Thursday, December 23, 2010

Music - Kristinia DeBarge - Goodbye






Song of the Week{6}


This is a song AND video I think deserves much more recognition. It has a fair amount of views on Youtube but knowing they're probably some of you who forgot or just don't know about Kristinia DeBarge, I hope I can give you a new song to enjoy this week :)

I present to you, the classic, Goodbye by Kristinia DeBarge...



***

Wednesday, December 22, 2010

Waiting on Wednesday 12.22.10








"Waiting on Wednesday" is a weekly meme hosted by Breaking The Spine which welcomes books that we are anxiously waiting for.



Red by Kait Nolan




I was thirteen when I found out why my mother left me.

The letter that came on my birthday that year was such a shock to my poor dad. Given its contents, if I hadn’t been the one to snag the mail that day, I doubt he would ever have let me see it.

Given how he looks at me now—as if his beloved daughter has been replaced by a monster, one that can’t be evicted from the house because it still bears her face—I wish I hadn’t let him see it.

But at thirteen I couldn’t wrap my brain around the enormity of what my mother was imparting. I thought it was a joke. Dad thought she’d gone mad. But everything has unfolded so much as she predicted that it’s hard to ignore the fact that she could be right. That I am a monster, just waiting for the proper catalyst to be unleashed.

That I am cursed as she was.

(Coming Summer of 2011)

I'm loving this already. This book Sounds like it's going to be a thrill to read!

Click Here for Goodreads link
Click Here for the author's website and a sneak peak (first chapter) of Red by Kait Nolan

Cover Reveal! The Iron Quill by Shelena Shorts







The cover of the third book (The Iron Quill) of the pace series by Shelena Shorts has been revealed. I think it's beautiful!
Expected publication: August 1st 2011 by Lands Atlantic Publishing, LLC


About the Author:

Shelena Shorts graduated from George Mason University with a Bachelor of Arts degree in English and a Master’s degree in Education. Her passion for igniting a spark in teens led her to teach American literature for six years in traditional and online classrooms. When she’s not interacting with students in all possible realms, she’s writing novels geared toward the wants of young adults and the “young at heart.” She currently lives in Virginia with her husband and three young children.








Her Works:


The Pace (The Pace Series, book 1) (Click here for my Review)
The Broken Lake (The Pace Series, Book 2) (Click here for my Review)
The Iron Quill (The Pace Series, Book 3) (Click here for Goodreads Link)

Tuesday, December 21, 2010

Return To Paradise by Simone Elkeles Review






Published: September 1st 2010 by Flux
Paperback, 302 pages

Book Series: Leaving Paradise, Book 2

(Click here for review of book one of the series, Leaving Paradise)

Book Description:

Caleb Becker left Paradise eight months ago, taking with him the secret he promised to take to his grave. If the truth got out, it would ruin everything.

Maggie Armstrong tried to be strong after Caleb broke her heart and disappeared. Somehow, she managed to move on. She’s determined to make a new life for herself.

But then Caleb and Maggie are forced together on a summer trip. They try ignoring their passion for each other, but buried feelings resurface. Caleb must face the truth about the night of Maggie’s accident, or the secret that destroyed their relationship will forever stand between them.

Review:

I literally can't get enough of Simone Elkeles books. It's almost like an addiction!

Caleb and Maggie's relationship is one I can't forget because I'd never expect such a romance in a teen book, to me it was inspirational. When they're stuck in a summer stumble, we meet a few other characters, all who really made this book almost better than the first. And like most of Elkeles book, this story felt real...

Something I hadn't expected was the humor. I mean it wasn't just a few chuckles here and there...it was laugh out loud HILARIOUS!

The sequel, if you've read Leaving Paradise, is a must read...regardless on whether you thought Leaving Paradise was good or just plain awesome! Have yourself some hot romance, fun dialog and wicked humor. Definitely recommended.

5/5




Book 1 : Leaving Paradise



Saturday, December 18, 2010

The Broken Lake by Shelena Shorts (mini review)






Published: August 19th 2010 by Lands Atlantic Publishing, LLC
Paperback, 304 pages
Book Series: The Pace, Book 2

Click here for Book 1, The Pace Review

Summary:


In the aftermath of Sophie's ordeal, Weston will make some uncharacteristic decisions to distance himself from the past in an attempt to change the future.
But, while venturing into the improbable, the present sneaks up in a chilling way that will lead to Wes' unexpected submission. Suddenly, Sophie will find herself watching as both his immortal secret and his own existence are threatened.
Continuously intriguing, The Broken Lake takes readers to a place where eternal bonds confront a division that is sure to leave everyone wondering whom they can trust.


Review:

Well this was a disappointment. The book was pointless if not painfully repetitive. It was like one long chapter with none or too many boring details.

I did like a few parts of the book thou, some scenes and dialog reminded me of how much I loved Book one, The Pace by author Shelena Shorts but...


I wish I hadn't disliked it so much because honestly, I couldn't find a reason to like the constant fluff-kisses and typical conversations this book offered. There was barely any "wow" to it.


2/5

Wednesday, December 15, 2010

Waiting on Wednesday 12.15.10






"Waiting on Wednesday" is a weekly meme hosted by Breaking The Spine which welcomes books that we are anxiously waiting for.

Angel Creek by Sally Rippin




In her new falling-down home, in her new street, in her new suburb, Jelly waits for high school to begin. She can only feel happy up in the branches of the old apricot tree and by the creek at the back of the house. One night, Jelly and her cousins spot something in the creek’s dark waters. At first they think it’s a bird, but it isn’t…it’s a baby angel with a broken wing. And they decide to keep it.

But soon things start to go wrong, and Jelly discovers that you can’t just take something from where it belongs and expect that it won’t be missed.

Sally Rippin’s Angel Creek is a book about growing up: being brave and selfish and tough and scared. It’s a book about an angel. But not the sweet variety. It’s a book about the things that change and the things that always stay the same.

There's just something about the summary that I find alluring.

Goodreads Link

Tuesday, December 14, 2010

Teaser Tuesday (1)








Teaser Tuesday is a weekly meme hosted by
Should be Reading in which anyone can join to share a quote or two sentences from a book they are currently reading.

.

This week I'm reading The Broken Lake by Shelena Shorts. Book 2 of The Pace Series

~*~
"Oh he'll be okay."
I forced a smile. "you're right."
Only she wasn't. This was not okay. Wes spent his life trying not to noticed. He was literally the one and only walking medical phenomenon, and if people found out who he truly was, society would go cuckoo for Cocoa Puffs....

~*~




Monday, December 13, 2010

Update to Giveaway because YOUR awesome.







125 followers? It may not be much but it feels like just yesterday I was putting up my first book review on my blog. I'm so happy you guys have been spreading the love. Love should be spread :)


So Click on the Picture Below for the International Kindness Giveaway. It's Big and Better because like it says up top. You guys are Awesome!





Sunday, December 12, 2010

Seek Out Sunday (2)





This feature is for fun. Every Sunday, I'll be posting about books that I've searched with recent hype. The purpose? To share our opinions and maybe help each other out, well, me in this case...just wondering if these books are worth it :/
I think too much!

Title: Matched
Author: Ally Condie
Book Series: Matched, Book 1
Genre/keywords: Young Adult, Romance, Dystopia, Science Fiction, Adventure

Hover mouse here for Book Description

What I've heard...

Pros: For the most part I hear this is a great dystopian novel. A friend of mine said he loves the challenge it takes to read this because a reader immediately becomes captivated by the story line therefore unable to keep their eyes off the pages. Sounds good to me but...

Cons: I also found a lot of people saying that it's similar to this and that. Stories like The Hunger Games, The Giver, Uglies...classics and respected books are risky to compare with and so I'm afraid I wont accept Matched for that very reason.


~*~

Title: The Freak Observer
Author:
Blythe Woolston
Genre/keywords : grief, young adult, dysfunctional family

Hover mouse here for Book Description

What I've Heard...

Pros: A friend of mine who loved it said it's clever and captures the reader from the start. When I asked her about the flow of the book, she said it was best in the beginning and middle. Out of fear, I didn't want to ask about the ending. But as for the clever writing and potential of holding the readers attention...let's just say I eat the stuff up.

Cons: After reading some upsetting reviews, a few have mentioned the characters in the story coming off as weak and unlikable. When there's no character to root for, what else is there to care for? Others have said it was unrealistic too.








Tyger Tyger by Kersten Hamilton Review







Published: November 15th 2010 by Clarion Books
Hardcover, 322 pages
Book Series: Goblin Wars, Book 1

Book Description:
Teagan Wylltson's best friend, Abby, dreams that horrifying creatures--goblins, shape-shifters, and beings of unearthly beauty but terrible cruelty--are hunting Teagan. Abby is always coming up with crazy stuff, though, so Teagan isn't worried. Her life isn't in danger. In fact, it's perfect. She's on track for a college scholarship. She has a great job. She's focused on school, work, and her future. No boys, no heartaches, no problems.

Until Finn Mac Cumhaill arrives. Finn's a bit on the unearthly beautiful side himself. He has a killer accent and a knee-weakening smile. And either he's crazy or he's been haunting Abby's dreams, because he's talking about goblins, too . . . and about being The Mac Cumhaill, born to fight all goblin-kind. Finn knows a thing or two about fighting. Which is a very good thing, because this time, Abby's right. The goblins are coming.


Favor Quote...

"...Did God create them evil?"

"Of course not." Mamieo stopped to pick up a piece of blue bleach glass. "Why would the Almighty do such a wicked thing? All creatures," she said when they walked on, "from the moment they exist, set about becoming through their own free will. Some are becoming more of what they were meant to be, and some becoming less..."

Review:

When I picked up this book...actually when I first saw the cover of Tyger Tyger I had hoped to be engaged into a vivid world filled with mythical creatures, adventurous characters and imaginative settings. Kersten Hamilton has done just that.

The beginning of the story starts with Teagan and her love for animals. Even thou the book wasn't love at first read, I had a lot of respect for the author's writing which made made it hard for me to keep my eyes off the pages. Come to think of it, the characters are what blew my mind away first. For a story dealing with goblins and Irish Mythology, Teagan and the others seemed so real. Abby, Teagan's friend, was so likable and hilarious...a true friend.
Irish Traveler Finn Mac Cumhaill is one I couldn't get enough of either, he was smart, charming and the farthest thing from a cliche. I loved his accent, I even tried my best to portray the way he'd talk.

Basically it's a war against the Goblins and disgusting as they are, I couldn't help but love the ugly bad guys. Tyger Tyger only got more fascinating as I read but that actually became a small problem for me...


By the middle-end of the book I started to become more demanding but knew I'd have to wait for the sequels. The story had a few drags here and there but it was too good to consider it a bore. In all, kersten Hamilton has created a fun-enchanting read. I can't wait for more Finn, Teagan, and Abby...even the Goblins.


4/5




Music: BoA- I did it for Love







Song of the Week {5}

First heard this a year ago in High School and since then my respect for BoA has grown. The song is awesome. Video even better and still to this day I have not seen a dancer like her.
Good stuff.

BoA - I did it for Love



BoA - Eat You Up (UK version)


Saturday, December 11, 2010

In My Mailbox {3}







A weakly meme started by The Story Siren which features books we've received this week.





For Review:
Edge of Escape by Debra Chapoton
A World I Never Made by James LePore

From the Library:
Break by Hannah Moskowitz
Hush: An Irish Princess' Tale by Donna Jo Napoli

Bought:
Don't Tell (Dark Secrets #2) by Elizabeth Chandler

~*~

*Pictures lead to Goodreads Links

Edge of Escape by Debra Chapoton

EDGE OF ESCAPE reveals the fractured heart of Eddie, an emotionally impaired 18-year-old who has spent most of his school years in special education classes. Placed there by an over protective mother who also blames her son for his unintentional part in his father's death, Eddie is kept separated from normal student interactions. Eddie's guilt and his place among the unaccepted serve to keep him invisible to the rest of the students, especially the popular ones. His uncontainable obsession for the popular Rebecca compels him to devise a plan to pull her into his world and win her over. What should have been appropriate advances become, for Rebecca, the terror of stalking and abduction. She wakes up trapped, she escapes, and then she makes a wrong choice and is trapped again. Throughout her ordeal as she escapes again and again, there are flashbacks into both Rebecca's and Eddie's lives and how those lives have been intersecting all through their school years. If she falls for the fragile spirit who stalks her, does love erase evil intent? If she fails to see the innocent infatuation for what it is, will she be responsible for the inevitable tragedy that foreshadows their tangled fate?

~*~

A World I Never Made by James LePore

A World I Never Made is the story of Megan Nolan, a beautiful and brilliant but cynical young writer who fakes her suicide in order to escape from an equally handsome and brilliant Saudi lover who she discovers is a terrorist mastermind. When her father, Pat, a recently retired Connecticut contractor, estranged from his daughter for many years, discovers the ploy, he commences, with the help of a lovely but oddly sad French detective named Catherine Lawrence, on a search that leads him inexorably into the dark world of terrorism, espionage and counter-espionage where he ultimately comes face to face with evil, with his lost daughter and with himself.



~*~
Break by Hannah Moskowitz

Jonah is on a mission to break every bone in his body. Everyone knows that broken bones grow back stronger than they were before. And Jonah wants to be stronger—needs to be stronger—because everything around him is falling apart. Breaking, and then healing, is Jonah’s only way to cope with the stresses of home, girls, and the world on his shoulders.

When Jonah's self-destructive spiral accelerates and he hits rock bottom, will he find true strength or surrender to his breaking point?






~*~

Hush: An Irish Princess' Tale by Donna Jo Napoli

Melkorka is a princess, the first daughter of a magnificent kingdom in mediæval Ireland -- but all of this is lost the day she is kidnapped and taken aboard a marauding slave ship. Thrown into a world that she has never known, alongside people that her former country's laws regarded as less than human, Melkorka is forced to learn quickly how to survive. Taking a vow of silence, however, she finds herself an object of fascination to her captors and masters, and soon realizes that any power, no matter how little, can make a difference.






~*~

Don't Tell (Dark Secrets #2) by Elizabeth Chandler

What really happened to Mother?

Lauren has come home seven years after her famous mother's mysterious drowning. They said it was an accident, but the tabloids screamed murder. Her father, a senator, hadn't protected her. Aunt Jule was her only refuge, the beloved godmother she's returning to see.

Lauren stops at Wisteria's annual street festival and meets Nick, a tease, a flirt, and a childhood playmate. The day is almost perfect -- until she realizes she's being watched.

Arriving at Aunt Jule's, Lauren is shocked at the decay of the riverfront home. Aunt Jule seems angry and defensive, even as she fusses over Lauren at her daughter Holly's expense. Nora, Jule's other daughter, is silent and spooky, and stares at Lauren with frightening intensity. Meanwhile, Nick has acted as if he wants to be more than Lauren's friend. So why is he suddenly glued to Holly and almost hostile to Lauren? How can she trust him -- especially now that a series of nasty "accidents" makes Lauren realize that somebody wants her dead? This time, there's no place to run.


Random Magic Re-imagining the cover Contest







La Femme Readers has another Re-Cover contest that I've decided to enter in. Open only to the U.S and Canada.

Deadline to enter: Dec 17 2010
For compete rules, how you can enter and prizes you could win: Click Here

Here's the Official Cover:



Book Description:

When absent-minded Professor Random misplaces the main character from Alice in Wonderland, young Henry Witherspoon must book-jump to fetch Alice before chaos theory kicks in and the world vanishes. Along the way he meets Winnie Flapjack, a wit-cracking doodle witch with nothing to her name but a magic feather and a plan. Such as it is. Henry and Winnie brave the Dark Queen, whatwolves, pirates, Struths, and fluttersmoths, Priscilla and Charybdis, obnoxiously cheerful vampires, Baron Samedi, a nine-dimensional cat, and one perpetually inebriated Muse to rescue Alice and save the world by tea time.

Here is my re-creation of the cover:


Vote for Me! I've been chosen as a Fan Art Finalist!




I've been chosen along with 9 other talented, creative fans of Kimberly Derting to win a huge Holiday Giveaway that includes The body Finder, Desires of the Dead and swag: all of which are signed.


I can't say that I don't have the thoughts to bribe you guys in to voting for me *cough*number 4*cough* but I really hope you guys can increase my votes like the lovely followers you are!

The link to vote is here.

I'll love you guys for this!

x


Friday, December 10, 2010

One Big Epic Contest. Must Enter!!!






This is probably the biggest contest I've seen in all my days of blogging. Why so huge? Well because it features ONE HUNDRED prizes!


...yeah, I know. AWESOME!

And it Ends DECEMBER 20, 2010 so hurry!

From http://bethrevis.blogspot.com/2010/12/epic-contest-of-epic.html

ONE HUNDRED PRIZES



Thanks to Penguin/Razorbill (have I mentioned I love them?), I'm able to offer up ONE HUNDRED PRIZES for this contest!! And since this IS the season of giving and all that, the prizes are going to come with a twist...I will not be announcing any winners. The prizes will just be shipped off, and hopefully Santa your mailman will put it in your mail box.

Wanna know what the prizes are?

Let's start with the smallest and go up.

67 Mini Swag Packs
Including:
Signed AtU Bookmark
Signed AtU Bookplate
Postcard

15 Button Swag Packs
Including:
Pin-button featuring AtU
Signed AtU Bookmark
Signed AtU Bookplate
Postcard

Those are the smaller prizes. But you know it'll only get bigger *g*

15 ARC Packs
Including:
Signed ARC
Set of three pin-buttons (1 large, 2 mini)
Set of Bookmarks featuring
fellow debut 2011 authors (many signed)
Signed AtU Bookmark
Signed AtU Bookplate
Postcard





2 ARC & Watch Packs
Including:
Signed ARC
A super-rare AtU Watch
Set of six pin-buttons (one of each design & size)
Set of Bookmarks featuring
fellow debut 2011 authors (many signed)
Signed AtU Bookmark
Signed AtU Bookplate
Postcard





Added into as many of the prize packs as I can stuff in them are collections of bookmarks from fellow debut 2011 authors, many of which are signed. The top three prizes are getting one of each; the rest are getting divvied up wherever I can squeeze them into the packaging. Pictured below are most, but there will be a few more surprises along the way...



To win any of the 99 above prizes, all you have to do is enter your address into the form below. I will pick a random 99 people (open internationally), pop their address on the envelope, and drop it in the mail. By the end of the month, you may open your mailbox and find a neat surprise waiting for you! I'll also be mailing out all the left-over postcards I have until I run out of postcards or funds for postage...

Now, a contest isn't a contest without a big-huge-amazing grand prize, is it?

The Big-Huge-Amazing Grand Prize
Including:
Signed Hard Cover, First Edition of AtU
A super-rare AtU Watch
Set of six pin-buttons (three designs, two sizes)
Set of Bookmarks featuring
fellow debut 2011 authors (many signed)
Giftbag of swag I'm planning on
giving out at my launch party in January
Signed AtU Bookmark
Signed AtU Bookplate
Postcard




Crazy Good! For entry and more information, Click here or visit the link up top.

Over the Moon by Diane Daniels Review






Published: July 27th 2010 by Tate Publishing

Paperback, 256 pages


Book Description:

When seventeen-year-old Tiana moves to Hurricane, Utah, her comfortable world is turned upside down as she traverses the rough waters of adjusting to a small town and new school. Her father insists they were supposed to move here for some unknown, important purpose, and the voice in her head tells her not to argue. After resigning herself to being a miserable outcast, Tiana finds that she is not only accepted by most of the students at her new high school but is also the recipient of unwelcome attention from the opposite sex.

But then she meets the mysterious Andrew Martin and is soon Over the Moon crazy about him. Andrew seems to be the perfect boyfriend: protective, tender, good with her parents, and a fabulous kisser. But he also has a few unusual qualities: an intuitiveness that borders on mind reading, a touch that seems to heal, and almost superhuman strength. Tiana marvels at his talents but doesn't seriously consider the implications until she can no longer ignore the clues: Andrew does not belong on Earth. When Andrew admits his true identity, Tiana enters a world previously unknown to her and is plunged into mortal danger as it is Andrew's sworn duty to combat evil, extraterrestrial villains who wish to invade Earth and enslave mankind.

Review:

The author might as well have used all the names mentioned in Twilight, and I mean all of them. And what the heck, why not throw in the setting in there too.

Over the moon had a lot potential. There were times in the book where I was engrossed in learning all about the extraterrestrial and Andrew Martins' world. It was the only part of the story that was thought provoked. I could care less about Tiana...the only dialog that came from her was,


"The bell rang, and he was gone. How did he manage to get out of the room so fast? Was he trying to avoid me...?"

"...I feel so stupid. I was so angry at Jordan. He attacked me in a cave. I ran away..."

The passion in the novel was all to heard of by many of Twilight read-a-likes. However there were a few olden days love gestures that I liked but not enough to save the story in all. By the end of the book, I envisioned the author taking more time to make this a much more spectacular, unique read and thought...WOW, this could have been brilliant.


Too bad really. The best thing about this book was the cover art.


2/5

Thursday, December 9, 2010

How to ruin my Teenage Life by Simone Elkeles Review

Published: June 1st 2007 by Flux
Paperback, 281 pages
Book Series: How to Ruin, Book 2

{Review for Book 1: How to ruin my Summer Vacation}

EVERYTHING in sixteen-year-old Amy Nelson Barak's life is going wrong! Her mom got married and moved to the suburbs, and now they are going to have a baby. Amy moves in with her dad in Chicago and signs him up for an online dating service. His first four dates are that night . . .

What else? Her dog Mutt impregnated her grumpy neighbor's prized poodle, so Amy will actually have to get a part-time job to pay for half the veterinary bill. And there's this totally annoying boy, Nathan Rubin, who just moved into her apartment building. Luckily, Amy has a cute boyfriend named Avi. Only he's more like a non-boyfriend considering Avi is in the Israeli army for the next three years.

What's a girl to do when everyone is conspiring to ruin her life?


Favor' Quote...

"You know what your problem is?" I ask him.

"Yes. I have a daughter who insists she knows everything."

"That's not your problem, Aba. That's your blessing."

Review:

This is the second book to the ruin series by Simone Elkeles. Now, I'm gonna be honest, this book was a little frustrating in the beginning...

Come on, Avi was no where in sight! Can ya blame me? Anyway, towards the middle and especially the end of the book, it got really hot. However, prior to Avi's return, I got a lot of laughs and fists in the air so surely, it was worth it from beginning to end.

Amy, who's back home in Chicago, is feeling more strained than ever. As if Avi's non presence until the summer isn't enough, her friends and family seem the least bit helpful in her love-sick situation. And Nathan, the dorky but mysterious new neighbor, seems to not only remind Amy of her "non-boyfriend" Avi, but might be intriguing enough to make her do something stupid. For reasons she doesn't know.

Hmm, what should Amy do indeed.

I'll admit, parts of the books were predictable but it was those kind of scenes I rooted for most. In general this book was really fun and entertaining. So thanks again Simone. Having such a unique way with words and ideas for young adult fans, it makes it hard, for me atleast, to dislike any of Elkeles books.

4/5




Other books from the "how to Ruin" series:

~How to ruin my Summer Vacation (Book 1)
~How to ruin my Boyfriends Reputation(Book 3)













*Ruined (Book 1,2, and 3)

(3) Follow Friday (3) Blog Hop



Book Blogger Hop


The Blog hop is a way to meet new book bloggers and share what they've got featured in their sites. I like the idea of supporting fellow readers, hurray for Blog Hops! Hosted by Crazy-for-Books

"What is the thing you like most about reading book blogs? Is it the reviews, author guest posts, articles, giveaways, or something else entirely?"

The varieties of memes and reviews on a blog. I like to see the old stuff(IMM) and something new the blogger has thought up (different kinds of features and such).

~*~




Here's a feature for book bloggers, such as myself *smiles*, who want to spread their joy of book blogging! There's even a weekly blog feature that anyone can sign up for so hurray for Follow Friday! Hosted by Parajunkee Blog

For more information and entry head to http://www.parajunkee.com/


Do you have an under-noticed author that you think we should all know about?



Tabitha Suzuma for her book Forbidden. It's a book I think for mature readers. The book can get a reader really emotional. Had a pretty amazing affect on me. She's quite known but I like to promote her book as much as possible. She has unbelievable talent. To find out more Click here for the book description and my review.

Now another answer would be Never After by Dan Elconin.



His book is not too well known but I thought it was a great book. A re-telling of Peter Man in the coolest way possible.

It was so much fun to read. Lot a laughs, good bit of romance and fist pump action/drama.

If you'd like to see my review. You can Click Here.

Wednesday, December 8, 2010

How to Ruin a Summer Vacation by Simone Elkeles Review





Published: October 1st 2006 by Flux

Paperback, 234 pages
Book Series: How to Ruin, Book 1


Book Description:

Moshav? What’s a moshav? Is it “shopping mall” in Hebrew? I mean, from what Jessica was telling me, Israeli stores have the latest fashions from Europe. That black dress Jessica has is really awesome. I know I’d be selling out if I go with the Sperm Donor to a mall, but I keep thinking about all the great stuff I could bring back home.

Unfortunately for 16-year-old Amy Nelson, “moshav” is not Hebrew for “shopping mall.” Not even close. Think goats, not Gucci.

Going to Israel with her estranged Israeli father is the last thing Amy wants to do this summer. She’s got a serious grudge against her dad, a.k.a. “Sperm Donor,” for showing up so rarely in her life. Now he’s dragging her to a war zone to meet a family she’s never known, where she’ll probably be drafted into the army. At the very least, she’ll be stuck in a house with no AC and only one bathroom for seven people all summer—no best friend, no boyfriend, no shopping, no cell phone…

Goodbye pride—hello Israel.

Review:

I'm giving this book a "don't judge a book by it's cover" stamp. Nice and bold so everyone can see.

The setting of this book is Jerusalem, which for me makes this an even more interesting read because I'm Palestinian and know the country and it's people fairly well. The characters are, as usual in Elkeles books, fascinating! Amy, who's 16, isn't so much in control as she'd like to be. Her dad is living in Israel and so when she is sent there by her mom, away from her best friend and "boyfriend",stubbornness gets the best of her.


She's half Jewish but doesn't consider that side of her heritage or appreciate much until she truly sees Israel and meets Avi, an Israel hunk who I'd love to meet. Amy struggles with her misfortune and it doesn't help when a few people close by can't stand her as much as she can't stand the smell of goats in the air. For one, Avi and Amy can't stand one another but as much as this sounds cliche, they soon start to fall for each other. For reasons that are inspiring. Something else that was a general inspiration was the relationship between Avi and a Muslim boy, Tarik. I loved how that scene went.

I can't stress the admiration I have for Simone's stories enough. Her style in writing is so readable and unforgettable. I could never compare Elkeles or her books because they're so different, she always does her own thing.

Although not my favorite from this author because of the few times I rolled my eyes at Amy's obnoxiousness, I definitely recommend this book.


It's fun, loving, smile-to-yourself brilliant!


4/5








Other books from the "how to Ruin" series:


~How to Ruin My Teenage Life (Book 2)
~
How to Ruin Your Boyfriend's Reputation (Book 3)














*Ruined (Book 1,2, and 3)






Waiting on Wednesday 12.08.10






The Promises she Keeps by Erin Healy



It's her destiny to die young. The man who loves her can't live with that. Promise, a talented young vocalist with a terminal illness, is counting on fame to keep her memory alive after she dies. Porta is an aging witch and art collector in search of the goddess who will grant her immortality. When Promise inexplicably survives a series of freak accidents, Porta believes that Promise is the one she seeks. But Chase, an autistic artist who falls in love with Promise and opposes Porta, comes between the women with his mysterious visions and drawings, and plunges everyone into a flesh-and-blood confrontation over the true meaning of eternal life.

Will Publish February 8th 2011 by Thomas Nelson

I love this cover and the shades of green. It sounds like an interesting clash between the real world and a world dealing with immortality.


Goodreads Link
Amazon Link

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Tyme's End by B. R. Collins

Bibi feels out of place everywhere - everywhere that is, except for Tyme's End, the deserted house that she breaks into when she thinks nobody is nearby. There she unexpectedly meets Oliver Gardner, the owner of the house, who's just returned after ten years away. Their story and the story of Oliver's grandfather becomes inextricably entwined, linked as they are by Tyme's End itself. For Tyme's End is more than just a deserted house. It is a house that by turns can be romantic, beguiling, sinister and malevolent. It is a house that had a cruel and manipulative owner. And anybody who enters Tyme's End must prepare themselves for terror ...Part mystery, part psychological thriller, set in the present yet with forays into the past, this is a cleverly ambitious novel that makes for a compulsive and gripping read.

Will Publish January 3rd 2011 by Bloomsbury Publishing PLC

The cover is tempting and the book description for some reason to me is engaging.

Goodreads Link
Amazon UK Link

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The Sentinel Mage by Emily Gee

Her magic may be the only thing that can save a prince—and the Seven Kingdoms. In a distant corner of the Seven Kingdoms, an ancient curse festers and grows, consuming everything in its path. Only one man can break it: Harkeld of Osgaard, a prince with mage’s blood in his veins. But Prince Harkeld has a bounty on his head—and assassins at his heels. Innis is a gifted shapeshifter. Now she must do the forbidden: become a man. She must stand at Prince Harkeld’s side as his armsman, protecting and deceiving him. But the deserts of Masse are more dangerous than the assassins hunting the prince. The curse has woken deadly creatures, and the magic Prince Harkeld loathes may be the only thing standing between him and death.


Will Publish January 25th 2011 by Solaris


Sounds like a fun read. And I love that look of confidence on the cover by the female character.

Goodreads Link
Amazon Link

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The Vampire Stalker by Allison Van Diepen

What if the characters in a vampire novel left their world--and came into yours?

Amy is in love with someone who doesn't exist: Alexander Banks, the dashing hero in a popular series of vampire novels. Then one night, Amy meets a boy who bears an eerie resemblance to Alexander. In fact, he IS Alexander, who has escaped from the pages of the book and is in hot pursuit of a wicked vampire named Vigo. Together, Amy and Alexander set out to track Vigo and learn how and why Alexander crossed over. But when she and Alexander begin to fall for each other, Amy wonders if she even wants him to ever return to the realm of fiction.

Will Publish June 1st 2011 by Point

Okay, so it was the title that caught my attention...big deal :)

Goodreads Link
Amazon Link

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Siren's Storm by Lisa Papademetriou

Nothing has been the same for Will ever since what happened last summer. One day, on an ordinary sailing trip with his brother, there is a strange accident. When Will wakes up, he learns his brother has disappeared, presumed drowned. Worst of all, Will can't remember what happened—his family finds him unconscious, with no memory of the accident.

Now Will and his best friend and neighbor, Gretchen, are starting a new summer. Gretchen seems troubled—her sleepwalking habit is getting worse, and she keeps waking up closer and closer to the water. Will is drawn to Asia, the exotic new girl in town. Nobody knows where she's from—all Will knows is that her beauty and her mesmerizing voice have a powerful effect on people.

Then there is another mysterious drowning, and Will and Gretchen begin to wonder: Is Asia just another beautiful, wealthy summer resident? Or is she something entirely more sinister . . . and inhuman?

Will publish August 9th 2011 by Knopf Books for Young Readers


You guys might of heard about this one but this just caught my attention. I'm getting the shivers just by looking at the cover.


Goodreads Link
Amazon Link

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