 14 of "Wintergirls"
by Laurie Halse Anderson

For one moment we are not failed tests and broken condoms and cheating on essays; we are crayons and lunch boxes and swinging so high our sneakers punch holes in the clouds. For one breath everything feels better.

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This is one of my favourite quotes ever. I love Laurie Halse Anderson!

Daily Dose (78)

This new meme is hosted by Holly from Good Golly Miss Holly.

(Click the photo to see its source!)

In My Mailbox (59)

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

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Library:

Wintergirls by Laurie Halse Anderson

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This one actually came in the mail yesterday. Sooo psyched to have received it (it's the Aussie version of the novel!!!) and saw that it was signed and addressed to me! THANK YOU, LAURIE HALSE ANDERSON! :) :) :) :)

Have an awesome weeeeekend, everyone! :)

Friday's Finest (74)

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.

The Six Rules of Maybe
by Deb Caletti

Maybe we all just wanted someone to believe in. That's all each of us wanted, and it should be so simple, but it never was simple.

I know that I myself need someone to believe in, so they could also believe in me. Deb Caletti has written valuable words that could pull you in like a laft raft. It's so easy to relate to them.

Justine's Thoughts: Flawless by Sara Shepard

Flawless (Pretty Little Liars #2)
By Sara Shepard

Source: Library
Pages: 330

A quote:

There are all these perfect people here. And...it’s like, if you’re not one of them, then you’re messed up. But I think, inside, the flawless-looking people are just as messed up as we are.

Any thoughts (Vague Spoilers Ahead):

Who knew this series could be so good? Seriously, Flawless is almost as good as the first only by a little bit. The same style is used and the same things are present: suspense, mystery, glamour and the four pretty little liars.

I was finally relieved to know about The Jenny Thing completely. Toby is the main focus and is believed to be the ever so mysterious and cruel “A”. He is the “black cat” in the neighbourhood -- the person who always seems to be there at a particular moment you decide to look. He sticks out among the other people in Rosewood and he happened to be one of my favourite characters in the book. In fact, he is the one who said the quote above.

It was hard to stop reading and put the book down. Many times I just wanted to cry because of what was happening to these girls. Some situations were realistic and some were so absurd that I actually wanted to scold their parents. They were utterly mean, it’s unbelievable. But the conflicts found in Flawless can be found in real life as well. It’s one of the reasons why I am loving this series.

Waiting on Wednesday (83)

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

Stay With Me
by Paul Griffin

Release Date:
September 8th, 2011

An urban romance that will capture your soul, break your heart, and restore your faith in the human spirit.

Fifteen-year-olds Cece and Mack didn't expect to fall in love. She's a sensitive A student; he's a high school dropout. But soon they're spending every moment together, bonding over a rescued dog, telling their secrets, making plans for the future. Everything is perfect. Until. Until. Mack makes a horrible mistake, and in just a few minutes, the future they'd planned becomes impossible. In this stark new reality, both of them must find meaning and hope in the memories of what they had, to survive when the person they love can't stay.

From award-winning writer Paul Griffin, Stay with Me is both heartbreaking and uplifting, filled with characters (both dog and human) that will forever change the way you look at the world.

Teaser Tuesday (53)

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

From pg. 72 of "Candor"
by Pam Bachorz

It's not impossible to escape my father. It just takes a little help.

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Daily Dose (77)

This new meme is hosted by Holly from Good Golly Miss Holly.

(Click the photo to see its source!)

In My Mailbox (58)

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

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Library:

The Earth, My Butt, and Other Big Round Things by Carolyn Mackler

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Well, as you see, I have arrived last week! And I've been making some pretty good progress, everyone (I've been commenting! :D). My laziness is slowly going away, thank goodness for that. My mind has been on a creative run lately too so that would mean I'm thinking of a new layout. Colour suggestions, anyone?

Have a great weekend!

Friday's Finest (73)

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.

Something Like Fate
by Susane Colasanti

I'm not sure if our friendship is strong enough to survive into next year when we’re away at college. But. We know each other in a way that no one else can. We share a history that makes us permanently connected. So I have to hope for us. All I can do is hope.

This reminds me so much of this upcoming fall. My friends will all be away from college/university and it's going to be so new for us. But all we can do is hope that we keep in touch because our friendships mean so much. University is so exciting though! It's that time again to make more new friends. :)

While I was away I couldn't update a mister linky...but he's back now! So if you've got a Friday's Finest to share, link it below!

Justine's Thoughts: Endless Summer by Jennifer Echols

Endless Summer
By Jennifer Echols

Source: Library
Pages: 587
Book Description:

Two irresistible boys.

One unforgettable summer.

Lori can’t wait for her summer at the lake. She loves wakeboarding and hanging with her friends -- including the two hotties next door. With the Vader brothers, she’s always been one of the guys. Now that she’s turning sixteen, she wants to be seen as one of the girls, especially in the eyes of Sean, the older brother. But that’s not going to happen -- not if the younger brother, Adam, can help it.

Lori plans to make Sean jealous by spending time with Adam. Adam has plans of his own for Lori. As the air heats up, so does this love triangle. Will Lori’s romantic summer melt into one hot mess?

A quote:

Love hurt. Honesty made it hurt worse, and I could hardly stand it.

Any thoughts:

It’s a summer packed with two storylines: The Boys Next Door and its sequel, Endless Summer. I cannot tell you how much I absolutely love summer stories with romance to heat things up, especially if the characters have been together since the early days. With enough happening on their plate, it’s going to be a summer that will never be forgotten.

I instantly loved Lori from the very beginning. She grew up with the Vader boys and her brother, whom they call McGillicuddy (their last name), so she knows how to handle them verbally and physically. When they insult her, she shouts a comeback and when they do calisthenics (exercises), she joins in. Sure, she could be quite annoying with her plans to win Sean over, especially when she’s clueless about Adam’s feelings. Her plans are the most ridiculous of things, which is what makes it so funny. Add to that Lori’s sarcastic sense of humour and you’ve got a perfect romantic comedy.

And when there are boys around, it is impossible to melt just by reading about them. The constant show of bare chests, tans, and cute summer hair? That’s pretty hot. The two Vader brothers, Sean and Adam are almost always in a raging fit. This summer, it’s for sure about to get worse. But Adam is the sensitive one who gets in the most troubles. He has Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder and therefore rashes out at times. It’s what makes him perfect for Lori, who really understands him. I was also so glad that the second part of the book, Endless Summer, focuses equally on him. It has alternating POVs and I had the chance to see the reasons behind his actions.

Overall, the book is such a fantastical read. Although very predictable and very long, it will not fail to make you smile. Jennifer Echols is an author who will always take you to a romance you’ll enjoy.

Waiting on Wednesday (82)

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

The Fine Art of Truth or Dare
by Melissa Jensen

Release Date:
February 16th, 2012

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?

Gosh, anything that mentions Anna and the French Kiss I will gladly read! Plus, this one sounds so cute and I absolutely looooooove romantic comedies. What more could I want?!

Teaser Tuesday (52)

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

From pg. 5 of "The Lonely Hearts Club"
by Elizabeth Eulberg

When I was five years old, I walked down the aisle with the man of my dreams.

Okay, make that boy. He was five, too.

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I'm back from South Carolina and all my vacation days are over! Sadly. I wish I stayed there. It's such a nice place with the beach as your backyard. *sigh*

Anyway, fantasy over. School is actually coming soon. So I've got a ton of catching up to do, including commenting back, which is number two on my to-do list. (First is school-related stuff. Sigh.) But I wanted to say thank you sooo much for commenting while I was away. I really appreciate your time! And now I'll be spending my time making it up to you guys. The least I can do is comment back. :)

Happy Tuesday!

Daily Dose (76)

This new meme is hosted by Holly from Good Golly Miss Holly.

(Click the photo to see its source!)