Teaser... Wednesday?

This is a bit off of the new novel that I'm currently writing. It's very rough, so pardon any spelling or grammatical errors.

Earlier today I threw a baseball over a fence into oblivion. I suppose that is what my existence has become, oblivion. Every day I go through the same routine. Wake up. Go to school. Go work at The Roxy. Do homework. Try to sleep. It’s like I’m dead to myself. I drone on through the day and hope to god I can make it through to the next. Today is no different from any other. I’m sitting on the counter at The Roxy, waiting for caffeine deprived people to come in demanding their hourly fix. I hear the bell ring, signaling that some desperate soccer mom is here to get her Americano. I look over to the door, it isn’t a soccer mom. It’s a boy.
But not just any boy, a boy that takes out all of the gray stillness in my life. His muscles seem more pronounced as he walks forward, he looks to be about my age . When he get’s up to the counter he looks at me with these deep, aquamarine eyes.

“I don’t want to me disrespectful, but isn’t it against health code or something to be sitting on a counter?”

I know I should probably respond to him. I can’t though. I feel as if my whole body has been paralyzed. Aquamarine boy has an accent. A British accent. He continues blankly staring at me. Crap. What do I say?


“ Oh, umm. I don’t know. What can I help you with today?”

“Well, for starters I’d like some coffee.” He looks down at me as his says this, a teasing smirk on his face.

“I see. And what kind would you like?”

“Large regular coffee, please”

“Anything added to that? Milk? Sugar?”

“No thanks. I like to live dangerously.” He flashes me a quick smile, drops a ten dollar bill on the counter and goes to sit down.

“Sir! You forgot your change.” I yell after him.

Aquamarine boy just looks over and winks at me. I try not to lose my grip on the counter, because if I do, I am almost guaranteed to fall flat on my butt*. After making his drink, I proceed to call out his name.

“Aqua… I mean, large regular coffee!”

When he comes to get his drink, he stares at me for a few seconds. He whispers “Aqua?”. All I can do is blush and wait for him to leave. It seems as if hours have passed since I first got here. After what seems like forever, I look at the clock. Finally. I can go home.
I hop into my red 1968 Mustang. I hear the gears roughly turning as the Stang’ glides down the endless streets of Andromeda, Washington. Every day my car threatens to break down and leave me stranded.
After about three minutes of driving, I finally reach my destination. Andromeda Town Cemetery. Coming here has slowly made it’s way into my weekly routine. I walk down a darkly lit path until I see a head stone that is oh-so-familiar to me. I read it aloud to myself for what must be the four hundredth time in the past six months.

James Isles
Lay to rest June 25, 2010. Age 23
Beloved son, brother, and friend


*Changed this word in case any kiddies are reading. :)

Giveaway- Bring On The Night by Jeri Smith-Ready

You have a chance to win 1 of 7 copies of Jeri Smith-Ready's new adult book Bring On The Night. Many of you probably know Jeri from her young adult novel, Shade. Bring On The Night is the third book in a series, here is what it's about *If you haven't read the previous books, there are spoilers beyond this point*-


WHAT'S BLOOD GOT TO DO WITH IT?

Recovering con artist Ciara Griffin seems to finally have it all. A steady job at WVMP, the Lifeblood of Rock 'n' Roll. A loving relationship with the idiosyncratic but eternally hot DJ Shane McAllister. A vampire dog who never needs shots or a pooper-scooper. And after nine years, it looks as if she might actually finish her bachelor's degree!

But fate has other plans for Ciara. First she must fulfill her Faustian bargain with the Control, the paranormal paramilitary agency that does its best to keep vampires in line. Turns out the Control wants her for something other than her (nonexistent) ability to kick undead ass. Her anti-holy blood, perhaps? Ciara's suspicions are confirmed when she's assigned to a special-ops division known as the Immanence Corps, run by the Control's oldest vampire and filled with humans who claim to have special powers. To a confirmed skeptic like Ciara, it sounds like a freak fest. But when a mysterious fatal virus spreads through Sherwood—and corpses begin to rise from their graves—Ciara will not only get a crash course in zombie-killing, but will be forced to put her faith, and her life itself, in the hands of magic.

If you would like to have a chance to win a copy of Bring On The Night, just fill out the form below. US Residence only. Sorry!

You don't have to be a follower to enter, but if you like my blog, I would love if you followed it!

Pretty Little Liars by Sara Shepard

Everyone has something to hide—especially high school juniors Spencer, Aria, Emily, and Hanna.

Spencer covets her sister's boyfriend. Aria's fantasizing about her English teacher. Emily's crushing on the new girl at school. Hanna uses some ugly tricks to stay beautiful.

But they've all kept an even bigger secret since their friend Alison vanished.

How do I know? Because I know everything about the bad girls they were, the naughty girls they are, and all the dirty secrets they've kept. And guess what? I'm telling.

As many of you know, Pretty Little Liars is now a show. I loved the first two episodes so I decided to buy the first book and start reading. I didn’t think I was going to like it because I had tried reading it before and didn’t finish it. Needless to say, after reading the first book, I was hooked. My favorite character was Aria, and my favorite male character was Mr. Fitz. Both characters were written really well. I think that Sara Shepard really got to know the characters both before and while she was writing.
Every word on the page new and fresh and it made the book more surprising, which I loved. The character that annoyed me the most was Hannah. Yes, her father abandoned her to live with her mother. She didn’t have to be so self-centered though! It took all of my self control to not skip her chapters.
Even though I had already seen the series, when A send the texts, emails, and notes I was still creeped out. If you are a fan of the show or even if you aren’t, I recommend this book.


FTC- Bought.

Death by Denim by Linda Gerber

Aphra Connolly is being chased by some very dangerous people. She knows her survival depends upon staying far away from love interest Seth, and listening to her mom’s lectures on the finer points of anonymity and survival. But how is a girl supposed to live under the radar and not think about her boyfriend when she’s in Paris—the most romantic city in the world? When her mom’s contact in Paris is found floating in the Seine with a deadly message stuffed in his mouth, Aphra realizes that she will never be able to stop running unless she confronts the situation head-on. Sneaking away from her mom, Aphra tracks down the criminal mastermind in Italy, only to unwittingly reveal Seth’s location. And her mistake has just put them both in mortal danger. . . .

Since I loved the first two books in this series, I had high expectations for this book. Unfortunately, I didn’t end up liking it as much. I found that Death by Denim was hard to get sucked into. That being said, it was still action packed like the first two installments in the Death by… series. I love Aphra, she is a fun character. Her relationship with Seth was adorable, as always.
I recommend this series to people who love action and mystery. The first two books in the series were two of the best mystery books I’ve read, and I don’t usually like mystery books. This series is a fast read. Linda Gerber is really talented and I congratulate her on writing such good books.

FTC- Bought

Amy & Roger's Epic Detour by Morgan Matson

Amy Curry thinks her life sucks. Her mom decides to move from California to Connecticut to start anew--just in time for Amy's senior year. Her dad rec...more Amy Curry thinks her life sucks. Her mom decides to move from California to Connecticut to start anew--just in time for Amy's senior year. Her dad recently died in a car accident. So Amy embarks on a road trip to escape from it all, driving cross-country from the home she's always known toward her new life. Joining Amy on the road trip is Roger, the son of Amy's mother's old friend. Amy hasn't seen him in years, and she is less than thrilled to be driving across the country with a guy she barely knows. So she's surprised to find that she is developing a crush on him. At the same time, she's coming to terms with her father's death and how to put her own life back together after the accident. Told in traditional narrative as well as scraps from the road--diner napkins, motel receipts, postcards--this is the story of one girl's journey to find herself.


I was reluctant to get this book. Luckily Alicia of Shooting Stars Mag told me that I should get it because it’s both cute and a quick read. She was right! Amy and Rogers Epic Detour was just what the title implied- epic. This book was not only adorable, but it was factual. One of the first places they go to on their detour (Yosemite) I’ve been to. Morgan Matson described it perfectly. She even had the description about the beds perfect, down to the scratchy blankets that were on the beds.
Though this book is a good mildly thick length, I read it in less than a day. I couldn’t stop reading, it was so good. The little pictures and receipts made it fun to read. The one thing that bugged me about this book was that Roger wouldn’t stop complaining about his ex-girlfriend. Here he is, on a road trip with a perfectly nice girl and all he does is talk about how another girl broke his heart! I mean wake up and smell the obvious, Roger!
I recommend this book to everyone. It is funny, addicting, and realistic. It will make you want to hop in a car and go on a road trip! Morgan Matson wrote a lovely book. The cover is also adorable!

FC- Bought.

Winners of One Night That Changes Everything!

The 5 winners are...


KHY
SHANNON
YAN
JAMIE
ERICA


Congratulations on winning One Night That Changes Everything!

Something, Maybe by Elizabeth Scott

Everyone thinks their parents are embarrassing, but Hannah knows she's got them all beat. Her dad made a fortune showing pretty girls--and his "party" lifestyle--all over the Internet, and her mom, who was once one of her dad's girlfriends, is now the star of her own website. After getting the wrong kind of attention for far too long, Hannah has learned how to stay out of sight...and that's how she likes it.

Of course, being unknown isn't helping her get noticed by gorgeous, confident Josh, who Hannah knows is her soul mate. Between trying to figure out a way to get him to notice her, dealing with her parents, and wondering why she can't stop thinking about another guy, Finn, Hannah feels like she's going crazy. She's determined to make things work out the way she wants....only what she wants may not be what she needs


Like all Elizabeth Scott books Something, Maybe was amazing. Elizabeth Scott has a way of writing that makes you give yourself to the story… like you are on a first name basis with it. The dad in this book was really awful, then he starts to get better, then he if awful again. Even though he is like that, I didn’t hate him that much. The one character I was truly disgusted by was Josh. Nobody can be that perfect, it’s impossible, and I think he displayed that more than clearly. Hannah’s mother was one interesting character. I couldn’t imagine having a mom like her.
I think Elizabeth captures Hannah’s life really well and in a way that makes you sympathize with her. I recommend this book to anyone. Scott has an unforgettable way of writing that captures the essence of her stories perfectly.


FTC- Bought.

Linger by Maggie Stiefvater

In Maggie Stiefvater's Shiver, Grace and Sam found each other. Now, in Linger, they must fight to be together. For Grace, this means defying her parents and keeping a very dangerous secret about her own well-being. For Sam, this means grappling with his werewolf past . . . and figuring out a way to survive into the future. Add into the mix a new wolf named Cole, whose own past has the potential to destroy the whole pack. And Isabelle, who already lost her brother to the wolves . . . and is nonetheless drawn to Cole.

I think I liked Shiver more, but Linger was still great. I have only read these two books by Maggie Stiefvater, but they are making me want to read her other books. The Prologue made me want to read more, but I also found that it was really confusing. I was stuck asking other people if certain things happened in Shiver *they hadn’t*. The book ends up making a circle and what you read in the beginning relates to what is in the end of the book.
The relationship between Sam and Grace, I love! It is so adorable, and Sam is the perfect guy. (And he works in a bookstore!). Their chemistry is great, and it’s something that keeps me looking forward to reading the book. I wish that there was more werewolf- type stuff in Linger. It was mostly informational and Sam trying to figure out information and discovering himself more.
I loved the relationship between Cole and Isabelle, it was really cute!
Overall, I really liked this book. Though it had it’s faults, it was good. I’m excited to read the next one.


FTC- Received from a friend.

Knit Two Together by Connie Lane

Libby Cartwright hadn't planned on inheriting a yarn shop from her estranged mother. But that was before she found her favorite childhood stuffed animal amidst the dust and moldering yarn. And before she encountered a motley crew of locals determined to resurrect the store. So what else had Mom been hiding?

Running Metropolitan Knits means Libby still has lots to learn. About knitting. Motherhood (who ever said raising a daughter was easy!).

And even romance. For quiet Hal O'Connell, an unlikely—and unattached—new customer, turns out to be a kindred spirit. As the Grand Reopening approaches, Libby learns to knit two together— in knitting and in life.—

My aunt gave me this book after she finished reading it. When I got it I saw that it was published by Harlequin but not Harlequin Teen, which made me weary. I’m also not the biggest fan of “adult” books. When I started reading this book I was pleasantly surprised. There were no sex-crazed characters or overly dramatic scenes. I read the first half in one sitting and I found that there were some really good life lessons in it. The main character has to deal with her suddenly rebellious daughter and a new divorce.
This book was mainly about transition and family. It had a backdrop of a relationship happening, which provided a sweet touch to it.
I also liked how through this whole story, it incorporated knitting and who therapeutic it can be. This book was refreshing and a quick read. I recommend it to people who generally don’t like adult books and are willing to give one a try.


FTC- Borrowed.

Going Too Far by Jennifer Echols

All Meg has ever wanted is to get away. Away from high school. Away from her backwater town. Away from her parents who seem determined to keep her imp...more All Meg has ever wanted is to get away. Away from high school. Away from her backwater town. Away from her parents who seem determined to keep her imprisoned in their dead-end lives. But one crazy evening involving a dare and forbidden railroad tracks, she goes way too far... and almost doesn't make it back.
John made a choice to stay. To enforce the rules. To serve and protect. He has nothing but contempt for what he sees as childish rebellion, and he wants to teach Meg a lesson she won't soon forget. But Meg pushes him to the limit by questioning everything he learned at the police academy. And when he pushes back, demanding to know why she won't be tied down, they will drive each other to the edge - and over...


For some reason, every time I had seen Going Too Far in a bookstore, I never bought it. Sure I loved the summary, and the cover is beautiful. But, I just never bothered to buy it. So, when I opened my birthday present from Erica, and this was in it, I was over-joyed. I read this book in one sitting, and loved it. Meg was the sort of person that teens want to be at times, the bad-ass that’s willing to do almost anything. I loved his book because even though the characters weren’t always exploring new things, the book still felt adventurous to me.
I kept trying to guess what kind of guy that John was, and in the end, I was completely wrong. He really surprised me, in a good way. You know that feeling that you get after reading a really good and sweet book? The one that makes you smile like an idiot? This happened to me after reading Going Too Far. As I was walking to put it on my bookshelf, I was on a book-high. After reading this, I want to read anything ever written by Jennifer Echols.
Even though I have heard nothing but praise for this book, I didn’t think I would like it as much as I did. It was thrilling, addicting, and anything you could ever want in a YA romance novel. I can’t wait to read Jennifer Echols’ other books. I strongly recommend Going Too Far.

FTC- Received as a gift.

Freak Magnet by Andrew Auseon

A novel about freaks, geeks, crushes, and friends—and how sometimes you can be all of them at once.

Charlie is the freak. Gloria is the freak magnet. They're pretty much destined to meet. And when they do, sparks fly . . . for Charlie. Gloria, well, she just thinks he's like every other freak who feels compelled to talk to her, although a little better-looking than most.

While Charlie has his head in the clouds, Gloria's got hers in a book: her Freak Folio—a record of every weirdo who's talked to her in the last year (it's a big book). But never before has she felt the pull to get to know one of them better. Until now.

I don’t really know what to say about Freak Magnet. A lot of the time I didn’t know what was going on. I think part of the reason I was so lost was because Charlie was everywhere. His personality was out-there, he didn’t care what he said or what everyone else is doing; he was his own person. I think him being so frantic made it so a lot was going on and it made the book hard to follow at times. I think what ultimately made him special, was his way of thinking about and explaining space. Instead of just the typical knowledge, he also had the notebook full of numbers and the unique way of talking about everything.
I liked the fact that both Charlie and Gloria both had their own baggage. Gloria was afraid to get close to someone. Charlie was hiding behind his love of astronomy and superman. Andrew Auseon told the story of the “Freak” and the “{freak} Magnet” well. He showed how to polar-opposites who have never met can become such a big part of each other’s lives.
Though this book had it’s ups and downs, I think that generally it was pretty good. Though I found it occasionally confusing, the characters were well-made and had their own personalities.


FTC- Received from publisher.

The Choir Boats

I just wanted to let you all know that author Daniel Rabuzzi has a copy of his book The Choir Boats, to read for free. In the month of July you can read an e-book version of his book here.

London, 1812 | Yount, Year of the Owl

What would you give to make good on the sins of your past? For merchant Barnabas McDoon, the answer is: everything.

When emissaries from a world called Yount offer Barnabas a chance to redeem himself, he accepts their price -- to voyage to Yount with the key that only he can use to unlock the door to their prison. But bleak forces seek to stop him: Yount's jailer, a once-human wizard who craves his own salvation, kidnaps Barnabas's nephew. A fallen angel -- a monstrous owl with eyes of fire -- will unleash Hell if Yount is freed. And, meanwhile, Barnabas's niece, Sally, and a mysterious pauper named Maggie seek with dream-songs to wake the sleeping goddess who may be the only hope for Yount and Earth alike.

YA Lit. Book Show

I wanted to let you all know about something that Erica and I have started. It's a free blog tour website called YA Lit. Book Show. If you're a blogger and would like to participate in our tour's fell free to fill out the application and we'll email you when we set up our tours to see if you're interested.
If you're an author and would like us to set up a blog tour for you, there is also a form on the site that you can fill out. Or you can email us at thebookshow AT yahoo DOT com.

You can visit the blog tour website here.


Best Wishes,
Zoe

Harmonic Feedback by Tara Kelly

Sixteen-year-old, music- and sound design-obsessed Drea doesn’t have friends. She has, as she’s often reminded, issues. Drea’s mom and a rotating band of psychiatrists have settled on “a touch of Asperger’s.”

Having just moved to the latest in a string of new towns, Drea meets two other outsiders. And Naomi and Justin seem to actually like Drea. The three of them form a band after an impromptu, Portishead-comparison-worthy jam after school. Justin swiftly challenges not only Drea’s preference for Poe over Black Lab but also her perceived inability to connect with another person. Justin, against all odds, may even like like Drea.

It’s obvious that Drea can’t hide behind her sound equipment anymore. But just when she’s found not one but two true friends, can she stand to lose one of them?

Going into it, I didn’t think I would like this book very much. In the past I’ve found it hard to find a music book that did the topic justice. Harmonic Feedback showed me that there aren’t only good books about music, but there are also good books dealing with psychiatric disorders. Drea’s struggle with fitting in is something that almost everyone can relate to. The way she overcomes her fears is really admirable.
I also liked the fact that Justin was sweet and mysterious. When the truth came out he admitted his faults and made sure Drea was comfortable with being near him. Such a gentleman!
Tara Kelly showed that people can overcome their struggles. She also showed that no matter what has happened in the past you can almost always find someone whom you can relate to. The characters were written really well. I was interested in their well-being and what they did. Tara seemed to know Drea inside and out, which is always a good thing.
The only other books I’ve read that show a love of music as well as Harmonic Feedback are Shrinking Violet and I Wanna Be Your Joey Ramone.
This is Tara Kelly’s first book and I think she did an amazing job writing it, I’m looking forward to reading her future published novels and I hope they will be as great as Harmonic Feedback was!

FTC- Bought

10 Things I Hate About You by David Levithan

Told she can't date until her older sister starts, Bianca fears no one will want to take out sarcastic Kat.


David Levithan! When I found out that the novel version of my favorite movie was written by my favorite author, I fangirled… a lot. I bought this with very high expectations. I read it in an hour and loved almost every minute. What bothered me was that scholastic censored the book. Since I’m a big fan of the movie I’ve seen it a countless amount of times, and (though I’m not extremely proud to admit it) know a lot of the words. Some of the parts I was looking forward to reading about had dialogue that some say is risky and not suitable for certain age groups, so that dialogue wasn’t in the book. It also annoyed me that Kat, the main character would say “Oh my goddess”. She is a devoted feminist, and I think by having her say this, it seemed like she was trying to hard.
That being said, I think it was written nicely. The points of view switch a few times, which is good because all the characters are dramatically diverse. For being a book that was based on the movie, I think 10 Things was fairly good. It isn’t m favorite book in the world, it isn’t even in the top 10, but personally I think it was worth reading.

FTC- I bought this book.


*This book is currently out of print*

Information About Bring on the Night by Jeri Smith Ready

I am a big fan of Jeri Smith Ready's young adult book Shade. I wanted to draw your attention to her new adult book called Bring on the Night. Here is the description-

*SPOILER ALERT: Bring on the Night is the third book in the series, beyond this point are SPOILERS*


WHAT'S BLOOD GOT TO DO WITH IT?

Recovering con artist Ciara Griffin seems to finally have it all. A steady job at WVMP, the Lifeblood of Rock 'n' Roll. A loving relationship with the idiosyncratic but eternally hot DJ Shane McAllister. A vampire dog who never needs shots or a pooper-scooper. And after nine years, it looks as if she might actually finish her bachelor's degree!

But fate has other plans for Ciara. First she must fulfill her Faustian bargain with the Control, the paranormal paramilitary agency that does its best to keep vampires in line. Turns out the Control wants her for something other than her (nonexistent) ability to kick undead ass. Her anti-holy blood, perhaps? Ciara's suspicions are confirmed when she's assigned to a special-ops division known as the Immanence Corps, run by the Control's oldest vampire and filled with humans who claim to have special powers. To a confirmed skeptic like Ciara, it sounds like a freak fest. But when a mysterious fatal virus spreads through Sherwood—and corpses begin to rise from their graves—Ciara will not only get a crash course in zombie-killing, but will be forced to put her faith, and her life itself, in the hands of magic

You can see a video of Jeri here.

Sea Change Winners!

Hey everyone!

I'm here to announce the two winners of Sea Change by Aimee Freedman. The first winner is-

JEREMY


and the other winner is-

JENNA


Congratulations to both of the winners! The books will be sent out soon.

Shadow Hills by Anastasia Hopcus

His love captivated her... his secrets might kill her. Since her sister’s mysterious death, Persephone “Phe” Archer has been plagued by a series of disturbing dreams. Determined to find out what happened to her sister, Phe enrolls at Devenish Prep in Shadow Hills, Massachusetts—the subject of her sister’s final diary entry. After stepping on campus, Phe immediately realizes that there’s something different about this place—an unexplained epidemic that decimated the town in the 1700s, an ancient and creepy cemetery, and gorgeous boy Zach—and somehow she’s connected to it all. But the more questions she asks and the deeper she digs, the more entangled Phe becomes in the haunting past of Shadow Hills. Finding what links her to this town…might cost her her life.



This book was fabulous! Shadow Hills was one of those books that don’t come around often. It was a paranormal/historical book and I think it captured both of those elements really well. Anastasia knows how to capture a good story. Phe was an admirable character. Not only was she written well, but she was spunky! Zach was totally swoon worthy and mysterious, which I loved. I found this book unbelievably addicting. I read it at the start of summer vacation. When reading it did I go hang with friends? No. Talk to my family? No. Have a life? No. Shadow Hills was just that addicting.
I can’t wait to read Anastasia’s future books!


FTC- Received from publisher.

Happy Birthday Rico!

Today is Erica of The Book Cellar's Birthday!


She is turning the big 17! YAY!

*sings*

HAPPY BIRTHDAY RICOOOOO!!!

Catching Fire by Suzanne Collins

Against all odds, Katniss Everdeen has won the annual Hunger Games with fellow district tribute Peeta Mellark. But it was a victory won by defiance of the Capitol and their harsh rules. Katniss and Peeta should be happy. After all, they have just won for themselves and their families a life of safety and plenty. But there are rumors of rebellion among the subjects, and Katniss and Peeta, to their horror, are the faces of that rebellion. The Capitol is angry. The Capitol wants revenge.


I completely understand why this series has gotten so much good praise and publicity. Catching Fire is the second book in the Hunger Games series. Suzanne Collins is a truly talented writer. She captures the characters nicely and makes you want their lives to be better. Towards the end, it got a bit confusing to me. Overall, the story was fantastic. I can’t wait for the next Hunger Games book.
I liked the first book better, because this one didn’t draw my attention as much. It was still addicting and wonderful, but I wanted more action and emotion. Sadly, Peeta was kind of annoying in the beginning this book. I found that he lost his drive and sulked a bit too much. I’m still Team Peeta though.
The Hunger Games is a series that you can’t miss! It is addicting, emotional, and just plain amazing. I loved it and hopefully you will love it too.

FTC- Borrowed from somebody.

Giveaway- One Night That Changes Everything

You can find my review of One Night That Changes Everything here.

You could be 1 of the 5 winners to win this wonderful book, written by Lauren Barnholdt. Just fill out the form below.

Eliza is in a full-blown panic. Her notebook has been stolen—the one that lists everything she wants but is afraid to go after. And the absolute worst person in the world has it: her ex-boyfriend, Cooper. Like it’s not enough Cooper was lying to Eliza for their entire relationship, now he and his friends are blackmailing her. They’re giving her just one night to complete the most humiliating tasks on her list or they’ll post her secrets online—including the ones that aren’t just about her. Eliza’s sure of only one thing: she isn’t going down without a fight. Cooper may have what’s left of her dignity, but she’s not the only one with something to hide …

One Night That Changes Everything by Lauren Barnholdt

Eliza is in a full-blown panic. Her notebook has been stolen—the one that lists everything she wants but is afraid to go after. And the absolute worst person in the world has it: her ex-boyfriend, Cooper. Like it’s not enough Cooper was lying to Eliza for their entire relationship, now he and his friends are blackmailing her. They’re giving her just one night to complete the most humiliating tasks on her list or they’ll post her secrets online—including the ones that aren’t just about her. Eliza’s sure of only one thing: she isn’t going down without a fight. Cooper may have what’s left of her dignity, but she’s not the only one with something to hide …


I read this book in one night. I wish it was longer because of how addicting it was. I like how it covers only one night. There is no guessing of how many days the books takes place over. I also liked how it demonstrates everything that can happen at night. Lauren also captures the emotions of her characters really well. Even though Cooper was supposedly mean, I liked him. I guessed how to book would end in the very beginning, and got it right. Though this book was predictable, I like it. Following the main character through everything she had to do was kind of fun! I recommend it!


FTC- Received from publisher.

The Iron King by Julie Kagawa

Meghan Chase has a secret destiny--one she could never have imagined... Something has always felt slightly off in Meghan's life, ever since her father disappeared before her eyes when she was six. She has never quite fit in at school...or at home. When a dark stranger begins watching her from afar, and her prankster best friend becomes strangely protective of her, Meghan senses that everything she's known is about to change. But she could never have guessed the truth-- that she is the daughter of a mythical faery king and is a pawn in a deadly war. Now Meghan will learn just how far she'll go to save someone she cares about, to stop a mysterious evil no faery creature dare face...and to find love with a young prince who might rather see her dead than let her touch his icy heart.


It took me awhile to read this book because I’m not much of a fantasy fan. Julie Kagawa showed me that I don’t dislike almost every fantasy book I read. The world of the Iron Fey dragged me in, to a point where I didn’t want to stop reading. I think that Julie did a lovely job writing this and creating the world that the characters lived in.
I read this book in a day and loved every minute of reading it. The characters were written well, the monsters were pretty creepy, and the boys were very awesome. I strongly recommend The Iron King by Julie Kagawa. It is addicting and written well.

FTC- Bought

Glass by Ellen Hopkins

"Crank. Glass. Ice. Crystal. Whatever you call it, it's all the same: a monster. And once it's got hold of you, this monster will never let you go."

A sequel to Crank, this harrowing and disturbing look at addiction finds protagonist Kristina Snow thinking she can use drugs yet control the consequences. Now with a baby to care for, she's determined to be the one deciding when and how much, the one calling the shots. But the monster is too strong and, before she knows it, Kristina is back in its grips. She needs the monster to keep going, to face the pressures of day-to-day life. She will do anything for it, including giving up the only thing that makes her truly happy.


Glass was one seriously depressing book. It was written really well, but dang it was depressing. I liked the first book Crank, better. The downfall of this usually-smart teenager is really hard to read about. I think what bugged me that most was that she knew all along what her problem was, and that she needed to fix it. But she would never follow through and actually stop her addiction. There was a constant going back and forth of “I should be doing this” and her doing the drug. In this book, her addiction gets even worse. She tries new forms of Meth and it ends up tearing her life apart even more.
Glass was really addicting, but it was also really hard to read. I recommend it if you don’t have a problem with reading hardcore books.


FTC- Received from publisher.