In My Mailbox (48)

In My Mailbox is hosted by The Story Siren! I went to Borders yesterday and I picked up some books that I had been wanting to read for a while.

Bought:
Bright Young Things by Anna Goderbersen
I read Anna's Luxe series and I love it so I'm hoping this one is just as good!

Paranormalcy by Kiersten White
Hearing all the good things that everyone keeps saying made me really want to read it!

Shade by Jeri Smith-Ready
This was one that I had been wanting to read since it was first published and I'm super happy that I finally have it!

What did you get this week? =)

Someone Like You by Sarah Dessen

Title: Someone Like You
Author: Sarah Dessen
Released: August 1998
Pages: 281
Rating: 3/5
Synopsis: Halley and Scarlett have been best friends ever since they met. Halley has always been the quiet one, Scarlett braver and more outgoing. Halley has always turned to Scarlett when things get rough, and Scarlett has always known just what to do. It's the perfect setup. But everything changes at the beginning of their junior year, Scarlett's boyfriend is killed in a motorcycle accident; then Scarlett finds out that she is carrying his baby. For the first time ever, Scarlett really needs Halley. Now Halley has to learn how to be strong for Scarlett. It won't be easy, but Halley knows that she can't let Scarlett down. Because a true friend is a promise you keep forever.

Review: Halley has always been the quiet one while Scarlett has always been the one to take action. After the death of Scarlett's boyfriend dies Halley knows that now it's her turn to help Scarlett get through this. Along the way Halley goes through a journey of her own that is like nothing she has done before.

I honestly didn't really like Halley I mean I did but her actions often frustrated me. I get that she would want to grow up and explore the world around her more but she should have done it in a different way. I also felt that she was trying to be someone who she wasn't just to stay with Macon. Going as far as almost doing something she wasn't ready for. I loved how despite everything they were going through she was trying to help Scarlett.

I think the reason that I didn't enjoy it as much was because Halley wasn't like I would want most girls to be. I always want to read about a female character who isn't afraid to be who she really is. I did love that at the end she recognized what she had been doing and tried to change her ways. Despite the story being told through Halley's perspective, I enjoyed reading the bits where Scarlett is. Even though she was going through a tough time she tried to be strong.

It had been a really long time that I had been wanting to read something by Sarah Dessen. I don't really read many contemporary novels, much less those that deal with these kind of issues but I'm glad I got the chance to read this one. I have a couple more of books so I'm excited to start reading more of her more recent books!

Author Interview: Keary Taylor (Eden)

Today stopping by the blog is the amazing Keary Taylor, author of Fall of Angels series, Ever Burning and Eden! I had the opportunity of asking her some questions about Eden and here is what she had to say!

Do the names of your characters have any special meaning?

I don’t know that they really have special meaning; it’s more just that a certain name felt right for a character. West was originally name Tyler and it sooo was not working! I couldn’t get into his character and eventually I realized that he just had the wrong name! As soon as I figured out his name was West, he sorted himself out.

What traits does Eve have in common with you? Different?

We both can be really stubborn and tend to think we’re right. We get confused by emotion and aren’t always sure what we’re feeling. Different? Well Eve kicks some major @$$ and I’m kind of a wimp, lol! Sometimes I wish I was as tough as her!

What was the hardest part of Eden to write?

There is a scene where a certain character dies and I was really surprised at how emotional I got over killing them! I had debated killing them off earlier in the book but decided to hold off and when I finally did it I just felt so terrible!

What was your favorite scene to write?

That’s got to be the scene when Eve finally decides who it is that she really loves. The whole book had been building up to it and the scene is also very violent and action packed. My heart was pounding as I typed the words out!

Is there a reason why you named the place Eden?

Well the Garden of Eden was supposed to be this really peaceful, perfect place, and even though my Eden wasn’t that way, it was a refuge for those still left in this Fallen world. It just seemed fitting.

What was the hardest part of creating the world of Eden?

Creating the world actually wasn’t that difficult to me. I always had this clear picture of exactly what had become of the world. I suppose the most difficult thing involved though would be keeping the timeline straight. There’s a lot of events that have happened in 6+ years prior to where Eden starts and so it was sometimes hard to keep track of when things happened, who they happened to, how old people where when it happened, etc.

What was your first thought after you finished Eden?

HOLY CRAP! IT’S FINALLY DONE! Haha! It’s always a great feeling to finish a book. My heart starts beating really fast and I just feel plain awesome!

Where you can find Keary:

Website

Blog
Goodreads
Twitter

Eden by Keary Taylor

Title: Eden
Author: Keary Taylor
Published: June 2011
Pages: 408
Rating: 5/5
Synopsis: Eve knew the stories of the Fall, of a time before she wandered into the colony of Eden, unable to recall anything but her name. She's seen the aftermath of the technology that infused human DNA with cybernetic matter, able to grow new organs and limbs, how it evolved out of control. The machine took over and the soul vanished. A world quickly losing its humanity isn't just a story to her though. At eighteen, this world is Eve's reality.

In their Fallen world, love feels like a selfish luxury, but not understanding what it is makes it difficult to choose between West, who makes her feel alive but keeps too many secrets, and Avian, who has always been there for her, but is seven years her senior.

The technology wants to spread and it won't stop until there is no new flesh to assimilate. With only two percent of the human population left, mankind is on the brink of extinction. While fighting to keep Eden alive, Eve will discover that being human is about what you will do for those you love, not what your insides may be made of. And even if it gets you killed, love is always what separates them from the Fallen.
 
Review: I had read a book by Keary before I had read this one and I knew that I would enjoy it but I never thought I would love as much as I did!
 
The whole story is about how the little bit of people who have survived up to this point are trying to keep themselves alive. Eve lives in a community that they call Eden. She's basically the one that people see as the one responsible for bringing everyone safely back when they go on raids. As the story progresses you learn the world they live in and how Eve tries to deal with everything that she learns about herself.
 
Eve has had to grown up in a world that is different from the world it used to be. For Eve it doesn't matter how the world used to be because she can't seem to remember anything about herself before arriving at Eden. After finding out some things about herself Eve has to deal with the emotions that she's feeling, especially since she had never felt these things before. She did talk a lot about her feelings or both West and Avian but I think that was part of finding what she wanted. A really good thing about her? She sure can fight the Fallen.
 
I think West and Avian were both important for Eve to truly find herself and not feel to bound to Eden. West came to Eden and had to earn the trust of them while Avian has always been there and seems to be a leader. All along you seem to notice that there's more to West than one thinks but after finding out some of his story you realize that there's a reason why he keeps things secret even if I don't agree with it. Avian seems to be the one that's always there and helps Eve whenever she needs it and is willing to die for her. I'm not going to say who Eve ended up with but I was happy with the choice. =)
 
Keary Taylor has written one excellent book that I absolutely loved! I couldn't stop reading even when I knew that it was time to sleep. I enjoyed reading the many adventures that Eve had and also the things she did for the people of Eden. This is definitely a very good book!
 
I received this book from the author for an honest opinion.

Waiting on Wednesday (11)

Waiting on Wednesday WOW is hosted by Jill at Breaking the Spine and spotlights upcoming releases that you can't wait for!

Title: Anna Dressed in Blood

Author: Kendare Blake

Release: August 30th 2011

Goodreads Summary: Cas Lowood has inherited an unusual vocation: He kills the dead.

So did his father before him, until he was gruesomely murdered by a ghost he sought to kill. Now, armed with his father's mysterious and deadly athame, Cas travels the country with his kitchen-witch mother and their spirit-sniffing cat. Together they follow legends and local lore, trying to keep up with the murderous dead—keeping pesky things like the future and friends at bay.

When they arrive in a new town in search of a ghost the locals call Anna Dressed in Blood, Cas doesn't expect anything outside of the ordinary: track, hunt, kill. What he finds instead is a girl entangled in curses and rage, a ghost like he's never faced before. She still wears the dress she wore on the day of her brutal murder in 1958: once white, now stained red and dripping with blood. Since her death, Anna has killed any and every person who has dared to step into the deserted Victorian she used to call home.

But she, for whatever reason, spares Cas's life.

I've seen books where the ghost is a guy but I haven't seen one where a girl is the ghost. And the cover looks a bit creepy with that huge house which makes me want to read it! =)

Author Cover Interview: Arlaina Tibensky (And Then Things Fall Apart)

Today stopping by the blog is Arlaina Tibensky, author of And Then Things Fall Apart which comes out on July 26! I got to ask her some questions about her cover and this is what she said.

What were you're first thought when you first saw the cover?

“This is it!” was my first thought, or something just like that. This is my very first book and you have your whole life to write your first book but I never got as far as imagining the cover. And this cover is the most beautiful thing I’ve ever seen. I mean really-- If the cover of my book was a person, I take it on a carriage ride around Central Park and then go for a late night espresso and slice of cheesecake and then ask it to move in with me.

What is so amazing about the cover is that And Then Things Fall Apart is about lots of things: first love, literature, poetry, vintage clothes, family, figuring out who you are, books, friendship, fathers, mothers. This cover says it all in a glance. Jessica Handler, the cover designer is a genius!

When you first started writing the book did you ever think that it would have the cover that it has now?
I had this ridiculous idea that it would be an alternative version of a classic The Bell Jar cover so that Sylvia Plath fans would fall in love with it immediately. But as my editor and even Kirkus reviews keep saying- it is not ABOUT Sylvia Plath. The cover puts the book firmly in Keek’s world, where it belongs. I feel like the cover “gets” my book, which is why I love it so…

If you could change one thing about it what would it be?

I wish it were available in poster size so I could wallpaper my office with it.

Was there anything in particular that you wanted the cover to have?

I just knew what I DIDN’T want. I didn’t want any people on the cover, random teenagers kissing or weeping or leaning against cars/lockers/brick walls. No sunsets. No “quirky alternative” girl in striped tights drinking orange juice through a straw.

Who was the first person you showed the cover to and what did you tell them?

My mom. I said something like “Well, there it is…” I was still in shock at its magnificence. And she said “”…and it’s gorgeous!”

You can find Arlaina at these places:
Blog
Goodreads
Twitter

In My Mailbox (47)

In My Mailbox is hosted by The Story Siren! I didn't do an IMM last week because I was being lazy. =) So this week's IMM will be from last week too.

Bought:
Uncommon Criminals by Ally Carter
Life of Pi by Yan Martel
This is actually for homework that I was supposed to start a long time ago. =)

Won:
Open Wounds by Joseph Lunievicz
From when I participated in Armchair BEA!

Other:
Past Midnight by Mara Purnhagen
Since I'm part of Harlequin Teen Panel I got this book.

Thanks to Joseph + Armchair BEA and Harlequin Teen Panel!

What did you get this week?

Once Upon a Read-a-thon Mini Challenges!

I decided to post all the mini challenges together in 1 post. I'm not sure why I did it this way. =)

Mini Challenge #1- Hosted by IB Book Blogging

What is your favorite type of myth (Greek, Roman, Egyptian etc)?

Greek. I love mythology overall but I've always had something for Greek mythology. Even though my name is the name of a Roman goddess.

What is your favorite book with some type of mythology in it?

I don't think I've read many books that have had some type of mythology in it but with so many books coming out with mythology I plan to change this. The one book that I remember reading would have to be Percy Jackson.

Mini Challenge #6- Hosted by Books from Bleh to Basically Amazing

Pick any book you want and tell me and the world why it should be read and loved.

The book I would recommend to everyone would be Anna and the French Kiss. I just love this book! The way Stephanie writes and describes things make me want to visit Paris! And can I just say Etienne!

The second is what you would pick as your favorite of the read-a-thon.

I don't think I have much to pick from since I only manged to read 1 book. I know, sad. But my family seems to not want to let me read. Plus, I'm a really slow reader (extremely slow).

So there you have it. I didn't get much time to read or to do the other mini challenges but it was still fun to participate! =)

Once Upon a Read-a-thon!

So I know I'm a day late in this but I've been kind of busy with some stuff. Since I'm starting on Tuesday I'll only have 2 days to read but I hope to take advantage of those 2 days and read as much as I can! =)

I don't really know what I'll be reading but since I'm a slow reader I know I will probably only be able to read 2 books. And since I think it's time to start my homework since I only have a month to finish everything, it will be taking some time off my reading.

Bloodspell by Amalie Howard

Title: Bloodspell
Author: Amalie Howard
Published: June 2011
Pages: 394
Rating: 4.5/5
Synopsis: The spell was simple...

Cruentus Protectum (Defend the Blood)

But what do you do if your blood is your enemy?

Victoria Warrick has always known she was different. An outcast at school, she is no stranger to adversity. But when she receives an old journal for her seventeenth birthday, nothing prepares her for the dark secrets it holds -- much less one that reveals she's a witch with unimaginable power.

What's more, when she meets the dazzling but enigmatic Christian Devereux, she has no idea how much her life is about to change. Enemies will hunt her. Friends will turn on her. The terrible curse that makes her blood run black will stop at nothing to control her. And Christian has a sinister secret of his own...

Without knowing whom to trust, can Victoria survive her blood's deadly desires? Or will she lose everything, including herself?
 
Review: Victoria is trying to live her life as normal as she can when she knows that there's something different about her. When there's an accident at school she realizes that there's more to her than she thought. On her seventeenth birthday Victoria starts to learn things about her family and herself. She has to learn as much as she can to learn how she can control her power before it controls her.

At the beginning I didn't know what to expect from Victoria. As the book progressed I started to know her more. At first she denied being a witch and wanted nothing to do with it. As she learned more about her power and how to control it the more I felt that she had control over the things that happened. One thing I liked was that she was powerful but she had to find a way to control it.

 I loved how this was like to book I had read before. The supernatural creatures that were put in the book was a pairing that I had never seen before and something that I enjoyed. Another thing I loved was that the blood of Victoria played a big role in the things that she could accomplish. And those who turned out to be bad? I knew there was something up but I didn't think one of them was going to turn out to be that bad.

I wasn't expecting much from this book but I'm glad that I got more than I asked for. The rules that were put between Christian and Victoria made it harder for them but they didn't give up. And since there's going to be a sequel I will definitely want to know what else happens to them. If you're looking for a book that has that supernatural element but a little different then I would recommend that you try out Bloodspell.

Book Blogger Hop & Follow Friday!

Book Blogger Hop is a fun meme hosted by Crazy For Books. Enter your link and go hop around other blogs that are out there, ready to be discovered!

I'm enjoying having no school., especially since I get to stay up very late. =) And getting to read in silence since no one is in the house in the morning.

What keeps you reading beyond the first few pages of a book, and what makes you want to stop reading a book and put it back on the shelf?

I don't think I've ever started a book and then stopped. I tend to want to always finish the book I'm reading, even if it takes me months to finish. If I like it or not just depends if I'm enjoying it and I'm eager to know more about what happens to the characters. =)

To join the fun and make now book blogger friends, just follow these simple rules:

1.Follow the Follow My Book Blog Friday Host { Parajunkee.com } and any one else you want to follow on the list.
2.Follow our Featured Bloggers
3.Put your Blog name & URL in the Linky thing.
4.Grab the button up there and place it in a post, this post is for people to find a place to say hi in your comments
5.Follow Follow Follow as many as you can

ACK! Your favorite book/movie character (example Hermione Granger played by the Emma chick) just walked into the room! Who is it and what would be your first reaction? You get extra points if you include visual stimulation.

Picking a favorite book/movie character is really hard so I'll have to pick a book and a movie character!! My book character would have to be Rose from the Vampire Academy series by Richelle Mead. I could definitely learn some moves from her!

My movie character would be Jack Sparrow! I love how he can both be very smart or very not smart! I would probably just freak out and not believe he was actually there!

If you're visiting, make sure you leave your link and I'll make sure to visit your blog!