The Eternal Sea by Angie Frazier

The Eternal Sea (Everlasting #2) by Angie Frazier
Release Date: June 1, 2011
Publisher: Scholastic Press
Pages: 368
Age Group: Young Adult 


Summary: Romance and adventure are just around the corner . . .

After the thrilling journey that led Camille through the dangerous discovery of love, secrets, and a magical stone that grants immortality, Camille has everything she wants. She's escaped the men who wanted her dead, and now she is ready to build a new life with Oscar, her one true love. But things are not to be so simple. Oscar is acting strangely, and before they can even board a ship from Australia back home, to San Francisco, Camille learns that the journey is not over. If she does not follow the magic of the curse of Umandu, her life and Oscar's could be in grave danger.

My Thoughts: How do I start this review? I honestly was very hesitate to read The Eternal Sea because I wasn't thrilled with Everlasting. It was alright but not a story I remember every little detail about. So, when I started this one, I wondered if I would have to reread Everlasting to know what was going on. But I didn't. I slowly remembered as I started the book.

We are back with Camille. I enjoyed her much more in this book. I felt like she had grown up finally and gotten some sense. She wasn't so naive and I felt her maturity a bit more. 

The Eternal Sea is about what comes next. The story of what happens after she has gotten her hands on the stone that grants immortal life, the stone that can bring someone back to life. 

Camille is with Oscar and they are trying to be happy but he is different now, always pulling away from her. She knows he's a bit different but she wants to look past that. Also, her old fiance Randall is back in the picture and he still loves and wants Camille. 

Camille finds herself torn between the two men. Randall is a lot easier to like than Camille wants to admit.

Camille and her gang go on another trip across the sea to gather the other stone. She needs this other stone to truly free Oscar of what is troubling him.

Honestly, I didn't love Everlasting and I didn't love The Eternal Sea either. Like I've said before, I'm not into historical romance very much but I always try them anyways. Everlasting and The Eternal Sea are two of the better historical reads I've given a chance (even though they only get 3 cupcakes from me). I really did want to give this book 4 cupcakes but I didn't find myself liking it much more than Everlasting (which I also gave a 3). 

Overall: It was alright and I liked it enough to finish it. I think fans of historical and sea adventures will love this book more than me. 

Cover: It's an ok cover but I still prefer the Everlasting cover. Liked it much more. 

What I'd Give It: 

Waiting On Wednesday (93)

Waiting On Wednesday is a weekly event, hosted by Jill at Breaking the Spine. WOW spotlights forthcoming titles that we absolutely can't wait to read.

The Predicteds by Christine Seifert

Summary:  Daphne is the new girl in town and is having trouble fitting in. At least she has Jesse... sort of. He wants to be more than "just friends," but there's something he's not telling her about his past. Something dangerous. When a female student is brutally attacked, police turn to PROFILE, a new program that can predict a student's capacity for drug use, pregnancy, and violent behavior, to solve the case. As the witch hunt ensues, Daphne is forced to question her feelings for Jesse-and what she will do if her first love turns out to be a killer.

Why I Want It: Something that can predict such things as drug use? Hmm,, this sounds like it has potential to be awesome! 

Uncommon Criminals by Ally Carter

Uncommon Criminals (Heist Socieyt #2) by Ally Carter

Release Date: June 21, 2011

Publisher: Hyperion Book CH 
Age: Young Adult 
Pages: 304




Summary: Katarina Bishop has worn a lot of labels in her short life: Friend. Niece. Daughter. Thief. But for the last two months she’s simply been known as the girl who ran the crew that robbed the greatest museum in the world. That’s why Kat isn’t surprised when she’s asked to steal the infamous Cleopatra Emerald so it can be returned to its rightful owners.
There are only three problems. First, the gem hasn’t been seen in public in thirty years. Second, since the fall of the Egyptian empire and the suicide of Cleopatra, no one who holds the emerald keeps it for long — and in Kat’s world, history almost always repeats itself. But it’s the third problem that makes Kat’s crew the most nervous, and that is . . . the emerald is cursed.
Kat might be in way over her head, but she’s not going down without a fight. After all, she has her best friend — the gorgeous Hale — and the rest of her crew with her as they chase the Cleopatra around the globe, dodging curses and realizing that the same tricks and cons her family has used for centuries are useless this time.
Which means, this time, Katarina Bishop is making up her own rules.


My Thoughts: We are back with Katarina Bishop aka Kat. You may remember her epic story from the last book (Heist Society), how she robbed the Henley.  She's back with Hale (yummy), Simon, and Gabrielle for another fun installment in this series.


We can't really call Kat a thief since she only steals things and returns them to their rightful owners, correct? She is more like a hero, a good guy (or girl for that matter), true?


In Uncommon Criminals, she's been away for a while now doing her thing, when she is called back to do another job, a quite respectable task. This time she must steal back the Cleopatra Emerald and give it to the owner, an elderly and sweet women. Yes, that emerald, the one that is cursed.


 Everyone tells Kat not to do it, because its too hard of a job and the darn thing has consequences for the people who touch it but Kat is determined to get the job done. Those are old fairy tales about it being cursed, right? 


She enlists the help of Hale, Simon, Gabrielle, etc, etc. Oh and the mystery boy from the first novel is back as well, haha!!!


This job can't be any harder to pull off then The Henley, right??? WRONG!!!! Kat trusts some of the wrong people, gets herself in difficult situations, kisses a boy only to be left, and tries to avoid her dad as much as possible.


I loved Hale once again in this one! He is so much fun. He's sarcastic which is extremely sexy. He's got this sweetness about him that makes him totally swoonworthy. I loved all the moments we get to know him a bit better.


Uncommon Criminals was such a brilliant fun book. I loved it even more than Heist Society.


Overall: I loved Uncommon Criminals. It was everything I needed. Before reading this book, I had been in a bit of a reading rut but this book broke that rut right in half! I loved every single page of it! I love the characters, I love the plot, I love the personalities, I loved it!


Cover: I love this cover! I love it even more than the first one!  The girl is cute and I love her sunglasses once again!

What I'd Give It:   

Sharks and Boys by Kristen Tracy

Sharks And Boys by Kristen Tracy
Release Date: June 28, 2011 
Publisher: Hyperion Book CH
Age Group: Young Adult 
Pages: 272


Summary: When 15-year-old Enid Calhoun follows her boyfriend Wick to Maryland for a party, fearful that he might be intending to cheat on her, she finds herself sneaking on board a houseboat where Wick and his friends plan to have a wild night. But before the boys discover their stowaway, a hurricane strikes, and the teenagers are carried miles from the shore and shipwrecked. What follows is a harrowing, yet heartwarming, story of survival, as the teens battle hypothermia, dehydration, man-eating sharks--and along the way, confront their own deepest secrets, including their catalytic roles in the disaster.


My Thoughts: We are introduced to Enid and her twin brother Landon. They are a part of a twin studies group where they are around other twins all the time. The study also checks to see if they are like one another, or can connect easily. We are than introduced to Wick. Wick is Enid's boyfriend. At the beginning of the story, we see them together and he wants to take a break. A lot has been going on in Enid's life and things have gotten "weird" between them. 


Enid doesn't like this idea at all so she sneaks off to spy on him during a trip he's taking with his friends including Landon. Enid sneaks upon the ship and ends up falling asleep and sailing aboard with them.


Once the 8 are out on the water, things do not go as planned and a strong storm hits sending the ship down and the teens out in the water. The 7 boys and 1 girl try to survive the water as best as they can. It isn't all peaches and cream, things aren't easy. These 8 are trying to do anything they can to stay alive and help one another. 


I am stopping there. Do you want to know what happens? Do all the teens make it alive? What do they do to survive? Do Enid and Wick end up together? Read the book to find out! 


Overall: Honestly, I had high hopes for this one! I loved Tracy's Lost It so I was hoping Sharks and Boys would be just as awesome. It was a decent read, just not one of my favorites. Since so much of it took place out on the water, there wasn't much that could really happen plot-wise. It was mostly the teens talking and learning more about each person. It's a creative book with some love/family issues/ and bickering. 


Cover: The cover is really cute. I love how they are holding hands and I love the shark in the background. Neat cover.

What I'd Give It:   

In My Mailbox (73)

In My Mailbox Is Inspired by Kristi@The Story Siren

 

 

This Week I Got:

Queen Of The Dead by Stacey Kade

Notes From The Blender by Brendan Halpin

A Need So Beautiful by Suzanne Young

Eternity by Heather Terrell

Original Sin by Lisa Desrochers 

What Did You Get This Week??

The Day Before by Lisa Schroeder

The Day Before by Lisa Schroeder
Release Date: June 28, 2011
Publisher: Simon Pulse
Age Group: Young Adult
Pages: 320


Summary:  Sometimes there's no turning back.

Amber's life is spinning out of control. All she wants is to turn up the volume on her iPod until all of the demands of her family and friends fade away. So she sneaks off to the beach to spend a day by herself.

Then Amber meets Cade. Their attraction is instant, and Amber can tell that he's also looking for an escape. Together they decide to share a perfect day: no pasts, no fears, no regrets.

The more time that Amber spends with Cade, the more she's drawn to him. And the more she's troubled by his darkness. Because Cade's not just living in the now--he's living each moment like it's his last.


My Thoughts: Another awesome book by Schroeder! We are introduced to Amber who needs to just have one day by herself. She has a new problem in her personal life and she has trouble dealing with it. She just doesn't think its fair.  She goes to the beach and meets Cade.  Cade is also having a day by himself as well. Honestly, I don't want to give any spoilers as to why they are both spending a day by themselves because when its revealed, it really makes you think hard and makes you tear up. It's better to find out yourself as your reading.


The Day Before is also told in lyric like Lisa's other books. Its beautiful. I loved the movie references, the song references, it was just plain awesome!


I loved both Amber and Cade. I loved Amber's relationship with her mom and her sister. They were close. I also liked learning about her best friend. Cade was a charming, sweet guy. He awed me from page one. Very interesting characters. I loved how it was told in lyric and how the words were written, and just the overall beauty of the story. 


Overall: Very fast paced read. Only took me about 2 hours to finish as its all told in lyric. It was very easy to understand the story and follow along.

Cover: Love it! Its very pretty and I love how the girl looks like she is laying down.

What I'd Give It: 

The Lipstick Laws by Amy Holder

The Lipstick Laws by Amy Holder
Release Date: April 4, 2011
Publisher: Graphia
Age Group: Young Adult
Pages: 240


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?

My Thoughts: I had no idea what to expect when I started The Lipstick Laws. It looks like a chick lit book mixed with more chick lit. We are introduced to April Bowers, the main character. April feels invisible and isn't very popular. On top of that, her best friend Hayley; really her only friend,  just moved away so April is forced to deal with high school alone again. Next, we are introduced to Britney, who is the complete opposite of April. She's popular, can have anything she wants, including clothes, guys, and popularity. 


On the first day of school, April runs into Britney and pretends she is new to the school. April ends up hanging out with Britney quite a bit and becomes part of her clique. She is than introduced to the lipstick laws. They are basically rules, or laws that each girl in Britney's set of friends has to follow. As I read more and more about the laws, I was really turned off. I really did not like Britney!!! She was pure mean girl material! I know we were meant to feel a little bit sorry for her but I just didn't. There is a guy who is new to the school that April also takes a liking too.


Of course April ends up violating one of the rules and there starts the Lipstick Lawbreakers. April finds more girls like her and they form their own sort of group and set their own goal, to take down Britney once and for all and to make her feel the way she made them all feel. Like losers!


Honestly, I think most teenage girls have lived this book. It's happened to us at one point or another. We've wanted to be accepted and to feel popular. We've wanted to be in the spotlight.


I really enjoyed reading The Lipstick Laws. I loved watching April's character develop and I enjoyed watching her grow a backbone and stand up for herself. At times, I did think she was a hypocrite though. I still wanted to see her happy.


I also really liked the relationship with her and her crush. This book had a itsy bitsy speck bit of romance in it but not too much. 


Overall: Mean girls meets chick lit in The Lipstick Laws. It was a fun book to read on a cozy night. Witty dialogue with laugh out loud moments! 

Cover: Really love the cover! Look at it! The lips can really grab your attention and hold it! If I saw that sitting in a store, I'd definitely grab it!

What I'd Give It:

Waiting On Wednesday (92)

Waiting On Wednesday is a weekly event, hosted by Jill at Breaking the Spine. WOW spotlights forthcoming titles that we absolutely can't wait to read.

Dearly Departed by Lia Habel

Summary: Love can never die.Love conquers all, so they say. But can Cupid’s arrow pierce the hearts of the living and the dead—or rather, the undead? Can a proper young Victorian lady find true love in the arms of a dashing zombie?
The year is 2195. The place is New Victoria—a high-tech nation modeled on the manners, mores, and fashions of an antique era. A teenager in high society, Nora Dearly is far more interested in military history and her country’s political unrest than in tea parties and debutante balls. But after her beloved parents die, Nora is left at the mercy of her domineering aunt, a social-climbing spendthrift who has squandered the family fortune, and now plans to marry her niece off for money. For Nora, no fate could be more horrible—until she’s nearly kidnapped by an army of walking corpses.
But fate is just getting started with Nora. Catapulted from her world of drawing-room civility, she’s suddenly gunning down ravenous zombies alongside mysterious black-clad commandos and confronting “The Laz,” a fatal virus that raises the dead—and hell along with them. Hardly ideal circumstances. Then Nora meets Bram Griswold, a young soldier who is brave, handsome, noble . . . and dead. But as is the case with the rest of his special undead unit, luck and modern science have enabled Bram to hold on to his mind, his manners, and his body parts. And when his bond of trust with Nora turns to tenderness, there’s no turning back. Eventually, they know, the disease will win, separating the star-crossed lovers forever. But until then, beating or not, their hearts will have what they desire.
In Dearly, Departed, steampunk meets romance meets walking-dead thriller, spawning a madly imaginative novel of rip-roaring adventure, spine-tingling suspense, and macabre comedy that forever redefines the concept of undying love.

Why I Want It: Hmmmm, a soldier? Sounds like love waiting to happen! Want! 

Spellbound by Cara Lynn Shultz

Spellbound by Cara Lynn Shultz
Release Date: June 21, 2011
Publisher: Harlequin
Age Group: Young Adult
Pages: 352


Summary: What’s a girl to do when meeting The One means she’s cursed to die a horrible death?

Life hasn’t been easy on sixteen-year-old Emma Conner, so a new start in New York may be just the change she needs. But the posh Upper East Side prep school she has to attend? Not so much. Friendly faces are few and far between, except for one that she’s irresistibly drawn to—Brendan Salinger, the guy with the rock-star good looks and the richest kid in school, who might just be her very own white knight.

But even when Brendan inexplicably turns cold, Emma can’t stop staring. Ever since she laid eyes on him, strange things have been happening. Streetlamps go out wherever she walks, and Emma’s been having the oddest dreams. Visions of herself in past lives—visions that warn her to stay away from Brendan. Or else.

My Thoughts: As I started this book, I wanted to love it. I really did. It is a paranormal book and I tend to love those. We are introduced to Emma whose dad left when she was a child. Next, her brother died when she was a teenager. Than her mother passed away a few years later. She than lived with her stepfather until he almost killed her. Now she's living with her aunt Christine in New York. New York is a big change in scenery for her. She has to go to a new school that isn't very big. Everyone knows everyone and each other's business all the time. She wants to keep a low profile but that's hard to do in this school.She attracts the attention of both the right people and the wrong people. In other words, she meets a group of friends and in the process makes a group of enemies! The people who become her friends are Brendan, Jenn, Angelique and Cisco. Her cousin Ashley is also around a lot. 

She also notices Brendan from the start and feels an instant attraction to him. He feels the same way, even thought he is very hesitant at first. He recolonizes her necklace and is weary of her because of its history.  

Spellbound was hard to get into at first. I had a hard time following along and really feeling a connection the characters. I never really fell for Brendan either. Just something about him was missing. He never really made me fall in love with him or even root for him much. I did want to know what was up with Emma though and what she really was, or what was really going on between her and Brendan and the past. 

Honestly, I can't say much more about the plot or else I'll give the storyline away. I didn't know what this book was really about going into it, so if you don't want to know, don't read any other spoilers or many reviews. Once I started reading the reviews, I instantly understood. I didn't read them until AFTER I finished the novel though so it didn't effect me.


Overall: I wanted to love Spellbound but I just didn't connect to the story and once I figured out what it was about, I had started to get bored by it. It's an alright book but there are other books out there about this subject that I prefer. The writing was easy to follow along with, even when she jumps back to the past (while reading and dreaming) and they begin to learn what the necklace means, etc.  

Cover: The cover is interesting. I do like the black colors. I also like the girl walking away and the glass shattered.

What I'd Give It: 

Babe In Boyland by Jody Gehrman

Babe In Boyland by Jody Gehrman
Release Date: February 17, 2011
Publisher: Dial
Age Group: Young Adult
Pages: 304






Summary: Natalie, a seventeen-year-old former drama club member who now writes a relationship column for her school newspaper, decides to go undercover as a student at an all-boys boarding school so that she can figure out what guys are really like. 

My Thoughts: We are introduced to Natalie who loves the drama club and loves her role on the school newspaper. She gives advice about guys and love. She's never really had a boyfriend or been in love and so she starts to feel fake. Along with her two best friends she decides she will enroll in the all boys school and get to know how boys really think. She than starts to have feelings for her roommate. Yes, this book is very much like She's The Man (the movie). I'm sure I'm not the first person to say that and I won't be the last.  

Babe In Boyland is a cute fun novel. There isn't a lot of depth or substance to it but I think that is the point. It's a feel good, guilty pleasure read. There are some laugh out moments and some true lessons in it if you look beyond the surface but its still a "fun" book to read.  

I enjoyed all the characters throughout the book and I liked the way they all came together. Honestly, there isn't much more to say about this one. Its just a cutesy book and I loved it. It was somewhat predictable but I still couldn't stop reading. I just had to know what was going to happen. 

The only part of the book that bugged me a little was how Natalie put a sock down her pants. Why bother right? I could have done without that detail. HAHA! 

Overall: I really loved it. But than again, I also loved the movie She's The Man. This is my idea of a fun night in, cuddling up with a good book to make you smile! 

Cover: The cover is cute. Its kind of plain but still cute.

What I'd Give It:

My Unfair Godmother by Janette Rallison

My Unfair Godmother (My Fair Godmother #2) by Janette Rallison
Release Date: April 12, 2011
Publisher: Walker Books For Young Readers
Age Group: Young Adult
Pages: 352




 

Summary: Tansy Miller has always felt that her divorced father has never had enough time for her. But mistakenly getting caught on the wrong side of the law wasn' texactly how she wanted to get his attention. Enter Chrysanthemum "Chrissy" Everstar, Tansy's fairy in shining, er, high heels. Chrissy is only a fair godmother, of course, so Tansy's three wishes don't exactly go according to plan. And if bringing Robin Hood to the twenty-first century isn't bad enough for Tansy, being transported back to the Middle Ages to deal with Rumpelstiltskin certainly is. She'll need the help of her blended family, her wits, and especially the cute police chief 's son to stop the gold-spinning story from spinning wildly out of control. Janette Rallison pulls out all the stops in this fresh, fun-filled follow-up to the popular My Fair Godmother. 

My Thoughts: I read My Fair Godmother a few months back so when I had the chance to read My Unfair Godmother I jumped at the chance! I enjoyed My Fair Godmother but I really loved My Unfair Godmother even more! We once again get to spend time with Chrissy and her latest task Tansey. Tansey just moved in with her father and they don't really see eye to eye on things. She also can't keep herself out of trouble. She starts dating Bo and seems to find herself in trouble. She gets caught spray painting a building when really she wasn't actually doing it and had no clue he was going to do it until it was happening!

She gets brought down to the police station and ends up telling the truth to a hot guy which happens to be the police chief's son Hudson! She than goes home and finds a fairy godmother offering her 3 wishes. First, she wishes for Robin Hood and low and behold he shows up! He isn't the guy she thought he was and starts causing trouble! The next thing she knows she's been dropped back in the middle ages with her whole family including Hudson. 

I loved the fairy tale retelling, I loved how the relationship with her family transformed. I loved all the events that happened in the middle ages. I especially loved Hudson. He was such a  great character and I really enjoyed all the scenes with him! I also loved how lights went off when Tansey was telling a lie when talking to him. Tansey and Hudson had great chemistry! What Tansey traded for Hudson was heartbreaking but also a really great thing to do!

Overall: I loved My Unfair Godmother. Usually second books in series are the ones that are always a little bit boring or "off." My Unfair Godmother outshined My Fair Godmother in my opinion! It was a great book in the series! I loved everything about this one!

Cover: Love It! Its really pretty! Love her pink hair and her dress!

What I'd Give It:

Waiting On Wednesday (91)

Waiting On Wednesday is a weekly event, hosted by Jill at Breaking the Spine. WOW spotlights forthcoming titles that we absolutely can't wait to read.

The Name Of The Star by Maureen Johnson

Summary: 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.

Why I Want It: This one might be kind of weird, but in a good way. Sounds very interesting. 

The Revenant by Sonia Gensler

The Revenant by Sonia Gensler

Release Date: June 14, 2011

Publisher: Knopf Books For Young Readers 

Age Group: Young Adult

Pages: 336

Summary: When Willie arrives in Indian Territory, she knows only one thing: no one can find out who she really is. To escape a home she doesn't belong in anymore, she assumes the name of a former classmate and accepts a teaching job at the Cherokee Female Seminary.

Nothing prepares her for what she finds there. Her pupils are the daughters of the Cherokee elite—educated and more wealthy than she, and the school is cloaked in mystery. A student drowned in the river last year, and the girls whisper that she was killed by a jealous lover. Willie's room is the very room the dead girl slept in. The students say her spirit haunts it.

Willie doesn't believe in ghosts, but when strange things start happening at the school, she isn't sure anymore. She's also not sure what to make of a boy from the nearby boys' school who has taken an interest in her—his past is cloaked in secrets. Soon, even she has to admit that the revenant may be trying to tell her something. . . 

My Thoughts: We are introduced to Willie who doesn't want to return home. She doesn't want to go back to her families home. It took her a while to get out, and she despises going back. She wants to lead her own life. She ends up taking a teaching job on Indian Territory.

The catch, it isn't really "her" job and she's living in a dead girl's room who is said to haunt the place.  Of course to Willie, it is gibberish and ghosts don't exist. Until she starts to witness events that are a little too "coincidental."

Throughout her stay, she meets students, teachers, and boys who are a mystery to her.

Honestly, I'm not big into anything historical. I just can't find myself drawn into them. It doesn't matter if its adult historical or young adult historical. I just have trouble getting into them so if you ever see a 5 star rating on a historical from me, it must be beyond amazing.

I wouldn't say The Revenant was a bad book, it wasn't. It just wasn't for me. The best part was the scenes involving Eli, but there wasn't enough to keep me entertained.

The Revenant would be a good story for someone who likes historical and/or ghosts stories.

Overall: It was just "okay." If I was more into historical, I probably would have enjoyed it more.

Cover: I actually do like the cover. Its pretty.

What I'd Give It:

Never Sit Down in a Hoopskirt and Other Things I Learned in Southern Belle Hell

Never Sit Down In A Hoopskirt And Other Things I Learned In Southern Belle Hell by Crickett Rumley
Release Date: June 14, 2011
Publisher: EgmontUSA
Age Group: Young Adult
Pages: 304


Summary:When seventeen-year-old Jane gets kicked out of boarding school (again) and returns to her small town of Bienville, Alabama, she is certain of three things: Her grandmother will be happy to see her. She will be the subject of the town's gossip mill. And there are some people she will have to avoid. But she doesn't expect that those very things will land her smack in the middle of the Bienville's most illustrious event: the Magnolia Maid achievement pageant.


My Thoughts: We are introduced to Jane who comes back to town to live with her grandma. She used to live in town with her parents but her mom passed away and she's gotten kicked out of numerous boarding schools so she's back to live with her grandmother. Everyone in town is gossiping about her being back. She's even a little excited to see her childhood best friend, Luke. She decides to join the Magnolia Maids. Her mother was a part of it as a girl and Jane thinks she should do something her mother did. The catch, half the girls like her while the others don't. They think she isn't good enough to be a Magnolia Maid, and she hasn't lived there her whole life so why should she be able to be a part of it?


I'm not going to go on and on about this one. It was just okay in my opinion. I just wasn't fascinated with the storyline. Half the time, I didn't care what was happening and I wasn't overjoyed with all the fashion and southern tips. I didn't like that the ladylike traditions were expected of her. Like biting her tongue. Jane was an outspoken girl, I liked that about her. I liked that she would voice her opinion and stand up for herself. So, the fact that she has to keep her mouth shut most of the time bugged me.  I also didn't like how Luke was so full of himself, he wouldn't suck it up and just talk to Jane. Half the time I didn't know if he actually liked her or was into someone else. Yes, I'm happy with the ending, but Never Sit Down In A Hoopskirt didn't make my favorites of the year.


Overall: It was just okay. It was an okay debut but I had trouble getting into it. I know I'm not going to love every book I read, so I expect this sometimes. If you think it looks and sounds good, try it out anyways. Who knows, you may love it!


Cover: The cover is interesting. I like how her dress looks big and how its more of a cartoon cover.

What I'd Give It: 

Haven by Kristi Cook

Haven by Kristi Cook

Release Date: February 22, 2011

Publisher: Simon Pulse

Age Group: Young Adult

Pages: 416

Summary: Violet McKenna isn’t a normal girl with normal teenage issues; she has more to contend with than most people could handle. Violet thought she was just crazy when she had a vivid vision of her dad’s murder. Her life started falling apart when her premonition came true. She’s had flashes of other events too. The problem was nobody believed her until she found a new school: Winterhaven.

At Winterhaven, Violet finally feels like she belongs. She quickly finds a close group friends and discovers that they too have psychic ‘gifts’—as do all the students at Winterhaven. But as soon as she feels settled she discovers the most intriguing and alluring boy she has ever met, and things quickly go awry. As the attraction between them grows, intense visions of the boy’s death start to haunt her. In her premonitions the secret he is unwilling to share begins to reveal itself. And to Violet's horror, she learns that their destinies are intertwined in a critical—and deadly—way.

My Thoughts: My first thought when I read this description was that all these girls have super powers, cool!!!! We are introduced to Violet who has a choice. Her choice is either move to New York with her busy step-mother Patsy or stay in Atlanta and live with Gran. For reasons unknown she is drawn to a third choice which is attending a boarding school called WinterHaven. All the kids who attend this school have some kind of powers; psychic powers. She befriends a group of girls:  Cece, Kate, Sophie, Marissa and each one has a different gift. Violet has spent most of her life seeing the future or having premonitions so when she realizes the secret behind Winterhaven she instantly believes it and starts to feel like she can finally belong somewhere. Somewhere where she won't be labeled a freak if she does something out of the ordinary. 

Violet than meets Aidan Grey. Isn't that name alone HOT? Oh Aidan! Aidan is instantly drawn to Violet and wants to know more about her. She thinks he's gorgeous and sweet so she starts to hang around him. They become close, and more secrets are unraveled. There is more to Aidan than anyone really knows. No girl could get close to him before so Violet knows that something must be off. And that he's different from the other boys. 

There is also another mystery girl seen with Aidan at times, her name is Jenna. I had a lot of questions about her. Aidan was always saying he didn't really like Jenna like that, but why were they together at times, and what was her role in all this? Were they friends or were they really not? 

I enjoyed the relationship between Aidan and Violet. But I didn't like how they were on again-off again. Either stay together or don't! I wanted them together of course but there were always problems arising between the two of them. 

We find out what Aidan really is and what Violet really is and how they are drawn to each other so things make a little bit more sense, but I still wanted them to put aside their differences and work it out quickly. 

I also liked all the other elements in this story. I was slightly surprised when vampires and shape-shifters came into the story. At first glance, I thought the school was only for psychic gifts so this surprised me, which is a good thing. 

I really loved Haven and I can't wait to read more from Cook.  


Overall: I loved it! It was exciting and surprising! A Great debut.  

Cover: Love the cover! The butterfly and the cover has all the right colors! Its very bright. 

What I'd Give It: 

Clarity by Kim Harrington

Clarity by Kim Harrington
Release Date: March 1, 2011
Publisher: Point 
Age Group: Young Adult
Pages: 256
 

Summary: When you can see things others can't, where do you look for the truth?

This paranormal murder mystery will have teens reading on the edge of their seats.

Clarity "Clare" Fern sees things. Things no one else can see. Things like stolen kisses and long-buried secrets. All she has to do is touch a certain object, and the visions come to her. It's a gift.

And a curse.

When a teenage girl is found murdered, Clare's ex-boyfriend wants her to help solve the case--but Clare is still furious at the cheating jerk. Then Clare's brother--who has supernatural gifts of his own--becomes the prime suspect, and Clare can no longer look away. Teaming up with Gabriel, the smoldering son of the new detective, Clare must venture into the depths of fear, revenge, and lust in order to track the killer. But will her sight fail her just when she needs it most?

My Thoughts: We are introduced to Clare Fern aka Clarity and her brother Periwinkle Fern aka Perry. They live with their mom. They live in Eastport where they are considered weird or freaks. They each have a special gift and run a shop. Clarity can pick up an object and see things the object has been through, or memories. Perry can see spirits. Their mom can read people's minds. That isn't a good thing for Clarity, since her mom can read what she is thinking easily! Any teenage girl would hate that!

Clarity doesn't really have many friends. She basically hangs out with her brother and his best friend Nate. She did have a boyfriend Justin but he cheated on her with the school mean girl and she still hasn't forgiven him. She usually just does her own thing and has gotten content with being alone.

A murder occurs in Eastport! And they keep piling up quickly!  A new detective and his son Gabriel come to town to investigate the murder. Gabriel doesn't believe in psychics so he's leery when he hears about the town's psychic family. However, he ends up getting teamed up with Justin and they work together with Clarity to find the murderer. All signs lead to Perry since he was with the first murder victim Victoria the night it happened. He's quite the womanizer but he's still a good guy. At least now he hooks up with the out of towners so they know what they are getting into; a one night stand sort of thing. He finds himself as the main suspect in the murder investigation but Clarity just knows her brother is innocent and fights for him all the way.

Gabriel doesn't want to like Clarity but of course he sees himself falling for her and tries to fight it as hard as possible. Than, there is Justin, whose still madly in love with her. Of course she is going to have feelings for both guys as they are so different from one another. Gabriel seems to always be "around" and Justin will drop anything to come to her rescue.

I loved all the characters, I loved the relationships between their family and how close they all were.

Overall: I won't say much else or I'll give everything away. But this book was pretty darn great. I loved the suspense, the murder mystery, their abilities, her relationship with both boys. Harrington knew what she was doing when she came up with this storyline!

Cover: Love it! At first glance, its hard to tell her hair is red. It kind of looks blonde. I love the cover though, its very pretty and she looks mysterious. 

What I'd Give It:

Waiting On Wednesday (90)

Waiting On Wednesday is a weekly event, hosted by Jill at Breaking the Spine. WOW spotlights forthcoming titles that we absolutely can't wait to read.

Supernaturally by Kiersten White

Summary: A lot has changed in the six months since Evie escaped from the International Paranormal Containment Agency with her shape-shifter boyfriend, Lend. She finally has the blissfully normal life she’s always dreamed of, including:
1) A real live high school
2) A perfectly ordinary after-school job
3) Her very own locker (and by the way, rusted metal is every bit as awesome as she imagined)

But Evie’s not-so-normal past keeps creeping up on her...and things get pretty complicated when you factor in:
1) A centuries-old, seriously decaying vampire stalker
2) A crazy faerie ex-boyfriend who is the perpetual bearer of really bad news
3) A major battle brewing between the faerie courts where the prize in question happens to be...Evie herself.

So much for normal.

Why I want it: The first book was really awesome! I reviewed it! I can't wait for this one!  Who else is excited for this one?

He's So Not Worth It by Kieran Scott

He's So Not Worth It by Kieran Scott

Release Date: June 7, 2011

Publisher: Simon And Schuster Children's Publishing

Ag Group: Young Adult

Pages: 368

Summary: Ally Ryan, come on down to the Jersey Shore and forget your troubles!

Have you recently been humiliated in front of your friends and family at your former best friend's birthday party? Was your almost boyfriend partly responsible for that humiliation by withholding some vital information about where your estranged father is? Did you come home to find said estranged father sitting on your stoop?

If so, then it sounds like you could use a vacation! The Jersey Shore is the place to be. Your mother may be living with her boyfriend of only a few months, but at least the stunt Shannen pulled has put some of your friends back in your court. Even so, you're still angry and what better way to get over Jake than to blow off some steam with local guy, Cooper? People will hardly recognize your new attitude, but the old one wasn't getting you anywhere, so who cares!

Jake Graydon, an exciting opportunity is waiting for you in the service industry!

Are your grades so low your parents have grounded you for the summer? Did you the girl you really like unceremoniously leave you behind? Would you rather eat dirt than see your friends again? Then a job at the local coffee shop is just the ticket! Surprisingly, Ally's father is the new manager so you get to be reminded of her nearly every day. Maybe it's time to start flirting with your best friend's ex or even taking school a bit more seriously. Especially when you finally see Ally and she's hanging around with some loser and it's couldn't be more clear that she is over you.

Have a great summer!

My Thoughts: After that killer ending of She's So Dead To Us, I was so excited for He's So Not Worth i! It was another fantastic novel! We are back with Ally Ryan and Jake Graydon. We go back and forth between both perspectives and learn what each character thinks and is going through.

Summer vacation has started and that means a rocky start for everyone. Some of the crew are leaving town while others have to stay in town. Jake ends up staying in town, getting a job, and taking a class. He ends up working for Ally's Dad. How uncomfortable is that for him? Very! Ally ends up leaving town with her mom and her mom's boyfriend and his daughter to go to the shore. Ally still isn't talking to her best friend either. Not after what went down in the last book.  Ally also gets a new boy toy while she's away. I never liked him much. He just rubbed me the wrong way besides I wanted her to be with Jake.

Hammond, Shannen, Cooper, Shannon, Chloe all have their own dilemma's going on in their life and have their own problems they must deal with.  Even Ally's parents are going through a lot!

I'm not going to go on and on about this one because if you haven't read the first book I don't want to give away the whole entire plot and ruin it for you. Honestly, this was a wonderful book and I hope you start the series if you haven't! I loved the back and forth, the fights, the arguments, the kissing but most of all the ending was insane.... again..... major cliffhanger. I won't lie, I said a few cuss words after that last page!!

Overall: LOVED! I just love Ally and Jake and all the other characters. Even some of them I love to hate! He's So Not Worth it is definitely worth reading!

Cover: Love this cover! I love how the guy is holding one girl's hand and his other is on the others back. This cover is really cute!

What I'd Give It: