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.