Top Ten Tuesday: Books I'd Give A Theme Song

Top Ten Tuesdays is hosted by The Broke and the Bookish.

This week's top ten is...

Top Ten Books I'd Give A Theme Song To (and please tell us the song and why you'd pick it for the book!)

1. The Pretty Little Liars Series by Sara Shepard. Dirty Little Secret by the All-American Rejects.

2. Nineteen Minutes by Jodi Picoult. Pumped Up Kicks by Foster the People

3. Just Listen by Sarah Dessen. Fix You by Coldplay

4. Audrey, Wait by Robin Benway. Gives You Hell by the All-American Rejects

5. The Fault in Our Stars by John Green. Wonderwall by Oasis

6. The Hunger Games Trilogy. Scar Tissue by The Red Hot Chili Peppers

7. Shiver by Maggie Stiefvater. She Will  Be Loved by Maroon 5

8. The Jessica Darling Series. The Wolf by Miniature Tigers

This Means War

Title: This Means War

Director:  McG

Writer: Timothy Dowling (screenplay), Simon Kinberg (screenplay), Timothy Dowling (story), and Marcus Gautesen (story)

Starring: Reese Witherspoon, Chris Pine and Tom Hardy
Grade: 76% or C+

 

My Thoughts::
I went to see this movie with two of my friends. I'll just admit this now..it wasn't our first choice. It was our fourth. The first movie wasn't in our theater, and one of them saw the other two. We knew it would be a romantic comedy but we didn't think it would be very good.

Holy cow were we wrong. Sure, I probably would have liked the other movies better, but I was still definitely entertained. The movie has a lot going for it but especially very attractive actors. I hate it admit it, but when I'm watching a romance about adults? I need some very attractive guy to make it worthwhile, and this movie had two, ONE being British. How awesome and swoon worthy is that?

I felt like I was on this ride with Reese Witherspoon UNTIL she got mad at the guys for knowing each other and acting like it was all a "game" I mean, come on Reese! You were dating two guys at once! You were all being horrible. Also, the choice that Reese made in the end was not the choice me or my friends would have made. Get it together Reese!

But since this is a Hollywood romance things worked out for everybody in the end. The very end, in fact, was just downright awesome. I was a little agitated that it all ended so perfectly, but the little plane scene at the end?  Oh wow. Oh. Wow. That just made the entire movie for us.

Overall I think that this movie was pretty funny in obvious ways and sometimes in clever ways. There wasn't much substance but there never is in romantic comedies since they are easy to predict.

Winner: Random Acts of Kindness Giveaway Hop

 And the winner of The Random Acts of Kindness Giveaway Hop (A List: Hollywood Royalty) is.... 

Barbara Butler

Congrats Barbara! I have already e-mailed you. If you don't reply within 48 hours a new winner will be chosen.

Thanks to everyone who entered! I love participating in these Giveaway Hops!

In My Mailbox

In My Mailbox is a post where I tell you the books that I received this week either by buying them from the bookstore, going to the library or from my mailbox. In My Mailbox was inspired by Alea and turned into a meme by Kristi.

For Review:: Thanks to Netgalley and Fiction Studio Books!!

Girl Unmoored by Jennifer Gooch Hummer

Apron Bramhall has come unmoored. It's 1985 and her mom has passed away, her evil stepmother is pregnant, and her best friend has traded her in for a newer model. Fortunately, she's about to be saved by Jesus. Not that Jesus-the actor who plays him in Jesus Christ, Superstar. Apron is desperate to avoid the look-alike Mike (no one should look that much like Jesus unless they can perform a miracle or two), but suddenly he's everywhere. Until one day, she's stuck in church with him-of all places. And then something happens; Apron's broken teenage heart blinks on for the first time since she's been adrift.

Mike and his grumpy boyfriend, Chad, offer her a summer job in their flower store. With the sweet smells and creative arranging of bouquets, Apron's world seems to calm. But when she uncovers Chad's secret, coming of age becomes almost too much to bear. She's forced to see things the adults around her fail to-like what love really means and who is paying too much for it.  

Contest Saturday

Here are some contests that are currently going on right now in the blogosphere that are book related. Click the links to enter them. I will try to hold my own contest each month.

Win a copy of Griffin Rising HERE. Ends 2/28

Win a copy of Born Wicked HERE. Ends 2/29

Win a copy of Halflings HERE. Ends 2/29

Win a copy of Destiny HERE. Ends 2/29

Win a copy of Under the Never Sky HERE. Ends 2/29

Win a copy of A Beautiful Evil and Faery Tales and Nightmares HERE. Ends 2/29

Win a 2012 book sequel HERE. Ends 3/1

Win a copy of Persuasion HERE. Ends 3/2

Win 3 paranormal books HERE. Ends 3/4

Win a copy of This is Not Test HERE. Ends 3/6

Win a copy of Eden HERE. Ends 3/7

Win a copy of Katana HERE. Ends 3/16

Win a box of books HERE. Ends 3/16

Books to Come in March

These books will be released in the month of March. All links will send you to their Goodreads page.

A Temptation of Angels by Michelle Zink
Balthazar by Claudia Gray

Embrace (The Violet Eden Chapters #1) by Jessica Shirvington

Illuminate (Gilded Wings #1) by Aimee Agresti

Goddess Interrupted (The Goddess Test #2) by Aimee Carter

Perception (Clarity #2) by Kim Harrington

 Spell Bound (Hex Hall #3) by Rachel Hawkins

                                    The Savage Grace (The Dark Divine #3) by Bree Despain
                                                     Wanderlove by Kirsten Hubbard

The Mockingbirds by Daisy Whitney

Title: The Mockingbirds
Author: Daisy Whitney
Publisher: Little, Brown Books for Young Readers
Acquired: Received free for an honest review
Age Group: Young Adult
Grade: 90% or A-
Buy It: Amazon

Some schools have honor codes.

Others have handbooks.

Themis Academy has the Mockingbirds.

Themis Academy is a quiet boarding school with an exceptional student body that the administration trusts to always behave the honorable way-the Themis way. So when Alex Patrick is date-raped during her junior year, she has two options: Stay silent and hope someone helps, or enlist the aid of the Mockingbirds-a secret society of students dedicated to righting the wrongs of the student body.

In this account of a teenage girl's search for her voice and the courage to use it, debut author Daisy Whitney reminds readers that standing up for someone, especially yourself, is worth the fight.

My Thoughts::
Ever since I first read the plot summary for this book, I wanted to read it. Unfortunately the need was never great enough for me to bring it to the top of my list. Eventually the need fell entirely to the wayside and was forgotten. When I got the opportunity to review this book, as well as its sequel, I jumped on it it. I put it on the top of my review pile.

The book starts right in the meat of the story. There is no tiptoeing around the issue or what is going to be happening. We start out alongside Alex and have to discover what happened along with her as well. The story is told through the present and also flashbacks/sudden memories that Alex has about that night. It was eery to read the flashbacks because we know how it turns out in the end. It was also interesting to see what would trigger these flashbacks.

I felt so bad and scared for Alex. This is an important book that tackles an important issue. You can really tell when an author writes passionately about something, and you can tell here. I was so worried for Alex because I thought that people at her school wouldn't be supportive in what she was trying to do. Thankfully only the people that we expected to be harsh were harsh. And there were unexpected people who turned out to be on her side and wanted to help.

Overall I think that this is an impactful book that takes a look at several different issues, not only date rape but also school administration.

Top Ten Tuesday: Books I'd Save

Top Ten Tuesdays is hosted by The Broke and the Bookish.

This week's top ten is...

Top Ten Books I'd Quickly Save If My House Was Going To Be Abducted By Aliens (or any other natural disaster...you get the drift. )

Sorry, I had to choose my favorite books and could not possibly choose 4 more because then I would just be splitting hairs on my other favorites.

1. The Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins. I don't re-read books often, but for some reason I keep going back to this book. It makes me contemplate things that I don't usually contemplate and always renews my love for the dystopian genre.

2. Life As We Knew It by Susan Beth Pfeffer. Just like The Hunger Games I can't stay away from this book. I'll catch myself thinking about it randomly almost every day.

3. Gone by Michael Grant. I say I have favorite series, but the bottom line is that this one is my favorite. And there is nothing I love more than the beginning of things, and this is it. The beginning of my favorite series.

4. The Truth About Forever by Sarah Dessen. Whenever I get into a reading funk this book always has the power to bring me out of it. So do most other Dessen books, but this one just has the extra spark.

5. The Fault in Our Stars by John Green. This books just left me feeling everything. Feelings are important and it kind of makes me take another look at my problems and relax because at least I'm not facing death or anything that serious.

6. Fly On the Wall by E. Lockhart. This book never fails to make me laugh and make light of a day that might not have been so awesome. It is my happy time book.

Goddess Interrupted by Aimee Carter

Title: Goddess Interrupted (The Goddess Test #2)
Author: Aimee Carter
Publisher: Harlequin
Acquired: Received free for an honest review
Age Group: Young Adult
Grade: 82% or B-
Buy It: Amazon

Becoming immortal wasn't supposed to be the easy part. Though Kate is about to be crowned Queen of the Underworld, she's as isolated as ever. And despite her growing love for Henry, ruler of the Underworld, he's becoming ever more distant and secretive. Then, in the midst of Kate's coronation, Henry is abducted by the only being powerful enough to kill him: the King of the Titans.

As the other gods prepare for a war that could end them all, it is up to Kate to save Henry from the depths of Tartarus. But in order to navigate the endless caverns of the Underworld, Kate must enlist the help of the one person who is the greatest threat to her future.

Henry's first wife, Persephone.

My Thoughts::
When I saw this title on netgalley I had to request it. The Goddess Test really captured my interest and I was really excited to see what would happen to the characters next and if things would work out like I wanted them to.

I'm just going to start out and say that this book frustrated me. Our main character Kate is just too annoying the majority of the time. She would continue to say how she knows Henry has trouble showing his feelings, and that he was with Persephone longer that Kate can even imagine, so of course his feelings about that won't disappear right away. Yet she still is all angsty about it all of the time! Everyone is telling her that Henry cares about her, people that have known him MUCH longer than she has, and still she believes that she is right. It was just so frustrating and repetitive to read.

This made me so sad because besides this horrible character flaw, I really liked the book. It had action, suspense, and even some twists and turns. Plus, when Kate wasn't freaking out about Henry, she was a pretty strong female character. I even liked her. It is exciting getting to know even more characters and about these modern tellings of myths.

Overall I think that Goddess Interrupted was overruled by petty relationship drama when it had so much more to offer. The ending left me rejuvenated about the story though so I can not wait to read the next book.

In My Mailbox

In My Mailbox is a post where I tell you the books that I received this week either by buying them from the bookstore, going to the library or from my mailbox. In My Mailbox was inspired by Alea and turned into a meme by Kristi.

For Review:: Thanks to netgalley and Bloomsbury Children's Books

The Académie by Susanne Dunlap

Eliza Monroe-daughter of the future president of the United States-is devastated when her mother decides to send her to boarding school outside of Paris. But the young American teen is quickly reconciled to the idea when-ooh, la-la!-she discovers who her fellow pupils will be: Hortense de Beauharnais, daughter of Josephine Bonaparte; and Caroline Bonaparte, youngest sister of the famous French general. It doesn't take long for Eliza to figure out that the two French girls are mortal enemies-and that she's about to get caught in the middle of their schemes.

 Tessa Masterson WILL Go to Prom by Emily Franklin and Brendan Halpin

Lucas and Tessa's friendship is the stuff of legend in their small Midwestern town. So it's no surprise when Lucas finally realizes his feelings for Tessa are more than friendship and he asks her to prom. What no one expected, especially Lucas, was for Tessa to come out as a lesbian instead of accepting his heartfelt invitation. Humiliated and confused, Lucas also feels betrayed that his best friend kept such an important secret from him.

What's worse is Tessa's decision to wear a tastefully tailored tuxedo to escort her female crush, sparking a firestorm of controversy. Lucas must decide if he should stand on the sidelines or if he should stand by his friend to make sure that Tessa Masterson will go to prom.

Contest Saturday

Here are some contests that are currently going on right now in the blogosphere that are book related. Click the links to enter them. I will try to hold my own contest each month.
Win a copy of Don't Breathe a Word HERE. Ends 2/20

Win any book from the Mystyx Series HERE. Ends 2/20

Win a copy of The Statistical Probability of Love at First Sight HERE. Ends 2/21

Win a copy of Partials HERE. Ends 2/21

Win a copy of Devotion HERE. Ends 2/22

Win a copy of Born Wicked HERE. Ends 2/29

Win a copy of Halflings HERE. Ends 2/29

Win a copy of Destiny HERE. Ends 2/29

Win a copy of Under the Never Sky HERE. Ends 2/29

Win a copy of A Beautiful Evil and Faery Tales and Nightmares HERE. Ends 2/29

Win a 2012 book sequel HERE. Ends 3/1

Win a copy of Persuasion HERE. Ends 3/2

The Devil Inside

Title: The Devil Inside

Director:  William Brent Bell

Writer:  William Brent Bell, and Matthew Peterman

Starring: Fernanda Andrade, Simon Quarterman and Evan Helmuth
Grade: 67% or D+

 

My Thoughts::
I went to see this movie with a bunch of my friends which I think is the best way to see a movie like this. Scary movies and high stress movies are always more fun with a group because you feed off of each others emotions. Let me tell you, this movie was soooo much better since I saw it with my friends.

The movie started out pretty intense and brought it right into the action and creepiness and background of the entire story. But let me tell you, this creepiness did not last much longer. Sure, they tried to keep it up with the wobbly camera shots because it was supposed to be real and everything. And of course there was a lot of sudden loud noises or things popping out of no where to get people to jump, but this is not a scary movie. It is a movie with shock factor and that's about it.

At certain times I WAS legit freaked out, but like I said, mostly because it was shocking. Most of the movie was spent with the audience laughing at how ridiculous some of the scenes were. Seriously, some scenes had us dying with laughter. The acting was okayyyy, but I feel like maybe it was supposed to be bad because it was supposed to be "real"? The end of the movie was so abrupt that it left the audience confused.

Overall I think that The Devil Inside was pretty darn hilarious and entertaining but wasn't a good scary movie.

Random Acts of Kindness Giveaway Hop

Welcome to my small part of the Random Acts of Kindness Giveaway Hop! I signed up on I Am A Reader, Not a Writer. Click HERE to check out a list of other blogs participating!

My Giveaway::

Win a copy of A-List: Hollywood Royalty by Zoey Dean. The summary is below!::

Sam Sharpe, Cammie Sheppard and Anna Percy were the most glamorous faces of Young Hollywood. But times change, people move on, and Hollywood is fickle. Yesterday's star is today's extra, and it's a whole new year at Beverly Hills High--and there's a fresh cast of A-Listers ready to become the toast of Tinseltown. A-List: Hollywood Royalty is the newest guilty pleasure in the witty and risqué series that takes readers behind the scenes of the Hollywood glitterati. The A-List and its New York Times bestselling sequels are full of unforgettable stories about the fast times of Beverly Hills' most beautiful and glamorous people. Welcome to the new generation of A-List class.

To Enter: Fill out THIS FORM. Ends 2/22 
US only

Giveaway: Pure by Julianna Baggott

I was given the wonderful opportunity to give away a copy of Pure! If you haven't heard about the book yet, here's the description::

We know you are here, our brothers and sisters . . .

Pressia barely remembers the Detonations or much about life during the Before. In her sleeping cabinet behind the rubble of an old barbershop where she lives with her grandfather, she thinks about what is lost-how the world went from amusement parks, movie theaters, birthday parties, fathers and mothers . . . to ash and dust, scars, permanent burns, and fused, damaged bodies. And now, at an age when everyone is required to turn themselves over to the militia to either be trained as a soldier or, if they are too damaged and weak, to be used as live targets, Pressia can no longer pretend to be small. Pressia is on the run.

Burn a Pure and Breathe the Ash . . .

There are those who escaped the apocalypse unmarked. Pures. They are tucked safely inside the Dome that protects their healthy, superior bodies. Yet Partridge, whose father is one of the most influential men in the Dome, feels isolated and lonely. Different. He thinks about loss-maybe just because his family is broken; his father is emotionally distant; his brother killed himself; and his mother never made it inside their shelter. Or maybe it's his claustrophobia: his feeling that this Dome has become a swaddling of intensely rigid order. So when a slipped phrase suggests his mother might still be alive, Partridge risks his life to leave the Dome to find her.

When Pressia meets Partridge, their worlds shatter all over again.

To Enter:: Fill out THIS FORM by 2/29
US only

Top Ten Tuesday: Books That Broke My Heart

Top Ten Tuesdays is hosted by The Broke and the Bookish.

This week's top ten is...

Top Ten Books That Broke Your Heart A Little (this year we're going ANTI-Valentine's Day :P )

1. Dreamland by Sarah Dessen
2. Plague by Michael Grant
3. Charmed Thirds by Megan McCafferty
4. Burned by Ellen Hopkins
5. This World We Live In by Susan Beth Pfeffer

Sorry! Couldn't think of 5 more without stretching my feelings!

Mark Svartz Guest Post: Valentine's Day

Valentine's Day: A Date Which Will Live In Infamy
By Mark Svartz,
Author of I Hate You, Kelly Donahue

On the night of February 14th, millions of happy couples around the world will express their undying love for each other as they celebrate the holiday known as Valentine's Day. Meanwhile, millions of single people will be home alone on this night of romance -- in the case of girls, eating pints of Haagen-Dazs while watching The Notebook and, in the case of guys, fantasizing about single girls who are home alone eating Haagen-Dazs while watching The Notebook.

Now, in theory, that doesn't sound so bad. I like undying love. I like ice cream. I like fantasizing. But for some unexplainable reason, I HATE VALENTINE'S DAY!

And I know what you're thinking. Cue the obligatory antivalentinist objections we've heard over and over. "It's manufactured romance!" and "It's a fabricated Hallmark holiday designed to encourage commercialism!" Well, sir, to those complaints I say, "Poppycock!" (And I almost never say "Poppycock!" so you know I really mean it.)

First off, who the hell cares that it's forcing people to be romantic? Woe is me, for we have to endure a universally mandated day of kissing and under-the-shirt-over-the-bra boob touching. Oh the horror! Sorry to disappoint you, but Valentine's Day is no one's Vietnam. If you need a day to gripe about, shift your objections to Flag Day. Forcing romance is way less offensive than forcing flag.

And as for the ol' anti-consumerism angle, I'd buy your argument, but then you'd probably just yell at me for buying it. Honestly, I hate Valentine's Day as much as the next guy, but not because of consumerism. Hell, I love consumerism. I love it so much, I might just buy it some heart-shaped chocolates. Sure, consumerism leaves a bitter taste in the mouth when it comes to extravagant excesses like fur coats and heroin. But when we're talking about positive, feel-good purchases like flowers, candy, and humor novels that have been referred to as "demented and hilarious," "laugh-out-loud," and "a book that will be remembered for a long, long time" -- consumerism is A-OK with me.

So, why do I hate Valentine's Day? Well . . . cause I just do! It's just one of those guttural reactions, kind of like how I despise black licorice, hairless cats, and Pat Sajak. The heart hates what the heart hates. And since I'm sure there are others out there who share this same innate disgust for February 14th, I will now give you five irrefutable reasons to validate your derision.

1. Indian Airlines Flight 605
What happened on this flight? Oh no biggie, it just crashed on Valentine's Day in 1990, killing 92 innocent people. Why did it crash, you ask? I dunno, maybe because of "Failure of the pilots to realize the gravity of the situation and respond immediately towards proper action of moving the throttles, in spite of knowing that the plane was in idle/open descent mode." Hmm, sounds like a couple of pilots were too busy celebrating this day of love to focus on not-murdering Indian people. Thank you for crashing planes, Valentine's Day!

2. Rob Thomas
If there was no February 14th, one Robert Kelly "Rob" Thomas would never have been born in West Germany in 1972. And if Rob Thomas would never have been born, the band Matchbox 20 would never have been formed. And if Matchbox 20 would never have been formed, the song "3 A.M." would never have been written. And if the song "3 A.M." would never have been written, I would never have felt the urge to stab my eardrums with a screwdriver every time I turned on the radio from February '98-July '99. Thank you for ruining 18 months of my life, Valentine's Day!

3. Ras Marye of Yejju Marches into Tigray and Defeats and Kills Dejazmach Sabagadis in the Battle of Debre Abbay
Do you remember where you were on February 14, 1831? Well, if you were Dejazmach Sabagadis, you'd be in Tigray, getting defeated and killed by Ras Marye of Yejju in the Battle of Debre Abbay. And it would suck so hard! Thank you for allowing Ras Marye of Yejju to march into Tigray and defeat and kill Dejazmach Sabagadis in the Battle of Debre Abbay, Valentine's Day!

4. Arizona
On February 14, 1912, Arizona was admitted as the 48th U.S. state, producing such notable Arizonians as Republican Senator John McCain, The Family Circus creator Bil Keane, and David Spade. Thanks for nothing, Valentine's Day! [NOTE: If this piece runs in any Arizona papers, just on the off chance that some of them are literate, let's replace Arizona with the equally insignificant Oregon, which was also admitted as a U.S. state on February 14th. And instead of the "notable" Arizonians, let's go with such "celebrated" Oregonians as sportscaster Ahmad Rashad, Miss Teen USA 2003 Tami Farrell, and . . .  hell, just go with Sally Struthers.]

5. The Day Love Died
February 14th is supposed to be known for love, eh? Well I seem to remember it as the day love died. On this day in 1989, boxer Mike Tyson and actress Robin Givens officially got divorced, ending one of the most passionate romances in the history of humankind. But you don't see that printed on a greeting card, do you? You don't see I DIVORCE YOU stamped on any heart-shaped candies. If a love as true as that of Mike & Robin could fall apart on February 14th, the whole day is a sham. A SHAM! Thank you for destroying love and turning a shy, harmless, pigeon advocate into a raging, ear-biting, convicted rapist, Valentine's Day!

Note: Mark Svartz is the author of a new novel, I HATE YOU, KELLY DONAHUE. This humor piece does not reflect the true feelings of the author. He is in fact a huge fan of the great states of Arizona and Oregon, as well as the distinguished work of its citizens, particularly Ahmad Rashad and his beautiful wife, Mrs. Huxtable. He also bears no ill will towards accomplished musician Rob Thomas or Indian Airlines or actor and ornithologist Mike Tyson. But as for Ras Marye of Yejju, he can go to hell. Not cool, Ras Marye of Yejju! Not cool.

In My Mailbox

In My Mailbox is a post where I tell you the books that I received this week either by buying them from the bookstore, going to the library or from my mailbox. In My Mailbox was inspired by Alea and turned into a meme by Kristi.

For Review:: Thanks to Little, Brown Books for Young Readers!

DJ Rising by Love Maia

Meet Marley, an unassuming high school junior who breathes in music like oxygen. In between caring for his heroin-addicted mother, and keeping his scholarship at a fancy prep school, he dreams of becoming a professional DJ.

When chance lands Marley his first real DJ job, his career as "DJ Ice" suddenly skyrockets. But when heart-rending disaster at home brings Marley crashing back down to earth, he is torn between obligation and following his dreams.

The Mockingbirds by Daisy Whitney

Some schools have honor codes.

Others have handbooks.

Themis Academy has the Mockingbirds.

Themis Academy is a quiet boarding school with an exceptional student body that the administration trusts to always behave the honorable way-the Themis way. So when Alex Patrick is date-raped during her junior year, she has two options: Stay silent and hope someone helps, or enlist the aid of the Mockingbirds-a secret society of students dedicated to righting the wrongs of the student body.

In this account of a teenage girl's search for her voice and the courage to use it, debut author Daisy Whitney reminds readers that standing up for someone, especially yourself, is worth the fight.

The Rivals by Daisy Whitney

When Alex Patrick was assaulted by another student last year, her elite boarding school wouldn't do anything about it. This year Alex is head of the Mockingbirds, a secret society of students who police and protect the student body. While she desperately wants to live up to the legacy that's been given to her, she's now dealing with a case unlike any the Mockingbirds have seen before.

It isn't rape. It isn't bullying. It isn't hate speech. A far-reaching prescription drug ring has sprung up, and students are using the drugs to cheat. But how do you try a case with no obvious victim? Especially when the facts don't add up, and each new clue drives a wedge between Alex and the people she loves most: her friends, her boyfriend, and her fellow Mockingbirds.

As Alex unravels the layers of deceit within the school, the administration, and even the student body the Mockingbirds protect, her struggle to navigate the murky waters of vigilante justice may reveal more about herself than she ever expected.

Bought::

The Rules of Survival by Nancy Werlin

For Matt and his sisters, life with their cruel, vicious mother is a day-to-day struggle for survival. But then Matt witnesses Murdoch coming to a child's rescue in a convenience store, and for the first time, he feels a glimmer of hope. When, amazingly, Murdoch begins dating Matt's mother, life is suddenly almost good. But the relief lasts only a short time. When Murdoch inevitably breaks up with their mother, Matt knows he needs to take action. But can he call upon his hero? Or will he have to take measures into his own hands? A heart-wrenching portrait of a family in crisis, this is Nancy Werlin's most compulsively readable novel yet.

Contest Saturday

Here are some contests that are currently going on right now in the blogosphere that are book related. Click the links to enter them. I will try to hold my own contest each month.

 Win a cop of The Butterfly Clues HERE. Ends 2/13

Win a copy of The Way We Fall HERE. Ends 2/14

Win a cop of The Exceptionals HERE. Ends 2/14

Win a copy of the Education of Hailey Kendrick HERE. Ends 2/15

Win a copy of Born Wicked HERE. Ends 2/15

Win Starcrossed, Forgotten, Hearts at Stake, and Blood Feud HERE. Ends 2/16

Win an audiobook copy of Tempest HERE. Ends 2/17

Win a Dystopian prize pack HERE. Ends 2/17

Win a copy of Don't Breathe a Word HERE. Ends 2/20

Win any book from the Mystyx Series HERE. Ends 2/20

Win a copy of The Statistical Probability of Love at First Sight HERE. Ends 2/21

Win a copy of Partials HERE. Ends 2/21

Win a copy of Devotion HERE. Ends 2/22

Win a copy of Born Wicked HERE. Ends 2/29

Win a copy of Halflings HERE. Ends 2/29

Win a copy of Destiny HERE. Ends 2/29

Win a 2012 book sequel HERE. Ends 3/1

Win a copy of Persuasion HERE. Ends 3/2

Let It Snow by John Green, Maureen Johnson, and Lauren Myracle

Title: Let It Snow: Three Holiday Romances
Author: John Green, Maureen Johnson, and Lauren Myracle
Publisher: Penguin Group (USA) Incorporated
Acquired: Bought
Age Group: Young Adult
Grade: 92% or A-
Buy It: Amazon

The weather outside is frightful, but these stories are delightful! When a huge blizzard (that doesn't show signs of stopping) hits, Gracetown is completely snowed in. But even though it's cold outside, things are heating up inside, proving that the holiday season is magical when it comes to love. In three wonderfully (and hilariously!) interconnected tales, YA stars John Green, Lauren Myracle, and Maureen Johnson create a must-have collection that captures all the spirit of the holiday season.

My Thoughts::
It was sort of a goal of mine to read and own every book that John Green wrote. Well, after I did that I wanted to read and own every book that he also contributed to. This is the last one that I got to and honestly? I have no idea what took me so long! I trick myself into thinking that other books are newer and therefore deserve to be read first, but that's not true! Besides, it's winter now (barely) and I love feeling in the wintry spirit.

I'm not going to review each story separately because all three of these authors used a similar voice and have a similar style of writing. I went into the book knowing that they would be christmastime love stories and I thought I would enjoy them well enough. Little did I know that I would be earning stares from my classmates from giggling in the middle of classes. It was ridiculous how much humor was able to be shoved into this book without it tipping from sweet to trying to hard. I also loved that the three stories were sort of intertwined with each other. Once I realized this was the case, reading it became even more exciting.

I went swoon crazy while reading this book. Especially about the first two boys. They were kind of my dream boyfriends. I will forever hold a torch for them. Isn't that strange? How you can completely love a character from a book and still not want him to be in a relationship with that awesome girl from the book? They were all just so cute together! I was amazed by how well the authors were able to develop these relationships and let us get to know the characters so well in such a short amount of time.

Overall I think this book was a really funny and cute read. I'd recommend this book to fans of any of the authors or just those who need a good winter/valentine's day read.

To the Cinema! #11

This post is similar to a Books to Come post, but will only feature MOVIES that I am excited about releasing. I will include trailers for your viewing pleasure. I'll probably only do this monthly so it doesn't push out reviews that I need to post.

A Thousand Words

21 Jump Street

The Raven

I Hate You, Kelly Donahue by Mark Svartz

Title: I Hate You, Kelly Donahue
Author: Mark Svartz
Publisher: Adams Media Corporation
Acquired: Received free for an honest review
Age Group: Adult
Grade: 84% or B-
Buy It: Amazon

As a little kid, a boy would pinch the girl he liked. As a grown-up, Mark Svartz plans her ultimate demise through a number of twisted murder plots that involve lead pipes, escape routes, and David Hasselhoff. Some guys never grow up.

This book chronicles the eight months, sixteen days, and some-odd hours since Mark first laid eyes on the despicable, wretched wench he's destined to fight to the death. Every note, thought, IM, email, Post-It, and craigslist ad looking for a crime-scene clean-up is meticulously catalogued in Mark's journal.

Is it a diary of a mad man? Or a man madly in love? Who cares? It's seriously messed up. And seriously funny.

My Thoughts::
I was a bit wary to accept this book for review because it was pretty different from the things that I usually read. But because it sounded pretty funny I thought I'd give it a fair shot. I started reading this in my war through film class and couldn't stop!

The book is pretty short, as in it took me less than an hour to read, but it was really good. We jump right into the story that isn't much of a story at all. The book is actually the diary/journal/notebook of the narrator. There is no dialogue shown except for sticky notes or email messages. I really like authors that think outside the box when it comes t writing. This story gave me a whole different experience than I would have gotten if it were written differently.

It was cool to slowly watch the story transform and for Mark's hate to change and develop. Did I mention that this book is completely hilarious? My friends kept asking for the book to show each other especially fantastic pages. His thoughts were so blatantly laid out and graphic that I found myself giggling which did not please my teacher. The ending was kind of sad which is weird because I couldn't even sense myself getting attached to Mark or his feeling. Even though there was some sadness, the ending was also funny.

Overall I think the book was super creative and hilarious. Though I wish there would have been more of a story and that it wasn't so darn short.

Top Ten Tuesday: Books For People Who Don't Like To Read

Top Ten Tuesdays is hosted by The Broke and the Bookish.

This week's top ten is...


Top Ten Books You'd Hand To Someone Who Says They Don't Like To Read.

1. The Summoning by Kelley Armstrong
2. Looking For Alaska by John Green
3. Pretty Little Liars by Sara Shepard
4. Gone by Michael Grant
5. The Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins
6. This Lullaby by Sarah Dessen
7. Fly On the Wall by E. Lockhart
8. Impulse by Ellen Hopkins
9. Perfect Chemistry by Simone Elkeles
10. You, Maybe by Rachel Vail

Note: My more in depth and explained top tens should be back starting next week. I've been kind of busy lately.

Revelations by Melissa de la Cruz

Title: Revelations (Blue Bloods Series #3)
Author: Melissa de la Cruz
Publisher: Hyperion Books for Children
Acquired: Bought
Age Group: Young Adult
Grade: 85% or B
Buy It: Amazon

Schuyler Van Alen’s blood legacy has just been called into question - is the young vampire in fact a Blue Blood, or is it the sinister Silver Blood that runs through her veins? As controversy swirls, Schuyler is left stranded in the Force household, trapped under the same roof as her cunning nemesis, Mimi Force, and her forbidden crush, Jack Force.

When one of the Gates of Hell is breached by Silver Bloods in Rio de Janeiro, however, the Blue Bloods will need Schuyler on their side. The stakes are high; the battle is bloody; and through it all, Carnavale rages on. And in the end, one vampire’s secret identity will be exposed in a revelation that shocks everyone.

My Thoughts::
Once I start a series, it takes a lot for me to stop it. So even though I wasn't very impressed with book two of this series, it still held enough power over me to make me want to read the next book. Besides, I own them all, so I'll probably read them some time or another anyway.

Wowwww. Forgot all I said in the last review about the series already going downhill and slowing down. So much was revealed, confronted, and discovered in this book! We got all of these cool things, PLUS character building! WE CAN HAVE BOTH! Each character section would leave me wanting more, and I would want them to continue forever, but then I'd remember that I felt the same way about the other characters. There were several twists to make the book even more interesting.

I was surprised at how little petty drama was in this book compared to the others. I guess since things are getting pretty intense and serious, those things don't matter as much. Mimi and Bliss are becoming much more dynamic characters than they were before. I'm becoming more and more interested in their story. Unfortunately, I can't say the same about Schuyler, even though the books are supposed to be centered around her. She was just weaker in this book and her personality was foggy. I wasn't able to get a hold on the person that she is in this book.

Overall I think that this book really made me want to read the fourth one sooner than I was planning to. The characters are doing well sans Schuyler and the plot is thickening!

In My Mailbox

In My Mailbox is a post where I tell you the books that I received this week either by buying them from the bookstore, going to the library or from my mailbox. In My Mailbox was inspired by Alea and turned into a meme by Kristi.

For Review: Thanks to Netgalley and Marshall Cavendish

The Weepers by Susanne Winnacker

Sherry has lived with her family in a bunker for more than three years. Her grandfather's body has been in the freezer for the last six months, her parents are at each other's throats and two minutes ago, they ran out of food. Sherry and her father must leave the safety of the bunker. What they find is an empty Los Angeles, destroyed by bombs and haunted by Weepers, savage humans infected with a rabies virus. While searching for food, Sherry's father disappears and Sherry is saved by Joshua, a hunter. He takes her to Safe-haven, a vineyard where a handful of survivors are picking up the pieces of their other lives, before the virus changed everything. Sherry must find a way to help her family, stay alive, and decide whether Joshua is their savior or greatest danger as his desire for vengeance threatens them all. This debut novel is a page-turner that is not easy to forget.

Bought:

Jellicoe Road by Melina Marchetta

Abandoned by her mother on Jellicoe Road when she was eleven, Taylor Markham, now seventeen, is finally being confronted with her past. But as the reluctant leader of her boarding school dorm, there isn't a lot of time for introspection. And while Hannah, the closest adult Taylor has to family, has disappeared, Jonah Griggs is back in town, moody stares and all.

In this absorbing story by Melina Marchetta, nothing is as it seems and every clue leads to more questions as Taylor tries to work out the connection between her mother dumping her, Hannah finding her then and her sudden departure now, a mysterious stranger who once whispered something in her ear, a boy in her dreams, five kids who lived on Jellicoe Road eighteen years ago, and the maddening and magnetic Jonah Griggs, who knows her better than she thinks he does. If Taylor can put together the pieces of her past, she might just be able to change her future.

Contest Saturday

Here are some contests that are currently going on right now in the blogosphere that are book related. Click the links to enter them. I will try to hold my own contest each month.

Win a copy of Glimmer HERE. Ends 2/10

Win a copy of The Edumacation of Jay Baker HERE. Ends 2/10

Win a cop of The Butterfly Clues HERE. Ends 2/13

Win a copy of The Way We Fall HERE. Ends 2/14

Win a copy of the Education of Hailey Kendrick HERE. Ends 2/15

Win Starcrossed, Forgotten, Hearts at Stake, and Blood Feud HERE. Ends 2/16

Win an audiobook copy of Tempest HERE. Ends 2/17

Win a copy of Don't Breathe a Word HERE. Ends 2/20

Win any book from the Mystyx Series HERE. Ends 2/20

Win a copy of The Statistical Probability of Love at First Sight HERE. Ends 2/21

Win a copy of Born Wicked HERE. Ends 2/29

Win a copy of Halflings HERE. Ends 2/29

Win a 2012 book sequel HERE. Ends 3/1

Twisted by Sara Shepard

Title: Twisted (Pretty Little Liar Series #9)
Author: Sara Shepard
Publisher: HarperCollins Publishers
Acquired: Bought
Age Group: Young Adult
Grade: 88% or B+ 
Buy It: Amazon

It's been a year since the torturous notes from A stopped and the mystery of Alison DiLaurentis's disappearance was finally put to rest. Now seniors in high school, Aria, Spencer, Hanna, and Emily are older, but they're not any wiser. The pretty little liars have more secrets than ever—twisted secrets that could destroy the perfect lives they've worked so hard to rebuild.

Aria's jealous of her boyfriend's new exchange student. Spencer's getting a little too cozy with her soon-to-be-stepbrother. Hanna's one scandalous photo away from ruining her dad's Senate campaign. And Emily will do anything to get a swim scholarship.

Worst of all: Last spring break in Jamaica, they did something unforgivable. The girls are desperate to forget that fateful night, but they should know better than anyone that all secrets wash ashore . . . eventually.

My Thoughts::
I'll be the first person to admit that I wasn't really happy about there being more books added to the series. It ended kind of amazingly and eerily. I think that these books were seen as a money maker, so they decided to go and make more money off of it. Yet here I am, having obviously read the next book. They are just irresistable.

I thought Shepard already used all of the crazy situations already. What could happen that would put them all at risk for exposure again? What else could happen in their personal likes to ruin them? Who else could be stalking and tormenting them? I thought I'd be disappointed by the book. Seeing things repeated or just a watered down storyline. Wow, was I wrong. It felt great to be immersed in these girls' storyline again! I wasn't ready to let them go before, and I'm hanging on even tighter now. I could sometimes predict the repercussions that A would hand them after some things, but at other times I was completely surprised.

Once again the characters are going through agony. But here's the thing...I don't feel entirely sorry for them. I mean, how can you be told on if you didn't do something before it? These characters are guilty of being not so great people. Not saying they deserve what they're getting, but you'd think they would learn their lesson by now. Though I will admit that many times they're not TRYING to get into these problems. That's what makes these books so pleasantly frustrating.

Overall I think that Twisted really impressed me and showed me that the PLL's series can still thrive and bring new things to the already twisted plot. I'd recommend this book to those who read the first 8 books and to anyone who watches the TV show. Believe me, the books are WAY better.

At Season's End by Eric Hendershot

Title: At Season's End
Author: Eric Hendershot
Publisher: Cedar Fort, Incorporated
Acquired: Received free for an honest review
Age Group: Young Adult
Grade: 79% or C+ 
Buy It: Amazon

Hit hard by the Great Depression, Sal’s family loads up an old Buick and heads out to find work wherever they can. Driving from place to place, living off the little they can make, they soon realize they’ll never be able to afford to settle down again.

Then, when tragedy strikes, Sal and her brother must learn to fend for themselves. In a world of harsh realities, there’s no room left for romance. But that can’t stop Sal from dreaming of a life with Ben—a boy from another migrant family—even though she knows she may never see him again.

My Thoughts:: 
I've recently been enjoying books that take me to a different time period. In fact, I've loved shows like Little House just for that purpose alone. There is just something so fantastic about immersing yourself in another time in history, and feeling like you're living first hand with their struggles and the social trends.

This book brings us to The Great Depression. I knew that many families packed up and left home to find work, but I had no idea that they made it into an entire different kind of lifestyle! The author did a great job of REALLY taking us back. There was talk about what people thought about the Great Depression, how different types of people lived, how much things cost, and the kinds of things that people bought. It was fun and interesting comparing life back then, to life now.

The novel gave us plenty of background information about the family. Throughout the book we get little anecdotes that give us a better insight on how they got where they are and about who they are. Though I really enjoyed reading these...I do have a complaint about the book. It was just wayyy too jumpy. Whole months, and even a year are just cut out. The book isn't very long, so length couldn't have been an issue. I suppose the author just wanted time to go by without anything happening? It was hard for me to imagine the characters getting older and growing up when I've barely gotten to know them yet.

Overall I think that At Season's End was a read that can really bring out back in time and help you better understand some of the struggles of America's past. I'd recommend this book to any historical fiction fan who doesn't enjoy going too far back.

January in Review

I read 9 books this month (you can check them all out in the Books Read page)
I reviewed 11:

Replication by Jill Williamson
Blue Bloods by Melissa de la Cruz
Linger by Maggie Stiefvater
Notes to Self by Avery Sawyer
Pieces of Us by Margie Gelbwasser
Immortal Beloved by Cate Tiernan
The Statistical Probability of Love at First Sight by Jennifer E. Smith
Why We Broke Up by Daniel Handler
Masquerade by Melissa de la Cruz
The Fault in Our Stars by John Green
Darkness Falls by Cate Tiernan

I reviewed 3 movies this month:
Friends with Benefits
Limitless
Extremely Loud and Incredibly Close

Challenges so far:

I read 9/100 books towards my personal goal.
0/5 books for the 2012 Book Blogger Recommendation Challenge
0/6 books for the Zombie Challenge 2012
0/7 books for the 2012 Finishing the Series Challenge

Blog Changes:

None this month. After the redesign I had, I'm taking a break from changes!

Overall:

I read a decent amount this month, though I wish I could have gotten one more book in. I also wish that I would have focused some on my challenges, since I own some of the books for them already. Next month has some nice things planned, including some giveaways!