Hop & Follow Friday! (9)

Happy Friday!(It's Friday, Friday....)

"Follow My Book Blog Friday" is an awesome weekly meme hosted over at Parajunkee's View!  Check out her blog and join in the follow fun!
Q. Circle time! Time to share. What character in a book would you most like to be, what character in a book would you most like to date?

Hard choices!  I have to say that if I could BE a character....I would choose....(realizing I like a lot of *tragic* characters)...Anna from Anna and the French Kiss.  (A) She gets to go live and go to school in Paris (and I <3 Paris).  (B)  Super cute boyfriend...sure he has his flaws but it all works out in the end (*swoon* Etienne).  And, well, as predictable as it may be....I'd have to say I'd want to date Etienne...after he got over the old girlfriend and stopped messing around. :-) 





The "Book Blogger Hop" is a weekly book party hosted over at Crazy for Books!  Join in the party and get to know your fellow book bloggers!
Q: Which book blogger would you most like to meet in real life?
Ohhh.....tough choice! Do I have to pick just one?!?!  I would love to meet many, many of my book blogger friends!  But...for the sake of this "exercise,"  I'm going to have to go with the blogger I've most recently connected with, who writes reviews that I love reading, and who has a very similar taste in books to me.... Kristi @ The Book Faery!(And PS ~ you should totally check out her blog! She's starting a new meme this Saturday and I think it's going to be great!)But I also love The Violet Hour Book Reviews...and the Bookish Brunette...and Parajunkee...and Green Bean Teen Queen....and many others...and I'd *squee* at a chance to meet any of them!
I really do love you ALL!  I would like to meet any and all of you because...well...you love books and so do I! Oh! Whether you're a new follower or old, check out my follower giveaway! I'm celebrating YOU!
Happy Friday!  Leave your link and let me know if you're a new follower!

YA Book Review: Tempestuous by Lesley Livingston

Tempestuous by Lesley Livingston
© 21 December 2010 by HarperTEen

Goodreads description:

"I don't love Sonny Flannery."

That's the lie Kelley Winslow told to protect the boy she loves from a power he doesn't know he possesses. Devastated, Sonny retreats—to a haven for Lost Fae that's hidden deep underneath New York City. 

But Kelley's not about to let things end in heartbreak. To get Sonny back, she's got to find out who's after his magick—and how to use her own. She's got to uncover who's recruiting Janus Guards to murderously hunt innocent Faerie. She's got to help rebuild the shattered theater company she called family. And she's got to do it all without getting dangerously distracted by the Fennrys Wolf, whose legendary heart of stone seems to melt whenever he's around Kelley.

Thoughts, Musings, Ramblings...


**Spoiler warning! While there shouldn't be any Tempestuous spoilers here, there may be spoilers for the first two books in the series.  If you're interested in the books, start with my review of Wondrous Strange!**


Since this is the final book in the trilogy, allow me a moment to bask in my cover lust. *sigh*  Aren't the covers of these books seriously beautiful?!  I think the artist who worked on these is a genius.  Seriously--beautiful.  The female models perfectly captures Kelley for me, and the covers invoke just the right amount of magical-ness.

Now, moving on to the story, while I wasn't enraptured with book 2 (Darklight), I appreciated everything that I learned in the book as I dived headfirst into this book.  I felt like I knew the characters going in--like they were old friends.  This final book had everything that I felt like the second was lacking - action, action, action!

Ah...what to say without spoiling it?! This book is action-packed and it reminded me of why I got sucked into the first book to begin with.  Lesley Livingston's writing is phenomenal--the descriptions of people, places, scenes, emotions--all wonderful!  I am sad that the series is over now!  (Well, kind of--it did wrap up quite well and any more might get boring...)  This book really had a little bit of everything--action, adventure, intrigue, betrayal, romance...you name it, it was probably in this book!  I love how much Kelley has developed over the course of the three books and how she came into her power slowly over time.  It was refreshing.

Overall, this was a very enjoyable faery series!  I would highly recommend it for the fantastic writing and well-developed characters.  If you haven't read this and you enjoy faeries, read it now!

Waiting on Wednesday (9)

"Waiting on...Wednesday" is a weekly bookish meme hosted by Jill at Breaking the Spine that allows us to share with the blogger world what upcoming book releases we are anxiously awaiting! (And this awesome button is from Lindsey at The Violet Hour!)

This week, I'm waiting on...

Die for Me by Amy Plum
© 10 May 2011 by HarperTeen

Goodreads description:

My life had always been blissfully, wonderfully normal. But it only took one moment to change everything. 

Suddenly, my sister, Georgia, and I were orphans. We put our lives into storage and moved to Paris to live with my grandparents. And I knew my shattered heart, my shattered life, would never feel normal again. Then I met Vincent.
Mysterious, sexy, and unnervingly charming, Vincent Delacroix appeared out of nowhere and swept me off my feet. Just like that, I was in danger of losing my heart all over again. But I was ready to let it happen. 

Of course, nothing is ever that easy. Because Vincent is no normal human. He has a terrifying destiny, one that puts his life at risk every day. He also has enemies . . . immortal, murderous enemies who are determined to destroy him and all of his kind. 

While I'm fighting to piece together the remnants of my life, can I risk putting my heart—as well as my life and my family's—in jeopardy for a chance at love?

I've read so many fabulous reviews for this one! (Like this one by Kristi at The Book Faery! Doesn't it make you want to read this?!)

Tween Tuesday: The Blackhope Enigma

"Tween Tuesday" is a weekly meme hosted over at GreenBeanTeenQueen.  If you're looking for a good middle grade book or have a review to share, be sure to check it out!

This week I wanted to share Blackhope Enigma as my "tween" pick.  I'm not sure that this is "supposed" to be a tween book, but the characters are 14 years old and the storyline is quick-paced with adventure and mystery all mixed into a cute story.  The book definitely lacks the sexual overtones, violence, and crude language of many YA books, which (for me) made it appropriate for MG readers.  I wouldn't hesitate to offer this book to a reader 10+.

Blackhope Enigma by Teresa Flavin
(c) August 2011 by Candlewick Press
(UK release 2010)

Goodreads description:

When Sunni Forrest’s stepbrother accidentally transports himself into a Renaissance painting, she and her friend Blaise set out to bring him back. They find themselves in a strange world of labyrinths, monsters and pirates.

Can they evade their greedy pursuers? And will they ever find their way home?

Thoughts, Musings, Ramblings...

The Blackhope Enigma is a fun mystery that all starts when Sunni’s stepbrother, Dean, accidentally transports himself into one of Fausto Corvo’s magical paintings. Sunni, determined to get him back, follows the labyrinth path and joins him in the picture, leaving Blaise standing alone and shortly thereafter being shuffled out of the room by a guard.  Determined to get Sunni and Dean out, Blaise finds a way into the picture with them, despite the media and police crowds searching for two lost kids.

In a fast-paced story, Dean, Sunni, and Blaise have to work their way through a maze (literally and figuratively) to escape from the paintings within the painting and make their way back home.  Of course, it’s easier said than done most of the time.  The three encounter a fun cast of good guys, bad guys, and everything in between as they battle deadly creatures, sail on the high seas, and trek through a deserted island—all in the hopes of finding a way back to their own world.

The book has its share of predictable and slightly cheesy situations, but they don’t interrupt the flow of the story or detract from its overall telling.Teresa Flavin has crafted a fun story that many readers will enjoy.It’s full of fast-paced adventure and mystery with just a splash of magic and history.Readers will be drawn in by her descriptions of this magical world (or worlds) within the painting.

The premise of this book really struck me as original. I don’t think it can even really be compared to any books I’ve read lately and I struggle to draw a comparison between this book and many others. It’s not quite time travel yet it doesn’t really have a real fantasy feel to it.For me, that just shows how well the story is woven together to seamlessly incorporate elements of contemporary, fantasy, and historical stories. I also really loved the descriptions that Teresa provided as they moved between worlds within the paintings, describing the white paint that covered the magic world that existed under the exterior painting.

There were a few points at the beginning where I felt like things were almost going too fast for my liking.We meet our characters and next thing you know they’re in the painting! I wouldn’t have even thought to look for Dean in the painting and it was surprising (and maybe a tad unrealistic) how quickly Sunni figured it out.Once the actual adventures began inside the painting, I definitely found myself settling into and enjoying the story, but the beginning just seemed a tad rushed to me.

Overall, I really enjoyed reading this. It was a fast-paced readI think I would recommend it to “tweens” (or young teens) as a good read.  I think it would appeal to a wide variety of readers since it incorporates elements of many different types of stories.

(Oh, and as an added bonus, you can actually download teaching resources for this book! How cool is that?! Maybe that’s just the former teacher in me...)

*Disclaimer: I received this eGalley from the publisher via NetGalley for my honest review. The source of this book in no way affects my opinions thereof.

YA Book Review: Hex Hall by Rachel Hawkins

Hex Hall by Rachel Hawkins
© 2 March 2010 by Hyperion Books

Goodreads description:

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

By the end of her first day among fellow freak-teens, Sophie has quite a scorecard: three powerful enemies who look like supermodels, a futile crush on a gorgeous warlock, a creepy tagalong ghost, and a new roommate who happens to be the most hated person and only vampire student on campus. Worse, Sophie soon learns that a mysterious predator has been attacking students, and her only friend is the number-one suspect.

 Thoughts, Ramblings, Musings...

I have to say I wasn't sure about this one when I picked it up.  However, I did eventually pick it up (obviously!) because (a) I think the cover is cool and (b) it got some good ratings on Goodreads.  That being said, all the positive reviews and high ratings gave me some high expectations of the book.  Did it deliver? Yes!

From start to finish, I really liked the narrator.  Sophie is a snarky little thing and I loved it.  She had me laughing out loud at many points (which, in case you were curious, is a tad embarrassing when you're on the stationary bike at the gym).  She may have been a little clueless at points but not the extreme cluelessness that shows up in so many YA females these days.  She's mostly just clueless about the whole Prodigum "thing," which makes sense because she was raised by a normal human.  (Which, on another note, thank you Rachel Hawkins for not writing a magical character who automatically accepts and is awesome at all things magic-related.)

The storyline was fun and quick-paced, which I enjoy in a novel.  The character development was good--not necessarily as deep as it might have gone, but I felt like I at least knew the characters as slightly more than a basic acquaintance .There was a good amount of foreshadowing but the plot twists still kept me on the edge of my seat.  (I want to tell you all about how --------------------------------------------------------------(!) but I won't because I don't want to spoil it if you haven't read it and want to!)

Overall, very enjoyable read.  I'd definitely recommend it.

In My Mailbox (4)

In My Mailbox is a weekly meme hosted by Kristi at the Story Siren. For more information and how to participate, follow the link and hop on over to her amazing blog!

I haven't done one of these posts for a couple of weeks, so I actually had to go back and look at what I posted last time to see what was "new" to post here!

Here's a sample:

So, for more details, here we go!

Won from Goodreads:

Graveminder by Melissa Marr (Goodreads | B&N)

The Journey by Wanda Brunstetter (Goodreads | B&N)

Bought:

The Unclaimed Duchess by Jenna Petersen (Goodreads | B&N)

Awaken Me Darkly by Gena Showalter (Goodreads | B&N)

Life as We Knew It by Susan Pfeffer (Goodreads | B&N)

Mercy by Rebecca Lim (Goodreads | B&N)

Lover Unleashed by J.R. Ward (Goodreads | B&N)

Won from Kathy at Read This Instead!

Where She Went by Gayle Forman (which I reviewed here).  I had an ARC copy from NetGalley, and I am SO excited to have my own copy now.  Even better?...

It's *signed*!! How awesome is that?!

Not quite a book, but I won it and it's book related...

Awesome *signed* bookmark from Nova Ren Suma! I'm looking forward to this book in June. Too bad I didn't win the book, lol! :-)

Well, that's all for now!  I have a few more things coming in the mail. (For instance, did you see this post at Bewitched Bookworms?  Yeah, that's me...the grand prize winner! Also, I won a prize (or two) during Dewey's Read-A-Thon...) So....I'll definitely be doing another IMM post sometime soon. :-)

(Oh, also, I'm behind on my Hunger Games posts! I'll probably post one tomorrow, for those of you who follow/are interested)

Happy May Day!