In My Mailbox {3}

Welcome to In My Mailbox Week Three! So I've been kind of busy this week, but I'm trying to read as much as possible. I haven't really gotten to buy any books just because I haven't had time to go out. But I was able to buy one, and an audio book. So here's the books I got this week.

Bought

Elixir - Hilary Duff

I heard this was a pretty decent novel so I decided to give it a shot, but instead I found the audio book, so I can use it for the Whisper Stories in my Ear Challenge. Here's the Synopsis from Goodreads.

"Clea Raymond lives an extraordinary life. The daughter of renowned surgeon and a prominent Washington DC figure, she has been in the spotlight her entire life. Followed by the paparazzi, she resents the attention that is lavished on her for her looks alone because she has so much more to offer. Clea Raymond has a unique gift. A proficient photographer, in all her pictures, there is little something extra, and it's not just a result of her talented eye. There is always an extra photo that she didn't take. And, as she discovered at a young age, those photos always lead to a place where some tragedy is about to occur that Clea can prevent. Two years ago, her father disappeared while on a humanitarian mission and is presumed dead, but that doesn't stop Clea and her mother from continuing to do good throughout the world. On one such trip to Columbia, she meets Race, the guide for the trip. She feels a connection to him but cannot explain why. Was it something in their past or possibly in their past lives? Whatever has brought them together is threatning to tear them apart forever. As the mystery of her father's disappearance unravels, Clea discover that she has powers that are bigger than anything she could have anticipated."

Thirteen Reasons Why - Jay Asher

I honestly do not know how long it has been since I have wanted to read this book. I have heard so much about it and just needed to finally get a copy to read! Here's the Synopsis from Goodreads.

"Jay Asher's brilliant first novel is a moving, highly original story that focuses on a set of audiotapes made by a girl before she committed suicide, and which explain to 13 people the reasons why she decided to end her life. Told in a highly effective duel narrative -- alternating between the girl s voice and the thoughts of a boy who is listening -- this honest, poignant story reveals how other people's actions shape, and by extension can ruin, an individual's faith in people. Intensely powerful and painfully real, Thirteen Reasons Why reveals how brutal high school can be, the consequences of spreading rumors, and the lasting effects of suicide on those left behind."

For Review

Queens of all the Earth - Hannah Sternberg
Publication Date - June 15th 2011

This cover just pulled me in, I mean look at it, doesn't it look gorgeous. Here's the synopsis from Goodreads

"As her freshman classmates move into dorms at Cornell University, Olivia Somerset suffers a nervous breakdown. When months of coaxing and analyzing fail to rouse Olivia from her stupor, big sister Miranda decides the sisters should fly off to Barcelona for some "vacation therapy." When a mistake at their Barcelona hostel leaves the Somersets in a large co-ed dorm room, Olivia and Miranda are saved by kindly Mr. Brown and his son Greg, who happily volunteer to surrender their private room. But while Olivia feels an instant connection with brooding Greg Brown, Miranda sides with fellow guest and cocky American travel writer Lenny: The Browns are just plain weird, and must be avoided at all costs. In the midst of urbane Peruvian priests-in-training and Scottish soccer fans, from the shops of La Rambla to the waters of the Mediterranean to the soaring heights of Montjuic, Miranda works to protect her still-fragile sister while Olivia struggles to understand her burgeoning adulthood, her feelings for Greg, and the fear that makes the next step in her life so impossible to take. "

Populazzi - Elise Allen

Publication Date - August 1st 2011

I have been hearing about this book everywhere so I just knew I couldn't pass up a chance at reading and reviewing it. Here's the synopsis from Goodreads.

"Cara has always dreamed of being a Populazzi, one of the popular crowd. But it’s not until she changes schools that she gets a shot at it, thanks to her best friend Claudia’s crazy plan. The idea is simple: The rungs of The Ladder are relationships. First get a boyfriend who's ranked low, then climb up through more boyfriends until you're not just one of the Populazzi, but the Supreme Populazzi. Yet what starts off as a fairy tale turns into a somewhat dark comedy of errors. Just when Cara reaches the top, her life hits rock bottom. She wonders why she wanted to be popular in the first place—and if there’s any way to live happily ever after now."

Save the Date - Jenny Jones

Publication Date - February 1st 2011

Now I know this isn't considered a "Young Adult" novel, but it is one that I have been wanting to read, so I decided to share it with you all anyway. Here's the synopsis from Goodreads.

"Former NFL star Alex Sinclair is a man who has it all--except the votes he needs to win his bid for Congress. Despite their mutual dislike, Alex makes Lucy a proposition: pose as his fiancee in return for the money she desperately needs. Bound to a man who isn't quite what he seems, Lucy will find her heart on the line--and maybe even her life. When God asks Alex and Lucy to scrap their playbook and follow his rules, will they finally say, "I do"?"

The Lipstick Laws - Amy Holder

Publication Date - April 4th 2011

I pretty much almost squealed when I got this one it just sounds so good, read the synopsis from Goodreads and you'll understand why.

"At Penford High School, Britney Taylor is the queen bee. She dates whomever she likes, rules over her inner circle of friends like Genghis Khan, and can ruin anyone's life with a snap of perfectly manicured fingers. Just ask the unfortunate few who have crossed her.   For April Bowers, Britney is also the answer to her prayers. April is so unpopular, kids don't even know she exists. But one lunch spent at Britney's table, and April is basking in the glow of popularity.   But Britney's friendship comes with a high price tag. How much is April willing to pay?"

What did you get in your mailbox this week??

In My Mailbox is an idea created by Kristi of The Story Siren and Alea of Pop Culture Junkie. Kristi is my role-model and I can't help but check her blog every day, so I suggest you all go and check out her blog it you are not already following her and Alea's as well because she posts some amazing crafts.

Whisper Stories In My Ear

So Whisper Stories in my Ear is a challenge hosted by Bewitched Bookworms. This challenge was created to have a challenge for people that don't necessarily have the time to sit down and read an entire book. I wanted to jump on this opportunity because I have some audio books I wouldn't mind getting from the library. The goal is to listen to 12 audio books over the course of the entire year. So in my reviews I will be stating whether or not it was an audio book. Here is just a small list of the books I plan to listen to

Elixir - Hilary Duff, Elise Allen

"Clea Raymond lives an extraordinary life. The daughter of renowned surgeon and a prominent Washington DC figure, she has been in the spotlight her entire life. Followed by the paparazzi, she resents the attention that is lavished on her for her looks alone because she has so much more to offer. Clea Raymond has a unique gift. A proficient photographer, in all her pictures, there is little something extra, and it's not just a result of her talented eye. There is always an extra photo that she didn't take. And, as she discovered at a young age, those photos always lead to a place where some tragedy is about to occur that Clea can prevent. Two years ago, her father disappeared while on a humanitarian mission and is presumed dead, but that doesn't stop Clea and her mother from continuing to do good throughout the world. On one such trip to Columbia, she meets Race, the guide for the trip. She feels a connection to him but cannot explain why. Was it something in their past or possibly in their past lives? Whatever has brought them together is threatning to tear them apart forever. As the mystery of her father's disappearance unravels, Clea discover that she has powers that are bigger than anything she could have anticipated."

Fallen - Lauren Kate

"There’s something achingly familiar about Daniel Grigori. Mysterious and aloof, he captures Luce Price’s attention from the moment she sees him on her first day at the Sword & Cross boarding school in sultry Savannah, Georgia. He’s the one bright spot in a place where cell phones are forbidden, the other students are all screw-ups, and security cameras watch every move. Even though Daniel wants nothing to do with Luce–and goes out of his way to make that very clear–she can’t let it go. Drawn to him like a moth to a flame, she has to find out what Daniel is so desperate to keep secret . . . even if it kills her.

Hush, Hush - Becca Fitzpatrick

"For Nora Grey, romance was not part of the plan. She's never been particularly attracted to the boys at her school, no matter how much her best friend, Vee, pushes them at her. Not until Patch came along. With his easy smile and eyes that seem to see inside her, Nora is drawn to him against her better judgment. But after a series of terrifying encounters, Nora's not sure who to trust. Patch seems to be everywhere she is, and to know more about her than her closest friends. She can't decide whether she should fall into his arms or run and hide. And when she tries to seek some answers, she finds herself near a truth that is way more unsettling than anything Patch makes her feel. For Nora is right in the middle of an ancient battle between the immortal and those that have fallen - and, when it comes to choosing sides, the wrong choice will cost her life"

So these are just a few of the really good books I keep hearing about that I'm deciding to do this challenge with. I can't wait to get going on this and start letting you all know in my reviews.

Follow Friday {2}

So here's my Second Follow Friday. Hosted by Parajunkee, just so you can get to know me a little more.

What is/was your favorite Subject in School.

I would have to say that my Favorite subject in school is Science. I'm just a huge nerd all around and i love to learn about the human body and muscles and cells. I'm in school right now with a double major in Sociology and Anthropology so I can go into Forensic Anthropology, so anything that will help me progress in that is fun to me.

What about you my followers? What is/was your favorite subject in school?

I've got another review coming tomorrow too so be ready!

Review: Kissing Annabel by Steven Herrick

Kissing Annabel by Steven Herrick

Release Date: January 27, 2009
Publisher: Simon Pulse
Age Group: Young Adult
Pages: 240
Overall: 3.5/5

Love's a curious thing.Jack is an average sixteen-year-old. He's obsessed with sex, sports, and his maturing body. He's got a lot on his plate, but one issue is constantly on his mind: his mother's death. It's been seven years, but Jack has yet to let her go....That is, until he meets Annabel.Annabel is beautiful, smart, and most important, she gets Jack. Suddenly love makes sense, and the future seems hopeful. And for the first time, Jack feels ready to leave the past where it belongs.

This book is a bind up of Love, Ghosts, and Facial Hair, and A Place Like This. These two books focus on the life of Jack and his family. Something I thoroughly enjoyed is how the perspective of the book jumps from one character to another, focusing on Jack, his sister Desiree, his father, and Annabel throughout the first novel.  I also liked getting to meet more people in the second novel, and seeing their perspective. I feel like I know more about each character than the characters know about each other. It is told entirely through poems, that I have to admit change rhyming schemes frequently, but it doesn't change the pace of the book.


This book is just so adorable, I feel like squealing. Meeting Jack and seeing him grow up and how he develops is enthralling. His relationship with Annabel is just so strong and happens so quickly, just like most young loves do. The entire novel focuses on how love is the core to all and it can help you overcome anything. This message is so strong throughout the entire story and it's moving.


This is definitely a book that I would recommend to someone, anyone really. It's a fast paced story and has quiet a bit of detail for being written in poem form. You can really gain the sense of these characters and their relationships and they develop over the years, yes I said years, Jack starts the novel at 16 and end the novel being 18. I know that's not a lot but for being only 240 pages and being in poems, it goes by quickly. If you are looking for a book with a cute storyline that deals with young love, how it evolves, and how to overcome tragedy, then I would recommend this book to you. It's an easy read with a lot of heart and meaning to it.

"Waiting On" Wednesday {2}

Hey Everyone! Welcome to my second Waiting on Wednesday! There's only one book this week that I am dying to tell you all about, as well as dying to read. Delerium is still at the top of my list of books I can't wait for though. but here's this weeks book

Lies That Chelsea Handler Told Me (Borderline Amazing/A Chelsea Handler Book) By Chelsea's Family, Friends, and other victims

Publication Date: May 10, 2011

I absolutely love anything about or by Chelsea Handler. I have read all of her other books except the most recent Chelsea Chelsea Bang Bang, which I need to get asap. But this one looks hilarious and I'm so excited she has another book coming out. Here is the synopsis from Goodreads.

""My tendency to make up stories and lie compulsively for the sake of my own amusement takes up a good portion of my day and provides me with a peace of mind not easily attainable in this economic climate."--Chelsea Handler, from Chapter 10 of Chelsea Chelsea Bang Bang 

It's no lie: Chelsea Handler loves to smoke out "dumbassness," the condition people suffer from that allows them to fall prey to her brand of complete and utter nonsense. Friends, family, co-workers--they've all been tricked by Chelsea into believing stories of total foolishness and into behaving like total fools. Luckily, they've lived to tell the tales and, for the very first time, write about them. "

What's your "waiting on" book of the week?

"Waiting On" Wednesday is hosted by Jill at Breaking the Spine!

Blog Update

So I feel kind of bad because I don't have anything scheduled for today. I'm trying to finish multiple books and get their reviews in order so that's something that you can be looking forward to in the next couple of days. I also wanted to have a chance to thank everyone for such an amazing first week. I have been on this blog for a Full week now and it's been an amazing first week. I've already reached 6 followers which still makes me giddy. I love seeing all the comments and feedback I'm getting too! I also wanted to thank everyone for helping me get to over 100 views in such a short time. I didn't think that in just the first week this blog would be as successful as it is and it gives me a lot more will to keep doing what I am doing. I know there are no full reviews up but there will be some later in the week like I said. They will each have their own posts and I will try to get them up as soon as possible, I just have to work around my school and homework. But no worries I'm not going to change anything because it seems to be working so well. Again thank you all and I can't wait to keep on this adventure with you all and continue blogging and reading.

In My Mailbox {2}

Welcome to my second edition of In My Mailbox. I decided Sundays would be better for this post so here it is! I went a little crazy at the library this week. I couldn't help myself seeing all the good books on people's blogs I just had to go and rent a few. So here are this weeks In My Mailbox books.

Library

Tricks - Ellen Hopkins

I have read a few other novels by Ellen and Tricks is one of the few that I have yet to read so when I saw it in the library I knew I had to get it to read. Here's the synopsis from Goodreads

"Five teenagers from different parts of the country. Three girls. Two guys. Four straight. One gay. Some rich. Some poor. Some from great families. Some with no one at all. All living their lives as best they can, but all searching...for freedom, safety, community, family, love. What they don't expect, though, is all that can happen when those powerful little words "I love you" are said for all the wrong reasons. "

Looking For Alaska - John Green


This is another book I've been meaning to read for some time. I've read An Abundance of Katherines and I just loved it so when I heard of this one it was put on my To Be Read list and now I finally get to read it. Here's the synopsis from Goodreads.


"Miles Halter is fascinated by famous last words and tired of his safe life at home. He leaves for boarding school to seek what the dying poet Francois Rabelais called the "Great Perhaps." Much awaits Miles at Culver Creek, including Alaska Young. Clever, funny, screwed-up, and dead sexy, Alaska will pull Miles into her labyrinth and catapult him into the Great Perhaps. "

Evermore - Alyson Noel


I have been hearing a lot of hype over this book and just couldn't wait to get my hands on a copy. So I saw it in the library and knew it was something that I needed to read. Here's the synopsis from Goodreads.


"Since a horrible accident claimed the lives of her family, sixteen-year-old Ever can see auras, hear people’s thoughts, and know a person’s life story by touch.   Going out of her way to shield herself from human contact to suppress her abilities has branded her as a freak at her new high school—but everything changes when she meets Damen Auguste… 

Ever sees Damen and feels an instant recognition.  He is gorgeous, exotic and wealthy, and he holds many secrets.  Damen is able to make things appear and disappear, he always seems to know what she’s thinking—and he’s the only one who can silence the noise and the random energy in her head.  She doesn’t know who he really is—or what he is.  Damen equal parts light and darkness, and he belongs to an enchanted new world where no one ever dies."

Kiss of Life - Daniel Waters

I just finished reading the first in this series Generation Dead and when I saw it in the Library I just had to get it. I am dieing to know what happens with Phoebe and Adam and the rest of the "Differently Biotic" kids in the second of this series. If you haven't read the first one DO NOT READ THE SYNOPSIS SPOILER ALERT but here it is for anyone that has read Generation Dead, from Goodreads.

"The phenomenon that's been sweeping the country seems to be here to stay.  Not only are the teenagers who have come back from their graves still here, but newlydeads are being unearthed all the time.  While scientists look for answers and politicians take their stands, the undead population of Oakville have banded together in a group they're calling the Sons of Romero, hoping to find solidarity in segregation.

Phoebe Kendall may be alive, but she feels just as lost and alone as her dead friends.  Just when she reconciled herself to having feelings for a zombie -- her Homecoming date Tommy Williams -- her friend Adam is murdered taking a bullet that was meant for her.  Things get even more confusing when Adam comes back from the grave.  Now she has romantic interest in two dead boys; one who saved her life, and one she can't seem to live without."

Kindle

So I've had a giftcard for amazon from my Aunt from Christmas and I just didn't get around to spending it util this week and I got some amazing books with some great deals too!

The Dark Divine - Bree Despain

This is another book that I have been hearing amazing reviews about and just couldn't wait to read. I actually got this book for only $2.39 saving almost $17 which to me is an amazing deal. Here's the synopsis from Goodreads.

"Grace Divine—daughter of the local pastor—always knew something terrible happened the night Daniel Kalbi disappeared and her brother Jude came home covered in his own blood. 

Now that Daniel's returned, Grace must choose between her growing attraction to him and her loyalty to her brother. 

As Grace gets closer to Daniel, she learns the truth about that mysterious night and how to save the ones she loves, but it might cost her the one thing she cherishes most: her soul."

Hex Hall - Rachel Hawkins

I have been wanting this book for so long but it's almost $20 to buy it new because it's still in hardcover at my Borders so I knew this was one I would have to be buying for my Kindle because you don't have to pay for printing. Here's the synopsis from Goodreads.

"Three years ago, Sophie Mercer discovered that she was a witch. It's gotten her into a few scrapes. Her non-gifted mother has been as supportive as possible, consulting Sophie's estranged father--an elusive European warlock--only when necessary. But when Sophie attracts too much human attention for a prom-night spell gone horribly wrong, it's her dad who decides her punishment: exile to Hex Hall, an isolated reform school for wayward Prodigium, a.k.a. witches, faeries, and shapeshifters.

By the end of her first day among fellow freak-teens, Sophie has quite a scorecard: three powerful enemies who look like supermodels, a futile crush on a gorgeous warlock, a creepy tagalong ghost, and a new roommate who happens to be the most hated person and only vampire student on campus. Worse, Sophie soon learns that a mysterious predator has been attacking students, and her only friend is the number-one suspect. As a series of blood-curdling mysteries starts to converge, Sophie prepares for the biggest threat of all: an ancient secret society determined to destroy all Prodigium, especially her."

The Last Olympian - Rick Riordan

I'm actually kind of sad to say that I now own this book. I've read the entire series up to this novel and I know I'm going to be depressed once I'm done because it's been such an amazing series and I never want it to actually end. Here's the synopsis from Goodreads.

"All year the half-bloods have been preparing for battle against the Titans, knowing the odds of a victory are grim. Kronos’s army is stronger than ever, and with every god and half-blood he recruits, the evil Titan’s power only grows. 

While the Olympians struggle to contain the rampaging monster Typhon, Kronos begins his advance on New York City, where Mount Olympus stands virtually unguarded. Now it’s up to Percy Jackson and an army of young demigods to stop the Lord of Time. "

Stray - Rachel Vincent

I honestly hadn't heard of this book or series until I signed up to do the January 2011 reading challenge for a group I am in on Goodreads but after reading about it and knowing what it's about I'm excited to read this one this month. So here's the synopsis from Goodreads.

"There are only eight breeding female werecats left . . .
And I'm one of them.

I look like an all-American grad student. But I am a werecat, a shape-shifter, and I live in two worlds.

Despite reservations from my family and my Pride, I escaped the pressure to continue my species and carved out a normal life for myself. Until the night a Stray attacked.

I'd been warned about Strays -- werecats without a Pride, constantly on the lookout for someone like me: attractive, female, and fertile. I fought him off, but then learned two of my fellow tabbies had disappeared.

This brush with danger was all my Pride needed to summon me back . . . for my own protection. Yeah, right. But I'm no meek kitty. I'll take on whatever -- and whoever -- I have to in order to find my friends. Watch out, Strays -- 'cause I got claws, and I'm not afraid to use them . . ."

For Review

Here are some of the books I received this week to review from different publishers.

The Vespertine - Saundra Mitchell

I don't know how to describe in words how utterly ecstatic I was when I received this book. I have already heard so many things about it and it just sounds so good I cannot wait to start reading it! Here's what the synopsis from Goodreads says.

"It’s the summer of 1889, and Amelia van den Broek is new to Baltimore and eager to take in all the pleasures the city has to offer. But her gaiety is interrupted by disturbing, dreamlike visions she has only at sunset—visions that offer glimpses of the future. Soon, friends and strangers alike call on Amelia to hear her prophecies. However, a forbidden romance with Nathaniel, an artist, threatens the new life Amelia is building in Baltimore. This enigmatic young man is keeping secrets of his own—still, Amelia finds herself irrepressibly drawn to him. When one of her darkest visions comes to pass, Amelia’s world is thrown into chaos. And those around her begin to wonder if she’s not the seer of dark portents, but the cause."

Shine - Lauren Myracle

I love Lauren Myracle's Internet Girls series so when I saw this one I knew that I had to give it a shot. Here's the synopsis from Goodreads.

"When her best guy friend falls victim to a vicious hate crime, sixteen-year-old Cat sets out to discover who in her small town did it. Richly atmospheric, this daring mystery mines the secrets of a tightly knit Southern community and examines the strength of will it takes to go against everyone you know in the name of justice. "

What did you get in your mailbox this week??

In My Mailbox is an idea created by Kristi of The Story Siren and Alea of Pop Culture Junkie. Kristi is my role-model and I can't help but check her blog every day, so I suggest you all go and check out her blog it you are not already following her and Alea's as well because she posts some amazing crafts.

Follow Friday {1}

Follow Friday is a weekly meme hosted Parajunkee. This week's question is

Who do you cheer for?

So I'm a big sports fan so I guess I can go by each sport. So for Football I am a New Orleans Saints fan. I have been for over two years now so last season was a good season for me! I also watch International and US Soccer. My favorite US men's soccer team is the Chicago Fire. Then I cheer for Real Madrid in la liga and Arsenal in the British Premiere League. I semi watch Baseball but when I do I'm usually cheering for the Chicago White Sox. Can you guess which state I live in? haha. I like basketball too but I don't really have a favorite team so I just cheer for who I feel like. Who do you cheer for?

2011 Debut Author Challenge

Happy Thursday Everyone! So I've finally decided to join the 2011 Debut Author Challenge that is being hosted by Kristi at The Story Siren. I am honestly not sure how many books I am going to attempt, but I would like to read at least 12. That way I've read one for each month (even if they aren't released for that month). So here are a few books I plan to read this year.

Across The Universe - Beth Revis

"Seventeen-year-old Amy joins her parents as frozen cargo aboard the vast spaceship Godspeed and expects to awaken on a new planet, three hundred years in the future. Never could she have known that her frozen slumber would come to an end fifty years too soon and that she would be thrust into the brave new world of a spaceship that lives by its own rules.

Amy quickly realizes that her awakening was no mere computer malfunction. Someone-one of the few thousand inhabitants of the spaceship-tried to kill her. And if Amy doesn't do something soon, her parents will be next.

Now Amy must race to unlock Godspeed's hidden secrets. But out of her list of murder suspects, there's only one who matters: Elder, the future leader of the ship and the love she could never have seen coming."

XVI - Julia Karr

"Nina Oberon's life is pretty normal: she hangs out with her best friend, Sandy, and their crew, goes to school, plays with her little sister, Dee. But Nina is 15. And like all girls she'll receive a Governing Council-ordered tattoo on her 16th birthday. XVI. Those three letters will be branded on her wrist, announcing to all the world—even the most predatory of men—that she is ready for sex. Considered easy prey by some, portrayed by the Media as sluts who ask for attacks, becoming a "sex-teen" is Nina's worst fear. That is, until right before her birthday, when Nina's mom is brutally attacked. With her dying breaths, she reveals to Nina a shocking truth about her past—one that destroys everything Nina thought she knew. Now, alone but for her sister, Nina must try to discover who she really is, all the while staying one step ahead of her mother's killer."

Between Shades of Gray - Ruta Sepetys

"Lina is just like any other fifteen-year-old Lithuanian girl in 1941. She paints, she draws, she gets crushes on boys. Until one night when Soviet officers barge into her home, tearing her family from the comfortable life they've known. Separated from her father, forced onto a crowded and dirty train car, Lina, her mother, and her young brother slowly make their way north, crossing the Arctic Circle, to a work camp in the coldest reaches of Siberia. Here they are forced, under Stalin's orders, to dig for beets and fight for their lives under the cruelest of conditions."

Other Words For Love - Lorraine Zago Rosenthal

"When an unexpected inheritance enables Ari to transfer to an elite Manhattan prep school, she makes a wealthy new friend, Leigh. Leigh introduces Ari to the glamorous side of New York--and to her gorgeous cousin, Blake. Ari doesn't think she stands a chance, but amazingly, Blake asks her out. As their romance heats up, they find themselves involved in an intense, consuming relationship. Ari's family worries that she is losing touch with the important things in life, like family, hard work, and planning for the future. When misfortune befalls Blake's family, he pulls away, and Ari's world drains of color. As she struggles to get over the breakup, Ari must finally ask herself: were their feelings true love . . . or something else?"

Of course there will be more as I go but these are just the ones I plan to start with.  If you'd like to sign up for the challenge go here

"Waiting On" Wednesday {1}

This is the Second Meme that I'm going to be adopting to my blog. Here I'll post some books each week that I can't wait for them to be published. I honestly don't know how I am going to make it through the next month or so before these three books are released because I want to read them so badly.

Vesper By Jeff Sampson
Puclication Date: January 25th

Goodreads:

"Emily Webb is a geek. And she’s happy that way. Content hiding under hoodies and curling up to watch old horror flicks, she’s never been the kind of girl who sneaks out for midnight parties. And she’s definitely not the kind of girl who starts fights or flirts with other girls’ boyfriends. Until one night Emily finds herself doing exactly that . . . the same night one of her classmates—also named Emily—is found mysteriously murdered. The thing is, Emily doesn’t know why she’s doing any of this. By day, she’s the same old boring Emily, but by night, she turns into a thrill seeker. With every nightfall, Emily gets wilder until it’s no longer just her personality that changes. Her body can do things it never could before: Emily is now strong, fast, and utterly fearless. And soon Emily realizes that she’s not just coming out of her shell . . . there’s something much bigger going on. Is she bewitched by the soul of the other, murdered Emily? Or is Emily Webb becoming something else entirely— something not human? As Emily hunts for answers, she finds out that she’s not the only one this is happening to—some of her classmates are changing as well. Who is turning these teens into monsters—and how many people will they kill to get what they want?"

Cryer's Cross By Lisa McMann
Publication Date: February 8th

Goodreads:

"The community of Cryer’s Cross, Montana (population 212) is distraught when high school freshman Tiffany disappears without a trace. Already off-balance due to her OCD, 16-year-old Kendall is freaked out seeing Tiffany’s empty desk in the one-room school house, but somehow life goes on... until Kendall's boyfriend Nico also disappears, and also without a trace. Now the town is in a panic. Alone in her depression and with her OCD at an all-time high, Kendall notices something that connects Nico and Tiffany: they both sat at the same desk. She knows it's crazy, but Kendall finds herself drawn to the desk, dreaming of Nico and wondering if maybe she, too, will disappear...and whether that would be so bad. Then she begins receiving graffiti messages on the desk from someone who can only be Nico. Can he possibly be alive somewhere? Where is he? And how can Kendall help him? The only person who believes her is Jacian, the new guy she finds irritating...and attractive. As Kendall and Jacian grow closer, Kendall digs deeper into Nico's mysterious disappearance only to stumble upon some ugly—and deadly—local history. Kendall is about to find out just how far the townspeople will go to keep their secrets buried."

Delirium By Lauren Oliver
Publication Date: February 1st

Goodreads:

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

What's your "waiting on" book of the week?

"Waiting On" Wednesday is hosted by Jill at Breaking the Spine!

In My Mailbox {1}

So here is a little list of books that I have received in one way or another in the past week. I plan to make this a weekly post on Tuesdays, I know it's a weird day, but Mondays are always a bit hectic and by Tuesday things have calmed down. So welcome to my very first In My Mailbox and hopefully this is just the first of many.


Bought

These books I bought at Borders over the weekend. They have been some books that I have been wanting to read for some time and was able to finally pick up for myself.

 The Death By Bikini mysteries - Linda Gerber

This is a 3 book series that includes Death By Bikini, Death by Latte, and Death by Denim, and I was able to purchase the bind-up from Boarders so I have all three books in one. Here's what is published on Goodreads about the mysteries.

"Aphra Connolly was living a quiet, teenage life. But that was before devastatingly handsome Seth Mulo turned up at her family's island resort. And that was before a girl the strings of her bikini top tight around her neck was discovered dead on the beach. Without warning, Aphra is plunged into a vast conspiracy that takes her from Seattle to Paris to Italy. And, in the end, Aphra and Seth will be lucky to escape with their lives and hearts intact."

Twenty Boy Summer - Sarah Ockler

I spotted this book in a magazine over the summer and fell in love with the cover, so I went to Goodreads and looked up what is was about, and the story just sounds like such a good tale about Friendship, Love, and overcoming loss. I've been looking for it for some time now and I was finally able to find a copy and I cannot wait to start reading it. Here's what the synopsis from Goodreads says.

"According to her best friend Frankie, twenty days in Zanzibar Bay is the perfect opportunity to have a summer fling, and if they meet one boy ever day, there's a pretty good chance Anna will find her first summer romance. Anna lightheartedly agrees to the game, but there's something she hasn't told Frankie—-she's already had that kind of romance, and it was with Frankie's older brother, Matt, just before his tragic death one year ago."

Girl Overboard - Justina Chen Headley

This book caught my eye from the shelf, I am a very big sucker for a book that has a pretty spine and a gorgeous front cover. The picture doesn't do it justice. The "snow" just makes the book so color full I can't stop looking at it. Here's the synopsis from Goodreads.

"The worst thing about having it all, is having to deal with it all - the good, the bad, and the just plain weird. Everybody thinks Syrah is the golden girl. After all, her father is Ethan Cheng, billionaire, and she has everything any kid could possibly desire, right down to a waterfront mansion, jet plane, and custom-designed snowboards. But as Syrah reveals in her manga journal, most of what glitters in her life is fool's gold. Her half-sibs hate her, her best friend's girlfriend is threatening their friendship, and a snowboarding accident exiles her from the mountains - the one place where she feels free and accepted for who she is, not what she has. After Syrah rehabs her busted-up knee and broken heart, makes a new friend, uncovers a family secret, and discovers a way to help a young girl with leukemia, she is finally able to realize her real worth"

For Review

These are some Advanced Reading Copies that I received to read and review.

This Girl Is Different - JJ Johnson

I was lucky enough to be able to receive an e-version of this book from netgalley to have a chance to read it and send a review to the publishers before the book is published. I'll include more information about the book, story, and author with the full review. Here is what the synopsis on Goodreads has.

"This girl is different… That’s what Evie has always told herself—and it’s true. Home-schooled by her counter culture mom, she’s decided to see what high school is like for the first time—for her senior year. And what a year it is.  As it turns out, it’s not just Evie who’s Different. Lots of people are. Many of her assumptions about others are turned on their heads as she makes friends with kids her own age for the first time, discovers what’s good and what’s bad about high school, and learns lessons about power and its abuse—both by the administration and by Evie herself" 

Cinderella: Ninja Warrior - Maureen McGowen

This book is a new take on an old classic. I'm excited to read it because as you read you also get to make decisions for Cinderella, and I love to feel involved with a story and I'm excited to be lucky enough to recieve it from netgalley for review. Here's the synopsis on Goodreads.

"In this fast-paced story full of adventure and romance, Cinderella is more than just a servant girl waiting for her prince—she's a tough, fearless girl who is capable of taking charge of a dangerous situation. Seeking to escape the clutches of her evil stepmother, Cinderella perfects her ninja skills and magic talents in secret, waiting for the day when she can break free and live happily ever after. "

What did you get in your mailbox this week??

In My Mailbox is an idea created by Kristi of The Story Siren and Alea of Pop Culture Junkie. Kristi is my role-model and I can't help but check her blog every day, so I suggest you all go and check out her blog it you are not already following her and Alea's as well because she posts some amazing crafts.