Waiting on Wednesday (3/30)

Title: So Much Closer
Author: Susane Colosanti
Release Date: May 3

Scott Abrams is the love of Brooke’s life. He just doesn’t know it yet. So when his family moves to New York City the summer before senior year, Brooke has no choice but to follow Scott. It’s her last chance to prove to him that they’re meant to be together.

But the city is full of surprises that Brooke never expected. Ever since a painful family trauma, she’s been closed off to her family, to her friends, and even to herself. Now, inspired by the thrilling energy of the bustling and creative city around her, Brooke starts to explore her talents and become someone she never dreamed she’d be.

So what will she do when her greatest dream of love finally comes true . . . and instead, she wants something more?

Okay so it sounds like Brooke might be an obsessed stalker! Definitely interesting. But I'm assuming she'll soon realise that Scott isn't the love of her life after all!

Book Review: Odd Girl In

Title: Odd Girl In
Author: Jo Whittemore
Published: March 2011
Source: Simon & Schuster Galley Grab

Twelve-year-old Alexis "Alex" Evins is a loner, a tomboy and a first-class prankster, following in the not-so-glorious footsteps of her older twin brothers, Parker and Nick. When the Evins siblings play a prank that goes just a tad too far (resulting in setting a neighbor's sofa--and hair--on fire), their dad decides it's time for some tough love. He signs them up for an after-school program called Champs!, which guarantees that it will turn any kid into a well-rounded success. Alex, Parker and Nick all must pass the course together, or else it's off to St. Ignacius private school (aka St. Ignasty).

At Champs!, Alex encounters more than a few nemeses, including the Champs! coach, Sharon Success, mom of Alex's classmate, the totally perfect and totally annoying Emily Gold, and the ultra-competitive Chloe Stroupe.

Can the "evil Evins" actually pass this course in one piece? Or are they destined for an epic fail?

My Thoughts: If I would describe this book in one word, it would be HILARIOUS! I was laughing out loud so many times while reading this book! Alex, the main character, was spirited, outspoken and witty. And her brothers weren't that far behind her in the humor department. The Evins siblings could definitely give the Weasley siblings a run for their money!

I loved that Alex and her brothers' relationship developed as much as it did throughout the book. They learned how to trust each other, and how to work together instead of against each other. I also loved how their dad became a more present person in their lives, someone they could have fun with and learn from.

While this book is marketed as a middle grade novel, I'm sure most fans of YA will enjoy it as well. Alex, who is 12 years old, acted much smarter and older than her age.

Odd Girl In is fun and quick read (just over 2 hours. I wished it would go on for longer!) about the importance of family and frienship. If you're looking for a book to buy a young reader - look no further! I loved Odd Girl In, and I recommend it to everyone who's looking for a hilarious read with great characters!

Cover Thoughts: The cover is very fitting for the story. Alex, an uncomfortable tomboy, torned between two girly girls.

Rating: 5 of 5

In My Mailbox (week 12)

Won:



The Life and Opinions of Amy Finawitz by Laure Toffler-Corrie

It can’t get any worse for Amy Finawitz. Her best friend, Callie, has abandoned their life in New York City to stay with relatives in Kansas for the year, leaving Amy to cope with eighth grade alone. Thankfully—or not—God sends Amy a replacement friend in the form of Miss Sophia, the little old lady who lives down the hall. Miss Sophia hooks Amy into solving a decades old mystery left in a very old journal. The dynamic duo soon becomes a Terrific Triumvirate when Miss Sophia also asks her fifteen-year-old nephew, Beryl, a Lubavitch Jew, to join their little investigative team.

And if Amy thought her year couldn't get anymore random, she can add the following items to her list: Houdini’s grave, the Lower East Side Tenement Museum, cross-dressing magicians, the Metropolitan Museum of Art, crochet circles, Abraham Lincoln, a raucous rendition of Fiddler on the Roof, and a secret treasure.

To get through it all, Amy's going to need a serious Chanukah miracle.

Told in wry emails and brilliant little one-act plays, this laugh-out-loud debut novel offers quirky characters, a whimsical tour around New York City, and an appealing story about what it means to be a good friend.

Book Review: The Goddess Test

Title: The Goddess Test

Author: Aimée Carter

Release Date: April 26, 2011

Source: NetGalley

Every girl who has taken the test has died. Now it's Kate's turn.

It's always been just Kate and her mom--and now her mother is dying. Her last wish? To move back to her childhood home. So Kate's going to start at a new school with no friends, no other family and the fear her mother won't live past the fall.

Then she meets Henry. Dark. Tortured. And mesmerizing. He claims to be Hades, god of the Underworld--and if she accepts his bargain, he'll keep her mother alive while Kate tries to pass seven tests. Kate is sure he's crazy--until she sees him bring a girl back from the dead. Now saving her mother seems crazily possible. If she succeeds, she'll become Henry's future bride, and a goddess. If she fails...

My Thoughts: During the first chapters I wasn't sure if I was going to like this book or not. The writing felt a bit to simple, with too short sentences, and the story flew by very quickly. But as I read on I got really hooked by the story, and the writing didn't annoy me anymore.

The story was very captivating and smart! There are more than a few surprises ahead for both Kate, the main character, and for the reader.

Speaking of Kate, she was a very strong girl. Caring, loving and willing to sacrifice her freedom for saving other people's lives.

I don't have much knowledge in Greek mythology, but that is not required to understand the events in this book as they are well explained. I really liked Carter's take on the mythology, and how her Gods felt nicer and more human than the originals. The tests Kate was required to take was very different from how I have imagined them to be, but again, so were the Greek Gods!

The sequel to The Goddess Test is scheduled to be released in February 2012. While this book luckily didn't end on a cliffhanger, I still can't wait to read it!

Cover Thoughts: This cover is growing on me every day. And I especially appreciate the use of Greek letters in the title!

Rating: 4 of 5

Reviews by Rating

5 Stars Caine, Rachel: Glass Houses Caine, Rachel: Lord of Misrule Carriger, Gail: Soulless Clare, Cassandra: City of Glass Harvey, Alexandra: My Love Lies Bleeding / Hearts At Stake Mead, Richelle: Frostbite Mead, Richelle: Shadow Kiss Mead, Richelle: Vampire Academy Smith, L. J.: Night World No. 2 (Dark Angel, The Chosen, Soulmate) Smith, L. J.: Night World No. 3 (Huntress, Black Dawn, Witchlight) Whittemore, Jo: Odd Girl In 4.5 Stars Cabot, Meg: Insatiable Cast, P. C. and Kristin Cast: Untamed Clare, Cassandra: City of Bones Despain, Bree: The Dark Divine DeStefano, Lauren: Wither Mead, Richelle: Last Sacrifice Vincent, Rachel: My Soul To Keep Vincent, Rachel: The Reaper Weatherly, L. A.: Angel Burn 4 Stars Armstrong, Kelley: The Summoning Caine, Rachel: The Dead Girl's Dance Caine, Rachel: Midnight Alley Carter, Aimée: The Goddess Test Cast, P. C. and Kristin Cast: Betrayed Cast, P. C. and Kristin Cast: Tempted Clare, Cassandra: City of Ashes Collins, Suzanne: Mockingjay Farnsworth, Christopher: Blood Oath Fitzpatrick, Becca: Crescendo Gray, Claudia: Stargazer Hawkins, Rachel: Hex Hall Harris, Charlaine: Living Dead In Dallas Harris, Charlaine: Club Dead Harris, Charlaine: Dead To The World Harris, Charlaine: Dead As a Doornail Harvey, Alexandra: Blood Feud Laurence, Diana: How To Catch And Keep A Vampire Mancusi, Mari: Boys That Bite Mead, Richelle: Blood Promise Mead, Richelle: Spirit Bound Meyer, Stephenie: The Short Second Life of Bree Tanner Neill, Chloe: Some Girls Bite Perkins, Stephanie: Anna and the French Kiss Roundy, Shaun: This. A Vampire Cure for Forever Smith, L. J.: Night World No. 1 (Secret Vampire, Daughters of Darkness, Spellbinder) Smith, L. J.: The Vampire Diaries: The Fury Smith, L. J.: The Vampire Diaries: The Struggle White, Kiersten: Paranormalcy 3.5 Stars Caine, Rachel: Feast of Fools Cast, P.C. and Kristin Cast: Chosen Carriger, Gail: Changeless Fantaskey, Beth: Jessica's Guide To Dating On the Dark Side Gray, Claudia: Evernight Harris, Charlaine: Definitely Dead Harris, Charlaine: From Dead To Worse Smith, L. J.: The Vampire Diaries: Dark Reunion 3 Stars Caine, Rachel: Fade Out Hammond, Lauren: Love Sucks Harris, Charlaine: Dead Until Dark Harris, Charlaine: All Together Dead McGowan, Maureen: Sleeping Beauty Vampire Slayer Shan, Darren: Tunnels of Blood Smith, L. J.: The Vampire Diaries: The Awakening Summers, Tamara: Never Bite a Boy On the First Date Westerfeld, Scott: Peeps 2.5 Stars Cast, P. C. and Kristin Cast: Hunted Harris, Charlaine: A Touch of Dead Martine, Christina: Cat the Vamp 2 Stars Cast, P. C. and Kristin Cast: Marked Shan, Darren: The Vampire's Assistant 1.5 Stars Smith, L. J.: The Vampire Diaries: The Return: Nightfall 1 Star Not Rated: De la Cruz, Melissa: Blue Bloods Series Various Authors: Prom Nights From Hell

Waiting on Wednesday

Title: What Happened To Goodbye

Author: Sarah Dessen

Release Date: May 10

Since her parents' bitter divorce, McLean and her dad, a restaurant consultant, have been on the move-four towns in two years. Estranged from her mother and her mother's new family, McLean has followed her dad in leaving the unhappy past behind. And each new place gives her a chance to try out a new persona: from cheerleader to drama diva. But in Lakeview, Mclean finds herself putting down roots and making friends—in part, thanks to Dave, the most real person Mclean's ever met. Dave just may be falling in love with her, but can he see the person she really is? Does Mclean herself know?

Why do I want to read this book?

1. You can never go wrong with Sarah Dessen

2. You can never go wrong with Sarah Dessen.

3. I used to live in a place called McLean :P

Book Review: Wither

Title: Wither

Series: The Chemical Garden #1
Author: Lauren DeStefano
Release Date: March 22, 2011

What if you knew exactly when you would die?

Thanks to modern science, every human being has become a ticking genetic time bomb—males only live to age twenty-five, and females only live to age twenty. In this bleak landscape, young girls are kidnapped and forced into polygamous marriages to keep the population from dying out.

When sixteen-year-old Rhine Ellery is taken by the Gatherers to become a bride, she enters a world of wealth and privilege. Despite her husband Linden's genuine love for her, and a tenuous trust among her sister wives, Rhine has one purpose: to escape—to find her twin brother and go home.

But Rhine has more to contend with than losing her freedom. Linden's eccentric father is bent on finding an antidote to the genetic virus that is getting closer to taking his son, even if it means collecting corpses in order to test his experiments. With the help of Gabriel, a servant Rhine is growing dangerously attracted to, Rhine attempts to break free, in the limted time she has left.

My Thoughts: Wither is a mind-provoking, well-written debut novel that will stay on your mind long after you have finished reading it! It made me feel disgusted, horrified, sad, scared, and totally creeped out. And I just couldn't stop reading it!

Wither is a dystopian novel, set in a future where a third world war has desolated most of the world, and the little people that is left is suffering from a disease that makes boys die at the age of 25, and girls at only 20. Since her parents' death, Rhine and her twin brother try to take care of themselves, and avoid Gatherers. But then one day Rhine falls for a trap set by the Gatherers and is captured. Together with two other girls she is taken to a mansion to become Linden's wife.

Rhine was such a strong character. Even if she eventually grew more comfortable in her "prison", and started to care for her sister wives, and even for her husband, she never once let go of her goal to escape the mansion and reunite with her twin brother. I believe many persons in her position would experience the Stockholm syndrome, and start caring and sympathize so much with their captures, until they became comfortable with the thought of staying there forever.

My only complain about this book is that I sometimes had to remind myself that this book was set in the future, and not in the past. Some parts of it felt so old-fashioned, like having servants serving you meals, doing your hair and make-up, and sewing your clothes. I would also have wanted a better explanation of the disease, and how most of the world were destroyed. How many people survived? Is people in other countries suffering from the disease as well? I hope this will be explained more thoroughly in coming books!

Before I finish this review, I have to praise the gorgeous page design which continues the theme with circles and squares from the - equally gorgeous - cover! It really was a nice touch which added something extra to the book.

Wither releases this week, so make sure you go buy yourself a copy, or borrow it from your local library.

Rating: 4.5 of 5

Reviews by Book Title

A All Together Dead Charlaine Harris Angel Burn L. A. Weatherly Anna and the French Kiss Stephanie Perkins A Touch of Dead Charlaine Harris B Betrayed P.C. and Kristin Cast Blood Feud Alyxandra Harvey Blood Oath Christopher Farnsworth Blood Promise Richelle Mead Blue Bloods series Melissa de la Cruz Boys That Bite Mari Mancusi C Carpe Corpus Rachel Caine Cat the Vamp Christina Martine Changeless Gail Carriger Chosen P.C. and Kristin Cast City of Ashes Cassandra Clare City of Bones Cassandra Clare City of Glass Cassandra Clare Club Dead Charlaine Harris Crescendo Becca Fitzpatrick D Dark Divine, The Bree Despain Dark Reunion L. J. Smith Dead As a Doornail Charlaine Harris Dead Girl's Dance, The Rachel Caine Dead To the World Charlaine Harris Dead Until Dark Charlaine Harris Definitely Dead Charlaine Harris E Evernight Claudia Gray F Fade Out Rachel Caine Feast of Fools Rachel Caine From Dead To Worse Charlaine Harris Frostbite Richelle Mead Fury, The L. J. Smith G Glass Houses Rachel Caine Goddess Test, The Aimée Carter H Hearts At Stake Alyxandra Harvey Hex Hall Rachel Hawkins How To Catch And Keep a Vampire Diana Laurence Hunted P.C. and Kristin Cast I Insatiable Meg Cabot J Jessica's Guide To Dating on the Dark Side Beth Fantaskey K L Last Sacrifice Richelle Mead Living Dead In Dallas Charlaine Harris Lord of Misrule Rachel Caine Love Sucks Lauren Hammond M Marked P. C. and Kristin Cast Midnight Alley Rachel Caine Mockingjay Suzanne Collins My Soul To Keep Rachel Vincent My Soul To Lose Rachel Vincent My Soul To Steal Rachel Vincent N Never Bite a Boy On the First Date Tamara Summers Nightfall L. J. Smith Night World No. 1 L. J. Smith Night World No. 2 L. J. Smith Night World No. 3 L. J. Smith O Odd Girl In Jo Whittemore P Paranormalcy Kiersten White Peeps Scott Westerfeld Prom Nights From Hell Various Authors Q R Reaper, The Rachel Vincent S Shadow Kiss Richelle Mead Short Second Life of Bree Tanner, The Stephenie Meyer Sleeping Beauty: Vampire Slayer Maureen McGowan Some Girls Bite Chloe Neill Soulless Gail Carriger Spirit Bound Richelle Mead Stargazer Claudia Gray Struggle, The L. J. Smith Summoning, The Kelley Armstrong T Tempted P.C. and Kristin Cast This. A Vampire Cure For Forever Shaun Roundy Thouch of Dead, A Charlaine Harris Tunnels of Blood Darren Shan U Untamed P.C. and Kristin Cast V Vampire Academy Richelle Mead Vampire's Assistance, The Darren Shan W Wither Lauren DeStefano Wings Aprilynne Pike X Y Z

Reviews by Author's Last Name

A Armstrong, Kelley: The Summoning B C Cabot, Meg: Insatiable Caine, Rachel: Glass Houses Caine, Rachel: The Dead Girl's Dance Caine, Rachel: Midnight Alley Caine, Rachel: Feast of Fools Caine, Rachel: Lord of Misrule Caine Rachel: Carpe Corpus Caine, Rachel: Fade Out Carriger, Gail: Soulless Carriger, Gail: Changeless Carter, Aimée: The Goddess Test Cast, P. C. and Kristin Cast: Betrayed Cast, P. C. and Kristin Cast: Marked Cast, P. C. and Kristin Cast: Chosen Cast, P. C. and Kristin Cast: Untamed Cast, P. C. and Kristin Cast: Hunted Cast, P. C. and Kristin Cast: Tempted Clare, Cassandra: City of Bones Clare, Cassandra: City of Ashes Clare, Cassandra: City of Glass Collins, Suzanne: Mockingjay D De la Cruz, Melissa: Blue Bloods Series Despain, Bree: The Dark Divine DeStefano, Lauren: Wither E F Fantaskey, Beth: Jessica's Guide To Dating On the Dark Side Farnsworth, Christopher: Blood Oath Fitzpatrick, Becca: Crescendo G Gray, Claudia: Evernight Gray, Claudia: Stargazer H Hammond, Lauren: Love Sucks Harris, Charlaine: Dead Until Dark Harris, Charlaine: Living Dead in Dallas Harris, Charlaine: Club Dead Harris, Charlaine: Dead To The World Harris, Charlaine: Dead As a Doornail Harris, Charlaine: Definitely Dead Harris, Charlaine: All Together Dead Harris, Charlaine: From Dead To Worse Harris, Charlaine: A Touch of Dead Harvey, Alexandra: My Love Lies Bleeding / Hearts At Stake Harvey, Alexandra: Blood Feud Hawkins, Rachel: Hex Hall I J K L Laurence, Diana: How To Catch And Keep A Vampire M Mancusi, Mari: Boys That Bite Martine, Christina: Cat the Vamp McGowan, Maureen: Sleeping Beauty Vampire Slayer Mead, Richelle: Frostbite Mead, Richelle: Shadow Kiss Mead, Richelle: Vampire Academy Mead, Richelle: Blood Promise Mead, Richelle: Spirit Bound Mead, Richelle: Last Sacrifice Meyer, Stephenie: The Short Second Life of Bree Tanner N Neill, Chloe: Some Girls Bite O P Perkins, Stephanie: Anna and the French Kiss Pike, Aprilynne: Wings Q R Roundy, Shaun: This. A Vampire Cure for Forever S Shan, Darren: The Vampire's Assistant Shan, Darren: Tunnels of Blood Smith, L. J.: Night World No. 1 (Secret Vampire, Daughters of Darkness, Spellbinder) Smith, L. J.: Night World No. 2 (Dark Angel, The Chosen, Soulmate) Smith, L. J.: Night World No. 3 (Huntress, Black Dawn, Witchlight) Smith, L. J.: The Vampire Diaries: Dark Reunion Smith, L. J.: The Vampire Diaries: The Awakening Smith, L. J.: The Vampire Diaries: The Fury Smith, L. J.: The Vampire Diaries: The Struggle Smith, L. J.: The Vampire Diaries: The Return: Nightfall Summers, Tamara: Never Bite a Boy On the First Date T U V Various Authors: Prom Nights From Hell Vincent, Rachel: My Soul To Lose Vincent, Rachel: My Soul To Keep Vincent Rachel: My Soul To Steal Vincent, Rachel: The Reaper W Weatherly, L. A.: Angel Burn Westerfeld, Scott: Peeps White, Kiersten: Paranormalcy Whittemore, Jo: Odd Girl In X Y Z

Mini Challenge

Princess Bookie is hosting a Mini Challenge as a part of her huge Contest Craze. The challenge is to post one of your favourite love triangles, from books, movies or TV.

I've decided to post about the Damon/Elena/Stefan love triangle from The Vampire Diaries! I adore this TV series, it's so good! And I enjoy reading the books too, I'm currently reading The Return: Shadow Souls.


Let's hear it for the two hot contenders for Elena's heart, Stefan and Damon Salvatore:

Yes, to make it even more intriguing the two contenders are brothers! And that's not all. They have also competed for another young girl's heart a century ago.

How that love triangle ended? Well, they both died and became vampires...

STEFAN:

+ Safe, caring and trustworthy. Stefan always has your back, and would do anything to keep you safe. From everyone else, and from himself. He refuses to drink human blood, even if it would make him stronger.

- Well, comparing to his brother, some people would say that Stefan is a bit boring and too safe. He likes to be in the background, and won't do anything to bring attention to himself.




DAMON:

+ Fun, flirty and full of snarky comments. Damon never lets you have a dull moment. He's adventerous, dangerous and really badass. And he isn't one to say no to a challenge...or a good fight.

- Damon can't be trusted. He only cares about his own interests and might end up killing you or the people you love - without any hesitation.

My favourite?

Do you even have to ask? I'm always rooting for the bad boy, and Damon is irresistible! He is fun and flirty one moment, only to change into a dangerous beast the next - but that's just part of his appeal, isn't it?

So tell me, are you TEAM STEFAN or TEAM DAMON?

Bookmark Winners!

The following persons have won a signed Sweet Venom bookmark!

Vivien
Missy
Rachel Micallef

Congratulations! I have e-mailed you, please respond with your mailing addresses!

I want to thank all of you for entering. And if you didn't win this time, look out for future contests here at YA Vampire Books!

Waiting on Wednesday (3/16)

Title: OVERPROTECTED
Author: Jennifer Laurens
Release Date: April 29th, 2011

Ashlyn: A lonely society princess living in New York City.

Daddy hired you to be my bodyguard.

Colin: Childhood enemy, now her protector.

Daddy thought I’d be safe. He thought I’d never fall in love. He thought he could keep me forever.

Charles: obsessed with keeping her safe, keeping her his, he hires the one person he knows she could never fall in love with: Colin.

Daddy was wrong.

This sounds like the plot for a funny romatic comedy, don't you think?

In My Mailbox (week 10)

You may have noticed that I have been a bit absent from this blog during the last week. That is partly because of final exams, but also because I went on a small vacation to Scotland! :)

And what did I find there, if not these three books for only £5!


Claire de Lune by Christine Johnson
Torn between two destinies?
Claire is having the perfect sixteenth birthday. Her pool party is a big success, and gorgeous Matthew keeps chatting and flirting with her as if she's the only girl there. But that night, she discovers something that takes away all sense of normalcy: she's a werewolf.

As Claire is initiated into the pack of female werewolves, she must deal not only with her changing identity, but also with a rogue werewolf who is putting everyone she knows in danger. Claire's new life threatens her blossoming romance with Matthew, whose father is leading the werewolf hunt. Now burdened with a dark secret and pushing the boundaries of forbidden love, Claire is struggling to feel comfortable in either skin. With her lupine loyalty at odds with her human heart, she will make a choice that will change her forever?


Shade by Jeri Smith-Ready
Love ties them together. Death can't tear them apart.

Best. Birthday. Ever. At least, it was supposed to be. With Logan's band playing a critical gig and Aura's plans for an intimate after-party, Aura knows it will be the most memorable night of her boyfriend's life. She never thought it would be his last.

Logan's sudden death leaves Aura devastated. He's gone.

Well, sort of.

Like everyone born after the Shift, Aura can see and hear ghosts. This mysterious ability has always been annoying, and Aura had wanted nothing more than to figure out why the Shift happened so she can undo it. But not with Logan's violet-hued spirit still hanging around. Because dead Logan is almost as real as ever. Almost.

It doesn't help that Aura's new friend Zachary is so understanding—and so very alive. His support means more to Aura than she cares to admit.

As Aura's relationships with the dead and the living grow ever complicated, so do her feelings for Logan and Zachary. Each holds a piece of Aura's heart...and clues to the secret of the Shift.

I Remember You by Harriet Evans
For Tess Tennant, spring brings the promise of a fresh start. She’s moving back to her picture-perfect home town to take up a teaching job. Langford is a place of pretty stone cottages, friendly locals in oak-beamed pubs and of course Adam, her best friend since childhood. But Adam is preoccupied with a new girlfriend, and the past - which Tess thought she'd put behind her - is looming large again.

So by the time she has to take her class on a trip to Rome, Tess is feeling reckless. She is swept off her feet by a mysterious stranger, and finds herself falling in love. But her magical Roman Holiday is about to turn into a nightmare…

Back in Langford Adam is gone and everything has changed.Tess has to decide, once and for all, where she belongs and with whom.

And later this week, this book which i ordered from the Book Depository a couple of weeks ago, arrived in my mailbox:

Forsaken (The Demon Trappers #1) by Jana Oliver
Riley has always wanted to be a Demon Trapper like her father, and she's already following in his footsteps as one of the best. But it's tough being the only girl in an all-guy world, especially when three of those guys start making her life more complicated: Simon, the angelic apprentice who has heaven on his side; Beck, the tough trapper who thinks he's God's gift, and Ori, the strikingly sexy stranger who keeps turning up to save her ass. One thing's for sure - if she doesn't keep her wits about her there'll be hell to pay...

I'm really excited about all four books, and I can't wait until my exams are over so I finally will have time for reading again! :)

Contest Reminder

Remember that today is the last day to enter my contest to win a Sweet Venom bookmark signed by Tera Lynn Childs. Today is also my birthday (yay!) So be extra nice to me today ;)

Enter my contest here!
You can still take my blog survey here!

I have a couple of exams next week, but I'll try to take some time to blog. Otherwise I will be back next weekend!

Waiting on Wednesday (3/9)

Title: ABANDON
Author: Meg Cabot
Release Date: April 26

New from #1 New York Times bestselling author Meg Cabot, a dark, fantastical story about this world . . . and the underworld.

When Pierce first sees him, she thinks he is a murderer. She's right about one thing -- he does take lives. But not in the way she ever imagined. Pierce is drawn to the dark stranger even as she tries to uncover the mystery surrounding the tragic death of someone close to her. As she gets closer to the truth -- and the stranger -- unexpected secrets are revealed, even in her own heart.

Meg Cabot is one of my favorite authors, and I can't wait to find out where she takes us in her newest series!

Doppelgänger? (2)

What is Katherine from The Vampire Diaries doing on the UK cover of Angel?

I have been asking myself this ever since I first saw this book cover:

Now look at these pictures of Katherine/Elena from The Vampire Diaries. Or even better, imagine Katherine stepping out of the tomb she is trapped in.

Do you see any similarities, or is it just in my head?

Mini Reviews XVI: Runaway, It's Not Summer Without You & Eye Candy

Title: Runaway

Series: Airhead (Book #3)

Author: Meg Cabot

Talk about saving the best for last! This series has gotten better with every installment, and Runaway is definitely the best of them all! This book's got it all: romance, great friendship, conspiracies, action, mystery and shocking revelations! The dark secret that Stark Corporations has been hiding turns out to be a very creepy one!

The main character, Em, is another proof of Cabot's talent for creating loveable heroins. Sure she may be stubborn and even stupid sometimes, but she was such a nice person who cared for everyone and put everyone else in the first place - even if it meant risking her own life.

And since this is a Cabot book we're talking about, you can be absolutely certain that there is a swoonworthy love interest in the picture! In this series, he is called Christopher. Christopher has gone from a funny nerd in book one, to a hot, stubborn "bad boy" in this book. And how can you not like a bad boy with messy hair and a leather jacket, who does everything to protect you and refuse to let you take the fall all by yourself?

Of course, with two stubborn main characters with a hero complex, they're destined to get into a few fights... But can they learn how to trust each other and rely on each other in the end? And can they work together to take down Stark Corporations? You'll have to read and see!

Rating: 4.5 of 5

Title: It's Not Summer Without You

Series: Summer (Book #2)

Author: Jenny Han

This book was much, much better than the first book (The Summer I Turned Pretty)! The chapters are still a mix of present time and memories from previous years, and are told from both Belly's and Jeremiah's points of view. I think the characters were more developed in this book, and I understood their actions better.

I don't know what it is with this series that makes me rooting for the underdog! While I read The Summer I Turned Pretty I wanted Belly to end up with Jeremiah, but now I'm hoping she will get together with Conrad! I wonder if I will be happy with the desicion she makes in the last book, We'll Always Have Summer...? A book I really look forward to reading, by the way! I hope this series will continue to grow on me.

If you like contemporary books, this might be a nice series for you ro try!

Rating: 4 of 5

Title: Eye Candy

Author: Tera Lynn Childs

Eye Candy is an adult novel Tera wrote a few years ago, but since it hasn't been sold and published since then, she decided to post the novel on her blog instead. So last year she started to post a new chapter every Friday, and on Valentine's Day the last chapters were posted.

I will start by saying how much I appreciated Tera's initiative to share her unpublished novel with her readers! I couldn't wait for Friday to come around so I could read the next Eye Candy
chapter.

Eye Candy is about Lydia, a woman in her thirties. Her fiancé cheated on her a couple of years ago, and now she is stuck with a job she doesn't like, no boyfriend and a serious candy addiction.

But when Lydia tells her co-workers a white lie about her "new boyfriend", all that is starting to change. Lydia and her new boyfriend is invited to a party, so she is forced to rent a date who's work is to pretend that he is her boyfriend. Insert Phelphs, a hot, young, adventure-seeking model who is about to turn Lydia's life upside down and disturb her well rehearsed routines.

But when things Lydia thought she know turns out to be uncorrect, her life turns out to be even more complicated, and the fight for her heart escalates.

I like how this book is not just about Lydia's love life, but also about her career and personal development. And I have to say that Phelphs was such a hottie! Team Phelps all the way :)

Rating: 4 of 5

Read Eye Candy at Tera's blog, or buy the e-book for only $0.99

Waiting on Wednesday (3/2)

Title: CITY OF FALLEN ANGELS
Series: Mortal Instruments (#4)
Author: Cassandra Clare
Release Date: April 5th, 2011

City of Fallen Angels is the fourth book in the bestselling series The Mortal Instruments.

City of Fallen Angels takes place two months after the events of City of Glass. In it, a mysterious someone’s killing the Shadowhunters who used to be in Valentine’s Circle and displaying their bodies around New York City in a manner designed to provoke hostility between Downworlders and Shadowhunters, leaving tensions running high in the city and disrupting Clary’s plan to lead as normal a life as she can — training to be a Shadowhunter, and pursuing her relationship with Jace.

As Jace and Clary delve into the issue of the murdered Shadowhunters, they discover a mystery that has deeply personal consequences for them — consequences that may strengthen their relationship, or rip it apart forever. Meanwhile, internecine warfare among vampires is tearing the Downworld community apart, and only Simon — the Daylighter who everyone wants on their side — can decide the outcome; too bad he wants nothing to do with Downworld politics.

Love, blood, betrayal and revenge: the stakes are higher than ever in City of Fallen Angels.

The highly anticipated continuation to Clare's bestselling series is soon here! I can't wait to read more about the amazing characters, and magical world she has created!

Read & Watched in February

Books:

1. Paranormalcy - Kiersten White (Review)
2. Runaway - Meg Cabot (Mini Review)
3. Angel Burn - L. A. Weatherly (Review)
4. Eye Candy - Tera Lynn Childs (Mini Review)
5. A Touch of Dead - Charlaine Harris (Review)
6. It's Not Summer Without You - Jenny Han (Mini Review)
7. Wither - Lauren DeStefano (Review)
8. Before That Summer - Lauren Barnholdt (novella)

Movies:

1. Tomorrow When the War Began
2. Mean Girls 2
3. Letters To Juliet
4. Bröllopsfotografen
5. Ica Age 3
6. The Back-up Plan
7. Miss Secret Agent
8. 21