Stacking the Shevles #10 (3/29/2014)

Stacking The Shelves is hosted by Tynga's Reviews and is all about sharing the books you are adding to your shelves, may it be physical or virtual. This means you can include books you buy in physical store or online, books you borrow from friends or the library, review books, gifts and of course ebooks!

Received for Review

Purchased



A Different Kind

Author: Lauryn April

Author Website/Blog: http://laurynapril.blogspot.com/

Publication Date: March 30, 2014

Summary: Payton Carlson’s life is perfect – until the night she’s abducted by aliens. Now she’s plagued by pieces of memories from a night that feels as hazy as a dream, and that’s not the only strange thing that’s been happening. When Payton’s neighbor, Logan Reed, who spends every night sitting on his roof staring at the stars, starts to pay extra attention to her, Payton starts to wonder if he knows more about the night she can’t remember than she does. Suddenly finding a date to the Homecoming dance and cheering at the football games aren’t as important as they used to be - especially when the aliens return for a second time. (Source of Summary and Book Cover: Goodreads)

Source: Author in exchange for an honest review

Rating: 4 stars 

Review: I really enjoyed this book. Now, if I had to categorize this book, I would call it a YA paranormal with a touch of sci-fi; yes there are aliens, but the sci-fi is not overwhelming it’s more of a blend that I think a larger audience will enjoy. 

I don’t have much experience reading about aliens, but I think Lauryn April’s take on them is pretty unique and original. The Greys are totally creepy, but a well-developed species. 

I loved the characters in this book. Payton starts out unlikeable but she grows so much throughout the novel that I couldn’t help but root for her. I love the way the author wrote the growth; she let us into Payton’s internal thoughts and reflections – I really hope this character inspires teens to be conscious of their words and actions. Logan is pretty awesome. Jo might be my favorite; she also grows in the book, but in a different way. Lauryn April is truly connected to her intended young adult audience, her characters feel like they could be from any high school and like any teen could relate to them. 

The plot moves at a good pace. There were a few times where it felt like it dragged a little, but the action scenes made up for it.Overall, I enjoyed it and would recommend it.

WWW#5 (3/26/2014)

WWW Wednesday is a weekly meme hosted by Should Be Reading.

To participate, just answer the following questions.

• What are you currently reading?
• What did you recently finish reading?
• What do you think you'll read next?

Currently Reading

 

Summary from Goodreads: Payton Carlson’s life is perfect – until the night she’s abducted by aliens. Now she’s plagued by pieces of memories from a night that feels as hazy as a dream, and that’s not the only strange thing that’s been happening. When Payton’s neighbor, Logan Reed, who spends every night sitting on his roof staring at the stars, starts to pay extra attention to her, Payton starts to wonder if he knows more about the night she can’t remember than she does. Suddenly finding a date to the Homecoming dance and cheering at the football games aren’t as important as they used to be - especially when the aliens return for a second time.

Recently Finished

My Review

Up Next

Top Ten Tuesday #4 (3/25/2014)

Top Ten Tuesday is hosted over at The Broke and Bookish, and this weeks Top Ten is: Top Ten Things On My Bookish Bucket List

1.  Meet an author and get a picture! (preferably one whose book I've read, reviewed, and enjoyed)

2.  Ride a library ladder like Belle!


3.  Reach more followers (I would love to have 500 or more at some point)

4.  Attend a book expo or convention

5.  Read some classics, and some of the books I was supposed to read in high school but didn't, and some of the books that my students are currently being assigned

6. Go to Hogwarts at Universal Studios Florida (The Wizarding World of Harry Potter)



7.  Have one of my reviews quoted in a published book. (I've been quoted on a website - thank you AJ Nuest!)

8.  Convert Book-Haters to Book-Lovers (I've got my sister hooked, that's one down and many more to go)

9.  Develop and customize the design and layout of my blog.

10.  Volunteer in a library.
 

 

Book Blitz + Giveaway: Twelve Steps

Twelve Steps

by Veronica Bartles

Release Date: 03/25/14

Book Summary:

Sixteen-year-old Andi is tired of being a second-class sibling to perfect sister Laina. There in Laina's shadow, Andi's only noticeable feature is her pretty awesome hair. And even that is eclipsed by Laina's perfect everything else.

When Andi’s crush asks her to fix him up with Laina, Andi decides enough is enough and devises a twelve-step program to wrangle the spotlight away from Laina. After all, great hair must count for something.

Step 1: Admit she’s powerless to change her perfect sister, and accept that her life really, really sucks. OK, maybe that's two steps in one.

Step 4: Make a list of her good qualities besides great hair. There have got to be at least three good qualities, right?

Step 7: Demand attention for more than just her shortcomings, and break out of her shell. Easier said that done, but worth the effort in the long-run. 

When a stolen kiss from her crush ends in disaster, Andi finds that her prince isn’t as charming as she'd hoped, and realizes she may need a new program--perhaps with less steps!

As cracks in Laina’s flawless façade begin to show, the sisters work together to find a spotlight big enough for both to shine.

About the Author

As the second of eight children and the mother of four, Veronica Bartles is no stranger to the ups and downs of sibling relationships. (She was sandwiched between the gorgeous-and-insanely-popular older sister and the too-adorable-for-words younger sister.) She uses this insight to write stories about siblings who mostly love each other, even while they’re driving one another crazy.   When she isn’t writing or getting lost in the pages of her newest favorite book, Veronica enjoys knitting fabulous bags and jewelry out of recycled plastic bags and old VHS tapes, sky diving (though she hasn’t actually tried that yet), and inventing the world’s most delectable cookie recipes.  TWELVE STEPS is Veronica Bartles's first novel.

Author Links:

  

***GIVEAWAY***

1 ebook of Twelve Steps & $10 Amazon gift card (INT)

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Book Blitz Organized by:

Stacking the Shelves #9 (3/22/2014)

Stacking The Shelves is hosted by Tynga's Reviews and is all about sharing the books you are adding to your shelves, may it be physical or virtual. This means you can include books you buy in physical store or online, books you borrow from friends or the library, review books, gifts and of course ebooks!

Things have been a bit busy this week, lots of tests to grade at work and grad school homework that takes longer than normal... so I haven't been reading and participating in the blogger-sphere as much as I'd like.

I received ONE book this week for review:



Here is my review of book 1 in this series: Oracle of Philadelphia

Blog Tour + Giveaway: Don't Even Think About It

What would you do if you had telepathic powers?
As a math teacher, I would definitely listen in on my students, I'd want to know if they understood the lesson, where they are lost and what I can do to clarify things.


Author: Sarah Mlynowski

Publication Date: March 11, 2014

Summary: Contemporary teen fiction with romance, secrets, scandals, and ESP from the author of Ten Things We Did (And Probably Shouldn't Have).

We weren't always like this. We used to be average New York City high school sophomores. Until our homeroom went for flu shots. We were prepared for some side effects. Maybe a headache. Maybe a sore arm. We definitely didn't expect to get telepathic powers. But suddenly we could hear what everyone was thinking. Our friends. Our parents. Our crushes. Now we all know that Tess is in love with her best friend, Teddy. That Mackenzie cheated on Cooper. That, um, Nurse Carmichael used to be a stripper.

Since we've kept our freakish skill a secret, we can sit next to the class brainiac and ace our tests. We can dump our boyfriends right before they dump us. We know what our friends really think of our jeans, our breath, our new bangs. We always know what's coming. Some of us will thrive. Some of us will crack. None of us will ever be the same.
So stop obsessing about your ex. We're always listening. (Source of Summary and Book Cover:Goodreads)

Read My Review

About the Author: Sarah is the author of the Magic in Manhattan and Whatever After series, as well as Gimme a Call, Ten Things We Did (and Probably Shouldn't Have), Milkrun, and more.

Her books have been translated into twenty-nine languages and optioned to Hollywood. Sarah was born in Montreal but now lives and writes in New York City.

   

So, what would you do if you had telepathic powers? Let me know in the comments!

Giveaway!

Thanks to Deb Shapiro & Company, you can enter to win a

signed copy of Don't Even Think About It!

Open to US/Canada residents only

Use Rafflecopter below to enter


a Rafflecopter giveaway

Cover Reveal: Fragile Line by Brooklyn Skye

Fragile Line

by Brooklyn Skye

Release Date: 04/21/14

Entangled Teen

Summary from Goodreads:

It can happen in a flash. One minute she’s kissing her boyfriend, the next she’s lost in the woods. Sixteen-year-old Ellie Cox is losing time. It started out small…forgetting a drive home or a conversation with a friend. But her blackouts are getting worse, more difficult to disguise as forgetfulness. When Ellie goes missing for three days, waking up in the apartment of a mysterious guy—a guy who is definitely not her boyfriend, her life starts to spiral out of control. 

Perched on the edge of insanity, with horrific memories of her childhood leaking in, Ellie struggles to put together the pieces of what she’s lost—starting with the name haunting her, Gwen. Heartbreakingly beautiful, this poignant story follows one girl’s harrowing journey to finding out who she really is. 

About the Author

Brooklyn Skye grew up in a small town where she quickly realized writing was an escape from small town life. Really, she’s just your average awkward girl who’s obsessed with words. Her Best-Selling New Adult debut, STRIPPED, is out NOW! Represented by Bree Ogden of D4EO Literary Agency.

Author Links

   

Cover Reveal Organized by:

Oracle of Philadelphia

Author:  Elizabeth Corrigan

Author Website/Blog: www.elizabethrcorrigan.com

Publication Date: March 20, 2013

Summary: Carrie works at a diner in South Philadelphia, dispensing advice to humans and angels wise enough to seek her counsel. But there are some problems that even the best advice can’t solve.

Her latest supplicant, Sebastian, is unique among those who have sought her aid. He sold his soul to a demon in exchange for his sister’s life, but his heart remains pure.

Carrie has lived for millennia with the knowledge that her immortality is due to the suffering of others, and she cannot bear to see another good man damned when it is within her power to prevent it.

In order to renegotiate his contract, Carrie must travel into the depths of hell and parley with the demons that control its pathways. As the cost of her journey rises, Carrie must determine how much she is willing to sacrifice to save one good soul. (Source of Summary and Book Cover: Goodreads)

Source: Author in exchange for an honest review

Rating: 4 stars 

Review: First and foremost, this book is not something I would typically pick up on my own. However, the author contacted me and was very upfront about the fact that she read and understood by review policy and was willing to take the risk. So, after reading the summary (and seeing the beautiful cover), I decided I had to give it a shot and I’m really glad I did. 

This book has a totally unique take on angels and demons. My favorite part is that this book is not preachy! There is clearly some religious inspiration, but I never felt like I was being given some subconscious religious message. Literally I laughed out loud while reading about the birth of Jesus and I loved the twist on the story of Cain and Abel. 

I loved the characters. I loved Bedlam from the start; he is mischievous but kind hearted. Carrie took a bit to grow on me, but I do like her.  I also immediately liked, Gabriel he seems like such a good guy. To be honest, I even kind of liked Lucifer (I know I’m not supposed to, he’s a bad guy, but I guess what I mean is he is a well written character). 

I enjoyed learning about the different times in Carrie’s life. The flashbacks were very interesting. However, there were a few parts where the plot dragged – especially the journeys to hell. I felt conflicted while reading them; I knew they were necessary to the plot and they were fairly short mini-stories, but I felt like they moved slow. Maybe it was the repetitive-ness. I also found the “solution” to be a bit obvious/predictable. 

Overall, I enjoyed the book and would continue reading the series.

 Book Two: 

WWW#4 (3/19/2014)

WWW Wednesday is a weekly meme hosted by Should Be Reading.

To participate, just answer the following questions.

• What are you currently reading?
• What did you recently finish reading?
• What do you think you'll read next?

Currently Reading

Recently Finised

My Review

Up Next

Liebster Award

I am thrilled and honored to say that I have been nominated for the Liebster Award! A special THANK YOU goes out to Sofia from Take a Walk on the Write Side for nominating me. 

The Liebster Award's purpose is to get recognition to blogs with less than 200 followers. There are some rules:

1) Thank and link back the person who nominated you

2) List eleven facts about yourself

3) Answer the eleven questions asked by the blogger who nominated you

4) Nominate 9 bloggers, who have less than 200 followers (you can't nominate the blog that nominated you)

5) Ask them eleven questions

6) Let them know of their nomination!

  

Eleven Facts About Me:

1) I am the oldest of three girls and fit the oldest child stereotype quite well.

2) My first memory of being lost in a book was in elementary school while reading The Giver.

3) I am a high school math teacher and it usually surprises people that I love to read.

4) I am obsessed with my dog and treat him like he is my child (seriously, look how cute he is!)

5) My all time favorite book is Ender's Game (and it's the only high school summer reading assignment I actually finished)

6) My favorite movie is The Wizard of Oz.

7) I am a firm believer in "the book is always better than the movie" so if I've read the book, I usually critique/complain the whole time I watch the movie. The one exception to this is The Wizard of Oz, for some reason I could not force myself to finish that book and I really LOVE the movie.

8) I love boy bands! One of the best concerts I've ever been to was the Backstreet Boys.

9) My guilty pleasure is MTV's reality TV shows.

10) I LOVE Harry Potter so much that my mother has replaced several of my HP books because of their overuse.

11) I enjoy dancing and took lessons for most of my life. This year I re-enrolled in a lyrical class.

Sofia's Questions: 

1) What's better: ebook or physical copy?

ebook - no more wrist cramps from holding heavy books, no more finger cramps from holding pages open, AND as soon as you finish a book, you can instantly start another one.

2) What book made you fall in love with reading?

This is a tough one, it was either The Giver or Number the Stars both by Lois Lowry, they are the first books that I remember being significant to me.

3) What's your favorite book couple?

Celaena and Choal from Throne of Glass.

4) Do you have any authors whose books you'll read no matter what the premise is?

Not yet... 

5) What's your favorite genre?

Fantasy!

6) On what basis do you choose which books to read (do you just read the blurb or do you also read the first chapter? Do you read reviews of it before buying, etc.)?

The blurb is my starting point, if it sounds great then I'm in, but if it only sounds OK I'll read some reviews, I usually read a few reviews with different ratings to see if it's for me.

7) What's your favorite season and what do you like about it?

Summer! I love the sun and the beach, plus I'm a teacher so that's my time to recharge for the next school year.

8) Do you have any bookish guilty pleasures (books you know are bad but can't help but love, clichéd tropes that you still like, etc.)?

I love the Sookie Stackhouse series, I know that once True Blood took off that the series started to go downhill but I just couldn't let it go and I kept reading until the very last book was published. I will probably reread the series at some point too.

9) If you could travel back in time to any historical period, which would it be?

The Salem Witch Trials, for some reason I find that whole thing to be very intriguing. 

10) If you could have any superpower, which would you choose?

Omnilingualism - the ability to understand any language.

11) Is there a book that you keep meaning to read but that you never get around to?

The Lunar Chronicles

My Questions:

1) If you could meet one book character who would it be and why?

2) How did you pick you blog's name?

3) What is your favorite social media website?

4) What is the first book that you remember reading?

5) Who is your favorite villain?

6) What language(s) do you speak? 

7) What language(s) do you wish you could speak?

8) How long have you been blogging for?

9) How do you decide what to read next?

10) If you could only recommend one book to people for the rest of your life, which book would it be?

11) If you were an animal, what would you be?

My Nominations: 

Missie at A Flurry of Ponderings

Valerie at Innocent Smiley's Reviews

Becca at Pivot Book Reviews

Aneta at Angelic Book Reviews

Monique at Mo Books

Ashly at Book n' Go

Amber at My Bookshelf is Hungry

Crystal at Elysian Fields

The Fault in Our Stars

Author: John Green

Author Website/Blog: http://johngreenbooks.com/

Publication Date: January 10, 2012

Summary: Despite the tumor-shrinking medical miracle that has bought her a few years, Hazel has never been anything but terminal, her final chapter inscribed upon diagnosis. But when a gorgeous plot twist named Augustus Waters suddenly appears at Cancer Kid Support Group, Hazel's story is about to be completely rewritten. (Source of Summary and Book Cover: Goodreads)

Source: Borrowed from a friend

Rating: 4 stars  

Review: After the first few sentences, I immediately liked Hazel, our narrator. Her voice was perfect for telling this story, she sounded like a real (mature) teen to me. This book is beautifully written and has a flow to it that just tugs you along.

All of the characters in this book are likeable and realistic. While this is an emotional story that many people warned would make it cry, it didn’t make me cry. I felt bad for the characters and empathized with them, but never really felt that teary tug. I had a similar feeling when reading Jodi Picoult’s My Sister’s Keeper.

There is a strong message in this story about love and perseverance that really holds the story together and makes it worth reading. I enjoyed this book and would definitely recommend it.