Spring Blog Carnival

Welcome to the Spring Blog Carnival! This hop is organized by Pure Imagination, Candace's Book Blog, The Book Swarm, and Reading Angel. For this hop, I am giving away a copy of Delirium by Lauren Oliver. Good luck, thanks for stopping by and don't forget to visit the other participating blogs! UPDATE: Along with the book, I am also giving away two bookmarks: The Awakening by Kelly Armstrong bookmark and a Dark Days of the Supernatural bookmark!

Contest Rules:
- Must be 13 years old or older to enter
- Fill out the form below
- You must be a follower through Google Friend Connect (GFC) to enter
- Have a US shipping address
- Giveaway ends on May 8, 2011
(Truly Bookish is not responsible for any products lost or damaged during shipping)

Review of Die for Me by Amy Plum

Release Date: May 10, 2011
Publisher: HarperTeen
Pages: 341 pages
Author Website: Amy Plum
Genre: Paranormal Romance
Rating: 4 stars
Source: ARC from the Publisher through NetGalley

Goodreads Summary: My life had always been blissfully, wonderfully normal. But it only took one moment to change everything. Suddenly, my sister, Georgia, and I were orphans. We put our lives into storage and moved to Paris to live with my grandparents. And I knew my shattered heart, my shattered life, would never feel normal again. Then I met Vincent.

Mysterious, sexy, and unnervingly charming, Vincent Delacroix appeared out of nowhere and swept me off my feet. Just like that, I was in danger of losing my heart all over again. But I was ready to let it happen.

Of course, nothing is ever that easy. Because Vincent is no normal human. He has a terrifying destiny, one that puts his life at risk every day. He also has enemies . . . immortal, murderous enemies who are determined to destroy him and all of his kind. While I'm fighting to piece together the remnants of my life, can I risk putting my heart—as well as my life and my family's—in jeopardy for a chance at love?

Review:  After the tragic death of their parents, Kate and her older sister, Georgia, move from Brooklyn to Paris to live with their grandparents. The sisters handle their sadness in different ways. Georgia surrounds herself with friends and parties a lot, telling Kate that when she is out, she does not have to think about what happened. Kate, on the other hand, cuts herself off from everyone and drowns herself in depression and books. It’s only after she meets Vincent that she slowly starts coming back to life and feeling somewhat normal again.

I have read some other reviews that say Die for Me, Amy Plum’s debut novel, is a lot like other YA paranormal romances out there and in some ways, it does share similarities. However, the story’s unique elements and good writing makes this novel memorable and stand out from the rest.

Kate’s character is likable. Her sadness over her parents’ death feels so real. It deeply affects her life and her ability to get into a quick relationship with Vincent. Even though they are attracted to each other when they meet, Kate and Vincent do get to know each other before there are any declarations of love. Both characters have emotional baggage and I appreciate that. The secondary characters are well written and I see a lot of potential for them in upcoming novels.

The paranormal element is very cool and I really love the fight scenes. They were bloody and well played. Romance lovers will adore this book and I am looking forward to the sequel, Until I Die.

Content: Violence, kissing, references to sex

Waiting on Wednesday – Damage by Anya Parrish

Waiting on Wednesday is a weekly event hosted by Breaking the Spine, and specifically spotlights upcoming novels we can't wait to read. This week’s choice is:

Title: Damage
Author: Anya Parrish
Publisher: Flux
Publish Date: Sept. 8, 2011
Genre: Paranormal

Summary: There was a time when I prayed for Rachel to be real. Until the night I learned she'd always planned to kill me. When Dani was eight, she fell from a building. No one believed her claim that she was pushed by Rachel . . . her imaginary friend. It took years of therapy to convince Dani that Rachel wasn't real. Now fifteen, Dani wants to make it as a dancer. But a deadly freak accident sends Dani a terrifying message: Rachel is back, she's real, and she'll stop at nothing to kill Dani.

Complicating matters is Jesse, the school bad boy who's being stalked by his own invisible childhood nemesis. Dani and Jesse join forces to learn why their astral tormenters are back. Their investigation leads to a horrifying discovery—and the terrible experiment that binds them to each other.

I have read some fantastic debut novels so far this year and this seems like it will be one of them! The summary sounds mysterious with a great creepy element to it.

What books are you waiting on?

Hoppy Easter Eggstavaganza Giveaway Winner!

The winner of the Hoppy Easter Eggstravaganza Blog Hop, chosen by Random.org, is Donna S.!

Thank you to everyone who participated, you guys are the best! I plan to do many more giveaways, the next one will be on May 1 so make sure you enter!

Review of Wake Unto Me by Lisa Cach

Release Date: March 31, 2011
Publisher: Speak
Pages: 306 pages
Author Website: http://lisacach.com/
Genre: Paranormal Romance
Rating: 4 stars
Source: Purchased

Goodreads Summary: A haunted castle, a handsome young man dead for four hundred years, one heck of a scary portrait of a witch, and a treasure hunt -- not to mention a princess for a roommate! -- all await 15 year old American girl Caitlyn Monahan when she earns a scholarship to a French boarding school.

There are secrets behind the stone walls of Chateau de la Fortune, buried for centuries along with the mystery of who killed Raphael, the charming ghost who visits Caitlyn at night. But as Caitlyn unearths the history of the castle, nothing scares her as badly as the secret she learns about herself, and the reason she was chosen to come to the Fortune School. And nothing breaks her heart as badly as falling in love with a dead guy.

Review: In Wake Unto Me, we meet Caitlyn Monahan, a 15-year-old girl who knows she is different from everyone else and always feels misunderstood and alone. She has very vivid, frightening dreams that feel very real to her but in the past, when she told her father and stepmother about them, they thought she was going crazy. Caitlyn is desperate to get away from her small Oregon town and when she gets an unsolicited and fully paid offer to attend an exclusive private school in France, she jumps at the chance for a new start.

Wake Unto Me has a little bit of everything. Mixed in the unique paranormal elements are bits of European history, some real, some created by the talented author and a gorgeous castle setting in rural France. This story is not what I expected. It starts a little slow, but the mystery behind it keeps you reading and it does pick-up. I don’t want to give too much away, the novel’s mysteries are best discovered layer by layer.

Something that bothered me was how depressed Caitlyn got. She felt so unloved in Oregon and even though she does not have a very emotional relationship with her father, her stepmother and friends were very affectionate but Caitlyn made no effort to reciprocate. It seems like she chose to be lonely. It’s hard for me to read that a 15-year-old decides to give up on her (loving) family and prefers to use some tarot cards her dead mother deals her in a dream to guide her through her life instead. She also gets very depressed toward the end of the book as well, not healthy behavior.

Wake Unto Me is a haunting, well written story with a satisfying ending. I am not sure if there will be a sequel, but it works as a standalone book. I am giving this book away, so stay tuned, I will be announcing the winner of the Hoppy Easter Eggstravaganza Blog Hop!

Content: Profanity (in French), Caitlyn uses someone else’s prescription drugs to help her fall asleep and induce dreams.

Cover Reveal: Frost by Wendy Delsol

Release Date: Oct. 11, 2011
Publisher: Candlewick
Pages: 336 pages
Author Website: http://www.wendydelsol.com/
Genre: Fantasy

Here is the synopsis I found from Ms. Delsol’s website:  
After the drama of discovering that she’s a member of the Storks, a mystical order of women endowed with powerful abilities, Katla Leblanc is finally settling into her life in chilly Minnesota. In fact, the ex-California girl even hopes for a white Christmas. But Katla’s wintry wish unexpectedly turns into the snowstorm of the century, drawing the attention of Brigid, a gorgeous environmental researcher with an amazing array of fur coats and an unusual interest in Katla’s boyfriend, Jack.

 Stork, the prequel to Frost, was such a fun book that featured very cool Norse mythology, an original element in YA books these days. It was one of my favorite books last year and I am very excited about this sequel. I am intrigued by this cover because the cover of Stork featured Katla is was very bright and this new cover is a dark contrast. I have included the cover of Stork below so you can compare. I think the covers complement each other, I love them both and can’t wait to read Frost!

Follow My Blog Friday - 4/22/11

Happy Friday everyone! The Follow My Book Blog Friday is hosted at Parajunkee's View.  If you're a new follower, please leave a link to your blog in the comments so that I can visit your blog.

Currently, I am giving away a copy of Wake Unto Me by Lisa Cach. Click here to enter.

This week's question is: What’s on your current playlist?

Right now, I am loving You Are More by Tenth Avenue North, Third Day, Owl City, OneRepublic, The Fray and I have been on a Michael Jackson kick for a looong time now. It’s so great to listen to Off the Wall after a really tough day….

What are you listening to?

Waiting on Wednesday – The Girl of Fire and Thorns

Waiting on Wednesday is a weekly event hosted by Breaking the Spine, and specifically spotlights upcoming novels we can't wait to read. This week’s choice is:

Title: The Girl of Fire and Thorns
Author: Rae Carson
Publisher: Greenwillow/HarperCollins
Publish Date: Sept. 20, 2011
Author Website: http://www.raecarson.com/
Genre: Fantasy

Summary: Once a century, one person is chosen for greatness. Elisa is the chosen one. But she is also the younger of two princesses, the one who has never done anything remarkable. She can’t see how she ever will.

Now, on her sixteenth birthday, she has become the secret wife of a handsome and worldly king—a king whose country is in turmoil. A king who needs the chosen one, not a failure of a princess.

And he’s not the only one who seeks her. Savage enemies seething with dark magic are hunting her. A daring, determined revolutionary thinks she could be his people’s savior. And he looks at her in a way that no man has ever looked at her before. Soon it is not just her life, but her very heart that is at stake.

Elisa could be everything to those who need her most. If the prophecy is fulfilled. If she finds the power deep within herself. If she doesn’t die young. Most of the chosen do.

This book sounds like it will be an amazing fantasy novel and the cover is so pretty! Can’t wait for this one to come out!   

What books are you waiting on?

Hoppy Easter Eggstravaganza Blog Hop

Welcome to the Hoppy Easter Eggstravaganza Blog Hop! This hop is organized by Kathy at I Am A Reader Not A Writer and Yara from Once Upon a Twilight. For this hop, I am giving away:  

Wake Unto Me by Lisa Cach. Click here for the Goodreads summary.

Please fill out the form below and don't forget to visit the other participating blogs. Happy Easter, good luck and thanks for stopping by!

Review of Bumped by Megan McCafferty

Release Date: April 26, 2011
Publisher: Blazer + Bray
Pages: 336 pages
Author Website: http://www.meganmccafferty.com/
Genre: Dystopia
Rating: 2.5 stars
Source: ARC from the Publisher through NetGalley

Goodreads Summary: When a virus makes everyone over the age of eighteen infertile, would-be parents are forced to pay teen girls to conceive and give birth to their children, making teens the most prized members of society.

Sixteen-year-old identical twins Melody and Harmony were separated at birth and had never met until the day Harmony shows up on Melody’s doorstep. Until now, the twins have followed completely opposite paths. Melody has scored an enviable conception contract with a couple called the Jaydens. While they are searching for the perfect partner for Melody to bump with, she is fighting her attraction to her best friend Zen, who is way too short for the job.

Harmony has spent her whole life in religious Goodside, preparing to be a wife and mother. She believes her calling is to bring Melody back to Goodside and convince her that “pregging” for profit is a sin. But Harmony has secrets of her own that she is running from.

When Melody is finally matched with the world-famous, genetically flawless Jondoe, both girls’ lives are changed forever. A case of mistaken identity takes them on a journey neither could have ever imagined, one that makes Melody and Harmony realize they have so much more than just DNA in common.

Review: What would the future be like if only teenagers could conceive and bear children? If instead of discouraging teenage pregnancy, the government and parents of these teenagers encouraged and even taught them that they had an obligation to have sex, get pregnant and give their babies up for adoption to older, more established couples? This is the world that Megan McCafferty has created in Bumped. The story is original, provocative and controversial.

Unlike most dystopias where the conflict and oppression is from a large power like the government, in Bumped, no one is forcing teenage girls to have sex and get pregnant. While there is a lot of pressure from society and their parents, most of the conflict is from within.

Ms. McCafferty writes characters whose voices are realistic and true. Unfortunately, I did not find the characters likable. While I was sympathetic to Harmony’s upbringing and situation, I was annoyed by her inane (and religious) rationalization of her actions. I thought Jondoe was overwhelmingly narcissistic and his intentions at the end of the book to be sketchy and as for Melody and Zen, they were just there. I found myself reading this book just to find out what would happen, but not rooting for any particular character. I was just not invested in them.

Bumped pulls no punches. While it is a satirical look at teenage sex and religion, it has the power to be extremely offensive. I knew the subject matter before I started the book and because I am sensitive to sex and language in YA literature, I tried to be as objective as possible while reading.

There is an incredible amount of conversations about sex in the book, some actual sex, profanity including the f-word and cult and non-cult religion. Even though I was reading objectively, the thing that bothered me the most was how the Christians were portrayed – almost all of them were over the top and crazy. Even the ones that were supposed to be more moderate were still crazy.

I know the things that bothered me about the book may not bother anyone else and if that’s the case, it may be worth it to read. It is a unique novel that is sure to spark spirited conversations about the topics mentioned above. While I know some will love this book, unfortunately it was not for me.

Content: Sex, heavy profanity and drug use. Not recommended for younger teens.

Review of Darkness Becomes Her by Kelly Keaton

Release Date: Feb. 22, 2011
Publisher: Simon Pulse
Pages: 288 pages
Author Website: Kelly Keaton
Genre: Paranormal
Rating: 2.5 stars
Source: Library

Goodreads Summary: Ari can’t help feeling lost and alone. With teal eyes and freakish silver hair that can’t be changed or destroyed, Ari has always stood out. And after growing up in foster care, she longs for some understanding of where she came from and who she is.

Her search for answers uncovers just one message from her long dead mother: Run. Ari can sense that someone, or something, is getting closer than they should. But it’s impossible to protect herself when she doesn’t know what she’s running from or why she is being pursued.

She knows only one thing: she must return to her birthplace of New 2, the lush rebuilt city of New Orleans. Upon arriving, she discovers that New 2 is very...different. Here, Ari is seemingly normal. But every creature she encounters, no matter how deadly or horrifying, is afraid of her.

Ari won’t stop until she knows why. But some truths are too haunting, too terrifying, to ever be revealed.

Review:  Greek mythology seems to be the new black. Not that I’m complaining, I love books with myth and I have been reading a lot of them lately. Darkness Becomes Her, Kelly Keaton’s debut novel, has an interesting mix of paranormal creatures that I don’t often see in YA books.

Ari is a sympathetic character. She is a foster kid who has been a hard life. She is smart and tough and very faithful to her current foster family and friends. Ari is very likable and you can really feel her pain for the injustice that has been done to her. While Sebastian is hot and I can see why Ari was attracted to him, I didn’t get the insta-relationship that they had. They met and were arguing and then a page later they were making out. Sebastian’s character was not fully developed and while that may happen in upcoming sequels, I feel like I need to know more about him now.

I knew there was profanity in the book prior to reading it, I guess I just was not prepared for how much of it there was. My other complaint is that the mysteries of the book, the information that Ari was so desperate to find out, were a bit predictable. I was disappointed when I was able to guess them early on. Additionally, be aware, there are warlocks, a voodoo priest and some voodoo rituals in the book and I know some people are sensitive to those elements.

There are some cool things about the book that I did enjoy. Ms. Keaton’s take on mythology and how the characters are portrayed are original. The story is set New 2 which is New Orleans as it has been rebuilt after two powerful hurricanes destroyed it. New 2 is as important an element in the book as the characters. Ms. Keaton takes care to describe the city in a lush, beautiful way, makes me want to visit.  

Content: Heavy profanity and violence

Waiting on Wednesday – Prized by Caragh O’Brien

Waiting on Wednesday is a weekly event hosted by Breaking the Spine, and specifically spotlights upcoming novels we can't wait to read. This week’s choice is:

Title: Prized (Birthmarked #2)
Author: Caragh M. O’Brien
Publisher: Roaring Brook Press
Publish Date: Nov. 8, 2011
Pages: 368 pages
Author Website: http://www.caraghobrien.com/
Genre: Dystopia, Romance

Summary: In the thrilling follow up to Birthmarked, sixteen-year-old midwife Gaia Stone has fled from the Enclave and now must fight for her baby sister’s survival in the matriarchal society of Sylum.

Striking out into the wasteland with nothing but her baby sister, a handful of supplies, and a rumor to guide her, 16-year-old midwife Gaia Stone survives only to be captured by the people of Sylum, a dystopian society where women rule the men who drastically outnumber them, and a kiss is a crime. In order to see her sister again, Gaia must submit to their strict social code, but how can she deny her sense of justice, her curiosity, and everything in her heart that makes her whole?

If you have not read Birthmarked, you are missing out on a fantastic dystopian novel. It was one of my favorite books of 2010 and while the book did not end with a huge cliffhanger, it left you wanting so much more. That’s why I am so excited for the sequel, Prized. Caragh O’Brien is a wonderful writer and she even writes these awesome stories about characters from Birthmarked on her blog that gives you an interesting look into their past. So worth checking out.   

The cover of Prized is beautiful and while it does not go with the original cover of Birthmarked, it does with the new cover of the paperback version, which I love as well. Birthmarked comes out in paperback in October:   

What books are you waiting on?

Review of Starcrossed by Josephine Angelini

Release Date: May 31, 2011
Publisher: HarperTeen
Pages: 496 pages
Author Website: http://www.JosephineAngelini.com
Genre: Paranormal, Greek Mythology
Rating: 4.5 stars
Source: ARC for the Publisher through NetGalley

Goodreads Summary: How do you defy destiny?

Helen Hamilton has spent her entire sixteen years trying to hide how different she is—no easy task on an island as small and sheltered as Nantucket. And it's getting harder. Nightmares of a desperate desert journey have Helen waking parched, only to find her sheets damaged by dirt and dust. At school she's haunted by hallucinations of three women weeping tears of blood . . . and when Helen first crosses paths with Lucas Delos, she has no way of knowing they're destined to play the leading roles in a tragedy the Fates insist on repeating throughout history.

As Helen unlocks the secrets of her ancestry, she realizes that some myths are more than just legend. But even demigod powers might not be enough to defy the forces that are both drawing her and Lucas together—and trying to tear them apart.

Review:  I love Greek mythology and Starcrossed has everything a fantastic story about Greek gods should have: big, feuding families; untrustworthy family members; forbidden love; gorgeous, powerful demigods; eminent war; chilling prophesy and potent curses.

When we meet Helen, we read that she is tall and beautiful, but also intensely socially awkward. She tries to go around unnoticed and underachieves in everything – academically, athletically and socially – so she can fly under everyone’s radar.  That was the most frustrating part of the book for me but there are very good reasons why she is like this and her character does grows and mature significantly as the book progresses.  

For you romance lovers out there, Starcrossed has you covered. I love the relationship between Helen and Lucas and even though they are tied by fate and destiny (like characters in all good Greek myths are), it’s not an instant relationship; their feelings for one another grow over time.

The Delos family dynamic was awesome! I loved how the cousins fought, but were still faithful and supported each other. Even though Helen and Lucas are the main characters in the story, I just loved Hector and want to see more of him in upcoming sequels.

The book’s plot is so multilayered and complex.  I love how Ms. Angelini has taken the Iliad and built a fascinating world around it. I am so ready for more of the characters’ back stories and how it all relates to the Iliad and other Greek myths.

This is a fantastic debut that is worth owning. Even though I read it through a galley, I will be buying Starcrossed and adding it to my To Be Read Again list.

Content: Characters talk about sex and make out, language and some violence

Review of Desires of the Dead by Kimberly Derting

Release Date: Feb. 15, 2011
Publisher: HarperCollins
Pages: 368 pages
Author Website: http://www.kimberlyderting.com/
Genre: Paranormal, Mystery
Rating: 3 stars
Source: Library

Goodreads Summary: The missing dead call to Violet. They want to be found. Violet can sense the echoes of those who've been murdered—and the matching imprint that clings to their killers. Only those closest to her know what she is capable of, but when she discovers the body of a young boy she also draws the attention of the FBI, threatening her entire way of life.

As Violet works to keep her morbid ability a secret, she unwittingly becomes the object of a dangerous obsession. Normally she'd turn to her best friend, Jay, except now that they are officially a couple, the rules of their relationship seem to have changed. And with Jay spending more and more time with his new friend Mike, Violet is left with too much time on her hands as she wonders where things went wrong. But when she fills the void by digging into Mike's tragic family history, she stumbles upon a dark truth that could put everyone in danger.

Review: I loved so many things about The Body Finder: Kimberly Derting’s writing, the main character’s unique paranormal ability, the portions of the book told from the killer’s perspective. It was mysterious, exciting and suspenseful. I was very excited to read the sequel but unfortunately, I was disappointed in this second book.

While I understand that Violet can’t always track down serial killers like she did in book one, the mystery element in Desires of the Dead was nowhere as exciting as it was in its predecessor. DotD starts out nicely, gets caught up in page after page of teenage angst for the majority of the middle, and then gets back to the good stuff at the end.

I hate to say it but Violet’s character does not seem to have grown from one book to the next. If anything, the decisions she makes in this book are worse than before. She gets herself in really bad situations and refuses to tell her family or friends what’s going on with her as she digs herself deeper and deeper. Her parents are extremely permissive and more like roommates, stopping in occasionally to smile, pat her hand and tell her that they trust her decisions, which again, are very bad.

Is it just me or are sexual aggressive female characters a trend in YA books? I have noticed quite a few girls who are pushing their love interest to do more physically while the guys are ones holding back and asking them to wait. I guess this makes the guys seem more honorable but what does it do for the girl? Make her seem more empowered? Hmmm, that may be another blog post for another day.

Violent and her friend Chelsea may be two of the more sexually aggressive female characters I have seen in a while. Chelsea shamelessly and continually throws herself at Mike while Violent pouts and complains when Jay stops their make out sessions if they have gone too far. She finally does get him to sleep with her after making a snide remark that seems to guilt him into sex. I remember Jay being so much more alpha in The Body Finder…

There are some new characters that seem really interesting but were under developed. I am guessing Ms. Derting is holding out on telling us more about them until book three and she has piqued my interest. I still love her writing and look forward to book three in this series as well as The Pledge, the new dystopian novel she has coming out in the fall. I am hoping for more body finding and less angst in book three.

Content: Sex, language (including the f-bomb) and some violence

Review of Savannah Grey by Cliff McNish

Release Date: April 1, 2011
Publisher: Lerner Publishing Group
Pages: 272 pages
Author Website: http://www.cliffmcnish.com/
Genre: Science Fiction, Horror, Suspense
Rating: 3 stars
Source: ARC from the Publisher through NetGalley

Goodreads Summary: 15 year old Savannah Grey has never felt she's belonged. She keeps her distance, so she's surprised by her attraction to the new boy Reece. Then strange things begin to happen: nature, it seems, is exerting an overpowering force on the world. Birds behave strangely; gusts of wind blow leaves so fiercely they seem to lure people away. And Savannah learns she has supernatural powers. Nature has a purpose for Savannah and her friends. For they are on course to meet the vile and evil Ocrassa, who wants to destroy the world by corrupting nature. And it wants Savannah Grey to help realize its savage intent.

Review: Savannah Grey is one of the most unique stories I have ever read. The main character, Savannah, has paranormal abilities unlike anything I have come across in other YA novels and I found it refreshing.

This is a very quick read and Savannah is only briefly introduced before the action starts. She is a foster child who never feels comfortable being in one place too long so she changes families frequently but she is well behaved, smart and gets good grades. She knows there is something different about her but not what it is. Savannah is a strong, likable character who is faithful to her foster family and friends. When she is fully realizes what nature has been preparing her for, she handles the situation with a lot of courage, but not with the most well thought out plans.

Reece is Savannah’s love interest and the first boy that Savannah has ever been interested in. Her feelings for him develop quickly, but everything happens very fast in this story. In addition to her emotions, her abilities develop rapidly and instinctively, she always knows exactly what is going on with her body and the situations around her. I would have liked for a bit more story development there and for the action to be shown more than told. On the bright side, there is a great plot twist in the story that I did not see coming.

I also thought he villains, the Ocrassa and its minions, were very interesting and the portions of the book told from their perspective to be quite fascinating.

The book ends rather abruptly and while there is a resolution, I would have liked another chapter or an epilogue to really be satisfied.

Content: Some violence

Follow My Blog Friday - 4/8/11

Happy Friday everyone! The Follow My Book Blog Friday is hosted at Parajunkee's View. If you're a new follower, please leave a link to your blog in the comments so that I can visit your blog.

This week's question is: Do you judge a book by its cover?

Yes! I’m a sucker for a book with a pretty cover and even though I read the summary and take recommendations from fellow bloggers, if I am on the fence about a book, I am very often swayed by the cover. Most times my cover love results in a great book, but once in a while I end up with a bad one.

Library Thursday – 4/7/11

Library Thursday is a weekly blog hop hosted by Lazy Girl Reads to:
1. Encourage people to support their libraries when they can
2. Meet new bloggy friends and grow your following

For the first time, I got a video game from the library, Michael Jackson The Experience for Wii. It was soooo much fun! I think we may have to buy this one! I also got a lot of great books for myself:

Clarity by Kim Harrington; Desires of the Dead by Kimberly Derting; Timeless by Alexandra Monir and The Iron Queen by Julie Kagawa.

For my husband, I got him the following audiobooks: Ship Breaker by Paolo Bacigalupi and The Red Pyramid by Rick Riordan

For my four-year-old I got: Ladybugs by Cheryl Coughlan; Sea Anemones by Lola Schaefer; Tarantulas by Helen Frost and From Seed to Pumpkin by Wendy Pfeffer

What did you get from your library?

Waiting on Wednesday – Eve by Anna Carey

Waiting on Wednesday is a weekly event hosted by Breaking the Spine, and specifically spotlights upcoming novels we can't wait to read. This week’s choice is:

Title: Eve (The Eve Trilogy #1)
Author: Anna Carey
Publisher: HarperTeen
Publish Date: Oct. 4, 2011
Genre: Dystopia

Summary: The year is 2032, sixteen years after a deadly virus—and the vaccine intended to protect against it—wiped out most of the earth’s population. The night before eighteen-year-old Eve’s graduation from her all-girls school she discovers what really happens to new graduates, and the horrifying fate that awaits her.

Fleeing the only home she’s ever known, Eve sets off on a long, treacherous journey, searching for a place she can survive. Along the way she encounters Caleb, a rough, rebellious boy living in the wild. Separated from men her whole life, Eve has been taught to fear them, but Caleb slowly wins her trust...and her heart. He promises to protect her, but when soldiers begin hunting them, Eve must choose between true love and her life.

I love dystopia and this year has yielded a bounty of fantastic dystopian novels. Eve has a gorgeous cover and an intriguing summary. This is another one I can’t wait to read!

What books are you waiting on?

Giveaway Winner!

The winner of the Fool For Books Giveaway Hop, chosen by Random.org, is Tran Nguyen! Tran has been contacted and has 48 hours to claim her book.

Thank you to everyone who participated, you guys are awesome! I will be doing another giveaway on April 20 for the Hoppy Easter Eggstavaganza so make sure you enter!

Review of Cryer’s Cross by Lisa McMann

Release Date: Feb. 8, 2011
Publisher: Simon Pulse
Pages: 233 pages
Author Website: http://lisamcmann.com
Genre: Horror, Mystery
Rating: 2.5 stars
Source: Library

Goodreads Summary: The community of Cryer’s Cross, Montana (population 212) is distraught when high school freshman Tiffany disappears without a trace. Already off-balance due to her OCD, 16-year-old Kendall is freaked out seeing Tiffany’s empty desk in the one-room school house, but somehow life goes on... until Kendall's boyfriend Nico also disappears, and also without a trace.

Now the town is in a panic. Alone in her depression and with her OCD at an all-time high, Kendall notices something that connects Nico and Tiffany: they both sat at the same desk. She knows it's crazy, but Kendall finds herself drawn to the desk, dreaming of Nico and wondering if maybe she, too, will disappear...and whether that would be so bad.

Then she begins receiving graffiti messages on the desk from someone who can only be Nico. Can he possibly be alive somewhere? Where is he? And how can Kendall help him? The only person who believes her is Jacian, the new guy she finds irritating...and attractive. As Kendall and Jacian grow closer, Kendall digs deeper into Nico's mysterious disappearance only to stumble upon some ugly—and deadly—local history. Kendall is about to find out just how far the townspeople will go to keep their secrets buried.

Review: When I was a teenager, I loved reading horror. As I got older, those same books that I used to enjoy began really scaring me. This is the first horror novel I have read in a really long time and I am happy to say I was not overly creeped out. Cryer’s Cross is a mildly scary read, however, the mystery behind the disappearances overshadows the creepiness and adds to the suspense.

Kendall’s character was interesting. I don’t think I ever read a book where the main character has OCD. Jacian is the silent, brooding type which I usually like, but he is just too brooding and comes across as an angry jerk for a good portion of the book. Without giving away any spoilers, there is sort of a love triangle and I don’t like how it was handled. It bothered me for the majority of the book. I also think the resolution to the romance/love triangle is a cop-out.

Cryer’s Cross is a quick read and if you like suspense but really don’t care one way or the other about the romance, you may like this book. It also appears to be a standalone novel which is a great thing for you if you don’t want to wait year after year to find out what happens.

Content:  Language (including multiple uses of the F-bomb), some violence

Review of Haven by Kristi Cook

Release Date: Feb. 22, 2011
Publisher: Simon Pulse
Pages: 416 pages
Author Website: http://kristi-cook.com/
Genre: Fantasy, Paranormal Romance
Rating: 4 stars
Source: Library

Goodreads Summary: One month into her junior year, sixteen-year-old Violet McKenna transfers to the Winterhaven School in New York’s Hudson Valley, inexplicably drawn to the boarding school with high hopes. Leaving Atlanta behind, she’s looking forward to a fresh start--a new school, and new classmates who will not know her deepest, darkest secret, the one she’s tried to hide all her life: strange, foreboding visions of the future.

But Winterhaven has secrets of its own, secrets that run far deeper than Violet’s. Everyone there--every student, every teacher--has psychic abilities, 'gifts and talents,' they like to call them. Once the initial shock of discovery wears off, Violet realizes that the school is a safe haven for people like her. Soon, Violet has a new circle of friends, a new life, and maybe even a boyfriend--Aidan Gray, perhaps the smartest, hottest guy at Winterhaven.

Only there’s more to Aidan than meets the eye--much, much more. And once she learns the horrible truth, there’s no turning back from her destiny. Their destiny. Together, Violet and Aidan must face a common enemy--if only they can do so without destroying each other first.

Review: I have read a few paranormal books set in boarding school and even though I have liked most of them, they all sort of morph together because the setting and often the plot are so similar. I was expecting Haven to join the rest of the boarding school set, but I am happy to say that I was wrong. It does have similarities of other books out there, but it has enough other elements to make it memorable on its own.

Violet is the new girl at a posh boarding school who feels out of place and insecure. She also has a secret, an extrasensory ability that causes unusual episodes that she is ashamed of, and is hoping to make a new start where nobody has seen her act like a ‘freak.’ At Winterhaven, she meets awesome friends who embrace her and are supportive. She learns that she is not a freak and that other people at Winterhaven also have interesting talents, some of which I have not seen in other YA books. Violet starts out with some room for growth, and she does throughout the book.

There is a lot of tension between Violet and Aidan, sexual and otherwise. They argue quite a bit and have a hot and cold relationship, something I was not crazy about, but I understood the reason for the conflict. I loved Aidan’s character. I have stated before that I love the silent, brooding type and Aidan is that. What I really like is that he is not perfect like many other YA guys. He has flaws and makes some less than optimal decisions but he has a purpose, a good one that goes beyond just getting the girl and making out happily ever after.

Haven is a great debut for Kristi Cook. The plot is filled with conflict, mystery, romance and a nice mix of science and paranormal. Ms. Cook’s website says there will be a sequel to Haven and I am looking forward to more of Aidan, Violet and all their friends.

Content: Language (including the F-bomb), some violence, lots of sexual tension between Violet and Aidan