Monday, August 31, 2015

Music Matching Monday: The One



It's no secret that America Singer isn't exactly the most loved character in YA literature today so this week, we're giving poor Prince Maxon some love! I think the song I've chosen for this book is rather different than the mood of this book but these are my personal picks for books anyway. I really loved the relationship that America and Maxon had throughout the series and how understanding and patient he was with her even though she didn't have a clear head at all in the second book, The Elite. He really did deal with her problems and moods and her bad days and they still loved each other for who they were. Talk about relationship goals! Anyhoo, here's the song I chose for this book so I hope y'all enjoy! I think some of these lyrics TOTALLY go with this book! Just saying!


LOSE CONTROL by Timbaland ft. JoJo

Sunday, August 30, 2015

The "Would You Rather" Book Tag!



I was tagged by one of by blogger friends Soudha from Of Stacks and Cups to do the ever fun "Would You Rather" book tag! This tag was orignally created by Rachel Reads and you can check out the video here! Now without further ado, here are the questions and my answers! Enjoy!

1. Would you rather read only trilogies or stand-alones?

While I adore reading stand alones and getting to know brand new characters when it comes to reading them, I always find myself wanting more of their story and wanting to know what happens next in their lives. I love series because I get very attached to my characters and when I do, I want to keep reading about them like there's no tomorrow!

2. Would you rather read only male or female authors?
I've actually written up a blog post talking about what I like about male authors versus female authors and vise-versa and while it doesn't really matter what gender the author is, if I had to choose then I would probably go for reading only female authors. Like Soudha said in her post, us girls have to stick together!

3. Would you rather shop at Barnes & Noble or Amazon?

I absolutely love going to the bookstore and just roaming around the shelves and waiting for something to pop out. I've ordered from Amazon a couple of times before but it honestly just felt weird doing so. Amazon comes in handy when you're looking for a specific book or when you just want the beautiful books to come to you but I just can't part with my bookstores! 

4. Would you rather all books become movies or TV shows?

This is so hard! Obviously it's awesome going to the theater and watching one of your favorite books come to life but at the same time, shows can take more time with characters and story line without having to rush through things like movies can do. Shows also tend to stay more true to the stories so I would probably choose TV shows! Can you imagine The Maze Runner being a show? Like yes!!! Also, who's excited for the ASOUE show?

5. Would you rather read 5 pages a day or 5 books a week?


Being the avid reader that I am, reading 5 pages a day would be PURE TORTURE!!!! Five books please!!

6. Would you rather be a professional reviewer or author?

I actually am a writer and I absolutely love pouring out my weird ideas for characters and story lines onto paper and my computer. I keep a journal and try to write as often as I can in my journal to keep me writing when I don't have an idea for a new chapter in my story. I love being able to create my own worlds and the characters that live in them and just having fun with it! If you want to read a little bit of what I've written, you can do so by clicking HERE! I'm not a Jeanette Oke or a Sarah Dessen but I love writing so what more do you need?

7. Would you rather only read your top 20 favorite books over and over or always read new ones that you haven't before?

I love my favorite books and I love to reread them time and again but I feel like I might get bored with the stories and I really don't want that happening! I also love picking up a new book and getting to know new characters so I'll choose that option.

8. Would you rather be a librarian or a book seller?

Me and one of my friends actually plan on opening our own bookstore one day and even have the name of it all figured out. So needless to say, I would love to be a book seller!

9. Would you rather read only your favorite book genre, or every genre except your favorite?

Even though I LOVE my dystopian books and series, they can honestly sometimes get really depressing when the characters are being hunted down by the government or they're fighting to stay alive in some crazy circumstances. I would rather read every genre except my favorite, though the sacrifice would hurt very much. I can't even think about never rereading Divergent or The Lunar Chronicles . . .

10. Would you rather only read physical books or eBooks?

Even though I like eBooks, I'm so not good at reading them! I always forget that I have the books on my tablet because I can't see them. I absolutely love holding my books and looking at them on my shelves! Though moving would probably be a pain . . .

So that's it for the tag! I also tag these awesome bloggers:
Ashley @ Ashley Early Books
Nadia @ Infinite Book Reviews
Fiona @ A Girl Between The Pages

Read on bookworms! See you in the next chapter!

Saturday, August 29, 2015

August Book Haul!


So this month I did pretty good as well with my book buying and for that, I am very happy! I have a cute little stack of books to show you guys so hope y'all enjoy!




30,000 Years Of Art- Library- $3
The Shadow Of No Towers by Art Spiegelman- Library- $2
Hello, I Love You by Katie M. Stout- Barnes & Noble- $17.99
Paperweight by Meg Haston- Barnes & Noble- $17.99
The Tower Treasure by Franklin W. Dixon- Library- $1
Restless Dead by Various Authors- Library- $1
Year Of The Beasts by Cecil Castellucci & Nate Powell- Library- $1
The Mystery at Lilac Inn by Carolyn Keene (Nancy Drew #4)- Library- $1
The Secret Journeys of Jack London by Christopher Golden & Tim Lebbon- Library- $1
The Boy Who Dared by Susan Campbell Bartoletti- Library- $1
The Abduction by John Grisham (Theodore Boone #2)- Library- $1
Billy The Kid by W.C. Jameson- Library- $1
Because Of Winn-Dixie by Kate DeCamillo- Library- $1
Insurgent (Divergent #2) Blu-Ray DVD- Target- $19.99


What books did you buy this month? Let me know in the comments! See you in the next chapter!

Monday, August 24, 2015

Music Matching Monday: P.S. I Still Love You


So since I'm still on a hangover from this book, I decided to pair this one with a song this week! If you have already read this book or it's previous book or you haven't touched either one yet, these two books To All The Boys I've Loved Before and P.S. I Still Love You follow a girl named Lara Jean who is trying to learn how to be a normal teen but doesn't have it easy as she starts falling in love and quickly learns that love is a very complicated yet amazing experience. I found Lara Jean to be an entertaining character because of how young and naive she was. She didn't try to deny the fact that she was young and dumb when it came to love but she was still set on just being herself, however silly or immature she seemed. Hope you guys enjoy this one! When it comes to love, you really can't blame a girl for trying.


CAN'T BLAME A GIRL FOR TRYING by Sabrina Carpenter

Thursday, August 20, 2015

Review: Heroes Are Extinct: Volume 1 by Ryoji Hido

Heroes Are Extinct: Volume 1 by Ryoji Hido
Rating: PG
Genre: Manga, Science-Fiction
Score: ❤❤❤❤
Page Count: 200
Publisher: Digital Manga Publishing
Published: July 31, 2007

A hero from a distant star arrives on Earth to pit his strength against Earth's famous superheroes! Only problem is Earth doesn't really have any superheroes. Growing up watching super-hero TV shows from Earth - think Power Rangers or Ultraman, our fearless hero decides to amass an army on his home planet and invade Earth to pit his strength against them. Only when the invasion starts, no one comes to stop him. What is an alien on Earth supposed to do with entire army and no one to fight?!?




Review:
PROS:
1. As if the synopsis couldn't get any better, I just didn't see why this book or even how it could possibly be not as entertaining. I found this one while randomly looking for something new to read and I was really happy to have found this one. I wasn't sure if it would turn out to be good or not but hey, it looked good at the time and I needed something to keep me busy. Here's my review:

2. I'm happy to say that I pretty much loved everything about this manga, especially the characters. I seriously loved how random the characters were and how different they were from each other. They're supposed to be the heroes of their world but they don't exactly get along and they aren't your typical evil/good doers either. If anything, only one of them is "professional" and even then, the only things he knows about being a hero is what he watched on television. It was a really fun cast of characters to read about and I can't wait to get more of their story!

3. I love to draw manga myself but I was envious of all the cool costumes! Anyway, I love manga because it can get really detailed and the narrations can get really interesting. I loved the art in this book because it wasn't too complicated and wasn't harsh on the eye. I think the art would be cool to see in color but the grey scale is a normal thing for a manga series. I loved all the sound effects and narrations in this book because they were just so hilarious! What with the "sparkle, sparkle" and the "depression", it was just so funny to read and I couldn't get enough of it.

4. Overall, I highly recommend this book to anyone seeking a fun manga to get into. It's a very fast read (I read it in 30 minutes) and you will not be bored while reading this one. I couldn't stop laughing and at least every other page I was dying from something a character said or did and I will more than likely be picking up the rest of these books! I can't wait to see what trouble these characters get into and how they'll go about being the "heroes" they are.

5. P.S. If you love the Power Rangers (what's 90's kid doesn't?) or just anything about super heroes, you'll love this book! Just saying.

The reason why I didn't give this book a five-star rating was simply because I wasn't feeling well while reading it. Being sick and in a reading slump? NOT a good combo!

I hope you guys enjoyed this book review! If you guys have any other book requests you would like me to review, just leave a comment or send me an email! Read on bookworms! See you in the next chapter!






Wednesday, August 19, 2015

Children's Books Recommendations!

So I mainly do a lot of YA reviews on this blog but ever since I posted my review for Sara Varon's Robot Dreams I've gotten a few questions asking what some of my favorite children's books are and which ones I recommend. I thought it'd be a fun thing to do and give you guys some children's book recommendations because let's be honest, all readers started with Amelia Bedelia and the Bobsy Twins, right? Or is that just me? Anyway, here are my top five favorites! Keep in mind that a couple of these have really awesome illustrations! 


6658679
Title: Drizzle
Author: Kathleen Van Cleve

Synopsis: Eleven-year-old Polly Peabody knows her family's world-famous rhubarb farm is magical. The plants taste like chocolate, jewels appear in the soil, bugs talk to her, and her best friend is a rhubarb plant named Harry. But the most magical thing is that every single Monday, at exactly 1:00, it rains. Until the Monday when the rain just stops. Now it's up to Polly to figure out why, and whether her brother's mysterious illness and her glamorous aunt Edith's sudden desire to sell the farm have anything to do with it. Most of all, Polly has to make it start raining again before it's too late. Her brother's life, the plants' survival, and her family's future all depend on it. Kathleen Van Cleve has woven an unforgettable coming-of-age tale with all the heart and wonder of a Roald Dahl novel.




7824997Title: Theodore Boone: Kid Lawyer (Theodore Boone #1)
Author: John Grisham

Synopsis: A perfect murder, a faceless witness, a lone courtroom champion knows the whole truth . . . and he’s only thirteen years old. Meet Theodore Boone.

In the small city of Strattenburg, there are many lawyers, and though he’s only thirteen years old, Theo Boone thinks he’s one of them. Theo knows every judge, policeman, court clerk—and a lot about the law. He dreams of being a great trial lawyer, of a life in the courtroom.

But Theo finds himself in court much sooner than expected. Because he knows so much—maybe too much—he is suddenly dragged into the middle of a sensational murder trial. A cold-blooded killer is about to go free, and only Theo knows the truth.

The stakes are high, but Theo won’t stop until justice is served.
 


268917
Title: The Doll People (The Doll People #1)
Author: Ann M. Martin & Laura Godwin & Brian Selznick

Synopsis: Annabelle Doll is eight years old-she has been for more than a hundred years. Not a lot has happened to her, cooped up in the dollhouse, with the same doll family, day after day, year after year. . . until one day the Funcrafts move in.












1031461Title: Stone Soup
Author: Ann McGovern

Synopsis: A clever young man tricks an old woman into believing that soup can be made from a stone. As the pot of water boils with the stone in it, he urges her to add more and more ingredients until the soup is a feast "fit for a king".











78411Title: The Bad Beginning (A Series Of Unfortunate Events #1)
Author: Lemony Snicket

Synopsis: Dear Reader,

I'm sorry to say that the book you are holding in your hands is extremely unpleasant. It tells an unhappy tale about three very unlucky children. Even though they are charming and clever, the Baudelaire siblings lead lives filled with misery and woe. From the very first page of this book when the children are at the beach and receive terrible news, continuing on through the entire story, disaster lurks at their heels. One might say they are magnets for misfortune.

In this short book alone, the three youngsters encounter a greedy and repulsive villain, itchy clothing, a disastrous fire, a plot to steal their fortune, and cold porridge for breakfast.

It is my sad duty to write down these unpleasant tales, but there is nothing stopping you from putting this book down at once and reading something happy, if you prefer that sort of thing.

With all due respect,

Lemony Snicket




I hope you guys enjoy these recommendations and find something y'all like! I've loved all of these books for a few years and some I even own myself. There's something different here for everybody so pick one up and see what happens! Read on bookworms! See you in the next chapter!

Tuesday, August 18, 2015

Review: Hello, I love You by Katie M. Stout

Hello, I Love You by Katie M. Stout
Rating: PG
Genre: Contemporary
Score: ❤❤❤❤❤
Stand Alone
Page Count: 304
Published: June 9, 2015
Publisher: St. Martin's Griffin

Grace Wilde is running—from the multi-million dollar mansion her record producer father bought, the famous older brother who’s topped the country music charts five years in a row, and the mother who blames her for her brother’s breakdown. Grace escapes to the farthest place from home she can think of, a boarding school in Korea, hoping for a fresh start.
She wants nothing to do with music, but when her roommate Sophie’s twin brother Jason turns out to be the newest Korean pop music superstar, Grace is thrust back into the world of fame. She can't stand Jason, whose celebrity status is only outmatched by his oversized ego, but they form a tenuous alliance for the sake of her friendship with Sophie. As the months go by and Grace adjusts to her new life in Korea, even she can't deny the sparks flying between her and the KPOP idol. 
Soon, Grace realizes that her feelings for Jason threaten her promise to herself that she'll leave behind the music industry that destroyed her family. But can Grace ignore her attraction to Jason and her undeniable pull of the music she was born to write? Sweet, fun, and romantic, this young adult novel explores what it means to experience first love and discover who you really are in the process.

Review:
PROS:
1. So this book has been pitched as another Anna and The French Kiss what with the whole boarding school thing but it's so much more than that. I honestly really loved this book despite how harsh people are towards it. This book made me really happy after reading it and made my reading slump a little easier to get through. This book was exactly what I was in the mood for and it helps that the cover is super adorable! Here's the review!

2. Characters. First off, I really enjoyed the main character, Grace, because she was just trying to find out who she really was and got the bright idea to escape halfway across the world to do that. No big deal. I thought she was a very realistic character even though she was in a little bit of an unrelatable situation what with her father and brother being incredibly famous. She still had her issues though and didn't want to be treated like someone special. She pretty much wanted to just live a normal life where no one knew her or her family. I also fell in love with the side characters such as Grace's roommate Sophie. She was very bubbly and not shy at all really. I really enjoyed the other characters as well even though I would've loved to see more of them throughout the book. And of course, can we just talk about Jason for a second? Talk about swoon worthy!

3. The next thing I loved was the writing. It was simple and sweet and the descriptions weren't too complicated either. I really loved how everything played out and how it went so smoothly together even though Grace encounters some bumps in the road as she tries to survive her first semester in a new country thousands of miles away from everything she's ever known. I honestly thought it was just such a fun read and I can't wait to pick it up again in the future! Katie M. Stout is an author I will be keeping my eye on!

4. Overall, this was just a really sweet, funny and touching story about finding out who you really are as well as facing your demons and learning to let things and even people go. I pretty much wanted to cry once I read the last page just because I didn't want it to be over. Once again, this book may not be that great to other people but personally, it was exactly what I was in the mood for so I think that helped me to give it a higher rating. If you loved Anna and The French Kiss or Starstruck then I say give this book a go! Just don't let all the lovey dovey feels fool you! There's quit a shocking revelation that I honestly didn't even suspect. But maybe that's just me.

Already read HILY? Want to know what happens after?

Follow Katie!

I hope you guys enjoyed this book review! If you have any other book requests you would like me to review, just leave a comment or send me an email! Read on bookworms! See you in the next chapter!

FANGIRL MOMENT:



Thursday, August 13, 2015

Review: P.S. I Still Love You by Jenny Han

P.S. I Still Love You by Jenny Han
Rating: PG-13 (Some Language)
Genre: Contemporary
Score: 4.5 stars
Page Count: 337
Book #2 of the To All The Boys I've Loved Before duology
Publisher: Simon & Schuster Books
Published: May 26, 2015

Lara Jean didn’t expect to really fall for Peter.
She and Peter were just pretending. Except suddenly they weren’t. Now Lara Jean is more confused than ever.When another boy from her past returns to her life, Lara Jean’s feelings for him return too. Can a girl be in love with two boys at once?
In this charming and heartfelt sequel to the New York Times bestseller To All the Boys I've Loved Before, we see first love through the eyes of the unforgettable Lara Jean. Love is never easy, but maybe that’s part of what makes it so amazing.

Review:
PROS:
1. Now a quick disclaimer is that I too didn't LOVE the first book in this duology however at the time, I still really enjoyed it because it was what I was in the mood for. True, it wasn't exactly a masterpiece but I gave it a four star rating because despite how annoying some of the characters (one, to be more specific) I still really liked it and I was really excited when the news came out that this book would get a sequel. I've been wanting to read it ever since I bought it and now I finally got around to doing so. I was in a reading slump when I started reading this so that might've affected mt rating on this book. Now that we have that portion out of the way, here's the review!

2. The first thing I want to talk about is the characters for a few reasons. (1) Lara Jean wasn't exactly the most mature teenage girl in the world but then again is any teenage girl? Be honest! I loved that as her character develops in this sequel, you can really see how much she's grown up and matured from the previous book. She's less winy and doesn't want any drama in her life. Sure, she's still not perfect but I really love her character in this book a lot more. (2) The other characters such as Kitty, Peter, Margot even and Lara Jean's dad all really go through some amazing development as well. I feel like Kitty just got a lot sassier and really became her own person, and made me wish she was my little sister! Obviously we all know that Peter isn't exactly the most humble of characters but I still loved seeing him grow up a little too. In the first book, he's somewhat of a jerk, not going to lie about that, but in the book, you really see that he's still a good guy. And I'm not one to like the jerks just so you know. Even Margot moves on with her life in college and just wants to focus on what the future holds instead of crying over a boy. Their dad, I feel, got a little more spotlight as he became a little aware that his dating life isn't exactly the best but hey, he's learning!

3. The story line played out wonderfully in this book as well! I was really impressed when I first saw the reviews for this book on Goodreads and how amazing they were. Most of the reviews for the first book consisted of one to five star reviews, nothing amazing. But for this one, most of the reviews I saw were all four to five stars. People were raving about how much better it was than the first and how it took a complete and surprising turn. Needless to say, I was more determined to get to this book faster than I first intended. The story really did impress me in a way that it went from a fun, light-hearted read to a more serious and even a bit of a melancholic one. Lara Jean definitely had to go through some ups and downs and had to deal with bullying, gossip and losing and making friends and why being in love for the first time- no matter how complicated- is so amazing. I think this book was more of a relatable story and I would so love to pick up this book again!

4. Overall, I think if you liked the first book, you'll more than likely love this sequel! Some even loved it more and that was my case. Even if you didn't really care for To All The Boys I've Loved Before, I would still recommend this book, but of course that's my opinion. I was satisfied with how everything ended between the characters and how the book wrapped up and I honestly kind of want a third book. Also, this book was a lot funnier. Multiple times I burst out laughing and couldn't stop. If you're not afraid of looking like a weirdo by laughing at a book like me, then have fun with this one! I even tabbed my favorites!

Follow Jenny!

I hope you guys enjoyed this book review! If you have any other book requests you would like me to review, just leave a comment or send me an email! Read on bookworms! See you in the next chapter!

Monday, August 10, 2015

Music Matching Monday: Daughter Of Smoke And Bone


I've been wanting to pair a song with this book for the longest time but I could never find the right song for it. It's been a few months now on my search for the perfect song to go along with this masterpiece of a book and I think I've finally found it! If you've read this book before, then you know that there's quite a secret being kept about who Karou really is and as soon as I heard this song, I immediately thought of how Akiva felt while following her and knowing that this secret would ruin everything for the both of them should she ever find out who she is and where she really came from. I absolutely love this song now because of it's very heavy and soundtrack type sound and I think it goes with this book quite well. Let me know what you think! Enjoy!

LOCKDOWN by Amy Lee ft. Dave Eggar

Friday, August 7, 2015

Review: The Vanishing Season by Jodi Lynn Anderson

The Vanishing Season by Jodi Lynn Anderson
Rating: PG-13
Score: 4.5 stars
Genre: Paranormal, Mystery
Page Count: 258
Stand Alone
Publisher: HarperTeen
Published: July 1, 2014

Girls started vanishing in the fall, and now winter's come to lay a white sheet over the horror. Door County, it seems, is swallowing the young, right into its very dirt. From beneath the house on Water Street, I've watched the danger swell.
The residents know me as the noises in the house at night, the creaking on the stairs. I'm the reflection behind them in the glass, the feeling of fear in the cellar. I'm tied—it seems—to this house, this street, this town.
I'm tied to Maggie and Pauline, though I don't know why. I think it's because death is coming for one of them, or both.
All I know is that the present and the past are piling up, and I am here to dig.I am looking for the things that are buried.
From bestselling author Jodi Lynn Anderson comes a friendship story bound in snow and starlight, a haunting mystery of love, betrayal, redemption, and the moments that we leave behind.

Review:
PROS:
1. Not going to lie here but the only reason I ended up buying this book was because of the beautiful cover. Yep, that's right, most books I buy are bought because half of the reason for buying them is because of the cover. I can't help if I like pretty covers more than the actual content! Anyway, I decided to actually pick this book up because the synopsis sounded very mysterious and kind of ghost-story like. I'm currently really in the mood for mysteries and this one did the trick! Here's the review:

2. I really enjoyed the characters. One, to be more specific, which was our main character Maggie. I liked that she was very quiet and kind of kept to herself. She never asked her parents for anything and was a little shy at times and not very outgoing. I thought it was cool to finally see a quiet and shy character get the spotlight and I thought it really helped the book to be what it was. Given, there wasn't a lot to relate to when it came to Maggie's character and her family, but she fit the story perfectly in my opinion and because of that, she's my favorite. I also really enjoyed the new friends she made even though I ended up hating both of them at the end of the book. You'll know why if you decide to read this book. The three friends were very loyal to each other and connected very easily. 

3. I also loved the writing in this book so very much! I never exactly knew why there was so much hype surrounding Anderson's other book Tiger Lilly but now I can get an idea of why. Her writing was absolutely beautiful and I loved how she was able to say so much about a character or place with so few words. The writing gave the book a very mysterious and melancholy feeling that actually made me shiver and get goosebumps. The descriptions were beautifully written and you could really visualize everything without needing a description of every single little detail. I think Jodi Lynn Anderson has just made it onto my list of favorite authors.

4. I also loved the feel of the book while reading the story. The book takes place during a bitterly cold winter in a small town where a string of murders starts happening and it's very mysterious and eerie, which is the exact feel I was getting while reading this book. I liked that you really got a sense of a ghostly presence especially since one of the POV's is actually told from a "Ghost Girl" whom is not actually named until the end of the book. I loved that this Ghost Girl was somehow tied to the three friends and had to follow them  as they had to deal with living in a town they no longer felt safe in. It reminded me a lot of The Lovely Bones and Paper Valentine because of this eerie string of murders in a small town while also having a Ghost Girl tell a little of her story as everything plays out.

5. Overall, I think this book is something I'll be picking up again sometime in the future. I highly recommend this book is you want something eerie and wintery. I think this would make a perfect Halloween read for those who don't exactly like being scared. I think this would also be a good one to pick up on a rainy day or during the winter. I really enjoyed this one and I really hope to get my hands on another book by this very talented author!

The reason why I didn't give this book a five-star rating is because I got frustrated with Maggie's friends and I never recovered from it. I honestly don't think I ever will to be honest. You might understand why once you actually read the book, which you should. It's great. Go. Read it now.

Follow Jodi!
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I hope you guys enjoyed this book review! If you have any other book requests you would like me to review, just leave a comment or send me an email! Read on bookworms! See you in the next chapter!


Monday, August 3, 2015

Music Matching Monday: Fangirl


For this book, there was actually only one song that popped into my head while reading it. Partly because it's extremely catchy and partly because the title of the song is actually a line in the book. I seriously really loved this book and I completely loved the romance and chemistry between Cath and Levi like crazy! I loved how they just understood each other and how they were such good friends and always there for each other. A few lines in the song just screamed "Fangirl" and it would be absolutely insane for me to pair this book with any other song! Madness I tell you! Once you hear the song with this book in mind, there's just no way you can possibly imagine this song not being the soundtrack to it. At least for me anyway. Enjoy!

I REALLY LIKE YOU by Carly Rae Jepsen


Sunday, August 2, 2015

Most Anticipated August YA Releases!


I'm fully aware that I did in fact skip telling you guys which books I was excited for in July but it was quite a slow month for new releases that I was excited about, I only ended up finding two that caught my attention. But I'm back with five new releases for the month of August that I just have to check out and put on my bookshelves! Here are my most anticipated August releases!

23354047Title: Trouble Is A Friend Of Mine
Author: Stephanie Tromly
Release Date: August 4
Genre: Mystery, Romance
Publisher: Kathy Dawson Books
Synopsis: Preparing to survive a typical day of being Digbys friend wasn't that different from preparing to survive the apocalypse.

Her first day not in school (because she cut) in her new hometown that will soon be her old hometown (because she's getting out of Dodge as fast as she can) Zoe meets Digby. Or rather, Digby decides he's going to meet Zoe and get her to help him find missing teenager. Zoe isn't sure how, but Digby—the odd and brilliant and somehow…attractive?—Digby always gets what he wants, including her help on several illegal ventures. Before she knows it, Zoe has vandalized an office complex with fake snow, pretended to buy drugs alongside a handsome football player dressed like the Hulk, had a throw-down with a possible cult, and, oh yeah, saved her new hometown (which might be worth making her permanent hometown after all.)

A mystery where catching the crook isn't the only hook, a romance where the leading man is decidedly unromantic, a story about friendship where they aren't even sure they like each other—Trouble is a Friend of Mine is a YA debut you won’t soon forget.


17331819Title: Reawakened (The Reawakened #1)
Author: Colleen Houck
Release Date: August 11
Genre: Fantasy
Publisher: Delacorte Press
Synopsis: When seventeen-year-old Lilliana Young enters the Metropolitan Museum of Art one morning during spring break, the last thing she expects to find is a live Egyptian prince with godlike powers, who has been reawakened after a thousand years of mummification.

And she really can't imagine being chosen to aid him in an epic quest that will lead them across the globe to find his brothers and complete a grand ceremony that will save mankind.

But fate has taken hold of Lily, and she, along with her sun prince, Amon, must travel to the Valley of the Kings, raise his brothers, and stop an evil, shape-shifting god named Seth from taking over the world.

From New York Times bestselling author Colleen Houck comes an epic adventure about two star-crossed teens who must battle mythical forces and ancient curses on a journey with more twists and turns than the Nile itself.

18068907Title: Court Of Fives (Court Of Fives #1)
Author: Kate Elliott
Genre: Fantasy
Release Date: August 18
Publisher: Little, Brown Books for Young Readers
Synopsis: In this imaginative escape into an enthralling new world, World Fantasy Award finalist Kate Elliott begins a new trilogy with her debut young adult novel, weaving an epic story of a girl struggling to do what she loves in a society suffocated by rules of class and privilege.

Jessamy's life is a balance between acting like an upper class Patron and dreaming of the freedom of the Commoners. But at night she can be whomever she wants when she sneaks out to train for The Fives, an intricate, multi-level athletic competition that offers a chance for glory to the kingdom's best competitors. Then Jes meets Kalliarkos, and an unlikely friendship between a girl of mixed race and a Patron boy causes heads to turn. When a scheming lord tears Jes's family apart, she'll have to test Kal's loyalty and risk the vengeance of a powerful clan to save her mother and sisters from certain death.

19364719Title: Slasher Girls & Monster Boys 
Author: Stefan Bachmann, Leigh Bardugo, Kendare Blake, A. G. Howard, Jay Kristoff, Marie Lu, Jonathan Maberry, Danielle Paige, Carrie Ryan, Megan Shepherd, Nova Ren Suma, McCormick Templeman, April Genevieve Tucholke, Cat Winters
Genre: Horror
Release Date: August 18
Publisher: Dial Books
Synopsis: For fans of Stephen King, Neil Gaiman, Lois Duncan, and Daphne Du Maurier comes a powerhouse anthology featuring some of the best writers of YA thrillers and horror 

A host of the smartest young adult authors come together in this collection of scary stories and psychological thrillers curated by Between the Devil and the Deep Blue Sea’s April Genevieve Tucholke.

Each story draws from a classic tale or two—sometimes of the horror genre, sometimes not—to inspire something new and fresh and terrifying. There are no superficial scares here; these are stories that will make you think even as they keep you on the edge of your seat. From bloody horror to supernatural creatures to unsettling, all-too-possible realism, this collection has something for any reader looking for a thrill.

Fans of TV’s The Walking Dead, True Blood, and American Horror Story will tear through tales by these talented authors.

13455099Title: Mechanica
Author: Betsy Cornwell
Genre: Science Fiction, Steampunk
Release Date: August 25
Publisher: Clarion Books
Synopsis: Nicolette’s awful stepsisters call her “Mechanica” to demean her, but the nickname fits: she learned to be an inventor at her mother’s knee. Her mom is gone now, though, and the Steps have turned her into a servant in her own home. 

But on her sixteenth birthday, Nicolette discovers a secret workshop in the cellar and begins to dare to imagine a new life for herself. Could the mysterious books and tools hidden there—and the mechanical menagerie, led by a tiny metal horse named Jules—be the key to escaping her dreary existence? With a technological exposition and royal ball on the horizon, the timing might just be perfect for Nicolette to earn her freedom at last.

Gorgeous prose and themes of social justice and family shine in this richly imagined Cinderella retelling about an indomitable inventor who finds her prince . . . but realizes she doesn't want a fairy tale happy ending after all.


Saturday, August 1, 2015

July Wrap-Up, Haul and August TBR!


Howdy there! Today, I have a quick post for y'all! Before I can start rambling on about something unimportant, I'll just get right into my wrap-up and haul for July!

WRAP-UP:



Made You Up by Francesca Zappia
Catching Fire by Suzanne Collins (THG #2)
Fangirl by Rainbow Rowell
The Miserable Mill by Lemony Snicket (ASOUE #4)

Not shown in picture:
Robot Dreams by Sara Varon (GN)
Death Note Vol. 2 by Tsugumi Ohba (Manga)
Stuck In The Middle by Various Authors (GN)
Kill Shakespeare by Conor McCreery (GN)

BOOK HAUL:


Moments With Jackie by Jean Mills- Library- $2
The Treatment (The Program #2) by Suzanne Young- Half Price Books- $1
The Secret Of The Old Clock (Nancy Drew #1) by Carolyn Keene- Thrift Store- $0.50
The Secret Of Shadow Ranch (Nancy Drew #5) by Carolyn Keene- Half Price Books- $3
Prince Caspian (Narnia #4) by C.S Lewis- Half Price Books- $1
The Miserable Mill (ASOUE #4) by Lemony Snicket- Half Price Books- $6.49
The Wizard Of OZ Journal- Half Price Books- $5.99

Not shown in picture:
Insignia (Insignia #1) by S.J. Kincaid- Library- $1
The Darkest Light by Ashley Early- Ebook- Free

AND NOW MY TBR AND CHALLENGE FOR THE MONTH!



The Vanishing Season by Jodi Lynn Anderson
An Abundance Of Katherines by John Green
P.S. I Still Love You by Jenny Han (TATBILB #2)
The Orphan Queen by Jodi Meadows
A Court Of Thorns And Roses by Sarah J. Maas (ACOTAR #1)

TBR CHALLENGE:
Read a mystery or thriller.


I think my choices are pretty good don't you think?

Read on bookworms! See you in the next chapter!