Waiting on Wednesday (9)

"Waiting On" Wednesday is a meme hosted by Breaking the Spine that spotlights upcoming releases we can not wait to read! This meme is the perfect way to add books to your TBR list. Along with upcoming releases, I sometimes include books that I have not had the chance to read or buy even if they have already come out. 

_______________________________________________________________________

The book I am anxiously awaiting is...

Title: The Golden Lily (Bloodlines, #2)

Author: Richelle Mead
Release Date: June 12, 2012

Tough, brainy alchemist Sydney Sage and doe-eyed Moroi princess Jill Dragomir are in hiding at a human boarding school in the sunny, glamorous world of Palm Springs, California. The students—children of the wealthy and powerful—carry on with their lives in blissful ignorance, while Sydney, Jill, Eddie, and Adrian must do everything in their power to keep their secret safe. But with forbidden romances, unexpected spirit bonds, and the threat of Strigoi moving ever closer, hiding the truth is harder than anyone thought.

I CAN NOT WAIT. I absolutely love The Vampire Academy books and when I found out there would be a spin off, I'm pretty sure I did a happy dance. I already have my copy pre-ordered and everything!

Review (29): Welcome, Caller, This is Chloe by Shelley Coriell

Welcome, Caller, This is Chloe

by Shelley Coriell

Series: None

Other Reviewed Titles: None

Release Date: May 1, 2012

Publisher: Amulet Books / Abrams

Pages: 320

Source: NetGalley

Challenge: None

Author Website

Book Website

My Review:

Chloe Camden seems to have it all; a loving family, amazing best friends, popularity and not a care in the world. But after the Mistletoe Ball and Winter Break everything starts to change. Due to her grandmothers deteriorating health, she is caught in the middle of a fight between her mother and her beloved Grams, her best friends start to shun her and spread hateful rumors that get the rest of the school to whisper behind her back, and, on top of all of that, she has to worry about not failing her JISP. With no friends to turn to she focuses all her energy on her JISP which involves working at the school’s student run radio station. There she finds a new place among the misfits who call it home.

Chloe is constantly described as the “funny friend”, the one that is there to make you laugh even when all you want to do is cry. And she continues to be just that even when things in her own life are not going well. This need to make everyone around her smile and laugh was my favorite thing about her. I also loved that she handles everything that is flung at her with maturity and her head held high. She talks a little too much sometimes, but by the end of the book she learns that sometimes what people need isn’t laughter, that instead they just want someone who will listen. 

The rest of the radio staffers are also really great characters. They are all completely different from one another. There is Clementine who loves the radio station as if it were her child and who does not welcome Chloe as easily as all the others. Their back and forth banter was very fun to read. There is Haley, a pregnant classmate who finds comfort in the radio station and in her DVDs. There are Frick, Frack, and Taysom who all find a voice through radio. And then there is Duncan who is the definition of strong and silent. He has difficulty expressing himself verbally which is something that Chloe slowly helps teach him. They could not possibly be any different, but that is what makes their relationship work. After all, opposites attract.

My dad actually works in a radio station part-time, but I had never realized exactly how much planning and work it takes to put together a radio show. It was great reading about all of it and I learned quite a few things. I almost wish my school had a student run station because it sounds really cool to be a part of.

This cover is perfect for the book. Just by looking at the cover you can tell exactly what the book is going to be about; a radio show. Also, the colors are bright and bold just like Chloe and the model is very character appropriate. 

If Shelley Coriell continues to write books with such an amazing cast of characters I will definitely be picking up another one!

                                                       Rating: * * * * 1/2

Sneak Peek Saturday (3)

I've decided to host a brand new meme called Sneak Peek Saturday (similar to Teaser Tuesday hosted by Should Be Reading only this one's on Saturday, obviously lol).

The premise is much the same: Just grab your current read and share 1-2 sentences from a random (or not) page with us along with the title and author. This will give us an interesting sneak peek into whatever book you are currently reading. And, if you like the sneak peek enough, maybe you'll find some new books to add to your TBR list. Be careful not to ruin the book by being too spoiler-y!
_______________________________________________________________________

My Sneak Peek:

"But as I continued staring at the front door, the one word that kept circling in my brain was 'home'. With another deep sigh, I let myself into the Pepper House." Pg 215, The Summer My Life Began by Shannon Greenland

 What's your sneak peek? Link it in the comments!

Feature & Follow Friday (22)

Feature & Follow Friday is a meme hosted by Parajunkiee's View & Alison Can Read. Check out their blogs and the two Featured Bloggers of the week! This is great for finding amazing new blogs to follow and for gaining followers yourself!

This weeks question is: 

"Activity! Dreamcast your current read." 

My answer: 

I'm going to dreamcast the book I just finished which is The Summer My Life Began by Shannon Greenland.

I think a younger Nikki Reed as Em.

And Garrett Hedlund would make a great Cade.

What about you? Leave your answer to this weeks question in the comments below.

Waiting on Wednesday (8)

"Waiting On" Wednesday is a meme hosted by Breaking the Spine that spotlights upcoming releases we can not wait to read! This meme is the perfect way to add books to your TBR list. Along with upcoming releases, I sometimes include books that I have not had the chance to read or buy even if they have already come out. 

_______________________________________________________________________

The book I am anxiously awaiting is...

Title: A Midsummer's Nightmare

Author: Kody Keplinger
Release Date: June 5, 2012

Whitley Johnson's dream summer with her divorce dad has turned into a nightmare. She's just met his new fiancee and her kids. The fiancee's son? Whitley's one-night stand from graduation night. Just freakin' great.

Worse, she totally doesn't fit in with her dad's perfect new country-club family. So Whitley acts out. She parties. Hard. So hard she doesn't even notice the good things right under her nose: a sweet little future stepsister who is just about the only person she's ever liked, a best friend (even though Whitley swears she doesn't "do" friends), and a smoking-hot guy who isn't her stepbrother...at least, not yet. It will take all three of them to help Whitley get through her anger and begin to put the pieces of her family together. 

I read DUFF a while ago that is also by Kody Keplinger and liked it well enough. This one sounds pretty interesting and like a quick read. I'm interested to see how Whitley handles this entire situation. Also, the girl on the cover totally reminds me of a Victoria's Secret model, but I can't place which one haha

Sneak Peek Saturday (2)

I've decided to host a brand new meme called Sneak Peek Saturday (similar to Teaser Tuesday hosted by Should Be Reading only this one's on Saturday, obviously lol).

The premise is much the same: Just grab your current read and share 1-2 sentences from a random (or not) page with us along with the title and author. This will give us an interesting sneak peek into whatever book you are currently reading. And, if you like the sneak peek enough, maybe you'll find some new books to add to your TBR list. Be careful not to ruin the book by being too spoiler-y!
_______________________________________________________________________

My Sneak Peek:

"'Ryder is pissed beyond description,' Bliss announces. 'He's epileptic.'

'He's epileptic?'

'I mean he's just crazy furious with you.'

I frown at her. 'Do you mean apoplectic?'"  

Pg 79, Don't You Wish by Roxanne St. Claire

 What's your sneak peek? Link it in the comments!

Feature & Follow Friday (21)

Feature & Follow Friday is a meme hosted by Parajunkiee's View & Alison Can Read. Check out their blogs and the two Featured Bloggers of the week! This is great for finding amazing new blogs to follow and for gaining followers yourself!

This weeks question is: 

"Summer break is upon us! What would be the perfect vacation spot for you to catch up on your reading and relaxing?"

My answer: 

The beach which is exactly where I'll be all summer. :)

What about you? Leave your answer to this weeks question in the comments below.

Waiting on Wednesday (7)

Waiting On Wednesday is a meme hosted by Breaking the Spine that spotlights upcoming releases we can not wait to read! This meme is the perfect way to add books to your TBR list. Along with upcoming releases, I sometimes include books that I have not had the chance to read or buy even if they have already come out. 

_________________________________________________________

The book I am anxiously awaiting is...

Title: Fated (Soul Seekers, #1)

Author: Alyson Noel

Release Date: May 22, 2012

Strange things are happening to Daire Santos. Crows mock her, glowing people stalk her, time stops without warning, and a beautiful boy with unearthly blue eyes haunts all her dreams. Fearing for her daughter’s sanity, Daire’s mother sends her to live with the grandmother she’s never met. A woman who recognizes the visions for what they truly are—the call to her destiny as a Soul Seeker—one who can navigate the worlds between the living and dead. 

There on the dusty plains of Enchantment, New Mexico, Daire sets out to harness her mystical powers. But it’s when she meets Dace, the boy from her dreams, that her whole world is shaken to its core. Now Daire is forced to discover if Dace is the one guy she's meant to be with...or if he’s allied with the enemy she's destined to destroy.

This is the first book in the brand new series, The Soul Seekers by Alyson Noel. I don't think I've read any books by her before, but this new series sounds pretty interesting and different. I'm glad people have started to step away from all the vampire/werewolf related stories. And how cool are those character names?

Review (28): Radiate by Marley Gibson

Radiate

by Marley Gibson

Series: None

Other Reviewed Titles: None

Release Date: April 3, 2012

Publisher: Houghton Mifflin Harcourt

Pages: 395

Source: NetGalley ARC

Challenge: None

Author Website

My Review: 

This is the story of Hayley Matthews, a high school senior who has just made the varsity cheerleading squad at her school when she is diagnosed with cancer. The first half of the book is dedicated to the cancer discovery and treatment. Most of it is set in the hospital where she stays for a lengthy period of time because of the various surgeries she has to undergo, chemo and radiation. The author goes into great detail about all three, which is great, but it was also a little confusing at times because there was just too much to remember.
The second half is about her transition back to school and her new life as a cheerleader. She seems to be ready to put the cancer behind her and move on, but unfortunately there are still some side effects she has to deal with along the way. There is a really great positive message about never giving up and always pushing through no matter what life throws at you which was definitely the best part of this book.

Haley is a really inspiring protagonist. She handles everything that is thrown at her head-on and with an attitude that most teenagers would not possess if faced with the same challenges. My only issue with her was that she seemed to be obsessed with getting to cheer camp (and just cheerleading in general) even though there was clearly a much more important issue at hand. 

The cover is perfect for this book. It is a cheerleader surrounded by bright, happy colors which is exactly who Hayley is. 

Fun Fact: Radiate is a fictionalized version of the cancer that author Marley Gibson went through as a teenage cheerleader (from author website).

Rating: * * * 1/2

Sneak Peek Saturday (1)

I've decided to host a brand new meme called Sneak Peek Saturday (similar to Teaser Tuesday hosted by Should Be Reading only this one's on Saturday, obviously lol).

The premise is much the same: Just grab your current read and share 1-2 sentences from a random (or not) page with us along with the title and author. This will give us an interesting sneak peek into whatever book you are currently reading. And, if you like the sneak peek enough, maybe you'll find some new books to add to your TBR list. Be careful not to ruin the book by being too spoiler-y!
_______________________________________________________________________

My Sneak Peek:

"No sooner am I outside my door than I see Frankie out of the corner of my eye, flying toward me on Rollerblades." Pg 46, The Dirt by Lori Culwell  

 What's your sneak peek? Link it in the comments!

Feature & Follow Friday (20)

Feature & Follow Friday is a meme hosted by Parajunkiee's View & Alison Can Read. Check out their blogs and the two Featured Bloggers of the week! This is great for finding amazing new blogs to follow and for gaining followers yourself!

This weeks question is: 

"This Sunday in the U.S. is Mother's Day, in celebration, what are some of your favorite books with strong mother/child relationships?" 

My answer: 

I really have no idea. I'm sure I've read tons of books with strong mother/child bonds and relationships, but I really can't think of any examples. However, I recently read Change of Heart by Jodi Picoult. In it there is a different type of mother/child relationship then this question is probably asking for though. That story included a brokenhearted mother who had lost her small daughter which really isn't something anybody should have to go through. 

What about you? Leave your answer to this weeks question in the comments below.

Crossed Off Challenge List: Bloodlines

Rating: * * * * *

This post is purely to announce that I have read and crossed Bloodlines (Bloodlines, book 1) by Richelle Mead off of the following challenge lists:

2012 OTS

This is just a way for me to easily keep track of my progress, no review to come.

Waiting on Wednesday (6)

"Waiting On" Wednesday is a meme hosted by Breaking the Spine that spotlights upcoming releases we can not wait to read! This meme is the perfect way to add books to your TBR list. Along with upcoming releases, I sometimes include books that I have not had the chance to read or buy even if they have already come out. 

_________________________________________________________

The book I am anxiously awaiting is...

Title: Gilt

Author: Katherine Longshore

Release Date: May 15, 2012

In the court of King Henry VIII, nothing is free--and love comes at the highest price of all.

When Kitty Tylney's best friend, Catherine Howard, worms her way into King Henry VIII's heart and brings Kitty to court, she's thrust into a world filled with fabulous gowns, sparkling jewels, and elegant parties. No longer stuck in Cat's shadow, Kitty's now caught between two men--the object of her affection and the object of her desire. But court is also full of secrets, lies, and sordid affairs, and as Kitty witnesses Cat's meteoric rise and fall as queen, she must figure out how to keep being a good friend when the price of telling the truth could literally be her head.

I discovered this book last week and am really excited about it. I adore historical fiction novels and definitely can not wait to read this. It sounds like it will be very intense and full of suspense (oh look, that rhymed). Plus, how gorgeous is that cover?

Feature & Follow Friday (19)

Feature & Follow Friday is a meme hosted by Parajunkiee's View & Alison Can Read. Check out their blogs and the two Featured Bloggers of the week! This is great for finding amazing new blogs to follow and for gaining followers yourself!

This weeks question is: 

"What is one thing you wish you could tell your favorite author?"

My answer: 

I don't really have a favorite author because I love so many, but if I could tell them all something it would be to stop making me wait so long for their next books! I hate starting a new book if I know it is only the first or second in a big series because that means once I'm done I'll have to wait at least a year for the next one. It drives me insane, but I guess the waiting just makes you love the book a little bit more. I know it isn't even the authors fault, but still LOL

How about you? Leave your answer to this weeks question in the comments below.

Best of YA has a new look!

And blog title.
Check it out and tell me what you think!

Also, I made myself a fancy blog button:

Now all I need to do is figure out how to get a button code and I should be set! If you know an easy, free way for me to do this, please please PLEASE let me know.
I really appreciate it.

Joana

Book of the Month (1)

Book of the Month is a monthly event, hosted by Book Whales. This is done to highlight one of the books we have read in the previous month. This meme is great because it lets us recommend that one amazing book we have read that we just can't stop talking about! (I usually choose one that I have not reviewed).

_______________________________________________________________________

My book of the month for April is... 

Water for Elephants by Sara Gruen.

As a young man, Jacob Jankowski was tossed by fate onto a rickety train that was home to the Benzini Brothers Most Spectacular Show on Earth. It was the early part of the great Depression, and for Jacob, now ninety, the circus world he remembers was both his salvation and a living hell. A veterinary student just shy of a degree, he was put in charge of caring for the circus menagerie. It was there that he met Marlena, the beautiful equestrian star married to August, the charismatic but twisted animal trainer. And he met Rosie, an untrainable elephant who was the great gray hope for this third-rate traveling show. The bond that grew among this unlikely trio was one of love and trust, and, ultimately, it was their only hope for survival.

I read this book for a school project earlier this month and loved it. It pretty much had everything you could want in a book, plus a lot more. If you have seen the movie and not read the book, you should definitely think about it because the movie does not do it justice.

Waiting on Wednesday (5)

Waiting On Wednesday is a meme hosted by Breaking the Spine that spotlights upcoming releases we can not wait to read! This meme is the perfect way to add books to your TBR list. Along with upcoming releases, I sometimes include books that I have not had the chance to read or buy even if they have already come out. 

_________________________________________________________

The book I am anxiously awaiting is...

Title: City of Lost Souls (The Mortal Instruments, 5)

Author: Cassandra Clare

Release Date: May 8, 2012

The demon Lilith has been destroyed and Jace has been freed from her captivity. But when the Shadowhunters arrive to rescue him, they find only blood and broken glass. Not only is the boy Clary loves missing–but so is the boy she hates, Sebastian, the son of her father Valentine: a son determined to succeed where their father failed, and bring the Shadowhunters to their knees.   

No magic the Clave can summon can locate either boy, but Jace cannot stay away—not from Clary. When they meet again Clary discovers the horror Lilith’s dying magic has wrought—Jace is no longer the boy she loved. He and Sebastian are now bound to each other, and Jace has become what he most feared: a true servant of Valentine’s evil. The Clave is determined to destroy Sebastian, but there is no way to harm one boy without destroying the other. Will the Shadowhunters hesitate to kill one of their own?   

Only a small band of Clary and Jace’s friends and family believe that Jace can still be saved — and that the fate of the Shadowhunters’ future may hinge on that salvation. They must defy the Clave and strike out on their own. Alec, Magnus, Simon and Isabelle must work together to save Jace: bargaining with the sinister Faerie Queen, contemplating deals with demons, and turning at last to the Iron Sisters, the reclusive and merciless weapons makers for the Shadowhunters, who tell them that no weapon on this earth can sever the bond between Sebastian and Jace. Their only chance of cutting Jace free is to challenge Heaven and Hell — a risk that could claim any, or all, of their lives.   

And they must do it without Clary. For Clary has gone into the heart of darkness, to play a dangerous game utterly alone. The price of losing the game is not just her own life, but Jace’s soul. She’s willing to do anything for Jace, but can she even still trust him? Or is he truly lost? What price is too high to pay, even for love?

I have pre-ordered my copy and AM SO EXCITED AHH!