Review 13 TO LIFE by Shannon Delaney

13 to Life
by Shannon Delaney


Details:
June 22nd 2010 by St. Martin's Griffin

308 pages

Placement in Pile:
Reaching New Heights

Summary:
Something strange is stalking the small town of Junction…

When junior Jess Gillmansen gets called out of class by Guidance, she can only presume it’s for one of two reasons. Either they’ve finally figured out who wrote the scathing anti-jock editorial in the school newspaper or they’re hosting yet another intervention for her about her mom. Although far from expecting it, she’s relieved to discover Guidance just wants her to show a new student around—but he comes with issues of his own including a police escort.
The newest member of Junction High, Pietr Rusakova has secrets to hide--secrets that will bring big trouble to the small town of Junction—secrets including dramatic changes he’s undergoing that will surely end his life early.

Review:
13 to Life. That's catchy, right? As soon as I glimpsed the title on Goodreads, I knew I wanted to read this one…despite that it's a werewolf book. Before I read 13 to Life, I was so over the werewolf thing. (You know I love you Jacob) But baby, now the love for werewolves has been rekindled in me like I've been caught their doggy disease.


Shannon Delaney's, 13 to Life has all the makings of a strong, angsty teen novel. From friend drama to hottie high school boys, Delaney created a balance of drama and character development that'll hook any YA lit lover. And that's before the rumored rabid-massive-mauling dog attacks. Um, werewolves? Maybe. Possibly. Probably.
To be honest, it was a quick read that hooked me line and sinker. But, I zipped through the developing plot and mystery, to find myself unsatisfied with the end. Why? Well, once I figured out the great mystery, I kept wondering why the character didn't. She's supposedly a smarty-pants student. Um…obviously not. So that's flaw number one.
Flaw number two is the fact that the novel could probably shed 100 pages. I felt a lot of the scenes were unnecessary rehash of what had just happened. I understand nailing in a point, but hammering it to death? Come on now, Delaney.

Overall, it's a good read. I probably wouldn't ever re-read it, but that's because I've only ever re-read a handful of books in my life. But, you better believe that I'll be reading the sequel.

Review GLIMPSE by Carol Lynch Williams

GLIMPSE
by Carol Lynch Williams
Published June 22nd 2010 by Simon & Schuster/Paula Wiseman Books
Hardcover, 496 pages

Placement in the Pile: Top Picks

Summary: (From the jacket-flap)
Just a year apart,
the Chapman girls
were as close as
sisters could be.
Hope could always
count on Lizzie,
and Lizzie could
always count on Hope -
always.

But even sisters have
secrets. Big secrets.
And if Lizzie has her
way, she'll take the
biggest secret of all
to her grave.

Review:
GLIMPSE will catch your attention and stop your heart on the very first page. Following the story of these two sisters is no easy feat. Hope and Lizzie's story is haunting, but it is an important story to tell. It touched my heart. Carol Lynch William's use of verse was very fitting for this subject, and title. Through this format we get to see glimpses of these girl's world that in the end combine into a very powerful whole. I loved the story of hardships, childhood lost, and finding strength in sisterhood, even when the bad guy is someone you love.

I have had the incredible opportunity to meet Carol in person on several occasions and I can tell you that she is one amazing person. This book is very important to her. And I can see why. I love my paranormal romance books, but sometimes you just need something more real. This book certainly fulfilled that for me. It made me so grateful for the life I lived, and my own daughter. So it is highly recommended for the adult crowd. Yet, I also highly recommend it for the teen crowd.

Don't be daunted by the page count. The verse writing makes it a very fast read. When I started GLIMPSE, life got in the way for a while and I picked it back up a few days later. That night I read more than half of it in a few hours, I simply could not put it down.

So all in all, I found GLIMPSE to be an important message for women everywhere. This one will make you think.

In My Mailbox (17)

THE FRENZY
by Francesca Lia Block
To Be Published September 28th 2010 by HarperTeen
Hardcover, 272 pages

Summary: When she was thirteen, something terrifying and mysterious happened to Liv that she still does not understand, and now, four years later, her dark secret threatens to tear her apart from her family and her true love.







WICKED GIRLS: A Novel of the Salem Witch Trials
by Stephanie Hemphill
Published July 1, 2010 by HarperCollins
Hardcover, 402 pages

Summary:Wicked Girls is a fictionalized account of the Salem witch trials based on the real historical characters, told from the perspective of three young women living in Salem in 1692—Mercy Lewis, Margaret Walcott, and Ann Putnam Jr.







ASCENDANT
by Diana Peterfreund
To Be Published September 28th 2010 by HarperTeen
Hardcover, 400 pages

Summary: (If you haven't read Rampant I think this is a bit spoilery) Now a fully trained unicorn hunter, Astrid Llewelyn is learning that she can’t solve all her problems with a bow and arrow. Her boyfriend has left Rome, the Cloisters is in dire financial straits, her best friend’s powers are mysteriously disintegrating, and her hope of becoming a scientist seems to be nothing but an impossible dream.

So when she’s given the opportunity to leave the Cloisters and use her skills as part of a scientific quest to discover the Remedy, Astrid leaps at the chance. Finally, she can have exactly what she wants—or can she? At Gordian headquarters deep in France, Astrid begins to question everything she had believed: her love for Giovanni, her loyalty to the Cloisters, and—most of all—her duty as a hunter. Should Astrid be saving the world from killer unicorns or saving unicorns from the world?

How Did I Miss This?

Wow, I really am out of it guys! I had my BLOGIVERSARY! And I didn't even awknowledge it! Man I am slow! Okay, here is a promise:

I am going to be really busy until August (since I am leaving for 3 weeks!) but sometime in August I am going to have amazing Blogiversary and 100 followers giveaways! No joke!

The more followers we get before then the better your chances for a better giveaway, just sayin, spread the love. ;)

But really, I LOVE my readers. I know you put up with my maniac schedule and random postings, but I love being able to share my stuff with you. Thanks for caring!

Review for NIGHTSHADE by Andrea Cremer

NIGHTSHADE
By, Andrea Cremer


Details: published October 19th 2010 by Philomel
Hardcover, 464 pages

Placement In Pile: Reaching New Heights

Summary: While other teenage girls daydream about boys, Calla Tor imagines ripping out her enemies’ throats. And she wouldn’t have it any other way. Calla was born a warrior and on her eighteenth-birthday she’ll become the alpha female of the next generation of Guardian wolves. But Calla’s predestined path veers off course the moment she saves the life of a wayward hiker, a boy her own age. This human boy’s secret will turn the young pack's world upside down and forever alter the outcome of the centuries-old Witches' War that surrounds them all.

Review:

This was an easy, quick, engaging read. The world Andrea builds is interesting and left me excited to continue to discover what lies ahead. I do wish she'd explained even more; hopefully in the next book. (One question I had is how does the rest of the world outside of Colorado function - just normally as we all know it? or differently like this unique school and town Calla lives in? Based on the ending of this book, I'm assuming we'll find out more in the book to come!) Speaking of the end... be prepared for a major cliffhanger. That's all I'm going to say.

The love triangle was also interesting, as well as the dynamics of the two different "packs," and Calla's reactions to things since she is an "alpha." I wasn't too surprised by some of the twists (but then again, I'm usually not - it takes a pretty sneaky author to take me totally by surprise). There was a lot of kissing, which is always yummy. Ha ha. With two different boys, which can be aggravating (or also yummy, depending on how you feel about triangles). ;-) I'm definitely curious to see how this series turns out, and if the boy I'm leaning towards will win out.

After I finished, I was frustrated to realize it would be well over a year before I got to read the second book, since this won't be published until October (and I assumed book #2 WOLFSBANE would be published one year later). I was pleasantly surprised to find out it actually comes out next summer. Yay! So keep your eyes out for this one. YA paranormal romance is still going strong.

Book Blogger Appreciation Week!

For those of you who don't know, this is a big deal! The blog I used to blog for (My Favorite Author) was nominated for a BBAW award last year, so I thought, hey why not try? This post is to comply with their new rules for posting links and announcing my intent to run in these categories listed below (with sample links for consideration).



Thanks to my co-bloggers and all of our readers! Our first year of blogging is almost upon us and this would be a great way to celebrate!

Best Young Adult Book Blog—This blog offers the best consistently excellent reviews, recommendations, analyses, and other content for books written for a young adult audience.
Links:
Review Captivate by Carrie Jones
Review Going Bovine by Libba Bray
Review Unwind by Neil Shusterman
Review The Dead Tossed Waves by Carrie Ryan
Review White Cat by Holly Black

Best Written Book Blog—This blog is consistently well-written, clear, and engaging, no matter what the subject. [Note that nominated bloggers for this award are required to submit 3 reviews, recommendations, or analyses of a specific title; 2 are up to the nominated blogger.]
Links:
Review Perfect Chemistry by Simone Ekeles
Review Wondrous Strange by Lesley Livingston
Review Swoon at Your Own Risk by Sydney Salter
My Moods of Reading
Young Adult Authors Against Bullying

*I wanted to enter the new blog contest but we technically launched before Sept. 1, 2009. Sadness. No one was reading it until around Sept. But hey, thems the rules!

In My Mailbox (16)

As you know, I have not been doing a lot of reading, BUT I did get a few books this week that I wanted to share with you. This is my way of disclosing what the publishers are sending me, as well as a way for you to see some books you might not have heard of, and that I might not get to! These, however are ones I most likely will get to! So thanks again Story Siren for hosting this meme!

From Publishers:

PARANORMALCY
by Kiersten White
To Be Published August 31st 2010 by HarperTeen
Hardcover, 352 pages

Summary:
Sixteen-year-old Evie's job is bagging and tagging paranormals. Possessing the strange ability to see through their glamours, she works for the International Paranormal Containment Agency. But when someone--or something--starts taking out the vamps, werewolves, and other odd beasties she's worked hard to help become productive members of society, she's got to figure it out before they all disappear and the world becomes utterly normal.

Normal is so overrated.



BRIGHT YOUNG THINGS
by Anna Godbersen
To Be Published October 26th 2010 by HarperCollins (according to GoodReads, on the sample I was sent it says November)
Hardcover, 416 pages

*Interesting Note:
I was sent a teaser sampler that is 84 pages long rather than a full ARC. I wonder with the cost of sending full ARCs if this will become more popular? Perhaps something to discuss when I read and review what I was sent!

Summary:
Bright Young Things is the first in an epic four-book series about three teenage girls finding their way in the glittering metropolis of New York City and the glamorous mansions of Long Island. It’s 1929 and Letty Larkspur and Cordelia Grey have escaped their small Midwestern town to chase big dreams and even bigger secrets. In New York, they meet Astrid Donal, a flapper who has everything she could ever want, except for the one thing Letty and Cordelia have to offer—true friendship. Set in the dizzying summer before the market crash, against the vast lawns of the East End and on the blindingly lit stages of Broadway, the three girls will find romance, intrigue, and adventure.

Just as The Luxe books brought the Gilded Age to readers of Gossip Girl, Bright Young Things will bring the Jazz Age to bestselling author Anna Godbersen’s devoted fans and to new readers alike.

A Week!?

Has it really been a week since I've posted? Wow. Appologies guys! Summer is the hardest time for me to post because I usually do less reading, but an very very busy.

Here is what I have been up to:

1. Writer's Conference for a week - it was fabulous!
2. Swim Lessons with my 2 yr old
3. Eclipse - what more can I say there? I will be posting a review soon, if there is anyone on the planet who hasn't seen it yet!
4. Getting lots of books from awesome authors
5. Writer's groups and book clubs, birthday parties and BBQs galore!

Literally in June I had 3 days that I didn't have something going on! My house is a mess, my book pile is getting BIGGER and BIGGER! So bear with me guys! I will hopefully be reading more soon and I know my co-bloggers have been reading lots lately so there WILL be more coming soon! We love our readers and hope you all have a fabulous 4th of July weekend!