Early IMM Post week of July 31st (and leaving on an airplane)!!

I'm posting my IMM on friday this week, because I'm leaving for vacation first thing tomorrow morning, do not fear i'm only gone for a week and will be back the second week of August, if not sooner to do some posts, hopefully a few reviews and another IMM when I get home if there are some books waiting for me.


This week I recieved:

Miss Peregrine's Home for Peculiar Children by: Ransom Riggs 

( For Review: Thanks to Eric at Quirk Books)

OyMG by: Amy Fellner Dominy

(For Review from Bloomsbury)

The Reluctant Heiress by: Eva Ibbotson

Won: From Ivy at BeautifulReader on youtube

Ebook for Review: Pushover by: Laurel Mayer

From the Author, Thank You!! 

Thanks it for me this week, whats in your mailbox??

ChickLitPlus Blog Tour Book Review: Confessions of a PTA Mafia Mom by: Elsie Love

 ReadingNook Rating: 2.5 out of 5 stars

Elaine Jackerson's life is slipping through the cracks every which way she turns, her husband is sleeping with his bimbo, blonde, barbie of a secretary at the office, her teenage daughter Lexi is getting more action then she is, and her youngest son wants nothing to do with his embarassing mom. Through an odd set of circumstances Elaine is brought in to be the newest member of the PTA, but what she dosen't know is how their ring leader Suni is linked to a mafia mob and has some dark secrets of her own.

While this books premise is really unique and different, I felt it to be a little too over the top. The suburban housewifes having a mob connection and living a life of crime was a bit too far-fetched for me. I felt like the story didn't move smoothly and each 50 or so pages I felt like I was reading a completly different story. The characters also bothered me, I couldn't find one that I was actually rooting for or felt for, they all kind-of just feel flat in my opinion. 

I don't think that this was a bad story, and I did enjoy it, I just think because I read so many books, that i've been spoiled by a lot of Really Amazing novels and this wasn't one that fit in that catagory for me. It was a fun, interesting story though, and unlike any other chick lit book i've ever read, I don't think you should only read my review and write this novel off. In fact, I seem to be the only Goodreads review that isn't a hundred percent positive, so obviously this is just my opinion and you might love this book like everyone else.

IMM week of July 24th

Swag Pack recieved from: Angela at ReadingAngel for the Once Upon a Readathon Win

WON: Legend by Marie Lu through Facebook/CBS Films Giveaway

For Review: Twenty Eight Wishes by: Denise Grover Swank (Recieved from Author)

Swag: From Krista at CubicleBlindness (Because she's awesome)

Won Thanks to Scholastic and Big Honcho Media! 

NetGalley Books for Review:

Special Thanks to Mike Mullin!! 

As you can see I had an awesome week and got lots of titles I cannot wait to read, esp. Legend by Marie Lu and Ashfall by Mike Mullin!!! Also, went a little crazy with requesting books from Netgalley which is why i'm taking my nook on vacation with me next week!!! 

Book Review: Playing Hurt By: Holly Schindler

ReadingNook Rating: 5 out of 5 stars

Let me just start this review by prefacing that Holly Schindler's writing astounds me, Both of her books I completly devoured and Playing Hurt was my most anticipated release of the year, so if you have not read either A Blue So Dark, which was Holly's Debut Novel or her second novel Playing Hurt, what the heck are you waiting for??!!!

Playing Hurt is the story of a girl named Chelsea who's live is defined by playing basketball, she's a superstar at her highschool, colleges are watching her every move and she is on top of the world, until a tragic accident during a game changes everything. As a graduation gift Chelsea's father takes her family to a lake resort and enrolls Chelsea into a boot camp to hopefully get her back in the groove of being an athlete. She's immediately attracted to her 19 year old ex-hockey player Clint, but will their pasts continue to haunt their future, or are they just what the other needs to move on.....


Holly's writing is honestly breath-taking, she has a way of making you feel like you are immersed inside the story, and towards the middle of the book, I felt like I myself was Chelsea and that I was torn between my feelings for Clint, but my heart was breaking at the same time for Gabe. This isn't a typical love story in the respect that it's not mushy-gushy and lovey-dovey. It's very real, the emotions are real, the pain and struggle is real, and the feelings are honest.

Book Review: 10 Things we Did (And Probably Shouldn't Have) By: Sarah Mlynowski

ReadingNook Rating: 5 out of 5 stars

I hate to say that i've never read any of Sarah Mlynowski's books but if her other books are anything like this one, I've been missing out for way to long. This story was a great summer beach read, and was a great, quick, and light story. It was also hilarious and had many parts that had me seriously laughing out loud. This story follows a Junior and Senior, April and Vi, who under certain circumstances are living together, with no adult supervision. It's a coming of age story, but also a hilarious take on it.

April learns that being on her own at a young age isn't all its cracked up to be she trys to juggle a first-love, slash blooming romance with a new boy, learning to do her own laundry, and trying to hide the ever-mounting secrets that she's keeping from her father. She learns that some choices lead to real adult consequences, and that maybe things she thought were true, weren't all that they seemed to be.

You definitely should pick this book up, especially for a vacation, beach read, in fact, I dare to say that this will be the #1 young adult beach read/summer read of the year!!! Sarah Mlynowski knows what it's like to be a teen, but not only that but she puts a fun and interesting and completly new spin on the teenage years and growing up.

On The ReadingNook Radar.........

Hardcover, 336 pages

Expected publication: November 29th 2011 by Putnam Juvenile

ISBN

039925675X (ISBN13: 9780399256752)

primary language

English

original title

Legend

series

Preorder now: Amazon












GoodReads Summary: 


What was once the western United States is now home to the Republic, a nation perpetually at war with its neighbors. Born into an elite family in one of the Republic's wealthiest districts, fifteen-year-old June is a prodigy being groomed for success in the Republic's highest military circles. Born into the slums, fifteen-year-old Day is the country's most wanted criminal. But his motives may not be as malicious as they seem.

From very different worlds, June and Day have no reason to cross paths - until the day June's brother, Metias, is murdered and Day becomes the prime suspect. Caught in the ultimate game of cat and mouse, Day is in a race for his family's survival, while June seeks to avenge Metias's death. But in a shocking turn of events, the two uncover the truth of what has really brought them together, and the sinister lengths their country will go to keep its secrets.

Full of nonstop action, suspense, and romance, this novel is sure to move readers as much as it thrills.




Why this book is on my radar: Well, let me start off by saying that I have yet to read a dystopian novel that I didn't like yet in the YA genre. So obviously this being a dystopian ya novel it immediately grabbed my attention, but other the obvious; this book just sounds downright kick-ass!!! I can picture myself reading it, and get nothing other then reading this book done. Its been getting nothing but rave reviews and for all the bloggers that got a copy at BEA or for review, just know that i'm extremely jealous!! November seems so far away, and I cannot wait to read this book!! 


This book NEEDS to be on your RADAR!!! 

IMM for July 17th

In My Mailbox is hosted by Kristi over at The Story Siren

A slow week for me, but none the less a good week!! I need to catch up on my TBR pile anyways so works for me!! 

For Review:

Everything We Ever Wanted by: Sara Shepard

(Thanks to Librarything Early Reviewers Program)

Swap:

Family by: Micol Ostow

(Thanks to Goodreads Bookswap)

Galleys for Review: 

Drink Slay Love by: Sarah Beth Durst

(Thanks to Simon and Schuster Galley Grab)

What did you get in your Mailbox this week??

Book Review: Click: An Online Love Story by: Lisa Becker

ReadingNook Rating: 4 out of 5 stars

Lisa Becker was a part of a blog tour for Samantha over at ChickLitPlus.comthat I happened to miss out on, and the synopsis of her story sounded fabulous so I was estatic when she contacted me to read this book and review it on my own accord. Although the review was requested from me, all thoughts and opinions are my own, and in no way am I being compinsated for my opinions. 

Fast approaching the big 3-0. Renee Greene decides to finally agree to her sign up for an online dating service with her best guy friend, seeing all other systems of dating men have failed drastically for her. The story is told through emails between Renee; her three best friends; and the guys contacting her for dates via the interweb. 

This story portrayed literally EVERY possible outcome you could imagine from meeting/dating someone online, and did so in a tasteful and humourous manner. I was laughing out loud mulitple times while reading the story, and kept rooting for her through every new email from a perspective date, thinking maybe this is FINALLY the one, and then finding out the weird quirk or problem she finds in him on their date. I also liked that what I thought was going to happen didn't, because it kept the story more interesting, I hate guessing whats going to happen early on, and being right, because it ruins that level of excitement for you. 

If you like chick lit, you'll LOVE this book, Its hilarious and Renee's best friend Shelley totally reminded me of Samantha in Sex and the city, and thinking about it Renee has a certain Carrie factor as well, while Ashley reminds me of Charlotte. So basically if you loved Sex and the City like I did, then you'll love this book. Lisa Becker made me fall in love with this genre all over again, and I cannot wait to see what else she has in store for us. 

Review: Tribulation Point by: Ricci Lane Plus Author Interview

ReadingNook Rating: 4 out of 5 stars

Tribulation Point was such a heart-breaking story, that had me gripped from the first page, until the very last! I didn't know what to expect of this book because I hadn't heard anything about this book prior to reading it. This story is completely heartbreaking and eye-opening at the same time. 

Jame's mother Precious was a result of a vicious attack on her mother, and was left abandoned at an Orphange, where she was constantly made fun of due to her mother being black and her rapist father being white, the kids all joked and called her half-and -half. She later has a son named James and although the father is non-exsistant, Precious does everything in her power to give James the life she never had. James learns that life isn't always easy, and infact it can be tragic and heartbreaking at times. 

This story twists and turns with different emotions, i was happy, inspired, devastated, and enlightened all at once. Although predjudice is not something i've readily had to deal with in my generation. I know that people still have reservations when it comes to mixed couples, but the fact of the matter is, that it happens, people are free to fall in love with whomever they fall in love with, and it's sad that there are still people out there that think its wrong, and will do anything they can to keep different ethnicities seperated. I honestly feel like this is a book that anyone would enjoy, it's definitely adult in nature, but I think anyone, from any background would benefit greatly from this book. 

I was contacted by the author to read and review this book, but all statements are my own thoughts and opinions, and I am not being componsated for this review.

Interview with Ricci Lane:

I was so thrilled to fulfill an invitation from Laura to post my inspiration for writing my new novel Tribulation Point: Sometimes Just Making It Through Another Day Isn’t Always Easy. Laura is quite inspirational in her own right by doing such a fantastic job here on thereadingnook123

As a former public educator, in several inner-city schools, I became involved in the lives of many people, lives, and situations that touched my innermost emotions. Tribulation Point was born from first-hand experiences, stories told, present and past from the young and old, their lives touched by violence, deceit, disappointments, joy, and love. It is a reflection of how we all live in the same world; but have our own perception of what life means and how we perceive life should be for others. It was a novel that I felt had to be written.

Once Upon a Readathon

I've always wanted to sign up for a readathon, but had yet to do so, so when I heard there was one being put on by Lori @pureimagination, Angela @ReadingAngel, and Candace @Candace'sBookBlog. I immediately signed up. 

It's a busy time for me with school, and other daily responsibilites, but I am challenging myself to read 4 books during this three day read-a-thon. All my updates will be posted on this blog post.

My Choices for this Read-a-thon Are:

Click: An online Love Story by: Lisa Becker-COMPLETED

If I stay by: Gayle Forman-CURRENTLY READING

The Goddess Test by: Amy Carter

The Babysitter Murders by: Janet Ruth Young

My Backup Book is: Triangles by: Ellen Hopkins

UPDATE: Because im falling behind i'm going to make this a little more realistic for myself it's the last day and i'm still reading If I stay, so my two other books im going to try to get to today are:

GingerBread by: Rachel Cohn

Babyface by: Norma Fox Mazer

Final Update: well I didn't get as far as I had hoped, but I did still read more then I normally do in a three day period. I usually read 2-3 books in a one way week period, I finished 3 books during this readathon, and read 150 pages to finish a book at the beginning of the challenge to finish a book, and I got 62 pages into But I Love Him by: Amanda Grace, but didn't complete it. I had a goal of reading 4 books in a three day period, and I can feel good saying that I read 3.5 books!! I had a great time doing this readathon and cannot wait to do some more!! 

If you would like to sign up for this read-a-thon, you can visit Lori @PureImagination, Angela @ReadingAngel, or Candace @CandacesBookBlog

Chick Lit Plus Blog Tours: Review for With Just one Click By: Amanda Strong

ReadingNook Rating: 3.5 out of 5 stars

This story circulates through three different womens lives; Chloe, Morgan, and Brynn. Each woman hold a connection to facebook, one is friended by her first love of when she was 17 that sends her through a whirlwind of reoccuring feelings, Another rekindles a friendship with ex-boyfriend from high school who was the bad boy that turned around and forms a wedge between her and her current family, and other deals with an admirier of her husband who proves to be trying to get in good with her husband and earn the title of "certified home-wrecker". 

Amanda Strong creates a realistic novel, about what seems to be happening with relationships since the influx of social networking. Facebook has been known to rekindle old romances as well as new; lead to affairs that are usually realized via the web, and also the visual flirtation of past crushes and/or exe's for everyone who's "friended" can see. Social networking plays a huge role in her society, and It keeps growing, I don't think its a fad that's going to go away anytime soon, and Amanda Strong paints a realistic story with the dramas and adventures that happen amoungst the pages of facebook.

The story for me was fast-paced with a lot of twists and turns that I didn't see coming, the one thing that bothered me was the ending. I wish the connection would have been made earlier in the story between all three of the woman, (although I had guessed that somehow they were connected), and felt that the story ended way to abruptly and felt unfinished. I felt like their were questions that weren't answered; such as what happened with the relationship between Brynn and Timothy??? 

Overall, This book was worth a read, it was funny, realistic, and heart-warming/breaking all at once, definitely a good book to throw in your beach bag this summer!!

To check out Chick Lit Plus Tours visit: www.chicklitplus.com 

Chick Lit Plus Blog Tours: Review of Phone Kitten by: Marika Christian

ReadingNook Rating: 3.5 out of 5 stars

Let me start off by saying that this is unlike anything else i've ever read. It was unique in so many ways, never have I read a chick lit book regarding a women who made her living as a "phone kitten", aka a sex operater. She decides upon one of her customers deaths that she needs to solve his murder, esp. because she happened to run into him the night of his death, and was one of the last people to see him alive. This book kept me on my toes, and was down-right hilarious.

I loved the relationship between the main character Emily aka Peyton on the phone, and her hot cop, love interest. Finding out he was a cop was a shock to me as the reader, and I definitly didn't see that coming. Through the ups and downs of her relationship and her investigation, Emily finds ways through it all, in a downright hilarious and interesting manner.

If you like Chick-Lit, then don't pass this book by, Marika Christian definitly created a unique, and page-turner story, that's unlike anything else i've ever read in general, let alone in this genre. 

Review: Angelfire by: Courtney Allison Moulton

ReadingNook Rating: 4 out 5 stars

** spoiler alert **

 If you like an action packed, and fast paced book with paranormal elements then AngelFire is the book for you!! 

Ellie is a "normal" high school student until a strange boy named Will comes into her life, and weird things start to happen. Will starts to creep her out and tells her that she is a Preliator who fights Reapers. She soon is going to school during the day and fighting reapers to almost near-death at night, with the protection of Will, who she finds out is her Guardian and has been for the past 500 years. He's been by Ellie's side for many different lifes, and has had to deal with her deal, and his intense love for her for many, many years. 

The books is left on a cliffhanger between the relationship with Ellie and Will, but unlike so many YA books, their relationship was very slow to develop and most recent YA books I feel like they are in love with each other within a few pages of the story. Courtney really built up their relationship slowly and just when it started to get intense the story ends. 

Angelfire definetly left me wanting more, and I can't wait to read the second installmant of this book, I mean who loves a kick-ass lead female character, with a bit of romance with a hot guy, and a mix of action-packed, page turning lovelyness.

Book Review: A Long, Long Sleep By: Anna Sheehan

ReadingNook Rating: 4 out of 5 stars

Ok so I would not consider myself a science fiction fan at all, in fact I usually tend to stay away from books that are science fiction in nature. But when a good friend, and fellow blogger Krista at CubicleBlindness said it was one of her favorite books of the year so far, I decided I needed to put my guard down and give it a try. This was a sleeping beauty retelling with an added dose of futuristic appeal, crazy technology, and a bit of supernatural beings as well.

Rosalinda Fitzroy was put in what's called a stasis tube for 62 years, she is woken up by a kiss from a boy to find that she's still 16 years old, and her parents, and her first love and everyone she's ever known is long gone. She's in a whole new world and has no idea why she was put in stasis and left there for so many years.

I found this story to be interesting, at times I felt it dragged a little, but the suprises and twists and turns that occured sporadically throughout the book, make up for those moments that seemed a bit dull. Usually I'm pretty good with guessing which way a story is going to go, but this one definitely threw me for a loop, and What occured I definitely didn't see coming at all. This book made me rethink my reservations regarding sci-fiction. I still don't think I can say i'm a fan, but books with a bit of science-fiction in them, that i might not have previously read, will most likely be on my radar from now on thanks to Anna Sheehan. Great Job.

Book Review: Angel Burn By: LA Weatherly

ReadingNook Rating: 4 out of 5 stars

I had mixed feelings as to what I was going to think of this book, A lot of books have come out recently in the YA genre that have been focused upon angels, but Weatherly's angels were nothing like ANY angels I have ever heard of. Angels who suck out the souls of humans who think they are good. Its actually a pretty scary concept to be completley honest. Blinded by the beauty of angels, and feeling like their a positive influence in your life, while they are making you sick and stealing your soul? OH BOY! 

I have to say I really did enjoy this story. Alex who is an AK, yup that's right an ANGEL KILLER! He see's the angels for what they are, EVIL! but what does he do when he starts to fall for Willow, who is part angel herself. Is she evil, or because she's only part angel is she not the soul-sucking beings he knows angels to be? 

I can't wait for the sequel of this book honestly, It was like nothing i've ever read thats for sure, in fact I like angels being good and I like thinking that people that have passed are watching out for us, but in the same respect they were kinda kick-ass being bad too, even though in my opinion they were more of demons then angels, but It was unlike anything else i've ever read, and I think that everyone should give this book a chance!

Book Review: Compulsion by: Heidi Ayarbe

ReadingNook Rating: 3 out of 5 stars

As soon as I heard the premise of this story I know I would be picking it up as soon as possible. I'm always immediately drawn to books regarding mental illness and disorders and am fasinated by the feelings, emotions and behaviors surrounding them. Jake Martin is a high school senior, soccer player extrodinare, who is living with a secret. His life is consumed with his obsession and need for prime numbers. He feels that the prime numbers bring him magic, magic that not only protects his family but brings him luck on the soccer field as well, but these numbers also consume his life, if Jake can just make it through saturdays championship soccer game, he thinks the magic will stay with him forever, but will it, or will the numbers continue to consume his life?

I had a very hard time connecting to this story and the main character Jake, not because he was male, but just his character in general. Anyone who knows me knows i'm far from a numbers person, and I think maybe the overwhelming abudance of them make this book a bit taxing for me. Which some could argue may have been the point of the story, that in fact that's how Jake felt in regards to his OCD, but I had a hard time being able to connect. 

I wish the story focused more on his disease, rather then him trying to keep it a secret, and I wish the ending resolved or came to a better conclusion, because in my opinion it felt like it was left uncomplete, and ended kinda-of abruptly. I did however find this book interesting in the respect that while I have read novels regarding OCD i've never read a book regarding OCD with regards to numbers, and I know thats very common in people with OCD, so I did get to see a whole nother side to the disease that i've never really delved into before.

I do think this book is worth picking up and giving a chance, and I do feel that a lot of guys would really enjoy this novel, The protaginist is male, and it deals with an athlete and issues I think a male would be able to relate to better then a female.