Twenty Boy Summer by Sarah Ockler

"Don't worry, Anna. I'll tell her, okay? Just let me think about the best way to do it." "Okay." "Promise me? Promise you won't say anything?" "Don't worry." I laughed. "It's our secret, right?" According to her best friend Frankie, twenty days in Zanzibar Bay is the perfect opportunity to have a summer fling, and if they meet one boy ever day, there's a pretty good chance Anna will find her first summer romance. Anna lightheartedly agrees to the game, but there's something she hasn't told Frankie---she's already had that kind of romance, and it was with Frankie's older brother, Matt, just before his tragic death one year ago.

I have been excited for this book so when it arrived I swept it up and started reading. This book was very emotional because of the feelings that were expressed throughout the whole novel. Besides that aspect the story was beautiful it was a combination of the heartbreak and both the girls wanting to move on and not dwell. I don't like the name of the book because it does not express the feelings inside. It sounds like a cutesy chick lit novel which it is but it is poignant and emotional not just a cute novel.

The book was written surprisingly well for a debut author and I cannot wait for more from Sarah Ockler.

Also the cover is amazing

4/5

Check out my contest for this!

Evermore by Alyson Noel

Ever Bloom is the only survivor of an accident that kills her entire family. After the accident she has regular, in-person conversations with her dead little sister, develops intense psychic powers allowing her to read minds, and see auras. When a super sexy, rich, mysterious student named Damen shows up, Ever not only cannot see his aura, but she can't read anyone else's mind when they touch, either. Who is this guy, and why is Ever drawn to and scared of him at the same time?

I enjoyed this book it was well written and captivating. In the beginning it felt kind of like Twilight but by the middle it was totally different. There were twists I never would have imagined. Also the book leaves you interested for the next one.

The plot was well thought out and I enjoyed the comradeship between Ever and her sister. Evermore kept me guessing what would happen I could not wait to find out what the ending would be!

4/5

The Inconvenient Adventures of Uncle Chestnut By Paul Nowak

Summary
With Uncle Chestnut, the ordinary becomes extraordinary and every day is an adventure - whether you are chasing hats, babysitting, or just taking a day trip to the seaside. These humorous short stories of Uncle Chestnut introduce timeless truths and a refreshing perspective of the world, based on the life and works of G.K. Chesterton. Told through the eyes of his fictional nephew Jack, The Inconvenient Adventures of Uncle Chestnut introduces readers young and old to the writings of G.K. Chesterton, the British author whose prolific writing inspired C.S. Lewis, J.R.R. Tolkien, Alfred Hitchcock, and others.

Review
This was a children’s book which I don’t normally read but this one was very cute. The main character the nephew of “Uncle Chestnut was really instrumental in helping the reader understand the idiosyncrasies of Uncle Chestnut. Also the stories made me wish I had an uncle like Uncle Chestnut!

Before I read this book I had no idea who G.K Chesterton was but this book piqued my interest.

Over all a pretty good book for a children’s book!

4/5 Children’s

Waiting on Wednesday!

Waiting on Wednesday is hosted at Breaking the Spine.

My Waiting on is The Dead Tossed Waves by Carrie Ryan

I picked this book because I really like The Forest of Hands and Teeth and I cannot wait to read the companion! Also the cover is beautiful!

Gabry lives a quiet life. As safe a life as is possible in a town trapped between a forest and the ocean, in a world teeming with the dead, who constantly hunger for those still living. She’s content on her side of the Barrier, happy to let her friends dream of the Dark City up the coast while she watches from the top of her lighthouse. But there are threats the Barrier cannot hold back. Threats like the secrets Gabry’s mother thought she left behind when she escaped from the Sisterhood and the Forest of Hands and Teeth. Like the cult of religious zealots who worship the dead. Like the stranger from the forest who seems to know Gabry. And suddenly, everything is changing. One reckless moment, and half of Gabry’s generation is dead, the other half imprisoned. Now Gabry only knows one thing: she must face the forest of her mother’s past in order to save herself and the one she loves.

This book comes out March 9, 2010

Perfect Chemistry by Simone Elkeles

Tough guy Alex is primarily known by his classmates as a dangerous member of the Latino Bloods gang. He’s not exactly thrilled when Brittany Ellis, the school’s seemingly perfect beauty queen, is assigned as his lab partner—and the feeling is more than mutual. But Alex’s bravado works against him when he impulsively accepts a bet that he can get Brittany in the sack.

I was worried that this would be a typical love story. But it was so much more! I loved the way that it was sprinkled with Spanish and that each chapter switched perspectives. It was really relate able how each of them put up a false front because people do that everyday.

This book was much grittier than I thought it would be there is much more gang violence than I expected but that was important to the plot and made the end worth while. The characters were so developed that I felt bad when things happened not just to the main characters but to the minor characters as well. I think that this book is a good book for both girls and boys. Another great book by Simone Elkeles

I also loved the ending!

4.5/5

Stormbreaker by Anthony Horowitz

Summary
When his guardian dies in suspicious circumstances, Alex Rider goes from schoolboy to superspy within days as his world is turned upside down. Forcibly recruited into MI6, Alex must discover the truth about the Stormbreaker computer.

Review
The first time I encountered this book was not through a book at all. I had seen the movie "Alex Rider Operation Stormbreaker" I really liked the move and thought nothing more if it. Then a couple of weeks ago I heard about this series and I was interested but when I started reading Stormbreaker I was surprised to feel like I had read this book before. After I had finished the book I remembered the movie.

Ok on to the book, I really like the idea of a teenage James Bond character and Alex really fits the bill. He was a likable character who really endeared himself to me through his sarcasm and just plain earnestness.

The problem I had with it was that the mission part for me only took up a minimal part of the book so I was kind of disappointed hopefully it will be better in the sequels. Overall a fun book!

3.5/5

Across the Pond

Today my blog was featured on the Across the Pond blog hosted by Barry Eva 'Storyheart' please check it out, as well as blogger interviews he has a radio show and other interesting interviews! http://acrossthepond-storyheart.blogspot.com/

Don't judge a girl by her cover by Ally Carter

Summary
When Cammie "The Chameleon" Morgan visits her roommate Macey in Boston, she thinks she's in for an exciting end to her summer break. After all, she's there to watch Macey's father accept the nomination for vice president of the United States. But when you go to the world's best school (for spies), "exciting" and "deadly" are never far apart. Cammie and Macey soon find themselves trapped in a kidnappers' plot, with only their espionage skills to save them.

As her junior year begins, Cammie can't shake the memory of what happened in Boston, and even the Gallagher Academy for Exceptional Young Women doesn't feel like the safe haven it once did. Shocking secrets and old flames seem to lurk around every one of the mansion's corners as Cammie and her friends struggle to answer the questions, Who is after Macey? And how can the Gallagher Girls keep her safe?

Soon Cammie is joining Bex and Liz as Macey's private security team on the campaign trail. The girls must use their spy training at every turn as the stakes are raised, and Cammie gets closer and closer to the shocking truth..

Review
This series is very cute and interesting I love the characters and the plot. Cammie is so intent on being the Chameleon that it sometimes gets her in trouble.

This book was different from the other books in that the girls left campus more and there seemed to be more of a mystery. I liked this book more than the others! The only main problem in my opinion is that you have to have read the other books in order to get some parts of the books but don't worry once you start you will not be able to wait for the next one.

4/5

Kiss of life by Daniel Waters

Summary
The phenomenon that's been sweeping the country seems to be here to stay. Not only are the teenagers who have come back from their graves still here, but newlydeads are being unearthed all the time. While scientists look for answers and politicians take their stands, the undead population of Oakville have banded together in a group they're calling the Sons of Romero, hoping to find solidarity in segregation.

Phoebe Kendall may be alive, but she feels just as lost and alone as her dead friends. Just when she reconciled herself to having feelings for a zombie -- her Homecoming date Tommy Williams -- her friend Adam is murdered taking a bullet that was meant for her. Things get even more confusing when Adam comes back from the grave. Now she has romantic interest in two dead boys; one who saved her life, and one she can't seem to live without.

Review
I like this series because it kind of deglamorizes zombies because it shows a different of being undead, you see them more as people.

I really liked the first book and this one was just as well written but was much sadder as we see Adam having to deal with becoming a zombie and also the injustice with which they are treated. This book made me think about the prejudice that the world has and is experiencing today. So in the end this book felt to me less like a supernatural romance than the other one. Also sometimes it was slow and I wanted the book to continue at a faster pace.

Overall a good book!

3.5/5

Also I don't really understand the cover very much because the girl in the coffin looks like Phoebe is discribed and I guess the football player is supposed to be Adam? I don't know because Phoebe does not die Adam does. So if you get it please explain it!

City of Bones by Cassandra Clare

Summary

When fifteen-year-old Clary Fray heads out to the Pandemonium Club in New York City, she hardly expects to witness a murder -- much less a murder committed by three teenagers covered with strange tattoos and brandishing bizarre weapons. Clary knows she should call the police, but it's hard to explain a murder when the body disappears into thin air and the murderers are invisible to everyone but Clary.

Equally startled by her ability to see them, the murderers explain themselves as Shadowhunters: a secret tribe of warriors dedicated to ridding the earth of demons. Within twenty-four hours, Clary's mother disappears and Clary herself is almost killed by a grotesque demon.

But why would demons be interested in ordinary mundanes like Clary and her mother? And how did Clary suddenly get the Sight? The Shadowhunters would like to know....

Review
I had heard mixed things about this book. When I first started reading it I was unimpressed because the seeing mythical creature thing is not very original. But as I started read further into the book I was pleasantly surprised!

The plot after you got past the first part was wonderful and kept me captivated. The characters were beautifully crafted and really seemed real. Even though this is a trilogy I was sure I knew how the book would end even if I was unsure how I would get there. I was so surprised when the end came! The book was full of sarcastic humor and funny dialog mixed in with the serious plot. Good book after the beginning!

4/5

New Bookcase!

You know you need space for all of those new books that are coming out this year so you need a new bookcase! Well check out this awesome contest for a bookcase from CSN Office Furniture!

Don't deny it you need one!
http://justyourtypicalbookblog.blogspot.com/2009/07/who-wants-to-win-bookcase.html

Storyheart

Here is an interview with Storyheart!

What is your favorite character from Across the Pond?

It has to be Fred, there is a lot of me in him, and I guess he's a much younger version of the author

What kind of research did you do for Across the Pond?

Having myself moved from England to the US in 2000 a lot of what I wrote about I was able to do at first hand. Items like the baseball game I had to do some investigation about, never actually having been to a game since moving across the pond. I also checked with my younger nieces who at the time were around the same age as Brit and Fred to make sure I was setting the age part correctly. For my next book I have some YA blogger kindly helping me as well.

Where do you get your inspiration?

Obviously some of the issues I ran into when arriving in the US . I also wanted to provide some education and romance I also wanted to have humor within the story. Also I wanted… and from the reviews and interviews have succeeded, in making it a book for all ages not just YA. To me it does not matter what the age if you enjoy the book, you enjoy the book. I’m really not one in favor of pigeon holing books into certain genres.

When did you seriously start pursuing writing?

I never call myself a writer, I’m no literary master, my spelling for instance is terrible (thank goodness for spell checker), I class myself more as a story teller. As for… “pursuing it seriously”? To me it’s still a hobby, but I guess over the last 4/5 years I gone into it all in more detail

How long does it usually take you to write a book?

The book itself took me a year to write. The first three chapters took about ¾ months until I got the pace and voice sorted. After that I tried to do a chapter a week during my lunch hours (if I had any) at work. To be honest with a young family a busy full time job, my other hobbies like running karaoke shows, blog radio shows, sport etc, I am limited to when I can write.

Were you a big writer or reader growing up? What about now? Do you prefer writing your own books or reading someone else's?

I wrote poems and songs (which after all are only poems to music) when younger, then went on to children’s stories before starting to write short romance stories. I was also a prolific reader through most of my life again though these days that is somewhat limited. I do though enjoy reading and hearing about the books of my many guests on my twice weekly blog radio show “A Book and a Chat” this also provides an introduction into some forms of literature I would not normally read.


What was your favorite book growing up? What about now? Do you have a favorite genre or do you like them all?

I have always loved adventure books, when young my hero was Biggles by Capt W.E.Johns somebody perhaps the US would never have heard of. Then I went into Science Fantasy, Piers Anthony, Michel Moorcock etc. I am an avid reader of seafaring, swash and buckle type books. Writers like Alexander Kent, Dewey Lambdin and my favorite not just for the seafaring novels but also the Sharpe series is Bernard Cornwell

What do you do when you have writers block?

Don’t force it; if you force writing it is never as good as letting them come naturally. When the words are ready they will flow.

What are you currently reading?

I wonderful fantasy book from The Tellings of Xunar-kun Series by Tina Howe. She is a guest on my radio show on August 1st

What makes Across the Pond different from other YA romance books?

I think because I try and write from me, the characters people are saying are very believable, also the various aspects humor, sport, romance and the fact that it’s from a male/boys point of view

Thanks!

oh.my.gods by Tera Lynn Childs

Summary

If Phoebe Castro can keep her grades up and have another stellar cross-country season, her dream of attending USC with her best friends is only a track scholarship away. She’s made all her plans, so it’s a complete shock when her mom announces she’s marrying a mysterious stranger and moving them half-way around the world—to Greece.

Phoebe’s stuck on a secret island in the Aegean attending the super-exclusive Academy, where her new stepfather is the headmaster and the kids are anything but your average students—they are descendants of the Greek gods, super powers included. That’s right, Greek gods are no myth! If Phoebe thought high school was hard, she knows this is going to be mortal misery.

Securing that scholarship seems like Phoebe’s only ticket out of Greece, but training and maintaining her grades will be grueling, even without a sabotaging stepsister from Hades and a gorgeous guy—what a god!—who just might be her Achilles heel. One thing is for sure—summoning the will to win and find her place among the gods could be Phoebe’s toughest course yet.

Review

I was so excited to read this book, and it did not disappoint. The plot is very interesting and well thought out. the characters are beautifully crafted and I wish I knew some of them and am glad I don't know others.

Phoebe's is a likable main character that has the right level of winyness, which is good because Tera could have made her too winy very easily. Also Griffin was a real mystery and I liked his unpredictability.

The only problem I had was that I felt that I could tell what was going to happen. But I was unsure how it would occur so that was good. Overall pretty good.

Also love the cover!

3.5/5

I Interview You

I Interview You
questions from Nicole

It's late at night. You're walking down the streets of New York City, alone. You hear a whoosh behind you, and turn. You hear another and jump, turning again. At the third whoosh, you realize you are surrounded by vampires. The only way to defeat them is to use an absurd weapon. What absurd weapon would you choose? (ie: dollar store foam hammer. dead fish.)
A paper bookmark!

It's that time again in the year - picture time! You're all spruced up, looking your best. Then you realize that you're allowed to choose whatever background you want, whatever style outfit you want. What and where do you choose?
I would be in the rocky mountains in a ballgown!

Le gasp! There's a huge photo of you on a billboard in your town, and somebody has drawn a funny mustache on it. To get revenge on them, you decide to throw your least favorite food at their house for twenty minutes. (Little do you know that your least favorite is their most favorite. Ah well.) What's your least favorite food?
Pork Chops! But beets are a close second and they would stain their house so probably those!

Out from the book of Harry Potter you happen to be reading pops a wand. What do you do with it?
Use it to make me smart enough so I can be done with high school!

You realize you have room for one more person at your birthday party. You also have access to a time machine, a portalizer (something to bring people in books/movies out) and a post it notes. Who do you invite?
Katsa from Graceling because I would love to here about all of her adventures firsthand!

Follow these instructions:
1. Leave me a comment saying, “Interview me.” Please include your email address.
2. I will respond by emailing you five questions. I get to pick the questions.
3. You will update your blog with the answers to the questions.
4. You will include this explanation and an offer to interview someone else in the same post.
5. When others comment asking to be interviewed, you will ask them five questions.

Waiting on Wednesday

Waiting on Wednesday was started by Jill at Breaking the Spine

My waiting on Wednesday is The Hollow by Jessica Verday

When Abbey's best friend, Kristen, vanishes at the bridge near Sleepy Hollow Cemetery, everyone else is all too quick to accept that Kristen is dead and rumors fly that her death was no accident. Abbey goes through the motions of mourning her best friend, but privately, she refuses to believe that Kristen is really gone. Then she meets Caspian, the gorgeous and mysterious boy who shows up out of nowhere at Kristen's funeral, and keeps reappearing in Abbey's life. Caspian clearly has secrets of his own, but he's the only person who makes Abbey feel normal again...but also special.

Just when Abbey starts to feel that she might survive all this, she learns a secret that makes her question everything she thought she knew about her best friend. How could Kristen have kept silent about so much? And could this secret have led to her death? As Abbey struggles to understand Kristen's betrayal, she uncovers a frightening truth that nearly unravels her -- one that will challenge her emerging love for Caspian, as well as her own sanity.

That sounds wonderful right I cannot wait!

Also I will be doing an interview with Jessica soon so look forward to that!

Across the Pond by Storyheart

Summary
When Fred Squire's parents take a trip to Australia and can't take him along, he gets shipped off to the United States to stay with friends. Fred isn't too happy with his parents but heads off on his adventure to the States. Upon arriving he meets Brittany, daughter of the friends he's staying with. From that point on Fred finds himself falling deeper and deeper for Brittany.and discovers that the feelings are mutual. As they continue to grow closer, they overcome the obstacles in their way that threaten to stop their relationship before it gets going. Fred becomes Brit's "English Knight" and vows to take on someone from Brit's past who's still threatening her. Will her parents get angry when they find out? Will Brit's amorous friend take him steal him away from her? Will the course of true love run smoothly?

Review
This book was really cute, I liked it much better than I thought I would, Fred was so sweet and I really wanted to get to know him! It was fun learning about all of the words that are different in the US as opposed to England.

On the downside there was not much action but that was helped by the love story and the hidden conflict that Brittney had. The story was very interesting and I could not wait to find out what would happen!

4/5

A Certain Strain of Peculiar by Gigi Amateau

Thirteen year old Mary Harold Woods has had enough panic attacks, trying to stay invisible, and being called "the grossest girl" at school. If her mom won't move from Virginia back to their family home in Wren, Alabama, she'll just have to drive the 691 miles there by herself, to where the comfort of Grandma Ayma's arms, the steady routine of the farmhouse, and the cool shade of the Black Warrior Forest wait.

Days of hard work wrangling cattle under the summer sun and the tough yet tender advice of Ayma and her farm manager, Bud, guide Mary Harold in discovering the true strength of her own spirit. As she reaches out to befriend Bud's daughter, Dixie, a girl with a strain of peculiar all her own, Mary Harold overcomes her self-doubt, discovering just how powerful and surprising the bonds of friendship and family can be.

I liked this book a lot despite it being more middle grade fiction. I really enjoyed how much Mary grew throughout the book, it is really important for me to see a character grow throughout the book and not just stay in the same frame of mind.

This book had an original plot and great characters, that I really wanted to know. Mary was a likable character after she stopped feeling so sorry for herself. And Ayma was like the perfect grandmother!

One thing I did not like about it was that it started slow, and when she finally found out who her father was I totally called it from the start but overall it was a very good book!

4/5

Guyaholic

By Carolyn Mackler

Summary
V Valentine is the queen of meaningless hookups. Ever since her mom dumped her with her grandparents, she has bounced from guy to guy. But in the spring of senior year, a fateful hockey puck lands her in the lap of Sam Almond. Right from the start, things with Sam are different. V is terrified to admit it, but this might be meaningful after all. On the afternoon of graduation, V receives some shocking news. Later, at a party, she makes an irreversible mistake and risks losing Sam forever. When her mom invites her to Texas, V embarks on a cross-country road trip with the hopes of putting two thousand miles between herself, Sam, and the wreckage of that night.

Review
This is the companion book to Vegan Virgin Valentine but this is written about Mara's niece V. This book like all of Carolyn Mackler's books is very funny but has a strong message behind it even if you like the story so much you don't even catch the message.

I really liked getting to know V better after VVV because she seemed like such an interesting character. She has such a different background from her aunt and that put a good parallel, her experience with her mother is also a very good story that made me want to keep reading! Also Sam sounded really cute! This book had a cute story but unfortunately had parts that were kinda boring which made me less anxious to continue reading it. This book approaches some interesting issues that are becoming more prominent in YA books. So it is following the trend.

Overall a pretty good book

3.8/5

Graceling by Kristin Cashore

By Kristin Cashore

Summary
Katsa has been able to kill a man with her bare hands since she was eight—she’s a Graceling, one of the rare people in her land born with an extreme skill. As niece of the king, she should be able to live a life of privilege, but Graced as she is with killing, she is forced to work as the king’s thug.
She never expects to learn the truth behind her Grace—or the terrible secret that lies hidden far away . . . a secret that could destroy all seven kingdoms with words alone.
Review
Graceling is an epic novel. If you have not read it you need to go run and pick it up. Katsa is a strong powerful female character who is a wonderful role model, she is the type of women that little girls should look up to.

Kristin Cashore has created a beautiful world in the seven kingdoms, it reminds me of Tamora Pierce's Tortall in how complex and varied it is. Fans of fantasy will fall in love with Cashore's storytelling and her world building.

Now I know that many people are wary of high/epic fantasy and I cannot, for the life of me, figure out why. I think that people who are wary should give Graceling a try. Just read it and then make your final decision.

Po, oh Po. I love Prince Greening Grandemalion. He is one of my favorite parts of Graceling. And after reading Fire I am positive that Kristen Cashore creates the most beautiful, wonderful love interests.

Either way go to the book store and pick up Graceling, you won't be disappointed.
5/5

My review of Fire: FIRE
If you liked Graceling try The Near Witch

Here is the book trailer!

Assiniboin Girl

By Kathi Wallace

Summary
Mary Two Dogs is lost. She grew up in New York the only child of musician parents, but when they die in a car accident coming back from a gig, she’s shipped off to live with her Aunt Janet in Georgia. The South is a strange new world to her, and she becomes the target of racist attacks from some of the other girls. Her Aunt Janet, an undercover FBI agent can’t move, but to keep Mary safe, she sends her to the Assiniboin reservation in Montana.

There Mary has to learn to deal with a whole new world, a completely different set of expectations. Pitied for her lack of understanding of her people, she must learn what it means to be Assiniboin and who she is. To do that, she must find her true name.

Review
This book was good, it introduced some topics that many YA books skip around, for example the harshness of racism from all kinds of different people and towards different kinds of people. Another cool thing is the book had lots of facts about Native American culture both now and previously. Overall a good read.

One thing I did not like about it was the fact that is was an e-book which I personally don't like because I read mostly in my room on my bed, and in order to read this book I had to sit at my computer. But besides that it was a good book!

4/5

Waiting on Wednesday/ Author Interview

Sea by Heidi R. Kling

• Release Date: June, 2010

Haunted by recurring nightmares since her mother’s disappearance over the Indian ocean three years before, fifteen-year old California girl Sienna Jones reluctantly travels with her psychiatrist father’s volunteer team to six-months post-tsunami Indonesia where she meets the scarred and soulful orphaned boy, Deni, who is more like Sea than anyone she has ever met.

She knows they can’t be together, so why can’t she stay away from him? And what about her old best friend-turned-suddenly-hot Spider who may or may not be waiting for her back home? And why won’t her dad tell her the truth about her mother’s plane crash? The farther she gets from home, the closer she comes to finding answers. And Sea’s real adventure begins.

Sounds amazing! I cannot wait!

So while you are waiting here is an interview with the author Heidi R. Kling!

Where do you get your inspiration?
My husband's volunteer work at a real orphanage in Indonesia inspired SEA. But I get my inspiration from everything: people, nature, music, emotions. I see stories everywhere.

What do you do when you have writers block?
*Confession* I don't get writer's block. My struggle is finding enough blocks of time to get all my stories down.

What are some of your favorite authors/books?
Favorite YA authors would be John Green, Laurie Halse Anderson, Judy Blume, Laura Ruby, Nancy Farmer, Sara Zarr, Sarah Dessen. My all time favorite adult writer is Toni Morrison. She is to literature what Mozart is to music.

What kind of research did you do for Sea?
My husband kept amazing (and funny!) journals of his travels to Indonesia. I also had an Indonesian guidbook (like the one Sienna carries around in SEA) that I studied for accuracy of language "bahasa Indonesia" and specific food/drink/customs. I also made friends with several survivors of the tsunami who kindly answered my many questions.

What are you currently reading?
I'm reading Sarah Dessen's new book ALONG FOR THE RIDE, and re-reading THE SUN ALSO RISES by Ernest Hemingway. Hemingway has the best characterization and also makes me laugh. I love his narrators.

When did you decide to become a writer?
Well, I've been writing since I was a little girl. I wrote songs first. I was trying to be like Madonna and Olivia Newton-John. (!) Then I wrote plays and short-stories and poetry. I wrote my first novel when I was sixteen. It's unbelievably awesome in the very worst way. I would be so happy to sell it and publish it "as-is". Any takers? ;)

If you could travel anywhere from a book where would it be?
My first thought is, I'd like to go into SEA and get to be Sienna. But only if I could pick the scenes...I'm not sure I'd be brave enough to go along for her whole ride. You'll see why when you read.

Thanks for having me, Mariah. =)

Thanks for coming!

To waste more time while waiting almost a year for this awesome book, visit Heidi's blog Sea Heidi Write! http://seaheidi.livejournal.com/

The Lab

Summary
In a polluted world reduced to a single walled island of nine billion people, teenage Agent Six of Hearts belongs to a secret organization called The Deck that battles the excesses of ChaoSonic, the corporation that controls everything. The product of a mysterious laboratory where bird, shark, and even plant genes were added to his DNA, Agent Six has superhuman abilities and considers himself a machine—until, that is, he meets a laughing, reckless fellow experiment with similar powers who prods him into accepting his humanity.

Review
Overall this was an ok book, it was filled with action, adventure, and mystery. Agent Six is very focused and diligent but he does not do what he does for any reason except to get money which he only does so he can survive. I think he could have been a more likable character, and had some human tendencies even thought he did not think he was a human.

I could not really relate to him or feel a connection at all which bothered me, also his name bothered me because they would just say six and I would have to think if it was a number or if they were talking about the main character. Another thing was the author had such good opportunities to talk about the genetics and cool stuff like that but he did not even scrape the surface. But it had plenty of action and mystery to keep me reading. It was ok.

The cover looks like he blows stuff up all of the time, which is misleading.

3/5

In My Mailbox!

In My Mailbox is hosted by the Story Siren and it is where you list all of the books you get throughout the week!

In the Mail

The Dangerous Days of Daniel X By James Patterson
(thanks Trisha!)

Across the Pond by Storyheart









The Library

The water mirror [sound recording] / Kai Meyer.
The astonishing life of Octavian Nothing [sound recording] : traitor to the nation / M.T. Anderson.
You've got blackmail / Rachel Wright. *
The sorceress / Michael Scott.
Pretty little liars / Sara Shepard.
Unbelievable : a pretty little liars novel / Sara Shepard.
Let it snow : three holiday romances / by John Green, Maureen Johnson, Lauren Myracle.
Point blank : an Alex Rider adventure / Anthony Horowitz.
Scorpia : an Alex Rider adventure / Anthony Horowitz.
Eagle Strike / Anthony Horowitz.
Ark angel / Anthony Horowitz.
Perfect : a pretty little liars novel / Sara Shepard.
Kiss of life / Daniel Waters.
Skeleton Key / Anthony Horowitz.

What Books did you get?

The Magician

Summary
After fleeing Ojai, Nicholas, Sophie, Josh, and Scatty emerge in Paris, the City of Lights. Home for Nicholas Flamel. Only this homecoming is anything but sweet. Perenell is still locked up back in Alcatraz and Paris is teeming with enemies. Nicollo Machiavelli, immortal author and celebrated art collector, is working for Dee. He’s after them, and time is running out for Nicholas and Perenell. For every day spent without the Book of Abraham the Mage, they age one year—their magic becoming weaker and their bodies more frail. For Flamel, the Prophesy is becoming more and more clear.

It’s time for Sophie to learn the second elemental magic: Fire Magic. And there’s only one man who can teach it to her: Flamel’s old student, the Comte de Saint-Germain—alchemist, magician, and rock star. Josh and Sophie Newman are the world’s only hope—if they don’t turn on each other first.
Review

This is a very interesting series, with action, magic, and a good story line. I have to say that I liked this book better than it's prequel The Alchemyst. It had more action related to the story and kept me more captivated. Unfortunately this is a six part series so each very long book kind of drags in my opinion, but still each book is fun and exciting. Otherwise this a really good series with an intersting plot!

4/5

You've got Blackmail

Summary
Lozzie, 14, knows she is in big danger after she accidentally hit the Reply All button on an e-mail and sent the whole class a picture of the school bully, Tonya, with her head next to the back end of a horse. At home, Lozzie is dealing with her parents’ recent separation, and she worries that her teacher, Mr. Barnett, is hooking up with Mum. What is his dark secret? What happened to his wife? And who is blackmailing him about it? Is it someone at Mum’s beauty salon, where clients always spill secrets?

Review
I did not like this book at all, when I first saw it, it sounded like it would be a good light read that I could breeze through but still really enjoy. I was wrong the blackmail scheme does not start until the middle of the book, also many of the things were disconnected. I thought it would be a better middle grade fiction, which in my opinion felt like it was written to. It was not a hard hitting mystery, it was just there and there were all these subplots that were unimportant.

Don't Waste your time.

1.5/5