Waiting on Wednesday (22)

Goodreads Summary: 


Sixteen-year-old Evening Spiker lives an affluent life in San Francisco with her mother, EmmaRose, a successful geneticist and owner of Spiker Biotech. Sure, Evening misses her father who died mysteriously, but she’s never really questioned it. Much like how she’s never stopped to think how off it is that she’s never been sick. That is, until she’s struck by a car and is exposed to extensive injuries. Injuries that seem to be healing faster than physically possible.

While recuperating in Spiker Biotech’s lush facilities, she meets Solo Plissken, a very attractive, if off-putting boy her age who spent his life at Spiker Biotech. Like Evening, he’s never questioned anything... until now. Solo drops hints to Evening that something isn’t right, and Emma-Rose may be behind it. Evening puts this out of her mind and begins her summer internship project: To simulate the creation of the perfect boy. With the help of Solo, Evening uncovers secrets so big they could change the world completely.




Expected Publication: Oct. 2nd, 2012 from Fiewel & Friends
Preorder: HERE!!!


Why I Cannot Wait For This Book:  This book just sounds like NOTHING i've ever read before!! I used to think I hated Science Fiction books but lately I feel like maybe I was wrong at that judgement, because this has a science fiction feel and sounds completely intriguing to me!! 

Book Review: Unbreak my Heart by: Melissa Walker

Goodreads Summary: 


Sophomore year broke Clementine Williams’ heart. She fell for her best friend’s boyfriend and long story short: he’s excused, but Clem is vilified and she heads into summer with zero social life.

Enter her parents’ plan to spend the summer on their sailboat. Normally the idea of being stuck on a tiny boat with her parents and little sister would make Clem break out in hives, but floating away sounds pretty good right now.

Then she meets James at one of their first stops along the river. He and his dad are sailing for the summer and he’s just the distraction Clem needs. Can he break down Clem’s walls and heal her broken heart?

Told in alternating chapters that chronicle the year that broke Clem’s heart and the summer that healed it, Unbreak My Heart is a wonderful dual love story that fans of Sarah Dessen, Deb Caletti, and Susane Colasanti will flock to.




Release Date: TODAY! May 22nd from Bloomsbury
To order your copy click HERE!!






My Review: 

ReadingNook Rating: 3.5 out of 5 stars

This book was more like a 3.5 for me

Clem's story was heartbreaking. She broke the cardinal rule of being someones' best friend, and fell for her best friends boyfriend, but she wasn't the only one who fell. Ethan fell just as hard for Clem, but when Amanda caught them together, Ethan pushed all the blame on Clem that she was trying to seduce him and had been after him all year, which was far from the truth.

Clem's whole world fell apart and all those people that she once called her friends left her by the wayside. It's a good thing she's getting away for the summer, but the whole summer cooped up on a boat with no internet access, her overbearing parents, and nosey little sister, sounds less then her ideal summer. She's perfectly content staying in her own little cabin on the boat, and letting the days pass her by. This is, until she meets James. James the always happy, ever smiling boy on the boat following in the same path as Clem's family.

When James discloses some personal information about his life, Clem feels like she can finally open up to someone as well, and maybe they will be able to break down the walls they both have up with the help of the other. I did enjoy this book, but for some reason for the first 90% of the book Clem drove me nuts. She seemed like such a self-loathing brat. I understand she had been through a lot but the way she took things out on her family when they were all she had left rubbed me the wrong way. I felt like as a character she grew though and by the end of the story she annoyed me a lot less.

This book was a great contemporary read, and was definitely a great beach read. I read it in a day and was a very light-hearted story that's great for a vacation or a day at the beach, or even just a rainy day stuck inside.

Book Review & Guest Post: Becoming a Butterfly By: Mia Castile

Goodreads Summary:


16 year old Lacey was never the center of attention, unless she was tripping, stammering, or being deposited into a pool by the local popular kids. All she wanted was to fit in, until one night when everything changed.
Jade and Tasha, her two best friends, helped her create an online personality that was everything she wanted to be - and it was only the beginning. In doing so she attracted the attention of Henry, her lifelong crush and next door neighbor. Unfortunately it was Farrah, her online personality and not herself, he was interested in.
She also attracted Chase the brooding, quiet, anti-social new kid of Brownsburg High School, who easily figured out her secret and blackmailed her. They forged a friendship that was both unique and complicated.
Lacey must decide if revealing herself to Henry and her entire school as the cool, charming, and funny Farrah is worth possibly losing him forever, and she finds herself needing to make an even harder decision than she ever thought possible. When did the lines between truth and lies get so blurred?

Becoming a Butterfly is a story about coming of age and finding yourself when you never knew you were lost.








My Review: 

ReadingNook Rating: 4.5 out of 5 stars

Right from the beginning pages of this book I was completely hooked. I was extremely invested in the character, and because there were so many unexpected twists and turns, I simply COULDN'T put this book down. I read the story in only a couple sittings and my only complaint is that I wasn't aware it was a series when I started the book and because of that I expected closure and didn't get any. It left me wanting more and dying to know what happened with Lacey and her situation amoungst Chase and Henry, and her best friends. 

Now onto the characters, I adored Lacey I felt for her every step of the way because not fitting in and being bullied is one of the hardest things you have to deal with as a young girl/boy growing up, and both her and her younger sister Lana dealt with a tremendous amount of bullying. I loved Chase he was completely sexy and I loved his bad boy persona that covered his caring, heart of gold on the inside. I even had a pretty soft spot for Henry and couldn't even decide throughout the book who I wanted Lacey to end up with in the end, simply because I was as confused as she was.

This book is completely fast-paced, and enthralling and I cannot wait for the second book. If your a fan of YA contemporary you need to get your hands on a copy of this book, even though its self-published it's one of the best written young adult contemporaries I have ever read, (and I've read quite a few). 

Mia Castle left me wanting more, and I can't wait to see where this story goes. Her writing was captivating in a way that most people that have ever felt inadequate or that they don't quite fit in can relate too. Bravo Mia Castile, and I can't wait to see where you take this story!! 

Guest Post: 

Laura, thank you for having me on your blog and reviewing Becoming A Butterfly.

If I weren’t a writer, then I would be. . .

When I was 5, I wanted to work at a gas station because I liked the smell of gas. I fulfilled my dream when I was twenty. It was not that great of a job, but I did get free carwashes. I still like the smell of gas, just not as intensely as I did as a 5 year old.

I shelved books as a page in a library when I was in high school. It was my first job; I was saving up for car insurance, and spending money. I didn’t like reading then, but I loved the section where Calvin and Hobbs were shelved, and sometimes hid in that corner reading those books.

I threw paint at Sherwin Williams my senior year of high school. I continued working there through my first year of college and returned after I dropped out of college, while I discovered myself.

When I went to college, I worked in the IT department, as a consultant in the labs, and also delivered AV to the classrooms. Mostly I chatted online though.

While I tried to discover myself I got a real job at a local home service company dispatching plumbers to service calls. I stayed at that job and ended up working in the call center and moved up the levels to taking care of customer care issues, and later becoming the assistant manager of the call center. It was a stressful job, but very rewarding when I solved customer’s problems. I also trained, and enjoyed that immensely.

I loved selling real estate. Looking at homes and building flyers. When my son came along I couldn’t devote as much attention to it and sadly, let that dream go.  But now, I assist a realtor part time as her personal assistant, it’s a rewarding position.

Then there is the Publishing Company and writing that I do. I’m the happiest I’ve been . . . ever. I think I’ve had enough jobs to say that I don’t think I would be doing anything else if I didn’t write. It’s my passion and my pleasure.  So before you spend a lifetime at a job, make sure it’s what makes you happy and is something you love doing.

If you would like to read other bloggers reviews check out the blog hop list: HERE!


For more information on Mia Castile you can visit here at:
http://www.miacastile.com
http://www.facebook.com/miacastilenovels
http://www.twitter.com/miacastile

Bout of Books Readathon Goals and Updates!

                                      

This is my third Bout of Books readathon I am participating in and I always have a ton of fun and really push myself to get through what I've set out to do. This week im super busy but am hoping to still get three or four books read! 

My Goals to Read Are:

Finish: Second Chance Summer by: Morgan Matson -pg. 200 of 480 

Jackpot by: Jackie Philosoph

See you at Harrys by: Jo Knowles

Crazy by: Amy Reed

I'll be posting updates throughout the week and I wish everyone the best of luck!! Be sure to tweet your updates on twitter using hashtag #boutofbooks!!

5/14:
Total Pages Read: 164
Books Read: 0
Currently Reading: Second Chance Summer
Next Up: Miracle by: Elizabeth Scott




5/15::
Books Read: Second Chance Summer and Finished Miracle by Elizabeth Scott
Currently Reading: Becoming A Butterfly
Next Up: See you at Harrys




5/16:  I got NO reading accomplished all day


5/17:
Books Read: Second Chance Summer, Miracle by Elizabeth Scott, and Becoming a Butterfly
Currently Reading: See You at Harrys
Next Up: The Secrets Between Us


5/18: 
Update: Still reading See you at Harrys


5/19:
Update: Still Reading See you at Harrys

Book Review: When You Were Mine by: Rebecca Serle

Goodreads Summary: 


In this intensely romantic, modern recounting of the greatest love story ever told, Romeo’s original intended—Juliet’s cousin Rosaline—tells her side of the tale. What’s in a name, Shakespeare? I’ll tell you: Everything.     Rosaline knows that she and Rob are destined to be together. Rose has been waiting for years for Rob to kiss her—and when he finally does, it’s perfect. But then Juliet moves back to town. Juliet, who used to be Rose’s best friend. Juliet, who now inexplicably hates her. Juliet, who is gorgeous, vindictive, and a little bit crazy...and who has set her sights on Rob. He doesn’t even stand a chance.     Rose is devastated over losing Rob to Juliet. This is not how the story was supposed to go. And when rumors start swirling about Juliet’s instability, her neediness, and her threats of suicide, Rose starts to fear not only for Rob’s heart, but also for his life. Because Shakespeare may have gotten the story wrong, but we all still know how it ends…




My Review: 

ReadingNook Rating: 5 out of 5 stars

I've always been a huge fan of Shakespeare ever since taking honors Shakespeare in high school, so as soon as I heard this was loosely based on Romeo and Juliet I knew I needed to read it. I'm so happy I had the oppurtunity to read and review this book, because it was phenomenal. I absolutely loved it and ended up reading this in pretty much one sitting, because I simply needed to know what was going to happen (although you kinda knew where the story was going to lead). Although you could guess which way the story was going to end, it still ended up being a shock to my system and brought tears to my eyes. I felt so horrible for Rosealine and felt her pain. I wanted to punch Rob simply because of his stupidity for leaving Rose for Juliet. I felt like Juliet was so coniving in this story, and the fact that Rob couldn't see right through that fustrated me to no end. I wanted to love Rob because he seemed like a good guy that got blindsided by a "bad" girl, but I had a love/hate relationship with him; I hated that I wanted to love him. Rebecca Serle hit the nail on the head with this Romeo and Juliet re-telling. I adored this book from start to finish. Although it could have felt extrememly predictable because of the fact that its a re-telling it didn't to me at all, and still left me guessing a bit which was the story was going to go, which is a sign of a great re-telling in my opinion. This so far for me has been my favorite contemporary i've read so far this year! If you haven't picked this one up yet, and you're a fan of YA contemporarys or Shakespeare re-tellings don't pass this one up!

Waiting On Wednesday (21)

Goodreads Summary: 


It’s been over six months since the eruption of the Yellowstone supervolcano. Alex and Darla have been staying with Alex’s relatives, trying to cope with the new reality of the primitive world so vividly portrayed in Ashfall, the first book in this series. It’s also been six months of waiting for Alex’s parents to return from Iowa. Alex and Darla decide they can wait no longer and must retrace their journey into Iowa to find and bring back Alex’s parents to the tenuous safety of Illinois. But the landscape they cross is even more perilous than before, with life-and-death battles for food and power between the remaining communities. When the unthinkable happens, Alex must find new reserves of strength and determination to survive.










Expected Publication Date: Oct. 14th from Tanglewood Press
Preorder: HERE!!!




Why I Cannot Wait For This Book: Ashfall was hands down my favorite book of 2011, it had everything I could ever want in a book; Action, suspense, drama, sweaty palms, strong and likeable characters, and I can go on. This is my most anticipated sequel of the year, so obviously I needed to feature this one!! If you know me, are you the least bit suprised?! lol 

Book Review: Fever by: Lauren Destefano

Goodreads Summary: 

Rhine and Gabriel have escaped the mansion, but danger is never far behind.

Running away brings Rhine and Gabriel right into a trap, in the form of a twisted carnival whose ringmistress keeps watch over a menagerie of girls. Just as Rhine uncovers what plans await her, her fortune turns again. With Gabriel at her side, Rhine travels through an environment as grim as the one she left a year ago - surroundings that mirror her own feelings of fear and hopelessness.

The two are determined to get to Manhattan, to relative safety with Rhine’s twin brother, Rowan. But the road there is long and perilous - and in a world where young women only live to age twenty and young men die at twenty-five, time is precious. Worse still, they can’t seem to elude Rhine’s father-in-law, Vaughn, who is determined to bring Rhine back to the mansion...by any means necessary.

In the sequel to Lauren DeStefano’s harrowing Wither, Rhine must decide if freedom is worth the price - now that she has more to lose than ever.

My Review: 

ReadingNook Rating: 4 out of 5 stars

Wither by Lauren Destefano was a great book, but It wasn't my favorite. I had a hard time wrapping my head around the ideas of poligmy with the young age of the main characters, not that I was grossed out by it, just hard to be able to relate too. Fever on the other hand still had some risque ideals and situations but I enjoyed the story so much more. Rhine and Gabriel are at a carnival (and I say that very loosely) because its more of a whore house disguised as a carnival.

Everyone in this carnival type atmosphere is or seems to be drugged and that made the feel of this book very trippy, which was interesting to say the least. The start of the book for me seemed a big slow and I had to adjust to this new world they were thrown into especially because it was so different from the setting/world they were in in the first book.

I felt this book was a lot more fast-paced then the first and for that I loved the book, and of course the book ends on a nasty cliffhanger and I can't wait to see what world and scenerio the third book brings Rhine and Gabirel and if they ever find the infamous Rowan. Lauren Destefano has a writing style like no other young adult author I have ever read, and I honestly can't think of adult author that has a similar style either. She is very descriptive but in a way that isn't overkill, usually I hate overly descriptive writing styles, but Lauren does it in a way that is captivating instead of mundanel. If you havent picked up and read The Chemical Garden series what are you waiting for????