The Mark

The Mark by Jen Nadol

rating 7/10

Cassandra Renfield has always seen the mark—a glow around certain people reminiscent of candlelight. But the one time she mentioned it, it was dismissed as a trick of the light. Until the day she watches a man awash in the mark die. After searching her memories, Cassie realizes she can see a person’s imminent death. Not how or where, only when: today.



Armed with a vague understanding of the light, Cassie begins to explore her “gift,” seeking those marked for death and probing the line between decision and destiny. Though she’s careful to hide her secret—even from her new philosophy-obsessed boyfriend—with each impending death comes the temptation to test fate. But so many questions remain. How does the mark work? Why is she the only one who sees it? And finally, the most important of all: If you know today is someone’s last, should you tell them?

The Mark is a book that I've been looking forward to for a while, and I'm sad to say it didn't really live up to my expectations. I'm not saying it was bad, not at all. I'm just saying that I was expecting a lot more out of it.


When I first started it, I was really pulled in. Unfortunatly, that didn't last very long. Once I got farther, I just wasn't that into it. It was enjoyable, though. There were parts that were very compelling.

Overall, The Mark was good. It had a good plot, one that really made you think. It deffinatly not one of my favorites, but it really was enjoyable.

In My Mailbox (20)

In My Mailbox is hosted by The Story Siren

Mooched:

One Last Wish by Lurlene McDaniels-Three letters. Three last wishes. Three unforgettable novels--"Mother, Help Me Live, Let Him Live" and "Sixteen and Dying"--in one keepsake edition. Published to coincide with Lurlene McDaniel's first hardcover, "Starry, Starry Night".

Gossip Girl by Cecily von Ziegesar- Welcome to New York City's Upper East Side, where my friends and I live, go to school, play, and sleep--sometimes with each other.

S is back from boarding school, and if we aren't careful, she's going to win over our teachers, wear that dress we couldn't fit into, steal our boyfriends' hearts, and basically ruin our lives in a major way. I'll be watching closely...



You know you love me,

gossip girl 



Around the World Tours:

Princess for Hire by Lindsey Leavitt-When a well-dressed woman steps out of a bubble and wants to know if you'd like to become a substitute princess, do you


A) run

B) faint

C) say yes?

For Desi Bascomb, who's been longing for some glamour in her Idaho life, the choice is a definite C). Desi has a rare ability: with the help of "Royal Rouge," she can temporarily transform into the exact look-alike of any princess who needs her subbing services. Dream come true, right?

Well, Desi soon discovers that subbing involves a lot more than wearing a tiara and waving at cameras.... In this winning debut, one girl's dream of glamour transforms into the desire to make a positive impact. And an impact Desi makes, one royal fiasco at a time.
 

That's all I got this week.

What did you get?

Queen of Secrets

Queen of Secrets by Jenny Meyerhoff
rating 8/10

Fifteen-year-old Essie Green cannot believe her luck when Austin King asks her out. He is the captain of the football team and the hottest guy at Pershing High School. Unfortunately, as their relationship heats up, so does a rivalry between Austin’s best friend Harrison and Essie’s estranged cousin Micah, an observant Jew. Essie is forced to decide where her loyalties lie. With a family member she barely knows, or the boy she’s beginning to love?

I don't know what I was expecting with Queen of Secrets, but it sure wasn't this, and that's a good thing. It was a very cute, relatable story with lovable characters.


Essie was a sweet, kind-hearted character. Through the book she did make mistakes, but her intentions were good. She grew up so much through the book. When I was starting the book, I was expecting her to be like the cheerleaders in all the other books and stories, but she wasn't at all. She proved to be good-natured through and through.

This was such a cute story about growing up, starting high school, defending your family and falling in love.

In My Mailbox (19)

In My Mailbox is hosted by The Story Siren

Library:

~The Mark by Jen Nadol

~Dirty Little Secrets by C.J. Omololu

~In a Heartbeat by Loretta Elsworth

~Boys, Girls and Other Hazardous Materials by Rosalind Wiseman

~Need by Carrie Ryan

~Scribbler of Dreams by Mary Pearson

Around the World Tours:

~The Secret Year by Jennifer R. Hubbard

Wintergirls

Wintergirls by Laurie Halse Anderson

rating 9/10

“Dead girl walking,” the boys say in the halls.

“Tell us your secret,” the girls whisper, one toilet to another.

I am that girl.

I am the space between my thighs, daylight shining through.

I am the bones they want, wired on a porcelain frame.

Lia and Cassie are best friends, wintergirls frozen in matchstick bodies, competitors in a deadly contest to see who can be the skinniest. But what comes after size zero and size double-zero? When Cassie succumbs to the demons within, Lia feels she is being haunted by her friend’s restless spirit.


Wintergirls was a real strong and emotional read. Everything about it was very intense, and there were also some parts that were disturbing, too.


Lia was a very deep character. It broke my heart watching go through everything, and watching her self-destruction. Between the eating disorder and the cutting, it was all very agonizing and hard to handle at times.

I particularly liked the writing in this novel. This was part of what made it so powerful. It ws very comelling, and gave the book a whole new effect.

Overall, this was an exceptional novel. It was strong and powerful and Anderson did a great job, as usual, with all the issues going on in this book.

In My Mailbox (16, 17 and 18)

In My Mailbox is hosted by The Story Siren

Yes, I am 3 weeks behind. I'm not sure exactly what happened but I had a lot going on the past two weeks. So here it is, what I've gotten in the last three weeks:

Bought:

   ~Some Girls Are by Courtney Summers

   ~The Last Song y Nickolas Sparks

   ~Gone by Lisa Mcmann

Won:

   ~The Lonely Hearts Club by Elizabeth Eulberg

Borrowed:

   ~Wintergirls by Laurie Halse Anderson

   ~The Dark Divine by Bree Despian

Around the World Tours:

   ~ Queen of Secrets by Jenny Meyerhoff

So that's what I got.

What did you get?

My First Contest!

So this is my first ever contest! I asked you guys what you wanted me to give away, and, according to the poll, most everyone chose Leaving Paradise and Perfect Chemistry by Simone Elkeles. One winner will get both of these. If you'd like one but not the other, just let me know and I'll exchange for a book of your choose (within reason).

So here's the rules:

~ You must be a follower

~Only open to US and Canada (Sorry, I've kind of broke right now)
~ Ends Friday, March 5
~I will announce winner next day and the person has 48 hours to reply, or I will choose a new winner

~+5 old follower

~+3 new follower

~+2 sidebar link

~+8 add me to your blog roll

So, to enter, just click here

Good luck to all, I hope you enjoy this!