tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-52336149732200525722024-03-13T13:14:21.521+01:00YA Vampire BooksOne Blog - Everything VampireSarahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07655345113702376708noreply@blogger.comBlogger537125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5233614973220052572.post-27984991887256165242012-08-17T22:16:00.000+02:002012-08-17T22:16:39.608+02:00Read & Watched in JuneBooks:<br />
1. Something Like Fate - Susane Colosanti<br />
2. Välkommen Hem - Johanna Lindbäck<br />
3. The Liar Society - Lisa and Laura Roecker<br />
4. Haunting Violet - Alyxandra Harvey<br />
5. Honey Moon - Amy Jenkins<br />
6. Matched - Ally Condie<br />
<br />
Movies:<br />
1. Die Hard 4.0Sarahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07655345113702376708noreply@blogger.com12tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5233614973220052572.post-41255028293025069562012-06-06T19:13:00.000+02:002012-06-06T19:13:37.278+02:00Read & Watched in May<strong>Books:</strong><br />
1. Boys, Bears, and a Serious Pair of Hiking Boots - Abby McDonald<br />
2. The Anti-Prom - Abby McDonald<br />
3. Jealousy - Lili St. Crow<br />
4. Defiance - Lili St. Crow<br />
5. Overbite - Meg Cabot<br />
6. The Gift - Cecelia Ahern<br />
<br /><br />
<strong>Movies:</strong><br />
1. Cockpit<br />
2. Love and Other DrugsSarahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07655345113702376708noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5233614973220052572.post-46676802203450152742012-05-19T22:43:00.000+02:002012-05-19T22:43:05.295+02:00Read & Watched in April 2012<strong>Books:</strong><br />
1. Spellbound - Rachel Hawkins<br />
2. Daring To Dream - Nora Roberts<br />
3. Betrayals - Lili St.Crow<br />
4. Daughter of Smoke and Bone - Laini Taylor<br />
5. My Sister's Keeper - Jodi Picoult<br />
6. What Happened To Goodbye - Sarah Dessen<br />
7. Jellicoe Road - Melina Marchetta<br />
8. Hourglass - Myra McEntire<br />
<br />
<strong>Movies:</strong><br />
1. Drive<br />
2. Two Weeks NoticeSarahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07655345113702376708noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5233614973220052572.post-49345958831589920642012-04-08T15:41:00.000+02:002012-04-08T15:41:12.601+02:00Read & Watched in March 2012<strong>Books:</strong><br />
1. Babe in Boyland<br />
2. Silence - Becca Fitzpatrick<br />
<br />
<strong>Movies:</strong><br />
1. One Day<br />
2. Just Go With It<br />
3. Something Borrowed<br />
4. FootlooseSarahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07655345113702376708noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5233614973220052572.post-68867032366274731552012-04-04T14:07:00.000+02:002012-04-04T14:07:41.397+02:00Read & Watched in February<strong>Books:</strong><br />
1. Abandon - Meg Cabot<br />
2. Bleeding Hearts - Alyxandra Harvey<br />
3. Crusade - Nancy Holder<br />
<br />
<strong>Movies:</strong><br />
1. Just Go With It<br />
2. Honey 2Sarahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07655345113702376708noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5233614973220052572.post-38501759041730362752012-02-29T22:07:00.001+01:002012-02-29T22:07:52.137+01:00Read & Watched in January<strong>Books:</strong><br />
1. Sophomore Switch - Abby McDonald<br />
2. Dash and Lily's Book of Dares - Rachel Cohn & David Levithan<br />
3. The Ghost and the Goth - Stacey Kade<br />
<br />
<strong>Movies:</strong><br />
1. What's Your Number<br />
2. New Year's Eve<br />
3. Abduction<br />
4.ThorSarahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07655345113702376708noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5233614973220052572.post-14839294846721635062012-02-29T21:58:00.002+01:002012-02-29T22:26:44.952+01:00Read & Watched in December<div>
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BOOKS:</div>
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</div>
<div>
1. Flawless - Lara Chapman</div>
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2. That Summer - Sarah Dessen</div>
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3. Divergent - Veronica Roth</div>
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</div>
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MOVIES:</div>
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</div>
<div>
1. Christmas Cupid</div>
<div>
2. Justin Bieber: Never Say Never<br />
3. Crazy, Stupid, Love<br />
4. Friends With Benefits</div>
</div>Sarahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07655345113702376708noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5233614973220052572.post-83438732012681119382011-12-04T10:00:00.000+01:002011-12-04T10:00:04.941+01:00In My Mailbox: Week 48<strong>Borrowed from the library:</strong><br />
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<a href="http://larachapman.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/03/Flawless-315x475.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://larachapman.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/03/Flawless-315x475.jpg" width="212" /></a><strong>Flawless by Lara Chapman</strong></div>
<br />
<span id="freeText7050740880094217461">Sarah Burke is just about perfect. She's got killer blue eyes, gorgeous blond hair, and impeccable grades. There's just one tiny-all right, enormous-flaw: her nose. But even that's not so bad. Sarah's got the best best friend and big goals for print journalism fame.<br /><br />On the first day of senior year, Rock Conway walks into her journalism class and, well, rocks her world. Problem is, her best friend, Kristen, falls for him too. And when Rock and Kristen stand together, it's like Barbie and Ken come to life. So when Kristen begs Sarah to help her nab Rock, Sarah does the only thing a best friend can do-she agrees. For someone so smart, what was she thinking?<br /><br />This hip retelling of Cyrano de Bergerac is filled with hilariously misguided matchmaking, sweet romance, and a gentle reminder that we should all embrace our flaws.</span><br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<a href="http://chickloveslit.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/02/Divergent.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://chickloveslit.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/02/Divergent.jpeg" width="211" /></a><strong>Divergent by Veronica Roth</strong><br />
<br />
Beatrice "Tris" Prior has reached the fateful age of sixteen, the stage at which teenagers in Veronica Roth's dystopian Chicago must select which of five factions to join for life. Each faction represents a virtue: Candor, Abnegation, Dauntless, Amity, and Erudite. To the surprise of herself and her selfless Abnegation family, she chooses Dauntless, the path of courage. Her choice exposes her to the demanding, violent initiation rites of this group, but it also threatens to expose a personal secret that could place her in mortal danger. Veronica Roth's young adult Divergent trilogy launches with a captivating adventure about love and loyalty playing out under most extreme circumstances.Sarahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07655345113702376708noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5233614973220052572.post-85991245985011030652011-12-02T00:13:00.000+01:002011-12-02T22:23:36.222+01:00Read & Watched in November<div><div><div><div><div><div><strong>BOOKS<br /></strong>1. Spider's Bite - Jennifer Estep<br />2. Dead Beautiful - Yvonne Wood</div><div>3. Turned - Morgan Rice</div><div>4. Uncommon Criminals - Ally Carter</div><div>5. Once Dead, Twice Shy - Kim Harrison<br /><br /><strong>MOVIES<br /></strong>1. Chalet Girl<br />2. Teen Spirit</div><div>3. Dirty Deeds</div><div>4. Country Strong</div><div>5. Inglourious Basterds</div><div>6. Idiocracy</div></div></div></div></div></div>Sarahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07655345113702376708noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5233614973220052572.post-80433592094433564912011-11-27T17:33:00.000+01:002011-11-27T17:33:00.543+01:00Book Review: Bloodlines<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-f2V9zonYu2M/TiSMgrtgb6I/AAAAAAAAAgA/BONCfcMqRS4/s1600/bloodlines.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-f2V9zonYu2M/TiSMgrtgb6I/AAAAAAAAAgA/BONCfcMqRS4/s320/bloodlines.jpg" width="212" /></a><strong>Title: </strong>Bloodlines</div>
<strong>Series: </strong>Bloodlines #1<br />
<strong>Author: </strong>Richelle Mead<br />
<strong>Published: </strong>August 2011<br />
<span id="freeText7296248955439544714"><strong></strong></span><br />
<span id="freeText7296248955439544714"><strong><blockquote>
The first book in Richelle Mead's brand-new teen fiction series - set in the same world as Vampire Academy.</blockquote>
</strong><blockquote>
When alchemist Sydney is ordered into hiding to protect the life of Moroi princess Jill Dragomir, the last place she expects to be sent is a human private school in Palm Springs, California. But at their new school, the drama is only just beginning.<br />
Populated with new faces as well as familiar ones, Bloodlines explores all the friendship, romance, battles and betrayals that made the #1 New York Times bestselling Vampire Academy series so addictive - this time in a part-vampire, part-human setting where the stakes are even higher and everyone's out for blood.</blockquote>
</span><br />
<strong>My Thoughts: </strong>This book is set in the same world as <em>Vampire Academy</em>, but with a different narrator. I wasn't sure if I was going to like Sydney as a narrator or not, since I didn't feel like I had gotten to know her enough in the <em>Vampire Academy</em> books. But, as I read Bloodlines, I started to like Sydney more and more. She's loyal, passionate and fair. While she isn't as strong or protective as Rose, she has a softer and more emotional side, which I really enjoyed seeing.<br />
<br />
Both Rose and Dimitri make an appearance in this book, but I have to say that it felt a bit weird to read about them from Sydney's point of view. <br />
<br />
Along with Sydney, Adrian, Eddy and Jill are the main characters of this book. I loved to read about Adrian & Sydney's constant banter, and how they slowly became friends. Jill was a pest in this book, she acted so selfish and whiny all the time. And Eddie, he still felt like a background character. <br />
<br />
This book started out slow, but slowly grew more charming, exciting and fun! I'm looking forward to reading the next book in this series, a series which I'm sure will grow into a series just as good as the <em>Vampire Academy</em>!<br />
<br />
<strong>Rating: 4 of 5</strong>Sarahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07655345113702376708noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5233614973220052572.post-69020584796414716452011-11-24T00:55:00.000+01:002011-11-24T00:55:00.828+01:00Book Review: Past Perfect<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<a href="http://chachic.files.wordpress.com/2011/09/past-perfect.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://chachic.files.wordpress.com/2011/09/past-perfect.jpg" width="211" /></a><strong>Title</strong>: Past Perfect</div>
<div>
<strong>Author</strong>: Leila Sales<br />
<strong>Published</strong>: October 2011<br />
<br />
All Chelsea wants to do this summer is hang out with her best friend, hone her talents as an ice cream connoisseur, and finally get over Ezra, the boy who broke her heart. But when Chelsea shows up for her summer job at Essex Historical Colonial Village (yes, really), it turns out Ezra’s working there too. Which makes moving on and forgetting Ezra a lot more complicated…even when Chelsea starts falling for someone new.<br />
<br />
Maybe Chelsea should have known better than to think that a historical reenactment village could help her escape her past. But with Ezra all too present, and her new crush seeming all too off limits, all Chelsea knows is that she’s got a lot to figure out about love. Because those who don’t learn from the past are doomed to repeat it….<br />
<br />
<strong>My Thoughts:</strong><br />
Don't judge this book from it's cover! (Not that it is anything wrong with the cover) I did, and this book was not what I expected! <em>What did I expect?</em> Well something funny and a little crazy I guess. <em>What did I get?</em> Something much better than that!<br />
<br />Chelsea had been hoping that she could escape her summer job at Essex Historical Colonial Village, the recreation park where she practically grew up, for a job in a place with air condition. But - against her hopes, she is forced to work there yet another summer. At least her best friend gets a job there as well...<br />
<br />
The colonial village might look calm during the days, but at nights when the tourists and grown-ups are long gone, a war is going on between the teenagers working at the Colonial Village - and those working at the Civil War Reenactment-land across the street. </div>
<div>
</div>
<div>
When Chelsea is kidnapped by some Civil War Reenactors the event is the beginning of an ugly war between the two villages where every dirty trick is allowed. But the kidnapping is also the beginning of a forbidden love story between Chelsea and the Civil War reenactor who kidnapped her...<br />
This book had me laughing out loud, smile until my face burst and most of all - left me with a wish of working in a recreation park. All workers seemed to have a blast! Imagine dressing up in gowns which where high-fashion hundreds of years ago, to speak in an old-fashioned way and to say goodbye to all modern technology; cell phones, ovens, zippers - you name it! Sounds interesting and strangely fun, doesn't it?</div>
<div>
</div>
<div>
<strong>Rating: 4.5 of 5</strong></div>
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<strong></strong> </div>
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</div>Sarahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07655345113702376708noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5233614973220052572.post-70243567718676129422011-11-16T19:43:00.000+01:002011-11-16T19:43:00.603+01:00Waiting on Wednesday (11/16)<div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-AHOGyv34-7o/ToiQYr9zFWI/AAAAAAAAAE4/I8cwLHePH-Y/s1600/KissCrushCollide.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px 10px 10px 0px; width: 264px; height: 400px; float: left; cursor: pointer;" border="0" alt="" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-AHOGyv34-7o/ToiQYr9zFWI/AAAAAAAAAE4/I8cwLHePH-Y/s1600/KissCrushCollide.jpg" /></a><strong>Title: </strong>Kiss Crush Collide<br /><strong>Author: </strong>Christina Meredith<br /><strong>Release Date: </strong>December 27, 2011<div> </div><div>Leah has the life most high school girls would kill for—popularity, glowing grades, a rich, athletic boyfriend. So why does she feel like she can’t breathe? And why can’t she stop thinking about the boy from the country club? The one who isn’t her boyfriend, the one that her mother would never, ever approve of, the one that her perfect older sisters would never, ever look at twice. The one who is always looking back at her. </div><div> </div><div>Irresistible attraction, smoldering glances, the bad boy and the good girl—Kiss Crush Collide has everything that a steamy forbidden romance should, and then some. </div><div> </div><div> <em>Sounds good, doesn't it? :)</em></div></div>Sarahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07655345113702376708noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5233614973220052572.post-86032152211280671202011-11-15T00:42:00.000+01:002011-11-15T00:42:00.596+01:00Book Review: The Pledge<div>
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<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-o8EEgy2VQok/TW2aKTL3GzI/AAAAAAAABlQ/bAripdnkvrY/s1600/Pledge.HiRes.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-o8EEgy2VQok/TW2aKTL3GzI/AAAAAAAABlQ/bAripdnkvrY/s320/Pledge.HiRes.jpeg" width="211" /></a><strong>Title: </strong>The Pledge</div>
<strong>Series: </strong>The Pledge #1<br />
<div>
<strong>Author: </strong>Kimberly Derting</div>
<div>
<strong>Release Date: </strong>November 15, 2011<br />
<blockquote>
In the violent country of Ludania, the language you speak determines what class you are, and there are harsh punishments if you forget your place—looking a member of a higher class in the eye can result in immediate execution. </blockquote>
<blockquote>
Seventeen-year-old Charlaina (Charlie for short) can understand all languages, a dangerous ability she’s been hiding her whole life. Her only place of release is the drug-filled underground club scene, where people go to shake off the oppressive rules of the world they live in. There, she meets a beautiful and mysterious boy who speaks a language she’s never heard, and her secret is almost exposed. </blockquote>
<blockquote>
Through a series of violent upheavals, it becomes clear that Charlie herself is the key to forcing out the oppressive power structure of her kingdom….</blockquote>
</div>
<div>
<strong></strong> </div>
<div>
<strong>My Thoughts:</strong></div>
<div>
<br />
Magic, dystopia, mystery, romance - this novel has it all! </div>
<div>
Charlie was a great character. She was caring and loving, but she wasn't weak or stupid. She didn't trust anyone - even if they were hot and charming.</div>
<div>
Charlie wasn't the only good character in this book - I liked them all! Protective and noble Max, mysterious and conspiring Xander, the sweet and helpful best friend Aron, and Brooklynn the beautiful girl with hidden depths. Derting made me care for each character, and she made them all likeable and interesting in their own way (Queen Sabara was not likeable of course! She was pure evil, so the feelings I got for her were more like hatred).<br />
<br />
Although this is a dystopian novel, that part didn't take overhand. I am sure the great characters and the sweet romance will win readers over - dystopian fans or not!<br />
<br />
</div>
<div>
I liked <em>The Pledge</em> far more than I liked <em>The Body Finder, </em>Derting's first book. And I am already awaiting the sequel, which i'm afraid won't be published until next year at the earliest... <br />
<br />
</div>
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<strong>Cover Thoughts: </strong><br />
Absolutely stunning! Definitely one of my favourite covers this year.<br />
</div>
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<br />
</div>
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<strong>Rating: 4.5 of 5</strong><br />
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<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-m8zUlWbr-Do/TrXJ0HiKjjI/AAAAAAAAAZE/jKO6aI2TaBw/s1600/4%252C5hjrta_jpg.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="40" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-m8zUlWbr-Do/TrXJ0HiKjjI/AAAAAAAAAZE/jKO6aI2TaBw/s200/4%252C5hjrta_jpg.png" width="200" /></a></div>Sarahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07655345113702376708noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5233614973220052572.post-3053527776408131862011-11-12T13:08:00.005+01:002011-11-12T13:48:41.868+01:00Guest Post: Derek Clendening<br /><div>
<div>
<br />
Of all the classic monsters, vampires have the most visibility and staying power, because they also offer the most opportunity. Zombies seem to be gaining speed, but for the time being vampires are still on top of the heap. Indeed, vampires have often been noted for being attractive, sensual creatures. Edward Cullen has continued that notion. But there are so many more possibilities.<br />
<br />
I once read a vampire titled Blood Road by Edo Van Belkom, which was the first I’d read in which the ugly vampire was tackled. He was the antithesis of the attractive vampire as played by Tom Cruise, Brad Pitt and Robert Pattinson. His teeth were so broken and sensitive that he had to suck blood through a straw. This vampire might not be breaking any hearts, but he was an interesting change of pace.<br />
<br />
I recently wrote a short vampire story (to be published in a forthcoming collection) in which the vampire fed on human fat rather than blood. In this case, the vampire is symbolic. I wrote the story because I’ve decided to put an end to my weight and eating issues and this is my way of symbolically driving a stake through the heart of those problems once and for all. In this case, the vampire represents the proverbial monkey that’s been on my back for a long time.<br />
<br />
Damien Masonite in The Vampire Way kind of embodies a number of the aforementioned. He’s an attractive teen vampire. However, he isn’t the kind variety. Still, there’s plenty of reason to care about him. He has a lot of responsibility on his shoulders between grieving for the father he’s had to euthanize, and rebuild his family at the age of eighteen. This character is a return to the scary vampire in YA, you could say, but I think it’s a welcome return. Vampires, at their core, are supposed to be scary. Still, there is no question that vampires will always be multi-dimensional. I know Damien Masonite is.<br />
<br />
<br />
<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-E-0NKh_EhK8/Tr5ppA_x35I/AAAAAAAAAZQ/l7QwA6ydwo4/s1600/vampire%2Bcover%255B2.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5674088733896466322" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-E-0NKh_EhK8/Tr5ppA_x35I/AAAAAAAAAZQ/l7QwA6ydwo4/s320/vampire%2Bcover%255B2.jpg" style="float: left; height: 320px; margin: 0px 10px 10px 0px; width: 214px;" /></a><em><strong>Derek Clendening is the author of <em><a href="http://www.amazon.com/The-Vampire-Way-ebook/dp/B005C71RQW/ref=sr_1_4?s=digital-text&ie=UTF8&qid=1321042779&sr=1-4"><em>The Vampire Way</em></a><em></em> </em>(2011). He also writes paranormal and dark novels and short story collections for adults, as well as YA vampire novels for younger readers.</strong></em></div>
<div>
<br /><em><strong>Read Derek Clendening's blog </strong><a href="http://www.thehorrorofderekclendening.blogspot.com/"><strong>here</strong></a></em><br />
<span id="freeText16415230826341961560"><blockquote>
Eighteen year old Rick Thompson is a marked man. When Damien Masonite comes to his school, he knows something is up. And when his friends start falling to vampire attacks, he knows that he and his girlfriend Laura are next. The quest to understand immortality, true love and undying friendship compromise his safety even more. Can he keep his best friends, his true love and keep his mortal life?</blockquote>
</span></div>
</div>Sarahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07655345113702376708noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5233614973220052572.post-18386939265873954982011-11-10T08:30:00.000+01:002011-11-10T08:30:02.178+01:00Cover Combat: The Sky Is Everywhere<div style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
In <a href="http://yavampirebooks.blogspot.com/search/label/Cover%20Combat"><strong>Cover Combat</strong></a> I compare Swedish covers to the US and/or UK covers of the same books. </div>
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Today, I'm comparing the covers of <strong><span style="font-style: italic;">The Sky Is Everywhere </span>by Jandy Nelson.</strong></div>
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<strong>US cover:</strong></div>
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<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_M_ZtmfZYvzo/TK3ayW8KF6I/AAAAAAAAAgI/YS926LHYj-8/s320/aaaaaaaaaaaaaaaa.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_M_ZtmfZYvzo/TK3ayW8KF6I/AAAAAAAAAgI/YS926LHYj-8/s320/aaaaaaaaaaaaaaaa.jpg" /></a></div>
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<strong>Swedish Cover:</strong></div>
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<a href="http://www.bibliotekmitt.se/covers/max_235x350/1311e1db-25fa-40c8-b610-365b81eae356.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://www.bibliotekmitt.se/covers/max_235x350/1311e1db-25fa-40c8-b610-365b81eae356.png" width="218" /></a></div>
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Title: "The Sky Begins Here"</div>
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<strong><em>Which cover is your favorite, and why?</em></strong></div>
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I like the simplicity and the bright colors of the US cover, the Swedish cover looks pale when you compare the two. On the other hand, I like all the details in the Swedish cover - the instrument, the boy on the skateboard, the photo etc. - and the house looks like it could be Lennie's.</div>
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<strong><em>Vote for your favorite cover in the comments!</em></strong></div>Sarahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07655345113702376708noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5233614973220052572.post-57035131858278388962011-11-09T13:30:00.000+01:002011-11-09T13:30:03.546+01:00Waiting on Wednesday (11/9)<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-9PaeAjqn0Q4/Tj7oiCV3wUI/AAAAAAAABYU/8K36zUVXp70/s1600/catchingjordan.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-9PaeAjqn0Q4/Tj7oiCV3wUI/AAAAAAAABYU/8K36zUVXp70/s320/catchingjordan.jpg" width="212" /></a><strong>Title: </strong>Catching Jordan</div>
<strong>Author: </strong>Miranda Kenneally<br />
<strong>Release Date: </strong>December 1, 2011<br />
<br />
What girl doesn't want to be surrounded by gorgeous jocks day in and day out? Jordan Woods isn't just surrounded by hot guys, though-she leads them as the captain and quarterback of her high school football team. They all see her as one of the guys, and that's just fine. As long as she gets her athletic scholarship to a powerhouse university. But now there's a new guy in town who threatens her starting position... suddenly she's hoping he'll see her as more than just a teammate.<br />
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<br /><em>Sounds good, doesn't it? This one is on my wishlist for Christmas :)</em>Sarahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07655345113702376708noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5233614973220052572.post-23980784135719682282011-11-08T00:22:00.000+01:002011-11-08T00:22:00.321+01:00Mini Reviews: The Eternal Ones, The Juliet Spell, Misfit<div>
<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_9AnT57_Rl6Q/TGQbpK0WZBI/AAAAAAAACpk/W2eXJsOBd8U/s1600/The%20Eternal%20Ones.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_9AnT57_Rl6Q/TGQbpK0WZBI/AAAAAAAACpk/W2eXJsOBd8U/s320/The%20Eternal%20Ones.jpg" width="211" /></a><strong>Title: </strong>The Eternal Ones<br />
<strong>Series: </strong>Eternal Ones #1<br />
<strong>Author: </strong>Kirsten Miller<br />
<strong>Published: </strong>2010<br />
<br />
<span id="freeText12644115762092128393"><em>Haven Moore can’t control her visions of a past with a boy called Ethan, and a life in New York that ended in fiery tragedy. In our present, she designs beautiful dresses for her classmates with her best friend Beau. Dressmaking keeps her sane, since she lives with her widowed and heartbroken mother in her tyrannical grandmother’s house in Snope City, a tiny town in Tennessee. Then an impossible group of coincidences conspire to force her to flee to New York, to discover who she is, and who she was...</em></span><br />
<br />
I had high hopes for this novel, but sadly it didn't deliver. If I had borrowed this book from the library, I would have returned it right away without finishing it. But as it was, this was the only audio book I had, and I had to listen to something while trying to fall asleep...<br />
<br />
If I had to describe this book in one word, it would be confusing. There are parts set in the past, and parts set in the present, and there are several narrators. I had a hard time keeping track of what <em>had </em>happened, and <em>when</em> it had happened.<br />
<br />
Another thing I disliked was the religious part of the novel, Haven's grandmother (who was such a mean person!) was very religious, and was certain that Haven had been possessed by the devil. Because of all religion and preachyness I thought this book was set a few decades back, but I don't think it was? Another thing that had me confused in the beginning was Haven's best friend Beau - I couldn't figure out if it was a boy or a girl! haha<br />
This book wasn't for me, but you might like it.<br />
<br />
<strong>Rating: </strong>2 of 5<br />
<br />
<br />
<a href="http://wordsthatfly.files.wordpress.com/2011/08/the-juliet-spell.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://wordsthatfly.files.wordpress.com/2011/08/the-juliet-spell.jpg" width="208" /></a><strong>Title: </strong>The Juliet Spell<br />
<strong>Author: </strong>Douglas Rees<br />
<strong>Published: </strong>September 2011<br />
<br />
<em>I wanted the role of Juliet more than anything. I studied hard. I gave a great reading for it—even with Bobby checking me out the whole time. I deserved the part.I didn't get it. So I decided to level the playing field, though I actually might have leveled the whole play. You see, since there aren't any Success in Getting to Be Juliet in Your High School Play spells, I thought I'd cast the next best—a Fame spell. Good idea, right?</em><br />
<br />
<em>Yeah. Instead of bringing me a little fame, it brought me someone a little famous. Shakespeare. Well, Edmund Shakespeare. William's younger brother. Good thing he's sweet and enthusiastic about helping me with the play...and—ahem—maybe a little bit hot. But he's from the past. Way past. Cars amaze him—cars! And cell phones? Ugh. Still, there's something about him that's making my eyes go star-crossed....</em><br />
<br />
The Juliet Spell was a fun and light read. If you like theatre, and Shakespeare above all, you're going to love this book! </div>
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The main character, Miranda, is so desperate to follow in her mother's footsteps, that she makes a spell in hope of getting the lead role in her high school play. But instead of landing her the role as Juliet the spell gives her Shakespeare, not <em>the </em>Shakespeare but his less-known brother - Edmund. </div>
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Edmund was a fun and bubbly character, at times a bit <em>too</em> enthusiastic. He reminded me a little bit of Puck from the <em>Iron Fey </em>series.<br />
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This book has theatre, a little bit of history, friendship and a little bit of romance. Sometimes it got a little to theatrical for my taste, with Miranda and her friends using dramatic old-fashioned language, but as I mentioned before, if you're into theatre this might be the book for you!<br />
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<strong>Rating: 3.75 of 5</strong></div>
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<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-KXJcJ7I33oM/TlPugaf-BCI/AAAAAAAAAe8/G3W4sZeopF4/s1600/misfit.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-KXJcJ7I33oM/TlPugaf-BCI/AAAAAAAAAe8/G3W4sZeopF4/s320/misfit.jpg" width="214" /></a><strong>Title: </strong>Misfit</div>
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<strong>Author:</strong> Jon Skovron<br />
<strong>Published: </strong>August 2011<br />
<br />
<em>Jael has always felt like a freak. She’s never kissed a boy, she never knew her mom, and her dad’s always been superstrict—but that’s probably because her mom was a demon, which makes Jael half demon and most definitely not a normal sophomore girl. On her sixteenth birthday, a mysterious present unlocks her family’s dangerous history and Jael’s untapped potential. </em></div>
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<em>What was merely an embarrassing secret before becomes a terrifying reality. Jael must learn to master her demon side in order to take on a vindictive Duke of Hell while also dealing with a twisted priest, best-friend drama, and a spacey blond skater boy who may have hidden depths.</em><br />
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This book was something of a roller coaster, it certainly had its ups and downs! I think the idea of Jael being a half demon was interesting and definitely had potential. But instead of focusing on Jael and her destiny I think this story "spaced out" a bit, more than once which made the book thicker, confusing, and harder getting into. <br />
<br />
<br />
There where some parts of the book that were good, and would have been even better if they had been processed and more developed. And there were some less interesting parts that easily could have been removed. <br />
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The characters were also a problem for me, they were all alright - but nothing more than that. And if you don't care too much about the characters, then really, how fun is the book to read?<br />
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<strong>Rating: 2 of 5</strong></div>Sarahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07655345113702376708noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5233614973220052572.post-9213070882284904802011-11-05T00:11:00.000+01:002011-11-05T00:11:56.642+01:00Read and Watched in October<div>
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<strong>Books:</strong></div>
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1. Virtuosity - Jessica Martinez</div>
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2. The Pledge - Kimberley Derting</div>
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3. Beauty Queens - Libba Bray</div>
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4. Bloodlines - Richelle Mead<br />
<br />
<strong>Movies:</strong><br />
1. A Perfect Man<br />
2. LA Gigolo</div>
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3. GI Joe: The Rise of the Cobra</div>
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</div>Sarahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07655345113702376708noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5233614973220052572.post-11306056685087902292011-10-24T22:20:00.000+02:002011-10-24T22:20:00.135+02:00Book Review: Personal Demons<div>
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<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-KV-wLFoNWuI/TbOPQVGxXDI/AAAAAAAAAF0/sS2ktB2_tbE/s1600/Personal-Demons.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-KV-wLFoNWuI/TbOPQVGxXDI/AAAAAAAAAF0/sS2ktB2_tbE/s320/Personal-Demons.jpg" width="213" /></a><strong>Title: </strong>Personal Demons</div>
<strong>Series: </strong>Personal Demons #1<br />
<strong>Author: </strong>Lisa Desrochers<br />
<strong>Published: </strong>2010<br />
<blockquote>
Frannie Cavanaugh is a good Catholic girl with a bit of a wicked streak. She has spent years keeping everyone at a distance---even her closest friends---and it seems as if her senior year is going to be more of the same . . . until Luc Cain enrolls in her class. No one knows where he came from, but Frannie can’t seem to stay away from him.<br />
What she doesn’t know is that Luc is on a mission. He’s been sent from Hell itself to claim Frannie’s soul. It should be easy---all he has to do is get her to sin, and Luc is as tempting as they come. Frannie doesn’t stand a chance. But he has to work fast, because if the infernals are after her, the celestials can’t be far behind. And sure enough, it’s not long before the angel Gabriel shows up, willing to do anything to keep Luc from getting what he came for. It isn’t long before they find themselves fighting for more than just Frannie’s soul.<br />
But if Luc fails, there will be Hell to pay . . . for all of them.</blockquote>
<strong>My Thoughts:</strong><br />
I have mixed feelings about this one. Some parts of it was fantastic - original, and dramatic. Other parts were predictable and cheesy. The language were sometimes too flirty and sappy to seem realistic, and I blushed while reading.<br />
<br />
Frannie was an alright character, though I couldn't make her very different personal traits fit together into one believable person. On one hand she was flirty and somewhat a player, on the other hand she was a girl who wasn't afraid to get dirty while working on car engines, had lost her faith in God, and was blaming herself for her brother's death.<br />
Overall this was an okay read, but I was expecting more than that, so I got a bit disappointed. I won't walk through fire to get my hand on the sequels.<br />
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<strong>Cover Thoughts:</strong><br />
Am I the only one getting 80s Nancy Drew vibes from this cover?</div>Sarahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07655345113702376708noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5233614973220052572.post-14109458859700242692011-10-21T10:00:00.000+02:002011-10-21T10:00:06.726+02:00Fun-Post Friday: Top 100 YA Books<div>
I'm sure most of you have seen this list already - I don't know where it originated but it has found its way through numerous blogs. This list lists the Top 100 Most Popular YA Books - the bolded ones are the ones I have read. <br />
<br />
<strong>Top 100 Most Popular YA Books</strong><br />
1.Alex Finn – Beastly (<em>No, but I've seen the movie)</em><br />
2.Alice Sebold – The Lovely Bones<br />
<strong>3.Ally Carter – Gallagher Girls</strong> <strong>(1, 2, 3, 4)</strong><br />
4.Ally Condie – Matched<br />
<strong>5.Alyson Noel – The Immortals (1</strong>, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6)<br />
6.Anastasia Hopcus – Shadow Hills<br />
7.Angie Sage – Septimus Heap (1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6)<br />
<strong>8.Ann Brashares – The Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants (1, 2, 3, 4)</strong><strong>9.Anna Godbersen – Luxe (1, 2, 3, 4)</strong><br />
<strong>10.Anthony Horowitz – Alex Rider (1, 2, 3, 4, 5,</strong> 6, 7, 8, 9)<br />
<strong>11.Aprilynne Pike – Wings (1,</strong> 2, 3)<br />
<strong>12.Becca Fitzpatrick – Hush, Hush (1, 2)</strong><br />
13.Brandon Mull – Fablehaven (1, 2, 3, 4, 5)<br />
14.Brian Selznick – The Invention of Hugo Cabret<br />
<strong>15.Cassandra Clare – The Mortal Instruments (1, 2, 3</strong>, 4)<br />
16.Carrie Jones – Need (1, 2, 3)<br />
17.Carrie Ryan – The Forest of Hands and Teeth (1, 2, 3)<br />
18.Christopher Paolini – Inheritance (1, 2, 3, 4)<br />
19.Cinda Williams Chima – The Heir Chronicles (1, 2, 3)<br />
20.Colleen Houck – Tigers Saga (1, 2)<br />
21.Cornelia Funke – Inkheart (1, 2, 3)<br />
22.Ellen Hopkins – Impulse<br />
23.Eoin Colfer – Artemis Fowl (1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7)<br />
24.Faraaz Kazi – Truly, Madly, Deeply<br />
25.Frank Beddor – The Looking Glass Wars (1, 2, 3)<br />
26.Gabrielle Zevin – Elsewhere<br />
27.Gail Carson Levine – Fairest<br />
28.Holly Black – Tithe (1, 2, 3)<br />
<strong>29.J.K. Rowling – Harry Potter (1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7)</strong><br />
30.James Dashner – The Maze Runner (1, 2)<br />
31.James Patterson – Maximum Ride (1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7)<br />
32.Jay Asher – Thirteen Reasons Why<br />
33.Jeanne DuPrau – Books of Ember (1, 2, 3, 4)<br />
34.Jeff Kinney – Diary of a Wimpy Kid (1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6)<br />
35.John Boyne – The Boy in the Striped Pajamas<br />
36.John Green – An Abundance of Katherines<br />
37.John Green – Looking for Alaska<br />
<strong>38.John Green – Paper Towns</strong><br />
39.Jonathan Stroud – Bartimaeus (1, 2, 3, 4)<br />
40.Kami Garcia & Margaret Stohl – Caster Chronicles (1, 2) <em>I own the 2nd but haven't read it.</em><br />
<strong>41.Kelley Armstrong – Darkest Powers (1</strong>, 2, 3)<br />
<strong>42.Kristin Cashore – The Seven Kingdoms (1</strong>, 2)<br />
<strong>43.Lauren Kate – Fallen (1</strong>, 2, 3)<br />
44.Lemony Snicket – Series of Unfortunate Events (1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13)<br />
<strong>45.Libba Bray – Gemma Doyle</strong> (1, <strong>2</strong>, 3)<br />
<strong>46.Lisa McMann – Dream Catcher (1, 2</strong>, 3)<br />
<strong>47.Louise Rennison – Confessions of Georgia Nicolson (1, 2, 3, 4</strong>, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10)<br />
48.M.T. Anderson – Feed<br />
<strong>49.Maggie Stiefvater – The Wolves of Mercy Falls (1</strong>, 2, 3)<br />
50.Margaret Peterson Haddix – Shadow Children (1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7)<br />
51.Maria V. Snyder – Study (1, 2, 3)<br />
52.Markus Zusak – The Book Thief<br />
53.Markus Zusak – I am the Messenger<br />
54.Mark Haddon – The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-time<br />
55.Mary Ting – Crossroads<br />
<strong>56.Maureen Johnson – Little Blue Envelope (1, 2)<br />57.Meg Cabot – All-American Girl (1, 2)<br />58.Meg Cabot – The Mediator (1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6)<br />59.Meg Cabot – The Princess Diaries (1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10)<br />60.Meg Rosoff – How I live now</strong><br />
61.Megan McCafferty – Jessica Darling (1, 2, 3, 4, 5)<br />
62.Megan Whalen Turner – The Queen’s Thief (1, 2, 3, 4)<br />
63.Melina Marchetta – On the Jellicoe Road<br />
<strong>64.Melissa de la Cruz – Blue Bloods (1, 2, 3, 4</strong>, 5)<br />
<strong>65.Melissa Marr – Wicked Lovely (1, 2, 3</strong>, 4, 5)<br />
<strong>66.Michael Grant – Gone (1</strong>, 2, 3, 4)<br />
67.Nancy Farmer – The House of the Scorpion<br />
68.Neal Shusterman – Unwind<br />
69.Neil Gaiman – Coraline<br />
70.Neil Gaiman – Stardust<br />
71.Neil Gaiman – The Graveyard Book<br />
<strong>72.P.C. Cast & Kristin Cast – House of Night (1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6</strong>, 7, 8)<br />
73.Philip Pullman – His Dark Materials (1, 2, 3)<br />
<strong>74.Rachel Caine – The Morganville Vampires (1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7</strong>, 8, 9, 10)<br />
75.Rachel Cohn & David Levithan – Nick; Norah’s Infinite Playlist <em>(No, but I've seen the movie)</em><br />
<strong>76.Richelle Mead – Vampire Academy (1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6)</strong><br />
77.Rick Riordan – Percy Jackson and the Olympians (1, 2, 3, 4, 5) <em>(Again, seen the movie)</em><br />
78.Rom LcO’Feer – Somewhere carnal over 40 winks<br />
79.S.L. Naeole – Grace (1, 2, 3, 4)<br />
80.Sabrina Bryan & Julia DeVillers – Princess of Gossip<br />
<strong>81.Sarah Dessen – Along for the Ride<br />82.Sarah Dessen – Lock and Key<br />83.Sarah Dessen – The Truth about Forever</strong><br />
84.Sara Shepard – Pretty Little Liars (1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9) <em>(I love the TV series!)</em><br />
85.Scott Westerfeld – Leviathan (1, 2)<br />
<strong>86.Scott Westerfeld – Uglies (1, 2, 3)</strong><br />
87.Shannon Hale – Books of a Thousand Days<br />
88.Shannon Hale – Princess Academy<br />
89.Shannon Hale – The Books of Bayern (1, 2, 3, 4)<br />
90.Sherman Alexie & Ellen Forney – The Absolutely True Diary of a Part-Time Indian<br />
<strong>91.Simone Elkeles – Perfect Chemistry (1, 2</strong>, 3)<br />
<strong>92.Stephanie Meyer – The Host<br />93.Stephanie Meyer – Twilight Saga (1, 2, 3, 4)</strong><br />
94.Sue Monk Kidd – The Secret Life of Bees<br />
95.Susan Beth Pfeffer – Last Survivors (1, 2, 3)<br />
<strong>96.Suzanne Collins – Hunger Games (1, 2, 3)</strong><br />
97.Suzanne Collins – Underland Chronicles (1, 2, 3, 4, 5)<br />
98.Terry Pratchett – Tiffany Aching (1, 2, 3, 4)<br />
99.Tonya Hurley – Ghost Girl (1, 2, 3)<br />
100.Wendelin Van Draanen</div>
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<strong>Result:</strong><br />
36 out of 100! I'm pretty happy with that result, since many of these books aren't available in my country. To tell you the truth, there are several books on this list that I never have heard of!<br />
How many of these have you read?</div>Sarahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07655345113702376708noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5233614973220052572.post-27363668949965196212011-10-19T07:19:00.000+02:002011-10-19T07:19:00.078+02:00Waiting on Wednesday (10/19)<div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://www.borders.com/ProductImages/products/00/66/38/b/66383052_b.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px 10px 10px 0px; width: 170px; height: 255px; float: left; cursor: pointer;" border="0" alt="" src="http://www.borders.com/ProductImages/products/00/66/38/b/66383052_b.jpg" /></a><strong>Title: </strong>Amplified<div><strong>Author: </strong>Tara Kelly<br /><strong>Release Date: </strong>October 25, 2011<br /><br />When privileged 17-year-old Jasmine gets kicked out of her house, she takes what is left of her savings and flees to Santa Cruz to pursue her dream of becoming a musician. Jasmine finds the ideal room in an oceanfront house, but she needs to convince the three guys living there that she's the perfect roommate and lead guitarist for their band, C-Side. Too bad she has major stage fright and the cute bassist doesn't think a spoiled girl from over the hill can hack it. . . . In this fresh new novel by critically acclaimed author Tara Kelly, Jasmine finds out what happens when her life gets Amplified.</div><div> </div><div><em>Sounds pretty good, don't you think?</em></div></div>Sarahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07655345113702376708noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5233614973220052572.post-56372932704541250732011-10-16T22:33:00.000+02:002011-10-16T22:33:00.817+02:00In My Mailbox (week 41)<div>
<strong>From the Library:</strong><br />
<br />
<strong></strong><br />
<a href="http://anniesmirror.files.wordpress.com/2011/09/bloodlines3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://anniesmirror.files.wordpress.com/2011/09/bloodlines3.jpg" width="212" /></a><strong>Bloodlines - Richelle Mead</strong><br />
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When alchemist Sydney is ordered into hiding to protect the life of Moroi princess Jill Dragomir, the last place she expects to be sent is a human private school in Palm Springs, California. But at their new school, the drama is only just beginning.<br />
<br />
Populated with new faces as well as familiar ones, Bloodlines explores all the friendship, romance, battles and betrayals that made the #1 New York Times bestselling Vampire Academy series so addictive - this time in a part-vampire, part-human setting where the stakes are even higher and everyone's out for blood<br />
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<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_jcy4wcvjvA0/TNWntEi6m0I/AAAAAAAABBk/n2nhU2l2OS0/s1600/Dead-Beautiful.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_jcy4wcvjvA0/TNWntEi6m0I/AAAAAAAABBk/n2nhU2l2OS0/s320/Dead-Beautiful.jpg" width="213" /></a><strong>Dead Beautiful - Yvonne Woon</strong><br />
<strong></strong><br />
On the morning of her sixteenth birthday, Renée Winters was still an ordinary girl. She spent her summers at the beach, had the perfect best friend, and had just started dating the cutest guy at school. No one she'd ever known had died. But all that changes when she finds her parents dead in the Redwood Forest, in what appears to be a strange double murder.<br />
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After the funeral Renée’s wealthy grandfather sends her to Gottfried Academy, a remote and mysterious boarding school in Maine. It’s there that she meets Dante Berlin, a handsome and elusive boy to whom she feels inexplicably drawn. As they grow closer, unexplainable things begin to happen, but Renée can’t stop herself from falling in love. It’s only when she discovers a dark tragedy in Gottfried’s past that she begins to wonder if the Academy is everything it seems.<br />
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Little does she know, Dante is the one hiding a dangerous secret, one that has him fearing for her life.<br />
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<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_sXK_V9bZ9xI/TMgcREVTUJI/AAAAAAAAAA8/mCLHorcyAgA/s1600/1+Once+Dead,+Twice+Shy.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_sXK_V9bZ9xI/TMgcREVTUJI/AAAAAAAAAA8/mCLHorcyAgA/s320/1+Once+Dead,+Twice+Shy.jpg" width="225" /></a><strong>Once Dead Twice Shy - Kim Harrison</strong><br />
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Madison's prom was killer—literally. For some reason she's been targeted by a dark reaper—yeah, that kind of reaper—intent on getting rid of her, body and soul. But before the reaper could finish the job, Madison was able to snag his strange, glowing amulet and get away.<br />
Now she's stuck on Earth—dead but not gone. Somehow the amulet gives her the illusion of a body, allowing her to toe the line between life and death. She still doesn't know why the dark reaper is after her, but she's not about to just sit around and let fate take its course.<br />
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With a little ingenuity, some light-bending, and the help of a light reaper (one of the good guys! Maybe . . . ), her cute crush, and oh yeah, her guardian angel, Madison's ready to take control of her own destiny once and for all, before it takes control of her.<br />
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Well, if she believed in that stuff. </div>Sarahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07655345113702376708noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5233614973220052572.post-72718051032654697202011-10-15T12:32:00.000+02:002011-10-15T22:19:32.781+02:00Book Review: Amy & Roger's Epic Detour<div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_A2Cxdw9lOPk/S7OSa_8eNJI/AAAAAAAACTM/zbbyPhqAc9k/s1600/amy+and+roger"><img style="margin: 0px 10px 10px 0px; width: 264px; height: 398px; float: left; cursor: pointer;" border="0" alt="" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_A2Cxdw9lOPk/S7OSa_8eNJI/AAAAAAAACTM/zbbyPhqAc9k/s1600/amy+and+roger" /></a><strong>Title: </strong>Amy and Roger's Epic Detour<div><div><strong>Author: </strong>Morgan Matson</div><div><strong>Published: </strong>2010<br /></div><div><blockquote>Amy Curry thinks her life sucks. Her mom decides to move from California to Connecticut to start anew—just in time for Amy's senior year. Her dad recently died in a car accident. <div><div> </div><div>So Amy embarks on a road trip to escape from it all, driving cross-country from the home she's always known toward her new life. Joining Amy on the road trip is Roger, the son of Amy's mother's old friend. Amy hasn’t seen him in years, and she is less than thrilled to be driving across the country with a guy she barely knows. So she's surprised to find that she is developing a crush on him. At the same time, she’s coming to terms with her father’s death and how to put her own life back together after the accident. </div><div> </div><div>Told in traditional narrative as well as scraps from the road—diner napkins, motel receipts, postcards—this is the story of one girl's journey to find herself.</div><div></div></div></blockquote> </div><div> </div><div><strong>My Thoughts:</strong></div><div>I loved this book! It was so sweet and fun. My three favorite ingredients; love, summer and road-trips, where all in there. Seriousness, pain and sorrow where mixed together with love, friendships, easygoingness and laughter into a perfect blend.</div><div> </div><div>Amy and Roger were very likeable and realistic characters, they both had problems and flaws. I loved how they grew close to each other during their road-trip. From barely talking the first time, to sharing their emotions, opinions and thoughts on any matter.</div><div> </div><div>Amy was, as the summary says, devastated about her father's decease, and she was blaming herself for his death. Even if her sorrow always was present in the book, it was far from dominating the story. </div><div> </div><div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-CA4uVJoR--U/TfLGR-B0pfI/AAAAAAAAAaM/OsgrM4oD3Ek/s1600/Amy+and+Roger%27s+Epic+Detour.jpg"><img style="width: 500px; height: 386px; cursor: pointer;" border="0" alt="" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-CA4uVJoR--U/TfLGR-B0pfI/AAAAAAAAAaM/OsgrM4oD3Ek/s1600/Amy+and+Roger%27s+Epic+Detour.jpg" /></a></div><div> </div><div>The icing on the cake for me was all photos, playlists, receipts and drawings inside the book (see photo above). This definitely added something extra to the book and made Amy and Roger's tour seem even more realistic. What is more, it also made me dying to go on a road trip myself! There are so many places to discover!</div><div> </div><div><strong>Rating: 4.75 of 5</strong></div><div> </div><div> </div></div></div>Sarahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07655345113702376708noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5233614973220052572.post-36757764777742136782011-10-11T10:19:00.000+02:002011-10-11T10:19:00.082+02:00Waiting on Wednesday (10/12)<div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/--uuoX15rDXE/TbBNMSayojI/AAAAAAAALJU/cRJvz0w7j_8/s320/Elizabeth+Scott+-+As+I+Wake.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px 10px 10px 0px; width: 213px; height: 320px; float: left; cursor: pointer;" border="0" alt="" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/--uuoX15rDXE/TbBNMSayojI/AAAAAAAALJU/cRJvz0w7j_8/s320/Elizabeth+Scott+-+As+I+Wake.jpg" /></a><strong>Title: </strong>As I Wake<div><div><strong>Author: </strong>Elizabeth Scott</div><div><strong>Release Date: </strong>September 2011</div><br />Ava is welcomed home from the hospital by a doting mother, lively friends, and a crush finally beginning to show interest. There's only one problem: Ava can't remember any of them - and can't shake the eerie feeling that she's not who they say she is.<br /><br />Ava struggles to break through her amnesiac haze as she goes through the motions of high-school life, but the memories that surface take place in a very different world, where Ava and familiar-faced friends are under constant scrutiny and no one can be trusted. Ava doesn't know what to make of these visions, or of the boy who is at the center of them all, until he reappears in her life and offers answers . . . but only in exchange for her trust.</div><div> </div><div><em>I've liked all of Elizabeth Scott's books that I have read so far, but this one sounds a little bit different from them. Interesting!</em></div></div>Sarahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07655345113702376708noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5233614973220052572.post-65982892173833345832011-10-10T00:51:00.000+02:002011-10-10T00:51:00.083+02:00Mini Reviews: The Sky Is Everywhere, The Sweetest Thing<div>
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<a href="http://bookends.booklistonline.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/03/sky-is-everywhere-198x300.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://bookends.booklistonline.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/03/sky-is-everywhere-198x300.jpg" width="209" /></a><strong>Title: </strong>The Sky Is Everywhere</div>
<strong>Author: </strong>Jandy Nelson<br />
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<strong>Published: </strong>2010</div>
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<em>Seventeen-year-old Lennie Walker, bookworm and band geek, plays second clarinet and spends her time tucked safely and happily in the shadow of her fiery older sister, Bailey. </em><br />
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<em>But when Bailey dies abruptly, Lennie is catapulted to center stage of her own life - and, despite her nonexistent history with boys, suddenly finds herself struggling to balance two. Toby was Bailey's boyfriend; his grief mirrors Lennie's own. Joe is the new boy in town, a transplant from Paris whose nearly magical grin is matched only by his musical talent. For Lennie, they're the sun and the moon; one boy takes her out of her sorrow, the other comforts her in it.</em><br />
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<em> But just like their celestial counterparts, they can't collide without the whole wide world exploding.</em></div>
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<em>The Sky Is Everywhere</em> has gotten a lot of praise, and rightfully so.<br />
In this novel Lennie deals with her huge sorrow after her sister's death. Beside her is her flower-crazy grandmother, girl-crazy uncle, her sister's boyfriend Toby, and Joe, the new boy in town. <br />
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I'm usually not a fan of "dysfunctional" families, but this family was an exception. They shared love and sorrow, good and bad, and there were so many heart-warming moments in this book.<br />
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I absolutely loved all notes Lennie left behind her, it could be a poem about her relationship with her sister or a memory of a random moment they shared together. These memories were written down on papers, old receipts, house walls - any available spot. I feel like we not only got to know Bailey through these notes, but also got to know Lennie a bit better.<br />
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If you're looking for a great contemporary read filled with everything from love and happiness to trouble and sorrow, this is the book for you.<br />
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<strong>Rating: 4.25 of 5 </strong><br />
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<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_LaxYPWAVhuA/TSA6inw-hoI/AAAAAAAAAaw/GyX5BzAerew/s1600/The%20Sweetest%20Thing.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_LaxYPWAVhuA/TSA6inw-hoI/AAAAAAAAAaw/GyX5BzAerew/s320/The%20Sweetest%20Thing.jpg" width="213" /></a><strong>Title: </strong>The Sweetest Thing</div>
<strong>Author: </strong>Christina Mandelski<br />
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<strong>Published: </strong>May 2011</div>
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<em>In the world of Sheridan Wells, life is perfect when she's decorating a cake. Unfortunately everything else is a complete mess: her mom ran off years ago, her dad is more interested in his restaurant, and the idea of a boyfriend is laughable.<br /><br />But Sheridan is convinced finding her mom will solve all her problems - only her dad's about to get a cooking show in New York, which means her dream of a perfect family will be dashed.<br /><br />Using just the right amount of romance, family drama, and cute boys, The Sweetest Thing will entice fans with its perfect mixture of girl-friendly ingredients.</em></div>
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First off - how I would have loved to see all Sheridan's cakes! Her creations sounded absolutely beautiful! And how fun wouldn't it be to be a cake decorater?<br />
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While I was a big fan of Sheridan's cakes, I sadly didn't like her personality as much. She acted a bit too childish - and selfish. I wish she would have been happier for her father's sake, and tried to understand him, and get to know him, a bit better. After all, he was the parent who decided to stay with her and raise her, not the one who ran away and forgot about her. <br />
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Sheridan was naive when it came to her mother, she didn't want to see the truth so she pictured her mum as a hero instead, a hero who would come running as soon as Sheridan needed help. So, does Sheridan find her long-lost mother? You have to read the book and see!<br />
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<strong>Rating: 3 of 5</strong></div>
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Sarahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07655345113702376708noreply@blogger.com1