Wednesday, March 30, 2011

Waiting On Wednesday: Through Her Eyes


This week's WoW book is Through Her Eyes by Jennifer Archer! It will be released on April 5, 2011.

SUMMARY:
Sixteen-year-old Tansy Piper moves with her grandfather and her mother, a horror writer, to the setting of her mother's next book--a secluded house outside of a tiny, desolate West Texas town. Lonely and upset over the move, Tansy escapes into her photography and the dark, seductive poems she finds hidden in the cellar, both of which lure her into the mind and world of a mysterious, troubled young man who died sixty years earlier.

What an eerie, creepy cover and summary! I love books set in supposedly haunted houses. PUBLISHED ON APRIL 5, 2011!

Tuesday, March 29, 2011

Favorite by Karen McQuestion


Title: Favorite
Author: Karen McQuestion
Published: November 2009 (Kindle ebook) and April 2011 by Amazon Encore

My Rating: 3 stars
Tags: YA | Suspense | Mystery
Includes: Brief Violence

First Lines: My dad claims to be psychic. He says things like, "I had a good feeling you'd ace that exam, Angie. I could have told you so."



Angel Favorite. Definitely not the most common of names, but then again, Angel or "Angie" doesn't live a very common life either.
On her eleventh birthday, Angie's mother disappeared. Now five years later, Angie is still praying every night for her mother's safe return home. She and her brother Jason live with their grandmother since their dad is usually on tours with his band. After Angie is attacked and nearly kidnapped by a mysterious stranger one day, she wakes up in the hospital. She's told that her attacker was Scott Bittner but he killed himself before going to jail for his crime. After being released from the hospital, Angie is asked by Ms. Bittner, Scott's mother, for her to forgive Scott. She also asks Angie and her brother to come visit her home, the Bittner Castle. Angie agrees, for the sole purpose of hoping to find out why Scott attacked her and if it has anything to do with her mother's disappearance.

I thought the premise of the book was really intriguing and jumped at the opportunity to read this novel. Right from the start, Angie's character was a little dull and unmemorable. I kept hoping that the character development would improve, but unfortunately it didn't. Even after finishing the book, I can only think of a couple of generic words to describe Angie. For the first few chapters into the novel, her personality really annoyed me. For a sixteen year old, I would assume maturer thinking and actions. I can understand that if you were just attacked by a stranger and wound up in the hospital, you'd be pretty angry. However, I think it was just rude and selfish how she acted towards Ms. Bittner's apologies and to the news of Scott's death. Because of her shallow thinking, I was a little unsure of what the target audience of this book was.

I read this short book in just two days. It definitely held my attention and I was interested to find out how it would play out. My one wish is that it was longer. I think that if the climax wasn't rushed and there was more build up and suspense, it would have been better. It's like as soon as the author started to become comfortable with what she was writing, she quickly put an end to it. It had a satisfactory ending, but I just think it felt too rushed, making the suspense a disappointment. I'm not sure where the whole "psychic dad and daughter" roles played in the story either. It was an enjoyable read and not entirely predictable. It had a creative and interesting plot, but not enough character development. The author stood in the shallow end of the pool, when really she should have taken a running leap off of the diving board. If she had done that, I might have given this book five stars.

Cover Thoughts: It's definitely eye-catching and eerie. I think the editing of the picture is really interesting and I like the yellow glow at the top of the stairs - it's mysterious, like the book.

Book Supplied by: Publisher for review.

Monday, March 28, 2011

The Plus Side of Being Home Sick


I've had an awful stomach bug all weekend, and have lived in my bed the past three days. So far, I'm onto my third book. (: And don't even get me started on how many movies I've watched on the laptop - I lost count. Here are the ones I remember:
-Despicable Me (loveeeeed)
-Red Riding Hood (pretty good!)
-Cloudy With A Chance of Meatballs (just finished watching, it was cute)
-Cirque du Freak: The Vampire's Assistant (straaaange movie, but I'm interested in reading the book now)
-Gnomeo and Juliet (ahh so adorable!)
-Life As We Know It (that one was good)
-and just about to start My Sister's Keeper (wasn't a fan of the book but I'll give the movie a shot)

It was sleeting here this morning for a few hours but has finally stopped. I'd say even though I'm missing school, it was a good day to stay home. How's Monday treating everyone else?

Sunday, March 27, 2011

On My Bookshelf (28)


(Originally by The Story Siren, as "In My Mailbox") On My Bookshelf is used to share what books I bought, won, traded, received for review, or got from the library this week. It's to let you know what to expect for me to read/review next.



BOUGHT FROM BOOKSTORES:

Deception by Lee Nichols: When Emma Vaile's parents leave on mysterious business trip, it gives her the perfect excuse to be a rebellious teen. Throw some parties, get a tattoo (or maybe just a piercing), and enjoy the first few weeks of her junior year. Then her best friend stops talking to her, the cops crash her party, and Emma finds herself in the hands of a new guardian—her college-age "knight in J.Crew armor," Bennett Stern—and on a plane to his museum-like mansion in New England. After enrolling at Thatcher Academy, Emma settles in by making friends with the popular legacy crowd. But she can't shake the strange visions that are haunting her. She has memories of Thatcher she can't explain, as if she's returning home to a place she's never been. Emma doesn't trust anyone anymore—except maybe Bennett. But he's about to reveal a ghostly secret to Emma. One that will explain the visions...and make Emma fear for her life.

Fall for Anything by Courtney Summers: When Eddie Reeves’s father commits suicide her life is consumed by the nagging question of why? Why when he was a legendary photographer and a brilliant teacher? Why when he seemed to find inspiration in everything he saw? And, most important, why when he had a daughter who loved him more than anyone else in the world? When she meets Culler Evans, a former student of her father’s and a photographer himself, an instant and dangerous attraction begins. Culler seems to know more about her father than she does and could possibly hold the key to the mystery surrounding his death. But Eddie’s vulnerability has weakened her and Culler Evans is getting too close. Her need for the truth keeps her hanging on...but are some questions better left unanswered?

RECEIVED FROM TRADING:

Winter Longing by Tricia Mills: When Winter’s boyfriend is killed in a plane crash in the Alaskan wilderness, she’s robbed of the future she’d only just allowed herself to believe might be hers. Winter and Spencer had been destined for one another. And after his death, Spencer’s presence continues to haunt her. But when her next-door neighbor becomes an unlikely friend, Winter begins to accept all that she can’t change. Can she open herself to a new future...and a possible new love?

RECEIVED FOR REVIEW:

Favorite by Karen McQuestion: Five years have passed since Angie Favorite’s mother, Laura, disappeared without a trace, and Angie still hasn’t recovered. Sure, things look normal on the surface—she goes to school, works her summer job, and argues with her older brother Jason—but she can’t shake the feeling that Laura didn’t leave by choice. Angie’s dad does the best he can, but his work as a musician keeps him on the road and away from home, where it’s up to Angie’s grandmother to keep an eye on the kids. She can’t be with them all the time, though, and she can’t help Angie when she is snatched from a mall parking lot by Scott Bittner. The girl narrowly escapes, and Bittner is arrested, but he takes his life in jail before he can offer an explanation for his crime. When his mother contacts Angie, begging forgiveness on her son’s behalf, the girl agrees to meet with her in hopes of finding answers to the seemingly random attack. But when she arrives at the massive Bittner estate, she is overcome by an unshakeable sense of foreboding…

Never
Sit Down in a Hoopskirt and Other Things I Learned in Southern Belle Hell by Crickett Rumley: Expelled from thirteen boarding schools in the past five years, seventeen-year-old Jane Fontaine Ventouras is returning to her Southern roots, and the small town of Bienville, Alabama, where ladies always wear pearls, nothing says hospitality like sweet tea and pimento cheese sandwhiches, and competing in the annual Magnolia Maid Pageant is every girl's dream. But Jane is what you might call an anti-belle - more sarcasm and cynicism than sugar and spice. So when she finds herself up to her ears in ruffles and etiquette lessons, she's got one mission: Escape.

Hourglass by Myra McEntire: For seventeen-year-old Emerson Cole, life is about seeing what isn't there: swooning Southern Belles; soldiers long forgotten; a haunting jazz trio that vanishes in an instant. Plagued by phantoms since her parents' death, she just wants the apparitions to stop so she can be normal. She's tried everything, but the visions keep coming back.So when her well-meaning brother brings in a consultant from a secretive organization called the Hourglass, Emerson's willing to try one last cure. But meeting Michael Weaver may not only change her future, it may change her past.

Friday, March 25, 2011

Leverage by Joshua Cohen


Title: Leverage
Author: Joshua C. Cohen
Published: February 2011 by Dutton Juvenile

My Rating: 4.5 stars
Tags: YA | Boys | Sports
Includes: Violence, Profanity, Death, Rape

First Lines: The high bar's chalky bite threatens to rip the yellowed calluses right off my palms at the bottom of the swing, where the pull is heaviest.



Danny, a small sophomore, may have never finished puberty, but he is a master when it comes to gymnastics. He's hoping for a full scholarship to college and becoming captain of the team when he's older. Kurt, on the other hand, is HUGE. He recently transferred to Danny's school because he left his group home and now has yet another foster parent. Even though Kurt was emotionally and physically abused, has a face full of scars and a bad stutter, he's the perfect football player. The coaches practically kiss his feet and his teammates awe at his skill. The two sports teams despise each other. Hate each other. Loathe each other. They are constantly playing cruel pranks on one another and competing over who is best. But when one prank goes way too far and has horrible consequences, war breaks out. It's up to Danny and Kurt to try to glue the pieces back together again.

Raw. Intense. Shocking. Unethical. Gut-wrenching. These are all words that pour into my head when I try to describe this one of a kind novel. I have never read anything before that made me that disgusted with humans, and was so mortified at some parts that I had to actually put the book away for awhile and come back to reality. This book did not hold back - there was extreme violence, over the top profanity, etc. - things I usually avoid. However it completely played its part in this novel and made the story that much more intense and believable. The kind of pranks they played on each other were inhumane and even though not realistic, still shocking to read.

The book reeked of testosterone, the very opposite of the kind of book I usually read - romantic and girly. Nope, this one was full of boys, sports, steroids, and disturbing topics. And I loved it. Cohen's writing was so skilled; I'm blown away that this is only his first novel. He created memorable characters and a plot that sucked me in right away. The book was written from two very different perspectives: Danny's and Kurt's. Unlike some books written this way and I get confused of who is talking, I always knew during this one. They are two completely different people yet alike at the same time. I thought it was so interesting watching a friendship and trust grow between them. The author definitely nailed the characterization spot on.

The ending was powerful, had me eagerly ripping through the pages to find out what would happen next, and was not a disappointment. Near the middle of the book it became a bit slow and dragged some, but the powerful moments in the story made up for it. My emotions were at its peak while I read, and I didn't ever take the book out to read while I was at school (like I usually do), in fear that I would start crying or yelling at the book! This is definitely one for mature readers and covers some serious things, but in the long run it is so worth it. I'll never forget this book.

Cover Thoughts: Awesome, un-human looking, and the veins make my stomach churn. It's perfect for this novel.

Book Supplied by: Author for review.

Wednesday, March 23, 2011

Waiting On Wednesday: The Lipstick Laws



This week's WoW book is
The Lipstick Laws by Amy Holder! It will be released on April 4, 2011.

SUMMARY:
At Penford High School, Britney Taylor is the queen bee. She dates whomever she likes, rules over her inner circle of friends like Genghis Khan, and can ruin anyone's life with a snap of perfectly manicured fingers. Just ask the unfortunate few who have crossed her. For April Bowers, Britney is also the answer to her prayers. April is so unpopular, kids don't even know she exists. But one lunch spent at Britney's table, and April is basking in the glow of popularity. But Britney's friendship comes with a high price tag. How much is April willing to pay?

This one kind of sounds like Mean Girls, a movie I love love love. Speaking of love, take a look at that awesome cover! PUBLISHED ON APRIL 4, 2011!

Sunday, March 20, 2011

It's time for another giveaway!


CONTEST CLOSED

Hey, Hi, Hello! Besides the 'giveaway hops' I've been doing each month, I haven't had just my own contest on Books Obsession this year yet. So, without further ado... There will be two winners, who will get both young adult books by Kindle bestseller Karen McQuestion. Both of her novels have only been available as e-books the past year, however they are officially being published on April 1!

FAVORITE
Five years have passed since Angie Favorite’s mother, Laura, disappeared without a trace, and Angie still hasn’t recovered. Sure, things look normal on the surface — she goes to school, works her summer job, and argues with her older brother Jason — but she can’t shake the feeling that Laura didn’t leave by choice. Angie’s dad does the best he can, but his work as a musician keeps him on the road and away from home, where it’s up to Angie’s grandmother to keep an eye on the kids. She can’t be with them all the time, though, and she can’t help Angie when she is snatched from a mall parking lot by Scott Bittner. The girl narrowly escapes, and Bittner is arrested, but he takes his life in jail before he can offer an explanation for his crime. When his mother contacts Angie, begging forgiveness on her son’s behalf, the girl agrees to meet with her in hopes of finding answers to the seemingly random attack. But when she arrives at the massive Bittner estate, she is overcome by an unshakeable sense of foreboding. Part thriller, part coming-of-age tale,
Favorite is an engrossing young adult novel in which nothing — and no one — is as it seems.

LIFE ON HOLD
Fifteen-year-old Rae Maddox’s mom, Gina, is a big fan of fresh starts. Gina thinks of them as an adventure, but for Rae, each move is just one more friend lost, one more chance to feel like an outsider. But when they arrive in Wisconsin, Gina promises to stay put until Rae graduates. Cautiously optimistic, she wades into the social whirl at Whitman High School, making a few friends and even earning a chance at love. But when the vice principal pairs her with fellow newbie Allison Daly, Rae’s tentative happiness is jeopardized. It seems Allison was orphaned after her parents died in a suspicious house fire, leaving their daughter to bounce between relatives’ homes. When a sleepover at Rae’s house goes terribly wrong, Rae sees a troubling side of Allison—and learns a few secrets about her own mother in the process. Suddenly Rae is at risk of losing everything and everyone she cares about—unless she steps up and takes charge of her life once and for all.

Rules and all that jazz:
Open to the USA only.
Ends on April 1, 2011.
Extra entries for being an awesome follower and telling others about this contest.
Two winners will be randomly picked and emailed; they'll have 5 days to reply before a new winner is chosen.
Comments are appreciated!

Click here to fill out the entry form!


Thursday, March 17, 2011

Lucky Leprechaun Giveaway Hop


CONTEST CLOSED




I'm participating in the Lucky Leprechaun Giveaway Hop hosted by I Am A Reader, Not A Writer and Books Complete Me. For my giveaway, I have a bundle of 13 books and one winner will get to choose three books out of this pile as their own!

The Simple Rules:
-You must be a blog follower (new or old) to enter. If you aren't, your entry will be deleted.
-Runs from 12:01 AM March 17th until 11:59 PM March 20th.
-Open internationally!
-You can get extra entries by tweeting/blogging about my giveaway.
-The winner, picked randomly and emailed, will have a week to reply before a new winner is chosen.


-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-

THE STACK OF BOOKS TO CHOOSE FROM:



HC = hardcover | PB = paperback | ARC = advanced reader's copy

These books are either brand new, gently read, or unread. However, all are in great condition.

GOOD LUCK! And thanks for following my blog! Happy St. Patrick's Day.

Wednesday, March 16, 2011

Waiting On Wednesday: Stay


This week's WoW book is Stay by Deb Caletti! It will be released on April 5, 2011.

SUMMARY:
Clara’s relationship with Christian is intense from the start, and like nothing she’s ever experienced before. But what starts as devotion quickly becomes obsession, and it’s almost too late before Clara realizes how far gone Christian is--and what he’s willing to do to make her stay. Now Clara has left the city—and Christian—behind. No one back home has any idea where she is, but she still struggles to shake off her fear. She knows Christian won’t let her go that easily, and that no matter how far she runs, it may not be far enough...

It's strange but I haven't read a realistic novel lately, which is one of my favorite genres. However, this one immediately caught my attention. I think the cover is pretty, the author is well-known, and the summary sounds interesting. PUBLISHED ON APRIL 5, 2011!

On My Bookshelf (27)


(Originally by The Story Siren, as "In My Mailbox") On My Bookshelf is used to share what books I bought, won, traded, received for review, or got from the library this week. It's to let you know what to expect for me to read/review next.



BOUGHT FROM BOOKSTORES:

Candor by Pam Bachorz: The picture-perfect new town of Candor, Florida, is attracting more and more new families, drawn by its postcard-like small-town feel, with white picket fences, spanking-new but old-fashioned-looking homes, and neighborliness. But the parents are drawn by something else as well. They know that in Candor their obstreperous teenagers will somehow become rewired - they'll learn to respect their elders, to do their chores, and enjoy their homework. They'll give up the tattoos, metal music, and partying that have been driving their parents crazy. They'll become every parent's dream.

XVI by Julia Karr: Nina Oberon's life is pretty normal: she hangs out with her best friend, Sandy, and their crew, goes to school, plays with her little sister, Dee. But Nina is 15. And like all girls she'll receive a Governing Council-ordered tattoo on her 16th birthday. XVI. Those three letters will be branded on her wrist, announcing to all the world - even the most predatory of men - that she is ready for sex. Considered easy prey by some, portrayed by the Media as sluts who ask for attacks, becoming a "sex-teen" is Nina's worst fear. That is, until right before her birthday, when Nina's mom is brutally attacked. With her dying breaths, she reveals to Nina a shocking truth about her past - one that destroys everything Nina thought she knew. Now, alone but for her sister, Nina must try to discover who she really is, all the while staying one step ahead of her mother's killer.

WON FROM CONTESTS:

Pride and Prejudice and Zombies by Jane Austen and Seth Grahame-Smith: A mysterious plague has fallen upon the quiet English village of Meryton and the dead are returning to life! Feisty heroine Elizabeth Bennet is determined to wipe out the zombie menace, but she's soon distracted by the arrival of the haughty and arrogant Mr. Darcy. What ensues is a delightful comedy of manners with plenty of civilized sparring between the two young lovers and even more violent sparring on the blood-soaked battlefield as Elizabeth wages war against hordes of flesh-eating undead.

RECEIVED FROM TRADING:

The Devouring by Simon Holt: When Reggie reads about the Vours in a mysterious old journal, she assumes they are just the musings of an anonymous lunatic. But when her little brother, Henry, begins to act strangely, it's clear that these creatures exist beyond a madwoman's imagination, and Reggie finds out what happens when fears come to life. To save the people she loves, Reggie must learn to survive in a world of nightmares. Can she devour her own fears before they devour her? The Devouring is an engrossing tale of terror that will have you wondering: what if your worst fears became your living nightmare?

RECEIVED FOR REVIEW:

Bitter Melon by Cara Chow: Frances, a Chinese-American student at an academically competitive school in San Francisco, has always had it drilled into her to be obedient to her mother and to be a straight-A student so that she can go to Med school. But is being a doctor what she wants? It has never even occurred to Frances to question her own feelings and desires until she accidentally winds up in speech class and finds herself with a hidden talent. Does she dare to challenge the mother who has sacrificed everything for her?

Chasing AllieCat by Rebecca Davis: Dumped with relatives in a small Minnesota town for the summer, Sadie Lester is relying on her mountain bike to save her from total boredom. Then she meets Allie, a spiky-haired off-road mountain biker who's training for a major race. Allie leads Sadie and Joe, a cute fellow cyclist, up and down Mount Kato, and the three become close friends. But the exhilarating rush comes to a halt when they find a priest in the woods, badly beaten and near death. After calling for help, Allie disappears from their lives. As they search for Allie and try to find out why she left so suddenly, Sadie and Joe discover more about Allie's past, including her connection to the priest. Only on the day of the big race does Sadie finally learn the complete, startling truth about Allie—and the terrible secret that forced her into hiding.

Saturday, March 12, 2011

Eye Candy


Hi strangers! Sorry I haven't been as active with my site the past couple of weeks. Once again, I've become stressed out to the max, just took my SAT this morning, and could barely even find time to breath this week. I also just haven't felt motivated recently, I feel like I post the same kind of thing week after week. Hopefully I'll find some inspiration soon and get back in touch with my blog.

I came across some wonderful covers and some intriguing summaries of books today. Thought I'd share and see what you all think! I know I'm racing to add them all to my goodreads pile.

The Name of the Star: Shades of London #1 by Maureen Johnson
Will be published on September 29, 2011 - my birthday!
A modern-day thriller about Rory, an American high-school student who enrolls at a London boarding school for her junior year. Soon after her arrival, a series of murders begins to take place across the city—on the exact dates and in the exact style of Jack the Ripper. Rory’s ties to the killer bring her in contact with a secret paranormal branch of the British police, as they attempt to stop the mysterious killer.



Beautiful Chaos (#3) by Kami Garcia and Margaret Stohl
Will be published on October 18, 2011
Ethan Wate thought he was getting used to the strange, impossible events happening in Gatlin, his small Southern town. But now that Ethan and Lena have returned home, strange and impossible have taken on new meanings. Swarms of locusts, record-breaking heat, and devastating storms ravage Gatlin as Ethan and Lena struggle to understand the impact of Lena's Claiming. Even Lena's family of powerful Supernaturals is affected - and their abilities begin to dangerously misfire. As time passes, one question becomes clear: What - or who - will need to be sacrificed to save Gatlin?


Dark Mirror by M. J. Putney
Published on March 1, 2011
Lady Victoria Mansfield, youngest daughter of the earl and countess of Fairmount, is destined for a charmed life. Soon she will be presented during the London season, where she can choose a mate worthy of her status. Yet Tory has a shameful secret—a secret so powerful that, if exposed, it could strip her of her position and disgrace her family forever. Tory’s blood is tainted... by magic. When a shocking accident forces Tory to demonstrate her despised skill, the secret she’s fought so hard to hide is revealed for all to see. She is immediately exiled to Lackland Abbey, a reform school for young men and women in her position. There she will learn to suppress her deplorable talents and maybe, if she’s one of the lucky ones, be able to return to society.

Wednesday, March 2, 2011

Waiting On Wednesday: The Vespertine


This week's WoW book is The Vespertine by Saundra Mitchell! It will be released on March 7, 2011.

SUMMARY:
It's the summer of 1889, and Amelia van den Broek is new to Baltimore and eager to take in all the pleasures the city has to offer. But her gaiety is interrupted by disturbing, dreamlike visions she has only at sunset—visions that offer glimpses of the future. Soon, friends and strangers alike call on Amelia to hear her prophecies. However, a forbidden romance with Nathaniel, an artist, threatens the new life Amelia is building in Baltimore. This enigmatic young man is keeping secrets of his own—still, Amelia finds herself irrepressibly drawn to him. When one of her darkest visions comes to pass, Amelia's world is thrown into chaos. And those around her begin to wonder if she's not the seer of dark portents, but the cause.

Wow this one sounds really interesting! I'm usually not much of a fan for historical fiction, but I definitely want to read this. PUBLISHED ON MARCH 7, 2011!