Love, Fortunes, and Other Disasters by Kimberly Karalius

Title: Love, Fortunes, and Other Disasters
Author: Kimberly Karalius
Publisher: Swoon Reads
Release Date: May 12, 2015
Received From: Publisher in return for a honest review

Synopsis: In the tradition of Alice Hoffman’s Practical Magic, one girl chooses to change her fortune and her fate by falling in love.
Love is real in the town of Grimbaud, and Fallon Dupree has dreamed of attending high school there for years. After all, generations of Duprees have successfully followed the (100% accurate!) love fortunes from Zita’s famous Love Charms Shop to happily marry their high school sweethearts. It’s a tradition. So she is both stunned and devastated when her fortune states that she will NEVER find love.
Fortunately, Fallon isn’t the only student with a terrible love fortune, and a rebellion is brewing. Fallon is determined to take control of her own fate—even if it means working with a notorious heartbreaker like Sebastian.
Will Fallon and Sebastian be able to overthrow Zita’s tyranny and fall in love?

 Review: Love Fortunes and Other Disasters is a cute book that asks the question, what if you knew that you were never going to find love?

In the town of Grimbaud people find out their love fortunes, and they always come true. So what happens when you get a bad one and find that you are going to end up in one of the communities for either Batchelors or Spinsters? Well, one group of high school students wants to take Zita down and prove that her fortunes don't always have to come true.

Fallon is one of those perfect teens. She only wears the nicest clothes (her brother is a  clothing inspector), will only eat the best food (her parents are health inspectors) and always keeps her dorm/apartment spotless. She sometimes came off as a little prissy or like she was a little too good for everyone else, so much so that Sebastian even calls her "Princess" for part of the book. She does have her moments of selflessness, like when she tries to get her best friend's crush to finally notice him. If it wasn't for these moments though she would be a little cloyingly sweet and perfect.

I liked learning about how the charm shop came to be. There is a little back story in the prologue but the whole story doesn't come out until the end. I wish there had been a little more information about the shop and Zita but the ending is a little rushed when it comes to that aspect.

The cast of supporting characters is really fun, Fallon's friends and club mates added to the richness of the story and filled in Grimbaud.

All that being said, I liked this book. It drug at times and rushed at others but when the book was said and done it was a fun, cute read.

Cheating at Solitaire by Ally Carter

Title: Cheating at Solitaire
Author: Ally Carter 
Publisher: Berkley Trade
Release Date: December 6, 2005 

Received: Bought

Summary:  Self-help guru Julia James is so good at being single that she's become famous for it-advising women that they don't need a man to be happy. Then the unthinkable happens. Just when her newest book, 101 Ways to Cheat at Solitaire, is about to hit stores, a trumped-up piece of gossip linking her to a gorgeous actor hits the papers. Their pictures are splashed all over the tabloids, and now Julia's credibility is about to hit rock bottom. But she isn't going down without a fight. Unless, that is, the actor is going down with her.  


Review:  I originally bought this book because Ally Carter is coming to the Austin Teen Book Festival and it sounded really good, I am so glad I did.

This is an adult book, but I think older teen fans of Ally's work would really like it as well. I certainly did! 

Julia is awesome, she is what I want to be like if I stay single for that long. She is strong and independent and when she is with Lance their chemistry flies off the page. Yes this is a "chick-lit: novel and it is awesome. I was feeling down the day that I picked it up and it made me happy inside.

I felt really invested in what was happening to Julia's career, I found myself caring as if she was my friend, this just solidifies what a great writer Ally is.

I definitely recommend you pick up this book especially if you need something light but good!

  

The Girl Who Circumnavigated Fairyland in a Ship of Her Own Making Review

Title: The Girl Who Circumnavigated Fairyland in a Ship of Her Own Making

Author: Catherynne M. Valente

Illustrator: Ana Juan

Publisher:  Feiwel & Friends

Release Date: May 10, 2011
Received From: Publisher in return for a honest review

Summary: 

Twelve-year-old September lives in Omaha, and used to have an ordinary life, until her father went to war and her mother went to work. One day, September is met at her kitchen window by a Green Wind (taking the form of a gentleman in a green jacket), who invites her on an adventure, implying that her help is needed in Fairyland. The new Marquess is unpredictable and fickle, and also not much older than September. Only September can retrieve a talisman the Marquess wants from the enchanted woods, and if she doesn’t . . . then the Marquess will make life impossible for the inhabitants of Fairyland. September is already making new friends, including a book-loving Wyvern and a mysterious boy named Saturday.  With exquisite illustrations by acclaimed artist Ana Juan, Fairyland lives up to the sensation it created when the author first posted it online. For readers of all ages who love the charm of Alice in Wonderland and the soul of The Golden Compass, here is a reading experience unto itself: unforgettable, and so very beautiful.

Review: First of all this book has the cutest pictures scattered throughout the book! While there aren’t many of them they add so much to the story by letting you see/comprehend the mysterious creatures in the book!
This is definitely a middle grade book, but I think it can be appreciated and enjoyed by people of all ages. I also think boys will enjoy it because its not an overtly “girl” book. I have to agree with the synopsis, this is a good book for fans of Alice in Wonderland because it has that same charm as well as a strange host of characters that join September along the way.
The only small problem I had with this book was I found myself having to remind myself who all the characters were. Maybe because September and Saturday’s names are so similar? I don’t know… but besides that I really, really enjoyed it!
A cute book filled with child-like wonder and an adventure that will keep you guessing!

Island Sting

Title: Island Sting

Author:  Bonnie J. Doerr

Publisher: Leap Books

Release Date:  Jan 6, 2010

Received From:  Teen Book Scene

Kenzie didn't expect her first summer in the Florida Keys to be murder. Or cute guys, awesome boats, endangered species, and gun-toting thugs...

When city girl Kenzie Ryan moves to a Florida wildlife refuge, she plunges straight into an eco-mystery. Kenzie trades New York streets for Keys pollution cleanup, and now, instead of hailing cabs, she's tracking down a poacher of endangered Key deer. Her new home does have some benefits-mainly Angelo, an island native, who teams up with her to nab the culprit. But will they both survive when the killer turns from stalking deer to hunting humans?

Island Sting includes notes on the endangered Florida Key Deer and the National Key Deer Refuge.

I don't really have a lot to say about this book except that it was a cute idea. I loved the idea especially with the world becoming so "green" Kenzie and Angelo were fun characters and I loved how Kenzie took over because that totally would have been me!

I think this book was nice because it was a fun way to introduce to kids that there are bad people who will do bad things, but showed that they could do something about it!

 

My Invisible Boyfriend and My Fake Boyfriend is Better Than Yours

Title:  My Invisible Boyfriend (MIB)

Author:  Susie Day

Publisher:  Scholastic Press

Release Date:  April 1, 2010

Received From:  ATWT

Heidi has the perfect solution to her popularity problems - a fake boyfriend. She's even made him an Internet profile that makes him look like a motor...more Heidi has the perfect solution to her popularity problems - a fake boyfriend. She's even made him an Internet profile that makes him look like a motorcycle-riding, poetry reading bad boy. *swoon* Heidi's friends are so impressed they start emailing Heidi's fake boyfriend with their problems . . . including their problems with Heidi.
As if that weren't bad enough, a delicious and possibly single person called "A Real Boy" emails Heidi to say he knows the truth. Can Heidi escape from her world wide web of lies? Or will her chance at romance disappear faster than you can type gtg?

Title:  My Fake Boyfriend is Better Than Yours (MFB)

Author:  Kristina Springer

Publisher:  Farrar, Straus, and Giroux

Release Date:  August 31, 2010

Received From:  ATWT

Seventh grade was supposed to be fun, but Tori is having major drama with her BFF, Sienna. Sienna changed a lot over the summer on the first day of school she’s tan, confident, and full of stories about her new dreamy boyfriend. Tori knows that she’s totally making this guy up. So Tori invents her own fake boyfriend, who is better than Sienna’s in every way. Things are going great unless you count the whole lying-to-your-best-friend thing until everyone insists Tori and Sienna bring their boyfriends to the back-to-school dance.

I decided to review these two books together because they are so very similar, while one is a YA novel and the other is a MG novel there are many similarities and differences.

Similarities:

• Both deal with fake boyfriends made up because the MC feel jealous or like everyone has a boyfriend except them.
• Both fake boyfriends are perfect (I mean really, go big or go home) 
• Each of the girls get into huge trouble because of their fake boyfriends.
• Both of the books have strong characters.

Differences:

• MIB has a stronger plot, there are more twists and turns but that may be because it is a YA novel. Also there is the added intrigue of the mysterious letters from "A Real Boy." Also Heidi has a gingerbread man/ favorite TV star, that she talks to so it is more like a real boyfriend. 
• MFB deal primarily with the morals of lying to your friend about your fake boyfriend, even though Tori is convinced that Sienna also has a fake boyfriend she feels really bad about lying to her and so the rest of the book is focused on that.
• MFB deals more with friendship while MIB deals more with the logistics of having a fake boyfriend as well as the pitfalls in possibly having a real relationship.

In Conclusion:

• Both books are really good, and you can tell which one is YA and which is MG. Each book has their strengths and weaknesses.
• MIB has a better plot while MFB has more of  a moral to the story which is conducive to their various audiences. Both books were funny and I recommend them both!

MIB




MFB

(Has an adorable cover!)

Amy & Roger's Epic Detour

Title:  Amy & Roger's Epic Detour

Author:  Morgan Matson

Publisher:  Simon and Schuster Childrens

Release Date:  May 4, 2010

Received From:  Big Honcho Media

Amy Curry thinks her life sucks. Her mom decides to move from California to Connecticut to start anew—just in time for Amy's senior year. Her dad recently died in a car accident. So Amy embarks on a road trip to escape from it all, driving cross-country from the home she's always known toward her new life. Joining Amy on the road trip is Roger, the son of Amy's mother's old friend. Amy hasn’t seen him in years, and she is less than thrilled to be driving across the country with a guy she barely knows. So she's surprised to find that she is developing a crush on him. At the same time, she’s coming to terms with her father’s death and how to put her own life back together after the accident. Told in traditional narrative as well as scraps from the road—diner napkins, motel receipts, postcards—this is the story of one girl's journey to find herself.

So who loves a good road trip book? Raise your hands... yes I see you, well I love road trip books, maybe because I have never been on a road trip. But Amy and Roger's Epic Detour was a honest to goodness genuine road trip book, where they go harem scarem wherever sounds interesting.


Ok, so maybe I especially loved this book because it was a road trip book, but I also loved the motives for going on the road trip and why they went where they went. Also there were lists and receipts throughout the book which added to the reality factor of actually being on the trip with Amy and Roger.


While neither of them at the beginning have any goal but to get to Connecticut, the story blossoms into a story of self-discovery and forgiveness, as well as moving on and not letting the past destroy your life. Amy and Roger's relationship was cool and they acted like two people who did not really know each other would act when stuffed into a car alone. I really enjoyed their banter and dialogue.


One small problem I had with the book was that the middle was kind of slow, but overall it was a fabulous book!

Do you want to win a copy of this book? Check out my giveaway!

4.5/5

Swoon at Your Own Risk

Title: Swoon at Your Own Risk

Author:  Sydney Salter

Publisher:  Graphia

Release Date:  April 5, 2010

Received From:  ATWT

It’s the summer before senior year and Polly Martin has sworn off boys. Who needs the hurt and confusion? Five recent breakups have left her with an unnatural knowledge of NASCAR, the ultimate hiker’s outfit, a student council position, the sixth highest score on the Donkey Kong machine at the mall, and a summer job at Wild Waves with ex #2 Sawyer Holmes.
Success seems a sure thing when Polly’s grandmother, the syndicated advice columnist, Miss Swoon, moves in for the summer. Polly almost doesn’t mind sharing a room with her little sister, Grace. Think of all the great advice she’ll get!
Everything is going according to plan except... Miss Swoon turns out to be a man-crazy septuagenarian! And then there’s Xander Cooper. If only he wouldn’t keep showing up at Wild Waves with his adorable cousins every afternoon — and what is he writing in that little notebook?
No advice column in the world can prepare Polly for the lessons she learns when she goes on a group camping trip (with three too many ex-boyfriends). Polly is forced to see people for who they are — a blend of good and bad qualities that can’t be reduced to a list or a snappy answer in a Miss Swoon column.

This book was really cute! It made me long for lazy summer days, and summer romance. This was a really fluffy novel with deeper plot lines than are made obvious when you first pick up the book.

Polly was your typical teenage girl trying to find herself. She had become such a hodgepodge of different interests from all of the guys she had dated. This book was about her finding new love and learning not to compromise herself. Polly's grandma (Miss Swoon) was really funny and made me wish I had a grandma like that. (minus all the men) I also liked how all of Polly's previous boyfriends all had very different interests and personality. I did not get confused about who was who which I was afraid of. I also loved Xander he was by far my favorite part of the novel!

On another note I felt that this book was very stereotypical and I found myself wishing for a few more characters who were less stereotypical.

But besides that I really enjoyed this book and it makes me want to pick up Sydney's first book My Big Nose and Other Natural Disasters. I hope to read more by Sydney in the future!

4/5

The Beautiful Between

Title: The Beautiful Between

Author: Alyssa B. Sheinmel

Publisher: Knopf Books

Release Date: May 11, 2010

Received From:  ATWT


If high school were a fairy-tale kingdom, Connelly Sternin would be Rapunzel, locked not in a tower by a wicked witch but in a high-rise apartment building by the SATs and college applications—and by the secrets she keeps. Connelly's few friends think that her parents are divorced—but they're not. Connelly's father died when she was two, and she doesn't know how.


If Connelly is the Rapunzel of her school, Jeremy Cole is the crown prince, son of a great and rich New York City family. So when he sits down next to her at lunch one day, Connelly couldn't be more surprised. But Jeremy has a tragic secret of his own, and Connelly is the only one he can turn to for help. Together they form a council of two, helping each other with their homework and sharing secrets. As the pair's friendship grows, Connelly learns that it's the truth, not the secrets, that one must guard and protect. And that between friends, the truth, however harsh, is also beautiful.

Based on the summary of this book I was expecting a fairy-tale retelling which i love, but that is not what this book was at all. It is more about a girl struggling with high school, and her father's death which she knows nothing about. It is a story about an unlikely friendship, where each party gives and takes a little, but both are better for it.

This book was not just your typical high school story, there are also elements mixed in that make it an even deeper story. I think that this book had a lot of good messages in it, that did not particularly touch me, but I think they would touch others.

Overall a pretty good book but the summary is very misleading.

4/5

* This link is from Amazon Associates. I have recently become an Amazon associate so if you click on the link in my posts or use the search button for Amazon in the sidebar, and you buy something, I will get a small profit which I will then use for better books for contests! So if you really like my review for a book or have been thinking about buying it, just search or it in the search box or click on the corresponding link! It is a win, win situation for you!

A Match Made In High School (Repost)

Title: A Match Made In High School

Author:  Kristin Walker

Publisher:  Razorbill

Release Date:  February 4, 2010

Received From:  Around the World Tours


When the principal announces that every senior must participate in a mandatory year-long Marriage Education program, Fiona Sheehan believes that her life can’t get any worse. Then she marries her “husband”: Jerky jock Todd, whose cheerleader girlfriend, Amanda, has had it in for Fiona since day one of second grade. Even worse? Amanda is paired with Fiona’s long-term crush, Gabe. At least Fiona is doing better than her best friend, Marcie, who is paired up with the very quiet, very mysterious Johnny Mercer. Pranks, fights, misunderstandings, and reconciliations ensue in an almost Shakespearean comedy of errors about mistaken first impressions, convoluted coupling, and hidden crushes.

Oh my gosh this book was hilarious! Warning don't read in public or everyone will think you are insane. The banter that goes on in between Fiona and Todd, is so funny.

Besides that this book was really good, the characters were all very different and had their own distinct personalities, the plot was interesting while somewhat predictable, there were some parts that I was definitely not expecting. I really appreciated the message that was portrayed in this book, while not being too pushy.

Again this book was hilarious and dealt with some real life issues that really make the story relate-able, I mean who hasn't been stuck with an unwanted project partner? This is a great Debut and I cannot wait for more from this talented author! And the cover is beautiful!

5/5

As You Wish by Jackson Pearce

Title: As You Wish

Author: Jackson Pearce

Publisher: Harper Teen

Release Date: Already Available

Received From: Library


Ever since Viola's boyfriend broke up with her, she has spent her days silently wishing—to have someone love her again and, more importantly, to belong again—until one day she inadvertently summons a young genie out of his world and into her own. He will remain until she makes three wishes.
Jinn is anxious to return home, but Viola is terrified of wishing, afraid she will not wish for the right thing, the thing that will make her truly happy. As the two spend time together, the lines between master and servant begin to blur, and soon Jinn can't deny that he's falling for Viola. But it's only after Viola makes her first wish that she realizes she's in love with Jinn as well . . . and that if she wishes twice more, he will disappear from her life—and her world—forever. 

 I have been anxiously waiting this book ever since I stumbled upon Jackson's website about a year ago. Her blog is hilarious and so I knew her book had to be good. It was!

With a very interesting premise, Jackson takes us to a story filled with romance, longing, and fun. Jinn and Viola's chemistry was apparent from the beginning. All of the characters were lively and fun.

I really enjoyed Jackson's writing and her style. I cannot wait for more of her work! If you want to learn more, or just read her hilarious blog check out http://watchmebe.livejournal.com/ 

Overall this was a great book, with a storyline that is new and inventive. Definitely check it out!

5/5

Explorer X-Alpha* by LM Preston

Happy Holidays! Today I have three things for you! A Contest, a review, and a guest post from the author. So lets get started!

REVIEW
For most kids, a trip to space camp is the trip of a lifetime for Aadi it was life altering. After receiving a camp immunization needed for travel to Mars, Aadi finds that the immunization is the catalyst of an insidious experiment. He realizes what is happening too late for a change of fate. The full experiment is set in motion when he and his co-pilot, Eirena, crash in a distant galaxy called Shrenas, where they change and realize the full extent of their power. This turn of events forces him to grow up quickly, accept his change, and to decide to save a world, or to do what he was trained to do dominate it. His power is coveted by the warring leaders of Shrenas, and he is forced to choose sides a decision that may prove just how much humanity he has left.

This was a very imaginative book, with lots of different facets that I never would have expected. 


Each of the characters were different and brought their own distinctive way to the story. The plot was exciting and very unpredictable. The originality of this book astounded me. Many scifi books are all similar but this one stands alone. All of the different species in this book were described so vividly, and they came to life on the page. 


The only real problem I had with it, was that it was kind of slow in the middle, but the ending made up for it.



I really enjoyed this book and I cannot wait for the next one!

4.5/5

GUEST POST

LM Preston was nice enough to do a guest post for me about why she wrote Explorer X- Alpha

WHY I WROTE EXPLORER X – ALPHA 

It all started on a long car trip to Florida.  My husband, kids and I were on our way to my ‘Happy Place ’, better known as Walt Disney World. 

Anyway, while on this long drive, my husband turns to me and says, “You should write a book.  You loved to write when we were younger and you haven’t written since.” 

I thought about what he said and replied,” Well, I did try to write that one book, but it was boring and didn’t keep my interest.”

Then he told me,” You should write science fiction.  You like it, and you work in the IT field.  That way you have no boundaries, you create your own.”

That was a pivotal point in my writing career.  He told me to think up something and share it with him.  Well, let me tell you a little secret about my husband.  He is a big science fiction fanatic, and has comic books, graphic novels galore.  He watches it and breaths it.  It was the ultimate challenge, because I knew that he is a very opinionated person that would not hold back his comments to save my feelings.

I pondered over it so much that I ended up dreaming up Aadi one night.  I saw his face, his mischievous smile and thought, “What is your story?”

The next day I thought about Aadi while at a traffic light, and thought up his adventure, by asking myself, what adventure would I want to do?  Well after Aadi whispered his idea to me, I was ready to write about him.  Later that week, wouldn’t you know it, my husband asked me about my story idea.

I told him, that I had an idea about a boy who’s parents force him to go to space camp only for him to discovered that he was being experimented on so that he could go to any planet, adapt to it, then dominate it.  The best moment I can think of was when my husband’s face broke out into a grin and he said, “Write that!!  I haven’t read anything like that before.”  Little did I realize that Aadi’s discovery would become a series of adventures.

As an avid reader, I get bored fast with books that are long and drawn out.  Therefore I wrote this book for my kids to enjoy.  I depend on them greatly to critique my work, and believe me, they don’t hold back. 

Writing about teenagers is a passion I have because that was the most tumultuous part of my life.  I felt deeply, experienced a lot, and overcame enormous trails in my teenaged years.  I survived and so can my readers.  I wanted to show that strength in my characters, their adventures, and their victories.

WHAT NOW

I am working on the follow-on series to EXPLORER X – Alpha, and just completed the final edited copy of THE PACK, an edgy YA series about a girl who saves her world that comes out Fall of 2010. 

By: LM Preston, Author of EXPLORER X – Alpha, www.lmpreston.com

CONTEST

So now that you are fully intrigued you can win a copy of this book before it comes out in February! Thanks to LM Preston! In order to win you must fill out this form.

 U.S. Addresses only sorry

This contest will end on December 31 at THREE Central Time so enter!

*ARC from Publisher

The Naughty List* by Suzanne Young

As if being a purrfect cheerleader isn’t enough responsibility!

Tessa Crimson’s the sweet and spunky leader of the SOS (Society of Smitten Kittens), a cheer squad–turned–spy society dedicated to bringing dastardly boyfriends to justice, one cheater at a time. Boyfriend-busting wouldn’t be so bad . . . except that so far, every suspect on the Naughty List has been proven 100% guilty!

When Tessa’s own boyfriend shows up on the List, she turns her sleuthing skills on him. Is Aiden just as naughty as all the rest, or will Tessa’s sneaky ways end in catastrophe?

The Naughty List. Is your boyfriend on it? 

This series is a really cute idea. It is very original and different. The cover is gorgeous and really plays to the story of the novel.

Tessa starts out as being perfect but then she turns into a normal girl which I really appreciated. Aiden was a little too fake for me but overall the characters were interesting. I wish I had gotten to know the "clients" better, I think the story would have been more captivating if so. I enjoyed the little bit of sleuthing that was in the book but I found myself longing for more. Beyond that it was a cute book and very different! I cannot wait for the next one!

*ARC, Comes out February 4, 2010
3.5/5

**Part of Around the World Tours!

Something, Maybe by Elizabeth Scott

Everyone thinks their parents are embarrassing, but Hannah knows she's got them all beat. Her dad made a fortune showing pretty girls--and his "party" lifestyle--all over the Internet, and her mom, who was once one of her dad's girlfriends, is now the star of her own website. After getting the wrong kind of attention for far too long, Hannah has learned how to stay out of sight...and that's how she likes it.

Of course, being unknown isn't helping her get noticed by gorgeous, confident Josh, who Hannah knows is her soul mate. Between trying to figure out a way to get him to notice her, dealing with her parents, and wondering why she can't stop thinking about another guy, Finn, Hannah feels like she's going crazy. She's determined to make things work out the way she wants....only what she wants may not be what she needs.

This was a very quick read for me, the material was not so heavy that I felt I had to take a breather but it was also not super light in a way that fells like you are being over taken by cotton candy.

Hannah's life besides the fact that her father is a millionaire, was very easy to relate to, she had boy problems, parent problems, friend problems just like most other teenage girls. The characters were well developed and different, they had different personalities which was nice.

The plot overall was just heavy enough to make you think but not too heavy that you want to stop reading. It is a typical girl meets boy ect. novel but with a small spin.

The only problem I had with it was that I felt that the end was too rushed because so many things happened at the end, I think it would have been better if the excitement was spread out a little but overall a enjoyable book.


4/5

Create a Cover

Found at the Story Siren!
This is my debut cover! What do you think? Make your own

CREATE YOUR DEBUT YA COVER

1 – Go to “Fake Name Generator” or clickhttp://www.fakenamegenerator.com/

The name that appears is your author name.

2 – Go to “Random Word Generator” or clickhttp://www.websitestyle.com/parser/randomword.shtml

The word listed under “Random Verb” is your title.

3 – Go to “FlickrCC” or clickhttp://flickrcc.bluemountains.net/index.php

Type your title into the search box. The first photo that contains a person is your cover.

4 – Use Photoshop, Picnik, or similar to put it all together. Be sure to crop and/or zoom in.

5 – Post it to your site along with this text.

leave a comment if you do this so I can see