I Miss This

Oh wow, I really really really (yes, really) miss blogging about my favorite books!!! I'm thinking about taking it back up again for the new year. Is anyone still following me?

Recently I was browsing a new bookstore, and realized several things: 1) I wasn't too familiar with most of the new releases, and I used to obsess over upcoming books when I was book blogging  2) If the person standing next to me were to have asked me "What's a new hot read that I simply must pick up while I am here" I wouldn't have known what to tell them, which turning people onto hot new books was something I highly enjoyed being able to do! At the very least, if I hadn't read a book myself, I would have at least known another blogger who had, so I could pass on their recommendation. 3) I still dream about working in a bookstore... and if I can't do that (I live in a small town with no bookstore, sadly) then I want to get back into book blogging!!!

In case you are curious... right now I am reading "Hush Hush" by Becca Fitzpatrick.
Yes, I am way behind on this wonderful series, and was super excited when I found a brand new copy of this book in the sale section at Books-A-Million for only $3.97!!! Hello new book addiction.

Review: "Winter Longing"

Winter Longing

by Tricia Mills

August 19th 2010

256 pages

From Goodreads: A plane crash in Alaska takes Winter’s first love away forever . . .

When Winter's boyfriend is killed in a plane crash in the Alaskan wilderness, she's robbed of the future she'd only just allowed herself to believe might be hers. Winter and Spencer had been destined for one another. And after his death, Spencer's presence continues to haunt her.

But when her next-door neighbor becomes an unlikely friend, Winter begins to accept all that she can't change. Can she open herself to a new future . . . and a possible new love?

My Thoughts: I was hooked from the beginning, I couldn't put it down, and I finished the book in one sitting! I can't believe that this story was able to make me cry from the very beginning, and kept me teary eyed while reading almost the whole thing! Books don't usually have this effect on me, and most books definitely can't make me cry before I even know the characters I am crying for! But I guess "Winter Longing" is different.

Winter and Spencer have been best friends for a very long time! She has always had feelings for him that go beyond their friendship, and eventually she finds out that he does too, but they aren't a couple for long before Winter loses the love of her life in a tragic accident. This all pretty much happens in the first chapter.

We don't even get the chance to meet Spencer in the present, but instead each chapter starts out with short memories of Spencer and Winter, starting from middle school, and we get a nice little insight of their growing relationship while at the same time mourning him.

I felt a strong emotional attachment to Winter. I felt her pain, I felt her happiness, and then I felt her guilt for having a happy moment or two. The story really isn't about death, it's about living. It's about overcoming the feeling that your world has come to an end, and realizing that life goes on, and that you need to accept the things you can not change, and try to find happiness for yourself in this life.

Overall it was a heartbreaking story. Be sure to have a box of tissues by your side when you start reading, because you are probably going to need them!

Review: "Nightshade"

Nightshade (Nightshade, #1)

by Andrea Cremer

October 19th 2010

464 pages

From Goodreads: 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.

My Thoughts: LOVE LOVE LOVE! I honestly think that this series has great potential to be the next big thing in YA fiction! I can't wait to see where the rest of the series takes us!

"Nightshade" starts off on a high note, and kept me entranced until the very end! Calla is one of my new favorite protagonists. It's refreshing to have such a strong female character, who is brave enough to fight battles, sensitive enough to be in love, and clever enough to make important decisions for herself, even though it could put her life in danger. The love triangle between Calla, Ren, and Shay had me just as torn as Calla. I honestly could not decide who she should end up with! Although, I preferred her relationship with Shay, since her relationship with Ren had been arranged since birth. I just wanted her to have the choice, but I honestly don't think Ren would have been a bad choice, it was just the life that came with that choice that left a bad taste in my mouth.

The book is full of mystery. What is Shay's secret? What is the real history between the Keepers and the Guardians? Why are the Searchers after Shay? I had so many questions throughout the book and a lot of them were answered by the end, but the book ended with a huge cliffhanger that kept me wanting to know more! The only horrible thing about reading an advance copy of this book is that I now have to wait more than a year for the sequel.

In My Mailbox #22

In My Mailbox is a meme hosted by The Story Siren!

 
For Review:
Girl Parts by John M. Cuisck

From Goodreads: "Hello, David. My name is Rose. It’s a pleasure to meet you. We are now entering minute two of our friendship. According to my Intimacy Clock, a handshake is now appropriate…"

David and Charlie are opposites. David has a million friends, online and off. Charlie is a soulful outsider, off the grid completely. But neither feels close to anybody. When David’s parents present him with a hot Companion bot to encourage healthy bonds and treat "dissociative disorder," he can’t get enough of luscious red-headed Rose — and he can’t get it soon. Companions come with strict intimacy protocols, and whenever he tries anything, David gets an electric shock. Severed from the boy she was built to love, Rose turns to Charlie, who finds he can open up, knowing Rose isn’t real. With Charlie’s help, the ideal "companion" is about to become her own best friend.
In a stunning and hilarious debut, John Cusick takes rollicking aim at internet culture and our craving for meaningful connection in an uber-connected world.

Review: "Another Pan" (Updated with Cover)

UPDATED REVIEW: Since I didn't post an image with my first review, I wanted to update the review with the new official cover! (It's slightly different from the ARC)

 Another Pan

by Daniel Nayeri, Dina Nayeri

October 28th 2010

400 pages

From Amazon: Sixteen-year-old Wendy Darling and her insecure freshman brother, John, are hitting the books at the Marlowe School. But one tome consumes their attention: THE BOOK OF GATES, a coveted Egyptian artifact that their professor father believes has magical powers. Soon Wendy and John discover that the legend is real—when they recite from its pages and descend into a snaking realm beneath the Manhattan school. As the hallways darken, and dead moths cake the floor, a charismatic new R.A. named Peter reveals that their actions have unleashed a terrible consequence: the underworld and all its evil is now seeping into Marlowe. Daniel Nayeri and Dina Nayeri return to reimagine Peter Pan as a twisty, atmospheric, and fast-paced fantasy about the perils of immortality.

My Thoughts: I wasn't really sure I was going to like "Another Pan" considering that I wasn't really a huge fan of "Another Faust", and because the story of Peter Pan is so dear to my heart and unfortunately has been redone completely wrong so many times before.

But "Another Pan" is a completely different story. The story continues to take place in the Marlowe School, and the evil governess Vileroy returns to the school. A few unimportant characters from the first novel also reappear in this second novel. Connor Wirth is dating protagonist Wendy Darling, and there was a small mention of Mrs. Spencer at a charity event, but really, the book is a completely different story, and you don't even need to read the first book in order to enjoy "Another Pan". (Although, I would recommend reading the first book at some point! I know it was a really popular read with some of my fellow bloggers)

I LOVED the book. It's definitely in my top 5 favorite books that I have read so far this year. I've been completely obsessed with the story of Peter Pan for as long as I can remember. As a child it was my first ever favorite book and the story has stuck with me my entire life. As I said before, I find that most people get the story wrong and I can go on an endless rant about that. But I feel that Daniel and Dina really understand the original story well.

Of course this isn't your typical Peter Pan type of story... but instead the book just holds a strong likeness to the original story with a huge Egyptian mythical influence. Peter is obsessed with staying young, and is forever chasing Egyptian legends in order to obtain eternal youth. Just like the Peter in the original stories, he is childish, self centered and simply doesn't care about anything but the adventures ahead of him. He has a huge following of misfit boys across the world called LB's (Short for Lost Boys) who do his bidding without questioning him. Just like the Peter in the original tale, he can't be bothered to remember their names, so he gives them nicknames, or refers to them as a number. Whenever Peter would get upset, the LB's would gather their happy thoughts, and text them to Peter and it would have a calming effect of him, which I loved!

I loved the chemistry between Peter and Wendy. It was dead on. Daniel and Dina hit the nail on the head! Peter was playful and sometimes even charming while around Wendy, and of course she falls for him instantly. Maybe because he's good looking, or because she can't resist his charm, or perhaps it's the adventure. Either way, Wendy fell for him, and I think that it's possible that she may be Peter's ultimate happy thought. Oh and I can't forget about John! His street slang had me laughing out loud!

Overall, the story is full of adventure! I loved the 5 Egyptian legends that led the characters on their dangerous missions in the underworld at the Marlowe School. The most important thing about this book that made me love it was the familiarities of my favorite childhood story! It was kind of like hearing the story all over again for the first time!

Waiting on Wednesday!

Extraordinary
by Nancy Werlin
September 7th 2010

From Goodreads: Phoebe finds herself drawn to Mallory, the strange and secretive new kid in school, and the two girls become as close as sisters . . . until Mallory's magnetic older brother, Ryland, shows up during their junior year. Ryland has an immediate, exciting hold on Phoebe, but a dangerous hold, for she begins to question her feelings about her best friend and, worse, about herself. Soon she'll discover the shocking truth about Ryland and Mallory: that these two are visitors from the faerie realm who have come to collect on an age-old debt. Generations ago, the faerie queen promised Pheobe's ancestor five extraordinary sons in exchange for the sacrifice of one ordinary female heir. But in hundreds of years there hasn't been a single ordinary girl in the family, and now the faeries are dying. Could Phoebe be the first ordinary one? Could she save the faeries, or is she special enough to save herself?

Contest Winner!

Thank you to everyone who entered the $60 CSN Gift Certificate giveaway!

AND THE WINNER IS......

Eloise!!!

You should be receiving your gift certificate via email very soon!