Posted This Month + Challenges Wrap Up

Posted this Month:

 

Wild Awake (Book Review) (3.5/5)

Books I Haven't Read

Vitro Contest & Giveaway
School Spirits (Book Review) (3.5/5)
YA Contemporary Challenge Goals
Monday YA Author Interview With Kasie West
Introduction to My New Meme Characterize It
WOW: Dearest by Alethea Kontis
Characterize It (1)
Stir Me Up (Book Review) (4/5) (Book Tour)
Six Months Later (Book Review) (4.5/5)
Solving For Ex (Book Review) (4.5/5)
Monday YA Author Interview With Natalie D Richards
Top Ten Debuts I Am Excited For
WOW: Endless by Kate Brians
Characterize It (2)
Nobody's Secret (Book Review) (2/5)
No One Else Can Have You (Book Review) (1/5)
Monday YA Author Interview With Anne Blankman
Top Six Things On My Reading Wishlist
What do your friends/acquaintances say about what YOU are reading?

Characterize It (3)
Obsidian (Book Review) (4/5)
The Summer I Became a Nerd (Book Review) (4.5/5)
Monday YA Author Interview With Katie Cotugno + GIVEAWAY
WOW: The Art of Lainey by Paula Stokes
Characterize It (4)
Cress (Book Review) (4.5/5)



 

 

Real Book Challenge January Wrap Up Post:

I did a pretty good job reading "real books" this month....About two thirds of the books I read were "real".

 

The "Real Books" I read in January (with links to reviews if applicable):

 

1. The Summer I Became a Nerd (review posted)
2. Nantucket Blue
3. Pride and Prejudice
4. Nobody's Secret (review posted)
5. Rose Under Fire
6. The Goddess Test (review posted)
7. Thousand Words
8. Motocross Me
9. Goddess Interrupted
10. How My Summer Went Up In Flames
11. Deja Dead
12. Paper Towns
13. 52 Reasons To Hate My Father
14. The Goddess Inheritance
15. Of Poseidon
16. Of Neptune

 

And the YA Contemporary Challenge.

January books read and reviewed are:

 

1. Solving for Ex (review posted)

2. No One Else Can Have You (review posted)

 

Cress (Book Review)

:-0 :-O :-0 Me the entire time reading this. Most series get worse as you continue, you fall out of love with the characters, you don't like where the series takes you, you don't like how authors kill off characters......etc. This series is COMPLETELY DIFFERENT! Each and every book of this series has continued to get better......Cinder was really, really good......Scarlet was SOOOO GOOD! And Cress.......was even better. I didn't count, but Cress switches around the POV quite a bit, you go from Cinde...more Cress Marissa Meyer Characters: 5/5 Plot: 4.5/5 Cover: 4.5/5 Writing: 4.5/5 Overall: 4.5/5 Rapunzel’s tower is a satellite. She can’t let down her hair—or her guard. In this third book in the bestselling Lunar Chronicles series, Cinder and Captain Thorne are fugitives on the run, with Scarlet and Wolf in tow. Together, they’re plotting to overthrow Queen Levana and her army. Their best hope lies with Cress, who has been trapped on a satellite since childhood with only her netscreens as company. All that screen time has made Cress an excellent hacker—unfortunately, she’s just received orders from Levana to track down Cinder and her handsome accomplice. When a daring rescue goes awry, the group is separated. Cress finally has her freedom, but it comes at a high price. Meanwhile, Queen Levana will let nothing stop her marriage to Emperor Kai. Cress, Scarlet, and Cinder may not have signed up to save the world, but they may be the only ones who can. Review: :-0 :-O :-0 Me the entire time reading this. Most series get worse as you continue, you fall out of love with the characters, you don't like where the series takes you, you don't like how authors kill off characters......etc. This series is COMPLETELY DIFFERENT! Each and every book of this series has continued to get better......Cinder was really, really good......Scarlet was SOOOO GOOD! And Cress.......was even better. I didn't count, but Cress switches around the POV quite a bit, you go from Cinder to Scarlet to Cress to Kai, and a whole lot more characters. I loved everything about the switching, it gives you a good feel for what the different characters were going through. And the switching POVs was done in a way to make things not at all confusing. Cress is long.....really long. So much happens in the plot that I won't go through everything, but I can say that everything that happened was beautiful and wonderful and completely amazing. Some other good things are, you get your first look at Winter, you get a little better feel of why Kai is doing some things that he is doing, and a better look at Cinder. Scarlet unfortunately didn't get much page time in Cress, but hopefully we will get to see more of her in Winter. Levana continues to be the evil witch of the west (or the evil witch of the moon)...... Really loving where Marissa is taking this series, can't wait to see the series end in Winter......only bad thing is the expected publication date of Winter is in 2015..... :-( 4.5/5 stars to a hugely great third book! I was in no way compensated for this review.

Characterize It (4)

Welcome to Characterize It, a meme held every Thursday and hosted by http://theyabookbutterfly.blogspot.com/

As usual for memes, link the meme back to the host page so that other can join in!

 

If you want to know more about Characterize It, go to this page.

 

Todays theme is:

Wild Card - Any character! From any book! Just come up with a favorite!

 

 

 
Meghan Chase from the Iron Fey series.

The Iron Fey series was one of my very first YA series that I read, and I hold a special place in my heart for Meghan (plus her name is spelled really cool)

Meghan has a lot to deal with in this series, and through it all she managed to stay completely realistic, but not annoying in the least.

 

 

Waiting on Wednesday (17) The Art Of Lainey

"Waiting On" Wednesday is a weekly event, hosted at http://breakingthespine.blogspot.com/, that spotlights upcoming releases that we're eagerly anticipating.

 

This week's pre-publication "can't-wait-to-read" selection is-

 

The Art Of Lainey

Paula Stokes

Expected publication: May 20th 2014 by HarperTeen

 

 

 

 

Soccer star Lainey Mitchell is used to getting what she wants, and when her boyfriend Jason breaks up with her for no reason, what she wants is to win him back before the start of their senior year. Lainey and her friend Bianca check the interwebz for tips and tricks, but the online dating advice is all pretty lame.

Then the girls stumble across a copy of The Art of War. Didn't someone once say that love is a battlefield? Jason isn't going to stand a chance once Lainey and Bee go all Zhou Dynasty on him...

Old school strategy and subterfuge meet modern-day dramarama in the story of a girl who sets out to win at all costs and ends up discovering what's really worth fighting for. 

 

 

 

 

I love contemporary's! And I liked  Venom, so I have high hopes for this one!

 

 

I would love to visit your Blog/Waiting On Wednesday! Please link me up in the comments below!

 

 

Follow, look around and enjoy :-)

 

 

Monday YA Author Interview With Katie Cotugno + Giveaway

Katie Cotugno

Twitter - Goodreads - Website

 

Where are you from? I'm from half an hour outside New York City originally, but I've lived in Boston for ten years.

When and why did you begin writing? The first story I ever wrote was in my dad's office on his Macintosh Classic--I was six, he parked me there to keep me quiet while he was in a meeting. I started typing and basically never stopped.

What books have most influenced your life most? My favorite books are Barbara Kingsolver's Prodigal Summer, Alice Hoffman's Practical Magic, Richard Russo's Empire Falls, and Michael Chabon's The Amazing Adventures of Kavalier and Clay. As a kid I loved the BSC books, and anything by Roald Dahl--Matilda in particular, I read like a dozen times.

What book are you reading now? I just finished Holly Black's White Cat, which I loved, and am about to start Zadie Smith's On Beauty, which I'm reading for Lesley University's MFA program. 

Are there any new authors that have grasped your interest? Every single member of the Fourteenery, natch. Seriously, what a bunch of smart, beautiful, unique debut novels--and debut novelists.

What was the hardest part of writing your book? Not being embarrassed. Believing that I had something to say. Sticking to it. 

Have you been an avid reader your entire life? (since you could read) I have, yeah! I used to come home from the library with like fifteen books at a time when I was elementary school. I was totally that kid.

What character in your books do you relate to most? Probably Reena, since I spent the most time with her, but she and I definitely have our differences.

What is your favorite sport to watch and or play? I'm so excited for the Olympics! I love figure skating, especially pairs.  
 
Favorite Movie? Almost Famous, always always always. 
 
Chocolate or Vanilla? Chocolate
 
Puppy's or Kittens? Puppies!
 
Beach or Mountains? Beach. 
 
If you could be a color, what color would you be? Bright, screaming orange. 
 
Favorite Dessert? S'mores. 
 
If you could be a book character, what character would you be? Kay Thompson's Eloise, for sure. "Tomorrow I think I'll pour a pitcher of water down the mail chute."

Giveaway:

Katie is giving away a SIGNED copy of How to Love to one lucky winner!

Please see terms and conditions in the rafflecopter before entering.

 

a Rafflecopter giveaway

 

How to Love
Published October 1st 2013 by Balzer + Bray

Before: Reena Montero has loved Sawyer LeGrande for as long as she can remember: as natural as breathing, as endless as time. But he’s never seemed to notice that Reena even exists…until one day, impossibly, he does. Reena and Sawyer fall in messy, complicated love. But then Sawyer disappears from their humid Florida town without a word, leaving a devastated—and pregnant—Reena behind.

After: Almost three years have passed, and there’s a new love in Reena’s life: her daughter, Hannah. Reena’s gotten used to being without Sawyer, and she’s finally getting the hang of this strange, unexpected life. But just as swiftly and suddenly as he disappeared, Sawyer turns up again. Reena doesn’t want anything to do with him, though she’d be lying if she said Sawyer’s being back wasn’t stirring something in her. After everything that’s happened, can Reena really let herself love Sawyer LeGrande again?

The Summer I Became a Nerd (Book Review)

The Summer I Became a Nerd I picked up in the dead of Winter. But, because of the overall wonderfulness of this book, I would also recommend it to Spring/Fall readers. THE CHARACTERS: Madelyne Summers is a cheerleader, but she holds a secret love. Her love for comic books/books in general. What a unique character! I loved her. Maddie is afraid to be herself after being laughed at for her love of comic books at a younger age, which is perfectly understandable....Who else has felt as if they can't be...more The Summer I Became a Nerd Leah Rae Miller On the outside, seventeen-year-old Madelyne Summers looks like your typical blond cheerleader—perky, popular, and dating the star quarterback. But inside, Maddie spends more time agonizing over what will happen in the next issue of her favorite comic book than planning pep rallies with her squad. That she’s a nerd hiding in a popular girl's body isn’t just unknown, it's anti-known. And she needs to keep it that way. Summer is the only time Maddie lets her real self out to play, but when she slips up and the adorkable guy behind the local comic shop’s counter uncovers her secret, she’s busted. Before she can shake a pom-pom, Maddie’s whisked into Logan’s world of comic conventions, live-action role-playing, and first-person-shooter video games. And she loves it. But the more she denies who she really is, the deeper her lies become…and the more she risks losing Logan forever. Review: The Summer I Became a Nerd I picked up in the dead of Winter. But, because of the overall wonderfulness of this book, I would also recommend it to Spring/Fall readers. THE CHARACTERS: Madelyne Summers is a cheerleader, but she holds a secret love. Her love for comic books/books in general. What a unique character! I loved her. Maddie is afraid to be herself after being laughed at for her love of comic books at a younger age, which is perfectly understandable....Who else has felt as if they can't be themselves at some point of there life? *raises hand* Especially with love for reading. People laugh at you, roll their eyes, you get the picture. Maddie's troubles are completely realistic, and relatable. There should be more characters in YA books who read. Logan...is adorable (can I find a guy like him?) He is sweet, nerdy with his comic books, and a really nice guy all around. One of the best guy characters I have come across in a book! The Plot: There were a couple plot points in the book that I felt came across way to fast.....Which is the only thing I can think of to say bad about this book. The plot was realistic, pretty fast paced, never boring, and overall a really great, original story. Overall I really liked this one, and other than a couple of plot point dislikes I loved every part of it! A definite recommendation to lovers of fun YA contemporary

Obsidian (Book Review)

This was my second Jennifer L Armentrout book. After reading Cursed, and really liking it....I made sure to keep my eyes open for a copy of this one. The urge of looking for it was deepened when it was recommended to me by several people. I am so glad that I read this! The Characters: The characters were one of my favorite parts of the book! They were all so unique, and fun.....The main character Katy was a refreshing and unique take on a book blogger, and book nerd. She was an absolutely incredibl...more Obsidian Jennifer L Armentrout Starting over sucks. When we moved to West Virginia right before my senior year, I'd pretty much resigned myself to thick accents, dodgy internet access, and a whole lot of boring.... until I spotted my hot neighbor, with his looming height and eerie green eyes. Things were looking up. And then he opened his mouth. Daemon is infuriating. Arrogant. Stab-worthy. We do not get along. At all. But when a stranger attacks me and Daemon literally freezes time with a wave of his hand, well, something...unexpected happens. The hot alien living next door marks me. You heard me. Alien. Turns out Daemon and his sister have a galaxy of enemies wanting to steal their abilities, and Daemon's touch has me lit up like the Vegas Strip. The only way I'm getting out of this alive is by sticking close to Daemon until my alien mojo fades. If I don't kill him first, that is. Review: This was my second Jennifer L Armentrout book. After reading Cursed, and really liking it....I made sure to keep my eyes open for a copy of this one. The urge of looking for it was deepened when it was recommended to me by several people. I am so glad that I read this! The Characters: The characters were one of my favorite parts of the book! They were all so unique, and fun.....The main character Katy was a refreshing and unique take on a book blogger, and book nerd. She was an absolutely incredible main character and easily my favorite part of the book. The love interest Daemon grew on me as the story went on, (so if you are reading this and don't like him at the moment, I promise he will get better). Yes Katy could be described as annoying, and Daemon could also. But altogether I really liked these characters. The banter between the two of them was hilarious to read about. The Plot: Not so crazy about the alien style plot. But Jennifer made it work out. I would read anything by Jennifer L Armentrout just for her writing. Definitely one of the best authors I have read. As I said above, sci-fi/aliens are not really my thing. And this was my least favorite part of the story (and I know that it is the entire plot) but by the end the sci-fi had grown on me a little. And I actually was enjoying it. Overall I love Jennifer L Armentrout's writing. I would read anything by her. I finished this one and was instantly left wanting more, (which unfortunately wasn't possible at the moment) and although I haven't picked up the rest of the series yet, I definitely plan to. An easy 4 out of 5 stars to this one!