Download Wake by Lisa McMann for Free!

So, I just finished Gone--the final installment in the Wake trilogy--and knew I had to get you guys just as hooked! So, I just found out that you can read Wake for free, and knew I had to get you to read it as well. You will not regret it!

Click on the image below to start your free read:

(priviledge expires tomorrow 12/31)

WAKE
By Lisa McMann

Not all dreams are sweet.

For seventeen-year-old Janie, getting sucked into other people's dreams is getting old. Especially the falling dreams, the naked-but-nobody- notices dreams, and the sex-crazed dreams. Janie's seen enough fantasy booty to last her a lifetime.

She can't tell anybody about what she does -- they'd never believe her, or worse, they'd think she's a freak. So Janie lives on the fringe, cursed with an ability she doesn't want and can't control.

Then she falls into a gruesome nightmare, one that chills her to the bone. For the first time, Janie is more than a witness to someone else's twisted psyche. She is a participant....

LiLi

Magic Under Glass by Jaclyn Dolamore

Published: December 22nd 2009 by Bloomsbury USA Children's Books

Hardcover, 240 pages
ISBN: 1599904306
ISBN13: 9781599904306

Nimira is a music-hall performer forced to dance for pennies to an audience of leering drunks. When wealthy sorcerer Hollin Parry hires her to do a special act - singing accompaniment to an exquisite piano-playing automaton, Nimira believes it is the start of a new life. In Parry's world, however, buried secrets stir. Unsettling below-stairs rumours abound about ghosts, a mad woman roaming the halls, and of Parry's involvement in a gang of ruthless sorcerers who torture fairies for sport. When Nimira discovers the spirit of a dashing young fairy gentleman is trapped inside the automaton's stiff limbs, waiting for someone to break the curse and set him free, the two fall in love. But it is a love set against a dreadful race against time to save the entire fairy realm, which is in mortal peril.

Review:

Now, I have to say that although Magic Under Glass was not very captivating with its characters, it was fascinating to say the least. I really thought that just the title itself, hinted at the true meaning and purpose of the novel. Even for its characters, it seems that they had some force lying under their skin that they soon realized needed to be set free. I say this for most of the characters that Nimira came in contact with--and in the end, Nimira--herself find a hidden strength that builds from start to finish. For example, I expected the main sorcerer of this novel, Hollin Parry, to be more antagonizing and disputable, but he really did have a lot bottled up from years of being under an even more powerful wizard's thumb. Frankly, all he needed was that extra little push to set him straight.

However, I believe that Dolamore really tried to build a romantic relationship in the strains and hopelessness between Nimira and Erris. Somehow, I thought with more information shared between the singer and automaton the love between them could have been even more empathizing. With the short length that was the novel, I believe that their relationship and escapades with somewhat false and disbelieving. I wished for a more detailed and passioned hopelessness that would have had me near tears. It seemed that with a clockwork male role in the relationship there would have been more time to explore the restraints he had, and had dealt with for the past thirty years.

The ending and concluding of the story seemed inevitable of how it turned out--with a happy ending--and what a happy ending it was, but I wish it wasn't so rushed into. I hoped that Nimira and Erris could find something deeper between them when he could finally speak.

Recommended to all fairy-tale old-age lovin' YAs out there that enjoy a little magic in all romances.

Grade: B-

LiLi

This ARC of Magic Under Glass was provided by the Publishers at Bloomsbury USA Children's Books.

Squeeeeeee! Lisa McMann! Squeeeeeee!

Lisa McMann.....coming.....here! Squeee!!!!!!!!!! Lol! She just posted about her 14-city Gone tour, and although it may be in Febuary, I could not stop squealing when I saw the fourth to last listing on her visits. OMG!!!! She's coming to a bookstore that is less than 5 minutes from my house. HELLO! WOW! Okay, squeal-fest over. *panting from exhilaration*

Secret Santa (Thank you!) Edited!

I love my Secret Santa to bits, because even though this book is not on my wishlist it sounds fantastic! The journal and card she also sent me all had to do with the fact that this book is fantasy and that she read it when she was around my age so that's what inspired her to write. Hence the journal, where she states in her letter that she hopes it will inspire me as well!

Thank you so much, Leslie. Everyone should check out her blog!

I know I participated in two Secret Santa operations, so I'm not sure which one was Leslie from. If you read this, L, I hope you comment and let me know so I can link back to the website that organized the whole thing. Thanks again!

Okay, so this one was for Kate @ The Neverending Shelf! Thanks for telling me, Lu! I hope everything works out, Gayle.

LiLi

The Better Part of Darkness by Kelly Gay

Published: November 24th 2009 by Pocket
Details: Mass Market Paperback, 384 pages
ISBN: 1439109656
ISBN13: 9781439109656

Divorced mother of one, Charlie Madigan, lives in a world where the beings of heaven and hell exist among us, and they aren't the things of Sunday school lessons and Hallmark figurines. In the years since the Revelation, they've become our co-workers, neighbors, and fellow citizens.
Charlie works for ITF (Integration Task Force). It's her job to see that the continued integration of our new "friends" goes smoothly and everyone obeys the law, but when a new off-world drug is released in Underground Atlanta, her daughter is targeted, and her ex-husband makes a fateful bargain to win her back, there's nothing in heaven or earth (or hell for that matter) that Charlie won't do to set things right.


Review:

Charlie Madigan will not admit defeat. However, she will plead to ignorance and denial when it comes to dealing with anything to emotionally nerve-wracking that she can't handle at the moment. Notice that those moments tend to build and eventually she'll have to potentially combust.

Growing up with two loving parents and two caring siblings, it's not hard to imagine the pain and ignorance Charlie suffered with when her twin brother was killed in a car accident. However, that was a past pain and right now she has plenty more to deal with. Charlie had a "near-death experience" eight months ago, and the nightmares have been nothing but a constant reminder. The war of emotions fighting in her body, the detachment and secrecy toward her loved-ones, you would imagine that nothing could make things worse in Charlie's day-to-day life. And that's where you'd be wrong.

See, those nightmares have a hidden message. A message that soon becomes clear and repulsing, that Charlie has to finally turn to others for help. She can't do it by herself; not anymore. So many decisions to make, so many betrayals and traitors in her midst. Through the whole procession of events Charlie must keep her cool, because the Abbadon elder, that's the leading role in her nightmare, has just taken things to a whole other level.

Will Charlie have time to save her daughter and her world? Or will she arrive, once again, too late?

With the help of her partner Hank, younger mage sister Bryn, a Revenant called Rex, and a Magnus mage Aaron, Charlie will take you through the most emotional rollercoasters she's ever experienced, and the most kicking-ass battles as well. You won't want to miss a thing, because Charlie's story has only just begun.

Oh my gosh. This one is going to be legendary people, in history books, I tell you. I loved the author's smoothly crafted worlds clashing with the human world. The structure and effort into all the little details was so impressive. Not even mentioning the intensity of the relationships between all the characters, good and evil. The Better Part of Darkness is like nothing you've ever experienced in the UF genre, and trust me, I've read the down and dirty has well as the high and mighty when it comes to this genre. I may be a YA reviewer but urban fantasy is my passion. To see the new debut additions, such as this one, implented into the genre is like a breath of fresh air when done so artistically. I have to say that my favorite parts were the battles and attacks, and the whole fighting for your life mumble-jumble. LOVE IT! The ending was...pure poetry. The ending battle between Mynogan (love his name) the Abbadon elder and Charlie was having me pant right along with her. It did induce some tears here and there but that was inevitable. Conclusively, the published novel also gives you a little slice to the next book in the series and I just could not read it. Could not. As I heard on the television on some random channel, I think, "It's like giving a sip of wine to an alcoholic." Cruel, and wanting.

Recommended to the anyone who believes they're mature enough to get through this beautifully written novel. I can't recommend to a group of people of older age because then I'd be a hypocrite. :P

Grade: A+

LiLi

Winners: Night World Fan Guide Giveaway!

Finally, I am announcing the winners for my Night World Fan Guide Giveaway! YAY! Thank you to everyone who participated...And now, onto the 5 lucky winners:

*Larissa

*Jessy

*Caitlin

*Emily H.

*Stacie V.

Congrats, chicas! I've already sent you an email and hope that you all respond within 72 hours. Thanks again to everyone who entered!

* Responded

LiLi

Disclosure Policy

This policy is valid from 03 December 2009


This blog is a personal blog written and edited by me. For questions about this blog, please contact LiLi Ramos (chicareader@gmail.com).


This blog accepts forms of cash advertising, sponsorship, paid insertions or other forms of compensation.

The compensation received may influence the advertising content, topics or posts made in this blog. That content, advertising space or post may not always be identified as paid or sponsored content.

I am not compensated to provide opinion on products, services, websites and various other topics. The views and opinions expressed on this blog are purely mine. If I claim or appear to be experts on a certain topic or product or service area, I will only endorse products or services that I believe, based on my expertise, are worthy of such endorsement. Any product claim, statistic, quote or other representation about a product or service should be verified with the manufacturer or provider.

This blog does contain content which might present a conflict of interest. This content may not always be identified.


To get your own policy, go to http://www.disclosurepolicy.org

Bleeding Violet by Dia Reeves (Around The World Tours)

Published: January 5th 2010 by Simon Pulse
Hardcover, 464 pages
ISBN: 1416986189
ISBN13: 9781416986188

Love can be a dangerous thing....
Hanna simply wants to be loved. With a head plagued by hallucinations, a medicine cabinet full of pills, and a closet stuffed with frilly, violet dresses, Hanna's tired of being the outcast, the weird girl, the freak. So she runs away to Portero, Texas in search of a new home.

But Portero is a stranger town than Hanna expects. As she tries to make a place for herself, she discovers dark secrets that would terrify any normal soul. Good thing for Hanna, she's far from normal. As this crazy girl meets an even crazier town, only two things are certain: Anything can happen and no one is safe.

Review:

Portero, Texas...is a weird-shit town, is where Hanna thinks she'll fit in, is where her mother lived in solitude for the sixteen years of Hanna's life, is where the Mortmaine--a society of "saviors/heroes"--live, is where the inhabitants see death as just another doorway everyone will soon cross. Hearing past stories from Poppa, Hana knows the unsentimental, nutcase her mother is and always was; but like mother like daughter, right? Parking herself in her mother's home kitchen and making grilled cheese sandwiches is how Hanna coaxed her mom out of unconsciousness in the middle night. For the neglect Rosalee--Hanna's mother--has portrayed over the years, Hana is willing to forgive and forget...but finds Rosalee feeling quite the contrary. To prove to an unrelenting, unloving Rosalee that she belongs in Portero and can take care of herself, Hanna sets off to "make friends" and begin hunting creatures in all hours of the night to show how capable of taking care of herself she is. Only with the "help" of a duty-bound, green-wearing Mortmaine named Wyatt, is Hanna able to complete her new goals. When of one of the many disputes between Hanna and Rosalee gets a bit out of a hand--Hanna knocks Rosalee over the head with a lamp, she is a manic depressive after all. Hanna finds that dealing with the grouchy Rosalee may have been easier than dealing with the possessed one.

Through a series of crazy plans and hallucinations, Hanna must find a way to kick the spirit of the most powerful of the Mortmaine out of Rosalee's body. Can she gain her mother's love in the process?

I really thought I'd enjoy Bleeding Violet more than I actually did. I must say that it is entertaining, with Hanna's crazy attitude and deals. In all, however, it seemed as if Reeves tried stringing along a bunch of subplots and calling it a story. I found it lacking a constructive plot and reason for the main characters actions: Why was she so desperate to gain her mothers affections? Why the lack emotion and connection--besides the hallucinations--when it came to Poppa? These were constant questions pestering me throughout the novel. There were parts in the book actually making me wonder what the author's message was. The ending seemed somewhat predictable between Hanna and Rosalee's relationship but it also cut off Wyatt's reason for even being in the story. On that note, what happened to the supportive characters' background? Bleeding Violet was left with a lot to be desired but it does not stop me from recommending this novel to the newcomers of the YA Fantasy genre. Just to get a taste of the beginnings of a new imagination.

Grade: C-

LiLi

Happy Thanksgiving! + Winner

This is my belated Thanksgiving post to everyone reading out there, eating their turkey right now. I ate so much today, I really thought I might burst! Here are some pics my mom took outside my great-aunt's house after the BIG lunch we had. I, of course, ate two plate worth of food because I didn't eat breakfast lol, and I woke up way too early:

Second pic is with my grandmother, who will probably whine later for me to take out of the post, oh well. I had a great time with my family and hope everyone else did, as well.

Now onto the more important/exciting news, the winner of my Gallagher Girls series Contest. There were 144 entries in total and 50 entrants, inserting that into random.org, the lucky number is 76! So Congrats to:

Lauren @ Lauren's Crammed Bookshelf

Congrats, chica! I will email you now and you must get back to me in the next 72 hours to claim your prize.

Thank you to everybody who entered and for those who did not win, enter my current contest for a chance to win a fan guide by L.J. Smith on her Night World series.

Happy Thanksgiving, everyone!

LiLi

I'm Closing Contest Early...

Due to some rushed stupidity on my part, I am closing the 200 followers contest early because of some mix up with the new contest I have up for the Fan Guide. Anywho, for those who have already entered, no worries I still have your entries and am copying them onto a serperate spreadsheet. I'm sorry to close the contest 2 days early but it must be done or all the entries for both contest will mixed up. Again, apologies on my bad. Lol! Sorry, everyone. The contest for L.J's Fan Guide is still open and will be until is closing date.

LiLi

Giveaway: Night World: The Ultimate Fan Guide by L.J. Smith

Thanks to Venessa, at Simon & Schuster, I've got 5 copies of this awesome fan guide to giveaway.

Night World: The Ultimate Fan Guide
You loved Secret Vampire and are counting down to the Strange Fate apocalypse. But who was the first made vampire? How do you properly greet a witch? And why are shapeshifters and werewolves rivals? Prepare to test your Night World knowledge with trivia questions from all nine books; get the inside information about the clans, the soulmate principle, Circle Daybreak, and the four Wild Powers; and take two quizzes to find out how you fit into the Night World.

Best of all, L.J. Smith shares her inspiration for the series, answers the questions you've been asking, and even reveals fun facts about herself in this official guide. Plus, look for the sneak peek at the dramatic conclusion to the series, Strange Fate!

Join L.J Smith's Official Night World Fan Page

For a taste of L. J's first works of the Night World series, check out this little summary:

Night World No. 1: Secret Vampire; Daughters of Darkness; Spellbinder
Vampires, werewolves, witches, shapeshifters -- they live among us without our knowledge. Night World is their secret society, a secret society with very strict rules. And falling in love breaks all the laws of the Night World.

In Secret Vampire, Poppy thought the summer would last forever. Then she was diagnosed with terminal cancer. Now Poppy's only hope for survival is James, her friend and secret love. A vampire in the Night World, James can make Poppy immortal. But first they both must risk everything to go against the laws of Night World.

Fugitives from Night World, three vampire sisters leave their isolated home to live among humans in Daughters of Darkness. Their brother, Ash, is sent to bring the girls back, but he falls in love with their beautiful friend.

Two witch cousins fight over their high school crush. It's a battle between black magic and white magic in Spellbinder.

Rules for the contest:

Just fill out this form!

Contest ends on November 27th @ midnight EST! Open to US/CA/UK residents only.

She's So Money by Cherry Cheva

Published: February 1st 2008 by HarperTeen
304 pages
ISBN: 0061288551

ISBN13: 9780061288555

Question: What do you get when you take . . .

1 overachieving girl + 1 insanely cute guy + 1 massive fine + 1 scheme involving a little dishonesty and a whole lot of cash?

I've always been the good girl—working seriously long hours at my family's restaurant and getting straight As. And Camden King was always just that hot, popular guy I'd pass in the halls, whose ego was probably much bigger than his brain. I didn't think there would ever be a reason for us to actually, like, interact.

Then again, I never thought I'd mess up so badly that my family might lose our entire restaurant if I didn't come up with a ton of money, and fast. So that's where Camden comes in—he and his evil/genius plan to do kids' homework for cash.

I know cheating's wrong, but it's better than being dead, right? Which is what I'd be if my parents knew about what happened. I never expected things to spin so far out of control. Or that I'd be such a sucker for Camden's lopsided grin. Or that falling apart could be the best thing that ever happened to me.

Answer: The time of my life.

Review:

Elaborate schemes are necessary when you're left alone for the weekend with your younger brother, with the family restaurant to look after; to be fined because of the Health Department the very next day. Being a straight-A student has its advantages at a time like this. For example. taking in the deal that Weston High's own man-whore offered for doing his homework for a 100 dollars a pop. In order to pay the ten grand in the time limit given, Maya demands for more "clients" no matter how wrong she thinks it is. Getting sucked deeper into that black hole and dragging some friends along the way, Maya's paranoia only seems to grow. Flirting with the bad boy seemed inevitable at the point of expanding the business, since they were both the masterminds of the whole operation. One little detail she paid no mind to was the clingy love song-writing geek that was getting tired of being turned down oh-so-subtly. He decided it was time to get even and unconsciously add on to Maya's worry of her huge homework-cheating system being discovered. He opted out for five grand by the same time the Health Department's check would be due. In the end there was no need to worry, for after feeling betrayed, used, lonely, and defeated, Maya's own conscious sought out the obvious solution that has been pestering her since the "cheating ring" ever began.

Cherry Cheva made She's So Money so comprehensibly laugh-out-loud worthy, that you will be guffawing and crying at the same time. Whoever said that a light, fun novel can't pull at your heart strings every once in a while? She's So Money is an unregrettable novel with run-on sentences that will no doubt have you going back to see if you read something correctly. Maya is such a relatable protanganist that I wonder if I will be as paranoid going into the last years of high school. Recommended to all young adult readers that can tell that this predictable plot is going to finish with a very unpredictable ending.

Grade: B+

LiLi

200 followers giveaway!

Contest is closed!

Okay, so I only need two more followers for my big 200 followers! I thought I'd have a contest just to celebrate. What will you win, you ask? This:

The Gallagher Girl Series by Ally Carter

I'd Tell You I Love You but Then I'd Have to Kill You (PB)

Cross My Heart and Hope to Spy (PB)

Don't Judge a Girl by Her Cover (HB--signed!)

Rules:

Just fill out the form please!

Once a Witch by Carolyn MacCullough

Published: September 14th 2009 by Clarion Books
Details: Hardcover, 292 pages
ISBN: 0547223994

ISBN13: 9780547223995

From Goodreads:

Tamsin Greene comes from a long line of witches, and she was supposed to be one of the most Talented among them. But Tamsin's magic never showed up. Now seventeen, Tamsin attends boarding school in Manhattan, far from her family. But when a handsome young professor mistakes her for her very Talented sister, Tamsin agrees to find a lost family heirloom for him. The search—and the stranger—will prove to be more sinister than they first appeared, ultimately sending Tamsin on a treasure hunt through time that will unlock the secret of her true identity, unearth the sins of her family, and unleash a power so vengeful that it could destroy them all. This is a spellbinding display of storytelling that will exhilarate, enthrall, and thoroughly enchant.

Review:

Feeling like an outsider in your own home is not a feeling one wishes upon themselves. Carolyn MacCallough has made that feeling inside Tamsin into something that is totally different than what ever thought it could be. I was up to 4:00 in the morning reading MacCallough's new novel that is addicting as hell but could have had a more developed plot. At first, Tamsin can't believe that a professor from NYU wants her to help him find something. But it's not necessarily Tamsin he wants, it's her soon-to-be-married-Talented older sister Rowena; who, of course, she impersonates. Just to prove to her family that she is not as useless as they think she is, Tamsin plans to pretend to be Rowena long enough to find the clock. Or at least that was the plan. When she locates it and tries to bring it back to him, it's no longer valuable. Through a series of time jumps, locating that one power-filled item seems to be the most important thing, especially when its consumer is practically hold your sister hostage. Seeing that vulnerability in Rowena as a result of what Tamsin started sends a sense of guilt so deep that she knows she's going to need some help to get out of this one. What she discovers while trying to save her sister is a whole bundle of family secrets coming to the light to reveal themselves. Turns out Tamsin was never as Talentless as she thought she was. Will her newly untrained power help her in the end? Or is it more trouble than its worth?

A surprising end starts a new world for Tamsin, one hopefully not as secretive. Spoken in first-person, Once a Witch is not a disapproving novel, however, I do not think it hit its full potential. Felt as if there were some emotional gaps in different scenes of attempted romance and family playfulness. Recommended to lonely teens in big families, looking to find their own full potential.

Grade: B-

LiLi

Gringolandia Book Tour! (Edited)

Brief Description:

Though haunted by memories of his father's arrest in Pinochet's Chile, Daniel Aguilar has made a new life for himself in the United States--far from politics. But when his father is released, Daniel sees what years of prison and torture have done. Trying to reach his father, Daniel, along with his "gringa" girlfriend, finds himself in the democracy struggle of the country he thought he left behind.

Gringolandia
Lyn Miller-Lachmann
Curbstone Press 2009
ISBN: 978-1-931896-49-8

To celebrate Halloween, here is my first author interview and a giveaway!

Interview with Lyn Miller-Lachmann

1. If you ever listened to music while writing--or if you already do--what type would it be? Examples!

Oh, I definitely listen to music. In general, I listen to the music my characters would listen to. For Gringolandia, that includes Bob Marley, Bruce Springsteen, U2, and Sting for my protagonist, Daniel, and his girlfriend, Courtney. When Daniel's father is a heavy presence in the scene, and for the scenes that take place in Chile, I listen to a lot of the protest music from Latin America that was popular during the time-recordings by Victor Jara (who was killed by the military in the first days after the 1973 coup in Chile), Inti-Illimani, Angel and Isabel Parra, and the musicians who helped me research the novel, Schwenke & Nilo.

For my novel-in-progress, the characters share an interest in Metallica, so I've been listening to a lot of Metallica. The young woman who's the principal narrator of my adult novel, Dirt Cheap, is a huge Dave Matthews Band fan. I have broad tastes, so I can pretty much accommodate the musical interests of all my characters.

2. If you ever wrote another book, what would you title it and why?

I'm working on another teen novel right now, which has the title “The Minus World.” It's a companion to Gringolandia-the protagonist is Daniel's younger sister, Tina, three years later. In 1989 Tina travels to Chile to visit her family living there and falls in love with a dangerous boy. The title refers to a secret level of Super Mario World, a video game Tina and her new boyfriend play (while listening to Metallica), but it also refers to Chile's location in the Southern Hemisphere if you plot it on a graph, as well as the constant sense of menace in a divided country going through major political changes.

3. Did you have any specific writing process when you wrote "Gringolandia"?

I usually worked on the novel after dark, once I finished my regular job, and I wrote until one or two in the morning. I also did a lot of writing on weekends, when I could finish a chapter a day. Sometimes when the writing was going well or I was obsessed with a really intense section, I'd cut out of work for days at a time. Fortunately, I'm in New York and my boss is in Florida, so I could get away with it, as long as my work got done in the end.

4. As Editor-in-Chief for Multicultural Review, do you take your work home? As in, does most of your inspiration for your books come from the workplace? If so, how so?

I work at home so I'm always taking my work home. My inspiration doesn't come from work, but from my experiences over the years. In the case of Gringolandia, it came from teaching English to refugees from Central and South America in the 1980s and organizing concerts of Latin American music through an organization made up mainly of exiles from Chile who missed the music of their country. In the case of Dirt Cheap, it came from living in a suburb that I hated and where I didn't fit in. I used to say that the only thing worse would be if the suburb were built on a toxic waste dump, so I ended up writing a novel set in an upscale and rather unpleasant suburb built on a toxic waste dump. By the way, I moved about six months before the novel came out, and I really like the new place.

5. Do you have a preference when writing for teens or adults?

Not really. It depends on the story and the characters. All of my fiction has prominent teenage characters, even Dirt Cheap, but whether the teens are main characters or secondary characters determines if the book will be considered young adult or adult. I used to teach high school history and English in the New York City Public Schools, and I still teach seventh graders part-time in a religious school program. I like being around young people and listening to their stories. And in the program where I teach now, we write plays as a group. Some of them have been very good, and one of them is now under consideration for publication in an anthology.

Author's bio:

Lyn Miller-Lachmann is the Editor-in-Chief of MultiCultural Review, the author of the award-winning reference book Our Family, Our Friends, Our World: An Annotated Guide to Significant Multicultural Books for Children and Teenagers (1992), the editor of Once Upon a Cuento (2003), a collection of short stories for young readers by Latino authors, and the author of the novel Dirt Cheap (2006), an eco-thriller for adult readers. For Gringolandia, she received a Work-in-Progress Grant from the Society of Childrens Book Writers and Illustrators.

Now the part you've all been waiting for, Giveaway Time!

On all the blogs that have joined this book tour there will be a giveaway and winner for a signed copy of Gringolandia everyday of the tour!

Rules:

Leave a comment with your email addy! (You may me email at chicareaderATgmail.com if you do not feel comfortable leaving a comment :-)

Extra Entries:

+4 for asking Lyn a question

+2 for being/becoming a follower

+1 link on your sidebar or twitter (please leave a link)

Contest ends today at 12:00 PM EST

I will email the winner and send their addy to Jo Ann who will send it to the author who will mail the prize autograph book to you!

Lyn will be answering any question/comments that are left for her only today. So get you chance at fame and talk directly to the author of this inspirational novel.

The upcoming stops (and one that did a fantastic job already for the tour):

Oct 29 Kelsey The Book Scout http://thebookscout.blogspot.com/

Oct 30 Lilibeth ChicaReader http://lilibethramos.blogspot.com/

Nov 1 Reggie The Undercover Book Lover (Not Really) book http://theundercoverbooklover.blogspot.com/

Nov 2 Melaine Melaine’s Musings book review

Nov 3 Mariah A Reader’s Adventure! http://mariah-readingadventure.blogspot.com/

Nov 4 Erica The Book Cellar http://thebookcellarx.blogspot.com/

Nov 5 Erica The Book Cellar http://thebookcellarx.blogspot.com/

Nov 6 Sarah Sarah’s Random Musings http://sarahbear9789.blogspot.com/

Nov 9 Faye Ramblings of a Teenage Bookworm http://fayeflamereviews.blogspot.com/

Nov 10 Melaine Melaine’s Musings http://melanies–musings.blogspot.com/

Nov 11 Hope Hope’s Book Shelf http://www.princess2293.blogspot.com/

Oh, and I must mention the fantabulous Jo Ann Hernandez who has been nothing but helpful when it came to the bloggers hosting the book tour! She is awesome, check out her blogsite: http://authorslatino.com/wordpress

Jo Ann Hernandez at BronzeWord Latino Authors organizes YA Book Tours for authors. If you are interested in having a tour or being a blog host contact her at BronzeWord1 AT yahoo com

LiLi

Side-note: Happy Halloween!

The Astonishing Adventures of Fanboy & Goth Girl by Barry Lyga

Pages: 320
Published: September 6th 2006 by Houghton Mifflin

From Goodreads:

Is this my hidden Mutant Power--The ability to screw up absolutely any decent situation? Fanboy has never had it good, but lately his sophomore year is turning out to be its own special hell. The bullies have made him their favourite target., his best (and only) friend seems headed for the dark side (sports and popularity), and his pregnant mother and the step-fascist are eagerly awaiting the birth of the alien life form known as Fanboy's new little brother or sister. Fanboy, though, has a secret: a graphic novel he's been working on without telling anyone, a graphic novel that he is convinced will lead to publication, fame, and--most important of all--a way out of the crappy little town he lives in and away from all the people who make it hell for him. When fanboy meets Kyra, a.k.a. Goth Girl, he finds an outrageous, cynical girl who shares his love of comics as well as his hatred for jocks and bullies. Fanboy can't resist someone who actually seems to understand him, and soon he finds himself willing to heed her advice--to ignore or crush anyone who stand in his way. But Kyra has secrets, too. And they could lead Fanboy to his dreams...or down a path into his own darkness.

Review:

"Goth Girl" has some damage to her sanity. "Fanboy" is a bit self-absorbed. From the very first page I was hooked! No kidding. I'll even tell you the line(s) that got to me: "When my parents got divorced, my mom got custody of me, and I got custody of the old Pentium clone that used to sit in the den at our old house. Thanks to the very best in Microsoft/Intel engineering, it crashes every time you exhale too hard in its general vicinity." It was on the first page, no lie; and it was the second sentence that got me but wouldn't make sense without the first.

Schemata. Hate. Expectations, good and bad. "Fanboy" loves comics--excuse me, graph novels. Hence the immediate input to the geek category at school, not mentioning the ridicule, of course. The List is only worthy of the names that get there--the people that intentionally do the effective, purposeless shoving, pushing. He safety bullet keeps him calm, even if it may make others freak.

After repeated hits from a dweeb who had been no trouble till then, "Fanboy" finds that he is no longer being ignored. But, exactly what crowd did he attract? Cue "Goth Girl", Kyra. Knocked-up sister, dead mother, ignorant father, and supplying different cars from the family for every ride home. Any of it true?

Random hits bought these two together, comics made it last longer, but in the end will "Fanboy" actually be the one saving "Goth Girl"? Both emotionally and physically? "Fanboy" doesn't keep up his ignorance facade for long, there was never a reason to in the first place.

Recommended heavily for its humor and cheekiness.

Grade: B+

LiLi

Miami Book Fair International!

Hey guys, just wanted to let you in on what I will be doing on the weekend of my mother's birthday, lol! I will be going to the Miami Book Fair Internationl, this will be my first time and I'm super psyched! I know that Danielle Joseph and Meg Cabot are going to be there and they will be stalked, no worries. For more info check out there website: http://miamibookfair.com/default.aspx.
Check out Danielle's post about it, as well: http://daniellejoseph.livejournal.com/14870.html

LiLi

P.S. It's my birthday! hehe

Contest Entry: First Crush Encounter

I posted this as a comment entry in Tara Kelly's contest for Harmonic Feedback, and I just wanted to share it with you guys because I love the story and reminisce about it quite often.


I'm not sure if this will count but it is a long encounter with my first crush in the fifth grade.
However, it was the day I finally admitted to myself--and sadly my talkative friends--that I had feelings for Ricky. That's him.
We were getting ready for our all day field trip to the Islands of Adventure in Orlando, Florida--what all the fifth graders get to do close to graduation. Mind you, I live close to Disney World to it was a 5 hour drive. What a long drive it was...
I'm sitting next to Caro--her nickname, my best friend at the time and just chatting away about my new-found feelings for a guy sitting about 3 rows up. We've already taken off when Grace--the nosy *itch in front of us--decides to turn around and butt in our conversation.
"Are you guys talking about Ricky?" Grace asks, knowing the answer.
"Yeah." Caro says cautiously, she suspects somethings up too.
"Do you want me to tell him--" Grace gets cut off by my screech and people start turning to stare.
"No!" I yell at her, trying to plead with my eyes, but I can't help but feel a slight thrill in my stomach.
"Are you sure?" She asks, already turning around to tell Isabell, THE GIRL SITTING RIGHT NEXT TO RICKY.
I'm less hesitant with my answer and by the time I open my mouth, Grace is almost done telling the story. Caro looks at me strangely. What have I done? I strain in my chair to sit up straighter to see both their reactions--Isabell and Ricky. I was such a sucker for attention, that I misinterpreted the look on Ricky's face; my worst mistake.
Is it possible that he likes me back? I thought with an exciting smile.
Caro has resolved to not pay attention anymore, I think she knew what was coming.
I hear the chattering of Grace and Isabell talking about the new hot news. Then, all of a sudden, they start asking me questions, like "Do you want to go out with?" "Are you guys going to hold hands?" "Do you want to switch seats?" The last from Isa, for which I then feel mortified and cannot believe she pratically yelled the question.
I wait for Ricky to protest but he is not even paying attention anymore. However, I do see the sideways glance he's giving Isa, as if she was crazy for even making the suggestion.
This goes on for the rest of the trip there, which seemed to be a lot longer than 5 hours at the time. For the day at the amusement park, Ricky and I said we were going out. But such a thing cannot last, especially since it was the end of the school year, and Ricky's not worth it, anyway. However, it was not I that burst the happy-Islands-of-Adventure-trip bubble. It was Melissa, who didn't know at the time that she had crushed any hope of a lasting relationship--yeah, right.
"Ricky said that he only wanted a girlfriend for a day to see what it felt like." Melissa states flat out. That's just how she is, but I am the one that asked her to talk to Ricky for me about how he felt about this whole 'situation'. I'm such a coward.

I look back on that day so many times, because I always have friends asking me if I've ever gone out with someone, and I say yes. Sometimes I tell them how long it lasted, and sometimes I think it's none of their business. Hope you enjoyed my story about my first encounter; even though I kind of broke the rule a bit.

Hoped you got a good laugh!

LiLi

Awesome contest! @PrincessBookie

Great contest going on at PrincessBookie! Go enter, she could end it at any time and there will be four winners!

Guest Post: Jocelynn Drake!

I finally got the nerve to ask an author to do something for my blog; took a lot of courage people. Introducing this--super amazing, freaking awesome, doesn't-know-what-her-books-do-to-me--author is none other than JOCELYNN DRAKE, who has the creativity to create the fast-paced novels of the Dark Days Series! She agreed to write a guest blog post about Dawnbreaker, her latest Dark release--that I have yet to read, and this post is such a tease. Without further ado:


Dawnbreaker
Jocelynn Drake

Dawnbreaker is the third book in the Dark Days series and marks the end of the main story arc that was started with Nightwalker. I will admit that when I first started writing the Dark Days series, the main story arc regarding the naturi’s attempts to break out of their cage was supposed to encompass only two books. However, as I was working on Dayhunter, I realized that I was trying to cram too much into a single book and at same time, was missing out on a lot of side information that I thought people would find interesting. So, in the end, I decided to change the ending of Dayhunter and take Mira back to Machu Picchu in Dawnbreaker – back to where all the trouble began for her.

Dawnbreaker opens back in Mira’s domain of Savannah, where she and her people are being constantly hunted by the naturi. By returning to Savannah, readers are able to see the impact the naturi are having not only on Mira but on the rest of her people as well as the lycans that live in Savannah. The relationship between the nightwalkers and the shifters has become strained at the lycanthropes are controlled by the naturi and used to hunt down the nightwalkers. The question then becomes how far are you willing to go to protect your own people? This is something that Barrett, Alpha of the Savannah Pack, has to face as he tries to get Mira to leave Savannah.

The cast of characters in the Dark Days world expands greatly with Dawnbreaker. We meet a rogue princess by the name of Cynnia that is holding more than few interesting secrets that could be of use to Mira. We also meet an earth witch that proved to be the most difficult character that I’ve ever had to write considering that she is very different from my own personality. Archie, the county coroner that we first met in the Unbound novella, “The Dead, the Damned, and the Forgotten,” makes a brief appearance in Dawnbreaker and is set to make another appearance in Pray for Dawn, book four in the series. Finally, my favorite of the new characters is a dark figure that made a very mysterious appearance at the end of Dayhunter. She is back and will start having a stronger impact on the storyline during the near term.

However, for me, the real joy was getting to write scenes with Tristan, Knox, and Amanda, as I view them as Mira’s Savannah family. I like their personalities and the way they interact with each other. They also help Mira relax and bring out her more protective instincts.

Looking out into the future, I am currently contracted for six Dark Days books. I have finished book four, which is called Pray for Dawn, and I am in the revision stage of book 5, which is called Wait for Dusk. This winter I will be working on book 6. In the future, I am hoping to introduce new dangers, new storytellers, and some exciting surprises.

Thank you so much, Jocelynn. As my first author guest post-er, I am in debt to you!

I hope you guys enjoyed this little tease of Dawnbreaker, and hope there will be more guests posts to come! I haven't read Dawnbreaker, as I said before but I have read the first two and here is my review on Dayhunter. Thanks again, Jocelynn, your an awesome writer and cannot wait for future works!

LiLi

The Nature of Jade by Deb Caletti

Published: February 27, 2007 by Simon & Schuster Children's Publishing

I am not my illness. "Girl with Anxiety," "Trauma of the Week" -- no. I hate stuff like that. Everyone, everyone has their issue. But the one thing my illness did make me realize is how necessary it is to ignore the dangers of living in order to live. And how much trouble you can get into if you can't.
Jade DeLuna is too young to die. She knows this, and yet she can't quite believe it, especially when the terrifying thoughts, loss of breath, and dizzy feelings come. Since being diagnosed with Panic Disorder, she's trying her best to stay calm, and visiting the elephants at the nearby zoo seems to help. That's why Jade keeps the live zoo webcam on in her room, and that's where she first sees the boy in the red jacket. A boy who stops to watch the elephants. A boy carrying a baby.
His name is Sebastian, and he is raising his son alone. Jade is drawn into Sebastian's cozy life with his son and his activist grandmother on their Seattle houseboat, and before she knows it, she's in love. With this boy who has lived through harder times than anyone she knows. This boy with a past.
Jade knows the situation is beyond complicated, but she hasn't felt this safe in a long time. She owes it all to Sebastian, her boy with the great heart. Her boy who is hiding a terrible secret. A secret that will force Jade to decide between what is right, and what feels right.
Master storyteller Deb Caletti has once again created characters so real, you will be breathless with anticipation as their riveting story unfolds.

Review:

Panic Disorder and elephants. Jade DeLuna has different techniques to staying calm when she feels an attack coming on. Counting syllables with her fingers till she finally stops at her pinky, thinking of her dream setting, the desert; and even thinking about elephants are just a few. Watching the elephants through her live feed on her computer, Jade finds something different about one boy--man, actually--in a red jacket. This man seems different from all the visitors that just pass through; he also has a baby attached to his back. After failed attemps to come in contact with him, Jade cannot get over him. She must put a name to that face. Continuing on with her overachieving routine and fascination of elephants--beside the fact that she was asked--she volunteers to work with the elephants. Distancing in the household causes Jade to retreat with her "friends" at the zoo even more than usual. After a couple of months, 'red-jacket boy' shows up again, and Jade seems to believe that this may be a good omen; and for a time it is. Only Sebastian has a secret, a secret that if spread around would make him disappear. Can he trust Jade to keep his secret safe? Or will the inevitable catch up to Sebastian, resulting in another retreat?

The Nature of Jade is a whole made up of little things in Jade's life; everything that she notices, makes memories of, has an impact on her. The love of her elephants, her brother; the lava lamp type glass in her bedroom; her religious candles; and her overachieving tendencies. All of them have the calming influence in Jade, an insparation to strive through the worst of times. The qualities of her mentality are so relatable and understandable that I wonder if those are the worries that young adults think about. Written in the common teenage-angst language, you can tell that Caletti has a way with words. Recommended to all YA's out there that are paranoid but just need a push to get through the day.

Grade: B+

LiLi

Blog Makeover? (Edited)

Update: Changed the Header as requested, with a new twist!

Okay, first, I must give props to BookMac for finding this blogsite with awesome templates! And I hope I'm not stealing the idea they have in mind for their blog. If I am, tell me and I'll pick something else. Anyway, I wanted to ask you guys in general what you thought about this blog template, that I think I might switch to. (This is just a test-blog for the template) Of course, I'll have to switch all the widgets and links and everything--and I will--but I just want to know what you guys think about it, before I make the transition. I know I change my template and backgrounds a lot, but I can't help it! I just do.

LiLi

Side-note: Yes, I know who you are, and that was not funny considering what happened last time. I'm going to hunt you down and do it myself if you scare me like that again.

At Face Value by Emily Franklin

Pages: 240

Published: Oct. 1st '08 by Flux

"You've never seen a nose as big as mine."
In this modern love story, Cyrano de Bergerac is reinvented as a brilliant and funny seventeen-year-old . . . girl. A tennis champion, straight-A student, and editor of the school paper, Cyrie Bergerac has learned to live with her (ahem) peculiar proboscis. And she's got an armory of witty retorts for every schnoz joke that comes her way. But despite her talents and charm, Cyrie is convinced that no guy—hot or otherwise—would deem her crush-worthy. Certainly not Eddie "Rox" Roxanninoff, who's gorgeous, smart, and genuinely nice to boot!
There's someone else smitten with Rox, too. It's Leyla, Cyrie's pretty yet tongue-tied best friend. Helping Leyla seduce Rox through email provides a wonderful way for Cyrie to express her true feelings. But watching her crush hook up with Leyla may be more than she can take. Will Cyrie find the strength to risk it all—nose be damned—and confess her love?
In this funny and poignant spin on a classic, popular YA author Emily Franklin explores the age-old theme of "true beauty" with humor and piercing perception.

Review:

We all feel insecure at certain times. Cyrie Bergerac is past that and beyond, or at least thinks she is. Cyrie retorts to every insult that the PBVs--pretty but vapid, as she calls them--make, but does that make her feel any better? Okay, maybe a little but in the end, not so much. Almost everything she thinks about revolves around her nose. Her big, humongous, it-has-its-own-zip-code nose; at least that why she thinks everyone bothers her. Always on the defensive, Cyrie tries to take everything in stride, that's what editors are supposed to act like, right? Except when it comes to Eddie, "Rox" as everyone else calls him, Cyrie just acts like herself because she knows Eddie wouldn't like it any other way. When Leyla--former PBV, and now Cyrie's best friend--asks for help in getting Eddie more interested in her than he already is, Cyrie can't help but hesitate...and say, okay. She figures that this might be a way to get even closer to Eddie, even if it has its limits. Feeling degraded, Cyrie doesn't know where to turn. Will she forever stay "a friend" to Eddie? Or will she finally have the guts to say what she really feels, in her own voice?

At Face Value is an entertaining read that will give you pause with its editorial vocabulary, and anticipation towards its next move. Franklin made the characters believable and portrayed typical issues of teenage angst. She takes an intelligent mind and plants a trivial worry about a facial feature. You find hypocritical thought in this teenage mind that you cannot disagree with. Recommended to teens with minor insecurites that they think have become as massive as Cyrie's nose.

Grade: B+

LiLi

Winners of my Comment Contest!!

Finally, I am picking winners!! Lol, I am truly sorry that I have taken so long, guys; but thank you all for participating! Some people went a bit crazy, but it does pay off let me tell you. I did use Random.org to pick the lucky participants. Now on to the the winners....drum roll please! The winner of Hush, Hush by Rebecca Fitzpatrick is....

Reggie at ReggieWrites!

Now the winner of After by Amy Efaw is...

Alexa at Hooked on YA Books!

And finally the winner of My Name is Will by Jess Winfield is...

Marisa at B.A.M Book Reviews!

Congrats you guys! I'm emailing you right now, and wish to be replied to by next Saturday, to give you enough time. Thanks again to everyone for participating!

Explanations (Excuses Part 2)

I am so so sorry, everyone! I haven't had any Internet access for a while now, and haven't replied to alot of emails either. I am currently using the library computer, which I found I hate with a passion. Anyway, I have some reviews that I wish to post, and of course the winners to my contest, but due to the limits of this freaking computer, I am unable to at the moment. You now know why I haven't posted any IMM that say I got books from the library. I despise the libraries. Not very organized, let me tell you. I do have some good news though, I most likely *fingers-crossed* will be getting Internet access either this coming Monday or the next, no later I promise. I hope that you all will forgive me! I did not see this coming at all. I will try to pick winners as soon as possible, but with school as well, I will inevitably have some hard times. Right now, my timer says I have 7 minutes left of computer time. THEY TIME YOU! I find this ridiculous! Again, I do hope you all will forgive, and support me, in the end, because I have a feeling that this is just the beginning.

Beautiful Creatures by Kami Garcia & Margaret Stohl

Pages: 626

IN A TOWN WITH NO SURPRISES, ONE SECRET COULD CHANGE EVERYTHING.

Lena Duchannes is unlike anyone the small Southern town of Gatlin has ever seen, and she’s struggling to conceal her power, and a curse that has haunted her family for generations. But even within the overgrown gardens, murky swamps, and crumbling graveyards of the forgotten South, a secret cannot stay hidden forever.

Ethan Wate, who has been counting the months until he can escape from Gatlin, is haunted by dreams of a beautiful girl he has never met. When Lena moves into the town’s oldest and most infamous plantation, Ethan is inexplicably drawn to her and determined to uncover the connection between them.

There were no surprises in Gatlin County.

We were pretty much the epicenter of the middle of nowhere.

At least, that’s what I thought.

Turns out, I couldn’t have been more wrong.

There was a curse.

There was a girl.

And in the end, there was a grave.

Review:

A curse.

A girl.

And, in the end, a grave.

Ethan Wate had no idea how he got the dreams in the first place, and once the girl they're centered around shows up in Gatlin County, everyone can feel the storm forming and the countdown beginning. Lena Duchannes knows what's coming, however, that doesn't stop the shock of finding the of her dreams--literally and figuratively--in her Uncle Macon Melchizedek Ravenwood's town. Ravenwood is considered the small town's "Haunted Mansion" and they have no idea how on target they are. There is a secret blowing through Gatlin County and the people you know best, may actually be people you know least about. After his mother died, Ethan's household has never been the same. There are charms and trinkets in hidden, and not-so-hidden places, left behind by the infamous house housekeeper--more like a best friend and mother--Amma. As for Ethan's father, with his mind so vulnerable, is the most predictable and the most unseen in his own house. Lila's death seems to have affected him the most--argumentatively--as in, he locks himself away in their--now his--study. Day and Night.

Anyway, Ethan has had a consistency his whole life, and has been waiting for the graduation of his senior year. To go to all the places pinned on the map posted on his bedroom wall. Anything to get out of Gatlin. That is, of course, until Lena came to town. Seeing the girl from his dreams at his high school--Jackson High--leaves Ethan with heart-pounding hormones raging, and a surprise soon in store. Another one, anyway, and it will not be the last. Not only will Ethan get involved with the mysterious, and non-mentioned side of his small town, he gets involved with a whole new species, so to speak. When the time comes, will Ethan survive the final battle, the war? Or will history, undoubtedly repeat itself?

I have to say, that after reading possibly half or two thirds of this novel, I seriously considered reading more books in a males perspective. Teenage male, of course. *wiggles eyebrows suggestively* Anyhow, the southern lilt brings something of authenticity and the small town county rivalry that I imagine will never die. And will be just as entertaining. Beautiful Creatures just makes you want to hop on a plane, go to a tiny southern town, and see for yourself if that's what the environment is really like. Just to see if it's as suspenseful or boring--not likely--as it claims to be?

I love how Ethan can pick up different vibes from people, some more than others and some to loose to excuse. One of the things, I dare not forget to mention, is the connection the two main characters have going for them. Not only do they have some history--one-hundred-and-fifty years-ago-history, but the soul-gripping mind-reading link you will not soon forget. Recommended to all YAs who love the south and have a little patience with this monstrous page-turner.

Grade: A-

LiLi

First Challenge! (Women's Murder Club)

Some of you may have noticed that I have taken quite a liking to James Patterson's Women Murder Club series! (I think it's awesome!) Thanks to Yvonne at Socrates' Book Reviews, I am able to complete the series--until the next one comes out, of course--and complete the challenge as well. By when, you ask? August 15, 2009-August 15, 2010. Almost a whole year!

Guidelines:

1. All books need to be read between August 15, 2009 and August 15, 2010. Books read prior to August 15th don't count for this challenge.

2. If you want to participate, just post about it on your blog with a link back to here: http://socratesbookreviews.blogspot.com/2009/08/womens-murder-club-reading-challenge.html. Make sure you list the books you need to read.

3. Audio and Ebooks are acceptable. You can also use these books for other challenges.

4. Please use Mr. Linky to sign up. Use the link to your post about this challenge, not your main blog address. Links that don't go directly to your challenge post will be deleted.

5. Once you complete the challenge, please post the link to your wrap-up blog post with Mr. Linky. (There is an extra Mr. Linky for completed lists.)

6. There will also be a Mr. Linky for reviews, although posting your reviews are not a requirement.

7. You can take the button above and post it on your blog. These are the books in the series that have already been published...

1st to Die
2nd Chance
3rd Degree
4th of July
5th Horseman
6th Target
7th Heaven
8th Confession

The ones I still need to read...
7th Heaven
8th Confession

Come join me on the wild ride that is the Women's Murder Club!

Comment Contest: Hush, Hush & After & My Name is Will(Edited, AGAIN)

Sort of stole this from Chelsea at The Page Flipper, she won't mind (hopefully).

There will be three winners!! (one for each)

Rules:

Comment as much as you want, for a better chance to win!

Extra entries:

+1 follow/or begin following

+2 post anywhere: leave link (if you don't it doesn't count)

Open to US/Canada, ends Sept. 1st @ 3:00 pm EST!

Might add on more books to contest!

Adding a book to my giveaway! (Now 3 possible winners)

Hey everybody! I said I might be adding books to my comment contest and I am (just one this time, though)! What am I adding, you ask??

My Name is Will: A Novel of Sex, Drugs and Shakespeare by Jess Winfield

From GoodReads:

"Utterly delicious, original, witty, hilarious and brilliant.Shakespeare In Love on magic mushrooms.The Bard has never been this much fun."-Christopher Buckley, author of Boomsday and Thank You For SmokingStruggling UC Santa Cruz grad student Willie Shakespeare Greenberg is trying to write his thesis about the Bard. Kind of. Having been cut off by his father for laziness, and desperate for cash, Willie agrees to deliver a single, giant, psychedelic mushroom to a mysterious collector, only to find himself a target in Ronald Reagan's War on Drugs.Meanwhile, would-be playwright (and oppressed Catholic) William Shakespeare is eighteen and stuck teaching Latin in the boondocks of Stratford-upon-Avon.The future Bard is asked to deliver a contraband box of sacramental wafers blessed by the Pope at a time when Catholics are being hanged, drawn and quartered as traitors.When 1980s Willie, cornered by DEA agents and one too many girlfriends, eats the giant mushroom at a Renaissance Fair, and 1580s William takes his first communion at his own shotgun wedding, their minds and stories merge--allowing each to become the fully-realized Shakespeare he is destined to be.

I may be adding even more novels to my comment contest but I'm not sure yet....I'll think about it, lol. ;)

Side-note: Hurry up and become of a follower of BookMac for a chance to win, not only Crazy Beautiful, but a whole lot of awesome books!

Liyana, I Dare You to Accept this Challenge!

Liyana!




I dare you to accept this challenge. I dare you to complete at least 5 of the 10 items on the list below (though I triple dog dare you to tackle them all!)

1. Read and review If I Stay by Gayle Forman.
2. Watch Twilight 5 times in a row!
3. Publish a post dedicated to Taylor Lautner.
4. Watch and review I Am Legend.
5. Read and review Snitch by Allison Van Diepen.
6. Read the first two books in the Anita Blake Series. And email me your thoughts, lol, I would really like to know! (Thank you for the idea!)
7. Read the Tales of an Urban Werewolf series!
8. Read and review Heart of Stone by C.E. Murphy!
9. Read 1st to Die by James Patterson! (if you don't like it, I'm not talking to you anymore! :P)
10. Read and review The Kindling of Greenfyr. (truly fantastic)

This challenge must be completed before my birthday, October 18, 2009!

If you fail in this challenge you must let me choose 3 novels from your bookshelf! (already know which ones, mwahahaha!)

But if you succeed I will dedicate a whole vlog to my singing, which is probably going to be torture for you people, but I don't mind doing!

If you choose to accept this dare you must follow these rules:

Blog about your acceptance and log in with Mr Linky on the correct Acceptance Post here.
Blog about your thoughts after completing each item. When you've completed the challenge check in with Mr Linky on the correct Completed Challenge Post on the I Dare You to Accept This Challenge Blog!

Once you accept (or complete) this challenge then make a list of 10 related items (ie all Bollywood movies, your favorite tv show or book series, favorite genre of books etc) and challenge one of your friends...even the one who challenged you!

Need help deciding on a dare? Check out what others are doing here.

Dancing With Ana by Nicole Barker

Beth is a lucky girl... She comes from a loving family. She has three best friends. She loves to surf and lives five minutes from the beach. She also recently discovered that the boy she's grown up with has the most amazing green eyes... Beth has every reason to smile. Every reason to be happy. Every reason to feel blessed.

Then why is she sticking her fingers down her throat?

Review:

Beth has four best friends, a mother who cares more attentively since her dad left them, and a quirky brother. Beth decides to go on a diet one day because she supposedly wants to look like the most popular girl in school, but is that really the reason she chooses to starve herself? And worry everyone who cares about her deeply? I think not. And if Beth looked a bit deeper into her conscience she would see it, too. However, with her own friends going through their own transitions, they still support Beth any way they can. Especially Jeremy. Sweet, wise Jeremy; the one who has been there for Beth through thick and thin. Will Jeremy's love and care be enough to stop Beth from destroying herself completely?

Of course, my favorite character has to be Jeremy because he does not give up hope on the people he loves most. If I looked at this quick-read and analyzed it personally, I would be sobbing right along with Beth because we are so alike when it comes to the parentals. Thing is, I didn't have a Jeremy and am quite jealous, lol. Albeit my father's worse but, no one deserves to be that traumatized. One day it's perfect, the next your left feeling like the memories will never be enough. I was a bit disappointed, because in the beginning it all seemed cliched to me. After a while, you kind of get into the rhythm of the plot line and the other characters' backgrounds start popping out. Recommended to all teens having parental issues and having their own way of dealing with it.

Grade: C

LiLi

Friday Finds

Shadowland by Alyson Noel (Book 3, Immortal Series)

At the start of this breathtaking novel, Damen and Ever travel to Summerland in search of an antidote to reverse a powerful poison. But instead of the cure they seek, they find something far more sinister: the truth about their existence and the fate lying in wait of an immortal’s soul.

Now, with Damen fighting to save them from the Shadowland, Ever turns to magick, hoping to break Damen’s curse. Along the way Ever encounters the mysterious Jude, finding herself drawn to him in a way that will test her love for Damen like never before . . .

Another guy, love jealousies!

NEW New Moon trailer!

I really don't care about the people who don't like Twilight because I found it kind of suck-ish, too. But cannot say that New Moon is not going to be the freaking (excuse me, fucking) amazing! Trailer #2