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Tuesday, February 22, 2011

Review: Not That Kind of Girl

Not That Kind Of Girl
Siobhan Vivian
Released: September 1, 2010
Publisher: Push
Rating: 3.5/5

Natalie Sterling wants to be in control. She wants her friends to be loyal. She wants her classmates to elect her student council president. She wants to find the right guy, not the usual jerk her school has to offer. She wants a good reputation, because she believes that will lead to good things.



But life is messy, and it's very hard to be in control of it. Not when there are freshman girls running around in a pack, trying to get senior guys to sleep with them. Not when your friends have secrets they're no longer comfortable sharing. Not when the boy you once dismissed ends up being the boy you wants to sleep with yourself - but only in secret, with nobody ever finding out.


Slut or saint? Winner or loser? Natalie is getting tired of these forced choices - and is now going to find a way to live life in the sometimes messy, sometimes wonderful in-between.


I've heard a lot of good things about Not That Kind of Girl and Siobhan Vivian's work. This isn't typically the kind of book I would read, but I figured I would try it out. Turns out, I really did enjoy it.


Natalie Sterling is a strong person. Throughout the book, I wanted to kick, yell at and hug her. I hated her at times but loved her at others. Overall, I really enjoyed seeing her grow.

I thought this was very well written. I couldn't stop reading it. I couldn't wait to see where Natalie's story will go next.

The romance in this was pretty rocky. It wasn't perfect. Natalie didn't want anything real or for anyone to know. Connor was a perfect match for Natalie. He showed her that she was wrong about a lot of things. I hated how Natalie treated hime; he was a really sweet guy.

Not That Kind of Girl is so much more than just a story. I love what it represents and there's a lessen behind it.

Not That Kind of Girl may not be for everyone. Aside from the annoying character, I enjoyed it a lot. I'll definitely look for more of Siobhan's work.
 
Rating: 3.5 hearts

Sunday, February 20, 2011

Upcoming Author Appearences

Have you ever wanted just one place that tells where every author event is? Well, I'm going to do my best for that place to be here. Trust me, I know just how hard it that the only way you can find author signings and events is just by stalking every single author you've ever taken interest in. It's very tiring. So, every once in a while I'll do a post about all the author events that I find. It may be every week, may be every month. It will, however, just be in the U.S.

Here are the upcoming events that I have found:
Gwen Hayes:
Author of Falling Under
When: Sat, March 12, 4pm – 7pm

Where: Odyssey Bookshop 114 W Front St, Port Angeles, WA 98362

When: Fri, March 18, 7pm – 9pm

Where: Third Place Books
Ravenna Third Place
6504 20th Ave NE
Seattle, WA 98115

Claudia Gray:
Author of Afterlife

Tuesday, March 8

Phoenix, AZ
7:00 PM
Reading/Q&A/Signing
Changing Hands
6428 S McClintock Drive
Tempe, AZ 85283

Wednesday, March 9
San Diego, CA
7:00 PM
Reading/Q&A/Signing
Mysterious Galaxy
7051 Clairemont Mesa Boulevard
San Diego, CA 92111-1040
Thursday, March 10
Dallas, TX
6:00 PM
Reading/Q&A/Signing
Barnes & Noble
Stonebriar Center Mall
Frisco, TX 75034

Friday, March 11
Charlotte, NC
4:30 PM
Reading/Q&A/Signing
Park Road Books
4139 Park Road
Charlotte, NC

Thursday, March 17

Minneapolis, MN
7:00 PM
Reading/Q&A/Signing
Dark Days of Winter event w/ Kimberly Derting and Courtney Allison Moulton
2100 North Snelling Avenue
Roseville, MN

Friday, March 18
Chicago, IL
7:00 PM
Reading/Q&A/Signing
Dark Days of Winter event w/ Ellen Schreiber, Kimberly Derting and Courtney Allison Moulton
123 West Jefferson Ave
Naperville, IL

Saturday March 19
Miami, FL
7:00 PM
Reading/Q&A/Signing
Dark Days of Winter event w/ Kimberly Derting and Courtney Allison Moulton
265 Aragon Ave
Coral Gables, FL

C.C. Hunter
Author of Born at Midnight

What: C.C. Hunter's Launch Party

When: April 1, 2011; 6PM to 8PM
Where: Katy Budget Books, 2450 Fry Road, Houston, Texas

What: Booksigning

When: April 30, 2010; 2:00PM to 4:00PM
Where: Barnes & Noble, 5656 Fairmont Parkway; Pasadena, Texas

What: Literacy Book Signing at Romance Writers of America Conference
When: June 28, 2011; 5:30 p.m. - 7:30 p.m.
Where: Marriott Marquis Hotel, Times Square, New York, New York

Kimberly Derting
Author of Desires of the Dead

MEGA EPIC BOOK LAUNCH PARTY!

Saturday, February 19, 2011 at 12:00 noon
BARNES & NOBLE
31325 Pacific Hwy. South
Federal Way, WA

Saturday, February 26th, 2011 at 2:00pm
SUMNER BRANCH OF THE PIERCE COUNTY LIBRARY
1116 Fryar Ave
Sumner, WA
For the Love of Reading panel with Holly Cupala and Dia Calhoun

Sunday, March 6, 2011 at 2:00pm
POWELL'S Cedar Hills Crossing
3415 SW Cedar Hills Blvd.
Beaverton, OR

HARPERTEEN'S DARK DAYS OF WINTER TOUR!
Thursday, March 17, 2011 at 7:00pm
BARNES & NOBLE
HarMar Mall, 2100 North Snelling Avenue
Roseville, MN
Signing with Claudia Gray and Courtney Allison Moulton

Friday, March 18, 2011 at 7:00pm
ANDERSON’S BOOKS
123 West Jefferson Avenue
Naperville, IL
Signing with Claudia Gray and Courtney Allison Moulton

Saturday, March 19, 2011 at 7:00pm
BOOKS & BOOKS
265 Aragon Avenue
Miami Beach, FL
Signing with Claudia Gray and Courtney Allison Moulton

March 11-13, 2011
CAVALCADE OF AUTHORS
Richland, WA

ROMANTIC TIMES BOOKLOVERS CONVENTION
April 6-10, 2011
Westin Bonaventure Hotel
Los Angeles, CA
Friday, April 8th Panel: "Say Anything: Boundaries in YA" with authors Jennifer Lynn Barnes, Jackie Kessler, and Sarah Rees Brennan

Courtney Allison Moulton
Author of Angelfire

ANGELFIRE Launch Party

Saturday, February 19, 2011 2:00pm - TBA
Schuler Books & Music
2820 Towne Center Blvd.
Lansing, MI 48912

Lisa McMann
Author of Cryer's Cross
Sunday, Feb 13, 2011, 3pm (with Caridad Ferrer -- When the Stars Go Blue)


BARNES & NOBLE
19401 Alderwood Mall Parkway
Lynnwood,WA

Tuesday, Feb 15, 7pm
BARNES & NOBLE
2825 West Main St.
Bozeman, MT

Wednesday, Feb 16, 6:30pm
MURDER BY THE BOOK
2342 Bissonnet St.
Houston,TX

Thursday, Feb 17, 7pm
BLUE WILLOW BOOKSHOP
14532 Memorial Dr.
Houston,TX
NOTE from the bookstore's website: This event is free and open to the public. In order to meet Lisa McMann for book personalization, you must purchase Cryer’s Cross from Blue Willow Bookshop..

Friday, February 18, 2011, 7pm
A Real Bookstore
113 Prairie Road, Fairview, TX 75069

Saturday, February 19, 2011, 3pm
BOOK PEOPLE BOOKSTORE
603 North Lamar Blvd
Austin,TX
*note from the bookstore: You must purchase a copy of Cryer's Cross from BookPeople in order to get any of your books signed.



Saturday, Feb 26, 2011, 3pm
The Poisoned Pen
4014 N Goldwater Blvd. Suite 101
Scottsdale, AZ 85251

Saturday, March 12, 2011
Tucson Festival of Books
Tucson, AZ

Monday, March 21, 2011, 7pm
Little Shop of Stories
133A East Court Square
Decatur,GA

Tuesday, March 22, 2011, 7pm
BARNES & NOBLE #1955
7660 Northpoint Parkway
Suite 200
Alpharetta,GA

March 23, 2011, 7pm
Indigo - Yorkdale Mall
3401 Dufferin St.
Toronto, ON
(416) 781-6660

Dark Days of Supernatural tour:

Claudia Gray, Courtney Allison Moulton and Kimberly Derting
Thursday, March 17 · 7:00pm - 10:00pm

Barnes & Noble Booksellers
HarMar Mall, 2100 North Snelling Avenue
Roseville, MN

Claudia Gray, Courtney Allison Moulton, Kimberly Derting and Ellen Schreiber
Friday, March 18 · 7:00pm - 10:00pm
Location Anderson's Bookshop
123 West Jefferson Avenue
Naperville, IL

Claudia Gray, Courtney Allison Moulton and Kimberly Derting
Saturday, March 19 · 7:00pm - 10:00pm

Location Books & Books
265 Aragon Avenue
Miami Beach, FL

So, Unfortunately, not one person is coming to the Denver/Boulder area, which is where I live. I quite disappointed because I haven't been to a signing in almost a year. Oh, well. I'll keep looking.

Did I miss anything? Is there an author or book you want me to keep an eye out for? Please, let me know! Just let me know in the comments!

Saturday, February 19, 2011

In My Mailbox (55)

IMM is hosted by Kristi at The Story Siren.
For Review:
Father of Lies by Ann Turner
Queen of the Dead by Stacey Kade


Borrowed from Library:
Silver Phoenix by Cindy Pon
Rampant by Diana Peterfreund
Morganville Vampires: Glass Houses & The Dead Girls' Dance by Rachel Caine

Bought:
Mad Love by Suzanne Selfors
Where I Belong by Gwendolyn Heasley


So I got quite a lot to read, per usual.
What did you get this week?

Monday, February 14, 2011

Happy Valentine's Day + Stuff


So first off, I just want to start by saying Happy Valentine's Day! I hope everyone has a wonderful day, even (especially) if you don't have a special someone in your life at this time!

Also, I apologize if the blog has been slow in  the past week. It will continue to be slow this week. I may not even post anything 'til this weekend, just a heads up. But, while I won't be posting, I'll be keeping up with reading and reviews. By next weekend hopefully I'll have a thousand and one things to share with y'all!

Just fyi, this is my favorite heart ever:
Is it weird to have a favorite heart? Well, I do. You probably recognize it because it's what I use instead of stars to rate books!

Sunday, February 13, 2011

In My Mailbox (54)

We have Kristi at The Story Siren to thank for hosting IMM every week.

I only got one book this, and ebook, but there are also 2 more ebooks I got last week but forgot to mention.

Cloaked by Alex Flinn- Think you know paranormal romance? Alex Flinn gives the genre a twist in this modern fairy-tale mash-up!

Johnny’s not your average hero. But a little magic changes everything. There isn’t a fairy godmother or any of that. It all starts with a curse. And a frognapping. And one hot-looking princess. And before Johnny knows it, he is on a mission in the Everglades, with only a flock of swans and a talking fox named Joe to help guide him against the forces of an evil witch.

A Long Long Sleep by Anna Sheehan- Rosalinda Fitzroy has been asleep for 62 years when she is woken by a kiss. Locked away in the chemically-induced slumber of a stasis tube in a forgotten sub-basement, sixteen-year-old Rose slept straight through the Dark Times that killed millions and utterly changed the world she knew. Now, her parents and her first love are long dead, and Rose - hailed upon her awakening as the long-lost heir to an interplanetary empire - is thrust alone into a future in which she is viewed as either a freak or a threat. Desperate to put the past behind her and adapt to her new world, Rose finds herself drawn to the boy who kissed her awake, hoping that he can help her to start fresh. But when a deadly danger jeopardizes her fragile new existence, Rose must face the ghosts of her past with open eyes - or be left without any future at all

Queens of all the Earth by Hannah Sternberg- As her freshman classmates move into dorms at Cornell University, Olivia Somerset suffers a nervous breakdown. When months of coaxing and analyzing fail to rouse Olivia from her stupor, big sister Miranda decides the sisters should fly off to Barcelona for some "vacation therapy."


When a mistake at their Barcelona hostel leaves the Somersets in a large co-ed dorm room, Olivia and Miranda are saved by kindly Mr. Brown and his son Greg, who happily volunteer to surrender their private room. But while Olivia feels an instant connection with brooding Greg Brown, Miranda sides with fellow guest and cocky American travel writer Lenny:

The Browns are just plain weird, and must be avoided at all costs.

In the midst of urbane Peruvian priests-in-training and Scottish soccer fans, from the shops of La Rambla to the waters of the Mediterranean to the soaring heights of Montjuic, Miranda works to protect her still-fragile sister while Olivia struggles to understand her burgeoning adulthood, her feelings for Greg, and the fear that makes the next step in her life so impossible to take.

Inspired by E. M. Forster's classic novel A Room with a View, debut author Hannah Sternberg's Queens of All the Earth is a poetic journey of young love and self-awakening set against the beauty of Catalonia. Teenagers and adults alike will be riveted and moved by this coming-of-age novel about the conflicting hearts and minds of two very different sisters

Wednesday, February 9, 2011

Waiting on Wednesday: Igenue

Igenue by Jillian Larkin
August 9, 2011

Bobbed hair. Short skirts. Cool jazz. Dark speakeasy. Anything goes. Meet the flappers, Gloria, Clara, Lorraine . . . and the rich young boys who love and loathe them.

I was a big fan of the first one, Vixen, so I can't wait to read then sequel! I'm anxious to see where the characters' stories go next.

Tuesday, February 8, 2011

Review: Fallen Angel

Fallen Angel
Heather Terrell
Released: December 28, 2010
Publisher: HarperTeen
Rating: 2.5/5 hearts


Ellie was never particularly good at talking to boys—or anyone other than her best friend and fellow outcast, Ruth. Then she met Michael.


Michael is handsome, charming, sweet. And totally into Ellie. It’s no wonder she is instantly drawn to him. But Michael has a secret. And he knows Ellie is hiding something, too. They’ve both discovered they have powers beyond their imagining. Powers that are otherworldly.

Ellie and Michael are determined to uncover what they are, and how they got this way . . . together. But the truth has repercussions neither could have imagined. Soon they find themselves center stage in an ancient conflict that threatens to destroy everything they love. And it is no longer clear whether Ellie and Michael will choose the same side.


In this electrifying novel, Heather Terrell spins a gripping supernatural tale about true love, destiny, and the battle of good versus evil.

I wasn't a gib fan of this book. From first reading the synopsis and seeing the cover, I wanted to read it. I think the reason I didn't like it as much is because I was expecting more.
I thought the beggining of the story mobed way too fast. Sometimes that is okay, but with this I would have liked more time to get to know the characters. I also thought Ellie and Michael's relationship went way too fast. I would have liked to see the realationshilp blosom and grow. They just jumped right into it. I didn't appreciate it as much.

I don't know about anyone else, but I didn't appreciate the fact that at first Ellie and Michael thought they were vampires. I would have thought it was more okay if I actually believed it, but it's quite obvious it wasn't true, with the title and synopsis and all. When they finally found out the truth, it just didn't seem like a big deal. They made it out to be this epic thing, but it wasn't.

Ellie wasn't anything special, as a character I mean. It's not that I didn't like her. She was fine as a person, but she was very flat. There wasn't enough character developement.

If it wasn't obvious already, I din't like Fallen Angel. It was okay, but nothing special. The story and characters were flat, and it was anti-climactic. The resolution was very small. I hate that I'm giving it a bad review, I usually don't, but this book just wasn't for me.


Rating:

 2.5 heats

Sunday, February 6, 2011

Read in January

This is a little late considering it's a few days into February, but I'll do it anyway.

Here's the first books of the year:
  1. Unearthly by Cynthia Hand
  2. The Iron Queen by Julia Kagawa
  3. Shrinking Violet by Daniella Joseph
  4. Fall for Anything by Courtney Summers
  5. Paranormalcy by Kiersten White
  6. Vixen by Jillian Larkin
  7. Jane by April Lindner
  8. The Lying Game by Sara Shepard
  9. Anna and the French Kiss by Stephanie Perkins
  10. The Lipstick Laws by Amy Holder
  11. Wither by Lauren DeStefano
  12. Deadly Little Games by Laurie Faria Stolarz
  13. All You Get is Me by Yvoone Prinz
  14. Suite Scarlett by Maureen Johnson
  15. Not That Kind of Girl by Siobhan Vivian
Also Reviewed:
Angelfire by Courtney Alison Moulton


In My Mailbox (53)

In My Mailbox is hosted by Kristi at The Story Siren.

 For Review:
Divergent by Veronica Roth

From Library:
The Book of Tomorrow by Cecelia Adhern
Fixing Delilah by Sarah Ockler
Prom and Prejudice by Elizabeth Eulberg

So that's what I got this week. I got more books from the library. I know, shocking, right! I only go every week. But I'm excited for all the books I got this week!
What did you get in your mailbox?

Thursday, February 3, 2011

Review: Deadly Little Games

Deadly Little Games
Laurie Faria Stolarz
Publisher: Hyperion Book CH
Released: December 28, 2010

Camelia and Ben have discovered a powerful bond: They both possess the power of psychometry, the ability to sense things through touch. For Ben, the gift is a frightening liability. When he senses a strong threat or betrayal, he risks losing control and hurting people. Camelia's gift is more mysterious. When she works with clay, her hands sculpt messages her mind doesn't yet comprehend.







Before either teen has a chance to fully grasp these abilities, an unresolved family tragedy resurfaces in Camelia's life, irrevocably changing everything she cares about...

This is an interesting series. I'm not the hugest fan of it, but it keeps me intersted enough to keep reading it.


I like the whole psychomtetry part of this. I've never read anything like it. This probably what keeps me interested.

Camelia and Ben's relationship is not a good one. They are always fighting and keeping secrets from each other. I want them to be happy together but they are just not stable.

I did enjoy the mystery. It wasn't totally surprising, but I liked the elements to it.

Camelia is very sweet. I didn't agree with everything she does, but I know she means well.

Deadly Little Games isn't my favorite in this series. I will probably keep reading this series, though. They're not my favorite but I enjoy reading them

Wednesday, February 2, 2011

Waiting on Wednesday: Queen of the Dead

Queen of the Dead by Stacey Kade
Published: June 7, 2011

After being sent back from the light, Alona Dare - former homecoming queen, current Queen of the Dead - finds herself doing something she never expected: working. Instead of spending days perfecting her tan by the pool (her typical summer routine when she was, you know, alive), Alona must now cater to the needs of other lost spirits. By her side for all of this - ugh - “helping of others” is Will Killian: social outcast, seer of the dead, and someone Alona cares about more than she’d like.


Before Alona can make a final ruling on Will’s “friend” or “more” status, though, she discovers trouble at home. Her mom is tossing out Alona’s most valuable possessions, and her dad is expecting a new daughter with his wicked wife. Is it possible her family is already moving on? Hello! She’s only been dead for two months! Thankfully, Alona knows just the guy who can put a stop to this mess.

Unfortunately for Alona, Will has other stuff on his mind, and Mina, a young (and beautiful) seer, is at the top of the list. She’s the first ghost-talker Will’s ever met—aside from his father—and she may hold answers to Will’s troubled past. But can she be trusted? Alona immediately puts a check mark in the “clearly not” column. But Will is - ahem - willing to find out, even if it means leaving a hurt and angry Alona to her own devices, which is never a good idea.

I loved The Ghost and the Goth, so I'm super excited for Queen of the Dead. This one looks just as good as the last, too!

Tuesday, February 1, 2011

Review: XVI

XVI
Julia Karr
Publisher: Puffin/Speak
Released: January 6, 2011
Rating: 3.5/5

Nina Oberon's life is pretty normal: she hangs out with her best friend, Sandy, and their crew, goes to school, plays with her little sister, Dee. But Nina is 15. And like all girls she'll receive a Governing Council-ordered tattoo on her 16th birthday. XVI. Those three letters will be branded on her wrist, announcing to all the world—even the most predatory of men—that she is ready for sex. Considered easy prey by some, portrayed by the Media as sluts who ask for attacks, becoming a "sex-teen" is Nina's worst fear. That is, until right before her birthday, when Nina's mom is brutally attacked. With her dying breaths, she reveals to Nina a shocking truth about her past—one that destroys everything Nina thought she knew. Now, alone but for her sister, Nina must try to discover who she really is, all the while staying one step ahead of her mother's killer.

I thought XVI was very interesting. I wasn't so sure about this one when I started it, but I actually enjoyed it a lot. It isnt' my favorite dystopian novel, but I liked it. It's one of those books that make me think.


I enjoyed Nina's character. She was very defferent from all the other sex-teen girls in the story. With everything that was going on, I thought she was very brave. She felt like she needed to protect evveryone in her life, such as her sister and her friend Sandy.

This book had an almost depressing tone to it. Not that that's a bad thing. It fit the story.

I did get a little confused with some details in the story. I just had a little trouble imagining what all the technology looked like.

XVI is one of those novels that stay with you. I found myself thinking about it even after I finished. I enjoyed the story and the characters. I look forward to seeing more of Julia Karr's work.

Rating:
 3.4 hearts

Review: Glass Houses

Glass Houses
Rachel Caine
Publisher: NAL Jam
Rating: 4/5

College freshman Claire Danvers has had enough of her nightmarish dorm situation. When Claire heads off-campus, the imposing old house where she finds a room may not be much better. Her new roommates don't show many signs of life, but they'll have Claire's back when the town's deepest secrets come crawling out, hungry for fresh blood.

I think that everyone in the young adult book world has heard of the Morganville Vampire series. I know I have. But, it may come to a surprise to you that I have not read the series until now. For whatever reason I didn't think this series would be for me. I was wrong. I only read the first book and already I'm hooked.


I liked the fact that Claire is only sixteen and in college. I like that she is independent, which most YA books don't have. And even though she is on her own, she still acts like she's sixteen. Which is both a good and bad thing. One thing that I didn't like, thought, was that Claire was too much like a damsel in distress throughout the book. I would have liked for her to take care of herself more.

I liked how the vampires worked in this book. They were different from other vampire stories but not too out there. This book was dark, but, it was unique and not as dark as I originally thought. It was a fun adventure, and had some mystery to it.

Overall, I think it was a fun story. Lately I've been trying to stay away from vampire tales, but I loved this one. I recommend it to any vampire lover. I'm sure I'll devour this entire series (or at least whats out so far) right away.

Rating:
4 hearts