In My Mailbox (52)

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

So, I was really bad and I got 8 more books from the library this week, which I totally do not need. I am really excited about what I did get, though!

Not That Kind of Girl by Siobhan Vivian

Tricks by Ellen Hopkins

Real Live Boyfriends by E. Lockhart

See What I See by Gloria Whelan

Suite Scarlett by Maureen Johnson

Cate of the Lost Colony by Lisa M. Klein

Being Nikki by Meg Cabot

Across the Universe by Beth Revis

I've got a lot of reading to do.

What did you get this week?

Review: Vixen

Vixen
Jillian Larkin
Publisher: Delacorte Books for Young Readers

Released: December 14, 2010

Jazz . . . Booze . . . Boys . . . It’s a dangerous combination.



Every girl wants what she can’t have. Seventeen-year-old Gloria Carmody wants the flapper lifestyle—and the bobbed hair, cigarettes, and music-filled nights that go with it. Now that she’s engaged to Sebastian Grey, scion of one of Chicago’s most powerful families, Gloria’s party days are over before they’ve even begun . . . or are they?


Clara Knowles, Gloria’s goody-two-shoes cousin, has arrived to make sure the high-society wedding comes off without a hitch—but Clara isn’t as lily-white as she appears. Seems she has some dirty little secrets of her own that she’ll do anything to keep hidden. . . .


Lorraine Dyer, Gloria’s social-climbing best friend, is tired of living in Gloria’s shadow. When Lorraine’s envy spills over into desperate spite, no one is safe. And someone’s going to be very sorry. . . .

From debut author Jillian Larkin, VIXEN is the first novel in the sexy, dangerous, and ridiculously romantic new series set in the Roaring Twenties . . . when anything goes.
I love historical fiction, and the 1920's is my favorite time period. I thought Vixen was wonderful, but then again I'm a little biased because this is my favorite time.


I like the characters and their stories in this book. Well, twho of them anyway. I was a bit weary of Gloria at first, but she turned out to be my favorite. I also liked Clara, and loved uncovering her secret, though it wasn't totally a surprise. I was not a fan of Lorraine. She was really clingy and needy. Though, she did add an interesting element.

The story had more parts to it than you would think. It has love, mystery, suspense, and even a little adventure. There were things I weren't expecting, and things I was.

Vixen isn't my favorite book ever, but it is one of the better ones I've read lately. I loved the story and the language. If you're a historical fiction fan, I would check this one out.

Rating:

4 hearts

Waiting on Wednesday: The Lucky Kind

The Lucky Kind by Ayssa B. Sheinmel

High school junior Nick Brandt is intent on getting a girlfriend, and Eden Reiss is the one that he wants. He has exactly four semesters to get the girl, but when the phone rings on an otherwise ordinary Tuesday night, life for Nick and his parents will never be the same. What had been a seemingly idyllic home life has become something else entirely. But with this shake-up comes a newfound confidence for Nick; he's become a bolder version of himself, no longer afraid to question his parents, and no longer afraid to talk to Eden.

Alyssa B. Sheinmel has written a powerfully gripping story about family secrets, falling in love, and finding luck in unexpected--and sometimes unwelcome—circumstances.

The main reason I want to read this is because I loved Sheinmel's debut novel, The Beautiful Between. I loved the writing, and this one looks just as interesting and good.

Review: Delirium

Delirium
Lauren Oliver
Publisher: HarperTeen
Release Date: February 1, 2011

Before scientists found the cure, people thought love was a good thing. They didn’t understand that once love - the deliria - blooms in your blood, there is no escaping its hold. Things are different now. Scientists are able to eradicate love, and the governments demands that all citizens receive the cure upon turning eighteen. Lena Holoway has always looked forward to the day when she’ll be cured. A life without love is a life without pain: safe, measured, predictable, and happy.



But with ninety-five days left until her treatment, Lena does the unthinkable: She falls in love.

So, just like everyone else, I enjoyed Lauren Oliver's Before I Fall, and was anxious to see how Delirium turned out. Again, Oliver has created an original and creative story. She takes us into a world where love is considered a disiese in which everyone gets cured of at the age of eighteen.


Lena is counting down the days until she will be cured. After her mother committed suicide becasue she wasn't cured, Lena believes the only way she will ever be happy is when she's cured. But of course, once she meets Alex, she begins to question the rules and laws.

I enjoy dystopian novels quite a bit, and I thought the world in Delirium was done well. It's definitaly an interesting idea, and one that hasn't been done before. And while it's not the most well-done dystopian novel I've read, I enjoyed it. The story was easy to follow and fast-paced.

Dilirium is a read that you won't want to miss. I love the characters, and could not put it down. And the ending! The only reason to wait to read this would be to wait until closer to when the next one comes out, because you won't be able to wait.

rating:

3.5 Hearts

In My Mailbox (51)

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

Traded with Katie at Sophistikatied Reviews:

Slice of Cherry by Dia Reeves

Wither by Lauren Destefano

A Field Guide for Heartbreakers by Kristen Tracey

Library:

Shadowspell by Jenna Black

Deadly Little Games by Laurie Faria Stolarz

All You Get is Me by Yvonne Prinz

The Other Side of Dark by Sarah Smith 

Borrowed from a friend:

Love, Love, Love by Deborah Reber and Caroline Goode

Review: Angelfire

Angelfire 
Courtney Allison Moulton
HarperCollins / Katherine Tegen Books

Release Date: February 15, 2011

When seventeen-year-old Ellie starts seeing reapers - monstrous creatures who devour humans and send their souls to Hell - she finds herself on the front lines of a supernatural war between archangels and the Fallen and faced with the possible destruction of her soul.



A mysterious boy named Will reveals she is the reincarnation of an ancient warrior, the only one capable of wielding swords of angelfire to fight the reapers, and he is an immortal sworn to protect her in battle. Now that Ellie's powers have been awakened, a powerful reaper called Bastian has come forward to challenge her. He has employed a fierce assassin to eliminate her - an assassin who has already killed her once.


While balancing her dwindling social life and reaper-hunting duties, she and Will discover Bastian is searching for a dormant creature believed to be a true soul reaper. Bastian plans to use this weapon to ignite the End of Days and to destroy Ellie's soul, ending her rebirth cycle forever. Now, she must face an army of Bastian's most frightening reapers, prevent the soul reaper from consuming her soul, and uncover the secrets of her past lives - including truths that may be too frightening to remember.

I absolutely loved Angelfire. When I was about to start it, I didn't think I'd like it as much. Sure, I'd read the reviews saying it was amazing, but I wasn't sure this book was for me. I was totally wrong, though. This is one of those rare books that I don't have one thing to complain about.


Ellie was a true and relatable girl. She isn't like most YA characters. She wasn't a snot or whiny or anything that bothers me to no end in MCs these days. No. IN fact, I thought she was pretty bad ass. Any other girl would have just whined and throw a pity party for themselves, but she didn't. Ellie handled it very well, and I appreciated.
I also loved Will. As far as main love interests go, he gets a 10 on the swoonness scale. (Yes, there is such a thing!) He was so sweet and always there for Ellie.

The story is very original. I've never seen anything like it before. I love the whole idea of angelfire, and I liked that Ellie fought reapers. They're not your typical bad guys. This story was well played out.

So, if you couldn't tell already, I'll definitely be recommending this book to everyone. It was a fabulous debut and I can't wait for the sequel!

Rating:

5/5 hearts

Review: Unearthly

Unearthly
Cynthia Hand
Publisher: HarperTeen

Release Date: January 4, 2011

In the beginning, there's a boy standing in the trees . . . .


Clara Gardner has recently learned that she's part angel. Having angel blood run through her veins not only makes her smarter, stronger, and faster than humans (a word, she realizes, that no longer applies to her), but it means she has a purpose, something she was put on this earth to do. Figuring out what that is, though, isn't easy.


Her visions of a raging forest fire and an alluring stranger lead her to a new school in a new town. When she meets Christian, who turns out to be the boy of her dreams (literally), everything seems to fall into place—and out of place at the same time. Because there's another guy, Tucker, who appeals to Clara's less angelic side.


As Clara tries to find her way in a world she no longer understands, she encounters unseen dangers and choices she never thought she'd have to make—between honesty and deceit, love and duty, good and evil. When the fire from her vision finally ignites, will Clara be ready to face her destiny?


I've been really excited to read Unearthly. When I finally got the opportunity, I was ecstatic. I did really enjoy it. It wasn't perfect, but it was good and very addicting.


Let me just say I am a huge angels fan. There aren't many books that do angels well, but this one was good. I love the aspects of angels in this one, such as that they have a purpose, or the Glory that they have.

I loved Clara. She was very real, even though she was an angel. I have no experience going through what she's going through, but I could relate to her. She was sweet and kind.

Those of you who read the description and thought "oh, no, not another love triangle," don't be too quick to skip this one. It's not really a love triangle. Well, it is but not in the way you think. It's more of a love vs. duty than just between two guys. It was a nice touch.

If I had anything bad to say about this it would be the ending. I mean, okay, there's a difference between a cliff-hanger and just no resolution. While I enjoy a good cliff-hanger sometimes, it seemed like nothing in this book was resolved. It was bothersome, but it makes me want to read the next book even more!

Uneathly was a very addicting read. Once I started I couldn't stop. I highly recommend this one.

In My Mailbox (50)

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

So before I show you what I got this week, I just wanted to share some news with you! This isn't book related, so if that's all you care about skip to below.

So, at my high school, twice a year we have this thing called E-week, where for one whole week we stop all classes and take an elective, any we want that they offer. For this passed E-week (the first week back from winter break), I took a cooking class. Now I love cooking, so I thought it was a lot of fun.

On the last day (thursday), we had a cook-off, Iron Chef style, and my group won! I was so excited about it, I usually never win those sort of things! The whole things was a lot of fun.

So on to book related things.

Fall for Anything by Courtney Summers (bought)

Vixen by Jillian Larkin (borrowed from a friend)

Paranormalcy by Kiersten White (borrowed from a friend)