Have You Ever...

Have you ever just looked at your tbr pile and feel overwhelmed? I have so many books I need to read staring at me all the time. I never know which book to read because there are so many to pick from. It makes me not want to really read any of them but instead read some of my old favorites. Ones I've read many times before. Ones I love and could read hundreds of times and never get sick of them.

This is why I have a real lack of reviews lately. I've been trying to fight the urge to reread other books but all that is happening is that I'm just not reading at all. So instead I'm going to cave and reread. I'm starting with Nevermore by Kelly Creagh. It's a very Halloween appropriate book that I just adore.

I'm trying to go and write some of my older reviews and post those. Ones that should be coming up soon are...
The Beyonders by Brandon Mull
Fins Are Forever by Tera Lynn Childs
Iron Knight by Julie Kagawa (I thought I'd posted this review over a month ago, oops)

And loads of other reviews.

And because I'm rereading Nevermore, I'll post this picture I found on Kelly's fb page. It's the dress she gave Isobel for the big party at the end of the book. Isn't it lovely and perfect? I want it!

Review: Awake at Dawn

Awake at Dawn by C.C. Hunter

Series: Shadow Falls #2

Published by St. Martins Griffin

Genre: YA

$9.99 (US paperback)

400 pages

What it's about:
Now that she’s settled in at Shadow Falls Camp, Kylie Galen’s determined to discover the extent of her supernatural abilities. But with a ghost insisting someone Kylie loves is about die, a rogue vampire on a murdering rampage, and her sixth sense telling her someone is watching her, Kylie’s quest for answers is quickly put on hold.


To make matters worse, just when she’s about to give her heart to Derek, a half-fairy, he starts pulling away. When Lucas, a werewolf with whom Kylie shares a secret past, returns, Kylie’s feels more conflicted than ever. Her weekend with her mom should have been the just the break Kylie needs, but it turns out to be her breaking point. Someone from the dark side of the supernatural world has plans for Kylie--and it'll take all her resources to get back to Shadow Falls alive...


My thoughts:
I love this series! With both Born at Midnight and Awake at Dawn, I started it and stayed up all night long because I had to know what happens next. I love the summer camp, Shadow Falls, and all the different supernaturals that live in it.

The big question in this book is WHAT IS KAYLIE???????????? Is she a fae, werewolf, vampire, shapeshifter, or something else???? This is driving me crazy. Hunter does a fantastic job of playing this up and keeping the reader and all the characters wondering, what is Kaylie? Why can she see ghosts? What other powers will she develop and what in the world is following her? There are so many questions asked in this series and no matter how hard you try to guess the answers, Hunter always has a way to surprise you.

The relationships in this series is what really makes it great. Kaylie is constantly developing all kinds of relationships with everyone. She strives to try and fix the relationships she has with all three of her parents (yup, I said all 3), her growing sister/friend relationship with camp leader Holiday, with her cabin mates and then of course with the gorgeous Lucas and Derik. I haven't had such a hard time deciding on which Team Boy I like better since Shay and Ren. How can you pick between Lucas and Derik? One is mysterious, extremely sexy, and a childhood friend, while the other is sweet, hott, and always there. It's a hard choice but I think I'm Team Lucas :)

If I keep talking about this book I'm going to give away spoilers and I do not want to do that. If you like boarding school type books, along with supernaturals, humor, and mystery, you will adore this series. The Shadow Falls series is now a must read for all YA lovers.

My rating: 10/10

Help! What to do about review requests!

I've seemed to find myself in an awkward situation.

I get a bunch of review requests from authors that are more unknown and have very small publishers. I only accept the ones that I genuinely think sound good. Lately I've been trying to get through more of these review books but found that some of them are bad. Really, really bad and I don't think I can get myself to finish it.

So what to do about it? The authors asked so politely for my honest review, though who really wants to get bad reviews? Especially if the reviewer had a hard time getting through the first few chapters. Do you stop reading and pretend the request never came in the hopes the author forgot, or do  you write the bad review and feel guilty?

Anyone else been in this situation? If so, what did you do?

Right now, I feel about as guilty as Denver:

My Book Boyfriend-- Cade

My Book Boyfriend is a weekly meme hosted by the awesome Missie over at The Unread Reader. Each week you post about a boy from a book that you love. Write what he's like, who'd you like to play him in a movie, quotes of his from the book, whatever you like.

This week I'm picking Cade from The Day Before by Lisa Schroeder. He's adorable and I easily thought of someone I'd like to play him if this is ever turned into a movie.

About Cade:
*Drives a VW bug (old school ones. Awesome)
*Listens to Fall Out Boy (this was the real seller for me. My all time favorite band.)
*Wears skinny jeans and black knit beanies
* has black hair long enough to stick out of said beanie
*Is "cute" skinny. Aka looks good in skinny jeans
*plays the guitar and sings
*Sweetest guy ever.

Who'd I'd like to play him.

I babysit and the kids and my favorite show to watch is Big Time Rush. This means I listen to their cd all the time and have seen them in concert. Even got to hi-five one of the band members. So in other words, I see their faces all the time. When I read The Day Before and read about Cade, I immediately pictured him looking like Kendall Schmidt. Just give him black hair and wha-la, you got Cade.

And because this is a MBB post, it needs a shirtless picture

Plus the book takes place on the Oregon beach. So the picture of Kendall shirtless on the beach was needed.....
Quotes:
I don't want to say too many quotes, because 1) the book is written in verse and quotes are a little harder to understand that way and 2) because I don't want to give away spoilers. So here is the song that he sings to Amber that he also wrote:

"Blue sky,
sun on skin.
Open road,
take it in.
It's this feeling I get
that I can't seem to find
except when I let
all the worries unwind
when you're there by my side.
When you won't let me hide.

 Let's go for a ride.

Hand in hand,
feelings sincere.
All we need
we'll find right here."

Here is my little side note. If you've never read a Lisa Schroeder book, you're missing out. Buy them, get them from the library, borrow from a friend, I don't care how you get them, you just need to. They are quick, emotional books that are phenomenal.

Top Ten Tuesday-- Books I judged by their cover

Top Ten Tuesday is a weekly meme hosted by the girls over at The Broke and the Bookish. Each week they come up with a topic and you write down your top ten favorites of whatever the topic is.

This weeks top ten is books that you bought because of their cover/title. We all do this. Everyone judges a book by it's cover (if you say you don't, you are most likely lying.) I have a really bad problem with this and half the time I don't even end up reading the book. I want to say though, that it wasn't just the cover or the title that got me to buy the book, but I also thought the books sounded really good.

These are in no order.

1.Rich and Mad by William Nicholson:
I tried reading this book and couldn't get farther than 20 pages into it. I wasn't liking it and I didn't want my dislike of the book to ruin my love for the cover. Honestly. If I could find a poster for this cover, I'd buy it in a heart beat and hang it on my wall. So in love with it.

2. Slice of Cherry by Dia Reeves:
Yet another book I bought because I loved the cover and yet I still haven't read it. It's tea cups (which I collect) that is done in pink/yellow poka dots (my absolute favorite design and colors), mixed in with a cool font and some blood to make it a little sick and twisted. It's like the designer made it specifically for me to buy. I plan on painting this cover some time.

3. Wither by Lauren Destefano:
How gorgeous is this cover??? The dress? The birdcage? The big hair? Love it! I actually love the next cover in this book even more but I'm not going to buy that book for it's cover, I'm going to buy it cause I'm SUPER EXCITED FOR IT!

4. Entwined by Heather Dixon:
I love fairy tale books, I adore princess stories, and I love big dresses. So I had to get this book. Look how beautiful the dress is, and the castle in the background. *sigh* I love it. Too bad I didn't like the book nearly as well as I like the cover.

5. Halo by Alexandra Adornetto:
It's the wings that sold me on this book. They are so beautiful and detailed when you really look at the cover up close. It's not just shadows but you can really see details. The whole thing if beautiful. Yet I haven't read this book yet. I bought it before I found out I'm not a huge fan of angel books.

6. Fairy Bad Day by Amanda Ashby:
I want those shoes! Just saying. The title and the cover sold me on this one. I love how it's a girl wearing really cool shoes, stabbing a fairy with a really big sword.

7. Bumped by Megan McCafferty:
It's a big freaking egg. I love the simplicity of it and yet you can ask any person who keeps up with YA lit, and go "what is the name of the book with a giant egg on the cover?" and everyone knows what book you are talking about. You see it and think "why a big egg?" Then read what it's about and understand.

8. Bad Girls Don't Die by Katie Alender:
This one was the title that got me at first because I didn't see the cover with it and once I did, I liked it even more. Why is this girl a bad girl and why don't they die? I like how it looks like a little kid in time out. Makes you wonder.

9. We Hear the Dead by Dianne Salerni:
Why do you hear the dead girls? It's an interesting title with a cool and simple title. The reds and yellows really complement each other and make it "pop" so you have to notice it.

10. Bright Young Things by Anna Godbersen:
This one screamed "buy me! buy me!" for a very long time before I caved and bought it. I've always been interested in the jazz age and drawn to the look of it. The fingerwave hairstyle, the multiple necklaces mixed with a flapper dress and bright lipstick. Then add in the dancing, drinking, and all the new things that were happening in America at the time, and I'm hooked. So when I see a cover that is going to give me all that I'm immediately interested. It took me so long to buy it because I'm swamped with books and was trying to save some money. Like I said before, I ended up caving.

Review: Lola and the Boy Next Door

Lola and the Boy Next Door by Stephanie Perkins

Published by Dutton Books

Genre: YA

$16.99 (US hardback)

338 pages

What it's about:

Budding designer Lola Nolan doesn't believe in fashion...she believes in costume. The more expressive the outfit--more sparkly, more fun, more wild--the better. but even though Lola's style is outrageous, she's a devoted daughter and friend with some big plans for the future. And everything is pretty perfect (right down to her hot rocker boyfriend) until the dreaded bell twins, Calliope and Cricket, return to the neighborhood.

When Cricket--a gifted inventor--steops out from his twin sister's shadow and back into Lola's life, she must finally reconcile a lifetime of feelings for the boy next door.

My thoughts:
LOVE IT! I don't think Stephanie Perkins will ever write a book that I do not love.

Hmmm what do I love most about Stephanie Perkins books? I think I'd have to say the characters. She creates the best characters. Lola was such a fun girl. She loves costumes and make up, and wigs and big big dresses. Love it. She was just so quirky and adorable. Then you add in her fathers? They cracked me up and I love how Lola didn't have the conventional upbringing. Then there is Cricket. *sigh* The nerdy, adorable, big haired, awesome pants wearing, boy next door. He seemed so realistic. The awkward boy who is too shy for his own good.

Besides the amazing characters, there is the voice of the book. It is a voice that just clicks with me. Stephanie's writing reminds me of Kiersten White and Janette Rallison. How the second you open the book and read the first page you are already hooked. It's fun, has great humor, and just screams "I am full of awesome."

I could never give enough praise for both Lola and the Boy Next Door, and for Stephanie's first book, Anna and the French Kiss. For all of you Anna fans out there, you'll be happy to see some familiar faces in Lola :)

My rating: 11/10

Top Ten Tuesday-- Books I wish I could reread for the first time

Top Ten Tuesday is hosted by the awesome girls over at The Broke and the Bookish.

This weeks top ten is top ten books I wish I could reread for the first time.

Oh there are so many books I wish I could reread for the first time! These are in no order. I'm also going to apologize in advance for my exsesive use of "!" I'll probably get a little excited about how much I love these books.

These are in no order.

1. Harry Potter by JK Rowling:
Who wouldn't want to be able to reread this series for the first time??????

2. Divergent by Veronica Roth:
I've read this book loads of times already and it hasn't even been out a year. I have fallen madly in love with this book.

3. Forbidden by Tabatha Suzuma:
This book has stuck with me. I can not forget it.

4. Anna and the French Kiss by Stephanie Perkins:
If you've read this book, then you know what I mean.

5. City of Glass by Cassandra Clare:
This is my favorite book of hers so far and I'd love to be able to go and reread it for the first time.

6. The Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins:
This is another one of those "duh" books.

7. Just One Wish by Janette Rallison:

8. Twilight by Stephenie Meyer:
As much as people now make fun of this series, I still adore it. Which is why I read it 5 times in one year. These are feel good books.

9. The Hollows series by Kim Harrison:
Just because.

10. Paranormalcy by Kiersten White:
I loooovvvveeeee this book!

My Book Boyfriend (10) -- Brian Sinclair

My book boyfriend is hosted by Missy over at The Unread Reader. Every week you pick a boy that you love from a book and write about him! It's awesome.

This week I'm picking Brian SinClair from Backstage Pass by Olivia Cunning. How can you not love the "romantic retard?" (that wouldn't be my discription of him, but it's the bands).

What Brian looks like:
*"He had features a sculptor would love: strong jaw, pointed chin, high cheekbones."
*Has "intense brown eyes"
*"tousled, jet black hair, which fell just below collar-length and stuck out at odd angles all over his head."

Random things about him:
*Is the lead guitarist in a very popular metal band
*Is a hopeless romantic
*Nickname is Master Sinclair"

Who I picture him looking like:
Hmmm this one was hard. I have a pretty good image of him in my head and had a hard time finding someone to look like him. Then I decided I like thinking of him looking like Jared Leto.

Look at those eyes! *Swoons*

Brian definitely proves, there is nothing sexier than a musician.

Quotes:
“Just love me, Myrna," he whispered against her lips. "Please."

“He grinned. "It's more of a personal challenge. Do you have any interest in getting to know me at all? Personally, I mean."

"Can't I just Google you? Isn't your entire life somewhere online?"
He scowled. "Probably.”

Okay, I'm not posting anymore quotes because I don't think there are any clean quotes in the whole book besides the ones I posted. Haha. Since my blog is mostly YA, I try to keep everything pg-13 or lower.

Top Ten Tuesday-- Shocking endings

This is my favorite meme! Every Tuesday, the wonderful girls over at The Broke and the Bookish come up with a topic and if you want to, you write a post about your top ten of whatever the topic is. Then sign up with mr. linkey and go around and comment on other blogs.

This weeks top ten is Mouth Gaping Endings (because of a cliff hanger, shocking ending, so on).

This one there were a few that just jumped out at me. These are in no order, just whatever I thought of first. I'm not saying much because I do not want to give away spoilers!!!

1. Forbidden by Tabitha Suzuma:
It took me a while to really understand what was going on at the end. I was in denial. I still am. This book will forever stick with me mostly  because of the ending.

2. Secrets of the Dragon Sanctuary (Fablehaven #4) by Brandon Mull:
This one had a great plot twist in it that had me going "whhhhaaaa????" When I met Brandon a few weeks after I read it, I freaked out on him. How could he make that twist? He promised me it would all work out in the next book, and it did, so I'm okay with the plot twist now ;)

3. Bronze Horseman by Paullina Simons:
This one had me crying my eyes out. I was so upset. Then I went online and found out that this is a trilogy. Thank goodness.

4. The Lost Hero by Rick Riordan:
This was such a cool discovery that happened at the end. Changed my whole view on the Percy Jackson series. BOOK TWO IN THIS SERIES COMES OUT TODAY!!! Just sayin'. I'm really excited.

5. Divergent by Veronica Roth:
Whoa. Just Whoa. I'm excited to see more of the other factions.

6. Iron Crowned (Dark Swan #3) by Richelle Mead:
Team Dorrian all the way.

7. City of Fallen Angels by Cassandra Clare:
WTF?

8. Clockwork Angel by Cassandra Clare:
What favor does Will need?????????????????????????????

9. Nevermore by Kelly Creagh:
This one just left me really excited for the next one. It's taking forever for the next one to come out.

10. Demonglass by Rachel Hawkins:
Stupid cliff hangers. Hate them.

11. Legacy by Cayla Kluver:
I feel that this needed to be said so I had to add an 11th book. I need to know how all this is going to be fixed in the next book!

Review: My Double Life

My Double Life by Janette Rallison

Published by Putnam Juvenile

Genre: YA

$16.99 (US hardback)

265 pages 

What it's about:
Her whole life, Alexia Garcia has been told that she looks just like pop star Kari Kingsley, and one day when Alexia's photo filters through the Internet, she's offered a job to be Kari's double. This would seem like the opportunity of a lifetime, but Alexia's mother has always warned her against celebrities.
Rebelliously, Alexia flies off to L.A. and gets immersed in a celebrity life. Not only does she have to get used to getting anything she wants, she romances the hottest lead singer on the charts, and finds out that her own father is a singing legend. Through it all, Alexia must stay true to herself, which is hard to do when you are pretending to be somebody else!

My thoughts:
I love love love Janette Rallison's books! They are always so much fun. I know that when I open one of her books I'm going to be put in a world that is fun, adorable, and just a little weird.

I loved the idea of this book. A girl who looks almost exactly like a famous singer and who gets to become her secret body double? Awesome! Who hasn't at one point in their life wished to be a famous pop star? Alexia is a great leading character. A girl who is on a search for her father, the truth, and ultimately trying to find out who she is. Along the way she is trying to help everyone she can and trying to turn Kari's life around and make her a better person. It sounds cheesey and well, it is, but in a good way. Rallison's books always are a little cheesey but it's a kind I like.

This book has really cute characters, a fun plot, entertaining dialogue, and is a fast read. If you are wanting to read a stress free, non-series book for fun, this would be a great choice. If you're a fan of Rallison's books, this is definitely one you will want to read.

My rating: 8/10
Quotes:
"Teenagers. All you think about are looks. if you were smart, you would date ugly people. They'll be grateful and treat you better."

"Kari looked over at me then and was a lot less thrilled by the new portrait in her writing nook. She actually glared at me as though I'd done it on purpose. As though I'd said to myself, 'Why leave when I could stand here and pretend to be a picture of Kari instead?'"

On my wish list (01)

On My Wishlist is a fun weekly event hosted by Book Chick City and runs every Saturday. It's where we list all the books we desperately want but haven't actually bought yet. They can be old, new or forthcoming. It's also an event that you can join in with too - Mr Linky is always at the ready for you to link your own 'On My Wishlist' post.

Today I did kind of a dumb thing for me to do. I went on Goodreads and looked at all the books that are recommended to me, then added all the good ones to my "want" list. That dang list is never getting any smaller. Now I have a few more books on the list.

The books that popped out at me that I want this week are:

The day Louisiana teenager Rory Deveaux arrives in London marks a memorable occasion. For Rory, it's the start of a new life at a London boarding school. But for many, this will be remembered as the day a series of brutal murders broke out across the city, gruesome crimes mimicking the horrific Jack the Ripper events of more than a century ago.

Soon “Rippermania” takes hold of modern-day London, and the police are left with few leads and no witnesses. Except one. Rory spotted the man police believe to be the prime suspect. But she is the only one who saw him. Even her roommate, who was walking with her at the time, didn't notice the mysterious man. So why can only Rory see him? And more urgently, why has Rory become his next target? In this edge-of-your-seat thriller, full of suspense, humor, and romance, Rory will learn the truth about the secret ghost police of London and discover her own shocking abilities

In this fast-paced story full of adventure and romance, Cinderella is more than just a servant girl waiting for her prince—she's a tough, fearless girl who is capable of taking charge of a dangerous situation. Seeking to escape the clutches of her evil stepmother, Cinderella perfects her ninja skills and magic talents in secret, waiting for the day when she can break free and live happily ever after. In a special twist, readers have the opportunity to make key decisions for Cinderella and decide where she goes next—but no matter the choice; the result is a story unlike any fairy tale you've ever read

Review: Sirensong

Sirensong by Jenna Black

Series: Faeriewalker #3

Published by St. Martin's Press

Genre: YA

$9.99 (US paperback)

312 pages

What it's about:

When Dana is invited to Faerie to be officially presented at the Seelie Court, it’s no easy decision. After all, everyone knows Titania, the Seelie Queen, wants her dead. But Titania claims not to be the one behind the death threats; and her son, Prince Henry, makes the decision a whole lot easier when he suggests Dana might be arrested for (supposedly) conspiring with her aunt Grace to usurp the Seelie throne. So she and her father better do as they're told . . .

The journey through Faerie is long—and treacherous. Dana thought it would be a good idea to have friends along, but her sort-of-boyfriend, Ethan, and her bodyguard’s son, Keane, just can’t seem to get along, and Kimber’s crush on Keane isn’t making things any easier. When a violent attack separates Dana from their caravan, the sexy Erlking saves her just in the nick of time . . . and makes it clear that he hasn’t given up on making her his own.

Arriving at Titania’s beautiful palace should be a relief. But Dana is soon implicated in an assassination attempt against Titania’s granddaughter, and is suddenly a fugitive, forced to leave her father behind as she and her friends flee for their lives. Will she be able to prove her innocence before the forces of the Seelie Court—or, worse, the Erlking—catch up with her? And will she save her father before he pays the ultimate price in her stead?

My thoughts:
This was the third (and final? I'm not sure) book in the Faeriewalker series by Jenna Black. I was really excited for this book and while it didn't disappoint, it didn't really satisfy either.

The reason why I'm not sure if this is the final book in the series or not is because it just sort of...ends. It starts out pretty slow and then right at the end it picks up really fast and is getting really exciting, then all the sudden, it's over. The epilogue was pretty vague as well. I would have liked to see more to the ending of this story. A little more action and conflict would have been nice.

What I liked a lot about the book is how bad ass Dana became. It took her awhile, but it came. I was hoping her character would grow a little more and she sort of did. None of the other characters really had much attention in this book. It was all about Dana. Having a little more of the other characters play a bigger part would have been nice as well.

There really isn't a whole lot to say about this book. If you've read the first two, you should read this one. It was worth the read, but it just wasn't fantastic. I would have liked to see it stretched a little farther. I'm still hoping for a 4th book but I really don't see that happening.

My rating: 8/10