Wednesday, November 30, 2011

Waiting On Wednesday: Storm & Unraveling


WoW is a weekly meme created by Jill @ Breaking the Spine.



Storm by Brigid Kemmerer
Earth, Fire, Air, Water – they have more power than you dream.

Ever since her ex-boyfriend spread those lies about her, Becca Chandler is suddenly getting all the guys—all the ones she doesn’t want. Then she saves Chris Merrick from a beating in the school parking lot. Chris is different. Way different: he can control water—just like his brothers can control fire, wind, and earth. They’re powerful. Dangerous. Marked for death.

And now that she knows the truth, so is Becca.

Secrets are hard to keep when your life’s at stake. When Hunter, the mysterious new kid around school, turns up with a talent for being in the wrong place at the right time, Becca thinks she can trust him. But then Hunter goes head-to-head with Chris, and Becca wonders who’s hiding the most dangerous truth of all.

The storm is coming . .


Unraveling by Elizabeth Norris

Two days before the start of her junior year, seventeen-year-old Janelle Tenner is hit by a pickup truck and killed—as in blinding light, scenes of her life flashing before her, and then nothing. Except the next thing she knows, she’s opening her eyes to find Ben Michaels, a loner from her high school whom Janelle has never talked to, leaning over her. And even though it isn’t possible, Janelle knows—with every fiber of her being—that Ben has somehow brought her back to life.

But her reincarnation, and Ben’s possible role in it, is only the first of the puzzles that Janelle must solve. While snooping in her FBI-agent father’s files for clues about her accident, she uncovers a clock that seems to be counting down to something—but to what? And when someone close to Janelle is killed, she can no longer deny what’s right in front of her: Everything that’s happened—the accident, the murder, the countdown clock, Ben’s sudden appearance in her life—points to the end of life as she knows it. And as the clock ticks down, she realizes that if she wants to put a stop to the end of the world, she’s going to need to uncover Ben’s secrets—and keep from falling in love with him in the process.

Add on goodreads


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Ah. You know I'm not the type of girl to judge a book by its cover BUT if I were I could certainly tell that these two are going to be amazing!

I really, really like the covers  but the summaries sound extraordinary fabulous too! action-packed, some romance thrown aswell and FBI and super powers. What's not to like?!

PS. doesn't that girl from Unraveling look like JoJo? you know the singer? Too Little Too Late? ;) *old fan here*

Monday, November 28, 2011

Review: Ex-mas (a love-hate story) by Kate Brian

Title: Ex-Christmas
Author: Kate Brian
Published October 6th 2009 by Simon & Schuster Children's Publishing
Goodreads | Amazon
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Two Exes. One holiday adventure. Merry Ex-Mas?  
Seventeen-year-old Lila Beckwith's parents just left for vacation, and Lila's all set to throw the holiday party of the season. But when her Christmas-obsessed little brother, Cooper, discovers that global warming is melting the North Pole, he and his best friend, Tyler, take off on a runaway mission to save Santa.Lila has to get Cooper safely home before her parents get back on Christmas Eve. But the only person who can help her is Tyler's older brother, Beau — a.k.a. Lila's musician, anti-everything ex-boyfriend.
It'll take more than a Christmas miracle for Lila and Beau to overcome their differences and find their fugitive brothers. But could a journey destined for disaster help these polar opposites fall in love...all over again?


I don't understand why someone would not like this story. It is soooooooo adorable, I love to re-read it every year for christmas and it puts me in the best mood! And since christmas is just around the corner and I haven't read a new book cause I'm in finals, I thought I'd post a quick, short review of a book I've already read.



this book can be sum up in one word:
SWEET.

It was a quick read, with a lot of quick remarks from the main characters, who actually hated eachother at the start of the book, but then are brought together to find their little brothers, who have run away together to go save Santa from global warming.

To see how their perception of eachother and their relationship develoved was fantastic! I couldn't stop laughing or 'awww'ing at all their misadventures, and though I hated Lila for most part of the book (I might still secretly do) I was happy to read that end. She makes up for her snottiness.

Beau was by far the very best of the book. I reaaaaaaaaally loved what he did at the end, sending Lila's brother that e-mail. I practically passed-out at how sweet that was. But pretty much everything else he did was uh-mazing! I looooooove him, and his name is so sexy and of course perfect for him :)

OHHHHHHHHH AND DON'T GET ME STARTED ON THE SONG!
the song he composed for Lila, back in 7th grade, one day she was sick. I actually almost passed-out, I had to stop reading for a bit to happily dance around my room like a moron :D

all Beau's moments were swoon worthy. I WANT HIM IN MY LIFE. T__T

This is one of those books I that puts a smile on your face all while you read it and after you're finished.

Saturday, November 26, 2011

From the Past

Greetings loved ones! I'm Melannie speaking from the past,
if you're reading this, that means you're in the future, like Marty McFly ;) so you're awesome.



So anyways, I'm going through FINALS right now, yeah FINALS ugh.


And I'm as you read this I'm most proably studying but I could also be day-dreaming about a world with no exams.

These next weeks my old reviews should be going up, and if they're not I'll be very mad, let's hope for the best :)

See ya when finals are over! wish me luck :)

Wednesday, November 23, 2011

Waiting on Wednesday: The Waiting Sky and Struck


"Waiting on wednesday is a weekly meme created by Jill at Breaking the Spine, in which we share our most anticipated reads of the future"

You know what? I finally discovered why I *always* chose Contemporaries for my WoW picks. It was because I haven't find a non-contemp that was really, really good. Good enough to make my toes curl at the thought of finally have these in my hands.


 The Waiting Sky by Lara Zielin


Seventeen-year-old Jane can’t quite face her mother’s alcoholism even though it sucks to spend all her time and energy keeping them afloat—making sure her mom gets to work, that the bills are paid when there’s money to pay them, and that no one knows her mom is so messed up. But when Jane’s mom drives drunk almost killing both them and Jane’s best friend, Jane can no longer deny her mom is spiraling out of control. Jane has only one place to turn: her older brother Ethan, who left years ago to go to college. A summer away with him and his tornado chasing buddies may just provide the time and space she needs to figure out whether her life still includes her mother.



Struck by Jennifer Bosworth


Mia Price is a lightning addict. She’s survived countless strikes, but her craving to connect to the energy in storms endangers her life and the lives of those around her.

Los Angeles, where lightning rarely strikes, is one of the few places Mia feels safe from her addiction. But when an earthquake devastates the city, her haven is transformed into a minefield of chaos and danger. The beaches become massive tent cities, populated by millions of homeless. Downtown is a wasteland, where a traveling party moves to a different empty building each night, the attendees drawn to the destruction by a magnetic force they cannot deny. Two warring cults rise to power in the wake of the disaster, and both see Mia as the key to their opposing prophecies. They know she has a connection to the freak electrical storm that caused the quake, and to the worse storm that is yet to come.

Mia wants to trust the enigmatic and alluring Jeremy when he promises to protect her, but he’s hiding a more sinister truth. When the final disaster strikes, Mia must unleash the full horror of her strength to save them all.

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  •  The Waiting Sky. Although it is technically a contemporary, it sounds like it is not, thanks to all the extreme elements, like tornado chasing. I ask you people, WHAT IS NOT TO LIKE ABOUT TORNADO CHASING?!. God, I know I am going to LOVE this. Because in addition to the awesomeness of tornado chasing, there's personal growing, emotional relationships and sibling reconciliation, all those things I love in a book. And did I mention tornado chasing? No? Well, this book contains tornado chasers inside. Beware. *dies of excitement*.
    Oh wait, forgot to mention that this book has one of the most intriguing covers I've ever seen, I love it! and Lara is my last name, so I already feel like I love Lara Zielin :) and she will give me tornado chasing, she's the best!

  •  Struck. Now Struck is definitely not a contemporary. It's about a girl, with an addiction, to lightning. How amazing is that idea? I don't even know how is that possible, but I don't care, I also have a thing for lightning. And when I say "a thing" I mean a slight obsession, and a weird fantasy of getting struck by lightning and getting super powers. So yep, I'm buying this. Oh and btw, it has Los Angeles' hobos in it. People who live on the street amaze me so much, you have no idea how much I admire their braveness.


Friday, November 18, 2011

Review: Major Crush by Jennifer Echols

Title: Major Crush
Author: Jennifer Echols
Published August 1st 2006 by Simon Pulse
Goodreads | Amazon

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I really love Simon's Romantic Comedies (it's practically written on girls' genetics that we enjoy a good laugh and a good romance). And as you probably guess by now, I love Jennifer Echols too.

This book was not the exception. From the strong-willed, sassy and totally likable rebelious girl; to the hot, troubled, more-than-meets-the-eye boy, I found myself completely absorbed by this cute story.

For it being Miss Echols first book, it did not feel like a debut to me, it was written masterfuly and I enjoy reading every single paragraph. It is fast-paced and full of wit, what's not to like?

Virginia is the protagonist here, she's very cool, you guys. I love her, she's the first girl ever to get the Drum Major position at her school band. And like you'd expect, this causes a riot in the Small-Town Nightmare she lives in. Especially in school, where everyone thought hot and popular Drew will get the position (like last year), but he had to share it with Virginia this year, and he's not happy to say the least.

I thought this book was the perfect example of girl likes boy, boy might or might not like girl, so girl goes and does whatever she wants to do without thinking what the boy thinks. And suddenly all the boys like her attitude. Virginia was a former pageant girl, people used to call her JonBenet Ramsey to tease her about it

Because she was blonde, small and pretty.

But Virginia wanted more than just than parading herself in pretty dresses (not that there's anything wrong with pageants, I love pageants!) so she quit, she stopped wearing make-up and sequined leotards and got a nose stud (IN SMALL-TOWN NIGHTMARE! THE HORRORS!). And did I mention that she stopped wearing shoes too?! no? well, she.stopped.wearing.shoes. Outside. How cool is that?

If I didn't live in the city where everything is gross, I would totally do that!

So basically, Virginia rocks. And even though there was a part (almost at the end of the book) where she kind of dissapointed me for being sorry for something she should not have been (something that have to do with her winning over certain someone) and I was like, "It's not your fault, girl! Get a grip and start acting like the butt-kicking heroine you are!". But I still like her, she was just likable.

And I also forgot to mention about how Miss Echols manages to combine important issues in such a quick, fun book, like Small-Town Nightmare's racism. Especially some awful comments about Virginia's best friend Allison, who is black. I really love Jennifer Echols books, for lots of reasons, one of them is that she ALWAYS has a diversity of races and cultures. The world is not all white ;)

My veredict is that this book is quick and very funny and a fresh read. (:


Wednesday, November 16, 2011

Thank you, my book.

It's almost thanks giving, and although we should give thanks every day of the year, it's nice to see every one gets to be grateful at the same time once a year.

And of course, book lovers like me are all thankful for the printed word (thanks, Mr. Gutenberg!), and Miss Beth Revis came up with a great way to show our gratitute, just making a post about a book you're grateful for, and in exchange you could win books.

But it's not about the books! it's about saying thanks (:




Tuesday, November 15, 2011

Waiting on Wednesday: Life is But a Dream & My Life Next Door.


It's that time again when thanks to Jill's meme, we get to share our anticipated reads.

You're all probably gonna yell at me
"CONTEMPORARY AGAIN?!?!?! Y U SUCH A BORING OLD LADY?!?! THERE'S DYSTOPIAN OUT THERE!"
But I had to, I have a soft spot for contemps, they are more real somehow, I don't know, but well here are my picks:
(click on titles for goodreads pages)




 Alec and Sabrina are crazy in love. Problem is: Sabrina’s really crazy.

Sabrina, an artist, is diagnosed with schizophrenia, and her parents check her into the Wellness Center. There she meets Alec, who is convinced it's the world that's crazy, not the two of them. They are meant to be together; they are special. But when Alec starts to convince Sabrina that her treatment will wipe out everything that makes her creative, she worries that she'll lose hold of her dreams and herself. Should she listen to her doctor? Her decision may have fatal consequences.





 
"One thing my mother never knew, and would disapprove of most of all, was that I watched the Garretts. All the time."

The Garretts are everything the Reeds are not. Loud, numerous, messy. And every day from her balcony perch, seventeen year old Samantha wishes she was one of them… until the day Jase Garrett climbs her terrace and changes everything.

Jase can sense that his beautiful neighbor is missing something in her sterile home, and as the two fall fiercely in love, his family makes her one of their own.

But when the bottom drops out of Sam's world, which perfect family will save her–and will her perfect love survive?


Life is but a dream: I loooove reading about people ill, for obvious reasons, and I find conforting to get to know the patient side of the story. In this case, it is particulary interesting because psychic illness are such an unknown and dark patch in medicine, some people love them, some people hate them and about 99% of the people are afraid of them, just like these kids in the book. I'm curious to see how the author handles this topic.



My life next door: Oh, how I looove to read about neighbors falling in love, it's so romantic and much more easy to believe 2 people are in love when they've known each other for a long span of time. Plus loud, numerous family? that's mine! who can't resist them?. And the cover? so cute. (:

Monday, November 14, 2011

Review: Texas Gothic by Rosemary Clement-Moore

Title: Texas Gothic
Author: Rosemary Clement-Moore
Published July 12th 2011 by Random House Children's Books.
Goodreads | Amazon

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I don't know why I seem to love books about people who see ghosts so much. Maybe because these people are always so brave and funny and witty.
Texas Gothic was NOT the exception.

I loved it so much that in fact I told myself to sleep on it and write the review later. (Usually, I write my reviews right after I'm finished so I'm always VERY passionate about my feelings), this time, though I decided to take some time and really analyze if I truly liked this book.
Turns out, the next morning I was as much in love with this as I was the moment I finished it.

This story is about Amy, who comes from a literally extraordinary family. Everyone in her family is either a witch or a psychic or a ghost whisperer or something even weirder. But Amy does not like that life, she doesn't like people making fun of her family's excentricities so she's in charge of making them appear normal, at least in public.
But right now there's this ghost who has chosen to haunt Amy, and she must do something to get him off of her back before he ruins her summer.


Also? Amaryllis is Amy's full name. Which is hilarious. You'll see.


I really enjoyed reading a story about older Young Adults, everyone has already graduated high school, so the drama was a bit less dramatic, and more entretaining and relatable.
 
 
This book starts off AMAZING. Most entretaining beginning of a story I've EVER read.
You see, I'm busy. I'm in med school, I'm taking Phreaking Pharmacology right now. I don't have time to waste, and I certainly don't want to wait 100 pages until the good stuff comes, so boy was I glad that this book just went straight ahead to the funny and sexy and the chemistry and the shirtless cowboys.
 
 
Moving on to the romance, I adore this couple. Amy & Ben. Ben & Amy. Me loves <3.
They're so perfect for each other, and so cute! And all of their scenes are extremely entretaining, that I had to read them twice. The way they met is so HILARIOUS, I will not spoil, but I have to tell you that it involves a mini-cooper, a cow with an itch in her butt, cherry-pattern underwear and sexy horse back riding. Oh and some crazy goats.
 
 
Thinking of all the great stories these two went through makes me smile as I imagine Ben & Amy telling the stories to their kids, (leaving the underwear part out, of course) they are the greatest stories ever!
I would seriously die of excitement if my dad told me he once rescued my mom from a hole in the ground filled with bat guano.
 
 
The only thing that stopped me from giving it the 5 hearts, though, was that some parts about the ghost detecting gadgets and stuff like that were kinda boring and like I said, I don't want to waste brain-space learning about how to record ghosts noises.


But it was a great book overall!


Favorite quote:
 
 
He sighed. “It was, Amy, because you’re you. You’re the most dangerous one of all, because people can’t see you coming. They just think you’re this quirky, nosy, annoying, adorable girl who yells at cows in her underwear. Then before they know it, they’re relying on spells instead of good sense.”





Friday, November 11, 2011

Series ending. Hearts breaking. Bittersweet 2012.

Now I don't know about you guys, but I'm very sad to see my favorite Young Adult series are ending this next year, 2012.


I feel like I'm saying goodbye to all of my childhood friends. All this series have a very special place in my heart because they are among the very first YA books that ignited the flame that led me to be the HUGE teen-books junkie I am today.

Now let us take a trip down memory lane, and pay a little tribute to those especial series that we have all come to love.



Hex Hall by Rachel Hawkins

Ah HH. How can I begin to describe this series?
Much like its author it is full of funniness and southern charm.
The characters are all very well-shaped and they really come to life. I want Sophie to be my BFF, she kicks major butt and is such a teenager! I love teenagers, they can be dramatic but they're a blast to read about!







Wings by Aprilynne Pike

I don't know if there are ay Wings fans here, but I HAD to include it in the list.
Even though the series had been going downfall for me, I still buy every book as soon as it is out. Because in book 1 ---->
I found the story to be fascinating, how different these faeries are, and all the journey Laurel went through with accepting her true nature AND how this book has THE MOST ROMANTIC SCENE I'VE EVER READ.
I'm not kidding, my heart still skips a beat every time I read it.




The Ghost and the Goth by  Stacey Kade

I really love this one. I know this series is not really that famous, but what lacks in fandom it has in awesomeness.
I kid you not, it is funny and sexy and light and has the perfect amount of angst and an intese relatioship that progresses in a very realistic approach. It is everything a teen book should be.






Anna and the French Kiss by Stephanie Perkins

Technically, it is not a series; but whoever is not sad to see the inter-connecting story of these three lovely girls: Anna, Lola and Isla, is seriously wrong in the head.
Perkins has a way with story-telling, and it certainly helps that her books always have the most amazing settings, her books are captivating and I certainly hope she continues writting amazing books like these 3.






Paranormalcy by Kristen White

Now, I'm not the biggest fan of the this one, but I figured it needed to be recognized aswell, its huge crowd of fans is not for nothing :)
Like I said, it wasn't my cup of tea. But it indeed has formed a culture based on lockers and pink tasers, that takes serious love and decication from White's fans.







I'm sure some series are escaping my mind right now, but I'm too sleepy right now and my brain does not works well on friday nights (which is my free night, which I usually spend sleeping)

But I really want to dedicate this post to all of those series that leave us this next year. The departure of our favorite characters and the inevitable end to their adventures is bittersweet. The good thing about book though?
You can revive all those good times with a short trip to your bookcase.



Tuesday, November 8, 2011

Waiting on Wednesday: A million Suns & Shatter Me


Weekly meme hosted at Breaking the Spine by the lovely Jill (:

Being the HUGE contemporary junkie I am, I realized that all of my past WoW posts have been about contemporary/realistic YA fiction. So this week I move on to different yet AMAZING looking reads:



Godspeed was fueled by lies. Now it is ruled by chaos.

It's been three months since Amy was unplugged. The life she always knew is over. And everywhere she looks, she sees the walls of the spaceship Godspeed. But there may just be hope: Elder has assumed leadership of the ship. He's finally free to enact his vision - no more Phydus, no more lies.
But when Elder discovers shocking news about the ship, he and Amy race to discover the truth behind life on Godspeed. They must work together to unlock a puzzle that was set in motion hundreds of years earlier, unable to fight the romance that's growing between them and the chaos that threatens to tear them apart.
In book two of the Across the Universe trilogy, New York Times bestselling author Beth Revis mesmerizes us again with a brilliantly crafted mystery filled with action, suspense, romance, and deep philosophical questions. And this time it all builds to one mind-bending conclusion: They have to get off this ship.



Juliette hasn't touched anyone in exactly 264 days.

The last time she did, it was an accident, but The Reestablishment locked her up for murder. No one knows why Juliette's touch is fatal. As long as she doesn't hurt anyone else, no one really cares. The world is too busy crumbling to pieces to pay attention to a 17-year-old girl. Diseases are destroying the population, food is hard to find, birds don't fly anymore, and the clouds are the wrong color.

The Reestablishment said their way was the only way to fix things, so they threw Juliette in a cell. Now so many people are dead that the survivors are whispering war-- and The Reestablishment has changed its mind. Maybe Juliette is more than a tortured soul stuffed into a poisonous body. Maybe she's exactly what they need right now.

Juliette has to make a choice: Be a weapon. Or be a warrior.

In this electrifying debut, Tahereh Mafi presents a world as riveting as The Hunger Games and a superhero story as thrilling as The X-Men. Full of pulse-pounding romance, intoxicating villainy, and high-stakes choices, Shatter Me is a fresh and original dystopian novel—with a paranormal twist—that will leave readers anxiously awaiting its sequel.



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I am SO excited to read A million Suns, I sutmble (literally) by accident into Across the Universe and I absolutely loved it! one of my fave reads of early 2011, and I have a feeling the sequel will be as good (or better). I can't wait for Elder to be THE BOSS, people. (No hard feelings, Springsteen; but Elder is the absolute boss ;) )

And what can I say about Shatter Me, you've seen it, you've loved it, and I'll be the first person in line to buy it next week! <3

Click on the titles to add them on goodreads *snorts* lke you haven't already!


Wednesday, November 2, 2011

Waiting on Wednesday: The One That I Want AND Keep Holding On


Waiting on Wednesday is a weekly meme in which we share our most anticipated reads. It was created by Jill.

This week I could NOT choose between this 2 books (both by two amazing authors that are favorites of mine) and I'm so so excited to read them.
And so so excited about their covers:
THEY ARE AMAZING <3 I AM IN LOVE WITH THEM.

Keep Holdin On
by Susane Colasanti
Chew.
Swallow.
Chew.
Swallow.
Don’t look up.

Lunch is the worst, but there’s no safe place at school for Noelle. Keeping her mortifying home life a secret and trying to ignore the kids who make her life miserable are Noelle’s survival strategies. Her emotionally distant boyfriend, Matt, isn’t the one she really wants to be with. But she’s sure there’s no way she could ever be with Julian Porter.

When Julian starts talking to her, Noelle is terrified. It seems safer to stay with Matt than risk a broken heart. But when the bullying of a friend goes too far, Noelle realizes it’s time to stand up for herself—and for everything that makes her keep holding on.


The One That I Want
by Jennifer Echols

Gemma can’t believe her luck when the star football player starts flirting with her. Max is totally swoon-worthy, and even gets her quirky sense of humor. So when he asks out her so-called best friend Addison, Gemma’s heartbroken.

Then Addison pressures Gemma to join the date with one of Max’s friends. But the more time they all spend together, the harder Gemma falls for Max. She can’t help thinking that Max likes her back—it’s just too bad he’s already dating Addison. How can Gemma get the guy she wants without going after her best friend’s boyfriend?