Waiting on Wednesday (31)

This is a meme hosted by Breaking the Spine where every Wednesday bloggers highlight a book that they are eagerly anticipating the release of! 

Flirting With Boys

By Tera Elan McVoy

Release Date: May 1, 2012

Summary: Charlotte and Oliver have been friends forever. She knows that he, Abe, and Trip consider her to be one of the guys, and she likes it that way. She likes being the friend who keeps them all together. Likes offering a girl's perspective on their love lives. Likes being the behind-the-scenes wordsmith who writes all the lyrics for the boys' band. Char has a house full of stepsisters and a past full of backstabbing (female) ex-best friends, so for her, being friends with boys is refreshingly drama-free...until it isn't any more. 

When a new boy enters the scene and makes Char feel like, well, a total girl...and two of her other friends have a falling out that may or may not be related to one of them deciding he possibly wants to be more than friends with Char...being friends with all these boys suddenly becomes a lot more complicated.

This one just sounds so good! It's all about Char being friends with boys, then everything (of course) falling apart when a new guy moves in that she ends up falling for. No matter what, it seems like just being friends with a guy in these books never works out. Regardless, this sounds super cute and I can't wait for it to come out! 

In My Mailbox (25)

In My Mailbox is a meme that I picked up from The Story Siren's blog. It's where we share the new books that we've gotten for that week with our readers. These books could be from the library, the store, or from the writers/publishers for review. Whatever the reason, I will share my new books every Sunday!

From the Publisher/Author

All of this is from the last month, but it's pretty good, right? I already read the Jennifer Echols books and LOVED it and I'm currently reading Forbidden. I can't wait to read the rest of these because they all look so good! There's a mix of genres, so I know I won't be bored with any of them :) 

From Amazon

I won a $25 giftcard a couple of weeks ago to Amazon, so I didn't waste any time ordering books that I've been pining after! I'm most excited for The Statistical Probability of Love at First Sight because I've heard such great things about it. And the cover is just so cute! I've got a ton of great books now to read, so I'm going to be having an awesome next few months! 

And that's it! What did you all get in your mailboxes this week? Please share!

Book Review: Forbidden by Syrie James and Ryan M. James

Forbidden

By Syrie James and Ryan M. James

Release Date: January 24, 2012

Summary: She should not exist.

He should not love her.

Claire Brennan has been attending Emerson Academy for two years now (the longest she and her mom have remained anywhere) and she's desperate to stay put for the rest of high school. So there's no way she's going to tell her mom about the psychic visions she's been having or the creepy warnings that she's in danger.

Alec MacKenzie is fed up with his duties to watch and, when necessary, eliminate the descendants of his angelic forefathers. He chose Emerson as the ideal hiding place where he could be normal for once. He hadn't factored Claire into his plans. . . .

Their love is forbidden, going against everything Alec has been taught to believe. But when the reason behind Claire's unusual powers is revealed and the threat to her life becomes clear, how far will Alec go to protect her?

Review: I haven't read many novels about angels, but if they're anything like this, I've been missing out on a pretty awesome genre! In this book, Claire has been experiencing some very weird visions that she has no explanation for. On top of that, the new guy Alec is mysterious yet enticing and seems to have a particular interest in her. Claire doesn't know what to think about Alec, but I know if some new hottie with an Irish accent were to move in, i wouldn't question why he was so interested in me! 

Claire is a great protagonist, especially because she is so relatable with her need to do well in school while trying to fit it. What I loved most about her, though, was how she told her two best friends everything that was going on with her. Even when she figured out more information about angels and her past, she didn't hesitate to share it with her friends, which is pretty rare in fantasy books. Not only did she confide in her friends, but she also had the best male counterpart EVER! 

Angels may give off the stereotype of being fluffy pretty boys, but Alec is definitely one lean mean fighting machine! He is good looking, but he is a tough guy who can really hold his own. He takes care of himself and has no problem at all protecting those he cares about. And that accent! Yum! Claire and Alec are SO cute together that I just sigh at how sweet they are! Things were a little slow in the beginning of the book, but they certainly picked up and it was so hard to put down! 

Not only does Forbidden have a gorgeous cover, the story is irresistible! This is definitely more for those looking for a romance rather than a fantasy novel, but that's exactly what I love to read. I hope there's a new one coming out sometime soon because I can't wait to see what happens next to Claire and Alec!

Shelf Candy Saturday (26)

Shelf Candy is a meme hosted by Five Alarm Book Reviews and every Saturday, bloggers choose a book whose cover really catches their eye. I know you're not supposed to judge a book by it's cover, but I always do, so I'm choosing books whose cover alone made me pick it up. So I hope you enjoy my shelf candy!

I know these covers are pretty simple, but they really capture what the books re about. There's something about them that are so perfect and Goddess-ey that I really want to pick them up and see what they're about. I love how the same colors, font, and even the design in the bottom right corner are used in both. The font fits perfectly and just completes the whole feel of the cover. I still haven't read the first one, but I really want to before the next one comes out because I'm hoping the story is as great as the covers make it seem! 

Follow My Book Blog Friday (29)

This is a meme hosted every Friday by Parajunkee, where book bloggers answer a question each week and check out how others answered it. It's a cool way for bloggers and viewers to connect and learn more about each other!

Question: Activity!!! Take a picture or describe where you love to read the most...

Answer: 

Since I'm at school, the place I normally read is my bed. Not many other options in my room except for at my desk, and my bed is much more comfortable. The only bad thing is I normally fall asleep reading, which is bad when I really need to finish a book! But other than that, it's the perfect reading place for me :) Where's your favorite place to read? 

Movie Review: This Means War

Summary: Two of the world's deadliest CIA operatives are inseparable partners and best friends - until they discover that they've fallen in love with the same woman. Deciding to keep their friendship a secret from her, they pull out their full arsenal of fighting skills and high-tech gadgetry to defeat their greatest enemy - each other.

Review: I was a little skeptical going into this movie because I new it could either be really good or really cheesy. You know how it turned out to be? AWESOME! I was so surprised by how much I really enjoyed this movie!

Everything about this movie was great, from the guys themselves to the tricks they used to try to win Reese Witherspoon. I loved both of the guys equally, but in their own ways. One was the ladies' man while the other was the quiet, romantic type. And just look at them; they're completely irresistible!

The storyline was really great too. There were parts that were laugh out loud funny and other parts that got a little more serious. There were so many funny, quirky moments that totally worked in the movie. I loved how they both used their CIA resources to try beat the other one in winning Witherspoon. It was great! The movie was predictable at the end, but you were kept on your toes for the rest of the movie. My entire family loved this movie, so it's great for both guys and girls. It's got the CIA/spy aspect for the guys and the romance for the girls. What more could you ask for? I would definitely recommend seeing this movie RIGHT NOW! Seriously, the ridiculous movie theater prices are totally worth it. Still don't want to pay that much? Then make sure you see it right when it comes out on DVD. You won't regret it!

Book Review: The One That I Want by Jennifer Echols

The One That I Want 

By Jennifer Echols

Release Date: February 7, 2012

Summary: 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?

Review: Every time I read a new Jennifer Echols book, I go in knowing it's going to be a five star because I love everything she writes. I was very shocked when people were not impressed with this book on on goodreads, so I decided to go into this book totally indifferent, as if I were reading from a brand new author. And you know what? I still loved it! No matter what I do, I can't help but fall in love with every story Jennifer Echols writes! 

Gemma was such a great protagonist. First off, I love her name. Secondly, she was so relatable! She had lost over 50 pounds and was still getting used to not being so self-conscious about her weight. On top of that, she is dealing with being a majorette for her school band and having a selfish best friend. From the first page I couldn't help but root for Gemma and hate Addison for being such a bad person towards her. But Gemma was so used to being permissive when it came to Addison that she couldn't really do anything but deal with it. And then when Max came into the picture, I wanted to take Addison and kick her off to Timbuktu where she couldn't ruin anything else for Gemma! 

Max was SO cute! He may have been the kicker for Gemma's rival school, but he had no problem making Gemma feel like life was perfect and nothing else really mattered. Of course, there is a ton of drama and times I wanted to smack Max for being so stupid, but I would never have been able to blemish his adorable face (at least it was adorable according to Gemma)! 

Though the story was slightly predictable, I loved every second of it! The story was sweet and the romance was even sweeter. Pick The One That I Want up now if you feel like escaping into a cute, relatable book that leaves you with a smile on your face.

Waiting on Wednesday (30)

This is a meme hosted by Breaking the Spine where every Wednesday bloggers highlight a book that they are eagerly anticipating the release of! 

Insurgent

By Veronica Roth

Release Date: May 1, 2012

Summary: One choice can transform you—or it can destroy you. But every choice has consequences, and as unrest surges in the factions all around her, Tris Prior must continue trying to save those she loves—and herself—while grappling with haunting questions of grief and forgiveness, identity and loyalty, politics and love. 

Tris's initiation day should have been marked by celebration and victory with her chosen faction; instead, the day ended with unspeakable horrors. War now looms as conflict between the factions and their ideologies grows. And in times of war, sides must be chosen, secrets will emerge, and choices will become even more irrevocable—and even more powerful. Transformed by her own decisions but also by haunting grief and guilt, radical new discoveries, and shifting relationships, Tris must fully embrace her Divergence, even if she does not know what she may lose by doing so. 

New York Times bestselling author Veronica Roth's much-anticipated second book of the dystopian Divergent series is another intoxicating thrill ride of a story, rich with hallmark twists, heartbreaks, romance, and powerful insights about human nature.

I recently read Divergent and absolutely loved it! I had no idea what I was missing out on and I'm so happy I finally got to it. I know I don't have to wait as long as a majority of the fans have had to wait, but waiting until May is going to be so hard!! I really want to know what's going to happen next with Tris and Four. I have a feeling it's going to be even more epic than Divergent. Hopefully it will live up to all of the expectations! 

Book Review: Illuminated by Erica Orloff

Illuminated

By Erica Orloff

Release Date: December 8, 2011

Summary: An epic romance full of mysteries that transcend time—fans of Romeo and Juliet and The Time Traveler’s Wife will rejoice! 

Some loves are not made to last . . . Like Romeo and Juliet, Heloise and Abelard were doomed from the start, and their romance was destined to pass into history. Yet when sixteen-year-old Callie Martin discovers a diary hidden within an antique book, their story—and hers—takes on another life. For the diary leads Callie to the brilliant and handsome August, who is just as mysterious as the secret the diary hides. Their attraction is undeniable. As the two hunt down the truth behind the diary—and that of Heloise and Abelard’s ancient romance—their romance becomes all-consuming. But Callie knows it can’t last . . . love never does. Will their love that burns as bright as a shooting star flame out, or will these star-crossed lovers be able to defy history?

Review: I was SO excited to read this book because the cover is gorgeous and the premise sounded great, but I just could not connect with the story. I felt like everything was rushed and too perfect; it was not realistic or engaging in any way. 

I really liked the idea of August and Calliope hunting for the history of a mysterious book that could be connected to star-crossed lovers Heloise and Abelard. It just seemed so forced! Calliope and August new each other for like five minutes and decided they loved each other. I know there are times when people may like each other from seeing each other, but falling in love and being all over each other? Not very realistic. Calliope's life seemed oh-so-perfect with her 4.0 GPA, money, beauty, and charm that it just got annoying. Sure she had daddy issues, but she did whatever she wanted and got away with it. 

Everything that happened seemed too easy and the ending was just too perfect. Also, the book belonged to Astrolabe and quotes from him began every chapter, but we didn't figure out his love life and story until the last couple of pages. I thought the quotes had nothing to do with the story until then, so they just annoyed me at the beginning of each chapter. This was supposed to be a "great love story" like Romeo and Juliet, but this was no where near that romance. 

Illuminated held so much potential, but it just fell flat. The author seemed to take the easy, cliched way out instead of really making something original and romantic. If you still feel like reading this, you should definitely wait to get it from the library; you probably won't want to read it more than once.

Shelf Candy Saturday (25)

Shelf Candy is a meme hosted by Five Alarm Book Reviews and every Saturday, bloggers choose a book whose cover really catches their eye. I know you're not supposed to judge a book by it's cover, but I always do, so I'm choosing books whose cover alone made me pick it up. So I hope you enjoy my shelf candy!

Now I haven't read A Need So Beautiful, but I have been in love with the cover ever since I've seen it. Then, when I saw the second one, I couldn't get over how gorgeous it was! I love how each cover really embodies the title. The first one is so pretty and light while the other one is darker and more cold. The first one is something that's good while the second one is something that's bad. It's awesome! I'm really interested to see what the next one is going to be (if there is a third one). It also makes me intrigued to read them to figure out what happened to make such a contrast between the two books/covers. Guess I should pick up A Need So Beautiful soon! 

Follow My Book Blog Friday (28)

This is a meme hosted every Friday by Parajunkee, where book bloggers answer a question each week and check out how others answered it. It's a cool way for bloggers and viewers to connect and learn more about each other!

Question: What's the most unique character name you've come across? 

Answer: Hmmmm, I think I'd have to go with Cricket from Lola and the Boy Next Door. I've definitely never read a book where the main guy had that name. I think that made him even more unique and memorable! Here's a picture of him I stumbled upon on someone's blog :) 

Or you can just go with the picture of him on the cover of the book...

Either way, his name just seems to fit. Cricket is a strange choice for a name, but it totally embodies his character in the book. Even if the name is strange, as long as it captures the character, it can end up adding even more to their charm. 

Book Review: Divergent by Veronica Roth

Divergent 

By Veronica Roth

Release Date: May 3, 2011

Summary: In a future Chicago, 16-year-old Beatrice Prior must choose among five predetermined factions to define her identity for the rest of her life, a decision made more difficult when she discovers that she is an anomaly who does not fit into any one group, and that the society she lives in is not perfect after all.


Review: I CANNOT believe I waited this long to read Divergent. It was amazing!!!! The beginning started off a little bit slow, but once I got past the first one hundred pages, I could not put it down! Seriously, as soon as class ended I ran back to my room and read until I was done. That alone proves it's an amazing book! 

I was a little iffy on the name Beatrice for the protagonist of the story, but I was so happy when she shortened it to Tris because I feel like that fit her character so much more. I actually really liked Tris and she never seemed whiney or annoying like the girl in Matched was to me. I connected with her and really wanted her to succeed when it seemed like nothing would go her way. 

The real reason I loved this book, though, was definitely Four. It's been a long time since I've read a book where I had a mega book-crush on the main guy. And it's finally happened again! Four is honestly AMAZING! He's fast and cunning, but after a while Tris sees his soft side and he such a sweet guy! I loved him from the moment he came into the story, even though I didn't realize he would be with Tris until after a couple of chapters. Everything about him is just perfect. 

Dystopian books seem to be big lately, and I'm shocked by the worlds these authors can come up with! The whole idea of there being five factions and you choose to stay or leave when you are sixteen is a really unique and definitely interesting idea. The whole conflict is full of action, secrets, and betrayals that it's impossible not to get addicted! As soon as I decided to stop after the chapter ends, something crazy would happen and I'd have to read the next chapter and the next and the next....Ahhhhhh it was just so good! Now I understand why everyone loves it! I can't wait for Insurgent to come out! And if you haven't already, read Divergent as soon as possible! You're seriously missing out on a great book!