Chasing Brooklyn- Lisa Schroeder

Chasing Brooklyn is the first Lisa Schroeder book that I have read. It was written in verse the whole way through. I have never read a book written like that.

Brooklyn's boyfriend Lucca died in a car accident a year before and now her friend Gabe has died. Nico is Lucca's brother. Gabe starts to come to Brooklyn in her dreams and she is wondering why it is not Lucca. She starts to hang out with Nico and they start to grieve and move on by helping each other.

The book was great. It was an easy book to get through and I read it in hours.While the characters don't get that developed it was still worth reading. I will continue to read her books.

HUGE GIVEAWAYS!

Over on the Teens Read and Write blog they are having a huge and I mean HUGE giveaway. Take a look. You would be crazy not to.

/-La Femme Readers-/ also has a book of choice from 2010. Contest ends Feb. 15th.

GREAT NEWS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

The third book in the Hunger Games series has been announced and shown. OMG. I love the name and the cover. How am I going to wait till August??????

What are your thoughts?

Waiting on Wednesday

Waiting on Wednesday was started by Jill over at Breaking the Spine. It is a feature for bloggers to show what they can't wait to be released.

My Pick: The Six Rules of Magic-Deb Caletti

From Goodreads.com:

Scarlett Hughes is overly involved in the lives of everyone around her, and exceptionally interested in the habits of her neighbors. But Scarlett is thrust solidly into her own life when her sister, Juliet, returns home from school—pregnant and surprisingly married to a sweet, handsome man whom she seems to have no interest in, but who is hopelessly in love with her. Forced to take a look inward for the first time, Scarlett discovers the necessity of dreams, as well as the necessity of facing reality and speaking the truth.

My Take: What is better than a book sisters, family relationships and drama? Nothing!

Perfect Chemistry-Simone Elkeles

This book has gotten a ton of great reviews on Goodreads.com so I decided to read it. Oh my is it worth it.

Brittney is a white rich girl who lives on the North side. Her parents are big on apperances and she has to be perfect, while behind closed doors her world is anything, but perfect. She is dating the popular jock when she is assigned to a chemistry assignment with bad boy gangster Alex. Throughout their year they learn more about each other and themselves then they ever thought would be possible. Their hate turns into love, but can they make it work.

This book was delicious. The writing, the characters, the story, everything. I just kept turning the pages and turning the pages never wanting to stop turning and it wasn't even an "action" book. I just wanted to continue to learn about Brittney and Alex and to see how their relationship would evolve. While another writer would have screwed this story up (sorry authors) Ms. Elkeles wrote with ease and perfection. She researched her gangs and love. I will have to read more of her books.

Fade-Lisa McMann

Fade is the second book in the dreamcatcher series. It continues Janie and Cabe's story. I liked Wake ok, but I wasn't sure if I was going to continue the series. I decide to do it and I am so happy that I did.

Janie is on assignment again. This time she is trying to uncover a sexual predator that is a teacher in her high school. She also learns more about her gift and her relationship with Cabe.

I don't want to say to much because the book is pretty action packed. I read it in 2 sittings (hey a girl has to eat sometimes). I can't wait to read Gone now.

In My Mailbox

In my mailbox was started by The Story Siren as a way for bloggers to show of what books they have received.

I was apart of a book exchange on a message board I frequent and I got spoiled. I got the first 3 Vampire Academy books in a box set and City of Bones. I can't wait to dig in. Thanks

Shiver- Maggie Stiefvater

I have been hearing about this book on the Nest Book Club and so I decided to finally read it. When I got it from the library I decided to dig right in and I don't think I came up for air.

Grace was attacked by wolves as a child. There was one that stood out to her as he saved her. She remembered his eyes and often for years to come watched for him and fed him. She was obsessed with her wolf. Then one day she finds him as a human and it is Sam. The live through months of them finally being able to be together and trying to keep Sam warm enough that he doesn't change. We learn about Wolves and how their lives work. All the while they are hoping for a cure.

This book is all that Twilight could have been. Ms. Stiefvater gives her love intrest a history even if it may seem a bit creepy. They didn't just meet one day and love each other. They have loved each other from  a far for 6 years. Plus Grace was tough, independent, and while she knew that she loved Sam and didn't want to be without him she took on his life in a tough way. I loved the end and can't wait for Linger.

All Unquiet Things-Anna Jarzab

This book was a different kind of Young Adult. It was actually a murder mystery.

Carly and Neily were in love until she left him for Adam. Audrey is Carly's cousin who brought Carly into the in crowds world. Then one day almost a year after dumping him Carly calls Neily but he doesn't answer. When he listens to his message he wished he had. He goes to look for her and finds her murdered. Audrey's dad is found guilty and goes to jail. Later Audrey and Neily have thoughts of their own on his guiltiness and decide to investigate her murder. What they find makes their heads spin.

I liked this book because I liked Audrey and Neily. The other characters were ok, but Audrey and Neily made the book. I loved how it went between them and we got to see both their points of views and how the viewed the same person. I was happy with the ending because I didn't see it coming.

Boys, Girls, and other Hazordous Materials-Rosalind Wiseman

I found this book while searching books coming out in 2010 on http://www.goodreads.com/. It sounded interesting so I requested it from the library. I am glad I did.

Charlie is starting 9th grade in a new school. She left the other school because of some mean girls she thought was her friends. She is hoping to start over and make new friends so imagine her surprise when her old neighbor who had moved away and she hadn't talked to was standing in the gym during orientation. He is hot and a jock now. Charlie finds her friends and they go on through the year. She is a writer for the paper and her guy friends are doing weird things and she has heard about hazing rituals so she decides to investigate. She may not like what she finds out.

A big reason why I think I really enjoyed this book was because it was about 9th graders and not the typical senior so they dealt with starting high school, dates, and fitting in. It was a bit refreshing. Plus the cast was great I really liked them all and want to see more. I would like Ms. Wiseman to write a sequel or something with this group I think there was so much more to go on.

Some Girls Are-Courtney Summers

Some Girls Are gave me a new meaning to Mean Girls. I loved Cracked Up To Be and how Courtney Summers writes real girls and situations. This book as sad as it may be is true. There are girls out there who are just like this in our schools.

Regina was in the in crowd. She was mean and did horrible things to girls that were not in her crowd. Then one day after a misunderstanding where she was accused of doing things with her best friend's boyfriend she was suddenly the outsider who was getting awful things done to her. She then had to find friends and support amongst the people she had once shunned. She finds help in one boy Michael and she learns just how much she hurt people in the past and looks for ways to make it up to them.

Regina was a great character. She was strong yet scared, she had an attitude yet she was kind, and she fought to the end and I loved every minute of it. Even the mean girls who I hated so much were obviously written beautifully or I wouldn't have cared enough to hate them. I give this book a big A.

Wake-Lisa McMann

This is my first Lisa McMann book. It was a quick read that I found interesting from the start. I have never read something about someone who can go into other people's dreams before so in this day and age where everyone is trying to write about the same thing it was refreshing.

Janie has a gift or a curse depending on how you look at it. She can go into people's dreams. She and the boy next door find themselves in each other's dreams and use it to help the police on an investigation.

It was a great book. The writing is not "brillant" but it is good enough to pull you in right away and to keep you interested. I have Fade to read also.

My Poor Neglected Blog :(

I have been so busy lately. I have read some great books, but I can't get online at work anymore (and shhh don't tell, but that is where I did a lot of my blogging) and by the time I get home and do what I need to do it is late and I am tired. I have no plans this weekend so far so I hope to bring you lots of updates!

In My Mailbox (2)

In My Mailbox was started by The Story Siren and inspired by Alea of Pop Culture Junkie.

I don't normally get books and haven't been online in a while (My work now has software so I can only get on at home) so imagine my surprise when I opened my mailbox to find this:

Some Girls Are by Courtney Summers. I cannot wait to read it. I have been waiting on it to come out and my library has not even ordered a copy and I have stopped by the bookstore a few times and they didn't have it.

Tangled-Caroyln Mackler

I have read a few of Carolyn Mackler's other books and really liked how she wrote. When I found out that she had a new one coming out I was excited and put myself on the waiting list at the library. I was finally able to read it this weekend.

There are 4 teens that end up in Paradise together and become connected. Jena, Dakota, Skye, and Owen. The book is broken into 4 parts, one for each teen. Jena is a bigger girl that is shy around boys, Skye is the actress and Jena's sometimes friend (Their mothers are friends). Dakota and Owen are brothers. Dakota is a playboy and Owen is a blogger that doesn't know how to be social.They all learn about themselves. They start in Paradise and then their lives continue.

I like Carolyn Mackler and her writing. This book just didn't do it for me. It was quick and easy, but I felt that I didn't get to really know the characters since they only had one part each. Sure they showed up in others but it wasn't the same. What I did get to know about the characters I loved and wished that she had taken it further. I will continue to read her books though.

Dear John Trailer

I am not sure how the movie will go, but I really like the cast so I may still see it. I hope you enjoy it.

Dear John-Nicholas Sparks

I am slowly working my way through Nicholas Sparks' books. When I started seeing the trailers for this movie I realized that I needed to read this book. One because it looked good and two in case I decide to go see the movie when it comes out.

John is in the Army and he goes home on leave one Summer. While home on leave he meets Savannah who is also there for a month. During the two weeks that they had together they taught each other about themselves and they planned to stay together even with John in Germany and Savannah in North Carolina. Then September 11th happened and they were not expecting that or what comes next.

I really enjoyed this book like I enjoy all his other books. I love good written love stories, love stories that could be real. Savannah and John were a great couple and I felt their pain, love, and happiness while reading this book. Nicholas Sparks can write great characters with a lot of depth and I enjoy them each time.

Not My Daughter- Barbara Delinsky

This was my first experience with Barbara Delinsky.Quite honestly a non-Ya book in a while aslo. It was good and I am glad I read it.

Susan is the principal of a local high school in a really small town. She is also the mother of a high school senior that made a pact with 2 other friends to get pregnant. The book follows the 3 girls and their life while pregnant and also Susan and the other mothers as they cope with the news.

I really enjoyed the characters in this book. The writing was almost in the middle of Marian Keyes and Jodi Picoult, 2 authors I enjoy a lot. I say read it!

Another great contest

Mrs. Messi over at Mrs. Messi's Musings is having a great giveaway: $10 starbucks giftcard, $10barnes and noble gift card, or $10.00 Babys R Us gift Card.

Waiting on Wednesday

Yes I know it is Thursday. I had a busy day yesterday!

Waiting on Wednesday wan introduced to me by Jessica over at Reading is Sexy. It is a feature for bloggers to swoon over upcoming releases they can't wait to get their hands on.

Today's Pick:

Title: The Brightest Star in the Sky- Marian Keyes
Release Date: January 21, 2010

Genre: Chick Lit

From Amazon:

Marian Keyes's inimitable blend of rollicking humor, effervescent prose, and stories that deal with real-life issues have captivated readers around the globe. She is one of the bestselling authors of women's fiction in the English-speaking world. Her new novel will delight fans of Candace Bushnell's darkly comic sensibility and Sophie Kinsella's fast-paced action. The Brightest Star in the Sky follows seven neighbors whose lives become entangled when a sassy and prescient spirit pays a visit to their Dublin townhouse with the intent of changing at least one of their lives.

But what will this metamorphosis be and who will the sprite choose? There's Matt and Maeve, the newlyweds struggling to overcome the first obstacle in their storybook romance; Lydia, the brassy but vulnerable cabbie; Katie, the just-turned-forty PR executive searching for a more gratifying life; and the eldest resident, Jemima, currently playing hostess to her son Fionn, who is in town to star as the hunky gardener in a hot new television show.
Keyes's universal themes and appealing characters have made her an international phenomenon, and are sure to conquer a wider American audience. With The Brightest Star in the Sky, she delivers another satisfying story charming in its wit and surprising in its depth.

My Take: I love Marian Keyes and her writing. She can write characters with depth and who you want to curl up with and read about. Plus she writes it as chick lit so it has the humor, but women's lit so it has the deeper issues also. I am ready for it to come out.

Beautiful Creatures-Kami Garcia and Margie Stohl

I really enjoyed this book more than I thought I would. The beginning was a little slow, but once it picked up it picked up. I sat one night and read 200 pages. I even forgot to eat. I really don't know how to review this book without giving a bunch away so I will do a quick short review.

Ethan lives in small town Gatlin. Everyone is the same until Lena shows up. Lena is different than the other girls and Ethan is drawn to her and into her crazy world. Throughout the book we learn about Lena and what makes her and her family different. The book is told from Ethan's point of view.

I can't say more how much I liked that the love story was just that a love story not a love triangle. The action was great and the characters well written. All the stories were woven together great. A must read

Sweethearts- Sara Zarr

Where do I start with this book? The wonderful writing? Great characters? Heartfelt story? How about all of it? This book was a more serious, but still wonderful YA book.

Jennifer and Cameron were bestfriends in elementary school, in fact they were each other's only friends since they were outcasts. Then one day something happens and then Cameron is gone. Jennifer then moves to a new school and becomes "Jenna" the polar opposite of Jennifer. She is happy and then one day Cameron is back and going to her school. Jenna's world is turned upside down and now she isn't sure who she really is.

This book was great. It went a lot deeper than I expected it too. I loved all the characters and sat and read it in one sitting. Jenna/Jennifer was a great character and I really felt for her.

A to Z Author New Challenge

I have decided to do an A-Z new author challenge can be first or last name the author just has to be new to me not a new author all together.

A
B-Jennifer Brown-Hate List
C
D-Barbara Delinsky-Not My Daughter
E-Ellen Hopkins- Crank
F
G
H-Jennifer Hubbard-The Secret Year
I
J-Anna Jarzab-All Unquiet Things
K-Lauren Kate- Fallen
L
M-Lisa McMann-Wake/Fade
N
O
P-Mary Pearson-Adoration of Jenna Fox
Q
R
S-Lisa Schroeder-Chasing Brooklyn
T
U
V
W-Rosalind Wiseman- Boys,Girls, and Other Hazardous Materials
X
Y-Richard Yates- Revolutionary Road
Z

In my Library Bag(2)

In my library bag is my take on The Story Siren's In My Mailbox since I am trying not to buy books (it never works)

Revolutionary Road-Richard Yates
Hate List-Jennifer Brown
Lament: the faerie Queen's Deception-Maggie  Stiefvater
Not My Daughter-Barbara Delinsky
Fade-Lisa McMann
Fallen-Lauren Kate
Chasing Brooklyn-Lisa schroeder
Also in transit:
The Betrayal of Natalie Hargrove-Lauren Kate
Boys, Girls, and other Hazardous Materials- Rosalind Wiseman.

Bought: (1.00 for both at Library)
Bend In the Road- Nicholas Sparks
The Choice-Nicholas Sparks

Considering I have a ton to read at home I better get a move on.

The Secret Year-Jennifer Hubbard

I got this book from Jessica over at Reading Is Sexy. I got it yesterday after lunch and I couldn't wait to go home and dive right in. I dove in alright. I dove in and finished it. It was that good.

Julia and Colt are from different sides of the track. She is rich and he is not. They start a secret relationship that lasts for a year. When Julia dies in an accident Colt has to deal with his grief without letting others see and with having no one to help him. Then he gets Julia's diary that she wrote for him. The journal entries show us insight to Julia and her year with Colt. While reading the diary Colt is working on understanding his feelings and moving on with life, but is that possible?

If you read and liked Thirteen Reasons Why by Jay Asher I think you will love this. I honestly could not tell this was Ms. Hubbard's first novel. She captured Colt great and I loved his family and his sidekicks. Plus there is a nod to The Outsiders and I loved that book.

In My Mailbox(1)

In my mailbox was started by The Story Siren as a way to show off the books that we get.

In my mailbox:

Jessica from Reading is Sexy sent these two my way. I can't wait to dive into them.
The Secret Year-Jennifer Hubbard
The Unwritten Rule-Elizabeth Scott

Bought:

Bloom-Elizabeth Scott

Giveaways around the blog community

1. Eleni over at /-La Femme Readers-/ is doing a 2010 book of your choice giveaway. Deadline is February 15, 2010.

Angie over at The Adventures of a YA Novelist is giving away an ARC of her book Everlasting 

Cindy over at Princess Bookie is giving away 4 books for her NewYear giveaway

Sab over at  YA Bliss has a list of giveaways on her sidebar

Brittlit over at Reading Nook is giving away a 2010 release to the 1st place and a 2009 release to the 2nd place winner.

Over on Only Sexy Books Allowed she is giving away an ARC of Something Like Fate by Susanne Colasanti.

I will try to do this when I see great contests.

Waiting on Wednesday

Waiting on Wednesday is something I picked up while reading the blog Reading is Sexy. It is a chance for bloggers to show what book they can't wait for.

My Pick: A Match Made In High School- Kristin Walker

Release Date- Februray 4, 2010

Genre- Young Adult

From Goodreads:

When the principal announces that every senior must participate in a mandatory year-long Marriage Education program, Fiona Sheehan believes that her life can’t get any worse. Then she marries her “husband”: Jerky jock Todd, whose cheerleader girlfriend, Amanda, has had it in for Fiona since day one of second grade. Even worse? Amanda is paired with Fiona’s long-term crush, Gabe. At least Fiona is doing better than her best friend, Marcie, who is paired up with the very quiet, very mysterious Johnny Mercer. Pranks, fights, misunderstandings, and reconciliations ensue in an almost Shakespearean comedy of errors about mistaken first impressions, convoluted coupling, and hidden crushes.

My take: What is not to love about a senior project that includes a fake marriage. I can't wait to see what trouble comes of this project and the pairings.

A reading/Book Poll

I found this as an old post on The Story Siren and decided I wanted to do it. What are your answers? Mine are below:


Do you snack while you read? If so, favorite reading snack?
If I snack it is popcorn.

Do you tend to mark your books as you read, or does the idea of
writing in books horrify you?
No writing at all it irritates me

How do you keep your place while reading a book? Bookmark? Dog-ears?Laying the book flat open?
Bookmark that is usually a piece of paper

Fiction, Non-fiction, or both?Fiction
Hard copy or audiobooks?
Hard copy

Are you a person who tends to read to the end of chapters, or are you
able to put a book down at any point?
I don't have to do end of chapters, but I really like to so I try to do it.

If you come across an unfamiliar word, do you stop to look it up right away?
no

What are you currently reading?
I'll finish The Adoration of Jenna Fox tonight and start Beautiful Creatures. Also working on my reread of Babyville for WBC.

What is the last book you bought?
Bloom

Are you the type of person that only reads one book at a time or can
you read more than one at a time?
one at a time unless one is a reread

Do you have a favorite time of day and/or place to read?
I like to read on my lunch break in my car because I have no distractions. Otherwise at home after dinner.

Do you prefer series books or stand alone books?
No preference although I am finding myself reading a lot of series now

Is there a specific book or author that you find yourself recommending over and over?
Jane Green, Jodi Picoult, and Sarah Dessen

How do you organize your books? (By genre, title, author’s last name, etc.?)
Just by size and then by author/series if I have them.

Hush, Hush-Becca Fitzpatrick

I have seen reviews for this book everywhere that were good. I have a tendency to get books that get rave reviews and get excited to read them only to have them fall short and get disappointed. That in mind I decided to go into Hush, Hush knowing as little as possible about it. It worked because I ended up loving the book.

This is a story mostly about Nora and Patch. Nora doesn't like boys at her school and her friend Vee is always trying to get her to go out. Then one fateful day in biology her teacher decides to change the seating and Patch is her new partner. From then on weird frightening things are happening to Nora and she isn't sure why.

This book is action packed. Some of the things are about out there, but if you look past all that and focus on the plot and the characters you will not be sorry. I also saw that a sequel is coming out in October and I can't wait.

My Blog is Turning 1

Tomorrow will be a year since I started this blog. I hope that this year I can grow the blog. I hope to have more features, better reviews, more followers, and contest. I hope to have a giveaway for my first year. Since it would be for my followers what would you like for me to give away:

1. A book (Name ones you would like)

Or

2. A giftcard

I hope you stay with me and that 2010 is much better than 2009.

Twenty Boy Summer- Sarah Ockler

Twenty Boy Summer is told by Anna. She goes on a 3 week summer vacation with her best friend Frankie after they were faced with a tragedy. They named their vacation the Absolute Best Summer Ever. The summer was supposed to help them forget the tragedy that Anna didn't really want to forget. They make a plan to meet 20 boys during their time at the beach.

During their time at the beach both Anna and Frankie both learn about themselves as well as the girl that they thought they had already knew everything about. The girls had been friends since they were babies and they had lived next door from each other.

The characters were not flat and they had many layers. I really felt that I got know them and their families and feelings without having so much detail that I couldn't use my imagination also which I love.

I can't wait to read her new one that will be released sometime in 2010.